Say What?!?!?!

I hope you don't mind me getting a little personal, I've had a lot on my mind lately and I've really just wanted to get it off my chest.

So....  As many of you know, I hate working out.  After I graduated from High School I was sick of working out.  During HS I was working out at least 3 hours a day for cheer and I guess I supposed after I was finished I just needed a break.  Well years later and I haven't gotten back into it.  It's quite sad actually... 

It reminds me of a story of when I was driving home from California with my friends Matt and Jenna, Matt was telling us a story about this girl that he had run into up at school and how she just wasn't the same fun loving person that he had remembered, and then he said something that has always stuck with me, he said, "She had lost her glow."  I immediately was like what does that even mean...  he went on to explain that it was his opinion that she had kind of let herself go, not that she had gained weight, but she just wasn't the same person physically and personality wise.  I've often thought about this and thought, that's how I feel sometime and wonder if that is what others think of me.  I've definitely let myself go in so many areas and I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to figure out. 

The last couple of weeks I've started running.  I HATE running.  I hate how I'm always so sore afterwards and how hard it is the breathe when I run.  But...  I'm so out of shape I really needed to do this.  Sedona was an eye opener that I really needed to change.  I signed up for the Pat Tillman run that is next week and I'm also signed up to do this ridiculous Warrior Dash at the end of April so I really need to run my butt off, literally. 

In February I started a Biggest Loser Contest with the Nielson's thinking this would help my desire to workout and lose weight... 2 weeks in I didn't do much of anything and oddly enough I didn't lose any weight either.  Weird right?  The funny thing is that it really discouraged me... What willing myself to lose weight without doing anything wasn't enough to actually lose what?  What kind of world is this... So the week before Spring Break I convinced my friend Katherine that we needed to help each other out and make each other run.  If I know someone is counting me to do anything I can't disappoint and we both needed each other to keep motivated.  So we started running at night.  It was dreadful and I hated every minute of it, but I did feel pretty good afterwards.  The next week, we ran everyday AND even went hiking as some exercise.  This time it really was disappointing that I didn't lose any weight when I had been working so hard.  It could have been the stress that I was under that week from Mr. Mesa, but disappointing nonetheless.  The next week was super hard to be any kind of motivated to go running, but we did it and we even started switching things up.  That week was kind of a turning point for me.  I actually enjoyed running for the first time!!!  Ya you read that right!!!!!  I enjoyed it.  It's still a pain in the butt to go running but it's given me alot of time to think, which for me can be good and bad.  I think I could over analyze anything, even which side of my bagel I should start eating first, and with running it gives you tons of time to think.  It's kind of weird how changing one aspect of your life can impact the rest so much.  With all this thinking, I've soul searched a little and I feel for the most part it's been for the better.  I think alot more about my scripture reading, which frankly I struggle with sometimes, and I think more about my church callings and what I can work on to better myself.  I've also had a better appreciation for God's creations.  I can't imagine a more beautiful place.  I love running in the middle of day to be able to take in all that is out there, birds, mountains, little kids running around, etc.  The bad part is, I think about a boy situation way too much. 

Have you ever met someone that you just click with.  This kid kind of came out of no where and I've been leery of him from the start, but as I've gotten to know him I've found he is genuinely the nicest guy (which I don't think alot of people realize) and I like the person I am when I get to be with him.  He makes me want to be better and I've never had a guy make me feel that way before.  So I like this kid quite a bit but I wish things moved a tad bit faster.  Some of you may know, lately I'm not the shyest at telling people what's on my mind (which I'm trying to be better at harnessing), but with relationship things I'm just so guarded.  I also hate so much not knowing what other people think, for me it would be worth it to know upfront if someone is interested or not and hurt my feelings just a little bit than to be strung along for months not knowing, because the guy does just enough to think he's interested but not enough for you to exactly know, and then being crushed at the end. I feel like that's the story of my life... but with this running I have thought ALOT

Watch out! 

I'm getting my glow back and the world better be ready, I'm game for anything!

