Summer 'o' Camping

Catherine and I have caught the camping bug!!! (Well... I caught the camping bug, and Catherine is excited too). As such, we've made this year's big purchases on camping gear. We have 2 tents (one car-camping tent that's bigger, and pictured is the lighter-weight backpacking tent).

We also purchased 2 backpacks, and 2 down sleeping bags. If you couldn't tell... I am very excited about our purchases.

In order to test out the gear, Catherine and I had our first camping adventure in a somewhat unusual spot. We contemplated building a fire but decided against it in our landlord's behalf.

We decided to get brave and venture beyond our apartment living room and planned a trip with McKay (my twin brother) to Zion National Park. It was a fantastic trip! The weather was perfect, and the hikes we went on were outstanding. We drove down early Friday morning while listenening to Eragon on McKay's iPod. I got a speeding ticket for going 95 mph in a 75 zone :-(. The officer knocked it down to only 15 mph over which saved us about $50. I pay for the ticket today, as well as online traffic school, as well as an online fee to TAKE the course on the internet. I think I learned my lesson.

On Friday, we set up camp, hiked the "Emerald Pools" trail, as well as weeping rock. We made BBQ pork-chop tinfoil dinners that were delicious, and chatted around the fire 'til the sun went down.

McKay and Catherine Setting up Camp. The camp-site was okay, but not ideal. We had TONS of people all around. Little Critter-friends include hundreds of lizards, as well as a mouse or a gopher (we saw it poking its head out of the hole, but couldn't tell which it was).

This is the scenery on our way up the trail to the Emeral Pools.

Adam and Catherine Hiking the Emerald Pools trail.

This picture was specifically taken with my mother in mind. It's too bad the picture doesn't make it look as high as it really is! This is also on the way to the Emerald Pools. Emerald Pools Trail. A guy from Germany took this picture. There were more Europeans on the trails than there were Americans. It was pretty great to meet so many new people. McKay up at the upper Emerald pool. Looks like he's doing some evil plotting.

Adam and Catherine in the upper pool

Entering the Narrows Hike

Catherine Promised her Kindergartners to bring back a treasure from her adventure.
For more pictures, click here.

It has been a while!

May be since we will be checking Rachel's blog we will remember to do our own. And may be it will encourage us to take pictures of ourselves- (we are REALLY bad at that).

Let's see. Adam has fallen in love again. I am excited it is a love I can share with him and not be jealous of though. His new love: well it is hard to say- REI- his new tent and sleeping bag and pack which we haven't picked up quite yet-Camping in general. But I really love camping, so this is exciting for me too (not quite as exciting for him though.) He made me laugh when we went to REI to get the tent. He exclaimed, "A store THAT big dedicated all to camping!!" I don't know how many of you remember his five year old birthday video. He is a spaz waiting to open all of his presents. Well, this week has been a huge repeat of that scene, and I LOVE it!!! We did take a picture of us setting up our tent in our house and sleeping in it. But Adam will have to post that one.

Adam has also just transferred positions at NuSkin. HE is now in a different building and gets paid a tiny bit more, but doesn't work on Saturdays ever!! He will now be taking calls to help distributors of NuSkin products understand how to get their commission checks etc. It is extremely complicated and Adam comes home from training each day a bit overloaded I think with the ins and outs of it all. He feels confident thought that in a month of doing it he will be as "pro" at it as he was at the other stuff. His old boss was REALLY sad to loose him, and that was really flattering to him. He is so fantastic with people, so I think it is awesome that his superiors recognize that and value that. They really love him a lot. It is so great to work in a place you feel valued (especially when you don't LOVE the tasks of your job). I am really proud of him and I think it is just awesome what he id doing.

I am suffering from major summer fever. This is the first time in five-six? years that I have not been tied to the BYU semester schedule. My spring break came right during Adam's finals, so I had lots of down time with him. I am exceedingly ready for summer to come!!! Adam always reminds me that he works as long as I am supposed to. I always remind him that I have to stay a little longer or I am not prepared. Every time I am not prepared I want to shoot myself because it is so hard the next day. I will still have TONS of school stuff to do all summer, but it will be so nice not to have to manage 26 kids and do all of that for a little bit. I believe there are 19 school days left. Wahoo! This has been a really great first year. The best part though is that next year inevitably will be better!!! I am so excited to try again and do a better job. However, I need a summer before I am ready for that just yet!

We love all of you tons, and we are both excited for summer time when everyone is here and we can play together!
Catherine