Phoenix...Hot, Hot, Hot!

Two weekends ago, Sammy and I packed up with Savy and headed down to hot Arizona.  Sam had work to do on Monday, so we decided to make it a long weekend and get a last minute vacation in before school starts for me.  Many people thought we were crazy to visit Phoenix in August...and we were.  It was fairly hot...like 106 degrees.  The first day down, we walked around ASU campus, and about died!  While walking around, I took the stroller in many crazy paths trying to jump from one shady spot on the sidewalk to the next.  We spent most of the weekend by the pool at our resort, but we did make it out to a Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game and dinner with one of Sam's buddies and his girl.  

Savana did great on the plane ride.  There were a lot of empty seats, so she got to sit in a chair all by herself most of the time.  Sam was gracious enough to entertain her on the flight down so I could read my book.  However, I was on my own on the flight home.  Sam stayed behind for work, so it was was just me, Savy, a whole row to ourselves, and a bag full of tricks and treats!

The Diamondbacks play in an indoor field where the roof can retract when needed.  The Braves stomped all over the Diamondbacks, but it was exciting to eat hot dogs we payed way too much for and cheer for the home team!  And after the game, they shot off fireworks for us!

The rest of the time was spent at our pool.  The resort came with a little water park with a lazy river, kiddie pool, and a couple other pools.  Savana loved the water and playing with her daddy, but most of all, she liked walking up and down the stairs.  They were the perfect height for her to maneuver around on.  All in all, it was a great, much-needed getaway with my sweet little family!

Strawberry Reservoir

I know, I know...it's been ages since I've had a chance to post. You're going through Sambervana withdrawals. Quick update...I got to keep my big classroom AND we got another full-time Kindergarten teacher...Baby Eli was joined the Bezzant family and it the cutest, smallest, sweetest looking thing I've seen in over a year...I've been a complete and total slacker in the workout department after my two weeks of going strong (but tomorrow's the day to fix that)...I think Joshua's big booty is mesmerizing to watch and I can't wait to see him shake it later on this week (if you don't know who Joshua is...tune in Wednesday night, 8:00, channel 13...you'll be glad to meet him)...and Sammy and I get to go on a little family vacation with Savy to Phoenix on Friday. Yipee.

And, since a post isn't complete without some pictures, here's som beautiful photos from my family camping trip to Strawberry Reservoir. Sorry, no pictures of me...my eye was swollen and too hideous to have pictures of. But enjoy the ones we've got...


My two beautiful younger sisters. Mallory likes double-decker chocolate things and Brynnie is (almost) a better swimmer than Jack.

And meet my daughter...she's not afraid of the water one bit! I tried to confine her to a little pool so I wouldn't have to chase her around in the lake, but she was only satisfied with that for a few minutes. And then she was out running toward the shore.


She also enjoyed the pool back at camp. She even climbed in it fully clothed once. Water is a magnet for Savana. She MUST jump in a splash around...even if it's only a half-an-inch deep!


Mallory also enjoys dressing other people up so she's not be the wierdest looking thing around.


This is Noah, Savy's caretaker. The first thing out of his mouth every morning as he walked from his tent to the campfire was "Can I take care of Savana today?" And he did a great job of doing just that!


Sam spent the majority of his time at the lake building a castle. It's great to have my heart taken by a 12 -year old kid in a 27 year old body!


Sammy's castle was tough, but not tough enough for the fierce tidal waves at Strawberry. His creation partially crumbled after only a few hours.


And my cute sisters trying to catch a fish. We were unlucky, once again, but we did catch quite a few crawfish. The little boys were fascinated with them, and loved shoving the crawfish in your face in an attempt to hear your screams.


Other highlights: watching Celeste cast her whole fishing reel into the lake with her first cast...and then watching her inch out in the freezing cold water to retrieve it, enjoying the peaceful outdoors (except between the hours of 8-11 PM when our neighbors listened to classic rock a little too loud), delicious tinfoil dinners made by yours truly, sweating all day and then freezing all night, playing games around the campfire, watching the Bezzant boys and Bailey boys nearly kill themselves taking their trikes down a steep dirt hill, and making memories with the family. Thanks for the great trip, everyone!

