Two weeks down!

Yesterday we completed two full weeks of insanity...and yes it was INSANE. The "warm-up" is around 10 minutes long and by the end of that I am dripping in sweat. I know, I am a girl and I am only suppose to glow (which is what I usually do) but these workouts kick my butt!!! So far we have really liked the workouts except they do get a bit repetitive. If you want a really great cardio workout mixed in with plyometrics and faced paced lunges and squats this one is great.

In about 3 weeks we get into phase two. That adds about 20 minutes on to every workout so this might get interesting. I don't know what we are going to do with our vacations coming up. We will have to figure out something or just pickup where we left off when we get back. My knee hurts some days but overall is holding up okay. I hope it keeps it up!

INSANITY

It claims to be the hardest workout ever put on DVD and from the 25 minute fit test, I believe they may be right. As I finished each exercise I huffed and puffed and about blew myself over. It is a 60 day program mapped out in a handy little calendar that comes with the set. I am excited to try this program and see what happens over the next two months. I think that I will take measurements tomorrow so that I can see my progress; however, I won't be posting those unless they actually improve :-) Chris and I are going to try and be really dedicated to the exercise program (I want to follow the nutrition guide as well but we'll see how Chris does with that :-) except we might not be so dedicated in our little stint in Hawaii. I don't know if our hotel neighbors will appreciate all the jumping. I hope that me knee holds up. It has been doing fairly well over the last month or so. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Wish us luck. It will be an adventure!!!

Zion

My family has had a reunion at Zion National Park for over 50 years. My Great Grandfather started the reunion and his six daughters carried it on. As nearly all of the second generation have passed on, it is carried on by those of us who love their memory and the heritage they left us. My heritage has always been very important to me. I have always stood in awe of the people who came before me. Despite the adversity in their lives they always stood valiant and saw the glass as half full rather than half empty. I love Zion despite it 100+ degree weather and red dirt, maybe I love it more because of those things. Here are lots of pictures of our adventures.

The red rock and cliffs really make a stunning view

A tunnel was built through the mountain sometime during the first half of the 1900's. I don't remember the date. This is one of the windows that is cut out of the rock as you drive through the mile long tunnel. The tunnel was not built tall enough for our massive, modern day motor homes so the traffic has to take turns. Only one side can go through at a time because the motor homes have to drive down the center of the tunnel.

It is somewhat hard to see, but if you look closely in the lower left hand corner of the picture you will see the window of the tunnel. I wanted to capture just how far down the cliff the tunnel is located.

During my lifetime I have gone to Zion approximately 15 plus times but I never saw a rattle snake...until this last trip. Luckily it was sitting off the trail about 10 feet and was not moving at all. If it had I am sure I would have run away screaming. I hate snake!

Chris and I started playing with the kids and I taught them how to make mud balls (I know I'm a bad influence). Chris decided that he wanted to make a mud ball snowman so here is our creation.

The day before we left we decided to hike Angels Landing with my uncle and cousins. We were all leaving that day but my uncle had a long drive and wanted to hit the road early. The first shuttle into the park left at 5:45 so my uncle wanted to be on it. Chris thought we were absolutely crazy to go hiking at that hour. I did not think much of it because I grew up hiking at odd hours in the morning. A couple of years we went to sand dunes that are about a hour away and we left at 4:00 am. Luckily I talked Chris into going that early and he was only a little grumpy ;-) The photo above is a shot of the last .5 mile of the hike. The hike is 2.5 miles one way but the last .5 mile is a little more treacherous. There are chains and steep drop offs. There are a couple of parts that are a little scary and you have to be careful but it isn't too bad.
Evidence of the early hour

This chipmunk was on top of Angels Landing and as you can see it was really friendly. That is Chris's shoe. He went away empty handed, we did not have any food.
The crew on top of Angels Landing

After Angels Landing Chris and I walked to the Narrows. I wanted to walk up a little ways but we were both too cold. The weather this year was a bit more mild, especially in the morning. We will have to go back another time for more hikes.

This is at the narrows as well but it was earlier in the trip. Chris originally thought that he had a test in his geology class, but he claims that his syllabus was wrong..sure.. :-) J/k he showed me his syllabus and he wasn't just trying to get out of a family reunion. I went down to Zion on Thursday and he came on Saturday. In the above picture I am helping my little cousin surf on the current.

This is as far up the narrows as we got. We had a nice vacation and it was hard to come back to reality. I can't wait for our vacation in Hawaii!

Goodbye Ashley!

I am incredible blessed in the in-law department. I married into a great family and all of the in-laws who married into my family are wonderful as well. One of my fantastic sister-in-laws embarked on a wonderful journey to the Czech Prague mission. She went into the MTC June 23rd but before she went our family had a little adventure at Lagoon. I loved the company and it was nice to spend a bit of time with Ashley in the lazy river before she left. The weekend continued to be full of family events with a trip to the Salt Lake temple, birthday celebrations at the grandparents, and lot of yummy food.

This is only a couple of hours before Ashley left. We went out to breakfast at Kneaders and then said our goodbyes. We will miss her a lot, but we know that she will have amazing, life changing experiences. She is such a light and example to all those around her. I know she will touch many lives.

Strawberry days

Chris and I went to the rodeo with some friends in Pleasant grove. I like to go to a rodeo every couple of years or so. Sometimes I am blown away by the cowboys. I cannot believe what they are willing to do. There is NO way that I would get on and angry horse let alone an angry bull.

This crazy event was milking the wild cow. It seemed that this event was one of the most dangerous.



There were two "trained" buffalo at the rodeo with a cowgirl as their trainer. Her purpose was to get the buffalo to climb on top of a trailer. It took a long time and in the beginning we did not know what she was trying to do. The announcer kept saying over and over, "this task is almost impossible, it has rarely been accomplished." I think he was preparing us for the possibility that it might not happen, it did; however, it was somewhat anticlimactic.

Mission accomplished