Ice Climbing

Are you sure your okay taking Maggie? Just know she has a LOT of energy and loves to play. Don't get me wrong you will fall in love with her but she is kind of hard…this is what Chris says to his fellow intern as we leave Maggie for the night to go ice climbing the next day. She too, has a big golden doodle they were best buds playing all weekend. Both, shaggy hair and playful, Maggie has found a new best friend.

Waking up at 4:30 am was a little brutal. We met the group of ice climbers at 5:15am at UNO. There were about 6 of us, most were seniors and there was a graduate assistant and a "supervisor". Andrew the Graduate Assistant said that he wanted to stop by his mom's to grab his taxes and also grabbed some homemade cookies on the way out. We came back from the trip and stopped at Tasty Tacos where he met some of his high school buddies. Well, I know who planned this trip definitely Andrew because it seemed like the whole trip revolved around him, especially when some of us wanted to leave at three and he wanted to keep climbing until 5:30…

After driving 4 1/2 hours we made it to the Silo. I definitely didn't master the art of ice climbing, but Chris took it like a champ. He was climbing to the top like he has been doing it his whole life. He tried to explain to me it is all about technique. I guess I was using my arms too much when I should have been using my lower body. I got tired so fast with my arms shaking as I came down and could barely hang on to the ice picks. It was fun to at least attempt. The weather in Iowa was -10 in the sun and windy! Probably one of the coldest days I have ever experienced. We warmed up in the Ice hut with some rounds of hot cocoa. The people we went with you could tell they are high adrenaline junkies. Don't get me wrong I love to experience new things, but I also like a routine. These guys go rock climbing in Yosemite one weekend to skydiving the next. Also it made me feel a little more grown up than the seniors who sat in back of us, "Ya like #^*^* man, thats awesome. (&(^(&! Dude, really though we free falled!" This is what we listened to on the way up and the way back.

But as they say YOLO!

We went to pick up Maggie after getting back at 11:00 pm, You could tell Kristen was exhausted! How was she? Good, good! And then I asked her No, really how was she tell me the truth. She was really nice about it. Although, she didn't say how many accidents she had she seemed like she enjoyed Maggie.

Now we get to catch up from the weekend with some sleep! Yay!

Cameryn

Maggie's favorite spot

The Corky Canvas

"Maggie do happy hands!" As we raise our hands out in front of her in a waving motion. We are trying to get her to stand on her hind legs and clap with her paws. Our puppy trainer says she taught her dog happy hands so now we have to too…Maggie knows lots of trick! Crawling, rolling over, spinning, dancing, shaking hands, playing dead, sit, lay down.. pretty soon we are going to teach her to get us a Diet Coke…

This week I made the appointment to get Maggie spade. It was a disaster. I tried to find the Humane Society who does it really cheap. The listed address on the website was wrong, my scheduled appointment was at 8:00 and I didn't get there until 9:00 an hour later. I begged them to take Maggie but the Dr. was already in surgery. I had to make it to my 9:30am meeting so I rushed to UNO having to leave Maggie in the car. When I came out of my meeting I just had a feeling in my gut that something was going to happen. Of course I was right. While I walked to my car she pokes her head looking at me out the window of the car. I open the door to find a nice treat. Dog poop everywhere…Good thing I kept wipes in my car. Of course you think you learn the first time. Chris and I went to go get RedBox yesterday and left Maggie in the car. I think she gets scared when we leave her in there because she "crapped her pants" she gets so scared.

This week we did a lot of painting. I think I was in a painting mood because we went to My Pottery Place where Chris and I got a deal to paint something together. We painted a big ol' mug that looked like a bowl. Then last night since we missed our Corky Canvas appointment for my birthday got to go paint again! Chris hasn't painted since Kindergarden and he got to paint twice. I have pictures below of Corky Canvas. I loved it! There was a lot of estrogen in the studio but there was one guy sitting across from Chris who was a little tipsy and kept saying I love you to him and you have a perfect smile. A little weird.

I taught my first Group Fitness Class called, "Becoming a Fitter You." I had to faculty members at my 5:15 class. I get to design the workout and I can choose between Core, cardio, and strength so this week was strength. I love working at the HYPR building. The Health and Wellness is so up my ally :) I teach two classes on monday and my 12:00 class was called so instead I got to go rock climbing for free! I can now do belaying and tie the crazy knots. That is one of my resolutions to switch up my workouts so this will be a good one. Also for those who work at HYPR get a deal on the "Adventure Trips" they take. Next week they are going Ice Picking in Iowa City so I decided to sign Chris and I up. It's kind of a bucket list thing I think and after seeing that movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty I am just trying to find fun crazy things… who knows what will be next.

Today I taught Young Womens on Who am I and Who can I become? I felt impressed to teach on this. While I was teaching I was just overcome with the Spirit and felt the things I needed to say. Everyone was crying at the end including me. I love those lessons where you can feel the Spirit so strong. I shared a quote from President Uchtdorf that said, "You are a Royal Spirit Daughter of an Almighty God you are a Princess destined to be a Queen your own wondrous story has already begun. Your Once Upon a time --is now." I also quoted "Knowing who we are, gives our lives purpose and help us make the right decisions."