Hello 2011!!!!!

Wow!  Is it really the Middle of March?????  I've been a serious slacker this year and I can't believe it's been like 6 months since my last post!  I want to say that I've been so busy with awesome things but the thing is....  school and work love to take over my life.  I'm only taking 2 classes this semester but they are super hard, sadly I feel like the math classes I still have to take are going to kick my butt too but I think I can do it and I know it will be worth it in the end!!!

Anyways...  Here's an update of the past 6 months!  Hope you enjoy!!!

So...  Third Eye Blind came to town and it was free concert, and I LOVE free things so a bunch of us went!!  It was alot of fun and even though I only know like 3 of their songs it was a good time nonetheless!!  This picture of Myke is priceless haha

So in the Summer me and Afton had bought tickets to So You Think You Can Dance and it seemed like it took FOREVER for it to get here.  We were sooooooo excited for it though and had so much fun with Hayley!!!  Here are some highlights of the night!

Ps...  Have you been to Glendale Arena lately?  It's awesome down there and I'd really like to go walk around there and see what's there.  It looks sooo fun.

We saw Marianne and Kymri there and we snuck this picture...  I put this one up too because the dancers were in the background... but here's one finally with Boo

This past November Afton and I thought we'd venture out and do some Black Friday Shopping and so I was chatting with Jamie and we decided we would surprise my mom with a Cricut because they are sooooo cheap on blackfriday...  well cheaper I should say.  So this is Jamie and I waiting for them to let us snatch our Cricut!!  It was the hardest thing not to tell my Mom for a MONTH!!!  I hate secrets!

So my Best Friend Jenna had a baby December 17.  Mr.Bennett is the cutest thing ever!!  I can't get enough of him!  Here's us together at the hospital.

Christmas came and went.  It wasn't the same without Tyler, and Jamie and David had Christmas with the Nielson's so it was a pretty lonely Christmas here.  Good think I had little Ashlynn to keep me company at the family party!  Isn't she the cutest!!!

After Christmas we had a big Arnett Family Reunion.  It was so much fun.  Each day was filled with awesome games and awesome company!  I had the opportunity to be on the planning committee and I loved being included in all that was planned.  Right before we had gotten started on the planning my Aunt Peg had made this video of all these dresses my Aunt Glenna had that were my Grannies.  Not going to lie I bawled like a baby when I watched that video but it got me to thinking.  So when we started planning our Reunion I I had this bright idea to do a fashion show with all my Grannies old dresses.  It was a HIT!!!!!  I had so much fun planning this with Jamie and I think all the girls that participated had a great time too!  Here is most of the girls in Grannie's dresses.

Then here is Jamie and I.... haha I laugh everytime I see this.  My Granny would wear this clown costume every year for Halloween and I can't believe how great of shape it's still in!  And The MC Hammer pants Jamie got to wear were a big hit too!!!

We had a great time and It was priceless to see the looks on my Aunt's faces and how much they loved it.  It couldn't have gone any better.

So the Reunion was a HIT and look at this enormous group I get to call Family.  I'm so blessed to come from such an awesome family with so many amazing examples to look up to!

We are Family 2010

New Years was alot of fun!  All my friends and I went to the Tempe Block Party on Mill Ave.  Jimmy Eat World was playing and let's be honest New Years is kind of lame when you aren't married, there isn't much to do.  So we made our own fun.  We rode the light rail there and had a great time!  Afton took most the pictures on her camera but this is one of my favorites that I had taken.

Me and Nate were talking beforehand about what our theme could be for 2011 and I had been in such a sour mood before we had talked and I was telling "I'm sick of being the nice girl that everyone can walk all over... 2011.... Screw You!"  Haha sorry for the language but it was funny and it kind of stuck.  I don't say it very often but when I do it's always funny.  So here's to a new year!!!!!!!!

