March 18, 2013

Grandma Comes to Visit

Grandma Suzy is working hard to get her Education degree at SUU and last week was her Spring Break! She decided to come to Arizona to spend it with us. We were so excited! (We love visitors). Sam and Susie helped me make this welcome sign to bring to the airport. 




We packed in lots of fun things in while Grandma was here. Preschool was also on Spring Break so we had lots of free time. We went to Arizona Mills and shopped till we dropped. Susie did pretty well. She got a little antsy a few times. Luckily they have a Rainforest Cafe there will lots of fish and animatronic rainforest animals to admire. She was super scared of the crocodile. :) Susie and I also rode the carousel together. Grandma treated us to several yummy snacks throughout the day and even surprised me with an early birthday present! A beautiful dress that works for maternity. Thanks Mom!

We ran around Phoenix showing Grandma some fun places. She looks forward to Baja Fresh and Trader Joes when she visits. We had a fun dinner and a movie date night, just Mom and I, that I really enjoyed. Safe Haven-- go see it! It was awesome! We went swimming to enjoy the warm sun, to the duck park, and made chocolate roll in honor of her visit. 


Appalled! The ducks are fighting over her bread!




My favorite was going to the zoo. We got to see all of the animals, and some up close and personal! The Phoenix zoo is great. Mom paid a few extra dollars to take Susie in to feed the girafees. She is still talking about it. Every time we she sees a picture of a giraffe in a book or a puzzle we have, she reminds me, "Granma? Jaffe?" Susanna loved spending time with her Grandma. We're glad she could visit. 







March 1, 2013

Susanna's Birthday

Birthday preparations: 


Those of you who know me know that I like to make birthdays a big deal. I figured out this week that I'm really going to love my kids' birthdays! Paul and I had a lot of fun making things special for Susie. 

We went back and forth about the party idea but eventually decided it would be fun. And it was!! So fun!! I've never thrown a kid birthday party before so I didn't really know what to do but we had a blast. Susie is such a social bug, she loves all of the little kids on our ward. We invited all of her friends from preschool and from nursery for our picnic party. It was Finding Nemo themed, of course. 

We had french bread sandwiches with toppings and fruit and chips. I made a Nemo cake with the help of a young woman in our ward. (She taught me a cool trick). I'm so very grateful for the people in our ward who have helped us to come to love Arizona. Good friends are such a blessing.













We had the birthday party the day before her actual birthday because Paul had to work during the day on her birthday. We put up a few decorations the night before in our house. Here we are having lunch with Sam and Emma:


Later when Dad got home we went to Chick Fil A for dinner and played in the play place. Then Susie got to open the family gifts she had. Paul and I got her the green chair and a dog that walks and barks. Oh boy she loves that dog! Grandma Braden sent a beautiful tiara. We put in on and Susie kept saying "'Rella? "Rella?" Yes Susie, you look just like Cinderella. After presents we let her stay up for a movie night with Mom and Dad. Popcorn and chocolate milk, it was so fun!







It is so fun to watch her grow up. I'm excited for our growing family. There is nothing better than family!