There is no Arizona...

I like that country song.... Its not true though, there is an Arizona and it's hot. Unbearably hot this time of year. 

My friend Megan just moved down to the Phoenix area to get her masters at Arizona State University. Last week I went down to visit her. I don't know if you live in the Seattle area, but if you do... you'll understand why I didn't think we were going to have a Summer at all. May, June, July, and most of August were dreadful around here! So I planned my trip for September thinking i'd get a little bit of sun before Fall hit us. Well things finally warmed up here right in time for me to leave! So while I was in the sweltering, unforgiving Arizona sun.... of course Washington decided to warm up to a perfect 85! 

If you'll remember back to my last encounter with Arizona in 2010 I loved the April weather! It hadn't been hot in WA in a LOOOOOONG time and it wasn't ridiculously warm there yet. I think that I could be one of those old people who chases the sun... live in Washington during from the end of spring to Christmas then go south for the sun for a few months! One thing is for sure though, I could never live somewhere that maintained a temperature above 95 after midnight. No thanks!

Despite the sweat-inducing weather I had a great time down in the desert! It was relaxing and fun.

We went to an ASU football game versus Missouri. I had never been to a college game besides WSU, which has a much smaller stadium. The Sun devils managed a victory in overtime. It was a great game!

Megan and I after the game. The team had just revealed their new black uniforms so everyone wore shirts that said "Fear the Fork." Sometimes I wish I had gone to a big University that had so much school spirit instead of a smaller school that got rid of its football program.

The big cities down there are actually pretty close together. Megan lives in Mesa which is a little ways away from Phoenix. We did a day trip over to Scottsdale to walk around the shops and eat ice cream!

The weather down there was down right crazy!
We had several thunder and lightning storms that were accompanied by torrential downpours!

Have I mentioned before that I really really really like football?!
I originally was going to plan my trip to coincide with the Seahawks playing the Cardinals, but unfortunately that doesn't happen until January when I'll be in Hawaii!
But I still wanted to catch a game while I was there. And it was a great game!
Cardinals Vs. Panthers
Cam Newton had an amazing game for a rookie!
He broke Peyton Manning's record for most yards thrown!

September 11th tribute.

It was cool to see another stadium.... but I will say that the Cardinals fans are really lame compared to Seahawks fans. The stadium is a dome (thank goodness I loved the A/C) and they still weren't very loud! 

On the way home he encountered a dust storm.
Down there they call them.... Haboobs.
Such a funny name.

Driving into the storm.

Next on our adventure list was a day trip to Sedona!

The drive was about 2 hours.... made me glad we didn't decide to drive all the way to the Grand Canyon like I had wanted!

The area around Sedona was beautiful.

Red Rocks.

The actual town of Sedona was nice. Lots of shops with the same stuff.... and tons of physics.

All in all it was a great trip!

I am glad to be home though. I need to focus on getting back into a routine.... just to leave again this weekend for my half marathon! In other exciting news.... I am on top of the leader-board in my fantasy football league! I don't know if I mentioned this before... but I was terrible last year. So my two wins this year definitely tie how many wins I had last year! I'm trying to enjoy this moment because you just never know how the next week is gonna go! Wish me luck!

A lot can happen in 13 days....

I'm not sure that one of those things is going to be me becoming reading to RUN another half marathon! Thats right... I have 13 days until my next half in Bellingham. I went about training this time completely different than the first time around. By different I mean I didn't really do much training... Sure I ran (some) but beyond that I haven't really been completely committed to this race. Which now, 13 days before, makes me nervous and kinda sad! I'm still going to do it. I just don't know that I will do it as well as I did in June.... or that I will feel as good about it.

For the last race I ran regularly (through a lot of pain), I gave up coffee, alcohol, gluten, dairy and most junk food.

This time... I took a vacation to visit my friend Megan three weeks before the race and ran once, ate tons of pizza, frozen yogurt, coffee, alcohol, and more candy than I care to mention!

Since I've been hiking so much I know that I am in some shape.... but its different. At least I know I can walk the 13.1 miles! I'm doing this race with two of my best friends... and I don't think they have been training very much either so at least we will all be in the same boat!

Don't get me wrong here, I'm excited for the race... And I plan on giving it my all!

On a positive note... Since I've been running less I've been in less pain! The last two times I've been running I've manage 5 miles... next time I'll try 8. The 5 has felt good, I've just had to stop because of time restraints. And on an even more positive note, my pt called and my orthotics are in! I've been without them for almost a month because they were giving me blisters! Hopefully I can get used to them in time for race day!

I need some ideas here.... Last race my power color was purple, should I stick with it or switch it up? I think I'll stick with my mantra of, "conquer it!" worked so well last time around!

Hopefully I look this happy at the end of my next half!

Let's Catch Up.

Instead of feeling guilty about not blogging about my recent adventures.... I've decided to just do a little photo journaling about everything that I have been up to! It has been a busy busy few weeks with lots of adventures with family and friends. Mostly hiking, Mariners games and if you didn't already know..... IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON! Which basically means that I will be a terrible blogger, friend, daughter, sister and cousin for the next few months. Don't say I didn't warn you, because when it comes to football season let's just say I'm intense!

Mt. Ellinor! August 8th

That's right.... AUGUST! Look at all this snow! We couldn't even make it to the top!

