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.

little trick

On St. Patty's Day I put a little something in Aniston's milk. She wasn't so sure about it, and it took some convincing to get her to drink it. It's a good thing I didn't try and change the color of anything else, she might have skipped a meal or two!


I learned my lesson when I tried to be a little festive with her milk and stuck with plain old chocolate chip cookies. This girl is just like her mommy, she LOVES the dough!!

March 18-21, 2011

We were able to jet off to STG for a few days. It was a bummer of a weekend weather wise, but we didn't let that stop our fun! Chris competed and officiated in Tour del Sol. It was his first time as an official and he really liked it! Aniston had a blast playing all weekend and we had a hard time getting her to leave(which is nothing new). Chris and I squeezed in a date while we were down there, and got to go visit the docs office I worked at when we lived there(LOVE THAT PLACE AND THOSE PEOPLE!!). Chris had the doc check his shoulder out, he took a dive off his bike the first season he raced Cross, and tore some of the ligaments. Bad news... shoulder surgery in June. Good news... will be healed for Cross season and I get to see my old office peeps!

The Time Trial...
Aniston and I entertained each other in the car, out of the cold, while we watched for Chris.


We almost missed him, speedy little thing!



The Crit...
Some of Chris' family came to watch, and Aniston and Ali got to sit in the fire truck!







It was so fun watching Chris and all the other Big Ring dudes race! I'm glad our family has something "we do".

little ballerina-March 17, 2011

It was so fun to go into the classroom for Aniston's last dance class! I love that she loves dancing, and her teacher, Miss Kim, is amazing! I procrastinated signing her up for the next class, and because of that it was full. We have to wait for the next class to start in May, so until then this little doll will just dance around the house!

the welcome circle
warming up
"Animal Action", they were pretending to be different animals in the zoo, and Miss Kim was the zoo keeper



Miss Kim has them put this bean bag on different places on their partner. My favorite thing about her, is that she lets the girls decide how they want to do it. She would rarely correct the girls through out the class time, instead she would praise them and just let them have fun! Every girl ALWAYS had a smile on their face the whole time, and they learned all the different moves too!
leaping!!
creative dance
final bow
Aniston absolutely adores Miss Kim, and I can't wait to get her in the next class!!