Super Angie...hike, hike. hike hike hike

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Yesterday, for our final day in Denver, we woke up bright and early, packed up and headed off to our favorite spot--the Flatirons in Boulder. I love this area. And as I've been blessed to visit it more and more, I'm finding more and more out about myself and the parts of me that have been hiding for the past 7 yrs of living Utah. Growing up in Seattle, and living there as an adult and a mother, I loved being outside. In Seattle, you really appreciate the days when its sunny and you can be outside. In Utah, its sunny every day, and that zapped me. I found myself withdrawing and wanting to stay inside. In Redmond, I would take my baby Dallin for walks along the river. We would go to parks and play in the backyard. We would eat outside almost daily in the summer. The beach. The mountains. The ocean. I loved being outside! But in Utah...not so much.

Being in Colorado and realizing how my health has changed, has opened up that part of me that was hiding. Now I wake each day wondering what outdoor adventure I can have.

Going to the Flatirons with a friend once, I realized how blind I had been for so many years. I opened my eyes and started noticing things. Wow. How much have I been missing? Utah Blindness.

Now, before I talk about our great hike yesterday, let me make it clear that I don't HATE Utah, but it was very toxic to me. I love my dear friends there, and my special blogging friends there. But I'm so thankful to be out of that state. I'm returning to the old Angie...just with new hobbies and goals.

This past week, we have gone to this park almost daily, and each time the kids have whines or shuffeled their feet as I prodded them along. And each time they have gone a little bit further on the trail. This time, while playing on the rocks by the ranger station, I over heard this cute little family speaking German...of course I had to ease-drop! They had a 7 yr old and a 2-3 yr old and were talking about their plans to hike all the way to the first Flatiron. WHAT! That far, with kids? Are you high? Oh wait...if they can do it, then Super Angie and her super kids most certainly can!

And so we set off hiking. Dallin and Brennan had light sabers. Tanith would hold my hand, talk to all the dogs on the trails and look at rocks. We made really good time (for us anyway) and got further and further up the trail. I was enjoying hiking with my kids. I was enjoying being a mom. And it felt great to push my asthma by hiking a bit faster. I didn't have my asthma spray with me, and that was neat too.

Everyone on the trail is so nice. Everyone says HI and comments on the kids--especially Tanith. It was beautiful weather and the sun felt great.

We finally made it to the first Flatiron! It was quite the celebration. The kids were really REALLY happy--maybe from the hike, but probably because they had earned some new legos! lol But bribes aside, they proved themselves to be little hikers who now know they are capable of going the distance.

It was a great hike, and a great day for Super Angie. I'm learning so much about myself and realizing I can do more then I think I can. Some of my FB friends have started calling me Super Angie, or SA, just on an everyday casual basis. Can I live up to the title?

--Super Angie