Get ready! The mother of all blog posts is coming!

You may need a few days to get your snacks, soda, and a little extra sleep will help! More to come!

Valentines sans Valentine

Valentines day in Tucson was celebrated with some amazing women. It was a beautiful day that gave me time for a bike ride and run through the wash, but not quite enough time for the needed nap. The group met at my friends house and of course being the only Mormon, I was dubbed the "DD." I also got dubbed the cook and was commissioned to make appetizers for the group. We had tickets to the Tucson Ballet "Roots of Choreography" show and then a musical concert called "Hot Love." The ballet was unique and interesting with various styles of dance from water, to contemporary, to traditional, to whimsical. It was an amazing show with everything choreographed by the company members and local artists. Following the show we went to the hilarious "hot love" show which was 5 incredibly talented musicians that sing show tunes, soul tunes, do a few spoofs, Elvis, Love songs and do it wall with plenty of humor. It was a small restaurant that hosted and the performers came right out into the crowd and it was very interactive. They even blind folded us for a number. The best part might have been the 3 course meal, 3 courses of DESSERT that is! How in the world can you possibly go wrong there? The only thing that was funny was that the desserts were supposed to be shared by couples and it was supposed to be romantic that they didn't give us silver to use, however with a group of girls and not couples it was actually a little funny. They ended up bringing us a few extra plates since we weren't exactly couples into feeding each other. It was a great night!


Dressed and ready to go. It was gorgeous when we started and down right cold when we finished! So strange the weather is...summer dress and then 1 hour later winter coats!

This would be the bracelet that showed up in the mail from Mike. It's always extra fun to get a surprise in the mail on valentines day.

Karma and Susan.

Karma, Lindsey, and Lorraine.

The whole group!

Hanging Out in Colorado

After Christmas, I drove to Basalt to visit the Corey Enloe clan and their new digs. I liked it so much i went back again! Corey, Brenda and I all share one particular "quirk" and that would be we are all food snobs and love fine dining. We like to experience it as well as create it. While there we had plenty of great food, walked around Aspen, played Wii, watched movies, went to the Glenwood hot springs, and just generally had a great time.

We went to a fun diner on a snowy day. Of all the pictures I took, this is the only one with Malik in it. I think he prefers to be behind the lens rather than in front. Jorie would prefer to have me all to herself, but she got to share for these pictures, lucky girl!

Check out Mr. GQ!

Seriously, could my neice be any cuter?

Yes, she does warrant her own blog post. For those who may not know, this is my niece Jorie-Lu-Who. I think given the opportunity she might move right in with me and she definitely thinks that i was put on this planet for her and only her and does not enjoy sharing me with others. She let's her brothers and cousins know that "this is MY yaya." Here are several pictures i snapped in Aspen while visiting around New Year and they just needed to be shared. I will admit, it's not having my nieces and nephews close that is the hardest part of being in Arizona. I think my favorite role is that of Aunt!

bad blogger, bad bad blogger

Yes, I'm delinquent in blogging. I used the excuse that i didn't really have much to blog about then i realized that in the past 6 weeks I've been in Rock Springs, Jackson Hole, Aspen - twice, Vernal, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, St. George, Phoenix, and Tucson. How is that not something to blog about!! Now i guess my only excuse is that I'm a lousy-slacker-picture-taker and who likes to blog without pictures? Apparently I better get busy and actually take the camera with me. Currently I'm in Tucson and have attached what i deem to be my funniest yet office space so far encountered in my travels. Yes that is me with computers on bar stools in the doorway. What can you say when you are a gypsy?

Needers is Number 1

Why is Needers number 1 you ask? Well, that is a great story. It started with Dionne coloring my hair and realizing that the Enloe clan and Davis clan were both planning Christmas in Alpine, so why not do it together? It was a great idea! Plans were set in motion and along came Christmas eve.

