Christmas 2012

     Well I guess it is about time that I finally write about our Christmas trip home to Idaho since it has been about a month later.  This Christmas was the BEST snowy Christmas that Ryan and I could have asked for.  It was filled with tons of snow and lots of cold weather.  I actually didn't take a whole lot of pictures this trip, which isn't like myself, but I still captured some fun moments.  We started off the holidays by being some of Santa's helpers.

     It is nice that our families only live about 25 miles apart so we travel back and forth TONS (understatement) to play with the nieces and nephews and our families.  

Look at this Cheese Ball

     Ryan and I celebrated Christmas Eve by going on a 21 mile run....unfortunately it turned into only 16.5 miles cause Ryan's IT Band had officially flamed up and took all the beating it could.  Needless to say, that kind of dampened our time on the ski hill...we didn't make ONE run at all on the slopes.  We were both bummed, but didn't really feel like paying for tickets to have his knee hurt.  Instead after a few days of rest we went snowshoeing in the cold morning (it was FREE)!  I loved it, it was my first time.   Talk about a workout, but I reckon that when we get back to the snow someday we will have these for sure to do daily.

     Ryan only had 9 days off from school/rotations, but I had 2 weeks, so I hung out with my family when he left.  There were a few days where the nights were  -15 degrees in a row and the water trough froze up, of course while my dad was at work, so I went and saved the day by spending some fun time with the blow dryer heating up the pipes so the horse could have some water.  I love being outside no matter how cold it is with the horses. So while the pipes were unthawing I played...

     I was also able to play some hoops with my sisters JV basketball team and coach.  I miss ball, but there is nothing like watching my nephew Trey tear up the court (of course I taught him everything he knows)!  I love playing ball, but I love cheering my family on.  It was a great way to be with family the last night in Idaho.

SO PATRIOTIC

     The only bad thing about this trip was I got a sinus infection 2 days before I headed home.  I never thought anything about flying when you are sick, but when up at high altitude with clogged sinuses and ears....WARNING DO NOT YAWN!  I wish someone would have told me cause once I did I popped my ear drum and it was the WORSE pain ever.  It brought me to tears!  My hearing is starting to come back, but it is not something I want to experience again.  

     It was a great Holiday break!  We will see you Idaho for next Christmas or maybe sooner if we are lucky!

R & R

     Well I survived another quarter, only 3 more to go! And Ryan finished another 4 week rotation in sports medicine.  Ryan headed home to Idaho to do his sports medicine rotation with the doctor for 4 weeks, lucky guy.  I had to stay in AZ for the first 2 weeks to finish the Fall quarter.  It was the longest 2 weeks ever being away from Ryan, but we survived with many Facetime chats, phone calls, and luckily we have been blessed with amazing friends who are practically our family down here that took me in.

     After a long week of finals, I flew up to Idaho to go and celebrate my 2 weeks of Thanksgiving break with our families.  We have been blessed to only have our families live 30 miles apart, even though it makes for a lot of back and forth traveling.  Our first stop was to see The Anderson clan to meet baby Gentri D. Anderson, the newest addition.  It was snowing when I flew into SLC and yes, I had been praying all day for the snow.  It snowed a foot that night, it was AWESOME.

     On the way to Idaho from Utah we met up with one of my old friends from American Falls and caught up over some great food.  It was so good to see Angie and her hubby Jacob.  It is crazy to think that we have been gone for 2.5 years, time flies when you are having fun!

     Ryan was still working Monday thru Thursday 7-3 so I had the days to hit the road and visit more family.  Next stop was to go and see the other new addition in The Twiss clan!  I got to meet Hunter Ann Twiss, play with Gunner and play some basketball with my sister's high school JV team. 

     Next was some quality parental time at the good ole Tres Hermanos.  NOTHING in AZ can beat this quality Mexican food.  

     We also took Tanner out on a cold winter ride with the horses.  It was actually perfect weather, no wind just cold, my favorite kind of ride.  Pretty sure I have 100% convinced Ryan we WILL have horses.  One step at a time making this city boy into a full COUNTRY boy.

     I headed back down to Utah for 2 days to help my sister out and luckily they still had snow.  So Harper and I played in it, ate it, and colored the snow!  It was so much fun.  I love the winter and will use any excuse to be outside.

