We're Back, Boo Hoo

Usually I'm really glad to be back in my own home, with my own bed, with my own food, with own comfortable everything but not this time. I wasn't ready to leave hot, refreshing Arizona yet. I was having a great time and 2 days was just not enough. I spent those two days going, going, going just like I knew I would but I had hoped that somehow, magically, I would also have time to sit and savor the sunshine and read a little bit. That's my MOST favorite thing to do. Sit in the sunshine and read. Love it.

So I'm already trying to decide if there's any way possible to go back again before April when my parents and grandparents head back to South Dakota. It's more fun when there is someone to visit and not just go to go.

Here's what we did while we were there:

We arrived around noon on Friday and went out to lunch. Jayden was very tired because he didn't nap at all really on the trip and he fell asleep in Nana's arms during lunch. After lunch we headed right to my parent's new house. It's gorgeous. And cozy. And perfect for them.

Then we headed out to buy some jeans and a stroller. But we only made it as far as Babies R Us where we purchased Jayden some new clothes and a stroller. (We also made a quick stop at Walmart but thankfully, Jayden needed fed by then so I didn't have to go in. I really didn't want to enter the one and only store that I get WAY too much of in Laramie.)

It was my dad's birthday that day so my mom made him burgers for dinner and my grandparents came over to eat with us. 

On Saturday, my mom made a delicious breakfast of whole wheat walnut pancakes and LOTS of bacon. I did get to spend some time in the sun while I ate my breakfast. I wanted to buy some books at Borders so my mom, her friend, Nel, Jayden and I went there first.

DJ went with my dad to a car show. They also went to Best Buy and In & Out that day. Sounds like a perfect "DJ" day - those are his favorite places but none of them are where I particularly like to spend my time so that day worked out well. We both got to do things we had wanted to get in while we were in Phoenix.

After Borders, I had a hair appointment in downtown Mesa where I finally got my hair cut. I was feeling pretty shaggy so I got quite a few inches cut off and some new bangs! After the haircut we went to Scottsdale to a great natural baby store that I had looked up online called Zoolikins. I bought a new carrier for Jayden that will allow me to carry him on my back. We also made a very important stop at the new Sprinkles store that recently opened in Scottsdale. I had been wanting a Sprinkles cupcake since I first heard about their amazing red velvet cupcakes when I went to Los Angeles for a work training in 2007. It was just as good as I imagined it would be!

That night we went to Cheesecake Factory and had dinner. Again Jayden was so tired since his schedule was all messed up and he really didn't get to nap much except on car rides in between stops. So he fell asleep during dinner. And I got to enjoy a slice of Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake after my dinner with a cup of cappuccino.

On Sunday, we all went to my grandparents' home to eat one of my favorite breakfasts, biscuits and gravy. DJ and I (and Jayden of course) then went to a church in Tempe that we had heard about. A singer that we really like used to be the music director (I believe) at that church and so we wanted to heard what it was like. It was a nice church and it did have great music.

After church we met up with my parents at the fantastic IKEA. (For the record, I think that should be the official name...The Fantastic IKEA. Because it is fantastic.) We spent a long time there and didn't even make it to the marketplace on the lower floor, which is just as well since I wouldn't have been able to buy everything (or anything for that matter) that I wanted. We carried on our luggage and had absolutely no extra room to spare. We spent the entire time walking around the showrooms upstairs getting ideas for a new entertainment center and rug and lighting and plants and bookshelves and and and....Yes, we did a lot of dreaming. An IKEA is supposed to be built in Denver soon; I will start praying for self control now.

That evening, DJ's cousin Jolene came to the house and ate fajitas and guacamole with us and I drank her delicious wine that she brought. We spent the evening catching up and introducing Jayden to her. And we sat out under the beautiful stars with the city lights as the backdrop. My parent's house is in the "country" away from streetlights and noise - I love it. It's so quiet and beautiful, both day and night.

The next morning we woke up before the sun and drove the sad drive to the airport. My mom got one last picture in with Jayden.

Jayden was such a trooper for being woken up at 5 in the a.m. He was grinning and sweet and then fell asleep on the way to the airport and didn't wake up again until we were about ready to board around 7:30.

And that was our trip. Fun-filled and too short but we're so glad we went. We, of course, got a few group pictures in (my hair is not looking its best in these pictures so...yeah.) I'll post more "candid" pictures later once I get them from my mom. These were taken at the home my grandparents are renting while they spend their winter in Phoenix.

I find Jayden's hair particularly amusing in this first photo.

And now Jayden is sick. Apparently a virus is going around and he may have caught it. He's coughing and sneezing and very congested. I sure hope he gets better soon because I hate when he's crying and I don't know what to do.