an early start to resolutions

because waiting until the end of December is sort of not the point, right?

I started this blog in 2009 when I was living in St. George and and really unhappy with my life and some of the people in it, as a way to deal with it all - i've since deleted a lot of those posts and now it starts somewhere in september, after I had been home for about a month and my great grandmother had just died - those older posts were irrelevant to the life i'm living now, and i didn't want to or have a reason to remember those things in that sort of detail. Anyway, we've had a lot going on lately, and I feel like back then, I was blogging every little detail of my life, and sometimes I still feel like I do that, but not as often, I guess. I don't really feel the need anymore to share all of the details. Those are mine. Lots of really great things happen, lots of sweet moments and lots of surprises, but sometimes I just choose to keep those to myself. Some of the time, I feel like if I don't write it down, I'll forget it, which explains most of the random and pointless things I sometimes post, but when it comes down to it, this blog has become something I'm really proud of. I've been able to watch myself grow, and at the same time, keep track of everything I've done and been through. It's been a pretty amazing 3 years, looking back on it. I've come a long, long way. and in september of 2009? i surely didn't think that by november of 2012 i'd be cuddling under a fuzzy blanket in herriman with my husband, laughing at our puppy. (to name a few...) 

That being said, a lot has gone on lately. We've been very busy and very involved and very happy. 

I've been in love with Herriman since the second we moved here and it's been good to us. What an awesome place to live. 

Cooper is as hilarious and sweet as ever, and he's proven himself to be not only my little, sweet baby puppy, but also a good friend. He's our little buddy! And he's getting so big! I can hardly believe he was only 7 pounds and sleeping in my lap just 2 months ago. He has at least tripled in size. He's also a genius. 

Devin continues to be the greatest part of my life. He is so sweet to me and so caring. He is always so aware of me. I love that about him. 

I've been taking my job very seriously and love how appreciated I feel at work, even though all those guys think it's so funny to play pranks on me on a regular basis - i'm grateful to work for a family owned company - it's exactly the kind of atmosphere I wanted in a work place. and you know what else? being the only girl in the entire shop is actually a good thing. all those guys are great to me. they have changed my oil, covered my butt, backed me up and respected me like I wouldn't have ever thought they would. i love them all! (on most days, haha!)

Devin and I are gearing up for holiday season and are making all sorts of plans. I can't wait for Thanksgiving, and more so, Christmas. Ever since last Friday, when we had that first big snow fall, I've felt pretty fulfilled. I've also been thinking a lot about the new year, and have already started compiling a list of resolutions:

> get our finances in order (we've gone this long without a strict budget, and plan on changing that to build up savings and pay off student loans as fast as possible)

> take up... something. i need a hobby or an activity. i'm thinking of something like a spinning class or maybe something artsy... painting? i have no clue. i also want devin to show me the ropes in photography (pretty sure i only know how to turn his camera on.)

> expand my repertoire of cooking skills - i want to learn a bunch of new dishes and start experimenting more with baking. i'm thinking like... cupcakes from scratch, my own brownie recipe (which will obviously be to die for) and maybe even try my hand at pastries.

> go on a big trip - 2013 is sounding like a good time for somewhere beachy.

that list is only going to get bigger! hopefully. i'm trying to be realistic and also risky. i want to push myself and also understand my limits. i think it will be a great year!

good to be alive

after an extremely long and taxing week of preparing for a big bouldering competition, my tired sore husband had finally come home at a decent hour. the week was pretty stressful for me as well with extremely busy work days. not to mention our occasional frustration with training a puppy (it's a good thing he's so cute. seriously.).

we took full advantage of our weekend together and started off with Cooper's first trip to Petco. recently, coop learned that his stuffed animal chew tows have insides... so 3 toys got promptly thrown in the trash. when the toys were gone, he was left to chew on us. mostly me. have you ever snagged your finger on a puppy's k9? i have. multiple times. his scratches and bites are like paper cuts, but bigger and more painful! we're certainly working on the "this is a chew toy / this is not a chew toy" thing. because my hell, if he doesn't get it down soon, i'm going to have a meltdown! even though sometimes cooper makes me want to scream and lock him outside, he can get me every time with those puppy eyes. and he has a very cute way of apologizing by coming up to you out of nowhere, just to cuddle. i sure love that baby boy. (but i'm still pretty anxious to get out of this phase!)

anyway, we went to petco and got all stocked up on a bigger bed (he's already grown out of the first one we got him!), more dog food, a bunch of toys and pretty much everything else. i had never had a reason to go to a pet store, and it was like christmas! i wanted to get him everything! and those doggy treat bars? genius. so cool.

we got some olive garden to go (because when you have a puppy, you're more apt to just stay home. and it's usually worth it anyway) and devin watched the BYU game while i had some peace and quiet!

saturday, we let ourselves sleep in until 8 (yay!) and headed straight to Maple Canyon to get in one last climbing session before it got too cold.

i have been in a funk lately and haven't had any motivation to climb anything challenging, especially outside of the gym. and the funnest routes at Maple are SOOOO LONG. it's tiring and it's been a long time since i climbed, so my toes hurt pretty bad, plus devin was really sore from all the boulder comp prep, so after only about 2 hours of climbing, we opted for a hike through box canyon. absolutely beautiful place, by the way. i love Maple Canyon, especially this time of year. The entire canyon was lit up with reds and oranges, not to mention the awesome atmosphere that is the climbing community. everybody is friends. i love it.

 

cooper got a little chilly. the only way i knew is because i wrapped him up in our coats and he didn't wiggle out. he just hunkered down and fell asleep for awhile!

 

cooper was very concerned that i was climbing so high... he kept trying to climb after me!

 

 

BOX CANYON:

 

we found a cave and explored

 

we took the Nebo Loop home - it was gorgeous!

 

< in the cave

> maple canyon in autumn

 

< cooper got SO dirty

> testing out the iphone panorama

 

< nebo loop

> lots of car time for this guy

< right by the road grazing in payson canyon on our way out of the loop

on sunday, we drove up to Strawberry, where my family was camping, and spent the day with them, listening to general conference. we did some four-wheeling, but mostly played with Cooper and relaxed. it was chilly, but so good to be outside, and with my favorite people.

it was exactly what we both needed: to wind down, be outside, and catch up on our own lives. weekends like this, spent outside in the gorgeous mountains all over Utah, remind me how wonderful it is to be alive.

never forget

images via

the new york skyline changed forever 11 years ago today.

i feel that as a nation we are more united on this day each year than any independence day in our history. because this day is a day we will never forget.

God Bless the USA