HOLY HIKE!!!

Blaine and I decided to try out a new hike. The name of the hike? Cherry Logging Trail. This was by far the hardest hike that we have ever done (we have been on a lot of hikes). The trail starts off with a little bit of uphill, then some more uphill....then two hours later, some MORE uphill! "We are almost there! It's just on top of this peak." Blaine said these words probably about five times throughout the duration of this adventure. I will admit that, after two hours of hiking straight uphill, I was much less determined to reach our destination than Blaine was. What was our destination you might ask? We have no idea.....but every good hike has to have an awesome ending point that makes it all worth it right? Well I wish I could say we finished the hike, but we didn't but we were SO SO SO high. These pictures dont even start to justify what it was really like!

 Once we got to the top we took a little break, ate our protein bars, then decided that we better head back down before we both fell asleep (or before our legs fell of and we couldn't make it to the bottom). But wait....we still had to go downhill! Sounds easy right? Not when one of us has terrible knees and the other one is the WORST and SLOWEST steep downhill climber (downhiller?) ever! There were parts when we were going downhill that were so steep that I just slid down on my butt (sounds way scary, but its mostly just because I'm a chicken of falling)!

The best part of the hike? Being able to spend three and a half hours with my best buddy in the whole wide world. These hikes wouldnt be nearly as fun if I didnt get to do them with Blaine. We always get to have the best conversations (in between trying to catch our breath) and have so much fun experiencing something new together. What a blessing it is to have him and to live in such a beautiful place where we can enjoy all of these wonderful things!

Gone Fishing

Blaine and I have been going to Diamond Fork for quite some time now. This time when we went we got to bring along Brett and Annika (who else, right?) We went up Friday night and came home Sunday morning. I will have to admit that I was a little nervous about going camping without having a bathroom (I know what you are thinking...high maintainance right?) but it ended up not being a big deal at all. It was a great trip filled with lots of interesting things.....hiking and fishing, of course, but we also had to opportunity of hearing Brett fall out of the pop up trailer in the middle of the night, laying down in an ice cold river (doesnt sound that crazy, but in my book, this is considered living on the wild side) and getting our car jumped by a man who looked a little shady. To get to our fishing spot we have to climb a huge mountain (I think the correct word for this hike is grueling!) There is no path...somehow the mountain man in Blaine just takes over and gets us to the place we need to go. We end up at a river on the other side. This fishing is not the kind where you sit in a lawn chair, throw your line in, and wait for a fish to bite....no, we are TRUDGING (and again, this is definitely the correct word for this) through a river going from hole to hole. I must add that I have never seen anyone, other than Blaine, be so determined to catch a fish as Annika was. This was her first time fishing in a river and she did awesome....what a woman! We cant wait to go again!  

Couldn't Get Any Better

 So, not only did I get to go to East Canyon to run a half marathon....we got to go to East Canyon with two of our best friends, Brett and Annika. We love these guys so much (as you can see in the picture of Brett and Blaine holding hands)! I think this has been one of the only vacations I have taken this summer, but even if it wasnt I could easily say it was the best one.

DID IT.........finally!!!

After years of saying I was going to do it and after months of training I finally ran in....and completed.....a half marathon in East Canyon! I can't tell you how good it felt crossing that finish line. When I was almost done with the race I looked up the road and there was my wonderful husband waiting for me to finish the rest of the race with me. It took all I had to not cry at this point. I dont know what it was about running this half marathon that made me want to cry so much. Throughout the race I would start thinking, "Wow, I am really doing this!" Once this happened my eyes would get all watery....I guess I am a little emotional. It wasn't the actual running that made me want to cry, of course, it was more of the fact that I was going to accomplish a goal I had set for myself. Thanks to all my cheering fans that helped me along the way....Blaine, Brett, Annika, and all of the random people I had no idea on the sides of the road :)

Blaine and Brett ran the 10K and took first and second in their age group. Quite impressive for two people who didn't really train beforehand. The motivation must have come from the women (twice their age) who were passing them up, telling them to "push it!!" at the end that lead them to their victory. Way to go boys!     

Fairytale Wedding

After three wonderful years of dating my high school sweetheart, Blaine, we decided to tie the knot and make it official on September 26, 2009. It was the PERFECT day! There is not one thing I would have changed about this day (other than making time stand still of course). May I add that it was the most beautiful, wonderful and spectacular wedding I have ever been too.....not that I am biased or anything :) I will give credit where credit is due...Thank you to the world's best designer: Brooke! Thank you to the world's best wedding planner: Danielle! Thank you to the world's BEST mother-of-the bride: Mom! And of course, thank you to the world's most amazing man who picked me to be his bride. What a blessing it is to have him....I am so grateful!