Dreams do come true!

I'm usually not the sappy type and I know this may generate some gagging (so take this as your fair warning). 2007 ended (obviously), leaving me ever so grateful for my amazing hubby. We had given Santa the word that the only gifts Erik and I would get this year would be contained in our stockings. Yea, right! Apparently Erik wasn't in on that conference call with Santa. But how can I be mad when he went behind Santa's back and bought me Uggs!

I wasn't too worried though about feeling like he got the shaft. I had a wonderful surprise in store for his 32nd birthday celebration. I suggested we meet after work for dinner. He picked a steak house (a nice change from my usual Macaronni Grill requests) and it was there that I gave him his birthday card. In it was the confirmation letter for our one night stay at the Arizona Grand Resort. He was surprised (a moment for the record books as I have a hard time surprising him)...and we had an incredible time. It was a birthday to be rememebered. It's strange...I used to dream back in my high school/college days about romantic getaways with my husband...and it hit me as I left work early to check in to the resort....I'm living my dreams!!!!!

Making a Comeback

Where or where has Stephanie been? Yes, it's true--life as I knew it back in April when I began my blog took a number of twists and turns and believe me I would have rather blogged than experienced 8 weeks of vertigo followed by a flooded house followed by non-stop studying in preparation to finish my master's degree.

But I'm not going to complain....despite the pitfalls, we have managed to have fun....a trip to Sea World, a girl's trip to NYC, Polar Express at the Grand Canyon, Thanksgiving in Disneyland (AMAZING!!!!), and tonight an evening at Seussical! I managed to be in six states within 2 weeks in the month of November--CRAZY!!!!! I'm happy to say that we have no more trips planned and are looking forward to a quiet Christmas in the desert.

Did I mention that Seussical was fantastic?

Stunned by Swim School.....

WOW! I was so impressed with the New Mike Troy's Gold Medal Swim School! You see, I wouldn't be able to properly describe the former Mike Troy's Gold Medal Swim School, but if you were ever privledged enough to watch our little swimmer, Sadie, in action at the old place you would know why I am awestruck! Today was the first day in the new facility and it is incredible. The pool is at least 3x the size of the old one, the parents can actually sit to watch the lesson, there are 8 showers instead of 1, it's air conditioned, the temp in the pool area is 88*, they have a fountain diet coke machine,.....Need I say more? I can't wait to start Deklan in lessons as well. They will both be able to take lessons simultaneously whle I sip my DC from the side and relax! Have I sold you on it yet? Have you packed your bags and put your house up for sale and need a place to stay while you look for a house down here? Seriously, its AMAZING! And Sadie, well she's nearly mastered the freestyle stroke, has a gorgeous backstroke and will soon be learning the butterfly. Competitive swim team...here we come! Check it out....www.goldmedalswimschool.com

Girlfriends!

Dawn, Autie, Me, Brooke, Amy and Tara

I have the most amazing husband in the whole wide world! Really, it's true. He puts up with so much, including my ever so needed girl time. And I truly have the best girlfirends in the whole wide world! The great thing is, they are married to great guys, so we have fun as couples too! This past weekend, we had an overnighter at Dawn's lake house where much fun was had by all. In fact, this much fun really should not be allowed! I won't bore you with extensive juicy details, but to summarize: it was non-stop eating, giggling, sunbathing, sleeping in, diet coke drinking, and talking. Did I mention eating?! So this picture is actually from Amy's 30th birthday back in February but Dawn really is the photographer and so I don't have the Lake House pics just yet (o.k. well I have one, but it just didn't fit right). I don't think crying and blogging should go together so I'll just briefly mention that Amy is moving to California in three weeks so there was also some suppression of tears going on this weekend as well, but let's not dwell on that. We all came home feeling like the best wives, mothers, friends, and let's not forget potential "Americas Next Top Models"! Isn't that what girlfriends are for?

BEFORE AND AFTER

Erik and I grew up with completely opposite backgrounds when it comes to "The Purpose of a Garage". However, not having a garage for the first six years of our marriage helped us avoid this difference. Last summer, when Erik was introduced to the garage of Mr. Doug-everything labeled with a sharpie-Livingston, he caught the vision.

So, in an attempt to beat the heat and get this project done before we reach the 90's and 100's we worked tirelessly on "operation...park 2 cars in the garage". We cleaned it out, painted the floor, filled two trash cans full of "junk", bought some shelves, overhead storage, a storage closet, bins and containers and my favorite part...the Rubbermaid tracking system and well, waaalaaa! I L-O-V-E my garage!!!!

To Blog or Not To Blog

So, how does one decide what to include in one's very first posting in a blog? Yikes, this is a big decision. I thought the monstrosity of this decision could take all blame for my late start on my New Year's Resolution "to blog".....but I think life's busyness played a bigger part. Regardless, being busy, sometimes TOO busy, was exactly the reason why I chose these pics for my first post. We are NEVER too busy to enjoy a nice day in AZ, blowing bubbles in the backyard.

You know when kids are first learning how to really blow bubbles? And for some reason they feel inclined to hold the wand compactly against their lips? Well, Deklan is no different and a genius at that! It's like he said to me, "Who needs the silly wand anyway?"