One Blessed Year...

A year ago today I had the wonderful opportunity to

 share something special with B and these incredibly lovely ladies...

I cannot believe it has already been a year.

Mount Timpanogos was absolutely beautiful that crisp January morning

and I could not have been surrounded my more wonderful people.

B, thank you for being my strength.

Momma, thank you for encouraging me to reach my goals.

Tammy, thank you for reminding me to dream bigger. (and for being my amazing escort)

Lauren, my sweet sister, thank you for being there by my side every step of the way 

and for making this day that much more special by sharing it with me.

Camelback...

B and I have decided that while the weather is calm here in Phoenix,

 we might as well explore...

Today we hiked Camelback Mountain.

Its summit is 2,704 feet above sea level.

Once you reach the top you can see Phoenix and all of its surrounding cities.

Not gonna lie, my buns were burning the whole way up...

But once you reach the top, 

The view is worth it.

Saturday Explorations...

Arizona this time of year is wonderful

It was a blissful 75 today

B and I drove around all day with the windows down 

Our adventures today took us to Hole in the Rock

It is a neat little hike. 

(I think I may have worn the wrong shoes for the occasion)

The whole thing is made of sandstone and has naturally eroded

 Interesting fact: Back in the day the natives used it as a calendar device

Once you walk through the hole there is such a beautiful view of the Phoenix skyline

This is one of the many faces I get from B when I take his picture

It was a wonderful day to explore with my B.

Loved being out in the open air and feeling the sunshine on my skin.

Arizona has so much to offer and

 I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here to see it all

Something Sweet...

Yesterday B and I had a wonderful surprise...

Poppy showed up for the evening

He had a little trip for work near Phoenix, so he decided to stop by.

B made some tasty steaks, we shared some stories,
and we decided to binge a little bit...

YOGURTLAND
One of our ultimate favorites and we finally introduced Dad to it.

These two handsome men are, by far, my two most favorite guys ever
Love them both so much
I do not know what I would ever do without either of them in my life...
Thank you for a wonderful evening guys 

Back to life...

Since our 3 week holiday vacation has ended we're back to the swing of things.

I must say, I miss waking up whenever I felt like it and lounging around in our jammies all day...
but the bills must get paid. 

I have continued my job at Youngker High School as a paraprofessional, focusing mainly on the Life Skills class. It is a challenging opportunity, but I am learning a lot and get to spend my days with some pretty wonderful kids.

B is continuing to get fit/ready for the season (which I love) but I tend to get drug into it. (I am kind of lazy)

 I have been searching for a little bit of motivation and I think I have found it...

Last night while we were running in the fitness room I was forced to stare at the swimming pool the whole time and it hit me...

 I AM LIVING IN PHOENIX ALL SUMMER LONG

Heat + Pool = Me in a bathing suit

I am in desperate need of a new swimmer so what better way to prepare for one.

A year to remember...

2012 was a wonderful year for B and I.
So many amazing adventures and life changing moments...

January: Celebrated the New Year in North Carolina, got my wisdom teeth removed, had my Bachelorette moment (dont you worry, that is sparkling cider), and went to the Temple.

February: Sealed for time and all eternity in the St. George Temple, Honeymooned in South Carolina, and moved to Arizona.

March: B started Spring Training, traded in the Trailblazer for a truck, and ate a lot of cupcakes.

April: Found Cafe Rio in Arizona, worked at Native New Yorker, B left for Bakersfield, and we went apartment hunting in Cali.

May: Moved into our first apartment in Bakersfield, got a job at a gym, met the Worthens, and went fishing at Lake Isabella.

June: Learned new tricks, went to North Carolina, hiked Mnt. Mitchell, and ate purple potatoes. 

July: Had Dewars ice cream, went to the Los Angeles Temple and Santa Monica Pier, went to the Kern River, went shooting in the middle of nowhere, and watched lots of baseball.

August: Rode quads at Pismo Beach, watched my mom kill it in a fitness competition, saw my sister get married in Lake Tahoe, said goodbye to our house in El Dorado Hills, and celebrated my 23rd birthday.

September: B got a bow, he skinned a couple rattlesnakes, and we said goodbye to another baseball season.

October: Blaine turned 24, we went to the batting cages, my sister had her wedding reception, had family pictures taken, we moved back to Arizona, and I started working at Youngker High School. 

November: Went shooting, saw Eric Church in concert, went to a lot of pawn shops, traded in the Jetta for a Sonata, had Thanksgiving in Vegas with my family, and traveled to St. George for Holdens endowment.

December: Got our calling as Sunbeam teachers, my dad turned 50, went to Glendale glitters, had our first Christmas Tree, traveled cross-country, Christmas with the Howells, welcomed in the New year with friends and family.. the same way we started it... in North Carolina.

Here's to the next chapter... 2013

A Southern Christmas...

Christmas in the South was wonderful. 

We spent our days surrounded by a ton of family and friends... 

This year was my first Christmas away from my family which was a little hard
 but I did my best to make the most of it.
The whole Howell side came to Asheville and it was an absolute treat. 

2 Grandparents, 10 Aunts and Uncles, and 16 Grandchildren all in one house.

 (Madness) (Not everyone is pictured!) 

It was a season full of excitement...
We... opened presents (I got a new camera)

- Ate tons of good food -

- Went to the Columbia, SC Temple for Savannah (She leaves for Brasil in May)-

 - Shot guns basically every day - 

- Visited District 12 -

- Had a huge bonfire with some good friends for New Years -

- And finished off our trip at Lake Travis in Texas -

I think it is safe to say that our Holiday Season was a great success