Sun, Sun - Here I come!

I don't plan on writing about things that happened in the past on this blog, but I can't let this one slide by.

One of my favorite things about working for a public school in MA is that they have these week long "winter breaks" and "spring breaks". That means we get a week off in February and again in April (don't forget the nice vacation days we get during November and December!!)

For the past three of four years I have been promising one of my best friends from college that I would come and visit her in Phoenix. Well, the perfect time to visit Phoenix for someone who's not a huge fan of winter in Boston, is February! I was so excited to go, I packed my bag about five days in advance (and, yes, it included flip-flops and t-shirts!).

The trip was one thousand times better than I could have expected. Here's a re-cap:

1. My flights to and from Phoenix were direct, landed 30 min early (when does that EVER happen? and I didn't have anyone sitting next to me BOTH ways! Love Southwest. Love them.)

2. Maylene and Mark live in a very cute house and seeing them again was like nothing had changed in the four years since we've been together... except for the fact they have the two cutest girls! I had so MUCH FUN I going to the park and playing all sorts of things with these Sophie and Sydney. Sydney is a very good conversationalist and both girls have two amazing parents.

3. We got to eat Maylene's famous fajitas and I was in heaven. I am still craving them. When Maylene and I lived together at BYU, would would make these about twice a week usually after a night of "studying" at the Library. We would leave the library around 11:50 at night when "The Saints go Marching in" would start playing, head to Food 4 Less for the ingredients, and usually sit down to eat around 1 AM. Discussion during the meal would somehow always turn to boys! This time around, we ate it a lot earlier and the dinner table discussion was a bit different, but the experience was just as memorable. She made the salsa from scratch and I learned how to fry a real tortilla! One thing I really miss here in Boston is more Mexican places... but nothing can compare with Maylene's!

4. We were able to drive to Mesa to visit another friend, and Maylene's sister-in-law, Jillin.
I also got to see the Mesa Temple and some beautiful scenery along the drive.

5. The weather was perfect each day. I was able to take some morning runs and explore some of the area.

6. I haven't laughed so often in such a short amount of time or felt so welcomed as a visitor in a home in such a long time. I can't wait to go back!

Dinner on Monday at the BEST pizza place ever in downtown Phoenix.

Sydney was quite the photographer as she did a photo shoot for Maylene and I!
My new little buddy...