GREEN!

I am so happy! I have grass in my backyard. Justin promised that I could get grass this year and has worked really hard to make this happen for me. He dug the sprinkler system (I tired to help one afternoon and let me say OWW! My hands hurt for a week!) He also laid the grass barrier, leveled the ground, raked the rocks out which I've decided our back yard is a gravel pit, helped shovel the fill dirt in etc. I love how it turned out. Isn't it a beautiful thing to see green in the desert?

I need to also add how grateful I am to Brandon Bair for helping so much with our yard. He has done an amazing job with our new stamped concrete, retaining wall, helping shovel in dirt and to top it off the sod company told us they'd drop the sod off today anytime between 5-10am. I have no idea when the sod actually arrived. I slept right through it. Brandon showed up at 5:45am and just started laying it himself. Justin and I finally woke up around 6:30 and he had already laid about half of it himself. Sneaky guy ; )

After it was all in Justin and I sat out on the patio and just looked at it. AWWW..... green, you are a lovely color.

The windows go up AND down!!

My sweet husband decided to try and play mechanic and fix my van's windows that have been stuck down since December and guess what: HE DID IT! I'm a little shocked that it went as easily as it did. (at least from my perspective) Thank you soooo much honey! I love having my windows go up AND down. : )

Spring Piano Recital

Thursday I had my piano students preform a spring recital. Both Ariana and Alexis decided that they wanted to learn songs to play for the recital. Ariana's song doesn't really sound like anything its just an exercise at the front of the piano book to help new students get use to the black keys but it was cute to see her excited to play. Alexis Actually did really well. The video, if it ever loads, is of her playing her favorite song from the recital, Merrily We Roll Along.

Preschoolers Honesty

Teaching preschoolers I've heard lots of funny things but I've also learned that they are amazingly honest in their observations. That being said I'm not feeling so great today when a five year old started laughing and saying that I have a mustache!

First Family Photo Shoot Since 2006!

We haven't had a family photo shoot since February 2006 (3 weeks before Ariana was born!)Yes we've had a few random shots here and there but no real family picture day. Isn't that sad? Two weeks ago the amazingly talented Angela Salazar took our family pictures. Here are a few of my favorites:

My Trip to Ohio

March 12-19 I was able to take a trip to Ohio all by myself. What's in Ohio? My best friend that I've known for over 20 years, Sarah. Sarah lived in San Diego close to my parents with her husband Dan. I've been able to visit them frequently over the past few years until last summer when Dan started his first semester at Case Western Medical School. When Dan and Sarah moved Justin promised that I could go and visit Sarah out in Ohio. I asked him if he understood what that meant, a week long trip without the girls for me and a week off work for him to watch them. He said he did so Sarah and I made our plans for my trip during her spring break. I'm so glad I was able to go and that my sweet husband was up for the challenge of me being gone for a week. I had such a great time! The weather was really nice while I was there although it was a little funny because I got to Ohio right in between seasons. Everything was getting ready for spring but it wasn't there yet so Vegas was greener than Ohio! Here are some pictures of my trip:

My First Night in Ohio, eating at Aladdin's.

Johnson Farm

I loved going out to the Johnson Farm. The history, stories, beauty were amazing. It also made me grateful that I don't have to spend all day cooking!

Kirtland Temple

Sarah and I were also able to go visit the Kirtland Temple during our trip. I loved being able to go inside this first temple and see with my own eyes the work of my ancestors.

Lake Erie

The craziest thing I saw while in Ohio was Lake Erie. It seriously can not be a lake! Its huge!!! It was still covered in snow and ice and looked like Antartica. I couldn't resists throwing rocks at it. : )

Ariana is 4!

My baby turned 4 on March 4! Its just so hard to believe how fast time has flown by with her.

This is Ariana right when she woke up on her birthday. I was really worried about her turning four because she's been obsessed with turning five so she can go to school. I want her to be happy about her current birthday so I was really relieved when she seemed happy about being 4.

Ariana's Birthday Celebration!

Alexis and Ariana decided that they wanted a joint birthday party this year so for Ariana's actually birthday celebration we let her take one of her best buddies from preschool, Isaac on a lunch play date to McDonald's.

Aren't they so cute? Ariana absolutely LOVES Isaac!

Alexis enjoyed Ariana's birthday celebration too!

BIRTHDAY CAKE AND PRESENTS!

Ariana still loves giraffes and her Aunt Catrina crocheted two cute little polka dot giraffe's for her. We also gave Ariana a new shirt, piggy bank, and game.

I love you Nana Bear, Happy Birthday!