HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I hope you all have wonderful Christmas.

(At my work party we sat with Santa, Making sure he had our lists.)

My Thanksgiving Weekend....
It was a great weekend, now I need a day to recover. We had Thanksgiving with Cody Family as I said before. It was fun there was a lot of his family, we had to have it at the church by his parent’s house. I had never meet most of them and that always is a little weird. Don’t worry I had raspberry Jell-O. It was my contribution to dinner. It was very tasty. I think this is one of my favorite holidays you get to eat until your sick and then eat again. I also love black Friday. I meet my sister at Target at 5am (she really came around 5:45) the lines were around the building on the grocery side and out to the stop light on the other. For those who don’t know the area that is about a ¼ mile. There was a security officers stopping the parking lot crowd from running in when the doors opened, the one officer was yelling at people to get back and get in line. Jessie was nervous she thought we were going to get ran over. I grabbed her hand and pulled her throw the crowd. I was surprised who would have thought that would intimidate her. We got in and I took off running for the toy department in the back of the store to get the kids cameras while Jessie went after a game table. By the time we left one of us had to walk in front of the cart cause we couldn’t see over the big box. We went to Old Navy next and Cabala’s as well neither of them where quite as crazy but still busy. We went to Rc Willey looking at carpet with my mom. Kadence and I went wondering instead. She found a Cinderella Carriage bed she was playing in. When it was time to go she laid back and said " its perfect I’ll be okay Mimi I will stay here tonight, good night " the sales man walking by laughed. Mom wanted to have a girl’s night later so Megan and Reagan came over. We took the girls to see Christmas light that was funny. Two very strong willed girls in one car not getting their way; it was a good thing they were not very far away. Reagan loved the lights. She saw some whale lights on the pond and started to make this cute little sound. I wish I could figure out how to type it. We had no idea what she was doing. I guess she leaned it off of Dora. She loves anything and every thing Dora. Kadence loved Brutus the bear eating the fish. Brutus is a bear her dad tells her about.
Tree Hunting
On Saturday I went with Cody and his family. They go down to Fillmore and cut down their own Christmas trees. I only recall having 1 real tree, we did when I was little but I don’t really remember it. My vision of the perfect tree is different than theirs cause they don’t really grow the same as a fake tree; Dark Green, Perfectly symmetrical, and full. It was more fun than I thought it was going to be. I guess I didn't know what to expect. We went down and wondered the mountainside until we found the Perfect Tree. Well we actually brought back 7 trees. We were headed back and his sister was still looking for her tree. Cody and his brothers are funny. No matter how big the cliff, wide the stream or thick the weeds they could get any tree. She finally found one she wanted. We then had soup, rolls and hot chocolate with his extended family. They were all out looking for their trees too. I got the cutest tree ever. I cant wait to put it in my apartment. It was a fun full weekend of family.


Some Things I’m Thankful For…..

1. Family: Mom Dad Trever Megan Reagan Jessie Justin Wesley Kadence Kaleb Jake Cody. I also could list extended family and friends but it is getting bigger every day but I love and appreciate all of you and your support.

2. Health: including all 5 senses; Taste: cheesecake and fresh bread Smell: fall leafs and moms home cooking, Sight: mountains and a clear night sky, Hearing: music and laughter, and Touch: fuzzy socks and lying on summer grass.

3. Wealth: I am grateful for the job I have and the opportunity provide for myself. I travel around the country doing employment/ education fairs and seeing all these people makes me appreciate more and more.

4. Knowledge: The opportunity to learn and be challenged to grow in ways I never

I’m behind on posting again…..
So I'm behind on the blogging, I have been so busy. I feel like I have been running around or out town all month. I've been to Atlanta GA for a GMA conference, Anaheim CA we got to go to Disney land, and Chicago IL for another GMA conference. (I loved Chicago. I could have spent more time there, I want to go back but not in November I have never been so cold.)
Things are good getting ready for the holidays. Im love the Hoilday season it is my favorite. All the good food, decorations and presents.This is the first year that I wont be with my family for Thanksgiving. Cody and I are staying with his family here. Don't get me wrong I love his family it will just be different. What if they don’t have Raspberry Jell-O? Haha.

Well Here are the Halloween pictures of Cody and I. We dressed up as Uncle Sam and Aunt Samantha. Cody decided what we were this year. I didn’t even know there was an Aunt Samantha. It was fun to dress up every one loved our costumes.

Kaleb was funny and large the kids didn't know who he was.

Jake's looking good in his pimpin suit.

Mom joined in the fun she was a witch. How cute are her grand kids?

Terry family all dressed Wes was a little scary and the Astle family.

The Gonzalez family with Aiden as a pirate.
I love the family parties. I have a fun amazing family.

I'll post the pictures of my adventures shortly I just wanted to get these up.

