Mountain Biking

Josh took me & my friend Kayla Mountain Biking & I was pretty grumpy through the first half.  I probably start most of trips with Josh like that.  

I really DON'T like going down!!!!

It is SUPER SCARY :(

Josh had to walk me down most of them in the beginning.  It takes me a little bit but eventually through our trips I accept that Josh isn't trying to end my life & I do much better.

I still don't care for going down but I was able to do most by myself. 

A few girlfriends of mine have bikes so it will be have fun to have girlfriends to go biking with.  Also they are as bad as me so I won't feel like I'm slowing them down which is will take the stress of too.  

Rock Climbing with the Girls :)

A Saturday Josh had a class I decided to take a girls weekend of fun & asked two girlfriends to go in-door rock climbing :)  

We went to Climb Max in Chandler & met up with two people I work with & it was a ton of fun!  I haven't been in-door in a little bit & I am always more comfortable in-doors than out-doors so I went on my more routes & worked my new shoes in more.  

My friend Kayla has recently been cleared from her doctor to climb so it was an exciting afternoon.         

Me belaying Raila, she did really well, it is fun to see all of us climb and work hard.  

Me about to begin a tough starting route, this is my scared face. . . 

You have to go over the bulldog face with an overhang right by your head.   A bit of upper-body to get up and over to the correct holds.  

I LOVE in-door I can climb for like 3 or 4 hours here, and boulder a little bit and be tired but happy.  Love it, out-doors is harder for me, you have to HIKE to the routes, AND HIKE down.  Jeez... tons more work, I don't even lead the climbs or clean them... I suck at out-door BUT in-door is AWESOME :)

All of us worked from the 5.5 routes up to 5.9 & few unlabeled ones.  My friends from work came after their shift was over & they were fun, I saw them on the top & thought how good they were doing on a 5.11 but realized they were doing whatever holds they wanted... really fun to explain to them how the routes worked.  They went down to 5.7's :) 

Me belayed down :) Raila has gotten so good as belaying & climbing I am really excited to have girlfriends to go out with!!!

The ONLY thing that I don't like is how unflattering harnesses are. 

Superior AZ

 Josh & I went Out-Door Rock Climbing with some friends of his who it turns out I actually like :)  It was great, his friend I liked & I LOVED his wife, really down to earth woman who I later found out doesn't like to climb but heard I really wanted to go in a "couples" setting so after being bribed by her husband that he'd clean the house she said she would come too.  

It really was nice, they have a cute little boy who unfortunately wasn't feeling well & threw-up as soon as we parked.  But I think that helped bc he became a little livelier afterward.  

I don't remember what I climbed but only a few routes, we were on a time crunch, Josh & I had to be back by 4:00 or so & they needed to be back even earlier than us so it was short but sweet.  Which honestly is the way I like it, I enjoy it, but not all day like I know Josh would prefer.  

His friend took some quick shots which was very nice of him, I thought they turned out nice :)

You can see the new rock climbing shoes I bought, I got them super cheap of 5.10 clearance like 80% off, and they work really well.  I've been pleased with them.

Honest to goodness the hardest part is the hike up to the routes, it kills me every-time.  That is the ONLY reason I've decided to try hiking again recreation-ally bc although I know it is good for my body & mind & soul I mostly am just tired of being tired on the hikes up to climb. . . 

Anyway great climbing trip up to Superior AZ, and I found a new couple that I like & it is rare I like both people in the couple so this is a big deal!!!

Temple Lights

Mesa Temple Lights :)

With my new work schedule it is hard to do anything when I get home, and with Josh home for Christmas I get even more frustrated with how late I get home.  So Thursday after Christmas when I got back to my apartment Josh suggested we go to the temple lights.  

It was nice, not busy but a little on the chilly side.  

I don't know why Josh looks so excited/scared, but hopefully you can see our Jackets MATCH!!!  For Christmas Josh got me this fancy outdoor jacket & his is super similar :)  Same brand, color, functionality!!  Love it!!  And he got me some really nice Black Diamond Gloves, don't know if you can see those in the pictures.  

The lights are always fun, come back to things you remember, notice things that are different.  Fun Memories :)

I loved the green against the purple, Josh was great and got LOTS of pictures around these backgrounds.  

It was such a fun time, I LOVE Christmas Lights, and the Mesa Temple is always beautiful, add lights to it & it was AMAZING!!!

Christmas Day

Christmas Morning :)

I got to Mom & Dad's right on time & we headed down to the fireplace.  Very quiet Christmas it was nice, we got to just relax, eat the egg & ham breakfast sandwiches.  

Mom :)

Dad :)

Dad got me tools & he had to spend a bit explaining what it all was. 

Brian :)

I know it is a little late but I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and got to spend time with their family and friends!

Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve we went to Mom & Dad's & had dinner with MaryJo & her Family, Aunt Jolene wasn't able to come and her dog Daisy.  

We had a WONDERFUL meal together and came to open presents just between our families.  I had to work today but thankfully due to low volumes got to use personal time to leave early :)  

MaryJo had got me the sweetest gift, a cookbook filled with family recipes, all the aunts on the Sumner side contributed.  Josh said he has never seen me so excited about a gift, it was honestly one of the best gifts.  I am so excited to try out some of them, I already have pages marked!

The Excitement :)

and the perusing, checking out all the recipes :)

All of us :)  Very fun, grateful for family and friends!

I didn't stay over like Mom wanted but I didn't bring anything to sleep into or change out my contacts with, I don't live very far & PROMISED to be there by 8:00 a.m. for Christmas Morning. 

My New Apartment

I finally decided to post some pictures.  Mostly I wanted to wait till I got everything nice & perfect but with Josh in town & my new work schedule it has become a longer project than I had anticipated.  

This is my entry where my desk is, it is the only light right now in my entertainment area.  Josh moved his couch in for me to borrow till I get my own, it is TOO big but it will do for now.  It is very comfortable so I am grateful he is letting me borrow it. 

I still have some boxes in front of my fireplace but this is my entertainment area, the couch takes up most the room but it is nice to have someplace to sit by the TV.   My entertainment center looks great, I am really happy with it. 

I'll almost 100% move the little bookcase but that is where it will stay for now.  I got the chair free from MaryJo and it is nice, it will be a great reading chair under the lamp.  

My kitchen :)  I have some Christmas cards up from friends on my refrigerator and Josh made some artwork for me, & my sister said she'd have her kids make some for me!

My bedroom, my furniture looks great, this isn't an awesome picture, but it does look very nice in person.  I need to hang up pictures and make it a little more personal but it is big and nice.  No picture of my closet but I have a really good sized closet and a hall closet for my clothes.  

My bathroom is nice too!  Really good size, and the laundry area is just in the back door so it is away from everything which I like.  

I am very happy with it.  Major complaint is parking often is difficult to find close to where I live and at 9 a.m. they tend to do yard maintenance outside my apartment.  

I'lll get more pictures when things look nicer.