Easter 2016

I’m a little behind on what we’ve been up to.  Nothing monumental, just things I want to remember.

Zach’s dad got a new Bell 407 – and on Saturday of the week before last we went to the hangar to check it out.  Sloan might have herself a spot in the family business as a helicopter pilot…

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I took Sloan to Danger Park this week when the weather was perfect.  She went down the big slide all by herself and had mixed emotions about it.
IMG_0221Turns out she preferred to run along the grass next to the park – collecting rocks and stomping on the access panels.

I took Sloan to the Aquarium for her first time.  She loves animals, so I thought it would be a hit!

IMG_0272 She loved the tanks of fish, the shark tunnel…but mostly the other people.IMG_0261She was enthralled in all the animal action – until she spotted an elderly woman in a wheelchair.  She became obsessed with her and followed her around wherever she went.  Where she went – we went.  She waved at her near 20 times and I’m sure the woman didn’t notice a single one.  She babbled and smiled.  The penguins were no longer interesting, she was determined to make friends with this woman.  She just wants to be liked, I guess.

We stayed for a while and then made our way out through the gift shop.  Pretty sure this was the other highlight of our visit.  Next time I’ll save the $17 and take her to the mall…or an assisted living center.

The Wednesday before Easter, all of the Hendo girls (minus Katie T) went out to dinner at the Dodo while Siri was in town.  She came to look at some potential houses because their family is moving back to Utah from Ohio in a few short weeks.  It’s always a good time with these ladies.

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Zach and I also went on two date nights – Dinner and a movie [where Zach tried pho for the first time and DIDN’T hate it]…

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…and our movie at the Sugarhouse theater with the recliners, because we can’t go to any other theater now that we have been ruined by the plushness of said theater.  Plus they sell Mike and Ikes in small bags.
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I’m trying to expand my “cooking arsenal” as Zach calls it.  I feel like we get into the same rut each week.  So I tried something new:  salmon kabobs.  They rocked my world.  Zucchini + slices of lemon + cubes of salmon on the grill for 8 minutes.  Easiest/healthiest dinner possible, in my opinion.  IMG_0237 Even Zach enjoyed them!IMG_0239Speaking of healthy: out of the freaking blue our ghetto Smith’s up the street starting selling Halo Top ice cream.  And not just the run-of-the-mill HT -> BIRTHDAY CAKE FLAVOR.  When I saw it I almost didn’t believe it.  It was almost mythical, I had never actually seen in or tasted it.  I know I sound ridiculous – but this stuff doesn’t stay on the shelves ANYWHERE.  It sells out before I have ever had a chance to buy and try.  But there was one pint left and it was like all the angels in heaven were singing as I opened the door to the freezer.
IMG_0421I know it sounds dramatic – but I had FOUR PEOPLE message me asking me where I found it once I posted this photo on Snapchat.  So I’m not the only one who has been on the hunt.  In the end, I liked it so much that I pre-ordered a box from the grocery store and I am awaiting the day when I can pick up it up to enjoy it.  How can you not love a pint of ice cream that has 280 calories PER PINT?!

But enough of that – Easter.  Back to Easter.

Saturday we spent with the Hendersons.  We did our annual egg hunt and got a visit from EB.  He was as pleasant (and sweaty unbeknownst to the kiddos) as ever.  Sloan enjoyed finding her own eggs…and eggs that were not hers…but her sweet cousin, Ellie helped her find ones with her name on them.  Sloan wasn’t phased by EB, she knows this is the drill.

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Soon we will be having 4 more grandkids join the fun when Sean and Siri move back to Utah.  Just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier…

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For the longest time I couldn’t figure out who we were missing in this photo – until I realized baby Max was taking a snooze and is not pictured.  Next year, buddy.

After brunch and all the fun was had – we drove back home.  Zach dropped Sloan and I off so we could go on a run on the trail while he picked up his new Easter suit the EB had bought him from the tailer.

Afterwards we showered up, got ready, and we went out on our Saturday date.  Cafe Trio for dinner and “Hello My Name is Doris” for our movie.  PS – it was my first time trying the pan seared salmon with lentils at Trio, it was BOMB! 

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When we got home from our date I set out all of Sloan’s Easter swag so she could discover it in the morning.

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She woke up a little sad – turns out she is not only cutting two teeth like I had thought.  She was cutting 6 teeth.  Her bottom molar has already poked through along with some sharp cuspids!  Poor girl.  I didn’t even realize it when I would brush her teeth at night, which made me feel even worse.  She’s a tough girl, that Sloan.

