You've got to fight, for your right...

To potty! Yep, we are venturing into uncharted waters and attempting with the early stages of potty training! We aren't pushing it too hard. Usually, just letting her sit naked on the toilet before baths and jammies. Nothing has happened other than her realizing her toes and her sippy cup fit nicely in the hole. As you can see it is quite the family affair. Even Cory got up in the mix.

Running Against the Wind

What a wonderful weekend! I flew out Friday afternoon to head for sunny Phoenix, Arizona. My bag was packed with the new DownEast capris (LOVE) and short sleeved shirts and flip flops as the weather said it would be a scorcher. Touched town in Phoenix around 6:00 pm. Went to dinner with Heidi @ Cafe Rio (yes, I know they have those in Utah but Heidi had never eaten there and it was tasty) and then we headed to Bahama Bucks. For those of you that have not tasted of the sweet nectar known as "Bahama Mama Rama" you must. Think really thin shaved ice, covered in sugar flavored to your liking then cream on top all nestled on a bed of vanilla ice cream. I have had something similar in Hawaii but these top the charts.

Saturday morning we got up @ 5:00 AM to head to downtown Tempe Diablo stadium for the 6th annual Pat Tillman Race. It was AwEsOmE! There were 35,000 people there to run/walk. It was so cool being surrounded by so many people and crossing the finish line @ the stadium. Seriously, one of the best races I have finished. It was quite ironic as well that we finished the 4.2 mile race in 42 minutes which is also Pat Tillman's number. Heidi and I then hit the yard sale scene and I scored quite a few .25 gems for Mc. Needless to say, we hadn't showered since the run so the car smelled great every time we got in and out! :) We hit lunch @ Chic-fil-a because we got free sandwich coupons @ the race ($1.78 for lunch, not bad). That night, all us ladies headed to Joe's BBQ. Man, I really miss that place. The mac and cheese alone is enough to get me to come to AZ. It was good company and lots of laughs. Miss you ladies!


















This was how far we were back from the starting line...there was a a line of people that stretched for miles behind too. @ Mile 3, we looked over the bridge and some people were just starting. Me and Heid just after crossing the finish line.

The clan. Bruce- thanks again for letting me steal your wife for the weekend and wearing the camo shorts so you could carry the camera!




















All the ladies @ Joe's.
In no particular order, Joanne, Lacey, Lindsey, Michelle (G and C), Kim, Heidi, Mindy, Ashley,Paula and Lisa. Salt of the earth these ladies.


Sunday I got to go back to the old ward. There is such a different feeling there. I am truly grateful and have a strong testimony of the power of a cohesive ward. It felt great to see old friends and to catch up. I headed back to the airport not too long after church and boarded the plane to head back to Utah. I know this might sound weird, but it almost felt like the opposite. That I was getting back on the plane to head to Phoenix. Back to work. Back to Clovis Ave. (speaking of Clovis Ave, still now sale on the house but someone did take the liberty to steal my planter box off the front of my house). I was glad to come back to Utah. It was surprisingly warm. We went to my parents for a BBQ and just sat in the sun. I am excited for summer in Utah. It will be a welcome change. I don't know when I will be back in AZ but it was definitely a wonderful trip. I was glad to come back to my hubby and Mc and on to another week!

Tip Toe By The Window

What a great April we have had thus far! We have lived in Utah for two months now and have adjusted to the weather (we have been saying that March came in like a lamb and is leaving like a lion because we have had so much snow!). Mark and I had the opportunity to go to conference during the Easter Sunday Morning session. Truly an amazing experience. It really hits when you haven't gone to conference @ the Conference Center in years and being back in Utah surrounded by so many people of your faith. I have a testimony of our Prophet, Pres. Monson. What an amazingly loving man. His presence filled that conference center to every corner and I still wish I could meet him and just hug him.
Easter was fun this year too. Mc doesn't really get the gist yet of egg hunting. She just loves to be outside running and if she happens to stumble across an egg with candy in it, extra bonus. She has discovered she LOVES Sixlets (the blue ones leave a particularly wonderful hue on her face when she is done) and she also loves bubbles. We got to have a fun Easter Egg hunt @ Grandma Mary Ann's between Saturday sessions. Mimi also gave Mc an Easter basket (notice the gloves which are an Easter MUST) and thanks to the new Liberty of London line from Target...a darling dress.

