Angel's Landing

So I have been wanting to hike to the top of Angel's Landing for a very long time, but every time I bring it up Cameron has some reason why he doesn't want to. My friend Brittnie and I decided that we could just hike it without those husbands of ours and we had the time of our lives!! If you ever get a chance to go to Zion I highly recommend this hike!

The Angel's Landing Peak



Along the Trail



Just before going up Walter's Wiggles, a series of 20 switchbacks. Our photographer didn't really get the switchbacks in the photo... but that's ok.



Almost there...



At the top!




The view



Looking down

It's Been A While

Oh man, I have been a horrible blogger these past few months. on a side note, I also haven't felt like Cameron and I have done anything that was worth blogging about until now. We have both been quite busy with school and work, Cameron even got "Employee of the Month." They made a little billboard for him at work that has a bunch of photos and random facts about Cameron. Most of the facts came from his list of 50 things that he wrote back in 2008.

For Spring Break this year Cameron and I and our friends, the Sumko's spent a week down in Cancun! We had so much fun just playing at the beach and snorkeling. It turned out that my parents planned to be in Mexico during that same week so we were able to go on a zip line adventure with them. Thanks guys for the tickets! Cancun has a water park, Wet n' Wild that we went to, it was so much fun! We spent most our time in the lazy river and going down the toilet bowl slide. All in all, it was a super fun trip and we hope that we can go back one day!!

Getting ready to snorkel!



Riding the bus into town, blurrying photos- we were moving



Buying some delicious street tacos



Eating some delicious street tacos



Watching the locals entertain their children



Dan and "creeper" Brittnie with a huge pork rind



Wacky shirts, one even said "He lovers me, he lovers me not."



Some local animal life, there were iguanas everywhere!



The view from our hotel room.



Hanging out at my parents' beach.



The Toilet Bowl!!







Our fancy night dinner, they almost didn't let Cam and Dan in because they were wearing flip flops.



Picture in the elevator.



Crazy Drunken Pirate Man Dancing at our hotel



Our "End-of-the-night-debriefing."



Last day at the beach.

Christmas Time

This Christmas was a a little different for Cameron and I. We both had the lovely opportunity of working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, sort of sad. But, that's what happens in the nursing world. We did get the chance to go up North and spend some time with my family before Christmas which was very nice.

We got to see my dad perform with The Mapleton Chorale at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, which was pretty neat!





We also had a White Elephant party with my family. That was so much fun! We even got a surprise guest visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus! All of the kids were very excited!



Uncle Phil, Colin, and Cameron with their gifts.



Springville was hit with a crazy snow storm and we woke up to about 12 inches of snow. We were able to build this pretty ugly snowman while we were there! haha My mom, Cameron and I picked out a Christmas wreath for my dad. (If you feel confused, I'm sorry, I have 2 dads.)




Cameron and I had to be home for work so our trip was cut short but, my parents still spoiled us rotten with Christmas gifts. We love them and are so grateful for everything they do for us. Growing up, Cameron's Grandpa always took the grandkids out to McDonald's for breakfast on Christmas Eve morning. Cameron and I had good intentions to wake up before work and go to McDonald's but when the alarm went off at 4:45am we both decided that sleeping was a better idea! haha That night, we had Chinese food for dinner (a long standing tradition in my family) and we opened one present that was pajamas. Christmas morning we went to work bright and early. I enjoyed being with all my residents on Christmas, a lot of them had no idea it was Christmas day and when you said "Merry Christmas" they got very excited. One lady said, "the is the strangest Christmas I've ever had!" While I was at work I was able to call my brother Colton, who is in Brazil on a mission. It was so good to talk to him, he sounds like he is doing well and like he's grown up a lot in the past year. After Cameron and I got home from work we headed over to a friend's house for a Christmas dinner. There were four couples total and at least one person in each couple had to work that day and none of us had family around so it worked out. We came home and around 10:00 we opened presents and went to bed so that we could wake up for work the next day. All in all it was a pretty good Christmas. I am so grateful for this time of year and that we can remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. I am so grateful for the Savior and his sacrifice for all of us. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our friends and family!!

This is your reward if you happen to make it through this really long post...

Cameron singing Wooly Bully with Dr. Casillas at his work Christmas party!

Thanksgiving!

Cameron and I had a great Thanksgiving. We were able to go to Pennsylvania and have the holiday with Cameron's parents. We had an amazing dinner with the Brown's, a family in the ward. I wish I would have taken photos of our dinner, but I always forget... Cameron and I did have the opportunity to walk around downtown Phoenixville. It was cool to see the old buildings and here memories from Cameron's high school years.

Here is the mural that tells some of the history of Phoenixville.





The famous Colonial Theatre that made an appearance in the movie "The Blob."





Cameron and the town.




Eating at the Black Lab Bistro.




Cameron's crab cakes.




While in Pennsylvania we were able to help put up Kevin and Susan's Christmas tree.







We also went to Cameron's 10 year class reunion. It was a lot of fun and Cameron really enjoyed seeing old friends.

Phoenixville High School, Class of 2000.




TJ, Scott, Scott's date, Kevin, Cameron, Cassidy, Brian, Brian's date.




Kenny, TJ, Cameron and Luke.




Us with Lucy and Nate Tyler.




We had so much fun on our little trip and can't wait to go back! Happy Thanksgiving!

Pine Valley Mountain

Yesterday Cameron and I and some friends hiked to the top of Pine Valley Mountain. It was probably one of the hardest hikes we have done in a long time. It was 12 miles round trip and it took us about 6 hours. The whole hike was so pretty, the leaves were changing colors, the views were amazing, all in all it was definitely worth it!

Here we are at the beginning of our journey, about 1.5 miles in.



A few years ago an avalanche came through here and wiped out all the trees, it's just barely starting to grow back.



The miles mile of the hike was brutal, it feels like you are going straight uphill. The trail is a mixture of loose rocks and boulders you climb over, so your legs are screaming at you to just stop walking. Even with our legs being as tired as they were, it was so worth it! Here is the group sitting at 10,000 feet up, enjoying the view.



The was a family of ladybugs that ate lunch with us, you can only see 6 of them, but down in that crevice there are like 30 ladybugs!



Cameron, sitting on Burger Point



Cameron and I sitting on a cliff, with St. George below us.



The view of St. George!



I feel so grateful that Cameron and I live in a place where we can go outdoors and see all of these amazing places. It is so humbling to see so much of the world that isn't covered in houses, and fast food restaurants. I feel like I need to thank my Grandpa Nilsen, because if it wasn't for him I know I wouldn't love to hike and be outdoors! Thanks Gramps, for taking me on all those hiking/camping trips! I am not sure if Cameron feels the same as me but, I can't wait to do this hike again!