Blankets and Red Rocks!

Its been a busy couple of weeks! I finally remembered to take a picture of my little, Autum. We had an activity where we made a blanket for the Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser. I simply sewed two pieces of fleece together and then we cut strips and tied them! We also had pizza and watched Robots!

I have missed sewing and I think I'm going to try and do a couple of projects while I have my sewing machine out. I did patch some jeans for Brandon and now his roommate is requesting my services as well. I figure this will give me practice for my someday family.

On Friday I went to BestBuy and bought myself a new Asus laptop computer. I'm pretty excited to finally have a laptop that will work for more than five minutes without freezing.

  On Saturday February 18, 2012 Brandon and I left St. George at about 6:20 a.m. We were on our way to Red Rocks Canyon near Las Vegas Nevada. I heard about the amazing climbs in Red Rocks from my dear friend Brance Jones but I had yet to experience it for myself. The "canyon" was beautiful! The White cliffs with red stripes were amazing! I could barely contain my excitement! I LOVE multi-pitch routes, even though my knees end of shaking and hitting against one another, my palms get sweaty from fear, and I continually tell myself not to look down I keep climbing them.

 It took us about 45 minutes to hike to the base of the cliff much to my dismay, but we made it and I didn't pass out so things were going well. We completed the first pitch in good time.

This is the view from the top of the first pitch.

We then combined the second and third pitches, Brandon brought his 80 meter rope for this purpose. These pitches were pretty awesome with hand cracks throughout. It took me a little while to get used to crack climbing again since I do not do it on a regular basis, in fact I've only crack climbed a handful of times. 

Brandon leading (he lead all of them) the second & third pitch.

Kristen, from Portland OR, finishing the third pitch. Her and her partner Micha started climbing right after us. I was able to hang out and chat with them at the top of a couple of pitches. Its another thing I love about climbing is that you get to meet so many people from all over!

The forth pitch had a lot of traversing in it, but it was very, very easy. As for the fifth pitch....well lets just say I wanted to call Brandon a couple of bad names half way up the climb. There was a part where you could climb in a chimney or go right about five feet and use the face of the wall. However Brandon placed a piece of gear in the chimney so I had no choice but to go through there. Of course I did not realize my predicament until I tried going through the chimney, decided against it because I was climbing with the backpack, did some down climbing and went out on the face started up when I realized that I couldn't retrieve the gear if I went that way. So I finally accepted my fate. I did some more down climbing and went back into the chimney. I took the backpack off and let it hand between my legs....that was the easy part. I then had to shimmy my way up the chimney far enough that I could reach a hand hold and then place me right foot about level with my chest and stand up.....and I did it! It was super hard, but I was able to do it! After that the climbing was pretty basic and I was done with the route. We then spent a little time on the top enjoying the view and munching on some snacks.

View from the top!

We're so cute!!!

Out in the distance you can see Las Vegas.

An amazing view of the park below!

Brandon and I's "action" scene.

Red Algae

These cliffs were behind the set of cliffs we climbed. It was almost like another "canyon" behind us!

Micha and Kristen's "action" scene. 

I just thought this was adorable so.....I posted!

After resting we gathered our gear and started the brutal down climb. I must say I prefer repelling/wrapping down routes but we didn't have a choice on this one. By the time we got back to the car I was pretty exhausted BUT I felt like I had accomplished a pretty amazing climb. Brandon and I then decided to go the REI in Vegas. I bought myself a new pair of hiking shoes since mine are ready to throw away. We had a dinner of greasy fatty fast food and then drove home.

Monday I spent the day with my grandparents and nephews, Zach and Hayden. We went shopping, had lunch at the pasta factory (Brandon joined us for that), and then after we went back to their hotel in Mesquite. There the boys and I played in the arcade and won like 2,000 tickets, ate at the buffet, and bowled for three games (each of us won one game). Overall it was a fantastic three day weekend and I cannot wait until my next climbing adventure!

Winter Madness

Just as the title says it has a been crazy the past few months. I wish I had pictures....but I'm a horrible documenting my life's experiences (that was always my mom's job) and I need to start taking more pictures. First to begin with Brandon and I did indeed go snowboarding on January 24th. I had so much fun! It had snowed Saturday and Monday (the day before we went) so to snowboard professionals it was "the prefect day!" To top it off there was hardly anyone on the slopes!

 I can successfully get down the hill on my back edge without falling. Brandon had me practice going on my front edge. I was getting better. My fried TJ Morrison decided to join us, and I am so thankful he did. He was my companion on Blackfoot while everyone else did the bigger and steeper slopes.
 I did go on Roulette (see the picture of the routes below) the very last run, which is (according to Brandon about 100 feet or so shorter than Giant Steps) a bigger steeper slope then what I had been going on.

When Brandon asked me he pointed to some people coming through the trees that were maybe a hundred feet higher than the top of Blackfoot....so of course I said yes. But then I slowly began to realize.....Oh crap! This lift keeps going.....and going. So at that point I was completely nervous and slightly terrified. We were approaching the unloading area and Brandon tells me "Okay this one is different, its shorter and it icier."
 I'm thinking "Great! Anything else you did tell me!?!??," but all I say "You are going to help me right? So I don't fall on my face?"
He tells me "Of course."
With that assurance I look forward to getting off the lift, and sure enough I do not face plant it! Instead my feet go over my head in what TJ called the scorpion....yeah I totally biffed it off the lift. I was so embarassed! I had yet to fall getting off and I totally wiped out. And they had to stop the lift for me. Then as I was scrambling to get up I fell again, the lift guy asked if I was okay....all I could do is giggle and say yes. All I really wanted to do was find a hole and hide inside. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

 On January 28th Brandon and I took Chris, Ryan, Kyle and Kaylee climbing. Brandon was so adorable with the kids, it reminded me why I fell in love with him. I also spent an evening with my "little." We made homemade valentines, ate spaghetti, and watch A Dolphin Tale (splendid movie by the way).

The valentine I made Brandon and gave to him. I asked him to be mine for Valentines Day :)

All in all it has been really a wonderful last few weeks. They went by way too fast though! Work is constantly busy. I thought that it would slow down a little and that we'd be able to do some projects, so far I have been wrong. To top it off Tom and Misty will be gone for almost a week to a conference, which with leave yours truly here to run the office. I'm grateful for a job though. I am actually enjoying work and glad that I decided to stay. We have continued to go to the Jones' every Sunday for the lesson portion of FHE. I look forward to each Sunday afternoon. I love each person in that family dearly. They have taken me into their home and accepting me without hesitation. They have also welcomed Brandon with open arms as well. Speaking of Jones' I met another Brandon Saturday night. I couldn't believe that their was another individual with that name! It brought back a lot of memories, made me miss my friend a little more. Well that is all for now. I'm looking forward to writing more soon!