The title-less post

It's a lame title I know... but I have racked my brain for something clever and nothing comes... On to the post - Fisher and I are currently in Phoenix having a house hunt marathon - and I do mean marathon. We have looked at 60 homes in the past 2 1/2 days sweating profusely in the 110 degree heat. We found four that we liked enough to consider buying and process of elimination/someone else bidding first has helped us narrow it down to one - now we wait...

Our past week or so back in Utah was mostly filled with packing and trying to enjoy time together. Fisher will be staying in Phoenix to work, so he took Curly and Lou on outings everyday to ensure they won't forget him - which would be impossible. (This was also very helpful for me to be able to pack). Their "big" outing was a hike to "Surprise Lake". Looks beautiful to me!

The below picture makes me very sad because I long ago realized how much we will miss our sweet Grandma. We all love to visit Grandpa and Grandma upstairs. Grandma takes Lou for "rides" on her chair, gives her snacks, reads her stories... Curly loves to help bring in the milk delivery and newspaper. She loves reading stories with grandma and coloring with her special stencils. Grandpa will equally be missed by all of us with his tickling fingers for the girls and words of wisdom and humor for us ... Okay I better stop because this is making me cry (really). Anyway - Grandma was also very helpful with packing. She folded the many loads of laundry (something she has done for me for a long time).

Oh dear, another sad picture... maybe I should call this the tear stained post. Anyway - these pictures speak for themselves.

I need a tissue.

Lou is Two!

This week our sweet Lou turned two! After another busy week of traveling to Idaho for a family reunion, we celebrated her birthday by attending Free Family Day at the "This is the Place Park." She and Curly both rode a horse. I was surprised at how calmly Lou approached this, considering that she cries out in terror when anything small and furry comes within twenty feet of her (specifically dogs and cats). She rode that pony like a regular cow girl. Yee-Haw!

Not sure what she thinks about our singing :)

We also had a family party. Lou loved to respond to her birthday wishes with, "Happy Birthday Lou!" We have a "birthday hat" that looks like a cake. I haven't managed to put it away yet and as soon as Lou spots it she exclaims, "Happy Birthday Lou!" and happily puts it on her head. Mimicry seems to be her favorite sport these days and I am continually impressed with the sentences she is producing. It helps to have a big sister that fervently chatters all day. Lou also graduated out of the crib and onto the floor this week - we didn't want the little acrobat to fall and break her arm.

Our final party of the week was an annual traditional hot dog roast in Millcreek Canyon. We combined the roast with a July birthday party for Curly, Lou and two cousins who also have July birthdays. It was an enjoyable afternoon. I love being in the mountains and trees.
And lest you think all we do is party.... (though we have been doing a lot of that) This is our packing room - We have packed about a third of our possessions (I think) - mostly in the past three days.

Princess Curly Turns Four!

We celebrated Curly turning four today! We decided to have a birthday party this year so that she could see all her friends before we move and because parties are fun! Curly being enamored with anything frilly, sparkly, and pink insisted on a Princess Birthday party and we did our best to accommodate. Sometimes birthday parties can be overwhelming for the birthday girl, but Curly was so sweet - no crying, lots of sharing and saying Thank you! And her friends were royally behaved as well :) One friend found a "pet snail" that she insisted on holding the whole time and then took home in a jar... Maybe he will turn into a handsome prince some day.

At the party we decorated crowns and "hennins" and played games like "Cinderella Shoe Race", "Prince, Princess, Frog" (Duck, Duck, Goose), and the "Pea under the Pillow" (after reading "Princess and the Pea"). The Castle Cake (instructions here) was also a hit.

Almost got everyone to look at the camera

Curly's cute cousins

World's Cutest Four Year Old!

Princesses decorating their hennins.

Lou looking like "Fancy Nancy" in her chosen garb.
Reading "The Princess and the Pea"

Playing the Pea under the Pillow game

Pretty Princess

The Princess with her snail

The Castle Cake

Blow out the candle

Yum!

Flying Solo

This week I experienced something that I have not had since before I was married almost seven years ago. I was alone for a whole week. Fisher and the girls went with his mother to visit his brother in Washington. I had to work, so I stayed behind to pack and work.

It was a very productive week. I had to keep myself really busy so I wouldn't get too lonely - I filled my time with working, packing, cleaning, attending meetings and working in the garden. I filled with my ears with headphones - using my MP3 player - I made it through all of April General Conference, lots of NPR and half of the "The Count of Monte Christo." I did take a day off to go hang out with my sisters. Even with all that time I didn't complete everything I would have liked, but I don't wish for more solo time.

I anticipated the arrival of Fisher and the girls all day yesterday; not realizing how much I missed them until sweet Curly opened the door and exclaimed "Mom!" My heart skipped a beat and I rushed to hug her and Lou and Fisher. I am so happy they are home!

Pardon my Plethora (of pictures)

Before the photo show, I would like to say that I am soaking up this rain! I know people are sick of all the rain, but I just keep telling myself to enjoy it while I can...Phoenix gets a whopping eight inches of rain each year (which I guess is better than two). Today we went for a walk and I looked around at the gray sky that makes the green more vibrant, and smelled the delicious floral and rain scented air and just enjoyed it. I am basically trying to soak up everything I won't see for a while - family, friends, Utah mountains, Grandma's garden, Idaho, our cozy apartment, work at the hospital, clouds, flowers, grass... okay I am exaggerating. Phoenix has grass.

On to the pictures. Lou is a master at climbing out of her crib and we have had to employ the same tactics we used with Curly, that is shutting the door and removing all toys from the room. She wanders around until she is tired, then crawls in to bed with Curly... it's very sweet. We made a quick trip to Idaho this week to finish some projects and of course some quality family time.

Rexburg has the coolest (and cheapest) carousel and Curly and Lou love it.

This splash park is right by the Carousel. It was about 70 degrees, but Curly wanted to join the rest of the crazy Idahoans that think that is swimming weather.

We planned a morning outing to Mesa Falls... it turned into an all day outing to the falls, then on to Big Springs, Quake Wake and West Yellowstone.

Looking for fish under the bridge at Big Springs.

We also met up with Lainey's highschool buddies and their spouses. We hadn't seen the Hunts for a couple years. Curly loved playing with their red-headed daughter who shares her same name.

Post-memorial visit to Fisher's Oma's grave.

Way over due - Our pictures from Atlanta
At the zoo with our friends/hosts the Paananens.

Eating Southern Barbeque

Waiting for the Laser and Firework show at Stone Mountain

Trying to warm-up after the Olympic Park Splash Fountain

A crocodile eying Curly at the Georgia Aquarium

Lou's fish face