We had to start the new year off right and Myke and Afton knew exactly how to do that!  So after we had a nice little breakfast (or 1 in the morning snack) at IHOP, we hopped in the car and drove to San Diego.  We met Chip and Deena Webb there and stayed at Deena's parent's Beach House for the next two days!  It was the LONGEST drive!!  I was sooo tired and long story but Myke couldn't help drive because his license was supsended haha so funny to think about.  So Afton and I had to drive the whole time and I was really nervous about Afton driving because she would fall asleep on her way home from school sometime and she was running on much lower sleep this time.  But we finally made it to San Diego and ohhhh man do I love that place.  We took a little nap then got up and went to breakfast.  After that we walked down the pier and just enjoyed the beach.  We stopped by Urban Outfitters and found this jem of a book that demonstrated how to make these delicious cake pops.  I really wanted it and so did Myke so we went in halfzies on the book and have loved it pretty well.  We ate out for lunch so we decided to stay in for dinner and makes some pizza's and since we were going to the store what better time to try making these cake pops.  It was my birthday in 2 days and so we decided this would be my birthday cake!  They were sooooo good!!!  I love chocolate cake!!!!

The next day we got up early and got ready to go WHALE WATCHING!!!  Now, we had planned to do this for a while now and I was really excited and had all these expectations, not to mention that we've been watching Planet Earth (the whole series) and I was really excited to see a whale close up!  It didn't quite live up to my abnormally high expectations but it was amazing nonetheless!!!  AND I've never been on a boat in the Ocean before and it was kind of freaky!!!!  Here's Afton and I as we are leaving San Diego!

This is the tail of the whale we tracked!  It was kind of awesome and sureal.

Here's a picture of the 3 Musketeers, I was really nervous I was going to drop my camera into the Ocean.

After our Whale Watching excursion we were sooo hungry so we ate lunch and then said good bye to the Webb's and headed on our way to Newport Beach.  I LOVE Newport & Huntington Beach and wouldn't have wanted to spend my birthday anywhere else!!!  We got there late and were super tired, so we drove around a little bit (went into a record store) ate some dinner and then just hit the hay.  

It was big day the next day. i.e. my birthday duh!

So I convinced them that we should go to Charlie's Chili for my Birthday Breakfast.  I LOVE Charlie's Chili and luckily so did they!!  Afton and Myke were super troopers, I took full advantage of it being my birthday!  So after breakfast we walked down the Pier.

We also got to meet this guy.... he REALLY wanted the fisherman's fish and it was sooo funny to watch!!!!

Then we hopped on the Freeway to go the California Science Center.  Afton had found this website that told you where all the free exhibits were in LA and so we had a list of things we wanted to do.  The Science Center was fun, but I think it would have been funner if we were 12.  So we stayed there a little bit, grabbed some lunch then headed out to Malibu to see the Getty Villa.  I wasn't the most excited for this one but once I got there I was sooo happy we had gone!!!  I love Greek architecture and this place was georgeous!!!!  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!!!

 

This one above is my favorite!  

After the Getty Villa we got a little snack and drove through Malibu Beach.  Side note: I always remember hearing how Malibu was the nicest beach in California and I always thought it was probably just something the snobby people living there had made up... Now having been to Malibu I kind of understand where they were coming from.  The beach is Beautiful!!!!  The PCH rides along the beach literally and then there are these houses that are right on the beach but not like Newport, right on the beach, it is AWESOME!!!  We had to stop and get pictures of the awesome sunset!!!  It was SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

After Malibu we hurried into LA to get me some Sprinkle's CupCakes for my birthday! We got our cupcakes and then went back to Santa Monica Pier hoping to ride some of the carnival rides on the Pier.  Sadly they were closed but it was fun to walk around and see all the funny people!!!  We then hopped int he car and headed to the Griffith's Observatory in the Hollywood Hills.  It literally was right by the Hollywood sign.  We knew that it was closed but thought it would be cool to see if you could walk around and you could!!!  The city lights from up there were amazing!!!!!  

This was the building but look at the view behind it!

I love the picture below.  Myke was taking these amazing photographs and all I have is a point and shoot camera so me and Afton were just messing around and this is one of my favorites haha can you see the city lights behind us?