She loved her goodies and we had a festive breakfast before church.

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We got dressed in our Sunday best and snapped a few photos before we raced off to sacrament.

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I wish I would have snapped a few more photos of Zach in his Easter suit.  He looked prime. IMG_0416

After church and Sloan’s nap we drove down to South Jordan for dinner at my Aunt’s house with my family.  They had a whole little egg hunt planned for Sloan and Cam – including TWO Easter baskets from all my aunts, cousins, and parents.  She was spoiled rotten – she even got a sweet tricycle!

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Easter is such an emotional holiday for me – even more so now that Sloan has joined our family.  I’m so grateful for our Savior, his atonement, and for my eternal family.  No part of my testimony is as certain as the love I have for my older brother Jesus Christ and his love for me.  I see it every day in the eyes of this little girl he sent me.  I don’t know how I got so lucky.

St. Patrick’s Day 2016

I must preface our week by saying that upon arriving home from Targhee, unpacking, laundry, and checking my emails…the week didn’t start off great.  My inbox was flooded with requests from several clients – including two time sensitive projects due Thursday morning.  I had to reschedule some commitments and appointments so I could be available to finish the two of the biggest projects.  It was a stressful welcome home, but we managed.  Wednesday night I had only completed 50-something pages of the 80-something page project and it was already late.  I didn’t think I would have enough time to do anything festive for Sloan for St. Patrick’s Day – but Zach convinced me to do it anyway.  I didn’t decorate the house or buy any St. Patty’s graphic tee’s for Sloan.  But his mom and my mom both used to cut out green feet and leave a trail that lead to surprises that the “leprachauns” had left the night before.  It’s stupid, but we both loved it as kids.  So I cut out those dang feet, threw some green colored items in a bucket, and laid out the feet in a trail.  I finished my project very very late that night, but I finished it.

The next morning Sloan slept in a bit, which was heaven sent, and we lead her to the trail of green footprints.

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Her little “ooohhh” when she saw the basket of goodies (mostly food, obviously) was worth it.  I know a lot of people don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and think the hype is lame – but it used to be so much fun for me when I was young – and Zach was more adamant than I was about the whole thing.  His mom takes holidays even further than MY mom did [which is hard to believe].

We had some green colored scrambled eggs for breakfast, got dressed in a couple of green items, and ran our errands.  We had avocado mac (because, it’s green) for lunch before her nap.

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I worked some more during nap time and then when she woke up we went on a run on the Legacy Trail.

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We got back, I showered up, and we went to get dinner for another separate – but related tradition:  March Madness prep.  We always have pizza and do bracket strategy.  We had done our brackets the night before, so I picked up pizza for dinner. I told Zach I was going to have dinner hot and ready on the table when he got home.  I didn’t lie…

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We watched the games, put Sloan to bed, and watched a few more afterwards.  It was a fun day.  I’m so lucky to have these two people as my best friends forever.

Targhee 2016

Long story short:  Sloan threw my phone in the toilet over a week ago.  I hadn’t backed up my phone for over a week, so I lost a bunch of information and photos I had taken.  Lesson learned:  back your phone up and never leave the toilet seat up for any reason.  Als0 – I told the tech at Apple what actually happened (instead of fabricating some ridiculous lie) and he gave me a FREE brand new phone.  It pays to be honest, kids.  I can’t stay mad at her, though.  She’s too sweet to me – she had no idea what she did was devastating and terrible.

Sloan is happiest when she’s outside.  It’s a fact.  Since the weather has been gorgeous the past few weeks, we’ve been spending a lot of time outside. Sloan walking We’ve been going on a lot of runs on the Legacy Trail also.  It’s a win-win for both of us.  She gets a solid 30+ minutes outside, with the wind in her hair, and I get a workout in.

