Ever since Ben came home at the end of January and we moved into our yucky apartment, we've been making up all sorts of excuses to go out of town. Desirable destinations include places within driving distance (no more than a day and a half in the car) and trips that are relatively inexpensive or generously subsidized by others. We've made trips to Snowmass, CO, Heber, UT, Southern California, and now we're in Heber again. I think the longest stretch we've spent at "home" so far has been 10 days.
We've had fun, Ben's had a chance to unwind from his deployment, and we've had lots of family togetherness time. But now I think we're all ready for real life to start. More than two months of "vacation" just starts to feel like you're living in limbo, which I guess we are, and the little trips become more and more contrived. Perfect example? - our current trip to Heber. A good (GREAT!) friend in South Jordan had a birthday this past weekend and we have a wedding to attend (on behalf of Ben's parents, who can't make it because they are on a mission) this Friday. So what do we do? Plan a 10 day trip and make up a bunch of stuff to fill in the whole week between the 2 "excuse" events that got us up here in the first place. I scheduled a play date for Paige, dinner with longtime friends, a much needed haircut/color by my favorite hairstylist ever (I don't really know that many, but he is GOOOOOOOD), and family portraits.
When my relatives asked why we're in town, I replied, "just killing time."
It's dying very, very slowly. And, obviously, we're running out of ways/places to "kill" it.
Any suggestions?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
When I Grow Up . . ..
Paige: Mommy, Mommy! I grow up!
Me: You're growing up?
Paige: yeah
Me: What do you want to be when you're all grown up?
Paige: I go in a spaceship.
Me: Does that mean you want to be an astronaut?
Paige: yeah
Me: What will you see when you're in your spaceship?
Paige: I will see stars . . . and the moon . . . and twinkle, twinkle little stars!
Me: Wow, that sounds like fun.
Paige: And I have a pink space helmet. You can have blue. Go get it! Get your space helmet!
Me: We don't have space helmets. We'll have to talk to Papa tomorrow; maybe he can help us make some.
Paige: Yeah, and he can have pink.
Me: You're growing up?
Paige: yeah
Me: What do you want to be when you're all grown up?
Paige: I go in a spaceship.
Me: Does that mean you want to be an astronaut?
Paige: yeah
Me: What will you see when you're in your spaceship?
Paige: I will see stars . . . and the moon . . . and twinkle, twinkle little stars!
Me: Wow, that sounds like fun.
Paige: And I have a pink space helmet. You can have blue. Go get it! Get your space helmet!
Me: We don't have space helmets. We'll have to talk to Papa tomorrow; maybe he can help us make some.
Paige: Yeah, and he can have pink.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
DiSnEyLaNd
We got an awesome deal through the military, so the day after Paige's party we headed to Disneyland for 3 whole days! Wooohoooo! Here's a photo summary:
Park entrance.
Paige loves pluto. He was the first thing we saw upon entering the park.
Paige loves Mickey too. She was pretty excited to visit him at his house.
On the second day we went to Minnie and Friends' character breakfast. Meeting Minnie was a very serious thing for Paige. She tried to talk to her about everything from 'where's Mickey?' to 'these chairs are soft'. Minnie was kind enough to respond with lots of nodding, hand gestures, and hugs.
Eeyore.
What's in your mouth, Chip?
At this point they were playing loud dancing music throughout the restaurant. Paige saw Pooh out there dancing and just had to join him. She did this for the entire song.
After the character breakfast we headed over to California Adventure. She must have gone down this slide a dozen times. And every single time she got into some weird position like this.
Paige and Daddy. Both were enraptured by the Pixar Parade.
'R' stands for Reed.
Near the end of the third day we waited FOREVER to visit the princesses at the Princess Fantasy Faire. It was well worth the wait as Paige's reactions were priceless.
Her cheesy grin just kept getting better and better.
Mulan especially loved her.
The last picture I took. And one of my favorites. Paige loves Disneyland!
And they all lived happily ever after. The End.
Park entrance.
Paige loves pluto. He was the first thing we saw upon entering the park.
Paige loves Mickey too. She was pretty excited to visit him at his house.
On the second day we went to Minnie and Friends' character breakfast. Meeting Minnie was a very serious thing for Paige. She tried to talk to her about everything from 'where's Mickey?' to 'these chairs are soft'. Minnie was kind enough to respond with lots of nodding, hand gestures, and hugs.
Eeyore.
What's in your mouth, Chip?
At this point they were playing loud dancing music throughout the restaurant. Paige saw Pooh out there dancing and just had to join him. She did this for the entire song.
After the character breakfast we headed over to California Adventure. She must have gone down this slide a dozen times. And every single time she got into some weird position like this.
Paige and Daddy. Both were enraptured by the Pixar Parade.
'R' stands for Reed.
Near the end of the third day we waited FOREVER to visit the princesses at the Princess Fantasy Faire. It was well worth the wait as Paige's reactions were priceless.
Her cheesy grin just kept getting better and better.
Mulan especially loved her.
The last picture I took. And one of my favorites. Paige loves Disneyland!
And they all lived happily ever after. The End.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Party
We just got back to St. George after a week in California at my grandparents'/Disneyland. Grandma and Grandpa Miller, my parents, and my sister, Amber, and her family were all there, so we decided to have Paige's 2nd birthday party while we were there. We had a great time! Here are some pictures from that day. Disneyland pictures to come.
ready to go in her minnie party dress
more minnie. she is so sweet.
a visit to the sea lion/seal hospital with the cousins.
cutie pies maggie and paige.
swimming in grandma and grandpa miller's pool with daddy.
the cake is ready! front side.
back side. it's like one of those hats with the names that you get at disneyland.
decorations, presents, and cake - the necessary ingredients for a birthday party.
paige at her party. "i think i'll just sample a little frosting off this ear..."
opening presents.
help from the cousins.
singing happy birthday.
mmmm. doesn't black icing look SO appetizing?
the naked chef. enjoying her new kitchen accessories.
Thanks for coming to P's party Grandma, Grandpa, Honey, Papa, Amber, Matt, Kate, Parker, Maggie, Gary, and Donna! And for the yummy dinner, Grandma!
Amber - Paige is thoroughly enjoying the instrument set you gave her. I am spending my free moments contemplating appropriate equivalent gifts to pay you back, um, I mean reciprocate.
And finally, I must give props to my friend Heidi. I took most of these ideas from the party she threw for her two year old back in October. Thanks, Heidi! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?
ready to go in her minnie party dress
more minnie. she is so sweet.
a visit to the sea lion/seal hospital with the cousins.
cutie pies maggie and paige.
swimming in grandma and grandpa miller's pool with daddy.
the cake is ready! front side.
back side. it's like one of those hats with the names that you get at disneyland.
decorations, presents, and cake - the necessary ingredients for a birthday party.
paige at her party. "i think i'll just sample a little frosting off this ear..."
opening presents.
help from the cousins.
singing happy birthday.
mmmm. doesn't black icing look SO appetizing?
the naked chef. enjoying her new kitchen accessories.
Thanks for coming to P's party Grandma, Grandpa, Honey, Papa, Amber, Matt, Kate, Parker, Maggie, Gary, and Donna! And for the yummy dinner, Grandma!
Amber - Paige is thoroughly enjoying the instrument set you gave her. I am spending my free moments contemplating appropriate equivalent gifts to pay you back, um, I mean reciprocate.
And finally, I must give props to my friend Heidi. I took most of these ideas from the party she threw for her two year old back in October. Thanks, Heidi! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?
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