Cross Training our way through the off-season

I've been reading about the benefits of cross-training, allowing time to rest overused muscles while strengthening those you may not even know existed.   I'm feeling good about the off season regimen that we have followed; spontaneous games, of any kind.



Christmas Eve ride from Lewisburg Saddle, down Horse Trail and back

 We are often found in our front or back yard, or at any one of the neighborhood parks throwing a football or kicking a soccer ball. However, as of late you can find us in the living room engaged in a heated game of foos ball. This past summer while staying in a rental home in Sunriver, Oregon we played many a foos ball games with our extended family.  Tournaments galore, and the kids really got into it.  Thanks to the Norland grandparents who gifted us a table for Christmas, we are able to refine those skills to ensure that the Norland team will cause some serious damage to whomever chooses to confront us.



The Norland boys working on strategy



On Christmas night we ventured up to Portland to participate in the annual "Schierman vs. Beeler" bowling tournament.  This is an event between 2 very large, very competitive families that has been going on now for about 10 years.   I'm pretty sure that the Beelers have taken the title more times than we have, but now we have a secret weapon.  My uncle Don is a seasoned pro at bowling and he is our powerhouse.  I'm pretty sure that my cousin Candy was involved in the victory this year as well, posting points well above 100.  We had a blast, but realized if we were going to help our team any, we should probably brush up on our skills.  I don't think that any of the Norlands points actually added to our teams victory, but we were there for the spirit of the game.  We supported our team, and even managed to get a spare and a few strikes. 



What a good looking group eh?  Where's our trophy?



While spending a week at the Coast, we encountered some varied weather.  We enjoyed inside games of cards, rumicube, and table tennis on the stormy days and flag football on the rare occasion that it cleared up and was beautiful. Yes, the Oregon Coast on January 1st was so amazing that we played on the beach ALL day.  The water was calm, almost inviting and the sky clear.  I must say, I'm pretty sure this was the most beautiful day on an Oregon beach that I have ever experienced.

 

The boys card game of choice  UNO




The duck vs beaver flag football game was a burner.  These kids ran circles around us,  and removing the flags off a speedy little child 2 feet shorter than yourself is quite a task.   The sun was brilliant and the wind almost non- existent.  The kids had to cool off a bit, dropped their pants and played in the water for the next couple of hours.



I was able to get one last sunset beach run and soak in as much of the salted air and sun as I could.  My hamstrings and glutes were sore all week from these beach runs.  An hour trudging through the sand and quickly I was aware of the other muscles in my legs.  5 days of this and my body was finally used to it.  During this last run, it felt easy and relaxed.  I was able to pick it up the last 20 minutes and do a series of 1 minute on one minute off sprints.  They felt awesome, totally invigorating.  I was having so much fun that I actually ran past our condo about a mile and after eventually realizing it, turned around.  Luckily, it was such an amazing night that really, I did not mind a bit.

I returned to a house full of family, playing board games and preparing our last nights feast of fish tacos.  I rallied the troops for one last hurrah to catch a glimpse of the amazing sunset.    We finished off our night with a heated game of boys vs girls "catch-phrase".  It was fun to see how impressed my brother Aaron was with all the kids who could read their own word and come up with the perfect descriptions for their team.  Alleck, feeling the pressure of the clock running out stuck with the description of his back yard as "big", hmm............. elephant?  truck?, all afternoon he was thinking about all he could have said to describe "back yard", but at the time, "big" it was.  So super cute.

Family is fun.  We get to know each other through time spent together and create lasting memories by playing together.

This morning it was back to the pool for me, and was reminded just how difficult swimming is.  Kinda like bowling I guess!



Its not often one can get a sunset as beautiful as this in January

Taking advantage of having Grandma around.  Family Photo Time!