It was freezing but we loved every minute of it.

After the Observatory we started the drive back to Newport where we were staying.  Now this is where I insert that Afton and Myke were the biggest troopers of it being my Birthday.  Everything we did was accompanied by "Let's do this, it's my birthday!" haha Afton finally said she couldn't wait for it to be the next day so she didn't have to be nice to me anymore haha she was joking but it was one of my favorite birthdays thus far.  

THANKS MYKE AND AFTON!!!!! 

Looks like 25 is going to be a good year for me!!!!!

When we got back we bent to BJ's to dinner and like always it never disappoints!!!  We then went back for Dessert and it was amazing too!!!  I had gotten the Red Velvet cupcake with cheesecake frosting.  It was delicious!!!!!

I went to bed very happy to say the least!

The next day we checked out of our hotel and headed into LA.  We wanted to check out the Natural Historic Museum that was free that day.  I think I could have walked around that place all day!!!  It was soooo cool!!!  Check out the Elephants!!!

After we finished at the Museum we dropped off Afton to stay with her friend Anne and me and Myke hit the road to come home.  It was a really fun trip and one of the best Birthdays ever!!!! 

I started school a couple weeks later and my life had been busy with that!  It's been quite the semester.  Although I did graduate from MCC last semester with my Associates Degree.  I'm proud to say I'm a college graduate, it only took me this long :)

In February I did take a break and went up to Sedona!  We went up to run the Sedona 10k...  I wish I had prepared more for it but I'm proud I finished it.  Me, Afton, and Katherine all ran the 10k and Chip, Deena, Myke and Ben all ran the half marathon.  They are animals, I hope one day to be that in shape :)  

Here is all of us after we were finished!

We had a great time in Sedona and I was happy I went!  

Now it's Spring Break and I've loved not having School and work for the past week!!  I'm sad I have to go back tomorrow! 

Hope you've enjoyed this recap.  Hopefully I won't be a stranger! 

RIM TO FREAKING RIM!!!!!!!!!!

Are you ready for this????

Now, something I failed to mention earlier was that I FINALLY got work off to hike the GRAND CANYON!!!  That in and of it self was a miracle!!!!  But what comes next is a miracle as well so I hope you enjoy.

Beware, this will be VERY long and will have TONS of pictures, I'm going to try and place the pictures when they were taken, so don't mind the break in the story!!!

So I've HIKED THE GRAND CANYON!!!!!!!!!!!
Last Saturday was one of the most AWESOME/tiring/depressing/AMAZING day of my life.  The hardest thing I've EVER DONE!!!!!  I don't think I could have done anything to prepare myself for how mentally, emotionally and physically taxing that hike is.  So let's start from the beginning.

I barely got the Saturday we planned to hike off.  Talk about stressful!  So asking for the Friday before was asking too much, I even asked and was told that, so there was no way I could have it off.  David wasn't able to get it off either so that made me feel a little better.  Still, we couldn't go with Bro. Hinton (who I'm going to call Gary from now on to save typing time) early morning.  I was kind of sad because I've never been to the Grand Canyon and I wanted to see it in the day light.  So our plan was to leave at 8:30 pm, get there around 4:30 am, hopefully getting some sleep on the way.  The Jackson's let us use their Suburban to drive up and we had Dad (driver), Me, Jamie, David, Braden, Porter, and my friend Katherine, oh and Elle Dog got invited to keep Dad company.  We had a full car but should have been pretty comfy. 

