Children at heart... Small children.

We tried seeing an earlier showing of Captain Phillips but it was sold out. (At the cheap theater, too!) So we proceeded to go inside the mall for some Sees candy. We passed a kiosk that Jeremy simply could not resist so we all indulged........ 

Yes this is 7 grown adults, all over the age of 27, riding safari animals at 3mph around Superstition Mall at 8pm on a Saturday night. (Don't tell Jer but the girl set mine to 5mph...which is why I wasted everyone in the final race.)

Family away from family.

I am an aunt. Granted a pseudo aunt but I am aunt Erika non-the-less. I love these kids like my own and it pains me to think of moving away from them after I graduate. I love being with them, seeing them grow and learn and play and discover life. Alexis is one of the best readers I have ever seen. Kaia is the sweetest little toe headed girl. Hannah makes me laugh and I can never get enough of her stories and her laugh and her love. And Austin. The token perfect boy at the end of 3 girls. He is so tender and loving and sweet and can finally say my name. I love those little family so much.

Here is just a little glimps of life with the Riese clan:

This one makes me laugh.... They didn't know the flash was going off after the movie and were all literally blinded by the light! 

OH how I love these little ones....

Death bed. (Or what I imagine it to look like)

So I have the flu cold bug crap business that seems to be fluttering around the country lately. At first it was just a sore throat and some stuffed sinus action. I honestly thought it was pretty minor compared to what others had reported. I felt fine by day 3 and then by day 4 I had no voice, my body ached, I had chills, my sinus cavity will blocked shut, and I could feel my body start to wither. This carried on steadily for about 5 days. Then the drainage started last Thursday and with it took all the energy my body had left. Friday I felt like an absolute zombie. I could hardly walk without feeling completely depleted of all energy. It was miserable. I literally slept from Friday afternoon until Sunday night without hardly leaving my apartment...who am I kidding, I hardly left my bed. Sunday afternoon I made myself a serious booster smoothie with some fruit and veg combos but more importantly a strong dose of OnGuard. I woke up today feeling better. I won't pretend to be 100% yet but I do feel a different in how my body feels today. I still feel pooped but I had energy enough to grocery shop this evening, which I often don't have the energy for when I am healthy!!! 

Just to give a good mental picture, here is my 72 holding cell...complete with toilet paper for tissue, NyQuil for sleep, cough drops for coughing, Vicks for chest and feet, and trash for the green gooey guck coming front within. (TMI).

These photos are more for myself so next time I am feeling not up to par I can remember the weekend I felt like I came close to dropping dead!!!!! 

Fingers crossed for a healthier week to come. 

Nalgene USA.

I value excellent customer service. Maybe that is because I have been in the industry for, well, all my working life, and I know it's not always easy or fun and often goes unnoticed. 

That being said, a few weeks ago, I broke my beloved nalgene and posted a picture on Instagram. The account Nalgene USA commented on my photo and gave instruction on how I could get it replaced. I emailed as instructed and 7 business days later, I had in my hot little hand a brand new bottle. 

FOR FREE.

Aimmee from Nalgene HQ is also a fellow Sundevil, which just makes this story even more magical. 

Home for the Holidays.

I haven't blogged and miss it so perhaps resolving (for now) to be better when it comes to recording my life adventures.

Going home for Christmas and New Years was a dream. I hadn't been home for the actual holiday season in four years due to Hawaii and Starbucks. Let year I came close, flying in on December 28th, but this year I actually got to spend the full time at home. It was perfect. I spent most of my time at home, which I am sure disappointed a few, but it was much needed. Usually I go home and run around like a crazy person and have some sort of social gathering at my house but this year, I stayed put, relaxed in jammies, and enjoyed quality time with my family. AND while I missed seeing a few people and things here and there, I still wouldn't have changed it one bit.

^For the first year ever, we got matching PJ's. 

I don't actually enjoy sleeping in so much clothing but I am secretly hoping

it becomes a tradition because it was actually a lot of fun.

^On Christmast eve we did some Facetime with my two favorite people!

^Asa joined us for Christmas Eve and Christmas day and ended up staying

and extra night which was the best treat!

^After we had opened gifts, eaten cinnamon rolls, and played games, dogs and humans alike were pretty pooped! It was a good day :)

^Emma ended up getting pretty sick while I was home. She spent most of her time here on a little twin mattress she drug from upstairs so she could still be in the thick of things, even while drugged up an passed out most of the time. 

^The weekend after Christmas, we joined Kevin and Linda in Elgin, OR for their annual holiday play. This season, it was a performance of Guys and Dolls and it was so much fun! The Elgin opera house has a lot of history and the town was small and reminded me a lot of Montana. It was nice to see a different part of Oregon and spend time with K&L.

^I got to meet Shea's kids and clearly they loved me :)

^AND what trip with them would be complete without some Liar's dice and a few rounds of 'What's Yours Like?'...

^Oh and this is Oliver. Emma's kitten. 

^New Years Eve was very low key but I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way. Nothing like getting drunk off Martinelli''s with the cutest baby...oh and her parents!

^Again, Oliver and the crazy cat lady....

SO I was supposed to depart for Arizona on NYE so that I could work NYday. Due to some "confusion" back at work, I didn't make the schedule. SO we changed my flight and I got 5 extra bonus days at home. It was the best. My mom and I spent my last full day at home out on the Oregon coast and it was absolutely perfect!!!

^Found my new favorite spot....Oceanside Oregon

^Cape Lookout

^Cape Mears

^And of course a stop for Tillamook Icecream

We had decided not to wait until dark to drive home but then I couldn't stand the thought of missing a potentially amazing sunset on the coast so we left Tillamook and raced up to Manzanita just in time to see the sun go down and W O W am I glad we didn't go back to Portland too soon. It was absolutely breathtaking. I felt like I was wrapped up in Hawaii and Oregon all at once and it was perfection.

Leaving Oregon was gut wrenching. It's bitter sweet, being that I only have four more months until I am done in Arizona but from this side of four months, that seems like the longest time from now. 

HOWEVER, the flight out was crisp and clear and I could see Helens, Rainier, Adams, and Hood all from my little window. It was magical. 

It was such a good 2+ weeks at home and it makes me so excited to get back HOME for good!