Summer Kick-Off

We're only six hours away from Southern California! How cool is that? To start off our long summer vacation (the longest of Christian's four years in dental school) we went to San Diego to cash in some free tickets to Sea World (a perk of the military) and Marriott Reward points for hotel stays. We also used these ideas to guide our trip.

San Diego was SO much fun! It was our first trip as parents with a child old enough to enjoy the activities and to see the joy on her face as she ran around the beach or squealed in delight at animals was priceless. This trip made me so glad for this little family of ours and it really sunk in how fun it is to be a parent!

Furiously signing "eat" or "food". She was hu-ngry

With a giant pre-historic ape at the Museum of Man at Balboa Park. So many cool museums there. I want to go back

What a google maps car looks like!

Excited but nervous. She bolted straight through the line to see Elmo and cried when we made her wait. When our turn finally came she reached out to pet his fur but then turned away and cried and then repeated the process a couple times. I guess he's a little scarier in person :)

Probably the best part of her day was running around a tot-friendly bouncy pad in Sesame Street land

We were especially excited to take her to the arctic area because one of her favorite books right now is "Baby Beluga"

Family In the Valley

Christian and I were recently reflecting how lucky we are to be going to school in AZ. We got in some other places (Chicago, Philadelphia) which would have been cool cultural experiences but we are SO happy to be in Arizona. Only a day's drive to Utah and half that amount to go to Southern CA where next year it looks like we'll have both my twin uncles and their families living as well as Christian's sister Sarah and her husband Christian! And right here in the valley is my uncle Brian and his wife Stephanie and their four adorable kids. We're blessed with their hospitality and chances to share dinners and birthday parties with them. I feel so at home eating and playing games at their house and Claire has a blast playing with the kids. Last weekend we went to share my cousin Audrey's baptism with her. It was a very sweet experience, where I felt the spirit witness to me the special significance of baptism. My grandparents were also in town which was fun.

  

The birthday girl with her family after the baptism

 The Gilbert Temple is looking beautiful! I can't wait to experience the finished interior hopefully within a year's time. This temple is about an hour away but the Phoenix Temple which is also in progress will be less than ten minutes away from us!

We're lovin the Valley of the Sun (well at least until we start melting mid-summer :)

April

A lot of fun stuff has happened this month:

First up, Easter:

Her egg hunt at playgroup was followed by the massive hunt at Midwestern (below):

Claire got out-toddled by two and three year olds in this sea of eggs. They were swept away as we walked through the field. Thankfully some nice little boys shared some with her. She didn't care one way or another :)

With her Easter loot

Now off to Utah!

Dan grew like a foot since Dave left. Love my bros.

Brother Dave is back from Mexico! Sadly I missed the reunion shown above. I was going to fly back on the same flight from PHX to SLC and surprise him on the plane but he missed his first flight out of Mexico and ended up flying directly to SLC to arrive two hours before me. Bummer. But all that melted away when I saw him and gave him a hug. I love him so much. It was so special to get to talk and bond after two long years (and of course update him on all the cool viral videos he missed. I think this one was his favorite).

  First time sportin pig tails

 Matt prepared her for future siblings by teasing like a big brother

 She loved the kitty Missy and would chase her around the house shrieking, "Hiiiii Keeee!". Thankfully Missy was patient with her pats, hugs, and pokes.

Watchin cartoons with Uncle Matt

We went to St. George after picking up Dave to enjoy slightly warmer weather (still a bit chilly and we got stuck  in a snow storm on our way back to Utah County). We also went down to see Sam who had to get back to SUU for school.

Claire was able to reunite with her dearly betrothed, Andrew Sybrowsky (see their first date here). They are way too cute together.