AWESOME WEATHER!

What a fabulous weekend. Friday it was 65? I think and Saturday was in the 70s! I actually got a little sun on my arms and face Wahoo! Here is what we did this weekend other besides letting Dave study until his brain was in his terms "mushy."

Thanks to our Neighbor we get to watch lots of different birds and squirrels, some days their colors are so beautiful and vibrant. I actually don't mind doing the dishes sometimes because I get to look out on this. I loved the blue colors on this bird. Anyone know the name/type of bird?
Anna knows how to fold her arms for prayers. It is so cute! This weekend she was such a GREAT eater! FINALLY! We had the car seat in the living room after our road trip. It became Anna's new favorite toy. She would practice standing, sit and read books, bring her other toys up with her, and put her baby in it.

We went swinging ALOT. We actually went to four parks in 3 days!

Mia loved the weather as well. She got to run a lot and relax in the sun on the porch.

Anna was watching Signing Time while I was doing dishes, I went to check on her and found her watching like this. (our TV is on the left just past the basket).

I tried pig tails on Friday it was so cute. We went to the park with girls in our ward and her hair got so much static on the slides it was hilarious.

Anna started standing last week and feels like such a big girl. Any day now she will take a step!

Just before one of my walks Dave caught this picture. He thought it was so funny... the mysterious hand and bottle peering out of the stroller.

We had a BBQ at a Park with lots of friends. It was a great get together. We ate a lot of food, and the boys plays Speedminton and Bocce Ball and the girls chatted.

Boys BBQin'

Anna LOVED people watching (there were SO many people out), but most of all she loved all the DOGGIES! "Ooff Ooff!"

All the girlies strike a pose. Me, Sarah, Abby Cara, Pam, Kara, and Carrie!

A really nice bike rider offered his wife to get off her bike and take a group shot for us. (he was attached to his daughter's bike and wasn't able to do it himself.) He asked what we were celebrating. (Why would such a big group be together?) We said... " It's just for fun and the GOOD weather." Thanks for a fun night!

Day one of the Family visit/trip

We took it easy the first day, spent then morning catching up and eating yummy crepes! Anna loved having visitors. She seemed to be astonished that the people in the computer (and photographs) are actually 3 dimensional! She loved showing off all her moves, playing on the floor with Aunties and getting lots of kisses and hugs.

Then we toured Ann Arbor, including the neighborhood I work in, campus, and shopping for Michigan gear. Afterwards we went out to lunch. We ate too much at Cottage Inn Pizza and have WAY too many left overs (two whole pizzas and two large salads.)
Then we went to the mall to find Kjersti a prom dress. ( I wish I would have taken a picture, so the visual below will have to do)We remarked that it was the fastest prom dress shopping we have EVER done. We went to one store...5 minutes and nothing, We went to another and within 10 minutes she was headed to the dressing room with one fabulous dress ON SALE and a couple other ones that her sisters threw in, without her consent. She tried a beautiful silver piece on and looked FABULOUS! It actually took longer to check out than to look and try on the dress. I am so glad that I was able to be there to pick it out and see it on her. That is one thing that I miss while I am away from my family, being able to experience the exciting day to day things.

Afterwards we just rested, we all seemed to be so tired, and then went on a walk through our neighborhood. It was fun to show off where we live and the interesting things that are around us. Then we packed and got ready for our "church history" road trip.

Visitors are the BEST!

My family is visiting this week and it has been a blast so far. We have laughed until we have cried and stayed up way too late talking. It is fun to be with them again and let them play with Anna. We are touring a little bit nearby ( I will blog next week about it). I have already experienced some pretty amazing and spiritually moving things!

Anna loves her Aunties and Grandparents. She even started saying Grandpa " um pa" yesterday! It is so cute! She has been saying Grandma "me ma" for a couple weeks now. Now Kjersti's goal is to get her to say Kjersti or Auntie. We'll see.

Oh and the snow (well all besides the huge piles) has melted. Welcome back flowers!

NOOOOO!

