December 2012

December 2012:

December was a CRAZY month for me so I felt like it deserved a full post dedicated to just this one month. Lots of fun and exciting things happened to me, Colton and my family! 

Wednesday, December 12: 

Because my job is so flexible, I was able to go to ASU to watch my best friend Conger's college basketball team play ASU. She goes to USD, University of San Diego, and sadly, they lost but it was still fun to watch. I got to sit by her parents and grandma and they are the best people around! I had a blast. I got to talk to her after the game for a few minutes before she left back to SD. I don't get to see her often and we both get pretty busy but she seriously is the best best-friend anyone could ask for.

Thursday, December 13:

Late Thursday night, my dad and I flew to Reno Nevada to watch my youngest brother's high school basketball team play in a tournament. The weekend was full of tons and tons of basketball obviously but it was really cool to get to spend that time with just my dad. My brother's team got 2nd in the tournament and he played really good the last couple games. I loved playing basketball but it's almost as fun for me to watch him play then it was to play myself. ALMOST. I had never been to Reno before and there isn't a whole lot to it. It was snowy-like weather all weekend and we spent a lot of the time in a gym but I liked it. Its really pretty there and there are mountains surrounding the entire city. My dad had made fun of me when I told him I was going to bring snow clothes so all I took were pants and a sweatshirt. Guess who showed up with a snow jacket...my dad and guess who froze the whole time...me! We watched basketball and Friday and Saturday and then we flew home Sunday morning.

Tuesday, December 18:

Background information: I have a best friend who is a guy. We've been best friends since jr. high and we have been through a lot together. He basically has always been like my brother and just part of the family. He comes on our family vacations and hangs out with all my family members. Some people tell me, or even my parents, that I shouldn't have a guy as a best friend since I'm married. Good thing he's family to us then so he can stick around :) 

Well, his name is Stewart Da Silva. He decided to serve a mission for our church and left on December 15th, 2010 to serve in Monterrey Mexico. He came home after being gone for two years on December 18th. I am so proud of Stewart for choosing to serve a mission and still am so grateful for the example that he set by serving. I know he changed a lot of people's lives and did tons of hard work in those 24 months in Mexico.

His parents :)

 His family :)

December 25th and 31st:

We spent a lot of time with family over Christmas break. Colton and I took time off work to spend together and with our families. For Christmas, we opened our presents at our house and then went over to my parent's in the morning and had omelets. It's a long-time tradition in the Olsen household. Later that day, we went to Colton's parents house and spent time with our Walker family side. For my mom's birthday on the 31st, all the adult siblings and spouses went to Octane Raceway and raced. Yes, I did get 2nd place on the second race and Colton got first both races. Watch out for us on the road people.

I took my nephew on a date to see Rise of the Guardians, such a great movie!

Rayleigh was SUPER excited Christmas morning

Ember got her "hoosie" for Christmas. 

Conger came into town for Christmas :)

2012 was a crazy year filled with LOTS of memories! I am sure, because of being a major slacker, I missed some stuff that happened in my posts but on the plus side, I am finally caught up to 2013... and it's only February! This is a joyous occasion my friends. 

The girl who is saying goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013,

Erica Walker

August, September, October, November, Oh My!

After Hawaii in May, we went to California for 10 days with my family at the end of July. I was going to go alone since Colton had just gotten a promotion at work. So I left on Friday with my family and Colton stayed behind but... I was "that" needy wife and called him less than 12 hours after leaving to have him come out. He hopped right in the car and drove 6 hours to come spend the rest of the vacation with me. In case you haven't heard, he is the BEST :) Colton and I don't spend a whole lot of time apart from each other. I mean, we live together and work at the same office (different departments) so I don't know how to be without him. Sounds silly but it's the honest truth. I feel so lucky because I never have to be away from him and on the rare occasions where we do spend a day or two apart from each other, I almost don't know what to do with myself because I miss him too much.

Side Note: I'm going to brag about Colton here for a second because... well because he deserves it. When I met Colton I knew he was absolutely amazing but every day since we have been together he gets more and more amazing. He is always so patient, loving and caring. I have never laughed more in my life than when we are together. He really is my best friend and the best husband. When I used to picture what I wanted my husband to be like, it was Colton. He has absolutely everything and more than what I wanted in a husband. Needless to say, I feel lucky to call him mine.

August:

Alright, now that the sappy love stuff is behind us, back to California. We went with all my siblings and parents. We all went to Disneyland one of the days and other than that we just were lazy on the beach and shopped. Here's some pictures from those 10 days: (sorry for the lack of pictures, I only took my iphone)

Hanging out on the beach with Ember

Spent the day at Venice beach. Cute Rayleigh was the only one I told I was taking a picture

Uncle Ryan and Cole on the beach

The picture Colton sent me to tell me he was driving to Cali to come be with me :)

I wouldn't let her eat sand... 

Cole eating apples on the beach

September:

September 2, 2012 Colton and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary :) We went to stay at a resort in Scottsdale and saw a movie at the Ipic theater. Sadly, there is not a single picture from that weekend. Man, I really need to get better at taking pictures. New goal! I felt like after being married 2 years we were no longer "newly weds". We are now just an old married couple. 

October:

For Halloween, Colton dressed up as Jack Sparrow (yes, he made me even do eye liner on him) for our work party and I dressed up as.... drum roll.... NOTHING! Haha! I don't like to dress up. Colton's family loves to dress up though and they all looked super cool!

Top left: Colton's parents, Top right: Our Spidey-niece, Colton's brother's youngest

Bottom left: My sister's daughter Ember, Bottom Right: Iron-Man Cole

I love this picture: Where's Waldo?

Some of our work people

November: 

We spent thanksgiving riding horses and spending time with my sister who came down with her kids and husband. Some pictures from November:

I spent thanksgiving day and black Friday hanging out with these cute kids

Colton let a baby llama kiss him on the face

So attractive, mmmm... I mean, that's Colton... shooting a gun.

And of course, we spent lots of time outside at my parents farm

The girl who has so much to be thankful for,

Erica

Graduation and Hawaii May 2012

That's right folks, we went to Hawaii AGAIN! Colton and I decided... ok, so more like I found the tickets, hotel, activities, etc and was one click of a button away from finalizing the entire trip before I asked Colton if it was ok :), so we "jointly" decided we wanted to go back to Hawaii again after Colton graduated NAU in May. We booked the trip in March and had to wait what felt like 10 years for May to come around. Colton graduated May 12th from NAU... :) and I've never been more proud of him!

That following week, we left for the island of Oahu, where we spent 28 hours then flew over to our favorite island, Kauai. If you have never been there before, GO! This time around the "newness"-excitement had worn off a little but that just meant we spent less time exploring, which was fun the first time, and more doing the things we wished we had more time for last time. Each time we have gone, on the last night we are there, (we always catch the redeye flight out) we go to the same miniature golf course that's on the beach and play a round. First time, I beat Colton :), this time he beat me. Looks like we need a rematch in 2013, right!? We must have a tie-breaker for best Hawaiian miniature golfer. 

Some of my favorite highlights from this trip: I grilled dinner at our condo (kabobs and corn) and we had the whole beach to ourselves, we watched a sea lion sleep for an entire 10 hours straight, we went zip lining and swimming in a private water hole that had a waterfall. Here are some pictures from our trip this time (there are only a couple because this time I spent less time taking pictures of the things I wanted see and more time  looking at them with my eyes, not a camera lens) :

The girl who went to Hawaii... again,

Erica