So the day of came and I had work super early and I didn't have time to get anything together.  Then my Dad kept calling me at work, because there was a hitch in the plans.  Gary's brother-in-law was taking a bus to get to Mesa, from the LA area and the bus had broken down.  Well the rest of the group, including Gary, didn't want to wait the 4-5 hours it was going to take for him to get here, so the phone calls were to see what my thoughts were on adding one more person in the car.  I didn't know how badly this would suck.  I got off work, packed my pack then ate a TON of spaghetti.  Not only was I hungry but it tasted so good and I needed a lot of carbs for energy the next day.  We got everything packed into the car and about 8:30-45 and we were on the road.  Introducing Bro. Bob...  he was quite the character.  I really didn't get to meet before we got in the car, but we placed him in the front seat... that way no one had to sit with him and the guest could be comfortable.  So the rest of the seating arrangements went a little like this, in the middle bench we had Jamie, David, Braden, & Porter, then it was Me, Katherine, & Ellie in the back seat.  I thought having Ellie in the back with us was a good idea because she's small and would probably sleep the whole time.  Well she slept most of the way but all over me and Katherine.  It was sooooo uncomfortable!  In Flagstaff we stopped and got gas and to go the bathroom.  As we were getting back in the car, we all looked at the Wendy's next door and thought hmmmm that sounds delicious.  It was midnight and we went through the drive thru and we all got some food.  You would have thought Bro. Bob hadn't eaten in weeks with how much food he ordered.  I mean it was midnight...  David offered to pay for dinner for the fam to help with gas money.  Bro. Bob thought that was the nicest  gesture and wanted to think him.  So Bro Bob said that the next time Jamie and David are in LA they are supposed to call him and he can get them into this exclusive AWEOSME Castle thing.  At first it seemed kinda cool but as he continued talking we realized this guy is CRAZY! It's like a magicians clubhouse.  Pretty dumb if you ask me... haha

So we left Wendy's ate our food... and were pretty tired.  Then.. David was thinking my Dad would fall asleep so he TALKED THE WHOLE TIME!!!!!!!  I thought I might have been able to sleep a little bit if he would have stopped talking for just a little bit.  Braden had moved to the back where our packs were and made himself a nice little bed.  I decided to invite myself to his bed and slept for maybe 45 min until we got to the North Rim at about 3:30.  That's when I got some sleep!  We put the middle seat down and had a little more room to lay down.  My Dad woke me up at about 4:30 and we started getting ready and ate breakfast.  Through most of preparing for the Grand Canyon, it gave me a better idea on Gary and thinking he's more normal than I've thought before.  But before your mind starts getting the wrong idea, man is he still so funny.  He was getting frustrated that one of Jay Smith's daughters had moved the table in their cabin and it was really funny, she was like well where did you expect me to sleep?  Haha

The whole gang!  From Left to right, Katherine, Braden, Jamie, David, Jerold, Porter, Ruthetta's 3 kids, Ruthetta, her Husband, Denise, ME, and the Bro Bob!!!!!

I mostly love this picture for Jamie and Katherine's faces :)

Me and Katherine were in the back an we stayed back with Bro. Smith's daughter Ruthetta, and we stayed with her too long, she was going pretty slow so we left her and sped up.  

I was hoping to catch up with Jamie and the boys but we caught up with Ruthetta's family (her husband, brother (Jerold), and 2 daughters) at first they were going really slow too and so after a while we passed them and were on our own (me and Katherine).  

 Look how pretty!!!!
We were just plugging along when we came to a fork in the road.  One way went up and the other went down towards a bridge.  Neither looked too appealing, but all that was going on in my mind was how Gary said ALWAYS "Choose the Right" but I wasn't getting a good feeling about going towards the bridge.  But we decided the right it was.  When we got to the bridge, it looked way crappy (not to mention creepy) like the worst of what we had been on thus far.

We were second guessing our decision when a girl appeared on the other side of the bridge and was coming our way.  She had gone ahead of her group and was by herself but didn’t think she was on the right trail.  And we weren’t sure either.  She asked if we had a phone (her’s wasn’t working) but mine miraculously was.  She tried calling her friend but no one answered.  So the three of us decided to go back to the fork and wait for someone to come along.  Just as we were coming up there was a group heading our way. 

