Girls Week (Arizona)

And when I say girls week, I mean two girls and a little one :)

It was the perfect time to get away and see my girlfriend Kanya.  I had been SO over my Healthcare Finance Management course and ended up submitting my final two days early.  I couldn't get done with it soon enough!  

The weather was amazing....80's and 90's, sunny-sunny-sunny!!!  We were able to go on daily morning walks, eat great food, hung out by the pool, and of course (on a girls trip) went shopping.  

Everything was amazing, I wish I could post that even the flight home was amazing, but that would be so far from the truth.  HORRIFIC!  Yes, TERRIBLE, AWFUL, EXHASUTING (catch my drift??)  Thanks to the sequestration we were  informed, after arriving at the airport, that our flight was delayed an hour.  First we were told it was weather (are you kidding me because I'm pretty sure it was 70 degrees in NJ the day we were flying?!) then something with the crew, then after finally boarding the plane we were told it was due to ATC furloughs.  Great.

Then everyone on board started getting texts stating the flight wouldn't leave for another 3 hours...what???? Finally, the pilot informs us of this and tells us we can get off the plane or stay on.  Mind you, during this time, my child is tired (it was nap time), hungry, and fidgety as all get out.  A HUGE sorry to all the fellow passengers that had to put up with Ellie's whining.  Gah!

2.5 hours later we take off.  The only saving grace was the 2.5 hour nap Ellie took. Thank goodness she is a good sleeper.  And thank goodness for the sweet angel grandma sitting at the window in our row who read to Ellie, entertained her, and allowed her to crawl onto her lap to look out the window.  

Anyway-  here is a picture recap of the trip.  I love it there and will be back next year for  Girls Week!!!

Sunset from the balcony

South Mountain views

Goofin around on Auntie's bed

Walking her stroller in Old Town Scottsdale

Girls who like shoes :)

Getting her hair did

Cool kid

Loving on Mater

Fountain time at Desert Ridge

She's just so cute!!!

Happy Hour at Olive and Ivy

Practicing our bubble blowing

Passed out after a morning walk

THE Cutest Thing.....

....You've seen all day!

Yes, it involves my child.  Did you think it was something else?  A kitty?  A baby panda? :)  No, no friends.

Our dear friends John (Dr. John that is, so proud of him!) and my childhood friend Grace came to visit from PA.  Here's the best part:

THEIR KIDS!!!!

Ellie loved playing with the girls and especially loved the baby.  That pretty much sealed the deal on Ellie getting a baby sibling.  

It was so much fun to watch our girls in the balls, playing with Play-Doh, at the park, in the wagon, eating, washing their hands....pretty much anything ok?!  Can't wait for Grace's sister Ann to get here with her baby girl too!!!

Hoppy Easter. 2013.

If you follow me on Facebook then you've seen all these pictures I'm sure, so sorry for the repeat.  But the cuteness is too good not to share again ;)

Ellie loves to put items in her little purse or buckets, empty them, and repeat that all over again.  So I knew Easter would be a hit.  A couple days before we started "practicing" :)  Yes, we are those parents.  







Fortunately, we found an Egg Hunt at Johnson's Corner Farm that had a chaos controlled hunt.  After a too long nice hay ride around the farm Farmer Mark dropped everyone off at the opening to the bunny forest.  He told the kids a cute story about how the Easter Bunny was in such a hurry to get things ready that he dropped 5 different colored eggs throughout the forest.  "Can you children help pick 5 eggs and bring them back to the farmers?"  So it was nice.  I liked the fact every kid got the same amount of eggs and then had to sort the colors before getting their treats.  A nice lesson for the day.

The farm has a cute little animal farm with goats and sheep and a big play area with all kinds of slides, jungle gym structures, go-kart buggies, and sand boxes to play in.  We will definitely be coming back this summer.

Sliding on her own!

I don't blame you kiddo

Checking out the treats.  Smarties were a hit!

We then hosted Easter dinner at our place with our friends.  We realized it was the first holiday meal we had in Jersey and was nice to spend it with such great people.  I think we had food coma though because it was an early night for all.  

Hope everyone had a great Easter and is enjoying Spring so far!!!