every girls obsession

Luckily she has multiple pair.

She wears them every moment of every day.

She MUST wear them to the park, the store, and point them out on strangers.

She loves the clippity-clap sound and finds it amusing.

All shoes are "tap" shoes & flip-flops are NOT shoes!

Lately,

It's been ALL ABOUT THE {tap} SHOES!

it's never ending. . .

PILES of stuff

I admit I have a problem. It probably stems from my need to organize and file. But I don't have enough room {yet}, or I don't have enough time to conquer the problem as a whole. See I'm an "all or nothing" type of personality. If I'm going to do something, make something, etc. I have to do it right; do it well; or don't do it at all. Which is why my house currently has piles everywhere. It drives my husband nuts. It drives me nuts because he'll put them away {or at least out of sight}. When he touches them I get mad. But seriously, I think I have a piling problem. Can it be cured??

{These piles are exaggerated given the fact that we are currently in the middle of "operation project list" in our home.}

quick review

Spent the month of June in Utah visiting the fam. Came home to an empty house because Chris was in Boston for work. Broke out the ice cream maker for annual 4th of July ice cream and BBQ followed with fireworks and swimming. Returned to Boston with Chris for another week, with intentions of playing with "Boston friends" each and every day. REALITY CHECK!!
Wednesday: knowing that friends would be gathering at the local beach, I loaded up Savanna for a day at the beach. We are up & off on time. Arrive at the beach in record time. Find FREE parking for two-hours. Blow past the playground with minor whining. SCORE!
Swimsuits on-check. Sunscreen on-check. Do we have everything?-check. Make way to the tide pool(s) and BAM!! Savanna went ballistic. She'd get sand on her hand-cry. Sand in her shoe {which were crocs}-cry. Full-on, no-holds-barred tantrum IN THE SAND. Quick think. . .water! She l-o-v-e-s swimming. Baths, pools, ocean...it's all the same right? WRONG! Our great adventure ended in 40 minutes. Naps were had by all upon returning to our hotel room. That is after a very, very large Diet Coke for me.
Next up, play with friends at Liz's house. This went over just as expected. Savanna played near, but not with Calvin & Rory. She would sneak and steal all the visible balls and place them in her "looting pile". While this was happening I enjoyed a fresh diet coke, chips & salsa, and adult conversation with Liz and Jennie. Just before leaving Liz busted out the ALL-TIME greatest game ever to play with your child during a l-o-n-g afternoon. Don't Eat Pete! Seriously, I'd never heard of it & it's a hit! Thanks Liz and Jennie for the great low-key afternoon. It was just what this mommy needed after what has now become known as "the excursion."
Somewhere in there we drove to New Hampshire and stole a/c units from my Aunt's basement while they were away. Played with their pooch and Uncle Stan. Returned to the hotel only to notice Savanna's swollen eyes. Crying or allergies? I just felt bad cause she'd mentioned her "eyes" in the car, but I just thought her hair was buggin'. Mean Mommy! Her eyes healed and I'm happy to report:
Now I am home. I have a monster of a cough/"man voice" and it's getting annoying. We're currently in home renovation mode. Soon our driveway will be DONE. The kitchen, hallway, and Savanna's bedroom will be painted. Ceiling fans, light fixtures, and trim will be installed. Then it's onto the yard. Grass, walkways, house painting. Oh My!

Memory SWAP

Here's a fun tag for ya:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, if we’ve actually met in person or not, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you don’t want to play on your blog, or if you don’t have a blog, I’ll leave my memory of you in my comments.

So...let's hear it! Luckily I'm not one to get offended or embarrassed easily, so tell me like it is. What's my most memorable traits, characteristics, etc? The curiosity is killing me!!

SYTYCD

i admit when it comes to night-time tv i'm an addict!

i've never been a dancer. i could never be a dancer. but somehow i am obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance? this year more than ever. why? my sister works for UDA and TWO of their teachers or in the final 16--weehoo! i have been voting every week for them and another favorite. i love twitch & kerrington, but thayne and gev are where my loyalty lies. seriously! if only i could move like that. i get chills while i sit in AWEmazment. don't even get me started on the choreographers--speechless! no words. the ARE sooo talented.

so if you're ever curious what i'm doing between the hours of 7-11pm, i'm watching my night-time tv. if you call and i don't answer--it's a really, really good part. if you come by and i ignore you--know that i'm still semi-listening. if your my husband, or child, i'm sorry--it's a sickness, really!

there's no place like home

In my case "home" will always be UTAH! Don't get me wrong. I enjoy living in our little house in a little town, but there's nothing quite like being with family.

The first matter of business was getting reacquainted with the cousins.

I know Savanna loved having the older cousins around to play with, but Madison won her heart by following her every move. The "shadow" loved her back, but together they stirred up A LOT of trouble!!

You can't go to Utah and NOT go camping in the REAL mountains!

*pictures to come

We took the 4-wheelers out for an evening ride, {she kept a running commentary on our every move AND we didn't forget "seat belts"--helmets, uh, that's another story}

Savanna wrapped BOTH Nana's & Pa-pa's around her little finger,

*more pictures to come

went swimming,

*still waiting for pictures

rode a horse/"eee, eee" and mingled with various animals @ Gardner Village,

*and waiting

Memories: relishing the use of my sister's DVR * McDonald's WITH a PlayPlace * seeing/supporting Jaiden's talent in dance--WOWZERS!! * 5-Wal-Mart(s) within 10 minutes * 3-Target(s) too! * Cafe Rio * FREE baby-sitting * new words: op-pi-toos/octopus; Cookie/Uncle Colby; airpane/airplane * Zumba & the "twins" * cute haircuts * spending a priceless moment with my grandpa * visiting the Dirty Diva @ work * belated Mother's Day gifts * finding her echo in the parking lot * wedding showers * Deseret Book, Seagull, Church Distribution Center * driving down a 5-lane road {not highway, just Redwood Road} * left-hand turning lanes {never thought I'd miss those} * Little Ceaser's $5 pizza * Gas for less than $4 {S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y} * fountain Diet Cokes * central a/c * drive-ways, sidewalks, neighborhoods * GRASS * Church news on local TV stations * mountain views...Utah makes me want to sing: "Wide Open Spaces," maybe dance a little jig too!

We tasted a little bit of what we're missing living away. It was a much needed visit. Thanks Dad for paying the tab! I owe you BIG TIME!! We'll be back someday...sooner rather than later now!