To the Fam. From the Mish

Michael wrote another letter to the Snider family!

Why, hello month 11…

You snuck up on me!

I’m not complaining though :) This month was absolutely amazing to me! It honestly went by like that! (insert *snap*). It seems like just yesterday I was freaking out about double digits and now we’re on month eleven? Woah! It really is true that if you stay busy then time goes by super fast! I also think that I am more busy because it’s getting warmer outside. I don’t have to stay cooped up in my house because it’s too cold! So that means playing outside, swimming, going for walks with the dogs, camping, vacations and just outdoor summer fun! I’m so excited!

My nephews helping me celebrate 11 months down!

Yay!

Mike is loving his mission! He is now Zone Leader in Warsaw with his companion, Elder Van Bakel who is from the Netherlands. They are doing a fantastic job. Mike loves to talk to the people of Poland and get to know them.

BIG NEWS!!! And everyone should be SHOCKED by this…

MIKE ATE VEGETABLES!!! :0

Elder Van Bakel and Elder Raines

 

 

 

Mike lead the meeting for the zone training meeting

Enjoying some delicious pancakes!

Mike got a new suit and shirt! He looks so handsome!

This past week I…

Hung out with Cardboard Mike

 

Went to the Zoo with my nephews

Carson and Sean with the gorilla

Almost as big as a monkey ;)

Riding the peacock on the carousal.

 

 

 

I took this awesome tag off of the wall!

It’s pretty neat :)

Played outside with my family

Giving Sadie a ride in the wagon

 

Carson learned to ride a two-wheeler!

Hung out with my friends!

Heading to the movies

 

 

 

Picking out a game

That would be my bestie right there!

Janell made a bow out of her hair. Hah. She was so excited.

Janell and Caleb!

Janell is going to Manchester England, she leaves April 18th.

Caleb is going to Minnesota Minneapolis, he leaves April 3rd.

Aww…Gutter ball…

 

 

Spencer talking with my nephew

Next month should be an eventful month for this girl! I’m very much looking forward to it! I’ll keep you all updated :) Only 1 more month and we’re on the downhill of this climb!

“Enjoy the moment for tomorrow they will be only a memory.”

awesome quote from President Neilson, from Elder Lopez! Area 70

CALLED

I finally finished a word on my countdown!!!!!! Oh, the little things that get me excited these days :)

It has been 330 days! Which officially means that we are out of the 400’s! (Woot!) We have 57 weeks left! And it’s almost been 11 months (in 5 days!) YAY!

He is so amazing. He just makes me so happy.

“It’s tough, but we knew it would be.”

Such a dork :) He always sends one where he’s smiling and then a dorky one.

I so love him

Weekend Getaway to Zion's!

I am not a spontaneous person. I wish that I was but I am my mothers daughter, which means I am a planner! I liked to have plenty of notice for things so I can plan accordingly. Well last week Misty (Mike’s sister) and Derick (Misty’s boyfriend) invited me to go to Zion’s National Park with them just for the weekend. I had to urge to say no, but then I thought “why not!?”. I said yes, and that was that, I was going! Saturday we all had to work so we didn’t start driving until 5 p.m. But that’s okay, because we were on vacation! We stopped at the store to load up on snacks and then started our 4 1/2 hour journey.

Lets get this trip STARTED!!!

I basically slept the whole way there. Haha. I don’t like cars to begin with, I get very sick so I either have to be looking out the window where we are going or sleeping. Seeing as how it was pitch black outside and I couldn’t see a thing, I chose to sleep. We arrived at our hotel around 10 p.m. (we made a couple detours). Once there, we all started getting settled in and ready for bed. As I was washing my face, Derick walked by me set down a note and then went into the bathroom. This is what the note said…

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!” was my reaction to this note but I couldn’t scream because Misty was in the other room! So I just had the biggest smile on my face :D

Sunday morning we got up and ready for our Angels Landing hike! I was super excited because this was my first time ever doing this hike and I was even more excited because I knew what was happening when we got to the top! The weather down there was nice but it was still pretty chilly. I was nervous to be wearing capris but once we got started I did not regret it.

 

 

Talking a little rest

 

 

And taking a pop-tart break

This part was pretty tough not because it was steep or anything but because this whole thing was covered in ice!

Try climbing up that!

Misty found the perfect little crevice that she could fit in

Once we made it past that icy part we got the Scouts Landing (same name as my cute niece). I felt pretty accomplished but now it was time for the scary part of Angels Landing. Climbing using the chains…Dun dun dun…

Towards to the top of the mountain, it started getting more and more snowy and icy! You can kind of see the chain towards to left side of this picture. We had to pull ourselves up using those chains while also trying not to slip on the ice. Luckily Derick and Misty had my back :) Because if I were to go down, then they would have to deal with Michael and my mother ;) Haha.

Minding my own business…

…wondering what Misty was doing…

…then realized that she was taking my picture! Haha!

Living on the edge. That log is right on the edge of a cliff.

We made it to the top!

So pretty!

Long way down…

Best Friends <3

Love this girl!

Derick and Mist <3

This is one of my favorite places. The red rocks are simply beautiful!

The road. That’s when it really felt like we were high up!

Once we made it to the top, we rewarded ourselves with lunch. Yummy sandwiches! After we filled our tummies, Derick took a little walk and Misty took a little nap in the sun. When Derick came back, he told Misty and I to stand in a spot so he could take our picture. He then said, “Ash, take some of us!” He handed me his phone and instead of it being on picture mode, he switched it to video mode. I then knew what was up. “Ready 1…2…3…”

And then…BAM! Derick popped the question! Misty was super surprised! Of course she said yes!!! They are a great couple :) And I am so happy for them!

Newly engaged!

:)

“Hey everyone! We’re engaged!!!!”

They were both so happy :)

Yay!

Misty of course took the ring off for our journey down the treacherous mountain but once we were down, that ring was put back in it’s rightful place :)

He liked it…so he put a ring on it ;)

Gorgeous ring

Congrats Misty and Derick! I’m SOOOO happy for both of you! I hope you have a very happy life together! Thank you for letting me be apart of it and for the fantastic fun filled weekend! LOVE YOU TWO!