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.