Oil prices?

Wow so I can't help but follow articles that talk about rising oil prices.  I know I really have no need because we don't have a car.  But I feel we still need to stay informed.  Oil prices have a significant effect on many things in our economy and I feel that sometimes many of us forget that our groceries and milk come from other places besides the shelf of a grocery store or even behind the grocery store.  You know they don't milk cows out back!  I was recently in a grocery store and a woman was protesting very loudly about the rising price of milk.  Remember that now Deisel trucks are paying 2x the amount they paid last summer! That is a huge increase.  Last year they paid $300 dollars per tank of gas now what is it at least $600! No wonder our food costs have gone up. Not to mention produce and other things.  I think it makes a person step back and really evaluate there part in a community. 

One thing that I have noticed recently is an abundance of gardens! I love seeing people just take a small plot of land in their yard and start a garden. Many of these gardens are no more than 10x15 or so.  But they are combating those high prices by becoming self sufficiant.  Kudos to all of you who have heeded the counsel of your leaders or who just plain love to garden!  

Anyway back to oil prices.  I found  a little blurg the other day about how many people were looking to find alternative ways to work. Even if you have a long/hot/dangerous commute, you can still car pool! Fun you get to have a conversation with someone besides the disc jockey.  Car pooling to the store is just as fun! Any who I recently saw some articiles that mention how many fewer miles America is driving this year (here).  It is an overwhelming number! Well to me anyway.  I know my husband and I cut our miles down considerably from last year.  We put 18,000 miles on our vehicle in a year! and that was without driving for 5 months! Needless to say we haven't seen our family much this year :( But you do what you can. Hopefully you all are thinking twice when taking a quick trip in the car. Let's all contribute to the lowering of Americas highway miles by buying local and supporting our friends.  

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

Krysta

Hauling stuff with bikes

Zac and I really have come to love our bikes so much.  I am amazed everyday with what we can do.  I am very grateful for the wonders that have been built to make our bicycling lifestyle easier. Namely 2 items the xtracycle and the chariot.  I am not saying that you have to have these things specifically but the wonders that they have done for us are very numerous.  

Zac and the xtra and our bike trailer carrying Rens new book case.  ($10 yard sale find! Ya)

Laundry, grocery, Dale and Ren carrier.

Headboard and carseat carrier.

This was meant for tech stuff but that didn't pan out.  Still great set up for hauling small stuff.

 Plus bikes have opened up a lot of opportunities for us to meet new people. Saturday we hit up the Provo farmers market.  Which is wonderful and we get to meet like minded people. We met a really great lady and hopefully talked her into riding her bike more! She is already great about it, but still looking into going bike dependant.  It is always neat to meet other people who choose alternative methods other than cars.  It's fun to learn new things and share stories and ideas. We really have noticed a change in our attitudes I guess you could say.  We no longer are in a hurry.  I definitely don't have road rage anymore.  We get to enjoy not only one anothers company but we meet new people and we see new things everyday.  It's fabulous! I like having a sense of community, understanding and knowing your neighbors. It always opens opportunities to serve people and often times to share the gospel. Big bonuses in my book.  Sunday of course was Father's day.  A very wonderful day.  We rode the xtracycle to church with 2 paniers full of Father's day cookies.  It was so much fun.  Ren gets a kick out of having the wind blow on her face, and I love the reactions on peoples faces when they see me riding on the back of the bike.  Priceless! Anyway think about riding a bike! Try it you might like it, plus you can just do it for fun or excersize.  Just do it cuz it feels soooo good!

Krysta

It's easy! Just try it once!

We have some really wonderful friends. These 2 other couples only have one vehicle between each couple.  I am pleased to say that they are both using alternative transportation and only minimally using their cars.  This brings a smile to my face.  Every chance my husband and I have we try to get them on bikes.  The other day we needed some things from the store (only 3 blocks away) so I took my friend and the xtracycle to the store.  She was super nervous to ride because she hadn't been on a bike for years. She did fabulous! We hadn't even gone even a block and she turned to me and said "This is absolutely wonderful! I need to get a bike!". Chalk one up for another bicycle conversion.  Conversion isn't even the correct word because we were all in love with bikes when we were younger right?  Who didn't love the first time that there dad took their training wheels off! Think back.  A little bit farther. There it is. That wonderful moment.  Freeze and keep it right there in the front. Don't let it go. Now imagine having that feeling everyday, or even once a week! Oh absolutely wonderful.   Just makes me smile.  

