Merry Christmas 2014

A 2014 Christmas Recap. We spent the weekend before Christmas at my aunts house in McMinnville with some family.  

Emily is the best to watch as she opens her gifts. 

Hey Syd, what do you have there?

Rocks!

OK, and more aquarium accessories. 

A Spongebob race car!

We got home the next day and my new camera lens came in the mail! A 50mm f/1.8 so I played around the house. 

On Christmas Eve our Crossfit gym held a workout and we gave them their Christmas present from the gym members. Arrangements were made for those who wanted to participate by contributing $20 to their present. We wanted to get them a gift of a weekend away together since hey work so hard. We couldnt figure out where they would want to go without ruining the surprise. 

We opted to give them a money order instead to left them decided and use the extra as they pleased. Members agreed to let them close for a Friday and Saturday and their kids will be watched while they enjoyed their vacation. The money order was almost $1,200. They were surprised beyond words. 

I can't think of two more deserving people. These two work so hard to give use a great gym, with excellent training and a group of people that i can call my family. Not going to lie, I got a bit teary eyed. 

Then we made our way to Hermiston to my grandmothers house. 

Moab: Dead Horse SP and Canyonlands NP

This was our last full day in Moab and this day was reserved for Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands "Island in the Sky District" a 40 Minute drive from Moab, these places have amazing views and short hikes to view points. Some tourists had said they thought Canyonlands was more amazing compared to the Grand Canyon. I guess we'll have to make a trip to Arizona to compare the two. 

Here is the view point at Dead Horse Point. 

Then off to Canyonlands for a few hikes and a lot of viewpoints.

The Mesa Arch 

A different view of the Mesa Arch.

A canyon the is thought to be created by a meteor. 

The great "Island in the Sky"

If I remember right our view point was at 6,500ft above sea level. The next layer down from us was another 1,500ft. 

We stopped to let the cows cross the road. They wouldn't budge. The waited for us to pass by before they crossed the road.