Scottsdale, Arizona

Back in February, Katie pointed out it was the 10 year anniversary of our little 2 month trip backpacking across Europe.  She casually suggested that we should go on a reunion trip.  Oddly enough it all came into fruition and Janice, Katie and I headed down to the desert for a 5 day vacation on June 21! We picked Scottsdale Arizona quite randomly, as it was south and just seemed to make sense.  Florida was too pricey for the girls from the West, and California was very pricey for me.  We originally thought Phoenix sounded good, but decided to go for the more resorty area--Scottsdale, which was in the outskirts. And then we decided on The Westin Kierland, as I'm always a fan of Westin's and suggested that location. I enjoyed much needed girl time--shopping, relaxing, lots of laughs, great food, no cooking, dressing up, blowdrying hair, going to the gym daily to start the day, and basically just having a very loose schedule. Yes it was heaven and very very awesome.  I miss the girls and wish we could see each other much more often.  We decided to make it a priority to go away together every couple of years.

Here are a few photos.  I didn't bring a camera, so I only have a few that I was able to get from facebook from the other girls, and a few from my phone.  More will follow later...

In the one side of our suite.  Katie and I slept in this half, and Janice in the other...

Paige told me not to touch a cactus in the dessert so we took this photo for her.  There were cactuses everywhere.

This is what happens when you rest a magazine on your newly sunscreened and hot leg and there is an ad for some sort of bra on the back.  Sketchy leg tattoo ensues...

Katie and "the misters"--not tanned and toned men who fan you off and spritz you with water (as we liked to joke)...just random water sprayers that were everywhere.

 Relaxing at the pool incognito...

 One last cheers at the pool...

On our trip to Sedona.  Red rock cliffs.  The shadow kinda gives me that pregnant sort of look, but rest assured, the beer in the photo above is mine.

In the lazy river pretending it was a fast ride.  We kinda wished it was at times, but also nice to just be lazy.  One time, despite my insistence that it wouldn't work, Katie asked the Lifeguard to flag down the pool waiter to grab us Mojitos.  He actually said no problem and proceeded to make it happen.  As we rounded the loop of the lazy river there was the waiter walking up with drinks in hand.  We called out our room number to charge it to the room, and he actually handed them to us without us even stopping! "Now that's lazy!" said a passerby.  Indeed.

Going out for dinner. 

My bachelorette moment.  If you watch the show there is no explanation required.  Beautiful view from our executive suite.

Every day in Arizona was around 44 degrees and a dry heat. Actually more bearable than the humidity in Burlington. But still the sun was hot and we decided to do shopping by day and pool by late afternoon.  Our trip to Sedona took place in the day but was a long drive away. 

I can't begin to explain how awesome the trip was.  And the best part was to see friends I haven't had a chance to see regularly for so long.  After our European adventure (of which we read excerpts from in my journal and laughed our heads off in the hotel), we all felt so sad to say goodbye.  Since then I have only seen the girls here and there for an hour or so at a time.  We have begun to plan the next adventure.  A cruise has been suggested, and we also would be up to heading down to Arizona again in the future.  Decisions decisions...

Puppy School...

For the past 5 weeks we have been attending obedience school with Scout.  I would say she is one of the best dogs in the class.  We have all been going as a family, although Mike always does the training.  When the class starts I watch for a bit with the girls, but they are always more eager to head to the park right outside the gymnasium doors. I'll give a report when she graduates in 2 weeks. 

Obedience school will hopefully help with situations like this (markers--and crayons--are excellent things to run away with.  Actually, crayons can just be eaten like candy from the crayon bucket). 

Her biggest problem right now is jumping up to the table and counters trying (and often succeeding) to steal food.  We usually just put her in her kennel while we're eating. She's just getting so big, and still only 4 months old, so who can blame her when there is a big juicy steak fresh from the BBQ....

Cottage weekend...

Robin and Evan were at the cottage for their yearly visit, so we were able to see them for the weekend.  We all swam so much as the weather was really hot.  A lot of times we were all in the water together. The cottage would really heat up during the day, and the girls love to play in the water, so it was the obvious choice of activity. I was particularly lucky as Paige decided she loved to pull me around on my new blow up raft.  She was a horse and would swim around pulling me along.  So basically I could just sit there and relax for a half hour or so.  Seriously this went on for a really long time on multiple occasions.  I could even say "swim me over to the neighbours for a minute" and off she'd go.

