Hoover Dam

This morning we got up and headed to urgent care to get Richard’s finger dressed properly.  It actually looked pretty good considering how he cut it… just to be safe he got at a tetanus shot.  Then it was off to REI to get some warm gear as it will be down in the 50’s at night and that for us is winter gear.
We finally made it down to the Hoover dam for a quick tour.

After the Hoover Dam we headed down to Flagstaff for our pre-hike meeting and then to a local brewery for a quick beer and pizza.

T

Las Vegas

We arrived in Las Vegas last night after a few bumps in the road… most not unexpected.

We sorted out the kitties and headed to the airport to drop off our bags and then went over to GTYC for some lunch, only to get a call that our first flight had been delayed.  Se we took it in stride and had a drink and relaxed a bit.  We knew we would be cutting it close to make our Vegas connection… and we arrived with one hour to get to the gate, clear customs, get our luggage, recheck it, clear security again and get to the gate…  We actually made it to security in about 30 minutes, but they wouldn’t let us on the flight and rebooked us on the 9 pm flight.  That left us at the airport for 4 unexpected hours and arriving in Vegas at midnight vs. 5 pm.  Not a major deal as we figured we could get some sleep on the plane.

While standing at the gate Richard reached into his bag and cut the tip of his finger off with his razor blade… now we had blood all over the place and he wrapped it up in his handkerchief, we certainly didn’t want to miss the flight by going to get first aid.  Richard finally got it to stop bleeding on the flight.  Now it is off to urgent care this morning to get it cleaned and wrapped up before we head off and possibly a tenus shot.

Today’s agenda-

Urgent care

REI sporting goods- little did we know it would be 40 degrees at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, so off to get some warmer clothing.

Whole Foods- snacks for the hike

Hoover Dam tour and finally making it to Flagstaff Arizona for our 5 pm briefing for the hike in the morning!

New Years Eve

I can’t believe that it is almost 2014… the year sure has flown by.  This morning as I was having a cup of tea I started thinking about how much has changed over the last 12 months and just how blessed we are.

We rang in the new year last year in Las Vegas and it was Richard’s first time in Las Vegas.  I remember how cold it was… I ended up sick with pneumonia.  Then it was another first for Richard as we headed down to Phoenix for my university’s bowl game.  We ended up losing, but had a great time meeting up with family and friends.  We also lost my grandmother in January.  She was the best grandma anyone could have ever hoped for, but she is with my grandpa in a much better place!

 

February was another busy month as we headed to Scotland to visit Richard’s family and friends.  It was my first time in Scotland and I have to say February is probably not the best time to visit, but we bundled up and kept warm.  I first stop was Orney, then we went down to Edinburg and finally Glasgow.
March was yet another busy month…  This time we were off to Palm Springs, California to celebrate my birthday.  We did some great hiking and relaxed at the hot springs.    It was beautiful and very peaceful there!
April was the first quiet month of the year, we bought a condo and were preparing to move.  As well as planning a wedding.
May was by far the best month of the year as we not only got married, but moved into our first home together.  We headed off to Las Vegas and got married with just family.  The wedding was simple and quiet- just what we wanted.
After the first few months of the year we enjoyed the summer in Cayman and got settled into our new home and married life.  In August I left Crusader after 5+ years of working there and it was such a huge stress relief!  I could spend my days cooking and volunteering for the Crisis Centre.
In September we headed to Kansas for another game and to visit family.  Richard got to eat some Kansas City BBQ, made some smores by the fire pit, visited my university and attend a tailgate party.  We stayed with Andrew and Laura and it was great to spend some time with them- it has been way too long.

October was a special month as well as we headed to Italy with my mom and Jenny to attend another cooking school and to celebrate my mom’s birthday, this time in Tuscany.  We had Peggy as our wonderful guide and she made the trip so special.  We spend the days exploring the country side, learning about everyday life in the Tuscan countryside, but mostly enjoying each others company while enjoying good wine and learning a bit about cooking.

 

November was another low key month and now December has flown by so quickly!
Reflecting on the year really reminds me of just how lucky I am.  Now only do I get to travel and experience new adventures, but I get to do it with my best friend and the love of my life.  I can’t wait to see what adventures we will experience in 2014!
Happy New Year!