From Denver to Provo, with Rexburg in Between

Spanning the length of the city, the 16th Street Mall was my favorite place in Denver. Every temp job but one took me within walking distance to the Mall, and there I went for most lunches. Window shopping galore, street musicians (trombone quartet was the best) good smells everywhere, and boy, what atmosphere! My favorite spot on the Mall was Mici's, an italian pizzaria. SO GOOD!

I added some necessities to my possessions in Denver, such as a bed, so this move required a trailer. I could only go 55mph pulling it, but I like driving, so I didn't mind the extra time. There was scary driving in Wyoming, and the trailer seemed to have it's own mind in the strong winds, but I got to Provo in good shape. A friend is storing my bed and desk in her garage, but everything else is with me in my tiny room.

UNpacking was a bit of a challenge. I don't need to add much to what my rommates already have out in the kitchen and living room, so I had to bring out only what I'll be using and store the rest under the beds and in the closets. My poor Cello Chair lives in the closet now.

My room from the parking lot. I try to get the spot in front of my window to give myself some added privacy...and to prevent the guy with the big loud stinky F250 from parking there. I am excited that my plants will have light from the window! I got NO direct sun in Denver. blech. I hope they perk up.

So here I am, back in the Utah Valley, living in Provo, where I was born. Gee. I felt all brave and intrepid for spending a year in Denver, but I haven't really gone anywhere. That's okay. I'll find new favorite places. I'm following Heavenly Father's directions and have total confidence being in his hands. I feel optimistic and excited to see what my time in Provo will bring. Meanwhile, the time I spent in Rexburg with my little sister's family brought the best thing EVER!!

A new neice!! She's gorgeous!  Decidedly as gorgeous as Zuki was:

They look so different to me, but similarities are there. I see a lot of Natalie in Malaika.

Yep. Compare those cute noses. (This is one week before Malaika's arrival.) Natalie started looking bigger, then her belly started looking lower...and all our hopes grew higher!

I spent most of my time in Rexburg playing with Zuki. She is so much fun! Interested in everything, always asking asking asking question after question. She helped me do my hair and makeup most mornings, pulling everything out of my makeup kit to try each item in order. Her favorite was my lipstick and chapstick.  Once or twice I even got a turn to play with her hair.

Those beads didn't stay wound around her ponytail very long.  She loves to walk around with her beads hanging from her hair saying it's Rapunzel hair, and often sings "I whip my hair back and forth" while doing just that...I learned to protect my face. She got that from this music video. (She also asks if she can dip her "hair" in paint.)

She's so pretty! What a profile. I loved this hairdo, but it didn't make it through the morning.

Bath time! A good old stand by for operation Keep Zuki in One Place. Baths served as a good distraction too, when she was missing her parents while they were at the hospital.

We played a LOT of "Cooties." The pink is her favorite, with the skates, the hat, and the pretty eyes. Heaven help you if you pick one of those before she does. Actually, she shared very well.

Hide and Seek... something she could do all day long.

Lots of reading...

or trying to read. Sometimes books are just too heavy. Or your seat is just too weird.

I buried her in her stuffed animals most days. She'd just sit for a while, then POP out. Then ask to be buried again.

Zuki had her first cello lesson. (I just LOVE her concetrating face.) She liked it, and even asked to play again a few times.

Of course, our main activity was making "Zuki Videos." I can't help it. My camera is an extension of my brain, I think. I have too much fun with it...and Zuki has too much fun watching them afterwards. There were a few tantrums when it came time to turn them off. Uh oh. But hey...she'll sit still to watch them, and sitting still is good. Really good. Zuki Videos work for doing hair, too.

Another failed hairdo attempt by Aunt Dwynnie. She pretty much frieked out when she realized that she couldn't hook her beads on anything. My bad. She got pom-poms instead.

I loved being there to help welcome a new baby home, and to watch this little family grow. I hope I was useful to Natalie and Mo. The baby came on the day I was originally planning to leave, as I was praying she would. I loved staying home with Zuki. I soaked up every minute as I took her to the hospital to see Malaika. I got to take her shopping for a present for Malaika; Took her home again and tried to give her some dinner...

A hot dog did the trick, with the promise of a cookie if she ate the whole half. She did. To my suprise. Three year olds are hard!! I am so impressed with Natalie. It's a wonder how she gets things done, her kid and herself dressed, fed, and the house clean. She does it all. I will be all the more impressed when she still does it with Malaika! I'm stressed out just imagining it. She says I got a glimpse into motherhood.

I love these people! I am ever so grateful that they were willing to put me up for those two weeks! For my part, I wouldn't change anything. I loved feeling home among them. I wish them every good thing.