My knee has improved some

It's a good sign that I am walking around without so much swelling or so much pain now!  I've been able to work a little harder on my biking with Zoe too.  Getting back to my more normal pace of around nine minute miles.

My physical therapist significantly tightened my brace and it has made a huge improvement. We will see if it holds. I am encouraged. Trying not to get my hopes up too much yet, but it’s been two weeks now.  Swelling is almost gone completely :) feels like I can walk normal for the first time in months. It seems like it might let my bones heal and I will start recovering again.

Stopped at Whole Foods on a date…

Julie and I enjoyed browsing after a night out.  I thought this looked yummy and refreshing.  I also like the graphics.  It's pretty good.  I like the idea of strawberry flavored drinks, but they're usually a little weak.  This one is right on.  

I’ve been landing some new tricks.

Under bird.  It's fun to get a new one in a few tries. :)

Trying some new lube for our knives…

"Warning, do not eat" ;)

You have to love a girl that…

…regrows her own green onions from the cutoff stems of the last batch, right?! ❤️ 

AND flowers!

Because I love her, of course!!! 

Julie got some new pots and pans for Valentine’s Day❣️

My flipping interrupted by play time…

I was playing with my balisong and Zoe decided she had other plans.  She walked in and dropped her "baby" right in the middle of my session.  I guess she's trying to tell me something?!

The kids helping with the driveway

Andy, Johnny and Savannah all helped me buy and spread gravel in the mud puddles this past weekend.  Here they are riding around the property in the trailer as we cleaned up after.  It was fun to just see them back there trailer surfing and talking.

I remember Johnny leaving me this message one day.

I got up for work and he'd left this post-it on my coffee mug to remind me to get with him.  He'd just written his phone number on it, but I knew what he meant.  We were cleaning out our cabinets last weekend and I found it.  Fun memories.  

Just messing around with me phone, knives and a flyer…

The boys liked the results. 

What are the chances…

I went to reserve a rental vehicle in Hawaii.  What do you think was the cheapest option I was offered…. This one!  A Jeep on Maui?   I think that chances are pretty low that's what I actually get, but I can always hold out a little hope.  It would be fun to tool around the island for sure!  The road to the volcano on Maui is a trail that runs from about 6,500 to 9,500 feet elevation, so…

Here’s your answer, $7,500!

That's crazy!  I guess I just can't imagine that kind of price for a bike!  They're certainly nice and very light, but at what cost!?  I guess if you want to win the Tour de France, it doesn't matter?  But this is Dayton, Ohio hahahah.  Pancake flat and a long way from France. ;)

This is Zoe trying to get my attention…

Julie and I were working on our trip schedule, and Zoe was trying to convince me to play with her and several of her toys. Cute. 

50th state, here we come…

It's official, the arrangements are complete.  Julie and I are headed to Maui, Hawaii for vacation early this summer.  The red pin is where our AriBnB is.  The green pin is near the volcano I hope to visit during a sunrise. we have a few other activities planned like snorkeling, watching the big waves at Peʻahi near Nahiku, and taking the scenic drive to Hana.