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…

 

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.
Turns 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!

She loved the tanks of fish, the shark tunnel…but mostly the other people.She 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.

Plus I got to snuggle with Max for a bit.  

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]…

…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.

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.   Even Zach enjoyed them!Speaking 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.
I 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.

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…

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! 

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

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.

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

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

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!

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.