Archive for the ‘Outdoor Activities’ Category

  • Sports

    Date: 2010.03.26 | Category: Outdoor Activities | Response: 0

    I have a good friend who happens to be somewhat of an athlete.  If we were the spice girls, she would definitely be sporty spice.  I on the other hand, would not.  We have been going to the gym together for a few months, and she often makes comments about how she is going to help me get into the sporty scene. 

    I am not convinced.

    I have however taken up a sport that I actually really enjoy.  I just play it with my family on weekend afternoons, but that is more sports then I have ever played before.  (I was actually on a competitive dance team in high school, does that count?) When I told my dear friend about my new sporting activity at a baby shower, her punch nearly went through her nose.  “Bocce doesn’t count as a sport!” 

    Well, my dear friend, I beg to differ, here is a little excerpt I found on wikipedia:

    Bocce (or Bocci, or Boccie)[1][2][3][4][5] is a precision sport belonging to the boules sport family, closely related to bowls and pétanque with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire.

    A precision SPORT!  So there!

  • Watch Out Gretchen Bleiler!

    Date: 2010.01.18 | Category: Outdoor Activities, Snowboarding | Response: 0

    This blog is all about trying new things right?  Well this week my new adventure went beyond traditional homemaking attempts. 

    I am a youth group leader in my community.  We have weekly activities on Wednesdays and meet together on Sundays as well.  This past Wednesday, we decided that we would take the youth sledding. 

    First I think you’ll need a little background information on me, I am a CHICKEN.  When I was in my youth I was invincible, but the moment I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I became somewhat of a scaredy-cat.

    The girls in my group LOVE to keep me involved with their activities.  For some reason, of all the adult leaders, I am the one they beg to attempt their crazy teenage activities with them.  The other leaders are perfectly content watching the youth slide down the icy hill while they chat about their kids and their favorite recipes.  But for some reason, I just don’t get to enjoy that luxury.

    This week, as soon as we got to our sledding hill, the girls had me sitting on a sled at the top of the hill ready for launch.  I was scared out of my mind!  But as I watched one leaders 5-year-old son glide successfully down the hillside, I convinced myself that I could do it too. 

    It was a blast.

    I hiked that hill time and time again with the girls and was perfectly content sliding down on my cute blue saucer.  I was convinced that I had fulfilled my leadership role, and kept the girls satisfied.  Which was true, the girls were satisfied, but out of nowhere, a boy from the group said, “okay, now it’s time to hop on my snowboard.”  Huh?

    I live in a state with some of the best snow and greatest ski resorts on earth, and I have never placed a foot on a ski or snowboard.  Pathetic I know.  I resisted at first, thinking about my three young children and my husband who would be left alone to raise them, but then I spotted a “bunny hill.”  I decided that in honor of my quest to try new things I would give it a go.

    The kids quickly strapped my feet to the board, gave me a few pointers, and away I went.  I have to say, I think  I kind of had a knack for it.  Unfortunately my scaredy-cat nature got the best of me and when I started picking up more speed I panicked so I sat my booty right down to avoid any high speed crashes.

    That was the extent of my snowboarding career.  It was beautiful while it lasted, and I think that I just might be willing to give it another try!