And everything after...

Since I felt Daniel and Chalyse's wedding needed its own separate post, here is everything that came afterward on our three-week schlep through Utah/Arizona. 

My cute sisters-in-law, minus Heather who was in Texas. It's not often we're all together, but we have fun visiting when we are.

  

Grandma Karen with my girls and two of their cousins. Makenna and Addison were in love with Mayley, whose birthday falls between the two of theirs. 

Aunt Melinda becomes the "resident nail stylist" whenever we come to town and the girls LOVE it. Addison got her first mani-pedi and proved every bit worthy by holding stock-still until everything was dry. (Why is it I wait to do so many things with my youngest that I was so gung-ho about doing earlier on with my oldest? Does anyone else do this?)

 

Makenna with cousin Nathan, who is a week apart in age. They've only met a few times since they live across the country from eachother, but they were exceptionally cute to watch together and I think they would become fast friends if a certain family decided to move out this way;)

 

The girls and I were able to spend a day with Jenn and Magnolia while Drew was doing a deposition down in Provo (seriously? Work on our family trip?). It always seems to feel like we're transported back to Freshman year in DT whenever we reunite. (No, we didn't moon anyone out of our 6th floor dorm or steal girls' clothes while they were in the shower this time. But given the chance...). But we did make a Slurpee run (at noon, though, instead of midnight) and guess who gave Mags her first Mountain Dew Slurpee? Yours truly.

 

We had to make a stop-off at the Y before we left Utah. BTW, this is the day we're driving down to Arizona. We started off the car ride down to Provo from Lehi with Addison up-chucking everywhere...for a long time. Poor thing. It was in her hair. It was all over her clothes and only blanket. It got down into her car seat under the cover. It got all over Makenna's hair/clothes. IT WAS EVERYWHERE. So that, my friends, provided the smell for our entire ride down  to AZ. 

But back to the Y. We stocked up on BYU gear for the new season: new sweatshirts and T-shirts. We stocked up on chocolate-covered gummy bears (it's possible we may have purchased 3 pounds of these and it's also possible they're already gone- I think they're laced with meth, or something equally addicting). We toured the campus and oohed and aahed over all the changes (I used to think my parents were so dorky and old every time we made a trip to BYU growing up and listening to them do the same exact thing. Are we really there already?). Last stop before heading out on the road to Phoenix? Why Burgers Supreme, of course. Could not leave town without gulping down Fry Sauce, with a few fries, and our favorite sandwiches.

 Wait, did I say our last stop? Strike that. It was meant to be our last stop until we were passing Fat Cats on University Ave. when some extremely intelligent and honest lad side-swipes us and keeps on driving (speeding) Did I mention we were in my parents' car? Don't fear, my 007 husband heroically chased him down University and maneuvered his way through little residential streets until the sucker realized his efforts were futile and that we had him where we wanted him. 

...2 hours later and we're finally leaving Provo onto Arizona (free advice to anyone who wants it: when you call 911 and report an accident you've been in, don't say that everyone's fine and that you're not blocking any traffic. I think it's okay to fib a little so that you're not shoved to the back of the line and end up waiting over an hour for a slow-talking cop to arrive and "investigate" the scene. Just sayin').

 

Midnight- we arrive in Arizona!!! The girls finally fell asleep in Prescott (about 50 minutes from home, which was pretty much as good as not falling asleep at all). For the next TWO WEEKS, we lived in the pool. The girls were in heaven. Hence, the following 300 pool shots. 

 Seriously? Do they come any cuter?

 The mats were a smashing success with these two. Surfing, laying out, water slides, etc. etc.

                                                                       

                                Drew got me an iPhone for Mother's Day (the man totally spoils me) and I have totally had too much fun with Instagram. I LOVE IT. 

 

 Can I just mention, rather proudly, that my girl started swimming WITHOUT floaties while we were there? Holy heck, I was flabbergasted. She swam across the pool and back again. She is a rockstar in my opinion. 

It wouldn't be a trip home without a Diamondbacks game. My dad has REALLY good seats this season and the girls loved being so close to the famous bobbleheads/Baxter the bobcat/cheerleaders/etc. The fireworks weren't too shabby either.
 

 And lastly, these little lasses love to play dress-ups (Makenna a little more than Addison). And Grandma's a pretty good fashion designer.

 New girlie-girl outfits from Grandma. Absolutely love them!

  

 And finally, the plane ride home to D.C. I was flying by myself and desperate to keep the peace (translation: the girls took full advantage of this mama in every way possible; i.e. cranberry/sprite cocktail from the flight attendant, RingPop that lasted the entire 2nd leg, and whatever movie she wanted...and then three more). What can I say? This girls knows how to fly in style.

 

 Now only 2 more months until our next cross-country flight, except this time I'll have the hubs flying to and from with me. Cake walk, folks, cake walk.