Quick Catchup (and not the kind you eat)

I feel as though it's been ages since I've posted anything noteworthy on here.  I've had a busy last couple of weeks with bunco, book club, a jewelry party, three long but great day of classes, and reading an excellent book.  Oh, and also trying to find time to spend at my school to get ready for this next year.  I had to switch classrooms at the end of last year.  It was a pain, but I was excited to move to a classroom that was twice the size of my previous room.  I taught in a closet last year with 24 kindergarteners.  (it wasn't really a closet, but it was teeny)  So I've upgraded for the moment.  Only now I am threatened by the fact that we might hire another full time kindergarten teacher, so poor little half-time kindergarten teacher me just might have to move classrooms again.  But I'm crossing my fingers that we will have to hire a full-time kindergarten teacher (so our class sizes can be smaller) and that I can stay in my classroom.  Fat chance of both of them happening, but I'm hoping!  And in the meantime, I'm setting up my classroom with the hopes that I will be there to stay.

On Saturday, Sammy and I took Savy to the fireworks show in American Fork with my family.

I must say it was the best fireworks show I've seen for awhile. American Fork certainly knows how to but on a great show.  There was blaring music during the whole thing, and I got to sing along to my all-time favorite patriotic song "I'm Proud to be an American."  (and I only teared up for a second.) Savana zonked out a little bit before the fireworks show started, and she slept like an angel in the arms of her Grandma while the music was blaring and the fireworks were booming.  It was a great night and I certainly enjoyed hanging out with my family.

But I realized something that day...my baby is no longer a baby. It seems as though she's grown up sooo much in the last month.  She's walking and running around and saying all sorts of things.  Here are some of her favorite things to say...

Ball
Shoe
Where is it? (and she'll hide something behind her back) There! (as she pulls it out and shows it to you)
Mommy
Dada
Mallory (it's surprising, but she can say Mallory's name quite well)
Baba (for Brynn, Grandma, and Bompa)
One, two, three! (and she loves to do this while we're walking so I can toss her into the air.)

She also loves to play peek-a-boo, talk on the phone, dance to music, point out planes in the sky, read books, run away from anyone or anything coming towards her (she always thinks Sammy is chasing here), and follow her mommy around anywhere I go.  Oh, and she's really good at making a huge mess in EVERY room.

I've loved being able to hang out with her so much all day long, and it's going to be hard to leave her when it's time for school to start.  At least I only have to be away from her a few hours each day!

Well, it's certainly turned into a much longer post than I was planning on.  But, oh well!

If any girls are interested in a girl's night out and fabulous jewelry, come and join me Thursday night. There will be delicious food, beautiful jewelry, and lots of girly talk.

Can I just say, I love Bunco nights! Thanks, girls, for getting together and making Bunco night a wild and crazy night!

Only downer is that now I have a ton of junk food left over from last night. Do you know how hard it is to not eat sugar when there's bowls of hot tamales, swedish fish, m&m's, and muddy buddies around? Talk about impossible!!

4th of July Weekend

For the 4th, Sammy and I invited a bunch of friends and their kids up to the cabin for a nice little get away. It was the first time in quite awhile we were able to get a vast majority of friends together for more than just dinner. The kids were able to entertain themselves fairly well, and once they were asleep, us adults had a chance for some much needed adult conversation. We mostly just ate good food, had good conversation, ate more good food, watched good photography in action, had a good butt-kicking run, and had a good time. Thanks, everyone for taking the time out of your busy schedule to spend with us! We'll do it again...soon!


Although the picture may not portray it, and the bedhead may hide it, these are the three most gorgeous little girls I've ever seen! They were also accompanied by the three most handsome little boys!

After a night at the cabin, Sam and I went to watch fireworks at Thanksgiving Point with my family. Sam's sister, Carrie, got to join us for the festivities. The finale was somewhat of a let down, but it was super fun to play yuck, eat even more good food, and hang out with the fam. And, Sam strategically parked our car so we could get out of there fast (although we had to walk a mile to our car).

Carrie loves her little Savana, and she spoils her rotten with her sweet kisses and good taste in clothes!

Brynn, me, and Mallory...every time I see a picture of me and my sisters, I'm amazed at how much we look alike. There's no hiding the family resemblance!

And after all the festivities, Savy was pooped! I was in the middle of changing her bum, and she rolled over, stuck her naked fanny in the air, and fell fast asleep! I made Sam run out to our car and grab the camera so we could capture the naked bum!

And to top it all off, the Maxfield's invited us to go boating Saturday! My body got rocked from my timid attempt at wakeboarding...my muscles are still incredibly sore! We love having friends and family close enough that we can have super fun weekends!

As I was walking out of Walmart this morning, a cute old man was getting out of his truck. I smiled at him and he said to me "you won't have a problem." I smiled back at him, with a little nod of my head and a mumbled "good morning", unsure as to what his comment meant. Getting into my car, I looked down at my shirt and it said in big gold letters...ALL I NEED IS LOVE.

And I don't have a problem. I've got plenty of love from my fam.