New Year's Resolution #3 Complete!

So excited; with Dan's paycheck today, we completed New Year's resolution #3, which was to pay off his smallest student loan. Feels so good to have that done! Now on to my last student loan, which I hope should be paid off by the end of July.

Utah--Part Two

On Friday, May 6, my dad took the day off work and took Kate & me to the Dinosaur Park in Ogden. It was phenomenal; I hadn't been there in years, and it definitely was a lot smaller when I went! Kate loved it; I thought she might be scared by the moving dinosaurs, because the room was dark and they moved/growled, but she loved it. In fact, we had to see them twice because she was so enthralled by them!

She liked the outdoor part, too, especially the slides in the play area! Afterward, we went to lunch at Rooster's and then went to my mom's last music class of the day. It was a kindergarten class, so my mom thought Kate would like some of the songs they sang. She certainly did! Then my mom, Kate & me went to Tempenyaki for dinner. It was so good, and Kate was fascinated by the chef cooking right in front of us.

On Saturday, we went over to Good Earth with my dad. Kate loved that they had mini-shopping carts that were just her size! She had so much fun pushing those around! Then Kate, my mom & I went to Bistro 258 (one of my favorite places) and spent a few hours shopping at the mall. I got some great summer clothes at Dillards. Kate rode the carousel in the food court, and we also went on the train that goes around the interior of the mall. She loved that! That night, we had Nancy over for dinner and my dad made his amazing sauerbraten and spaetzle.


Here's a few shots from Spaghetti Factory on Wednesday night


Such a good eater!








This sign says "World's Most Dangerous Creature." LOL, not quite!












At Rooster's


Oh, you're getting the check? Thank you!





Here's a video of her walking around at Good Earth:





Loving her chocolate-covered strawberry at the Bistro!




On the train at the mall; she was so excited!


Cute girl!


She's obsessed with balloons now, ever since the Melting Pot gave her one; she carried this around my parents' house constantly!


Getting in Aunt Nancy's purse


I love my sweet girl!

Utah--Part One

We got in Wednesday night, May 4, and my dad picked us up and we then headed to the Spaghetti Factory (we passed Grand America on the way, and it brought back so many amazing memories!) Nancy met us at the Spaghetti Factory, and both she and my dad were amazed at how big Kate had gotten, and how adept she was at feeding herself and walking around.

On Thursday, Kate & I went over to Angie's house to meet her little girl, Brooklyn. She is adorable! She's 3.5 months, so it was nice to hold a "little" baby again. Kate was enthralled by her, which was cute. We went to the park for a little bit, but we had to cut our trip short because some creepy old guy came up to us and kept trying to initiate a conversation. At first I was chatting away with him, because the way he came up to us and started talking made it seem like he knew Angie, but nope! So we went back to Angie's house and sat outside for hours, just talking. It was a lot of fun.






So excited about the baby; I think Kate needs a sibling soon! (Ok, not too soon)

San Diego--Part Four

On Monday, I had to start attending the National Postal Forum (it's amazing how when your company flies you someplace for work, they expect you to actually work). So my mom watched Kate, and they had fun swimming, going to shops, and eating in some outdoor cafes. On Monday, I had a break for lunch, so they came and met me at the convention center, and then we walked to Seaport Village, which was just a couple blocks away, right on the ocean. We ate at this delicious little Mexican walk-up place, and then Kate & I rode the carousel together. It was her first time, and she loved it! She was just laughing and bouncing up and down on the horse. She had such a great time.

In fact, that night, we went back to Seaport Village for dinner (this time we ate at Bubba's and had some amazing coconut shrimp and macadamia nut-crusted chicken) and then we looked in some shops in the area. Kate got excited when she saw the carousel again, so we decided to ride it again.

On Tuesday, we headed to Old Town for dinner and had the best Mexican food EVER. Hands down. It was amazing. We tried a fish taco, since everyone was raving about those, and it was totally worth it. Sooooo good. Then we each had enchiladas (one beef, one chicken) and those were killer. And of course the margaritas were good, too.

