UTAH / IDAHO Weekend

This past weekend I headed down to Utah for Ashley Costley's, I mean Ashley Bird's wedding! I vowed I would never drive the I15 ever again after numerous trips back and forth from Calgary to Rexburg but I did it. I left Wednesday night with Britt Gibson heading to Rexburg, then caught a red-eye shuttle to Salt Lake City where my dear friend Ashley, who I haven't seen for TWO years, picked me up. We spent the day together running errands, getting pedicures, and getting last minute wedding stuff together. Then that night we met up with Remi, Kate, Miriam and Ashley's family and had a girls dinner at Cheescake Factory. It was SOO good to see the girls! I have missed everyone so much! I have been feeling so isolated up here in Canada and making it difficult to keep in touch with everyone as much as I want to so I really needed this weekend! Love you girls! The wedding was beautiful! Jeremy and Ashley were so in love and looked so happy! And it was so fun to catch up with the girls and laugh and chit chat about life.

Then after the wedding, I headed back up to Rexburg to hang out with Ash, Dave and Summer Cichy! They were too good to me. We went to the Idaho Falls Zoo, which surprisingly was better then I thought it would be, ate at Cafe Rio, did P90X, watched Baby Mama, and just hung out. I miss not having them in Calgary! I was also able to see Pam, Matt and Chet Leavitt who I haven't seen for so long.

I came home to an amazing husband who welcomed me with a dozen roses, dinner made and a clean house! I love him. It was such a good weekend and I am so glad I was able to see so many people that I have been missing! I am very lucky to have amazing friends in my life and I wish I could see them all  more. Thanks Ash and Dave for letting me crash at your places and thanks everyone for a good time!

So cute!!

Pretty Ashley

Summer being a little monkey!

JOY

Last year, I became an Aunt for the first time. I was so excited but even then, I don't think I anticipated the love I was going to have for this little girl. I think about all the wonderful Aunt's that I had in my life and wonder if they felt the same way about me when I came into this world.

I love babysitting her. I love playing with her. I love reading to her. I LOVE taking pictures of her. I love when she spends the night and love in the morning when she wakes up and is so happy to see me. I love watching Austin with her. I love when she says my name. I love her.

As my life has been up and down this past year, I could always count on her to put a smile on my face. Pure joy. It has been amazing to watch her grow and learn and to try and teach her new things. With new eyes to this world, there are so many little things that are eye catching to her. Little things I never notice. She has the entire family wrapped around her finger and constantly battling for her attention. The gratitude we must all have for her in our lives is overwhelming.

I love every second of being her Aunt and being able to spoil her like crazy. The experiences have helped me patiently wait for when it is my turn to have my own little one. But for right now, Sadie Jae brings me so much joy and I love being Auntie Lisa.