2023 is in the books! We had a year full of activity, travel, and joy. Our family remains incredibly humbled by God’s graciousness, not least of all because we are growing! We are looking forward to adding a baby boy to our family mid April 2024. Here’s a few highlights from the year. . .
Winter
I was afforded the opportunity to kick the year off by riding the Palm Canyon Epic. I’ve been wanting to check this IMBA epic off my list and this was the perfect year to do it. Record desert rains made the dirt all time and the desert floor was carpeted with unbelievable flowers. Add some good company and it was the perfect way to welcome in the new year.
A look over the desert with Travis. 
While we love living in San Diego, both Cait and I have missed ripping blower pow since moving away from Colorado. Luckily epic rain in Southern California translated to record snow in Utah. We headed to Eden, UT for a week and were greeted with three feet of the good stuff. We did the drive back to SD in one push (with a 14 month old) and hit the snowstorm to end all snowstorms. The Cajon Pass was absolute madness. When it was all said and done the local mountains would recieve close to ten feet of snow.
Lapping Powder Mountain. 
Cajon “car”nage. 
Spring
Southern California saw A LOT of rain this past winter and spring. We definitely needed the rain, and the unusual moisture led to some unbelievable flowers and pristine riding conditions. We took advantage of the flowers in our local neighborhood as well as the nearby Anza Borrego Desert. Additionally, Cait and I decided to train for the San Diego Archipelago ride: a 50 mile mountain bike ride with 6,000 feet of elevation gain. Following our Utah trip we hit the mountain bikes hard. We were lucky to get quite a few beautiful rides in the spring wildflower wonderland that emerged after the spring rains and made a trip out to meet our Colorado besties in Sedona for a long weekend playing in the desert.
Juni in a bed of poppies. 
Picnic in June Wash - Anza Borrego. 
Enjoying the unusual runoff on Noble Canyon. 
Sedona lovin’. 
Arch ride assault. 
After all the gray we had in San Diego this spring we had the itch to head to Mexico for an impromptu mother’s day celebration in pursuit of warm water and desert sunshine. It also was Juni’s first international trip. There are definitely ups and downs to traveling with a toddler, but all things considered the trip ended up being a smashing success. We stayed in Todos Santos but explored a lot of the southern peninsula including La Paz and the Baja Sur East Cape.
Sea of Cortez with Juni. 
The girls in Todos Santos. 
Summer
As we’ve settled into life in San Diego we’ve missed summer in the mountains. Luckily the past two summers we’ve been able to split our summer between Colorado and San Diego. This year we did a wonderful three week trip to Colorado where we visited friends in Durango and the Front Range while sandwiching a week in Crested Butte in between.
Top of the Colorado Trail near Hermosa Creek with Stanton. 
The girls on top of the world on the 403 trail. 
The dirty little secret is that summer in San Diego doesn’t really get started until August. When we returned from Colorado we were greeted with full blown perfect San Diego summer: warm weather, water, and surf.
Party wave. 
For the second year in a row we joined friends for the Oceanside Pier Swim: The longest running open ocean swim on the west coast. 
We also found out that we have another baby on the way! This time a baby boy: value pack! 
Fall
Fall is my favorite season and this year was no exception. We had countless days enjoying the beach after work with all the summer beach crowds having long gone. Combo swell arrived beginning in October. I was even able to squeeze in a quick backpacking trip to the Sierras with some of my closest buddies.
Kearsarge lakes with da boys. 
Juni enjoying San Diego’s best kept secret. 
Thanksgiving paddle from Oceanside Harbor to Agua Hedionda with Jonny and Ben (squint!). 
Desert Thanksgiving weekend. 
Unfortunately I finished out the year with a mountain bike mishap that gave me my first titanium hardware. As I write this I’m still working on regaining full mobility. The silver lining is I’ve had more time in the mornings to snuggle with my sweet little girl reading lots of books. I’ve also learned to use my left hand much more effectively! 
Despite this small blip on the radar, we continue to feel blessed beyond belief. We are healthy, surrounded by loving family and friends, and have continually been humbled by God’s provision in our lives.
To our many friends scattered across the world, we pray for you often and look forward to seeing you soon. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may his face shine upon you!