I'm a wife, mom of three and active community volunteer.  I'm passionate about getting people outside and leading active, healthy lives.  I am also very involved with a local grassroots community group called Altoona Outdoors.

As a family, we all enjoy biking. We are ready for that snow to melt so we can get back to the trails. I try to ride with the kids to as many activities as possible. Some days are easier than others. My husband bikes to work almost every day, usually in the winter, but with the COLD! we've had it makes it a little more difficult. The kids tried out their first mountain bike race with CORBA this past summer and had a great time at the Firecracker 400! We are trying to come up with a "cool" way to haul more stuff. The kids have not approved the Burley as a solution. We are open to ideas.

We try to get out on the trails as a family as much as we can. Lowes Creek is great for testing our skills on the mountain bike trails. My husband rides rain or shine, snow and sometimes slush.

Well, the winter has been brutal here in Eau Claire, but there is so much to do....today the temperature hit 30 degrees and the kids wanted to ride their bikes down to the neighbors. We've been filling in our non-biking days with cross country skiing. Tower Ridge is an absolutely beautiful spot to explore either on skis, snowshoes or by foot. The warming hut is wonderful and they even have hot cocoa available. Works well when some members of the family want to stay out longer than others. I have been found reading a book in the warmth of the place rather than venturing out in the cold...enjoyable in its own right!

We are all getting antsy for spring...we've done our share of sledding on JellyBean Hill and the kids have been doing all kinds of skiing. The kids have made it to open skate a few times, but now we are looking forward to spring. Matt hasn't been on his bike lately, but if the sunshine holds, I'm sure he'll start riding to work again soon. The bike trails have been well maintained throughout the winter...I'm sure the kids will be out this weekend. I might get brave and venture out for a short ride. I'm not much on the winter time riding, but it seems like a fun adventure to follow the kids and go down to the Nucleus for breakfast. Maybe I should start small and just head down to Altoona Family Restaurant. It is nice and close and I'm sure I'll know someone who'll drive me home if I don't feel up to the bike ride home!