Our Iowa Trip: Summer 2013

Summer is over in most of the country, but here in Phoenix it always feels like summer. This past summer we took our family vacation in July. We traveled back to Iowa where all of my immediate family lives. (brothers, sister, mom, step-dad, etc.) It's been almost two years since we've been back in Iowa. We made the trip for a couple reasons; one we miss family and two, most of my family hasn't met little Zane yet so we need to remedy that before he's a year old. 

My parents live in the country. Outside a small rural town. It's where I grew up, my family moved back to Iowa when I was 4 years old. They haven't always lived in the country but they moved there when I was in college and have lived there for the last ten years. 

There's something beautiful, simple about home that I love. Here's a little peek into where they live. 



There was a lot of swimming in Grandma & Grandpa's pool. There were trips to the Farmer's Market, eating at my fave local pizza place. There were simple nights around the camp fire, catching fireflies. Ava was so excited about these fireflies, catching them in jars and seeing them light up was a high light for her. We don't have them in Arizona. 

There's something special Midwest Summers. 




My brothers & sister. A serious picture is always most followed by a silly picture. That's just us. My brothers are six and eight years younger than me, my sister and I are 11 months apart. It's hard being so far away from them at times, but I am thankful for trips like these.



Another high light of my trip was a day trip we took just over the border to Minnesota to see some of our friends and their babies. I'm so thankful for these girls that made the trip with their kiddos, to see me. My friend Jessie (to my right) is pregnant with #3 and her Hubby and Orion are really good friends. I love that we all got to see each other. 




Trip to the Zoo with my cousins and their kids, and my Aunt. My cousin Jeff is 10 years older than me, his wife Stacy I have known since I was in elementary school, she used to baby sit us. Now, here we are all these years later bringing all of our kiddos (second cousins to each other) to the zoo together. 




This trip was so fun! Seven days at home with family, to recharge and to reconnect. I love going home where things slow down, things are simple. It's a refreshing break from life. 



Swimming with Grandma & photo bombs my cousins! I can't wait to head back for Christmas. Ava is excited about snow and making snowmen with Grandma. The countdown is only a few more months. 

My Trip to Minneapolis

I realized that I hadn't yet shared about my Minneapolis trip, it was a whirlwind weekend filled with a lot of things but it was a lot of fun too! It was my first ever solo trip sans the baby and my Husband I've taken since Ava was born. Truth be told I wasn't nervous at all about leaving, I know my Husband is more than capable of taking care of her and holding things down here at home. So it made me leaving for the weekend a little less stressful.

I had an early morning flight on the 17th, which with the time zone change ended up being later in Minneapolis. When I stepped off the plane and into the airport a funny feeling hit me that this wasn't my home anymore. A city where I spent the better part of seven years was no longer home, but very familiar to me. The truth is it'll always be apart of me, and it'll always feel a little bit like home.

My friend Jessie picked me up and we headed to lunch. I spent the rest of the weekend soaking up as much time with Jessie and her family {they are some of our best friends} kinda wishing that Orion and Ava were with me during this time. Running back and forth to Miss Minnesota events {since that's what I came for} and then Saturday I got to have lunch with some amazing ladies.

I miss these girls a lot. It's been hard for me here to form friendships, I miss my friends every day. So getting to spend just a little time with them and catch up was such a blessing. They are the kind of friends who when you see each other again you just fall right back into where you left off. They each mean something different to me, and I am so thankful and grateful to call each of them friend. Jessie I saw in February, but the other three I hadn't seen since last year when I was in Minneapolis for my baby shower. It was long over due.

Thanks girls for coming to see me and spend the afternoon with me! I miss you all more than I can say, but so thankful to have seen you. Let's all plan a vacation for you to come to Arizona next, I think that sounds like fun! 

Next up, pageant deets!

Our First Family Vacation

My week has completely gotten away from me with this whole working Mom thing, right after we got back from vacation I started back to work on Monday. So this week has been crazy as we settle into a new routine and try to make the most of this situation while although completely not ideal in any way. 

We'd anticipated taking vacation during the holidays but that didn't work out like we'd planned and so we took a vacation at the end of October to Lake Havasu City, (LHC) Arizona. Home of Lake Havasu & The London Bridge. 

The founder of LHC bought the bridge and brought it back to the US when it was sinking in London centuries ago. So there's a big piece of history right smack dab in the middle of the Colorado River. The first day there we walked the bridge, took pictures and ate at this little local place with the best fries ever! 

 We checked into our hotel, got settled and did some more sight seeing around the city. Which included driving around the city and seeing some really beautiful scenery. We ended up spending the rest of the evening relaxing in our hotel room after a really long drive up there that day. 

