Catching UP

I must apologize to my frequent fan and blog readers...I know you've missed me. ;) My absence has been due to business, life, work, etc, etc. I was told by one of my faithful subscribers that I need to "post a blog STAT." So this is for you!

No really, I have been meaning to put updates up, but I must admit that I've given into the ease of just uploading photos to Facebook and not taking the time to formulate thoughts and sentences...laziness, I KNOW! Maybe, it'll be a New Year's resolution to keep this blog going!

So where did I leave you off in our story, on this road of life. November 19th was my last entry.

Just a few short days later the Rummel Clan came to visit! It was a blessing to have fun with Darrol, Marty, Shannon, and Josh (in-laws, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law). We had quite an amazing few days. We went from kayaking and swimming in warm beaches on Thanksgiving day (La Jolla):

Friday we stayed home and celebrated with cooking Turkey in our convectional oven (for which I had my trepidations that it might not turn out...many a day I've undercooked or overcooked stuff in that oven), but the Turkey was great! So was all the company and family time.

Our thanksgiving spread. It was amazing and even more amazing and fun to put it together with everyone's help.

Friday Night...didn't you know Christmas already happened? Well it did for the Rummels. After having Turkey Dinner we sat around and opened gifts. It became more like a Christmas exchange when something for Josh didn't fit and something for Darrol didn't either. It was quite hilarious. We all got some good laughs.

Then since Christmas had already happened, we left early Saturday morning, on New Years Day, for Joshua Tree. And appropriately, while we were rock climbing it started snowing! Yes snowing!!!

Josh showing his amazing climbing skills!

I think you can answer the question...Self explanatory!

The snow added to our exciting trip! We camped out in Joshua Tree. Strangely the two who slept out under a tarp (and not in a tent-Tobin and I) were the warmest of the bunch. We all had fun though.

Sunday morning, instead of enjoying warm instant oatmeal at the campsite, we quickly loaded up all our stuff in the rain, and drove to a nice warm restaurant to have yummy breakfast!

Then we headed up to San Jacinto Mountain, for a tram ride up the mountain. It was great! It didn't feel like we were in So Cal! It was beautiful!

In the tram on the way up the mountain. What a view!

Looking back down on the valley.

Then at the top we hiked in the snow and evergreens!

Here Tobin is smelling the tree...apparently it smelled like vanilla.

He wanted to eat it!

Our next Christmas card.

So basically our trip went sun, beach, sand, rock, wind, rain, snow, mountains, snow, and so cal freeways. Quite the mix!

So after Thanksgiving...Tobin has flown to Maine for an interview. I ran in the Muddy Buddy...crazy fun! I did it with my friend Boom, what better partner? We were about the same size...fit in with our PJ's...didn't quite win the costume contest (I have to say the Hog and Pig duo out did us!).

The Mud Crawl at the end

Then this past weekend we went on a short mountain biking ride.

It was right after a "big" rainstorm in So Cal so it was muddy fun again!

In between the photos you can picture me writing notes, dictating History and Physicals, running between floors to see patients, answering the phone, driving, eating, and sleeping...yup that's about it. For Tobin he's gotten the past two weeks off (in between traveling and interviewing for residency programs): he's been working at home, cleaning, doing laundry!, having fun, and relaxing. Quite an end to 2009! In the next two weeks, I will be likely absent again as I'm working, working, working. I'm even charge nurse on Christmas Day (yup, me in charge...scary!).

For those of you who might be awaiting our Christmas letter or card...don't wait any longer. I'm not planning on sending any out...since we already celebrated Christmas and New Years. ;) But really, I haven't been able to send something out...so I'm planning on awaiting till "Match Day"(which is February) when we learn where our lives will be headed for the next 3-4 years. If you want an update...look back in our blog history. =) Love you all (my faithful readers) and hope for many blessings, fun, and excitement for the 10s...that is 2010!!