So we met this group coming down towards the bridge and we thought oh maybe we were on the right path so we asked them if this led to Phantom Ranch and he laughed (like that was such a dumb question) and he was like no this trail goes down to the Rainbow Waterfalls, it’s about 2 miles to get there if you want to come… we were like add 4 miles to the already 24 we are already hiking… no thank you!  It made me sad though that I didn’t trust the spirit when we started going to wrong way, but turned out ok in the end.  So we got back on the right trail, it was definitely harder than the one we were just on and that also goes to show the route that seems easier may be easy at first but it might make your journey much longer than needed.  At this time we tried just going at a steady pace and we hadn’t been with any group for quite some time and I thought for sure that Jay Smith’s family had passed us on our little detour but all of a sudden they came out of nowhere and they are HAULING!  It took a lot more effort to stay up with them but we decided that we needed to pick it up anyways so we stayed with them for quite awhile and then Jerold he is Jay Smith’s son and Ruthetta’s brother.  He was the second in line of our pack and all of a sudden he fell.  It didn’t look too bad, like he had slipped on loose rocks, but when we got up to him to see the damage his finger was cut badly!  Like the tip of the finger almost cut off.  It looked so painful and I felt sooo bad.  So their group stopped to clean up the finger and to bandage it up.  Me and Katherine felt a little awkward standing there, we didn’t know them that well… so we left.  Yes I know we are horrible people but we thought we needed to keep going to keep our energy going.  That little canyon took FOREVER to get through.  It looked like if you got around the corner you would come to an opening or the river, but nope just followed along the stream and kept plugging along.  It was sooo beautiful though.  

The canyon’s with the different colors of rock and then the all green shrubbery, all I could do was to keep taking pictures, hoping they would capture even the slightest bit of the greatness of it.  

After what seemed like FOREVER we finally came to this semi-clearing that had a map.  We stopped to look at the map to see how close we were to Phantom Ranch and guess what… we had made it!  We didn’t think we’d make it there that fast.  It was about 11:30 and that’s when we met up with Jamie, actually the only time we met up with Jamie, and we chatted with them for a little bit and ate lunch and just relaxed.  It was sooo nice to take my shoes and socks off and let some air get to my skin.  I had two little blisters so Jamie hooked me up with some moleskin and they didn’t bother me at all for the rest of the hike.  Jamie, David, Porter, Braden, Denise (Jay’s other daughter) and one of Ruthetta’s daughters left while we were finishing up our lunch and after they left was when Bro. Hinton and Bro Bob made it into Phantom Ranch.

I bought me a Phantom Ranch t-shirt (the only place you can buy one in the WORLD!), got our shoes back on, filled our backpacks with water, and packed up our trash to start the ascent.  There was this group of older people hiking that put us to shame but they were at Phantom Ranch and this lady had bought a bag of ice for their packs and had extra.  So she asked if we had wanted the extra.  That was quite the treat, especially when the hard ascents came!!! 

We had left with Jerold, Ruthetta and her husband and her other 2 kids.  Her husband was worried we were going to take the wrong turn off, but we hadn’t come to the sign yet so I wasn’t too worried.  We found the sign and walked the trail that takes you to the Colorado River. 

 Talk about an amazing RIVER!!! 
It was sooo cool to see up close and those mountains are sooo beautiful. 

 Me and Katherine took some pictures on the bridge, which was kind of sketchy.  It was all metal, but sooo shaky.  The wind shook the whole thing but then it also moved when you walked on it.  And you’re so high about the river it’s quite the feeling.  That was probably my favorite part, walking across that bridge.  

 We turned towards the right (CTR) to start the Bright Angel Trail.  
It started off uphill and then after a while we reached sand, uphill sand, and it was dumb.  That’s the only word I can think of, walking in the dang sand trying to go up, just killed my legs and knees, but we just kept going.  The trail kept fluctuating going uphill for a while, then downhill, and before this all the trials were pretty shaded but once we turned this corner after the C River it was very much in the sun.  It was just draining.  Then we got to these SUPER steep switch backs.  

