Lake Powell! (long post)

The second week of July we were able to head on up and join a part of Sam's family for their annual Lake Powell vacation! (2 of his brother's and their families came on this trip, along with Trish's sister Carolyn and her daughter. It was such a fun group!) We didn't go the year before because Ivy was too young and didn't feel comfortable traveling with her quite yet.. And boy did we miss it! This year, she was the perfect age for us to be able to enjoy ourselves and for her to actually do quite a bit too! We are always grateful to Dad R. and Trish who host it and this year was extra special because they had a new houseboat! We were actually the very first group on it. Literally! They had just put the boat in the water the DAY before we got there. It was pretty awesome. Anyways, it was a pretty fun week without any stress! Ivy took awesome naps every day, which was soo nice, so her parents could go out and play. When she was awake, she looved taking boat rides while watching daddy wakeboard, playing with all of her fun cousins, and of course playing in the sand. Pretty sure that was her absolute favorite part of the whole week. 

Driving to our camp spot. Dad is so happy, cruising in his new boat:

Ivy doing some yoga while we ride, hehe:

Here's the boat all docked and anchored. "The Bucket List" is the name. Love it:

Ivy loves her Aunt Michelle:

About to go jetskiing with Jess in the first pic, and in the second pic, just lounging around. We did lots of floating. It was so nice. The water was perfect:

Morning wake-board run:

 Playing with daddy in the sand. She was one happy girl:

Brothers.. I bet that's pretty obvious though, lol:

Rainbow Bridge hike.. Or walk, I'd say.. Ivy was a tropper! never whined once during this whole trip. It takes 45 mins by boat to get to this canyon and she slept on the way there, and just jibber jabbered the whole way back haha! And she didn't seem to mind the heat either on the hike. She just loved being on daddy's shoulders:

In the sand again! This was pretty early in the morning, hence the bed-head, hehe:

Lunch with cousins:

Aaaand one more time in the sand, haha. She got so dirty so Sam took her for a swim afterwards:

Ride back to the marina to head home (Dad was staying another week for the next Robinson bunch):

Worn out baby girl. We had so much fun!

(more catching up) New Car!

So our Acura TL was nearing 150k miles on it and we just knew we were going to keep dumping money into repairs, etc and decided we might as well start looking for a different car. Not to mention, having a kid in the family and everything she comes with, road trips had become pretty cramped. We've been looking for a new car for a few months now and were sooo close to purchasing a Chevy Equinox when Sam found something even better!

2010 Acura RDX, Gently used (bought in Phoenix, just before we left for Lake Powell):

We are in love! It has been so perfect for our little family and has almost all the same features as our TL did, just way lower miles so it will last us a long time. Plus a lot more space. :) We kinda liked the Equinox but never felt right about it and Sam didn't like some of the features on it. Then he came across this one and the dealership was willing to give us an awesome trade-in value for our TL, which was a total blessing! Sam said as soon as he sat in this one, he knew it was the one. And I have to agree with him! Awesome deal, great car. I love that my husband doesn't make rash decisions, that he really does his research and goes with what he feels is right. It was definitely a blessing!

Catching up! 4th of July

Whew! This last month has been a whirlwind! Before we went to Lake Powell back in the beginning of July, I spent the week packing up most of our apt. because the movers were coming just 2 days after we were going to get back. Crazy, I know. Then we went to Lake Powell for 8 days, then came home, finished packing our house, sent all of our stuff packed with the movers on the 17th. Left Phoenix just 3 days later so we could make a pit stop in Houston for a couple days after the 18 hr drive..  then made the 15 hr drive out here! That was a lot of driving. Finally arrived here on Monday morning, the 23rd. Sam started his orientations the next day, movers came Wednesday with all of our stuff and we finally got internet on Thursday. And now it's already August!! What the?? Where did that month go? Goodness! I'll post about the drive and Harrogate and our new rental house later. For now, just wanted to give this quick update, then catch up on a few posts. So here we go!

4th of July was a great one this year! It was a quiet day but perfect. Started the day off by driving 15 mins to the only donut shop anywhere near us (beside dunkin donuts which I think is gross). It was the perfect American breakfast to start our day. Ivy looved the donut holes. Who can blame her?

Then Sam went to play sand volleyball with some friends while I headed home for Ivy's nap. We did a little car shopping that afternoon and then later I made (well, Trader Joe's made.. I just heated it up haha) a yummy pulled pork dinner with broccoli slaw. After dinner we headed to the pool with some of the sales boys who Ivy just adores! She loves hanging out with her buddies. hehe.. 

Then we finished off the evening by having the sales boys over for fruit pizza before they headed out to watch the fireworks (...which we gladly passed up. Ivy is usually done with the day by 7 or 7:30 and I'd rather have a happy baby sleeping than have to deal with her craziness til 9:30 which is when most of the shows were scheduled for). Our good friends Michelle and Scott came over later to watch a movie and have more fruit pizza with us. It was so fun to hang out with them! So not a terribly eventful day but we liked it that way. :)

D-backs baseball game

Around here in Phoenix, the D-backs (Diamond Backs) are pretty popular. Locals are proud of their team so we just had to check out one of their games for ourselves. And what is summer without going to at least one major league baseball game? This was also Ivy's first baseball game ever. She would watch every now and again but mostly wanted to play on the little toddler playground there that actually had a nice view of the game. It was a pretty cool ballpark. Even though we will always be Astros fans at heart, it was still so much fun to go to another team's game to watch some great baseball. And great baseball we got! (and great food, too. gotta love hot dogs and pretzels mmm) There were some awesome plays and the D-backs killed the Mariners. We actually had to leave early because Ivy was getting tired(the girl gets crazy when it's time for a nap) but they already had a strong lead when we left. We went with Andy and Christa and some of the sales boys and it was fun to hang out with everyone. I'll post a group pic later once I get a copy of it..

Father's Day 2012

Just trying to play catch up. My days seem to just be racing by lately. Only 3 more weeks til we leave for TN! I so wanted to have Ivy's quiet book done before our drive but I don't think it's going to happen.  Anywho, here are a few fun pics from our day to celebrate the best dad in whole world! I forgot to get a pic of Sam with his gifts we got him.. Sam is the type to just go out and buy things that he wants so I had to think of something creative. He has made comments in the past about how it would be nice to have a pocket knife so I found him an awesome Leatherman online for a good price. He loved it! We also got him a few new ties, so cliche, I know, but he really did need some new ones. He has been wearing the same 3 for months now and I was getting bored with them, haa. Anyways, here are a few pics from our day.. We made some awesome bbq bacon wrapped shrimp for lunch (and I mean awesome) and Sam's favorite Texas Sheet Cake for dessert/dinner, lol. Sam had a nice relaxing day doing all the things he loves-Settlers on the Xbox with his brothers, playing the piano, and playing with his baby girl. Happy Father's Day babe! We are so grateful for all you do for us. Especially for making us laugh and knowing how to make everything in life so much fun! Love you!

Not sure why but this little toot was not into smiling for the camera that day. In fact, anytime, I tried to get in the pic with them, she would push me away. Guess she wanted her daddy all to herself... punk. haha..