Day 2, we mostly spent at the hotel pool, swimming, catching some sun, and relaxing. Much of this vacation was really low key and relaxing. Which was good, because it's just what we needed together before the craziness of our new schedule set in. 

Later that night we went to this little restaurant on the river, and I had the best salmon ever that night! YUM! I'd been craving some good seafood since we got there and this little local place hit the spot. We called it an early night, Orion wanted to watch the game so we headed back to the hotel and Ava and I chilled and Orion watched the game. 

Day 3, we spent the day at the lake. It was chilly that day, not so great for swimming. But, we took pictures, and collected shells and rocks. I sat and read a book for a really long time, and then we headed back to the hotel and did a little more swimming in the pool. 

Ava finally fits into the little swim suit I picked up for her when she was first born. She did great living in a hotel for a few days, riding in a car for more than an hour and was all around a great little traveler! 

Day 4, we packed up that morning and headed on our 3.5 hour drive home. We took our time though that day and rolled back into Phoenix around 2 pm. Just enough time to unpack, do laundry, and still have a large part of the day left. 

This vacation marks the first of many Worley House vacations. I'm already dreaming of where we'll go next. Mostly I'm looking forward to making more special memories with my sweet family, taking the time to be together is really important for us both, and just getting away for a time to refresh and recharge as a family and with each other! 

We had a great first vacation, I can't wait for next year in Oregon! 

{DIY} Vacation Momentos

One of our easy ways to preserve our vacation memories besides taking lots and lots of pictures and making albums is to write the places we've been, and the date on a rock we've found from that place. 

We've collected rocks from the various trips we've taken since we've been married. He's a little look at some rocks we scooped up off the lake this vacation.

A little sharpie action and wha-lah! 

You have a easy, super cheap, way to remember your vacation! 

We've got quite the collection going and they look pretty sweet sitting on our mantle, in a centerpiece on our table, and where ever else we place them. 

What ways do you preserve your vacation memories?!???

Be Creative Challenge

Week #42

Family Vacations

Some of my favorite memories as a kid were our family vacations, road trips in the car with my siblings playing "Eye Spy", flights with my sister to California getting our first "wings." Orion and I have had some pretty fun vacations together, now that we're parents I look forward to planning and taking Ava and our future children on vacations and creating memories as a family. 

Now that we live in the West, I'm looking forward to trips and vacations to California and Nevada and other really cool locations that the West Coast boasts! Showing Ava and Orion where I grew up in California is for sure on the list of things to do someday. 

We're taking our first family vacation in a couple days, a little mini road trip (3 and a half hours), spending a little quality time together! 

For me, since I'm the planner of the Worley House a lot goes into picking a vacation spot that just getting out the map and picking a location. Like most of you I'm sure, time, when, where, budget, things to do, and travel all go into the decision making process of where to plan on going for your vacations & family vacations. 

For us, budget is the #1 thing we consider. It allows us to determine pretty much right away where we're going to go, where we're going to stay, flying or by car, taking in how much we want to spend. We haven't been on a BIG vacation since our honeymoon, everything else has been very local or just a crossing of a state border. 

#2 we generally like to go places where there's tons of stuff to do, and by stuff I mean free stuff. Sights to see, places to walk or shop, stuff that we can do cheap, free or in an affordable way. For us vacations aren't really about spending a lot of money on doing extra things they are about doing things together. This helps cut our costs a lot too since we're spending money on things already like food & lodging. 

And, now that we have a baby to consider everything really has to be family friendly or stuff that we can do, or places that we can go with a baby in mind. Ava is a really good traveler, she did great flying back to Iowa this past summer, and she's gone 1 and a half hours in the car already. So we're not to worried about the trip and how she'll travel. When we traveled to Iowa there was a lot that we didn't bring because I wanted to keep it as low key as possible since I'd be traveling alone with her. We brought just enough diapers to get us through the plane ride and bought the rest once I got there. Had my Mom get us a car seat so I didn't have to bring mine, already had a stroller there so I didn't need to bring that... you get the idea.

This time though we have to bring everything for her. And when I say bring everything I really don't know what that means besides the obvious clothing, diapers and pac n play since I haven't even started packing for her yet. 

So you may be asking yourself, why is she rambling on and on? This brings me to the point of this post....

What are some of your best traveling with a baby in a car for 3.5 hours tips?

What are your tips for vacations with a baby or kids? 

C'mon help a girl out and dish out all your best travel tips and family vacation tips! Here's what to keep in mind:

- she's 7 months old.

