Playing with the camera

Letting me play with my new $10 backdrop!

"Her" cat that WILL NOT go away.

She sneaks the stray in the house. GRRRR!

Baking

My dear Alexa is so nice to let me snap shots of her.... too many every day.

Here are some shots from yesterday and today.

Happy 33rd Greggy

I'm a little late, Greg's bday was on the 22nd. He had a fun filled golf weekend with his dad and cousin Matt and came home to cupcakes & handmade cards from the kiddo's.

Video Update - Alexa dancing at a football 1/2 time in the fall of 09

Chore Chart

{making her bed}

{brushing teeth}

{Excited to put a sticker on the chart}

Miss A sometimes has a hard time listening and following through with what we ask her to do. Generally she is great but on occasion she is super stubborn and doesn't listen, it makes me crazy!
I decided to try this chore chart highlighting some items that we need to work on as well as others that she does well each day already to show her how easy it is to get a sticker when she follows through. Here is the chart and some pictures of her eagerly doing her "chores". So far it is working great and she is so excited to do what is next on the list!!

Miss Michelle

I have been helping my friend Holly with some marketing for her new Formal Dress Rental Boutique 'MISS MICHELLE'. Check out her blog here and refer your 'dance & party' going girls!

http://www.missmichelledresses.blogspot.com/

Devin's Photo Shoot

While in AZ I took a few pictures of Brit's little Devin.

We put together a makeshift photo studio on Brit's bed. It was kind of funny but it turned out pretty good. He is adorable! Here are a few of my favorites.

Girls Weekend Getaway!

This last weekend Alexa and I went to Sunny AZ for a quick visit. After spending 3 hours in the airport on Thursday and missing 3 flights we returned home in hopes of making the late night flight. Luckily we did. We arrived in Phoenix at 11:30 p.m. Alexa was awake the entire time and very excited. One year ago this same week the kids and I flew to Utah in search of a home. Since we found one and closed so quickly, we never returned to Arizona. Greg went home, packed us up and we never looked back. That is until last week. Greg happened to have a meeting in Arizona two weeks ago and this girls trip was planned this last weekend. I must admit, I got a little emotional as I walked off the plane. I was SO excited to be "home" and it felt like I was finally coming home after a long visit to Utah. I have had a really hard time feeling at home since we moved back. I think this trip FINALLY gave me closure and hopefully that contentment in Utah will come now. Brittany picked us up at the airport and Alexa was asleep in about 30 second. She drove us to the Wilkinson B&B and she went home. Her parents and our adoptive grandparents while we lived in AZ hosted us in their home for the weekend. It was like a luxury hotel. Friday morning Brit picked us up and we spent some time playing at her house with her brood. We were able to meet Mr. Devin and little Jazzy. Alexa, Maya & Kenyon played outside. Alexa was in complete heaven. Snow to beautiful 70 degree weather, she didn't know how to contain herself. They were outside forever while Brit and I relaxed inside. We did a little shopping in the evening and us gals all went to Nando's! Yes, I bragged to my families with text pictures just to make them jealous. They were! :) On Saturday morning Alexa and I took off early and made the rounds. We stopped and visited with Bettina, Devin & Beau. We have sure missed them. We then drove to Queen Creek to visit the old house and spy on the new tenants. It was quite a site. The neighborhood has changed so much in a short year. Next stop, "The Pecans" where I took all of the kids photos while we lived out there. Alexa wasn't in the mood so we didn't get many but it was still so pretty. Onward to Power Ranch. I hadn't told Jana that I was coming because of the short notice but Dave was out mowing the lawn so it was fun to spook him and go in for a chat. Her house as always was adorable and her kids were so big. It was great to see them all, check out our house a few doors down and spy on our renters. We picked up Brit, Maya and Bev and headed to Scottsdale to the new H&M. We had been waiting for years for it to open and it did shortly after we moved. We were very excited to shop but it was kind of a bust. There were some cute kids clothes but not much for us. We got "My Big Fat Greek Restaurant" for dinner and headed back to Brits to kick back. I took the girls to get their nails painted while Brit got the little kids ready for bed. Alexa was very assertive to the lady that was doing her nails. Telling her exactly what she wanted and where to put the designs, it was great. We got home and Brit taught me how to make fabric rose hair clips and we chatted while kids played. Alexa and I headed back to Bev and Gary's around 9:30 so we could get some rest and wake up early for the flight home. Brit took us into the airport Sunday morning for an 11 a.m. flight. We didn't get on that one or two others. Another 5 hours at the airport in Phoenix just waiting to get on a flight. Alexa is SUCH a trooper. She was happy shopping the airport gift shops and playing with her toys. She fell asleep in my lap about an hour before the flight that we finally got seats on. It really was such a great weekend. I forgot the fun and outgoing personality that Alexa has with Maya. Maya really brings out the best in that little girl. They were so funny and they LOVED their matching outfits, nails and necklaces. They thought they were so cool. Happy Birthday Maya Marie and thank you Jeremy for letting us steal your wife for the weekend. Brit is such a great hostess. Grandma Bev and Grandpa "Harry", we SO appreciate the fabulous accommodations. We had so much fun! Thank you all!

{Goofy Girls}

{Wanting to swim}

{Placing Golf Balls for Gpa 'Harry'}

{Twins}

{Swinging Outside.. Bliss}

{Waiting in the airport}

{Nando's}

{The Pecans}

{Snack Time @ Gma Bev's}

{Valentines Day ~ Movie}

Tonight I went to the premier of "Valentine's Day" the movie and I had to post.

It was FABULOUS!

I thought it was SO funny, I was laughing the entire time. I went with my mom, brother Jim and niece Molly. It was so fun!

PS. Stay to watch the credits!

PSS. Make a note to yourself that as they introduced the characters played by Eric Dane and Bradly Cooper (2 of my actor crushes) I proclaimed my love of them to Jim and Molly. You'll get it later! :)

To Molly: "5, 6, 7, 8....." & "why don't you learn English, I had to learn English when I moved to this country". HA HA!!