Easter 2011

Easter was great this year. The Easter Bunny gave us a ridiculous amount of sugar. I prepared my first Easter dinner, and it was fun to have Papa, Grammy, and Christian enjoy it with us. Aniston also learned a little bit about the real reason we celebrate. I'm thankful that because of Him, I can be with these two forever.


No one, not even the Easter Bunny, can out due Aunt Shelbi and Uncle Scott when it comes to gifts. Thanks you two for the possibility of another stain on the couch, a messy face(she uses so much it tends to drip down her face!), and the happiest little girl. She wasn't worried about finding her basket, she was content with princess lips!

The Easter Bunny left a note for Aniston. He hid some eggs outside for her to find!

We went on a hunt for Aniston's basket, and I think this was a little clue...

She found her basket, and was so excited about all the goodies inside!



The Easter Bunny didn't forget about Mommy and Daddy, because they still act like kids.


Aniston is my great little kitchen helper. She is always pulling a chair up to help out. She's always got to taste it to make sure it's good!


We had to bundle up to go out for the egg hunt.






love her!


Dinner turned out, at least everyone ate what they put on their plate. I did slightly cook the roll dough when I was letting it rise, but these little bunny rolls still turned out...

yummm

nothin' like a little chocolate to start your day!

April 20, 2011

Gram had us over for some pre-Easter celebrating. We colored eggs and went on an Easter egg hunt(inside). Then Papa came inside and he and Aniston got right down to business and played! They ran around the house chasing each other and played with the collection of animals. I love watching them and listening to Papa "talk them". He has such a great imagination and gets Aniston giggling with all the funny things he says and does. Those two love Miss Aniston and are always so good to her. I know she adores them too!


Grammy had to get creative with her hiding spots because she was limited thanks to the rain.


Evidence that Papa has a great imagination. When the horse broke his front legs, it was Papa to the rescue with what he could find around the house. He even added a nice soft seat for the princesses that ride around on this horse.

I'm not sure how I got talked into the 12 hour drive to and from, but now that we're home I'm not sure why I ever thought it wouldn't be worth it. Grammy, Aniston and I got in the trusty Focus and drove, with the help of a M-A-P, down to Phoenix, AZ. I was blessed with a little traveler(she takes after her dad). Aniston was GREAT the entire drive, down and back home, and the entire time we were there! We got to stay with Shelbi in her "shotel" room, which Aniston may think is Shelbi's house?! Stefen and Bri live pretty close, and we were able to spend time with them too. It was fun to get away from the cold, wear shorts, see family, swim, and do some scrap booking.
Paige, AZ...half way there!!

Friday April 15th: Phoenix Zoo


Aniston made sure she got to hold hands with Stefen and Bri, she was so excited to see them!!



the "carouself" was Aniston's favorite


this zoo has camel rides, how cool is that?!
We ended the night out on the town... Olive Garden NEVER disappoints!


Saturday, all the girls got to take a scrapbook class. Shelbi taught the one I went to, I should have known better. She introduced me and on more than one occasion drew attention to me, something I can do without. It was really fun and I forgot how much time it takes to make pages look cute(that's why I blog now). We also got to spend lots of time at the pool and soaked up more than our fair share of rays. Aniston and I also ventured out on our own, with the map, to find a grocery store. We made it, and also got a taste of what it's like to shop outside of UT. There is so much alcohol EVERYWHERE, I felt pressured to buy it for some reason(it was in my face, everywhere I looked!!).




Sunday we spent the day at Stefen and Bri's. We swam, once again soaked up more sun than necessary, and they made us a delicious dinner. Shelbi and I regressed into our big sister state of mind and forced Stefen into joining in on some "facial hair removal", he was a good sport.


Monday came faster than I thought. We took our time leaving the "shotel", and stopped and ate some delicious food before dropping Shelbi off at the airport.


Then, using our map, Grammy and I found our way out.
Half way home, the traveling princess and her happy face!
Because we took our sweet time getting on the road, we had to drive late. We hit some pretty interesting weather, not the hot AZ sun we were used to. I also had an encounter with a moth, in the car, while driving, in a rain storm, in a mountain pass. I gave that moth the perfect opportunity to get out(window down), and he refused. Grammy gave me a wipe to swat him out, but he hid. 2 semi trucks passed us during this event, thank goodness the water their tires were spraying didn't get in the car. That moth finally got the hint, better late than never I guess. Aniston enjoyed to cold wind, and got mad when the moth flew away and the window went back up.
We all had a blast. Can't wait 'til AZ shares the sun shine with UT, particularly SLC!!

this is how she does it...

Chris and I wonder if she sings like this in Primary?

April

So far April has kept us busy. Chris is finishing up his last semester and getting excited to get the long awaited Bachelor's degree. I just finished the application/enrollment process to finish my prerequisites for the Ultrasound Tech program. Chris is excited to take a year off, and I am nervous to finish what I started almost 8 years ago(just a little different area of the medical field). We both just received callings. Chris is the Young Men's secretary and I am the sacrament program printer outer(I'm jealous!). My favorite part of the month so far...riding the bike trainer. It's our only time alone together, and although we've both got our ear phones in, we're together(and he makes me ride faster)!


Aniston is now signed up for preschool. Too bad it doesn't start until September. She just shortened another person's name...Shelbs.
Lately, she talks about...
eating lunch with Katie and Becky. she got spoiled after lunch when they took her to Target and bought her lips and jewelry. those 2 are the best!!

growing her hair as long as Rapunzel's
quoting and pulling moves like Vector(Despicable Me)
directing what everyone says...Daddy say or Mommy say...
going to Costco. she loves Costco, especially their hot dogs and samples. we went there just the other day after she helped me make the list by writing...

going to AZ to visit Stefen and Bri, see Shelbi and going swimming, she says she just loves Arizona
"spitting out" she experienced this for the first time since she stopped "spitting up" as a baby

The things she says are hysterical. She chatters like she's a grown up. She catches onto things and incorporates them in her daily conversations. Can't believe how big she is and acts!!

Did I mention her love for shopping, and that she makes the best shopping buddy. I have to let her ride a few rides because shopping with me is usually stressful!

thank you!!!

I have a very sweet friend at work who has been so good to me by passing on her girl's clothes to little Miss Aniston. Every time we get a bag of clothes, it's like Christmas!! Aniston LOVES all the cute clothes Julie gives her, and gets extra excited when there is something in the bag that she can play dress-up with. She twirled in this dance costume for a good hour before I could get her to take it off and get her jammies on.