Pictures and Procrastination

I have been terrible at keeping up with this thing... I'm assuming people read it but I don't really think anyone does...aside from my mom, anyway. Oh well, I guess the reason I started it anyway was for the benefit of my family being able to see how things are going so I'll keep trying to update. I guess it will be fun to look back on someday as well...

Anyway, the weekend of our anniversary we went up to the high country of Arizona. I talked to a couple of guys at work that are big hikers and they gave us hiking maps and one guy told me about the hike that he thinks is the best in Arizona. We went on that one on the way up. It's about 10 miles north of Sedona-through red rock canyons. We hiked about 6-7 miles but it was flat and easy and SO beautiful!

We stayed in Flagstaff and explored the town of Flagstaff as well that weekend. The town wasn't as big as we thought it would be and not really like the other mountain towns (like Vail, CO) we would have compared it to, had we not gone there. It was very much a college town with lots of unique people who were all about peace and love. Very cool...we had a great greek dinner at an all natural, organic restaurant-recommended by one of the aforementioned people.

On Sunday (our anniversary) we decided to be adventurous and hike to the peak of a mountain. The peak was about 9300 feet and we started at about 6500. So it was straight up hill the whole way. The whole hike was a little over 6 miles round trip but it took us 3 1/2 hours... the going up always is the worst. It's so worth it to make it up though. We went on a hike in the rockies a few years ago with some good friends from college so we knew what to expect on this hike. Fortunately, though, we weren't affected by the altitude on this hike. On the hike in Colorado, we climbed up to 13,000 feet so we were absolutely dying by the time we got up. We were dead tired after this hike too, but it was much more enjoyable since we didn't feel like fainting! It was a great way to spend the day of our first anniversary!

In other news, I've been pretty busy with work. I worked last Saturday and the reason why I am mentioning this is because that day was almost the last day of my life. I had to do an inventory observation. I won't go into the details but to say that I had to climb up 60 foot silos to measure the product inside. There were 8 silos. And the way I got up? Ladders. With nothing around them or below them but the ground and sky. I have never been so scared. And the worst thing about these ladders is that the rungs were only as big as my fingers. They were unbelievably small. So, fortunately I lived to tell about this but holy crap! That was maybe the most scared I've ever been in my life. Other than that I've been out at client's and working at nights and I'm going to use that as my excuse for never posting...

Actually, speaking of being out at clients, on Monday when I was working out at a particular client a stray kitten walked up. It hung around all day and no one else would take it home. So, of course, I just had to! I couldn't let the poor thing get hit by a car or anything. I took it home and locked it in the bathroom for the night-just in case it was sick I didn't want it to get near Berkeley or Emerson. Then the next day, I took it to be put up for adoption. It needs to get tested for Feline Leukemia and if it has that then it has to be put to sleep (that's like cat AIDS). I'm trying to talk Tim into letting me adopt it but I don't think he will... I really just feel so bad for it and it was so precious and cute. But I guess we don't need three cats, but really, what's one more? Ahh...I don't know.

So I guess that's all that's been going on...enjoy the pictures!!

Red rocks of Sedona.

Red rocks of Sedona.

Hiking in Sedona

Getting ready to go on the hike in Sedona

Tim on the hike in Sedona

Aww...a nice couple took our picture on the hike in Sedona.

Cool!

Big red rock of Sedona.

Flagstaff mountains.

Flagstaff mountains

Just coming down from Mt. Elden peak...leaving the beatiful aspens.

Getting close to the Mt Elden peak.

We made it! (and it was FREEZING up there...and windy! We're lucky we remembered to bring our beanies...and that we actually kept them!) The view was totally worth it though!

At the peak. The city of Flagstaff is off to the right.

Mt. Humphreys...the highest point in Arizona. Higher than Mt. Elden by 3000 feet. We had a great shot at it from Mt. Elden.

Close to the top of Mt Elden peak, we encountered more aspens which meant beautiful fall colors-totally worth the trip up.

Kitten I rescued. I love it so much. I so want to adopt her. She has beautiful blue eyes. Everyone tell Tim that I must have her!

The first year five?

In our first year of marriage (really only the last few months of it) Tim and I have both gained 5 pounds. Somehow I managed to bypass gaining the freshman 15 in college (even though Tim gained the freshman 40) but during this first year of marriage I gained five pounds. This really isn't that big of a deal but I did the math and if we continue on this 5 a year path, 50 years into our marriage I will weigh 370 pounds and Tim will weigh 405 pounds. Now, while that is somewhat of a hysterical image to me, I don't think I would like to try this. Plus, if we ever got that big we might die before we reach 50 years of marriage. So, since we regularly work out and eat healthy, the only conclusion I can come to is its all from the massive bowls of ice cream, peanut butter, and oreos that we eat on a consistent basis. The only other conclusion I could think of was that I could be pregnant (this stemming from the fact that in ONE day I saw approximately 30 pregnant women AND then, in the same day, heard a story from one of my co-workers that she got pregnant on the pill. Following these incidents, I then prayed to all of the gods in this world to spare me from the dreaded and that all of this was not meant to be some sort of a sign for me).

After taking a pregnancy test, I am relieved to know that I've just gotten fatter. And don't tell me that pregnancy tests are only 99% accurate. That is good enough for me! And plus, if I'm pregnant Tim must be too...he's gained 5 pounds right a long with me and my boobs aren't sore. I don't think his are either. So there. My first conclusion is the only conclusion that makes sense. Three years ago I was told to eat a shake or ice cream every day to gain weight. I stopped eating it every night after my weight stabalized. But, lately we've been eating it every night again (and proving that it does help to gain weight...again) so from now on, I am boycotting ice cream-at least the once a day massive bowl of ice cream. I don't think I could ever fully boycott it...it's too much of a diet staple and too good of an indulgence. And by the way, when I say massive bowls I do mean massive... go check out the dishes and silverware we have from Pottery Barn. THEN you will understand what I am talking about. They are supersized...like silverware and dishes intended for giants who are 10 feet tall and 500 pounds. I'm not kidding. Anyway, bottom line is: Tim and I will not be 405 and 370 pounds, respectively, in 50 years. And I'm not pregnant. Thank god.

A year ago today...September 25, 2004

At this time last year (9:30 p.m. Kansas City time) we were officially married and getting ready to head off to the Raphael Hotel on the plaza! I miss last year simply because everyone that we love was with us at the same place, same time. It was such a great day...not to mention a great weekend. We couldn't have asked for more perfect days the entire weekend...in each and every respect. And, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect first year of marriage. I'm so thankful for every year that I have with Tim... I love him so much more every year and this year especially we have learned so much more about each other and we have grown as a couple in ways that I wouldn't have imagined before we got married. So, today I celebrate for what we have but even more for what's to come in the future.

Here are some pictures taken by various people to go back to the past a little bit... We still don't have our official pictures yet, but these are just as great! There are some pictures of the rehearsal dinner, too. Enjoy!!