See you later 27!

 Another birthday has come and gone and another year has been added to my age. I typically dislike my birthdays, no actualy hate or loath my birthdays is a more appropriate word. I have been known to lock myself in a room or a closet and cry for a period of time. This birthday I vowed to be no different than the others. Everyone cries on their acutal birth day and I like to keep it up for traditions sake. Yet as I celebrated my birthday I decided maybe not to put on as big of pitty party and enjoy it. Take pride in what I have accomplished this past year and all the places I have been. So here is a tribute to 27. You were good to me and I am going to miss you dearly.

My new home in Aberdeen Idaho.

Playing in the leaves.

Perfecting my pizza making skills.

Dabbling with cupcake recipes. These were to die for. Chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting!

My attempt at my very own Thanksgiving day dinner. It was pretty amazing.

Survived the first huge snow fall. We were stuck in our house for 6 days as the roads were closed. Cabin fever is a real thing!!

Making graham cracker houses, the cheaper version of gingerbread houses.

Well all the food making had finally caught up to me so I started the flat belly diet. I lost a total of 5 inches, but quickly found them several months later.

This was valentines day. Taresa left for work before I even got up and when we saw eachother at school this is what we saw. Great minds think alike!

Taresa and I were suppose to go cross country skiing. I chickened out, but Taresa was brave and followed through with her word.

Spring break! We were visiting family in California and having lunch at In N Out. I love that place! At least 3 inches were found on this trip!

Having cupcakes in Ladera Ranch at our favorite place Cinnimon productions. I loved this place when I lived there; and have gotten everyone else to love it too. Lily especially loves their hello kitty cupcake.

Donkey Ball. They literally play basketball on donkey's. I feel like this pretty much sums it up.

Enrichment. I was in charge and decided to do cupcakes. Everyone was suppose to decorate a cupcake of themselves. I am on the right and Taresa is on the left if you couldn't tell.

Fenesa's Bridal shower. These are the amazing cupcakes that we got at Bernices Bakery. It is located in Missoula, MT. They were amazing! Especailly the red velvet with cream cheese frosting that was dipped in chocolate.

Sisters!

All the girls together on the McDonald side. Wish my mom was there, I know she was in spirit. Love my family.

Bridgette's baby shower, and attempt at cake decorating.

Went home for the summer and here we are playing at the park with Lily. Good thing no one was there to document me going down the slide. I remember I was reluctant to go down and Lily yelled from the bottom of the slide "What are you waiting for? Get down here NOW!" When I said I was scared she said "Ok I come show you!" What a great little teacher she is.

Dustin's birthday.

Playing at the science center.

More playing at the science center.

Still playing.

We played so much at the science center Lily fell asleep during our picuture opp.

She is one tired girl.

What an amazing year it has been. I have really high expectations for 28. Hopefully it can live up to them.

Running in the rain...

The other night Taresa comes in to the room and says she is going on a run. I begrudgingly say well I need to go for a walk. Taresa decides to hang up her running shoes for the night and come walking with me. Before we go I see that it is a little bit cloudy out and ask "is it raining outside?" Of course Taresa replied with a "Oh no." So off we went. It was a beautiful night and as we reached the top of the first hill I saw lightning off in the distance and a slow drizzle began. We concluded that it felt nice and their was no need to turn around. As we started down the hill the light sprinkle turned into bigger drops. But still nothing to worry about. Before we both knew it, the skies opened and rained down there furry upon us. For the first time in a long time I did something completely out of character. I ran, I ran like I had never run before; in the rain that is. As we rounded the bend and headed down the road a car pulled up beside me as Taresa was a little ways ahead and a young gentlemen asked if I needed a ride. At this point I new I wasn't to far off from home and politely declined. I was flattered that chivalry wasn't dead but I had to make sure that I stuck to my feminine roots. I knew I wasn't sugar therefor I wasn't going to melt. I made it to the hill that lies right before our house. It is a killer I did my best to run up it but at that point I was already drenched so I walked some of it as well. By the time I got home it felt as though I had just jumped into a pool fully clothed. Taresa said it was a run I would never forget, and so that is why we took pictures and I am documenting it to ensure that I never forget. It looks like rain tonight, maybe I will risk it one more time.

Nothing like running in the rain. To bad I was so out of breath I could have been singing in the rain as well.

Proud I made it back alive. I didn't even slip, trip or fall. GLORIOUS!

Hiking the 'M' in Missoula

While in Missoula for trip #2 I thought it would be a good, no GREAT idea to hike to the 'M' on the mountain. I hadn't done it since I was kid and thought it would be a good experience to relieve some of my childhood memories.





This is me before I got onto the trail. Looking up at it as if itwas no problem to hike. Also I was really proud of my tie dye shirt. I did it myself and I was really impressed with it.



Here I am walking the trail, ALOT more difficult then I ever remember it being.



This is where I wanted to stop. The view was good enough for me. I felt like I saw all that I needed to and I was fine to head down the trail.

Yet my sister who like always was there to push me along and to help me keep going up the trail. With reluctance I pushed on. I am only smiling becuase I wanted to make for a good picutre.



The top at LAST. I did it, I didn't think I was going to be able to but I did it.

I actually really ended up enjoying hiking the 'M'. It not only brought back great childhood memories but it also taught me a valuable lesson and that is this: There are going to be adventures that we embark on that we are excited for and fully embrace. Just like me with hiking the 'M', but once we start we realize how difficult it is going to be. We find resting points along the way that when we look out we see the beauty and we think this is good enough. Just as I  thought half way up "this is good enough". Yet if we keep pushing ourselves there is such a better view at the top. Not only do we get to feel the such great sense of accomplishment but we get such a better picture. And along our way there are going to be things that discourage us, people who were twice my age were passing me. At one point I thought I was going backwards. Yet through perservance and a little help and motivation from my sister I made it to the top. What an amazing view it was.



Here is me soaking in the all the beauty and my own awful stench. I was loving every minute of it.



Here is the M in all of it's glory.