     Then it was time for the annual Christmas tree hunt!  Someday we will be able to actually participate and bring a tree home, but we just help entertain, pick out trees, and carry kids for now.  There wasn't as much snow as in past years, but there was still plenty to play in.  Jonathan decided to start a new tradition of not "sawing" the tree down, but to use a hatchet instead, sometimes you just go with things and nod.

     Ryan and Papa Finn were lucky enough to get to put up the Christmas lights in decent weather.

     We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Finn clan the sunday before since we were headed to Sundance with the Hess Honey's.  After dinner we made some ornaments for Jordy to hang on his homemade Christmas tree.  Ryan made Jordy smiling while being a missionary and I made him on a horse and posing as an Abercrombie model like his senior pictures.  One thing about my brother-in-laws is they don't like clothes???  Pretty sure I have seen then more with their shirts off then on.

     We were lucky to be in Idaho when they rededicated the Boise Temple.  It was a beautiful dedication.  We are so lucky to have temples all over the world and to do the wonderful work inside of them.  This dedication was such a testimony builder for Ryan and I.

     And before you know it, your two weeks of fun is over!  It was such a fun trip for the both of us.  I think Ryan got some good family time being in Idaho for 4 weeks.  We are now back hitting the books and enjoying the winter weather in Arizona, 80 degrees.

Stayin' Busy

     Well it has been awhile since we have made a post, but to be honest nothing new or that exciting has happened until this last week.  The past three weeks have occurred as the following: Kali is just rockin' out to school with lots of studying and tests and Ryan finished up his Pediatrics rotation and loved it!  He was with a great doctor and learned tons.  If he had to go into a primary care position, he said he would rather do Peds instead of general family practice.  He did get to do a circumcision (poor lil' guy) and play with a lot of kids.
   
And for the good stuff:

1)  Ryan started his cardiology rotation and is loving it.  His doctor is an Interventional Cardiologist aka they do procedures where they go through your veins in your groins and clear plaque build up or put in stents and more fun stuff like that, less invasive that surgery.  He is loving the dress code this rotation, no shirt and tie for this guy....

2)  I have decided to follow in my husband's footsteps in school and made the Pharmacy Rho Chi Honor Society, Top 20% in my class.

Sometimes you just need a great friend to help you survive and keep you sane

3)  Ryan and I have a goal to try and make it to the temple once a month.  Usually we are pretty successful, but lately we have had different schedules so we didn't make it in August, but we were able to have a great Friday night date night to the Mesa Temple in September and celebrate with some Costa Vida sweet pork meals.  We probably over indulged, but who is counting calories, right??

One happy boy with his sweet pork burrito

4)  The weather has started to cool down a little bit, low 100's to mid 90's so that means I can finally study outside again without sweating to death while Ryan goes and plays a round of golf with the boys aka "studying".

5) I love running, biking, or anything outside and if anyone knows me I love a challenge.  I have ran a few races and have decided to step up my game and conquer the Full Marathon.  I need a challenge besides school.  I signed up for the Sedona Marathon on Feb. 2, 2013!  Super excited and ready for this challenge.  Training starts on Monday....wooohooo!  I did try to get Ryan to run it with me, but fortunately for him he planned to have some of the worst rotations two months before (OBGYN and Surgery (will be out of town)) so he couldn't really commit to it.  Oh well he will just be my running cheerleader (I always wanted my own cheerleader).

6)  We volunteered to help out with the American Diabetes Association Stop Diabetes Walk in downtown Phoenix.  I think I forgot to mention to Ryan that we had to be there at 5:30 am, so we had to leave by 5 am, which meant 4:30 am wake up time.  This is what I dealt with....

I was just trying to prepare him for when he is in Residency and is going to have to be functional on ZERO hours of sleep

7)  And last but not least, we enjoyed a beautiful weekend of General Conference!!!  It is always great to hear the leaders of our church speak.  We loved Elder Holland's talk and loved seeing all of the b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l fall colors around temple square!  We also enjoyed a great breakfast of blueberry and strawberry crepes.

We are getting so excited for the fall season to come around, which means Holidays are just around the corner and a couple of trips to IDAHO!!!