I think it was exactly what I needed to hear and what my Young Women needed to hear. Great Sunday. Chris in the car then says, How was you lesson? I said Great! Everyone cried, "Ya us too, but exactly the opposite I fell asleep. Ya Elders Quorum isn't exactly like Relief Society and Young Womens ;)
Have a Fantastic Week! Keep it up...
Cameryn

Let the fun begin!

Finally the start of the semester begins this next week! I am the type of person who does not like to be waiting around. I thrive on schedules so when I had three weeks to do absolutely nothing most people would envy me. I would much rather be busy than idle.
I have started my three jobs it is a little more than I was expecting but I really like all of them so it's okay. I'm doing personal training and teaching a class "Commit to Fit" I am also tutoring part time, and then I am working at the Marketing Department at UNO. I have had to go to several meetings before school starts so at least that was on my agenda!
This week my sidekick Maggie and I got to chill. It was nice for a couple of days this week, so we went outside and through the ball around a little and got some Vitamin D.
I miss my husband. I feel like he is working all the time! The time I get so spend with him is sweet :) We went on a double date with our good friends Aubrey and Justin and went country dancing at Rednecks. We are learning all types of country dances. I just wish I would have known them when we lived in Austin Texas! We also got to take Maggie to puppy school this week. She is 1st in her class, I'm going to be that mom who brags I already know it. If only she pooped on command…we're working on that...
Justine and I went to the outlets yesterday hitting up Nike and Jcrew. I was actually impressed with the outlets out here in the middle of nowhere. Way to go Omaha!
I'm also excited I get to go with Chris to Utah in February. We will have to hit up Cafe Rio which is on his list, skiing, and family events.


Okay I know Chris is going to hate me for posting this especially on youtube but I could not stop laughing…. Here is the link Just know I love both of them very very much ;)…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImDLJS2o9sQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Work Attire!

Going Country Dancing!!!

Love you All Can't wait to be there in a couple of weeks!

Cameryn

Home Alone

I love the Christmas movie Home Alone, but this year Chris and I parted paths for Christmas. As much as I wanted to be with him over the holidays I knew he would be working and the majority of the time I would be by myself. I went home for Christmas and took my puppy. I thought it was a good idea. Until when I got to the airport my flight was delayed a 20 minuets then 40 mins then an hour. I missed my layover flight in Denver at 11:30am and the next flight out wasn't until 2:30 not too bad…until the two ladies in front of me got the tickets to that flight instead! Turned out no one was going anywhere. A plane skidded off the runway just as it was about to take off. I got a ticket for 6:40 flight and the two ladies who were in front of me--their flight was canceled so they had to be on standby along with 100 people on standby and the next flight out to SLC on Southwest wasn't until 4 more days. It's a good thing I wasn't in front of them.

Maggie and I got to spend some quality time in Denver together. We experienced the puppy relief area. 

How lovely isn't it? We stood here about an hour under the heat lamps until Maggie finally went. We got to meet some friends though so we were not alone. I also managed to find an area near Panda Express where Maggie and I camped out for probably 6 hours. I got to the airport at 9am and my flight didn't leave until 8:40…

The next day was my birthday but we really celebrated it that whole weekend. We went to my Aunt Kathy and Tom's for a Christmas family dinner because not everyone could get together later than that. It was fun to be with family and to have a big Magelbys chocolate cake. While I was visiting there were a lot of weddings we went to. My cousin Ali, my old roommate in college Kristen, and our other family /friend/ relative Elliot Call. December is a popular month, but also my favorite! I got to go to the Smith Family Christmas Party and make gingerbread houses and play a solo of "Deck the Halls" on the piano.  We face timed Chris and he even got to see Marcus's dad dressed up as Santa. Classic.

Tanner got asked to Preference. His girlfriend Sarah put a present under the tree. It was a present inside a present inside a present inside a present and then a note! So Tanner answered her by having my dad dress up in his Santa suit and going over to there house at 10:30pm. We were all laughing in the car while he stood out there with a bell and asked if he could talk to Sara. He even managed to tell some jokes. . .Why was the Snowman in the grocery store? Buying carrots! 

I made my brothers duck tape bow ties and wallets. They have mustaches on them, idk what it is with boys but they are all obsessed with mustaches. Maybe it's because I can't grow one I don't get it…

I love being with my family but it just wasn't the same without Chris. Luckily he gets to go in February and go skiing with his dad :)

Making gingerbread houses

Tanner and Blake posing with their mustache bow ties

Facetiming Chris on Christmas

I also forgot to mention I tried to groom Maggie…she ended up looking like a rat. Probably not going to try that again. 

It got down to -40 degrees tonight!

Happy New Year from OMAHA SMITHS!!!

Sunset in Omaha.

Love,

Cameryn Smith