A Year in Review

2015

You were a year full of the highest of highs and some of the darkest lows.  Many firsts and hopefully some lasts.  I have felt a prompting to write down and share more of our experiences and thoughts not only for my family near but for my family that's far.  I'm so grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to meet so many of you, I love you.   My heart yearns for the day when we see each other again.

We started the year with Natalie having her tonsils removed.  I had been sick so many times the previous 6 months after having tests ran the best solution was a tonsillectomy.  It wasn't very fun to recover from but Sie did a good job nursing me back to health & making sense of my whispered requests.  We found out typing was the best mode of communication.  I'm grateful I had the surgery done though because I haven't had sore throat since.  Yay!

One of our first outings after I started feeling better was to pick up our REAL Season tickets and check out where our seats would be.  We spent a decent amount of time in 2015 with my sister Chelsea, her husband Andrew & Baby Will watching some gut-wrenching soccer games.  Just when your ready to quit being a fan those RSL boys would turn it around and have a great win.  It was a tough season but we clearly enjoyed it because we decided to continue the tradition in 2016.

I had an quick idea to play a little April Fool's joke on Sipho.  I kept saying, babe I made you brownies.  They're downstairs in the microwave.

Haha...I'm so clever!

The first week of April the entire Arnell Clan drove to La Jolla Beach in Southern California for a week filled with sun, sand & fun!  Thanks to Mom & Dad for making this trip a reality.

I'm so lucky this guy is mine forever!

We got to do baptisms in the San Diego Temple.

Sipho and I, with my brother Nate and his wife Steph went to an Angel's Baseball game.  It was Opening Night & we had a great time!

Since Sipho and I married we joined a gym near our home called Amplified Fitness and I have made some of the best friends there.  In March we splurged on a spa day together and ever since we did that it's been non-stop adventures and many many laughs.
I was pressured to sign up and train for a Spartan Obstacle Course Race with this crazy bunch and I'll tell you what it was a lot of sweaty, painful hours but I'm so glad I did it.  We ended up taking a road trip to Breckenridge, Colorado for a Spartan Sprint a couple weeks before our big race the Salt Lake Super on June 27th.  It was an absolute blast!  Beautiful scenery, people and it was so great to tackle that course!
 
The Super was a lot longer, HOTTER but also more rewarding.  It's always so nice to know that when we train and prepare we can accomplish way more than we ever thought possible.

Heights are terrifying for me

Sipho & Mom being Cheerleaders

What a crew!  Couldn't have done it without them.

Summertime brought the older nieces and the oldest nephew over for a sleep over.  We always have a good time and we wear everyone out, especially the aunt & uncle.

There's so many we have to borrow a mini-van now.

Pre-Craft Shirts...We didn't get a post:-(

Swim time = Fun time!

Poor Sie.  His eye was scratched swimming by his contact, so we ended the event with a trip to the eye doc!

We spent a lovely July afternoon at East Canyon Reservoir.  It was a perfect day on the lake.  

Proof Sie got in.  Yay!

I think that's a smile.

 We were able to spend a weekend together in Park City, celebrating our 2nd Anniversary.  We rented bikes, slept in, saw Smokey Robinson at Deer Valley.  It was a perfect time away together!

 

September is the month we get to celebrate my man.  I'm the luckiest to have such a hard working, loyal to the core, loving man as my teammate.  He really is my best friend.

Every DJ needs his noise cancelling headphones

And I finally got my first golf lesson from Sie.  Can't wait to go again!

September brought another miraculous first for us.  

Pictured above is only 2 of the 5+ tests I took.  We were completely shocked!  After finding out earlier in the year I have a Unicornuate Uterus we knew the road to starting our family would be a long one.  This was a complete miracle.  We anxiously and excitedly waited for our first doctors appointment.  Sadly, that day came and no heartbeat was detected.  We waited the longest 10 days of our lives to be sure and then it was determined I would have to miscarry.  Another first for 2015, this one we hope not to repeat.  This was pretty devastating news but we've become stronger as a result and we choose to be grateful for this miracle and hopeful for our future.

My oldest niece Taylor and I had a fun evening taking pictures and trying on clothes at H&M.  She is so much fun to be with and she's growing up to be just a beautiful young woman.

We had wonderful Thanksgiving with the Arnells. It was especially fun that Brooke and her family were in town.  As Sie and I reflected on the year we decided we were most grateful for challenges because that's when you grow the most.

Arnells November 2015

The end of our year was easily the highlight as we were able to visit Africa to meet and renew relationships with a lot of Sipho's family.  It deserves a post or two or three of it's own.  So stay tuned.  Sneak Peak:

Note the crocodile...he was maybe 10 ft from us! 

Here's to 2016!