Then on Wednesday I just had to go to my conference in the morning, and then I came back to the hotel, we packed up, headed to the Brewery for lunch, and then to Currant for dessert. We got to the airport in plenty of time and our flight to Salt Lake was smooth and relatively quick. Kate slept the whole time, which is always nice!


She had to have a bath Sunday night since she was so sandy from Coronado Beach




At lunch on Monday


Kate loves the carousel!


She looks kind of mad; probably because she has to wait to get sunscreen on before she can go in the sun/pool


With Nana at lunch on Tuesday; I had a press lunch, so I couldn't meet them


This was the cutest little outdoor cafe; we had dessert there on Wednesday before we caught our shuttle to the airport


The view from our room


At the pool




Our room at the Westin, although it's not the best picture; kind of dark


Kate getting serenaded at Cafe Coyote in Old Town






Some cool glass sculpture outside the Westin. Kate always seemed enthralled by this.

San Diego--Part Three

On Sunday, May 1, we checked out of the Gaslamp Plaza Suites and headed to the Westin (we switched hotels because as much as we loved the Plaza Suites, it didn't have a pool, and since I was going to be at the conference for the next three days, we wanted my mom and Kate to have a pool to keep her entertained). The Westin was very nice too; definitely a lot more modern than the Plaza Suites, but still very nice. Our room had a gorgeous view of the bay.

We then took the 11:00 ferry to Coronado Island. The ferry was about four blocks away, and the guy at the front desk told us he didn't think we would make it in time (it was about 10:50). Ha! He doesn't know how fast we can walk! Well, and it helped that there was a huge line. But we did indeed make the ferry, and as soon as we got on the island, we got sucked into some gift shops (this is not exactly a surprise, if you know my mom). We got some cute stuff (I actually had to buy a shirt and shorts because I was way too hot in the clothes I had brought. It had been so cold in Wisconsin that even though I thought I was bringing warm-weather clothes, they apparently weren't "warm-weather" enough!

We wanted to see the Hotel Del Coronado, but that was a couple miles away, so we rented a surrey bike. We had a blast. It was so fun biking across the island and seeing all the beautiful houses (if I ever win the lottery, I'm buying a winter home on Coronado Island). The hotel was really cool, too; very 1920s-esque. We ate at a delicious Italian restaurant across the street, and then went to the beach behind the hotel. I thought I would just take Kate in to get her feet wet, but she dropped down and began crawling in the ocean, even though she didn't have her swimming suit on! Oh, well; she loved it, and it was very warm, so she was dry within 10 minutes of getting out of the water.

We then biked back to the ferry landing, returned our surrey bike, and then looked in some of the shops while waiting for the ferry. We bought three cupcakes from the Coronado Cupcakery, and we were kicking ourselves that we didn't try them until we got back to the hotel, because they were amazing. Hands down the best cupcakes we've ever had. A little pricey, yes ($3.25 or so a cupcake), but they were so worth it! We got one that was chocolate with cream cheese frosting, and another one that was white with a raspberry cream cheese filling and a buttercream frosting. Can't remember the third one, but man... those things were good! Good thing we biked around the island before eating them.


Kate and Nana planning out our day before we check out of the Gaslamp


Kate in the very cool elevator


Gorgeous lobby, isn't it?


Kate, Nana & the surrey bike


Too adorable!! Her helmet had kittens on it, since she loves kitties


Outside the Hotel Del Coronado. Kate was too enthralled by Nana's jewelry to take a good picture, apparently!


At the amazing Italian restaurant










Loving the water, even though she is swimsuit-less


I'm so glad I bought these shorts and shirt; I would have been dying in my jeans and black shirt I originally wore!


Such a good walker!


I want to stay in this hotel sometime... too bad it's quite pricey!


At one of the shops below the hotel that bears Kate's name














The view from the ferry landing