Arizona

We were able to make a quick trip down to Arizona about a month ago.  It was so nice to visit a warmer place while Utah was still trying to decide between Winter and Spring.  Eli loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa and was in heaven when all of the cousins came over.  He most definitely thinks he belongs with all the big kids. 

See what I mean by Winter/Spring.  This was the morning we drove down.  The day before we were wearing shorts.  Utah weather is so temperamental!  

Feeding Ducks

  Eli LOVED chasing the poor ducks all over the place.  

Playing in Grandma and Grandpa's Sprinklers

I think this was Eli's favorite part of the whole trip.  He had a blast!  He was not happy when it was time to go inside even though his lips were blue and he was shivering.  He is such a little fish.  He can never get enough water.  He LOVES it!

More updates to come soon.  And a new goal of mine.  To take pictures of people/things besides Eli.  I need to document our whole life on here.  :)  

Thanksgiving

We had a great time in Arizona this Thanksgiving.  It was fun to spend time with family and meet two new babies that were born since we were down there last.  It was also nice to have a few days of sunshine before we prepare for another Utah winter.  I didn't take many pictures while we were down there, so I'm just going to do a quick recap. 

• The night before we left Eli woke up screaming and nothing we did calmed him down.  Finally we tried some orajel.  Bingo!  We noticed a little tooth coming through on the bottom. 
• Our flight to Arizona was great! It wasn't a full flight so we had a whole row to ourselves.  Every family with a baby did.  We kept Eli entertained with ice, books, magazine ripping, the window and lots of treats.
• Our sleep schedule was pretty disrupted while we were on vacation.  (We are still recovering) Our first night there was filled with screams and tears.
• Eli learned to walk!  He had been taking steps and could walk across our living room but once in Arizona he took off!  We thought that was appropriate since he learned to crawl in Arizona and got his first tooth there.  
• We had lots of time to play with cousins.  Eli loves all of his cousins, especially Brightley.  She always makes him laugh. 
• We had some good times playing Just Dance and other games with siblings.
• Good food on Thanksgiving!
• Eli's second new tooth started poking through the last days of our trip.
• The flight home was full and by the way E was acting in the airport I was not excited about boarding the plane. Just after takeoff Eli sat on Michael's lap and fell asleep while Michael read to him from the skymall magazine.  Such a blessing.
• There were a lot of military personnel on our flight and when we got to baggage claim we were able to watch as they were welcomed home by their families.  Such a sweet moment.

We are so grateful for our little family and for the time we had to spend with our extended family.  Now our Christmas tree is up and we are enjoying the rest of the holiday season.  

Life is good and we are happy.

Snowflake, Arizona

In July we went down to Snowflake, Arizona for the Ericksen Family Reunion.  This year was special because it took place at the home that Michael's Great Grandpa Rogers built.  We had a great time catching up with all of the extended family.  Michael loved showing me all the places he played as a kid, only for some reason everything was a lot smaller than it used to be.  I guess the world is a much bigger place to an 8-year-old.

By dinner the first night Elijah was so tired.  It only got worse as the reunion went on.  He was a trooper though.

 

Jumping with grandpa during the concert in the park.  Elijah LOVES Grandpa Allred.  He can always get a smile out of Eli.

Playing with Brightley on the swing.  This girl absolutely adores Eli.  She is constantly coming up to him and rubbing all his hair and chubby cheeks. He mostly loves all the attention.

Eli was so tired and fussy when the Pioneer Day Parade started, but the frozen otter-pop we handed him sure cheered him up.  The picture on the right is little Lia sitting on grandpa's lap.

Sisters (Michael's mom and Aunt Christine) watching the parade.

They grew up in the house where the reunion was held. 

After sufficiently chewing on the otter-pop until it was melted Eli fell asleep in Daddy's arms.

Swinging on the rope swing that Grandpa Allred made.

This Cute Lady was a tour guide at one of the pioneer homes as well as a distant relative.  When she made the connection that she was related she grabbed Michael's hand and started walking off with him.  Isn't she just the cutest thing!

Michael reading clues to our group during the scavenger hunt.

 Family picture in front of the house.

All tuckered out after a good weekend of play.

My only regret is that I didn't get more pictures of the rest of the family.  Maybe because the weekend was so relaxed I didn't think to take too many. 

Larissa & Winslow

In January, 2008 Larissa, Mallory and I left freezing Utah and flew to New Zealand for a study abroad.  (Mallory and I also left our fiances.  I don't think they were too happy about that.) All three of us were placed with the Andertons as a host family.  We could not have been more blessed.  The Andertons not only opened their home but also their hearts to us.  We were 5 "free women" living together.  We went on little adventures exploring NZ.  We laughed A LOT, ate WAY too much ice cream, dried our laundry on the line, shared clothes, stories, and even some tears.  I think I speak for all of us when I say that our lives were forever changed for the good by our experience in New Zealand.  I am grateful for the opportunity I had to learn from each of these great women and for the lasting impressions they have had on my heart. 

At the end of our study abroad Larissa, Mallory, and I packed our bags and headed back to the US.  Mallory and I finished planing our weddings and each of us married great guys! :)

Larissa...well here is where her story gets interesting.  You see, while we were in NZ she met a boy named Jason, they fell in love, and after much skyping, emailing and months of very long distance dating they got married!  After the wedding she left her beloved Arizona to live with him in NZ. 

I know, things like that only happen in fairy tales right?  Well, it happened to Larissa.  And I'm so glad it did.

After living in NZ for 2 years she and her husband have moved back to the US.  I was so happy to catch up with her and Jason!  They are such a great couple.  Perfect for each other!

Miss you Larissa.  Thanks for a good time!  And for sharing with us the wonderful "treasures" of La Posada.

(and yes...it looks like I'm an amputee in this picture.)

Easter

We went down to Arizona for Easter and it was FABULOUS!

The weather was so warm which was a nice break from the cold Spring weather we have been having here in Utah.  Our weekend was filled with lots of family, good food, and laughter.  

The Easter Pageant was so great.  

I'm really happy that I was finally able to see it after hearing Michael talk it up for so long.

 E excited to go to the Pageant

On Sunday the boys took some funny pictures.  I don't think they are capable of taking a serious picture!  :)

Grandpa trying to keep E from crying.

E relaxing on our bed

 

The Shave

Michael's Dad had grown his beard out for the Easter Pageant and Sunday night was the day to shave it off.  It was quite the process with interesting looks emerging.  I think the boys had fun.

 

 

It was a great Easter and I"m so happy we were able to share it with our Arizona family.