Take the time.  Ride a bike.  Remember how good it feels! Just around the block or around the driveway! Take the kids along.  Share a smile!

Krysta 

For my sisters (otherwise I wouldn't normally do this)

1. What is his name? Zachary Aaron Whitmore
2. Who eats more? I think it's about the same (though you couldn't tell by our sizes).
3. Who said I love you first? I think I did but I can't remember.  Something about a Weezer song, 'El scorcho' I believe.
4. Who is taller? Zac by the perfect 'head tilt kiss' amount of inches.
5. Who is smarter? Zac has the most amazing memory so I think he has the leg up.  I once knew a lot but I have forgetting problems.
6. Who is more sensitive? Probably me. But he does his fair share.
7. Who does the laundry? Me and I don't mind.  He helps by reminding me to put the clean clothes away ;) once again forgetful problems.
8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does but it switches to whichever side is closest to Ren.
9. Who pays the bills? Me but there aren't many and most are direct deposits.
10. Who cooks more? I do but I hate it.  I am a boring cook.  If it tastes good I got the tips from Zac who is amazing but likes me to dote on him.
11. There was no 11....So I'll make it up.   Who can blow more bubble in their milk? Me cuz I'm an airhead. hehehe Amber cuz she put her mouth up to the air conditioning in the car. (member that kiddo) good times.
12. Who is more stubborn? (had to look up stubborn in the dictionary) Honestly I don't think we are stubborn. We talk a lot and plus it just causes unwanted contention.
13. Who is first to admit they are wrong? Probably me. I am horrible at staying mad.
14. Who is more clean? Me but only because he motivates me.
15. Who has more siblings? Me 4 sisters, Him 2 sisters 1 brother.
16. Who wears the pants in the relationship? We share them, Thats what a 'help-meet' means! We never do anything, and I mean anything without talking to each other. ie buy stuff, go to the bathroom, change our underwear, rent a movie, you get the picture.
17. What do you like to do together? EVERYTHING, seriously I really enjoy his company, plus I married him because he is adventurous meaning everything we do together is always meaningful and rewarding.
18. Who eats more sweets? He would never admit it, but we tie.  He can always go for a 'treaters' well except when he is 'detoxing'
19. Guilty pleasures? Um bikes, bikes, tech stuff, bikes, Wii, bikes,  um did I mention Bikes?
20. How did you meet? Longboarding. A kid from the singles ward told Zac I kept my longboard in my truck and Zac got my number.  (I was dating 2 other people at the time) Dating not 'Going out.' Dating: the ancient art of getting to know a person while enjoying a fun, wholesome and entertaining activity no affection required.
22. Who proposed? He did. It was so cute with his broken arm and his bicycle gear.  He put the ring in with the hardware for my new front basket on my bike and told me to put it on my bike and I found the ring. It was so wonderful.  Still have the basket. 
23. His best feature? I'm gonna go with heart, butt, smile, jaw, facial hair and eyes. In no particular order.
24. What is his greatest quality? His desire to be better.  It is really motivating and inspiring.
I tag your mom and don't forget the new number 11.

Missin' Idaho

So the big moved happened.  We have once again relocated to Provo Utah.  Somehow it isn't the same magical place it was when we first moved here over a year and a half ago. I can't say I have lived in many places but Idaho was definitely one of the best ones so far.  Plus a lot of magical things happened/are there.  

1. Karen was born

2. We sold (got rid of) our car

3. Amazing bike paths (Some clear all winter)

4. Amazing amazing beautiful scenery.  I mean it is not everyday you wake up and see elk less than a football field from your window or ride on the bike path to the ski lodge, or ride your bike and see 2 moose in the river only 30 ft from you (don't worry I was super careful around them), or have mountains on all sides of you less than a mile away.