Being back in Utah means friends and family are really close and we have really enjoyed that. We got to go to a cousin's baby blessing today and spend some quality time with them. We also aren't a state away from the Blackhursts which means we can get together for bowling/family home evening.




















We have been making some major progress on the house. We have finally come to the decision that some of the work we are going to pay someone else to do so that Mark has more time @ home with Mc after work rather than having to work on the basement. Plus, we can't be super loud once she is asleep so it pays off. We have a framer coming to do the basement in about a month and then we have a major undertaking- the drywall repair. We love our shutters in our living room. It really makes it look expensive and clean. And as you can see, Mc loves to just max and relax with her daddy.

Can you hear me now?

This video is crooked. I don't know how to fix it. If you know, please tell me. I have tried everything BUT, still worth the watch. This is Mc "talking" on her phone. She sat there almost for an hour talking and playing the piano- this has to be done together or it doesn't work. She is just getting so big.

Time to make the doughnuts

We all know that there is one defining attribute associated with love that makes it wonderful, thoughtfulness. I witnessed this first hand this morning. I sent Mark to work on this rainy morning just like any other Friday. Mc was taking her bath and I heard the front door open. There was my love, holding something that would make any heart melt...this chocolatey, cakey doughnut is a Dunford Doughnut. You can't buy them anywhere but in Utah and since I have been back, I have yet to have one. Now, not only are these doughnuts delicious, but I can remember my dad, almost every Saturday, bringing my mom a Coke and a doughnut (which we would all sneak bites from when she wasn't looking!)....the circle continues. This is the start to a wonderful day!

Little Purple Pansies Dressed in Yellow Gold..

The house is coming along! We got new blinds throughout today and I can tell you I wasn't sad to see the pink verticals go! It looks so nice! Basement demolition should be starting here shortly and that is where the biggest changes will come. We are getting accustomed to the house and it feels a little more like home everyday. I have still been running frequently. Since I have yet to purchase a new IPOD, Brittnee (my 11 year old little sister) and my dad, have been kind enough to let me use theirs. I don't know who's is worse- the sounds of Hannah Montana (wait, Dad has that on his IPOD too) or the "Davy Crockett" my dad likes?? Oh well, better than nothing. :)

Our new ward is great. We are still boggled by how small it is! There was a major milestone for Mc this last Sunday- she went to nursery!! I sat with her the first hour and let her fly solo the last hour. I sat in Relief Society with nothing on my lap and every time the door opened I was waiting for it to be her. She is just growing up so fast. This is her first picture she colored".

Wake me up before you go go

Happy Tuesday! Again, I have neglected the blog for longer than I had planned but there are some valuable updates ahead! We have been in Utah a whole month! Can you believe it?!?! We can't! It has been really good to be back and we have really enjoyed spending time with family, going out with friends and just being back in Zion. Still no word on our house in AZ, our realtor said there has been a lot of action this week which is good and we are planning on raising the asking price (even better). I am uber excited to be back in AZ in April for the Pat Tillman run...warm weather and good friends.

We have had a busy couple of weeks. We are done painting the upstairs which means we are making the move to demo the basement. That is going to be when the REAL work sets in- we set a completion date of 7/4/2010...BBQ, family and friends over....should be manageable. This is the kitchen AFTER- still not quite all the way done but in comparison to the before...a MAJOR improvement.



















Mark is enjoying his job. It is still so weird to send him off every morning and I stay home to spend my days @ the aquarium or doing laundry. He is doing a good job and I am so glad that he likes it. Our new ward seems pretty cool. We are also super excited because we got conference tickets for the Sunday morning session. I haven't been to conference in 6 years so we are pretty excited.



Mc loved the aquarium! Consequently, she has learned what an "ish" does and we now have a good place to let her run on colder days. I couldn't believe the sting rays. They are flapping out of the water to let you touch them. It was awesome!
You can also see we have ventured to fancy hair. She doesn't leave it in very long (usually nap time consists of her yanking out her hair, her earrings and taking off her socks/pants/ all of the above). Still cute!