What happened? A quick summary of the rest of 2014.

I can't believe it's almost been half a year since I update my blog. That's how exhausted I was after the cycle touring trip! :-)

We had a very special summer. For me and Mylla it was filled with travels. From the end of May until the middle of September, I slept in my own bed maybe 10 times.

 After the return of the cycle touring trip we had just about a week to enjoy Lynn Valley. Mylla was so happy to see her toys again and we were happy to sleep in our bed again. We didn't get too used to it since we then left to England to see Charlie's family and friends.

Catching up with Charlie's mum and the neighboring horses

Mylla enjoyed seeing her cousin Rosie again



A smiley cousin picture

Mylla loved to hang out in Charlie's old pram.

Checking out Grandpa's nostrils

Eating all of Granny's cherry tomatoes

Time for a walk in the village

Charlie was so happy to be back riding with his mates in Sheffield again

The heather was as beautiful as ever in the Peak District

Family walk in Stanage

After time in England we had three weeks in the French alps. The mountain biking was awesome around our village (located just outside Briancon). 

Great ride into Vaujany where we stayed the second half of the stay.

Amy stayed with us for two weeks. We took turns biking and baby sitting. It was a real treat for Charlie and I to ride so much together. 

Amy on our most scenic ride at 2,000 m or so riding back to Vaujany

French food at its best: 12 spotted frog thighs furnished...I went for the 8 stripy snail bums unfurnished instead.

Admiring water fall by Vaujany

French style

After three months of travelling, I was incredibly content with hanging out at home. Lynn Valley and Vancouver are places that are hard to get bored of. I had a month before I had to start work again. 

My year of maternity leave had come to an end. What in incredible time I have had. I certainly enjoyed it much more than I ever thought. However, I felt quite ready to go back to work and have some adult conversations and use my brain again. I have started at three days per week which has been perfect. I still have two days to hang out with my daughter. Mylla took a few weeks to take to the day care but she is loving it now.  

Greg and Caspar from NZ visited with a stash of  delicious Whittaker's Almond Gold.  Please come back soon again! We showed them some of the local mountains before Caspar was off to a conference (in his worn out running shoes) and Greg cycle toured down the Oregon and Californian coast. 

Mylla at the Aquarium. It is a fascinating place. I wished they didn't have any dolphins or beluga there. The Aquarium doesn't need large intelligent mammals in captivity to attract people, I'm sure of it. All the west coast displays are stunning.

We had visitors from afar: Julian and Jana all the way from California. Jana was suffering from the cold as usual.   

After many bad selfies taken with our cell phones, we decided to get someone else take photos of us. Snappers Delight did a great job I thought. It made coming up with xmas gifts for the family an easy job.

Time for xmas and Mylla was almost as excited as Charlie.  

The xmas holiday has so far been filled with skiing (at Mt Baker), lovely walks, some runs and rides mixed with delicious food of course. 

Our New Years eve ride while Mylla was at daycare! What a treat (a $60 dollar treat)...

Sliding my way down Executioner

It was really grippy once we got down below the snow line. 

We have now come to the end of 2014. What a great year it's been. A year ago we had a little blob who I nursed every 3 hours, now we have a little girl who walks around, doesn't want any help and who is very close to talking. How exciting!

The cycle touring trip was a focal point for this year. We spent so much time preparing for it, discussing it, testing things and then actually doing it. Looking back it was bloody hard work and the Type II fun many times, but I am so happy that we did it. 

Looking forward I hope that 2015 will be a year of: staying healthier (please no more colds...poor Mylla has passed on a few of them after starting daycare), long distance running, more pottery, interesting work, staying in touch with family and friends, more trips around B.C. and enjoying life as a family!

Happy New Year!