Arizona to Utah to South Carolina Trip, Part I

First, an ode to Arizona...oh, Arizona, the vacation spot of my youth, where it is warm year round (warmer than Salt Lake City, Utah), and where the desert flowers and cactus bloom... I LOVE Arizona!

Here is my brother David and his family... we just had SUSHI in this picture! So good! Even the kids ate it, too.

No trip to Arizona would be complete without a hike- I miss desert hiking!

Where else would you get to see cool stuff like this?

And get to climb up steep cliff rock faces like this? (You can't see it very well, but there's an iron rod posted into the rock that you can use to help pull yourself up this hill. It's awesome).

And then... you boulder. For a long time. It's a great workout.

I'm the king of the world! Or at least, of Phoenix!

Also, in Arizona you can go to beautiful restaurants with views like this (this is at Roy's- one of my favorite restaurants- you can't beat the Hawaiian atmosphere- especially in the desert)...

Doesn't this look AMAZING??

I love desert flowers- where else do you see trees overflowing with purple flowers?

This is a long time personal favorite- I love the bright red, burnt orange, and yellow flowers on these bushes...

Ah, Arizona- short and sweet- but we loved it.

This was on the drive up to Utah. This is called Montezuma's Castle- it is below the Grand Canyon, about an hour out of Phoenix. It's an ancient Indian dwelling in the cliff face. It was really interesting!

And we got to drive through Monument Valley in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah... that place had some pretty spectacular views.

Hey, I think I see Tom Cruise rock climbing up one of those rock faces, acting as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible II... ok, cheesy, but Monument Valley was where that scene was filmed!!

Monument Valley is actually on a Navajo Indian Reservation, by the way. I didn't know that.

Ok, on to Utah pics. This is my awesome nephew James at his soccer game! I was so excited we were able to make it to this. He even scored a goal! My sister Lynette is to the left of us, as well as her cute daughter Ashley (please note the pink plaid coat- she is a definite girly girl).

And, introducing cute baby McKenzie! Here is Stephen, making her laugh. We were hanging out on the comfortable Utah grass in my brother Stuart's backyard.

Stephen in his element... playing with the kids. I haven't jumped on a tramp in ages!

I couldn't believe this girl- this is Miya. One of the cutest little girls on this earth. When I asked her to go take a picture with Stephen, she actually ROLLED HER EYES at me (this chick is 4), and plunked down next to Stephen and posed, while looking at where her other little friends were playing. I, the cool, fun aunt, and Stephen, the cool, fun uncle, don't hold a candle next to little neighborhood friends. It's so sad! Our little niece is growing up!

And Jacob (white shirt)- this is a classic picture of his face at his school's spring performance. He's up there, he's participating... but he's also thinking about other things... probably about his Nintendo Wii at home.

Me and the parentals...

Baby Ashley and her cute, white shoes and pink skirt...

I also threw a baby shower for one of my good friends, Brittany, while I was in town. Here are some of the gorgeous flower arrangements at the shindig, done by another one of my good friend's moms.

I love gerber daisies!

Friends from our old ward- Angie and Rose

Regan (another old wardie) and Brittany

Sonja (another old wardie), Brittany, and my sister, Lynette

Me and Brittany after the festivities

Stephen and his parentals...

Here is a view of Antelope Island and the valley from the mountains- I grew up with this view.

More beautiful mountains (look at all of that snow!)... we loved our trip to Utah to see family. We miss everyone already!