FullSizeRender-2 I’ve been on an organization kick lately.  My bathroom cabinets being my main objective.  I’ve cleaned out nearly 18 drawers in various rooms in the house.  It’s the weirdest form of stress relief for me.  Also, I realized I don’t need to buy shampoo, body wash, or travel sized ANYTHING for…a while. 3

Saturday I had a bunch of returns to do – and I brought along Zach and Sloan with me down to Fashion Place.  We dined at – where else?  Hot Dog on a Stick, of course.  Sloan went for her broccoli/apple pouch instead.  2Later that night we had a Date Night at my brother’s house.  My family and I are going on a vacation in less than two months and we’ve been doing a lot of planning.  My mom organized this big themed dinner and even made us name tags.  I guess I am more like her than I thought…?1It’s been a good mail week at our house.  Sloan’s Easter dress finally made an appearance and my friend at Alder hooked us ALL up.  Hats, tanks, even a shirt for Sloan – most of this stuff I designed, which is always fun to see in person.  Zach’s stoked about his free hats and I can’t wait until cooler weather again to wear my half-zip jacket. 4

Speaking of organization, our family room has turned into something I have tried to avoid for the last few months: Toy Central.  In an attempt to keep it looking less cluttered – I bought a new toy box, which I am IN LOVE WITH.  Who knew they made such gorgeous pieces of furniture for TOYS?5Monday we went out to eat with Mark and Jeanene for my [late] birthday.  We dined at Market Street and they joined us afterwards at our house.  Sloan loves her Mimi and Papa.  She also loves halibut, which we discovered at dinner.

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Wednesday we drove up to Fruit Heights to see our newest niece:  Quinn.  Chad and Rachael had her Monday and she is a little TINY piece of heaven.  That makes baby number 27 for the Henderson grandchildren.  Also, Sloan had her first encounter with a bird.  I think they make her as nervous as they do me.

Sloan and bird

Zach surprised me one afternoon with flowers [I love tulips of any kind] and Cutler’s sugar cookies.  I think Sloan enjoyed the flowers even more than I did!

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flowers

Thursday evening we left to drive up to Targhee for our annual Henderson ski trip.  We left at the perfect time.  No rush hour and a little after nap time for Sloan.  It made the 5 hour drive fly by.

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We arrived late and as soon as we hauled the stuff up to our room and put Sloan down for bed – we did the exact same nightly ritual as last year:  binge watched the House of Cards on Netflix.

The next morning Sloan was up bright and early, ready to hit the slopes.  The bunny hill at Targhee is A LOT steeper than the one she is used to at home.  Surprisingly, it didn’t phase her.  She loved every second – clapping, high-fiving, and singing to herself as she cruised down the hill.

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We even ran into some of her cousins on their way up on the lift.  Sloan’s looking at their skis, like “Why do they have TWO snowboards on?”

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She was not thrilled when it was time to take her in for a nap.  I am telling you, though: snowboarding wears her right out.  She logged some serious hours snoozing in her cozy cot.  I stayed inside while Zach snowboarded with his family.  I finished a book I’ve been working on since our anniversary trip last year and got to eat Mike and Ikes.  Another win-win.

In the afternoon we let Sloan hang with her Mimi and Zach and I went out on a few runs together.  Every time that I snowboard for the first time of the season, I forget how much I love it.  It was so fun skiing all together with Zach’s family and spending some time with Zach.

The next day was the same.  This time Mimi and Papa joined us for Sloan’s morning shred sesh.  She did even better on this day…but maybe it was because she had a bigger audience?

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After Sloan woke up from her nap – Zach and I went out again while Sloan stayed with Mimi.  We are so lucky to have Jeanene.  She is so sweet with Sloan – and Sloan LOVES spending time with her.

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After we got back we showered up and went out to dinner at the lodge.  It was an adults only dinner [except baby Max and Sloan] and the food was great.

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The next morning we woke up to snow – lots of it!  This awesome company, Broko Bindings, sent all three of us a pair of binding plates that rotate.  It’s a super cool concept.  Sloan and Zach got to do another test run up at Targhee.  Even in a snow storm, she’s as happy as ever to be on her snowboard.

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Sloan and Zach riding on Brokos

Afterwards we went inside so we could get some lunch and Sloan could take a nap.

Sloan and Dad

Lori and I were assigned dinner that night – so we cooked up some grub while Max zonked out in one of Mimi and Papa’s spare bedrooms.

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The next day, when we packed up to leave, we woke up to some serious snow.  We were grateful the storm didn’t come until the day we left, it would have been a white-out on the mountain!  Driving home was gorgeous – the trees covered in powder is something I will never tire of.  I love Targhee and the Tetons, it is all so beautiful.

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As soon as we drove out of the snow storm, Sloan zonked out.  She looks too much like me when she sleeps, poor thing [double chin, mouth ajar]…

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We made it home safe and sound – and in record time.  With only one bathroom break/lunch break/diaper change, we’d say that’s our best journey home from Targhee to date.

Thank you Hendersons for another fun family ski trip.  We love spending time together on the slopes!