The day started with the normal hustle bustle, with everyone starting to arrive about 5:00. With a 6:00 dining time, crazy needers decided to skip the prime rib, skip the shrimp, skip the rest of the delightful food and 15 minutes before "go" time cut her left index finger down to the tendon...and including part of the tendon. It was quite the chaos and BBR got lucky enough to skip dinner as well and be the ER hot date. Russ was nice enough to show them the way to the hospital. All turned out well and they made it back just a few minutes before a suprise visit from Santa. (Yes, Needers is demonstrating that she will be number one for about 3 weeks. this should make typing the 100 page document she has for her school accreditation extremely easy!)





During the day, BBR found a great website, santa claus.net that lets kids make wishes and asks them questions to decide if they are naughty or nice. I'm glad to see that Santa is automating in the electronic age. I'm also glad to see grandpa found this site since it provided quite the kiddie entertainment.

Toby joined us and Santa's helper, but was more excited about all of the food and snacks that got dropped on the floor.

Garrett was a little reluctant to sit on Santa's lap, but submitted to the peer pressure.

However, BBR did not submit to the peer pressure and took his picture standing.

All the young kids with Santa after getting gifts from him.

All the big kids with santa.....and much more reluctant group.

Since i was behind the camera most of the night this is the token picture of me to prove i was there. (don't worry, BBR called from the hospital to remind me to take pictures with rules....no food in any mouths and change the ISO if i use the flash) This is my friend Catherine from work. She is from Paris and without family here other than one son in New York, she was either brave enough or crazy enough or naive enough to join our crew.

Look how cute and innocent. Apparently a different version of Hayden was in the vehicle that travelled from spokane....and he had to work pretty hard to lock down a Santa visit.

The Group! Aria is the game master and planned a fun game where everyone passed presents right and left every time the story she told used the words "left" or "right"

We got to see who listened and who knew their "left" from "right"

Don't worry, we had a nativity. BBR read from the bible and the kids took parts. Jackson was joseph and added a little creative interpretation for his character. He thought he needed facial hair to get into character, and don't worry, Russ suggest a little whipped cream (thinking jackson would laugh...apparently he never met my nephews). Jackson couldn't find whipped cream, so sour cream made due.

Baby Leif was supposed to play the baby Jesus, however he wasn't so much into the whole lay in a manger thing and olivia couldn't make due without a baby so the famous buzz light year made a pinch hit performance.

A big hit with the dollar presents seemed to be the fuzzy hats.............

After everyone left, the kids opened the auntie presents....and we called it a night!

Needers made jammies for all of her grand kids...but UPS failed her and the only ones to arrive at their proper destination were the ones she delivered personally to alpine!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!

Homeless?

I am most certainly on an adventure! Given the opportunity to study and spend time with one of the best, most experienced, and diversely knowledgeable movement profesionals....anywhere....I, of course, jumped at the opportunity. It was a good idea at the time, but now that everything is in storage and I'm living out of suitcases, can't find anything, and basically surfing from place to place for a few months, I have started to question my good judgement skills. I packed everything into storage mid-December (in a ridiculous snow storm) with the help of several who I am very grateful to have around!!



This is one of my current room-mates, the famous O-Dub-Owen-Enloe. The first stop is Parker and Aria's house for the Christmas break, then i will be making rounds in Vegas, Vernal, Spokane, SLC, and then will be on to Tucson by February 1st. Yes, I have found better weather for the winter, and since "my degree" falls around 85...this should work out wonderfully for me! (other than the fact that i can't find anything).

Before leaving SLC, i had to wrap up a class i was teaching at Dancing Moose. I will miss this class, as i taught developmental movement to about 130 kids ages 3-8. This is "ana-cabana-the-sticker-helper" and Ashlyn below in one of the tunnels. I spent the week giving pointers to a new instructor, helping the kids perform in their Christmas program, and saying goodbye to the kids as well as the many teachers who became my friends. The classes all had their moments, but in the end I will miss everyone.

The last day i was there, it was a pajama party and they watched Polar Express as well as plenty of fun games. I will definitely miss the movement room and it's pretty rare to find a preschool through 2nd grade with a studio like this!! (pictured as the movie room below).

Finally, me with a group of the kids! Onward to being homeless on a crazy adventure! I guess the hope is that I come out of this much smarter!!