So, this has been on my to do list for quite a few weeks.  We did one big trip in February and the other weekends we stayed at Chase's parents and tried to finish the bedframe (it just needs to be varnished!)

Our big trip was to Joshua Tree National Park (we went there for our honeymoon also).  It is two hours east of LA, which means that it was a five hour trip for us.  We took Sam with us so Chase would have someone at his level to climb at.  We drove down there on Friday night and camped on BLM land on the side of the road.  Immediately after entering the park, we decided to find a camp spot.  Good thing we did because we got the last one in the campground that we wanted.  There was a jeep right behind us who barely missed it.

Joshua Tree is all about the rock climbing.  Saturday was spent climbing various rocks, and even I got in on the action, though there are not any pictures of me climbing.

This is the climb that Sam and Chase are going to do after Sam gets back from his mission in two years.  They wanted to do it, but we ran out of time.

Chase and I holding hands in the Real Hidden Valley (not the salad dressing).  This little valley is completely surrounded by rock walls and cattle rustlers used to hide their stolen cattle in it.  Notice all the snow?  It snowed two nights before and it was still cold!

Chase at sunset (my favorite picture of the trip)

Our beautiful little camp spot.  Can you spot our tent?

Sunday morning Chase and Sam climbed the headstone, which was a short walk away from our tent.  It is very popular and one of the highly recommended climbs.  They loved it, but I couldn't do it because of the exposure.  Can you spot Chase?

After climbing the headstone, we climbed a small mountain near our camp called Ryan Mountain.  It had a thousand feet gain in a mile and a half, but it was slick, wet, icy, and muddy.  It was super windy on the top and we were using the yucca as a windbreak while we ate our potato chips and granola bars.

After Ryan Mountain, we drove to the Chollo garden (pronounced choyo).  They were some pretty scary cactus.  Every needle had a little barb at the end.  Don't worry, Sam didn't eat any of them.

After the Chollo garden and another rock climb, we walked around skull rock and found a really cool rock garden.  We added a rock or two each and found this beauty,

A mermaid with a dead cactus as her head!

Chase got some really cool pictures at the rock garden.  That night, it was soo cold that there was frost in the tent at 7 pm.  It got really cold.

The next day (Sunday) we drove home and spotted this awesome sign in Apple Valley.  I usually only see these signs for pizza or gold places, but apparently if you suddenly badly need an urgent care, you can follow the sign!

The only other exciting thing in February was my 23th birthday.  I didn't have a party like last year, but went to Red Lobster with Chase and had a cake on the weekend with Chase's parents.  Pretty low key.

Stay tuned for the post on the weather we had this weekend!