Mariners game for my brother's birthday!
That's what we call some rally hats!
Too bad they lost!

August 17th
One of the best hikes I've ever done!

Check out these wildflowers!
Middle of August is the best time for this hike.

On top!
The clouds engulfed us by the time we reached the top!
It was super eerie but sort of magical too.

August 25th Marmot Pass

More beautiful flowers!
This was the perfect day for a hike, completely blue skies and warm temperatures!

The pass!

After hiking over 5 miles we felt very accomplished at this point....
But there isn't too much of a view from the pass, so we decided to extend our hike by a thousand feet to get a better view!

Buckhorn Mountain!
A side trip with an amazing view.
You could see all the way from Vancouver Island to Mount Rainier!
So peaceful on top!
Ended up being about a 12 mile hike!

Mariner's game with Katy!
Thanks Boeing! The Mariner's still didn't come through with a win though.

The Kitsap County Fair!
Lots of fair food and my very first Rodeo!

Are you ready for some Football?!
My first ever preseason game!
September 2 vs. the Raiders

Great time and a Seahawks WIN! Wahoo!

Tubal Cain Mine/ Tull Canyon September 5th

This was a pretty easy hike until the last mile which felt pretty straight up!
This photo is of a B-17 plain crash that went down in the 50's.
I wish I could have appreciated this more but as we were walking out into the clearing I got stung by a bee!
My Dad, aunt and grandpa are all really allergic so I was nervous since I hadn't been stung since I was little.
Thankfully I'm not allergic!
There were also thousands of mosquitos up here in this swampy area.
It just got warm in Washington so now all the bugs are out!

So that is a taste of the recent happenings in my life!
Now that I have gotten caught up I can think about blogging more often!

Where the heck is part 2?!

That is the last time I title a post as being multi-parted!

Sorry for the recent lack of postings, all I can say is that I've gotten out of the habit! The best part about this blog is how much fun I have sharing my recent adventures. When I start to feel like I HAVE to post something it doesn't seem like that much fun to me. So yes I took a little break, but I'm not gone forever! So here is what you've been DYING for! Photos from the rest of my camping trip and of my newest nephew!!!!

Check out the cutest baby born in 2011! Kaiden Thomas Gilbert! Weighing 7 lbs 4 oz and 19 1/2" born at 2:32 pm!

Such a happy Auntie!

Look at how precious this kid is!

The first family shot!

After my quick trip home it was time to return to camping! Chelan bound I was!

A quick stop in Leavenworth for some beer and brats (veggie of course)!

 Then we made it to Chelan! The weather the first day was less than awesome (a trend for the trip) so all the girls went wine tasting! I had never been before and it was awesome! I'm not much of a connoisseur  but I know what I like. It was great to try some new types.

The weather eventually improved! Hello warmth! We had fun making margaritas, mojitos and hanging out by the pool!

Callen also got his very first haircut! Can't you tell how much he loved it?! 

This is his "Auntie stop them!" face. 

After he saw how stinkin' cute he looked he seemed a bit happier!

Maybe one of my favorite photos ever.

I love this kid!

Well thats all for now! More to come soon... someday :)

Happy Campers Part 1.

Miles driven: 994

I had an amazing camping/road trip! It all started out with the Warrior Dash. I camped that night with my parents, then after a short stop to the North Bend Outlets I headed east to Yakima. My oldest brother Marcus lives there. I was excited for warm weather and quality brother/sister time! I really enjoy driving in Eastern Washington. I crank the music up and sing the entire way!

When I got into town we decided to jump back into the car and drive to the Tri Cities to watch the  Yakima Bears beat the Dust Devils. (And no, the Tri Cities aren't really that close to Yakima.)

The rest of the time in Yakima was spent making homemade pizza, playing rockband, reading, watching the Tour de France, relaxing, and exploring!

Then it was on the road singing again! I met my parent's who were camping with family friends in Couer  d'alene, Idaho. 

The drive was sunny and beautiful the entire way! As much as I love how green Western Washington is, I still appreciate all those wheat fields. They are beautiful in their own way.

After the Warrior Dash I convinced myself that there wasn't anything that I couldn't do.
Usually I'm the biggest wimp in the world when it comes to scary rides.
But I'm working on that fearless resolution!
I was also attempting to lose my voice!
I was screaming bloody murder for this entire ride!
At one point you are like 300 feet in the air with your legs loose looking straight down.  

Since I had already conquer that first scary ride, I thought the ride where they just bring you way up in the air and drop you would be a piece of cake!
I was wrong.
It was worse on so many level!
First of all I hate heights.
And they definitely build the anticipation with this one.
Slowly bringing you up.
About 3/4 of the way up I decided I really didn't want to do this anymore.
It was too late!
And guess what?! I lived.
Maybe bungee jumping or skydiving is in my future?!

We used to go on big camping trips with the Perigards when  I was little.
Just like old times... plus a few new family members and minus a few who couldn't get the time off work.

It wouldn't be camping if I didn't kick my Dad's butt at cribbage!
This campground was nice.... except it didn't have a fire pit!
What is camping without a fire pit?!
I still ate my weight in 'smores though...

Love them!

That is the sun rising in my rearview mirror.
I got the call.... My best friend Ashley just had her baby!
I woke up at 4:30 am and was on the road all by myself to see my newest nephew!