 I was thinking that this HAD to be the worst part of the whole hike, little did I know what was to come.  This is where our group split off, I just couldn’t keep up with them.  Katherine was helping me to keep going but it was sooo hard!!!!  This is the part in the hike that started to get really pretty though.

When we got to the top of those first stairs/switchbacks, I thought I’d never make it!  Me and Katherine decided to take a short break, eating snacks and taking pictures.  We also decided if we needed some music to pump us up!  So we put our headphones in one ear so we could still hear the other person and we continued on!  It was soooooo pretty walking through the next section before Indian Gardens.  I took quite a few pictures.  

Then we finally got to Indian Gardens and had a short break and I sent picture messages to a couple of people :).  We met these two Mormon guys down there and they were so nice and funny.  They were older and married but they were fun to talk to during our break.  We caught up to Ruthetta, her husband (who I still don’t know what his name is) and Jerold and were able to chat with them too.  As we were packing up, Gary and Bro Bob strolled up and we chatted with them as well.  

 Then we were off with no idea what lied ahead of us!  (We only had to climb to the top of those cliffs not big deal right?)

Ps... this sign is right outside of Indian Gardens... I guess we aren't too smart :)
We had so much energy coming out of Indian Gardens, but it didn’t last long, especially when those wretched switchbacks started.  I mean, it’s ONLY 4 miles from Indian Gardens to the top and we had already traveled 20 miles, how bad could it really be?  
That was my mind set at least. 

As we kept climbing, we got to the 1 ½ mile marker that had water and a bathroom, and decided not to take a break for fear we would stop and not want to start back up.  So we pressed on.  A little bit after that we ran into these other 2 boys that were really cute that had passed us a while back.  Me, having the big mouth that I have was like, how and when did we pass you guys!  And they were like you girls are just machine’s and are making great time.  It made us laugh because that was far from the truth.  (They had told us that they had started at the North Rim at 5 am so I was feeling pretty good that we were keeping up with them since we started 30 min after them).  Then, they were like we should just hike together so you don’t make us look bad.  So we stayed with them for a little bit.  Found out they were from Salt Lake and were planning on sleeping at the South Rim that night (Sat) and then hiking back to the North Rim the next day.  I can’t even imagine sleeping 1 night and getting up and hiking it again!  I don’t think I’d be able to get myself back in that canyon anytime the next week.  So we hiked and chatted with them for a little while, but they were going way too fast and by this time I was dying!  Ok not dying yet, but my short legs couldn’t keep up.  So we parted ways, I wish we would have gotten a picture with them, but sadly I didn’t.  After those boys left us in the dust is when it got really hard!!!  I seriously didn’t think I was going to make it.  Talk about the worst 3 miles EVER!!!!  

 (This is Jamie's pic but this is how most of the trail looked like up the mountain)
We hadn’t stopped to sit and rest since Indian Gardens and I was NEEDING a little rest.  So we decided we would stop at the last water break (which was 1 mile from the top).  We stopped and sat down, got some food (granola bars and fruit snacks) and chatted with some fellow hikers.  We met so many nice people while hiking.  There was this younger lady maybe around 35ish hiking about our speed and she had said something that made me think she had hiked it before so before we had gotten to the stop I had asked how much further to the next break and she thought maybe half a mile.  I almost cried, it seemed sooo far away!!!  I think she could tell I was having a hard time because after she saw my reaction she was like You CAN DO IT, it’s really not too much longer.  She said other words of encouragement and was so nice.  I had also asked her where we exit the canyon because I couldn’t see where the final end was and she was like you can’t see it from here and that was a little discouraging.  

