Catchin' Up

Catchin' up is in order now. New Years has gone and is now in the past. We are currently in the year 2012. No drastic changes have happened that are life altering but a few things have changed. Mom has moved into her new office and has now taken the role of Mt.Loafer's Principal. Kait has returned to the top of the state for college again. A new semester has started for me. New classes, more homework, but one more semester down which means that much closer to graduating college!

While everyone else returned back to their studies at school, the college girls ( kait and I ) had time that we could venture off and do something. With the weather being in the high 40's ( in January might I add ),  we took advantage. We threw on a light jacket, tennis shoes, jeans and hat. Grabbed the keys and camera and we were off. Off to the mountains. Followed green road signs and turns in the road till we found a place we wanted to go hike around in and explore. Up Diamond Fork we were writing our names onto sandstone, fitting our bodies into little openings in the rocks, and for me I was catching/ saving my best friends life as she slid to her death. Not really but she slid down and could have had some injuries from landing in trees.

Walking around and around from one side of the mountain to another like mountain goats, we found a patch of snow, ran into trees, found trails but we very hesitant to venture higher into the mountains because we had not told anyone where we were. Just took advantage of the warm weather. After soaking up the sun, watching water run down the river under ice, we took a ride up farther up the canyon this time encountering a tree which at first glance we thought was filled with black birds. Wrong. A tree strung with shoes. Shoes, shoes, shoes and more shoes.. Weird...? Very!

Before Kaitlin ended her week in Home Sweet Home, I set her up with my cousin Spencer on a date. Which of course I was dragged into so we ended up doubling. Wasn't all that bad. Pizza Factory, Nickle City Arcade and Yogurtland to finish.

With 2011 in the past and this new year starting, I hope to find good things in store, set new goals to achieve, become a better student but mostly create good memories with my family that I love and also friends around.

War Time

Paintballing with 13 boys is quite something. Kaitlin and I would know. We were the only two girls paintballing in a group of 15. Of course we were on the "cool guys" team... The Dad's. But we did have younger boys coming after us... so they had more of the advantage. When they would come for you, it wasn't just one person. They would come in clusters for you. So if you shot one guy, you had more to shoot at but chances were, you wouldn't be the winner of that situation. The first couple of games Kaitlin and I made a very good duo little pair in the combat of war.

On the first whistle, letting us know it was game time, Kaitlin and I made our way into a bush and put up our hideout. Back to back we sat there at the front of the line crossing into our territory, waiting for our enemy. Ready to fire. "Do you see anything?" whispering to each other constantly. "No, not yet." As minutes went by... waiting and waiting, eager to shoot a man down, finally we found some movement coming towards us. "Shhh....!!" I'd say. "Ok.. Shoot em, shoot em!" Our adrenaline finally kicked in and we were ready for battle! I could see movement coming my way. Setting my finger on the trigger, aimed, and shot... shot many times and I finally heard "Okay okay I'm shot!" Those words were coming from Colby. Ah-ha!! I had gotten him! Made me really excited that I had shot and killed someone my age of a different sex! Who ever said girls have a sucky aim?! Because I for one, have a good one! 

As the games went on our glory at ruling over the boys suddenly fizzled. We weren't on fire as we were at the beginning. Started to feel our toes freezing, our pants were wet, and we didn't have as much energy to take out the enemy. Instead we were letting the enemy get us. Now that is backwards! But all in all our first time taking on the game of paintball, was a success and filled our hearts content. 

It is always fun to try something new and to also just do things at spur of the moment. Kaitlin and I seem to have a lot of spur of the moment things come up, which makes hanging out and spending time with her fun and exciting with a new adventure in our sight. 

After our day at war, we settled for a nice sit in the hot tub and a movie following to end the day. Kaitlin dozed off during the movie, which was something very new! I am always the one to never finish a movie once it's started. I'm always dreaming and snoozing away. But the roles changed for once. 

The war zone

                                                                  

Geared up and ready to go!

A little cold and worn out.

Family Visit to Temple Square

As Christmas soon approaches, the holiday excitement peaks. Last night, I was able to stroll around Temple Square with family and take in all the excitement of Christmas season. My little family and I hopped in the car and ventured up to Salt Lake, making a quick stop to Gygi, that is where Dad spent his money on Mom's Christmas. What he got? Not sure, we will find out soon Christmas Morning. After that quick adventure, we finished our trip and ended up at our destination that is after we parked the car. Underground parking is a blessing! Being able to get out of the car and still have a feeling of warmth, instead of the quick freeze that covers your body. We made our way up to Deseret Book and waited there until extended family showed up. Deseret Book is actually a neat place just to pick up a book, look at a painting or even a calendar. Mom and I found books personally signed by our prophet Thomas S. Monson. That would be a neat Christmas gift for someone! But I would not find signing a whole bunch of books fun, more exhausting than anything.

Once everyone met up the adventure for the night began! We walked up a block to the Lion House which is where we all sat around a table and filled our stomachs with food whether it be soup in a bread bowl, salmon, roast beef, or stuffed pork chops. I myself got soup in a bread bowl, wasn't all that impressed my mom makes better soup by far! 

After filling our tummies, the chilly stroll around Temple Square began. We all made sure our zippers where zipped, gloves where on our hands, scarfs around our necks, and ears were covered. It does seem like a funny thing to do... travel up to SLC just to walk around and look at trees and flower beds that are covered in lights. Not only lights but also nativity scenes scattered around. But in all reality, seeing the temple with christmas lights around is very beautiful and brings a peaceful feeling. Especially with family around. 

We took a couple stops to get warm in the various visitor centers and also the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. In the Joseph Smith building we took the elevator all the way to the 10th floor to look at the Temple from a higher stand point. It certainly does look different from a higher angle. The elevator ride was a hilarious trip in itself. All 13 of us piled into one elevator... shouldn't be a problem because we had traveled up with other people than our original 13. Well there we all are, standing straight forward looking out with people looking right back at us thinking , " What idiots! Can't they work an elevator?" Our elevator wasn't working! It wouldn't shut! Then all of a sudden the buzzer goes off... yes.. we were heavy apparently! Well joking around we told Cameron to get off. Guess what happens after he gets off... it closes and we make our way down! There we all are, stuffed in an elevator, all just laughing. We get to the main floor and we wait, wait for Cameron to reunit with us again. Here comes Cameron at the very back of an elevator with a bunch of random kids.. probably a young men/ young women group. We loved it! Laughing always does something to you! Makes everything happier! 

As our night came to an end, we found ourselves once again in Deseret Book looking at all the pictures of Christ, Temples, Bible Stories. Ellie and I made our way over to the collection of the Book of Mormons in many languages. All of which we could not understand. It is interesting to see all the different languages and see that everyone is very different from another. 

I loved being able to spend time up at Temple Square with family other than my own Mom, Dad and brothers. Family is a wonderful thing that I am very thankful for and blessed with. I think we have found our new tradition during Christmas time! I loved it, and knew that everyone else did too!

Ellie and I

Mom and Grandma

They are still in love!