The Latest and Greatest...well...January through June:)

Chicago for Spring Break to visit my brother's family!

The contents of Jane's scripture bag...made me laugh!



Cancun with Brandon's Family!

Graduate school graduation!!!! Hallelujah!!!

 

 Family Time!

This baby was naughty.

Brandon redid all the sprinklers...



Our garden...

California!!!

So my doctor told me I can't race anymore because of my degenerative disc disease, but this was AFTER I signed up for the Alcatraz Triathlon...I promised him this would be my last...So I ventured to California with my coworker friend Dianne, met up with my parents in Fresno, and Brandon came out to SF to see me race. Amazeballs...

First Stop: Disneyland

Next Stop: Fresno

Sequoia National Park

Last Stop: San Francisco/Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon

About to begin!

The Swim

The Bike

Post hug from Brandon...on to the run!

As you can see below, I was in a bad place in the bike to run transition...seeing Brandon was a life saver...there's something amazing about seeing people you love support you...I was happy as a clam and went on my way...

The Run

So close!

Finished!!!

...with beautiful flowers from Brandon...

So...this was the toughest race I've ever done. I did it 6 years ago, but this time around my body has turned against me. I was heavily drugged for my back, my knee had been drained two week prior, I (and most of the swimmers) overshot the swim exit because of the strong currents which added more swim time and running on the beach to the exit, plus my wetsuit was too big (which I tried telling the place I rented it from. They assured me it wasn't.) and it choked me so I could breathe very well and had to turn and float on my back a few times to breathe, then I ended up with huge welts all over my neck from the rubbing...then my knee gave out on the last hill of the bike, my chain came off the gear on the downhill of the last hill, my right foot went numb for an hour of the run and my back was killing me until about the last 2 miles...but...I finished! That was my goal. With so many body problems, I was so proud of myself. I got really emotional during the bike and the run because my body and mind were being pushed to their limits, and once I crossed the finish line and saw Brandon, he came over to hug me and...I totally lost it! Like Sobfest 2012 lost it. Haha! So awesome. Mixing how emotionally and physically drained I was with knowing this was my last big race, I was a wreck!!!! But sooooooooo happy to have accomplished my goal:)

Now for my favorite US city...My dad was born and raised here and brought us here so much when we were growing up that I can't get enough!

Eating at Boudin

Ghirardelli...we had about two delicious bites and then wanted to throw up...soooo rich. We do that every time too. You'd think we'd learn our lesson!

My favorite store!!!!

Christmas in Cali

Ocean Beach in SF...my dad used to go there as a boy to hang out and surf. Pretty cool. We went to Fresno for Christmas and spent time with my parents. Then we went to San Francisco for a day, hence this picture, and had a great time there. I don't have any pictures from Fresno-my mom took all of them with her camera. But we had a ffaabbuulloouuss time!

Magical Birthday!

For my grand ascension into my 30s(which was waaaaay back on November 30th, I have procrastinated tremendously with this), I decided a trip to Disneyland was appropriate...but since I have taken Brandon to a Disney park 6 times in the 5 1/2 years we've been dating, he put his foot down to only go for very special occasions...which then leads me full circle to my 30th birthday! Hahahaha! Keaton and Sara came along for the fun and splendor and we had a most magical time in a very special land of wonders...:)


Tower of Terror!Brandon researched the secrets for how to get a high score in the Buzz Lightyear Space Blasters ride (which was his favorite) and we did boys vs. girls a few times...this is him and Keaton fighting us off while they discuss the secrets...we never did beat them...

Telling the secrets...

Gazing adoringly at each other...this team has perhaps become toooooo close...
Splash MountainBig Thunder Mountain


Mystical Esmerelda...She is so wise...
Splash mountain...again! It was kinda chilly and we (I) got soaked...
Christmas decorations...


Delicious treats!

After the river rafting ride in California Adventure

The Matterhorn...I think this one is my favorite...it's so old-school, and the abominable snowman is soooo awesome!

Honey badger....takes what he wants....
Indiana Jones
Waiting for Space Mountain

Home, Eh?

He's back from America's hat and better than ever! Welcome back, our royal teen highness:) We loooooove you!

All Hallow's Eve

Brandon's brother Pat had a rip roarin' Halloween party. Excellent. Brandon makes a beautiful fairy, don't you think?

Blackout Game!

Sara and I decided we needed more flair for the Utah games, so we got fairy outfits to cheer on our Utes- which is odd because if there is any group of adjectives to describe Gelwix's it would probably be quiet, demure, shy...so why we would do anything to gather more attention to ourselves is beyond me...So the outfit pieces happened to come right before Halloween and the Black Out game, so we debuted the lovely Utah fairies at the game...which I think is why we won. They needed a little bit of our magical fairy dust to pull themselves out of a funk. Go Utes!!!

Too tired!

Our sweet baby Keiko (or Baby Cakes, as I like to call her) is a whirlwind of energy and absolute pure love. I have never met a dog that craves love like this dog-not in an annoying way, but in the cutest "come pet me and play with me and I'll give you kisses all over!" kind of way. She is a rascally rascal, but also the sweetest little munchkin...and as you can see, when all that energy is spent, she just collapses in the cutest ways:)