The Lion King

Two of my dad's sisters (and one of my uncles) came for a visit this weekend. I have really great aunts and uncles so I was thrilled to spend a bit of time with them while they were visiting.

They dropped by the house Saturday for a quick "Hello" but I was up to my elbows in making/canning applesauce and Tripp was helping Lindsay and Wes move (did I mention they bought a house practically right next door...Yay!) so we didn't have a ton of time to hang out. Abbie, however, quickly pulled Tina upstairs to read books with her. I think she thought if Tina was up in her room the rest of us wouldn't notice and she would stay all day. Sadly, no.

That evening, we met everyone (including Sam - not pictured) for dinner at Brio then headed to Mandalay Bay to see The Lion King. So fun. Costumes, amazing. Voice talent, amazing. Dancing, amazing. One of the best shows of talent I've ever seen in Vegas. After our photo, on the way out the door, we ran into Mike D. and MJ (co-worker and wife from the DRGM days) and had a nice chat with them. He has worked with so many of us Marzs (plus a Toma) that it was really fun for all of us to see him.

Abbie had fun with her babysitter but wants to know when Cathy (Aunt Tina) is coming back to town.

A Busy Sunday

Both Kyle and Abbie had assignments in church on Sunday. This photo was taken just prior to leaving the house early Sunday morning.

Tripp & Kyle received a call Thursday night asking him to speak in church. He cried the entire time Tripp was on the phone with the Ward Secretary. But, as usual, once he stopped crying and actually started working on his talk, it came pretty easily. Tripp showed him how to do an outline then Kyle filled it in from there. For a 12- year-old's first talk, it wasn't bad. He wrote the entire thing himself and looked up all the reference materials so I was prepared for the worst and was thrilled to find the best. After giving the talk (which he did well), the First Counselor told him he did a good job and Kyle told him it was fun. I hope he remembers that the next time they call so we can skip the tears portion of the process. When Kyle finally does something, he really does an amazing job. Getting him to the point to just do it may kill us all.

Abbie gave the scripture that morning in Primary. It was her third scripture assignment since leaving Nursery. I'm not sure if she likes giving the scripture and asks for it when her class gets the assignment or if they just give it to her every time. Either way, she loves doing it. Daddy helped her this time while Daisy and I watched. She speaks so loud and clear. She loves participating in Primary. When she turns 8 and Tripp and I start letting her get up in testimony meeting I think he and I will be getting up in front of the ward a lot more often...

Saturday at the Springs Preserve

Saturday morning we met Tara and Jude at the Springs Preserve. It rained in Vegas all last week so getting outside was a lovely treat...not to mention the superior company.

There was lots and lots of time to snuggle Jude. He is so fun to love and snuggle. Tripp and I both had a wonderful time hanging out with him (and his Mama too!).

After some play in the SP park and on their huge lawn, we went upstairs for lunch at the Wolfgang Puck Cafe.

All in all, a wonderful morning. We plan to do it once a month or so. Here are some photos of the kids at play. Thanks to Lindsay, who pointed me in the right direction, I can now make collages and you won't have to scroll down through all the individual photos.

Overheard

This is a conversation that happened two nights ago:

Abbie: Daddy, I want someone fat to sleep with me.

Tripp: Someone fat, what do you mean?

Abbie: Well like you....or mommy.

I guess we know what she thinks about us.

This morning at around 4:15 a.m. Tripp hears noise in the girls rooms. Abbie has crawled down to the bottom bunk to sleep with Daisy. All seems fine except they continue to talk and argue for the next 30 minutes until Tripp tells Abbie to go back to sleep and Daisy comes in our bed and plays with our hair and eyes for the next hour and a half until we turn on Mickey Mouse for her. Not funny. Not even the first (and hopefully last) time.

Our Dinner Guest

We just don't see enough of Kristen Howey. With her work, church and temple schedule (busy girl), there just isn't as much time as there used to be to hang out. So, we've attempted to solve that problem by inviting her over for Sunday dinner. She can't come every week, but we try to get together at least once every month or so. So between that, and email and running into each other at church, we can stay in touch.

Did I mention that the girls love her? Abbie is constantly asking for dinner to be over and for daddy and mommy to stop talking to Sister Howey so she can get a turn. They play for awhile before she goes home and there are always tears when the night is over. I think that is best sign of a true friend, don't you?

A Morning at the Mall

Tripp had a series of pre-dawn conference calls Friday morning with oversees colleagues so we decided to take a little time later that morning to visit the mall. Neither of us are great fans of the mall and we rarely go but both of us got a little money for Christmas so we all piled in the car and made the trek to Nordstrom.

We both new exactly what we wanted to look at so we were able to get the actual shopping done in about an hour then we hit lunchtime and one of my favorite places, the Nordstrom cafe. We all enjoyed a delightful lunch then piled in the car for the trip home.

Easy. Fast. Delightful. Abbie was sad that we didn't go shopping for girls but every once in awhile, Mommy and Daddy need a little something new as well. However, Abbie was thrilled with the noodles for lunch so I guess it all evened out. Maybe if we hit the lottery and had more money for shopping we might like it more, but I really think we aren't the wander around the mall for hours types. Thankfully Abbie has Lindsay and Sam...

Metro Date

It took me a week but I'm finally getting around to posting the photos from our date last Saturday night with the Griffeths and the Hurds. We gathered at Metro and shoved 11 people plus a baby into a booth. Good fun (possibly not for the Metro Pizza staff).

It was so fun to see little Jude. He looks very different than the original photo I posted about 3 months ago. So big and round and delightful. Sadly, my kids were too beastly for me to hold him...next time.

Anyway, a good time was had by all. There was a time long, long ago that Tara and I saw each other practically every day (Scott too, for that matter. Sadly, I didn't know him well at the time). I don't miss the arrangement we were in but I do miss seeing her on a daily basis. Maybe someday they will build the Palacios compound near or in my neighborhood. Until then, I guess there is always the Metro on Trop.

Everyone Needs an Aunt Sam....

someone who spends extra time with all their nieces and nephews or just does thoughtful things for them. Our Aunt Sam knows that Kyle likes rollcoasters so she often gives him rides on local coasters as part of gifts. For Christmas, she gave him a ride on the Sahara rollercoaster. Yesterday, after school, she came by to take him on his ride. He loved it.

She also has worked at the Gap off and on for a long time. All her nieces and nephews benefit from her discount. Abbie always loves the clothes Aunt Sam buys her the best. Even Kyle ends up liking what she gives him better than what I pick out. It's just something about Aunt Sam...a special magic.

I have and Aunt Sue that was and is always thinking of special things for me and now my kids and Tripp has two darling Aunts that he thinks are pretty special, one in particular that holds magical memories of delicious hot biscuits, or the best hot dog chili, or the world's best cheeseball. She still makes that cheeseball for him when we visit or has a can of the magical chili on hand for him. So sweet.

Thanks to all our Aunt Sams (or Sues) that made/make our life wonderful!