I left my heart in Washington.

This year (like the past 2 years) we have been lucky enough to fly into Seattle Christmas morning to be with my family.

Ayla did well on both flights (to Seattle she was just happy and cute and to Utah she slept the entire flight).

While in Washington we got to:

• Open presents with family (on my mom's side AND my dad's side)
• Visit downtown Seattle
• Enjoy Ivar's clam chowder
• Drink delicious coffee
• Eat at Dick's
• See the Harry Potter exhibit at The Pacific Science Center
• Eat real Seattle Teriyaki (there is nothing like it in Utah)
• Spend time with the people I love the most in the state that I love the most.

It seems like we did a lot of eating.  Ooooh boy, did we ever.  My mom made a delicious dinner of Turkey, Roast Beef, Shrimp, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Stuffing, Rolls, etc. on Christmas.  The next day my step mother Syl made an amazing Turkey and they whipped up some homemade eggnog.  And of course I had to visit all of my favorite places to eat and introduce them to Joseph (if he hasn't had them already) all in a quick 3 days!  I need to detox from all the food.  Yikes.

Here are some photos from the visit.  They are mostly from my cell phone because my camera broke a week before Christmas.  OF COURSE.

Ayla excited to get on the plane!





Ayla sitting in Grandpa Kurt's childhood chair, playing with uncle Aaron



She wanted baby Jesus

She found her favorite place at grandma's house

Grandma's present

Relaxing with uncle Chad

Ayla and grandpa John

Ayla and grammy Syl

Seattle!

Grandma and Ayla in the Center House

Joseph, Ayla, and Tonja in front of the snow globe in the Center House

Harry Potter!

The Pacific Science Center

Eating at Dick's after we saw Harry Potter

I wish that I had more photos, I would have hundreds had my camera not been broken!

I can't wait to get back to Washington again.  I am working on a way to be back there in the next 6 months.  Wish me luck!

Day 5...6...and 7...

Day 5 – A photo of yourself two years ago.

Carissa and I (with Lili in the background) somewhere in Nephi before the Nephi rodeo.  :)  Classic Carissa and Tonja.  2008!
 
Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d love to keep as a pet.


Like an animal that isn't domestic?  OK, I am a cat person.  Always have been, always will be.  (Though I love every single animal, I will always love cats just a little bit more!)
 

As long as I can remember I have considered the Snow Leopard to be my favorite animal.  When I was in elementary school and was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up my response was this:  A mommy.  And a wildlife photographer so that I can travel to the Himalayan Mountains and take pictures of Snow Leopards.
 
At least I have one of my dream jobs (always the favored one).
 
I would love to have one of these big furry guys in my home, but since it won't happen I will settle for visiting momma and baby at the Hogle Zoo in SLC.  (I went to see the new baby as soon as he arrived in the summer of 09.  Magical!)
 
If you'd like to know more about my very favorite animal, go here.
 
Day 7 – Your dream wedding.


My dress:

My bridesmaids dresses:

My location:

My reception:

My cake:

My ring:

Ayla's dress:

That is my dream wedding.  Beautiful fall-themed, Washington State wedding.

OR this:

Yes, a peacock themed wedding.  :)

Butttttttttttt, our wedding will most likely be like this:

:)

Recently...

Ayla and I recently had the opportunity to go to Washington state to visit family for 2 whole weeks!  This was definitely a long, much needed vacation!  It was the longest Ayla had been away from Joseph and I know if was rough for her to be away from daddy for so long!  It seemed like as soon as we got home from St. Louis we were off to Washington!  Getting a break from the heat in St. Louis and Utah was wonderful for Ayla and for myself!  We actually needed to wear jackets at times and I loved it!  I miss the Pacific Northwest a lot.  If I could move there tomorrow I would!

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Ayla and I on the airplane.

Ayla in front of grandma's house.

Ayla and Grandpa John.

Ayla enjoying the greenery!

Eating lunch at Grandma's!

.Petting some donkeys.

Watching Sesame Street with Grandma.

Ayla hanging out with Emory.

Eating ice cream with grandma.

The last fun thing we did was visit Pike Place Market in Seattle!

We also had some studio pictures taken of Ayla.  She didn't really like to cooperate, but we still got some good ones!

Ayla, my mom, and I made the 15 hour drive from WA to UT and Ayla did so well!  We drove over night which really helped a lot.  :)  Every time I make that drive I think to myself, I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!  Flying is so much easier.

We're now back to our regular routine.  We're living in Eagle Mountain and Joseph is working away.  I'm in the process of applying for some jobs.  As much as I love being with Ayla I miss the social interaction and the second income.  I'm hoping to find an evening job so that Joseph and I can trade off with Ayla and we won't need to put her in daycare.  Wish me luck!

Here are some pictures of a recent day spent with our friends Kaitlin and Nina!

Christmas pictures!

I am so behind in my updates, it's a little embarrassing!

We had our first Christmas with Ayla, which we celebrated as a little family on Chritsmas Eve because we flew home to Washington Christmas morning.  Ayla was only 6 weeks old, so she didn't enjoy it as much as she will next year, but it was still fun for mommy and daddy!

Here are pictures from her first time meeting Santa, her first Christmas, and her first plane ride!

 

Waiting to meet Santa & doing so well on his lap! 

Our little tree with presents!

Mommy and Ayla by the tree.

 

 

 

She was a very smiley girl, even at 6 weeks she likes to get presents!

Ayla with Grandma!

At first she was scared on the plane, but then she got over it and we had a happy, quiet flight.

Sadly I didn't take any pictures on Ayla's first trip home to Washington.  I was so busy the weekend, time just flew by!  Next trip I will document every moment, I'm sure.  This was a bit of a hard trip because Ayla didn't handle it very well.  We have a quiet little home with only us 3 and the kitty and being in a large house with lots of people and lots of strange noises, away from her routine, was very hard on her!  She cried a lot, which I'm sure was also hard on every one else in the house!  She was sure happy to get home to her little house and her kitty, but it was great to see family and old friends and make a new one!  (Brandon's cute girlfriend, Jenny.)  And we were so spoiled while we were there!  (Like we always are.)  We look forward to the next trip when she's a little older and will *hopefully* handle it better!