(This is where I asked where we came out of the canyon... can you see all the switchbacks up there???  Now you know why I was almost in tears!!!)
We chatted with her on our break and also this crazy guy from LA.  He was an interesting character.  As in CRAZY :)  He was telling us, or at this time this old guy sitting next to him (yes I was eavesdropping, you would have too!) that he had come with a large group, most of them were finishing, there were a couple behind him and then there was one guy that never left Phantom Ranch!  He wasn’t sure if the guy was going to make it out or what he planned on doing.  I was really happy I wasn’t still at Phantom Ranch!  So we talked with him for a little bit and then were on our way.  He left with us, I mean we were looking way too hot at this point and who wouldn’t want to hike with us :) (aside from the rest of our party ;)).  He seemed to be walking WAY better than us but refused to pass us, just stayed right on our tail, which got super annoying real fast.  At one point I sat down and he did too and started yelling profanity through his walkie talkie, which was awkward.  This is where he stayed resting and we continued, but not before he had told me some incorrect information saying that once you get to the tunnel you’re almost there.  I could see the tunnel and WILLED myself to just get up there and I’d be able to make it. 

 (not the final tunnel!)
I was seriously dying, my legs wouldn’t move as fast as I wanted them to or at all and I felt bad making Katherine wait for me, but she wouldn’t leave me and I’m so thankful for that.  She really help me have a more positive attitude, when I really didn’t want to.  What finally motivated us to pick it up, was when we saw Gary a switchback behind us.  We had said from even before all the practice hikes that we DID NOT want to be the last ones out of the Canyon.  So somehow I mustered up some strength to just keep going.  Then, I saw it!  THE TUNNEL and the NORTH RIM LODGE, that everyone we passed kept talking about and then I saw the end.  It’s amazing how before I couldn’t find the strength, then all of a sudden I couldn’t stop! 
These pictures are our ascent out of the canyon... I thought it was cool.

Braden and David came down and David too my pack for me.  It felt SOOO GOOD to get that weight off my back.  I walked up that path to find Jamie and she started crying and so of course I started crying.  I was so happy to be done so they were happy and exhausting tears :).
I will say...  Jamie said she had a ROUGH time too and cried the last 3 miles...  She's not typically a crier, so that demonstrates how freaking hard it really was.

WE MADE IT!!!  And look at that VIEW!!!
Everyone but Gary and Bro Bob were up there welcoming us back.  Sadly Dad and Ellie hadn’t quite made it around yet, so they weren’t there :(.  Ruthetta’s kids were just getting back from the gift shop and they had gotten these cool shirts, and we had loved them.  The whole group decided we’d all get the same shirts.  So they told me and Katherine to go get our shirts while they waited for Gary and Bro Bob.  So we went to go get our t-shirts and sadly they took the ending Group Picture at the top without us.  I was pretty bummed but what can you do.  And I was so tired I didn’t fight to get another.  

 Loving Braden's face in this one :)

Please checkout the picture my dad got from the top!!!  Ya I HIKED out of this!!!!

It was so cold at the top.  Not only was it like 68 degrees outside, my shirt was all sweaty (you can’t think it’s gross because I just hiked 24 miles!) so I was freezing!!!  When we got back to the car I changed my shirt in the parking lot (ya I had no shame :)) and I felt so much warmer already!

          Then, we were on our way home!!!!  The group had decided to stop in Flagstaff for dinner at Taco Bell.  It was such a long drive because I was sooo hungry and so uncomfortable (legs so sore)!   We got there and it was pretty hard to walk inside, we probably looked quite the sight.  I was so hungry I ordered all this food and then my stomach was so little, I was stuffed after just eating my 7-layer burrito.  It was weird, but don’t worry I shoved the rest of the food in my mouth and hoped I wouldn’t through it up.  Then we hit the road for home!!!! 

Funny side story, on the way home I was sooo tired and kind of a little loopy and I kept thinking I was seeing things.  For example, I had fallen asleep for a little bit then woke up as we were passing this Semi and I thought the Semi’s side had a cabinet coming out of the side and it was going to hit us!  My memory still remembers how scared I was, but I also realize that it was shadows that played tricks on my tired brain, but funny nonetheless.  I guess the funny part was that I was yelled to my dad that the semi was going to crush us… yes he thought I was crazy :)

So that’s my Grand Canyon story!!!  I hope you are still awake and you enjoyed it!!!! 
I thought I'd end with this cute pic of Elle-Dog :)