Forest Lake
We decided that since we had not had a long enough weekend in Moab, We would take Monday off and go play some more. We went up American Fork Canyon, to Forest Lake for the afternoon. I had never been up there and heard it was a pretty ride. All summer wanted to go camping so this counted for my camping trip I guess. Cody said I could drive up. (Once again I was excited and there was even hills this time) I thought it was going to be fun little trail. It turned out to be really bumpy, rocky and muddy it was so fun. The leafs were so orange and gold, I love the fall colors. The leafs were gone the further we got up. A little earlier and it would have been so pretty at the lake. We took up some wood for a fire, I had made chicken and steak tin foil dinners not to brag but they were amazing. I also packed Smores stuff the best desert ever. On the way down we bundled up more cause once your moving the breeze was cold. We started to head down around 4-5 it gets cold fast up there. It was a great relaxing day. I love the great Outdoors.

Staying warm by the Camp Fire eating the perfect messy Smore

Another tree stump picture. Looking hot in our bright orange!!

Trying to stay warm on the way down, you can almost see my face with the goggles on.

Moab 2009

We went to Moab again for another 1/2 Marathon. I was running on Sunday morning so we decided to go down with some friends (J and Megan) on Saturday and play around. It was perfect weather, we took the Rhinos down. I had a blast. He even let me drive some as long as there were no hills. (Story: I went up the hill and then there were tires in the air not a good sight. I had rolled the 4-wheeler down the hill in San Diego earlier this year). We started out on some fun little hills, their use to being on bikes so some of the trails we got stuck the rhino's were too big or to little. We saw a train of about 15 jeeps, we stopped and watched for a min, I cant imagine how long it took them to get through the one canyon we were in. Some were so crazy. Later that night we went on a trail more like road. It was so boring so we found a new trail that was not the best for rhinos strait up, rocks, edges, it was the best part. We were getting thrown around like crazy.

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I waited way to late to find a hotel for the race. I was calling all around finally found a bed and breakfast. Castle Valley Inn. So I had two mental pictures one was good and the other really bad. I was think of a old dirty, house with some crazy couple running it. On the web site it shows a hand drawn picture of the view from the house, trees, mountains and deer. No comfort on the way it looked. So on the way there I was a little worried about what we would find. I was a great relief to see a nice place, clean and there really were deer.
I had to be up and at the bus Sunday morning at 630. They had breakfast for me and even took one other runner and I to the bus stop. (Cody got to keep sleeping.) It was so cold, I had on three layers. I turned out to be a different run than the spring run. It was 20 miles further up the canyon we ended at a ranch; it was fun to see more of the canyon. Cody, Meg and J were there at the end waiting for me. I did it around 2:15 which for me is pretty good.. (There is no timing chip it is a gun start so you don’t know your exact time.)
#36
Of course after the race we had to go find more trails. We did one called "Steal Bender" It was a better trail than the day before. There was more climbs. We almost made it back to the truck with any problems until the guys decided they could go down the crazy hill/drop off and then couldn't get it back up. So we had to stack rocks in the ruts and then hope he could get up and not roll. I was a little scared he was going to hurt him self or run one of us over in the process. Needless to say he got up with only miner injuries and we got it all on video. I would post it if I know how.
It was a fun-exhausting weekend. So were going again in March.

Bridalveil Falls














So we went on an adventure up to Bridalveil Falls. We hiked you to the second fall, where there is no path we mad our own. It was so fun and it was quite and pretty once your away from the crowd at the bottom. Cody had brought up his camera and who now you could get good pictures with a timer and a rock.

So Im not the best climbing buddy. I was worried about getting my shoes wet and took them off when crossing the river cause there is nothing worse than wet socks. Once again Cody was wating for me to stop and put them back on.

This is a little back tracking on pictures. But I figured I finally finished a post. I should put it up, it only took me a month to finish. Sorry I will try to be better so no more comments on me posting at least for awhile.

Lake Powell
My first time down there, it was tons of fun. Cody's Family always goes to Lake Powell and I got to go this year. We went down to stay on there house boat. Nothing but laying in the sun all day.



(As you can see I was having hard time with this)


I was learning to surf behind the boat. It is so fun. They always got right up and made it look so easy. Me on the other hand, I was so afraid I was going to go under the boat.

I started feeling better and the rope was lose but I never could throw in the rope. Its more a security. I was getting a little better.





Okay need lots of practice!!








Typical guy. Has to show me how it is done..
I thought I was scared before oh no, not holding on to the rope was worse. We were laughing so hard. I was not much help I was laughing and screaming. It was probably the most we have ever argued. (ha ha ) About not touching the rope I was suppose to just stand there. I was impressed he could get us both off the boat on the board with out falling.




We went down with some style.






Next I thought I could climb and jump off this cliff. So we swam to it climbed up and it was higher than I thought. I got up there and realized the only way down was to jump. I was waiting to jump. After Cody had gone and came back up for me. I finally decided to jump. All the boats and people camping around it where watching and counting down for me to jump. I counted to 3 about 20 times and wondered the top of the rock looking for the best place to jump. After I finally jumped I went right up and jumped some more. I loved it. ( I didn't have the form his Uncle had. )


Lake Powell 2008 Mills Family