Third Annual Birthday Extravaganza Weekend

I went to Phoenix over my birthday weekend (otherwise known as Labor Day weekend) with Jessica to visit our friend Pauline. We left Friday evening and came back Monday night. It was a total girls weekend and FABULOUS! I love getting away and being with my friends. Gabby stayed with her grandparents in Utah.

We spent Saturday morning at the mall shopping. This is the purchases that all 3 of us made.

We had the most heavenly pedicures after shopping. It included a sugar scrub, hot wax, and hot stone massage all while sitting in a massage chair. Pauline had wanted us to get matching toes, but changed her mind at the last minute so Jess and I matched.

Pauline and Jessica suprised me with a dinner theatre. By the way, I'm completely gullible and incredibly easy to surprise. We saw the play "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!" It was a wonderful musical about just about every stage in a relationship. It was so much fun and a terrific surprise. Thank you Jessica and Pauline!

We had a pretty low key weekend. We did some swimming, lots of eating out, lots of talking. We thought about hiking, but it was still so HOT and we ended choosing sleep over getting up early.
We went to the Mesa Temple Visitor Center Monday before going to the airport.

Jessica and me

Me and Pauline

Gabby's 1st Day of School and Her Utah Birthday

Gabby started Kindergarten this month. She loves it and wishes it were longer. I'm not a fan of the 3 hour kindergarten either. She went with her new backpack and first homework assignment. I was actually surprised how emotional I was after I dropped her off. I'd been so excited for her. A lot of it was because I wasn't anything like the other moms dropping their kids off as they were obviously stay-at-home mothers and were lingering at the school while I rushed off to work. Gabby had a great first day and I'm fortunate to have a job that is flexible so that I was the one to pick her up and drop her off on her first day.

Gabby had a birthday celebration with me and her dad once we were back in Utah.

Nick let Gabby pick out something from Toys R Us the week before and went for a Barbie Escalade. It's pretty cool. It has a working radio and she cruises our neighborhood in style now!

Gabby's 6th Birthday

We celebrated Gabby's birthday in Arkansas since all of her cousins were there and we love to have a party.

Gabby doesn't consider a party a party without party hats and balloons. We were well-stocked with both.

The birthday girl in front of the always popular pinata. And it does look like my parents live in the forest if you're used to living in the desert.

CANDY!!!

Make a wish! She wishes for a puppy every time.

Olivia checking out Gabby's new jacket from Grandma and Grandpa

Twirling her new umbrella.

The video's speak for themselves.

Gabby had a wonderful birthday!

I Just Love Arkansas!

Gabby and I went home for a week in August to Arkansas. We had a fabulous time and needed some time away as we hadn't had a vacation since Christmas. Gabby tried hard to convince me that we should move there and shot down every reason I gave her for staying in Utah. But back to Utah we came. Gabby is hilarious to travel with as she says whatever comes to mind. I'm still working with her to self censor. She asked a random guy if his was name was Big Billy. His reply, no my name is Eric." Gabby's reply, "Oh, you look like a Big Billy." She also asked a pilot why he looked so much older in real life than on his picture id. The pilot valiantly tried to defend himself, but Gabby would not be convinced that he was anything but old.

Me and Averi. She's grown so much!

Cousin time in the Anderson's backyard.

I do wish Gabby had more time with her fun cousins. They get along as well as 11 kids can.

Run and jump!

Thomas, Madison, and Gabby jumping together.

We went to Mid America Museum on one day, a Hot Springs classic. It brought back so many memories of my field trips when I was Gabby's age.

We went to Garvin Woodland Gardens one morning with my mom. I'd never been. It was beautiful, but that humidity kills me. I've gotten spoiled and soft living in a dry climate.

I love how green it is in Arkansas. Gabby thinks my parents live in the forest because of all the trees. I think Arkansas is so beautiful. I forget how loud nature is too. It's teeming with life, birds, frogs, bugs, that make a continuous ambient soundtrack where ever you are.