(okay these pictures were actually taken in January, but they give you the same cold feeling as to how I felt this morning! )

I knew when I moved to MI that we would have a long winter, and I a used to random snowstorms in Utah. I have even been caught in a snowstorm in JUNE! But this year I want to complain. Why does my heart have to be toyed with? Seriously. It has been really nice lately. We have even had some 60 degree days. The tulips outside are coming up, my neighbor's daffodil bloomed, the grass is so GREEN, and I am seeing some new flowers. I have been so ready for spring!

THEN... yesterday happened! 3 inches of cold, wet, white snow! YUCK! I know it won't stay around long, but GO AWAY FOR GOOD and come back in NOVEMBER!

I think part of my annoyance is that my parents and sisters are coming tonight (something I have been looking forward to for a long time) and I wanted to show them around town. Many of the places are OUTSIDE. ): Oh well. I guess "at least we'll be together." Hopefully by the time they leave it will be nice.

There I am done complaining. HERE 's to VISITORS in EIGHT hours! (no I am not excited at all!)

My 3 hours will live on...

This is Heidi, and I have a confession. I just found out that an experience from my past will live on....as long as choir tour at Olympus High happens. No, I never really broke rules in high school. I only "sluffed" one time, and besides being late for curfew I think I pretty much stuck to the rules. Except on Tour.

Let me set the scene. I was a junior in "highlights," the girl singing group. We went on tour with vocal ensemble and the whole concert choir (about 100 students). We traveled by bus down to California to perform in Disneyland. I was on the all girl bus and my boyfriend of 3 or 4 months, "Chicks Dig Miner" was on the ensemble bus. We were excited to go on a trip together with all of our friends. Before we left for tour we signed papers and heard rules about boys and girls not going into each other's rooms "or else."

Well. From many photos I have seen not many people stuck to this rule, but rarely got caught. Me on the other hand, I went up with a friend, Bonnijane, to visit my cute tour romance"TR" (no not really, I DID end up marrying him) and the boys up stairs for a moment, literally. Unfortunately Mr. Williams saw us and we were caught! Bonnijane and I said we were just delivering an Easter basket (I don't remember if that was true or not), but that did not suffice. We were told we could not go to Disneyland for the first 3 hours. Our friend Sita, also joined us because he threw a table off a cruise ship. Now first of all, who throws a table and gets away with the SAME punishment as two sweet girls? RIDICULOUS.

So, we missed a few rides, but now I hear that they are still threatening the high school students today with the story of "the girl who missed three hours of Disneyland for sneaking to a boy's room." My sister was lucky enough this year to say "that was my sister!" ha ha ha.

So, I am the unnamed famous "tour rule breaker" at Olympus High School. What a great title.

Oh, and one side note. Mr. Williams happened to be the same man who interviewed Dave for his mission and set him apart. I think he forgave us, though it was awkward. He was nice enough to let me hug Dave with the rest of the family after Dave was set apart as a missionary.

LOVE IT.

The elephant says...

For those who really know me, you'll know how proud I am of this moment. For those who are still getting to know me, I love elephants! Such a proud mom! (Sorry it is a little bouncy). ENJOY!

My day...

This is what I get to do and see all day. Anna and Anna Belle LOVE playing outside and in. Today was so nice it was 55 degrees. We went to the park and played on the swings. Tomorrow is suppose to be 65 so we'll do it again. This time with the camera! Here are the girlies.

They try to get away, but are trapped! They get so frustrated that they cannot go up. Although that first step is fun to play on and the stair case echoes, so Anna loves to screech up the stairs, it is hilarious!

This is blurry, but shows Anna's new things. She loves "hugs" and you can see her top two teeth!

Anna's 15 minutes of "down time." She loves these Animal sing- a -longs, especially the dogs, She always says "oof oof."
They love playing on this sleeping bag, it is so funny to watch.

Watching out the window for dogs and cars.

Chasing after each other, but typically Anna Belle is walking.

This is actually Katie A holding Anna, but I do this all day long!

These are my favorite shoes of Anna's and they are getting worn out! ):

THEY LOVE BOOKS! Especially Anna. Anna Belle's favorite thing is to bring a book to me and climb in my lap.

Anna's first time driving. She looks as confused as I was my first time.

Anna Belle's Lion growl!

Anna winding down before nap time. The string around her neck is a purse that she loves to put on and play with.