5.  Have your husband work across the street so you get to see him for lunch and break (sigh).

You know this list could go on and on, but it doesn't mean I don't love Provo too.  It is a great place to live.  My husband and I really love college towns and enjoy the 'culture' that comes with them too.  One thing I do have to say about being back in the city is that it sure is loud.  I miss my bike paths that were far from the road, meaning less noise, dust and traffic danger.  I am still getting used to riding on the roads, and having to watch all directions of traffic, as well as watching all four points in an intersection (especially the right hand turning lane, those guys always miss the stop line.) But it is all good.  At least I can ride my bike around and there is minimal traffic in our neighborhood.  I think the whole 'no car' thing hasn't really set in yet.  I don't know if it ever will.  I mean my bike can get me anywhere I want to go, the mall (not that I really shop though), the grocery store, the hardware store, the craft store, the pet store, you catch my drift.  For short-long trips there is a great bus system and for family trip, car rentals are $40 bucks a day, you really can't beat that. In the month of April we rented 3 times and it still cost less than our monthly car payment and monthly gas bill.

We like our lifestyle more and more everyday. (Especially when we balance our checkbook)

Today is the greatest day I've ever had!

So Zachary my darling husband took off a half day of work to have lunch at the park with me. What a beautiful day it has been. The weather has finally turned around.  Yea! (We are not holding our breath though) It is so beautiful to get out as a family and to be with one another. We went to the post office and saw people we knew. We got to talk about the xtracycle(always a pleasure) and watch Ren enjoy the river and the birds.  

We also got to use the xtracycle for a picnic table as well!

So much fun. We figured that last week I rode about 90 miles including my work commute and a trip 30 mile trip this weekend.  What a great weekend. Saturday morning we loaded the laundry on the xtracycle and headed out to the laundry mat. As we were traveling down the hill we saw what we thought was some water on the path. It was 8 in the morning so we didn't think it was ice.  Well it was.  Dale took a spill first. Then Zac turned and yelled "ICE" to me.  He went down sliding for about 7 ft. While I was watching him I realized I was going down.  We both got up and checked first, the baby.  She was perfectly alright sleeping great and hadn't even been jarred.  Thank you Chariot!

We checked Dale and the bikes and the laundry (didn't budge either) and all was well. We said a quick prayer of gratitude and headed right back down the mountain.

Me reenacting Zacs fall. Notice the gash in the ice. That is from the bike skidding on it's side. Nice. Other than this crash the rest of the day went pretty uneventful.  We did enjoy some beautiful weather on our Saturday. Today though was so beautiful. I love my family and being out in God's creations.  I will miss this beautiful place that we have been so fortunate to live. Maybe someday we will find a place like this again.  

Dale, the laundry and Ren. 

Me and Zac first day on the xtra.

Dont like the weather wait 10 min

Yesterday my wife commented on her morning commute and how awesome it is. As of today i will have to agree as I accompanied her and karen this morning. Being from Las Vegas originallythis whole snow thing is still new to me, but still snow at the end of April is just a little ridiculous. However we awoke to snow and slush and enough of it that i wanted to go with them and make sure they made it alright to there destination. Krysta is an excellent bike rider and Karen is an excellent passenger but being a dad and a husband I could not help but be concerned not only for them but for the smack i would get from my boss who can not comprehend why we would willingly give up our car for bicycles. So I decided to be the escort i would ride the xtra and pull Karen and Krysta would ride my wobbly wheeled cruiser. This made for an interesting ride since i had the better bike even with the weight difference i was cruising along while my poor wife had to hobble along on the cruiser fighting hard to keep up. We got her to where she babysits and all was well i gave her a kiss changed my wet shoes for the dry pair I brought along ( the xtracycle still does not have fenders, my bad) and off i went it did not take me long to realize two things. 1. my wife is superwoman my cruisers rear wheel was way out of tune not to mention the p.s.i was way down. 2. i love to ride no matter the circumstances. It was so nice to get out and ride that my wet pants and feet really did not mean a thing we saw some amazing views of the clouds hugging the mountains, and river and streams trying hard to keep the momentum they have gained the last two weeks, it was just down right beautiful. I am very jealous Krysta gets to ride this route every day when I only have to walk across the street to my work not nearly as inspiring. Starting the day off with this ride was great i felt awake alert and ready for work 10 miles was a perfect distance. I can not wait for our move to Provo when this will be a common distance for me to ride.

Zac