Grandma helping them to the cave.

Gabby is increasingly uncooperative in pictures.

My Place

I've lived here for 4 months now. I can't believe how fast time flies by lately. I love my place still! Here are a few pictures for those of you who have yet to visit me :). I do have a guest bedroom and visitors (most) are always welcome! I didn't take pictures of the bedrooms because there isn't much to them except they're all a bit bigger from our last place.

Oh how I love my closet! I love the built-in and that I can sit in my closet and just hang out if I feel like it. The other side has 2 racks as well and they are all full. There are also shelves for all my shoes. I'm glad I have the whole thing to myself though.

My bathroom is also fabulous. I love the big tub and separate shower and huge counter. Like my closet, I like just hanging out in my bathroom. It's bigger than some of the bedrooms I've had!

This is my front room. It's also more spacious than my last place. It took some getting used to having the tv further away, but I like the extra space. I'm still trying to figure out exactly where to put my treadmill. I can roll it against the wall, but I may move it upstairs.

I LOVE the extra space in my dining room. I have a bigger table that I just got so it's easier to entertain larger crowds without having people sit on the floor.

Isn't the kitchen beautiful? I'm a big fan of the granite and stainless steel appliances. I love having a gas stove again as well. Oh and I have 2 pantries which I'm currently trying to fill up with food storage. It also has a big laundry room and 2 car garage. We love it! Gabby still hates change, but she's grown accustomed to it as well. We are very blessed!

Independence Day Weekend

I had a fabulous 4th of July weekend! It was seriously perfect. We spent Saturday afternoon at the pool with Gabe, Madison, and David. Gabby and I are getting LOTS of pool time. We go most evenings after work and every Saturday. Utah summers are far too short so you gotta make the most of them! We went to West Jordan and had some all-you-can-eat sushi sans kids. I am not seeing my family as much since the move, so it was good to get lots of time in together.

Gabby is my little fish and getting more fearless in the water.

On Sunday, we had a barbecue at the Torgersons with lots of Arkansas friends. There was tons of food and even more laughter. I have the best family and friends! Pam and I discovered we both loose our ability to grasp things with our hands if we laugh too much. It was wonderful having so many Arkansans under one roof.

4 of 6 siblings together. It's not looking good to having 6 of 6 any time soon.

I had Monday off and Gabby was with her dad. I hiked Stewart Falls with my friend Jessica. We were roommies our freshman year at BYU and have fortunately remained close ever since. Jessica recently moved here and started a new job with me. It's terrific having her here and working with her. The Falls were beautiful and it felt great being out in nature. We spent our afternoon lounging at the pool and reading. As I said, the weekend was perfect!

Camping!

Gabby and I went camping with the Nevers Family on Friday night. We've been trying to go camping together for 2 years now and it just never happened until now. We went to Little Sahara Sand Dunes which are south east of here in the middle of nowhere. I love camping and have really missed going. I am definitely not brave enough to go on my own though. I had the worst night of sleep thanks to the wind and my paranoid thoughts that an animal was trying to get into my tent all night. And some idiots kept driving by our campsite on their four-wheelers. It helped that there were other people there, but Gabby and I definitely won't be taking any camping trips on our own any time soon. I love getting away from everything, even my cell phone service. I love campfires and especially s'mores. Gabby loved it as well, so we'll have to try and go a bit more.

The view to the east of the campgrounds from the top of the dunes. I have to say that my car was most impressive getting through to the campsite and not getting stuck.

Running to dunes. Part of the dunes is fenced off to play on sans ATVs.

I brought Gabby's sled to try out on the dunes and it worked out pretty well.

Going down on the stomach worked well too.

Magnificent sunset!

Tent Sweet Tent! I camp with an air mattress and was most comfortable aside from all my silly fears. It actually gets fairly cool at night (50's) so we were bundled up for the night.

Gabby and I took a slide down together.

Gabby and Ellie.

Gabby and 4 of the 5 Nevers playing near our campsite.

Summer Sledding!