I took this photo of Rose as I have one of Paige in the same jammies on the same chair at around the same age ( well, around 3 months younger).  See the photo here.



Paige in a nightgown, pants and sweathshirt.  She was cold when she woke up, although it wasn't actually cold.  Maybe "slightly cool".

Scout shaking off after a swim.  She randomly swam a little bit on her own, but mainly walked around in the water up to her shoulder area. (Maybe I should also point out that it wasn't all swimming and cooling off in the water--often it was stealing toys and running awaywith them or destroying pool noodles).  She also swam when she fell out of the boat! Mike, Evan, Paige and Scout went for a boat ride and apparently she was too close to the edge and fell overboard. She didn't know what to do so started to swim back to shore, but they eventually pulled her back into the boat. 

We were able to leave her off leash for most of the time.  She would just stay with us, or wait by the door and sleep when we went inside.  It was too hot inside for her and usually she was really wet.

Lots of water lillies by the shore.

Paige and Robin made this "naturescape". There was a thunderstorm that came on quickly so the light is on in the photo.  In realy life it looked a lot better.  In this photo it looks like some sort of sketchy dinner.

Paige and what looks like Hawaiian Abby.

Aunt Robin and Rose.

Paige's birthday!

Happy 5th birthday Paige!
As we mainly celebrated Paige's birthday on the 8th (friend party and dinner), we didn't have much planned for her actual birthday.  We opened presents, played with them for a bit and then went to Amy's house for a swim in the pool.  We used the afternoon to play with all the toys she had gotten for her birthday. In the evening we had to go to puppy school, so we had a cupcake when we got home.

The present she asked for.  A bracelet maker.

Rose playing with Paige's present I got in Arizona--a musical jewellery box.

We also promised Paige a new bike as she has outgrown the first one. 

More Birthday celebrations...

On the 8th (incidentally our anniversary) we celebrated a few birthdays at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Paige's birthday, James' birthday, and my birthday. 

Very tasty (and filling!) chocolate cake with M&M's on top and kit kats on the side.

Girl's weigh in...

Tuesday July 10....

Rose: 25lbs
Scout: 28lbs
Paige: 32lbs

All weighed in at the vet. After Scout was weighed I quickly said "girls quick quick, get on the scale!!"

I give it 2 weeks before Scout overtakes Paige...

Paige's 5th Birthday Party!

Paige had 7 friends over for her birthday.  Three school friends and 4 non-school friends.  I was a bit nervous as to what to expect as the school friends were being dropped off.   All in all it was fine.  We had a magician scheduled for a 45 minute show, a pizza and cupcake lunch, and present time.  That mainly covered the 2 hour long party.  The kids did go a bit crazy in downtimes (waiting for everyone to finish food, etc), but there were really a lot of kids! We had colouring sheets to work on as well.  I realized what I remembered from my childhood--there is always one child who is difficult/pouting/crying at a birthday party.  I also realized that present opening time is utter chaos with 5 year olds.  They all want to physically help open the present, and if you try to move the birthday girl away with the gift, they all just get up and follow.

Paige loved her songs about rainbows at school so I decided to do a rainbow theme. 

The friends (minus Clara and Ellery). Rebekah, Katie, Keianna, Amy, and Belle.

The magic show was hilarious.  The kids really appreciated the humour that he threw into the show.

 Paige preparing to take a bow at the beginning of the show  (p.s. notice the lootbags in full view on the left side?--don't do this ever!!)

 He wanted them to sit on the carpet, so they all sat in a line right at the edge. 

Paige spinning plates

We have photos of all the kids as bunnies.

Paige made the bunny appear and then she was a bit scared.

 Great photo op!

I really appreciated that the magician asked the kids to wash their hands before lunch! (They all petted the bunny--I wouldn't have even thought to do that).

Present mayhem.

I'm so happy that Paige had a great time, regardless of how crazy it felt at times.  I would definitely recommend the magician--"Mr. Oh!"

She still claims she will want to go to Great Wolf Lodge with just her family for her 6th birthday.  That would be a lot easier I think!