- we're taking a road trip, a short 3.5 hours.

- we're staying in a hotel.

Yup, I think that's it! While I wait for your tips and tricks from all you seasoned parents I leave you with two adorable videos of Ava to help get you in the spirit! 

Mucho thanks in advance! 

Our Iowa Trip

It was a lot of fun to be able to go home and surprise most of my family, my sister had the best reaction out of all of them when I surprised her at work. From there the next 9 days were filled with lots of family time, swimming, and hanging out with friends. 

Being able to go home was just what I needed. I'm so thankful that my Parents flew me home for the week to be with them. Ava met a lot of family for the first time, they all loved her and she loved them!

I was a little nervous about flying for the first time with her, I didn't know what to expect. And at many times I wanted to take to the blog world to seek your advice but I couldn't or else it would have for sure ruined the surprised. 

She did great! I strapped her into the baby Infantino carrier that we had and we trolled through security and through the airport like I was a Kangaroo and she was my Joey! 

She slept through the first flight and woke up on the second just in time for me to feed her. She hardly made a peep, and many of the passengers commented that they didn't even know that there was a baby on board. That made me all sorts of proud that she did so well, and didn't bother anyone. 

Ava swam at Grandma & Grandpa's for the very first time. I got her a little shaded floating ring, and she kicked and squealed the whole time, I think she likes the water. 

It was so fun for me to be able to hang out with my family, go to lunch with my Sisters, Mom and Auntie. There was so schedule, no plans, just us and family doing what we do best loving on each other. 

I hit up some of my favorite eatery places at home, there's a few places you have to eat at that you can't get anywhere else. 

My friend Lisa came from Mason City, IA and met me for the day and I got to meet her sweet baby boy Cooper!

The girls traveled from Minnesota for the weekend to come visit us and meet Ava for the first time. It was my first time as well meeting my friend Jessie's sweet boy Jimmy. 

It was so good to see them, I didn't want them to leave and truth be told I didn't want to leave. It was so hard saying good-bye to my family this time. But, I'm so thankful for the time that we got to spend with them while we were home. 

Ava and I had a great trip. 

When we got to the airport to leave to come back to Arizona, they told me my connecting flight was delayed an hour. That put my lay over with Ava at 4 hours. I didn't know what I was going to do in Denver for 4 hours, the amazing lady at the United Airlines counter found me an earlier flight and put me on the stand by list. 

With no guarantee that I'd make the flight via stand by, I prayed and hoped that I could make it from one gate to the next and get on that flight putting us home at 8:30 pm instead of 12 am! The two flights were so close together that we had to rush getting off one plane to make the connecting one. 

We got to the gate, and I was #1 on the stand by list and I had to wait a bit, but we got on the earlier flight. I fed Ava, and she slept the whole flight home. 

We are happy to be home with Orion again, we sure missed him! 

Ava made the trip so easy, I'm looking forward to flying and traveling with her again really soon. Ok, well not really soon but at least I know what to expect this next time around. 

Surprise!

You may have noticed if you follow me on Twitter, that I am in Iowa!

Surprise! A couple weeks ago my Mom called me and offered to fly me & Ava home to surprise my family who hadn't met Miss Ava yet! I jumped at the chance, and kept a good secret from all my family for the the last two weeks. (I have the best video of my Sister's reaction, I'll post later)

We're finally here and have been enjoying the last 4 days with them. I'm so excited to be home and get to spend some time with them. I'll be a little M.I.A for the next couple days while I'm home. No blogging, or Internet for me. I'm just going to enjoy these few days I get to spend with them, lunching with family, swimming in the pool, BBQs, laughing and loving this time.

Just wanted to let all you readers out there know what's up, and that I haven't totally fell off the face of the earth. I'll be back soon with stories and pictures of Ava's first plane ride, and all kinds of cuteness from our trip!

Stay tuned, hope you're having a fabulous week like we are!!!

Trip Home to Iowa

Our trip home to Iowa was a lot of fun, it was great to see family & friends and spend time with them. The week home was jam packed with tons of things to do between the baby shower and wedding festivities it was busy! But, so much fun.

Monday, I went to lunch with my Sister and future Sister in Law. We let my brother come along too. It was fun to get to spend some time together before the wedding. We also worked on wedding favors that day.

Tuesday, we had a BIG birthday bash for my other brother who turns 19 this week. I'm glad we could celebrate with him while we were home.

Wednesday, was my baby shower in IA that my Sister & Mom hosted for me. More to come on that later (with pictures)

Thursday, was low key hanging out and finishing up wedding stuff before the weekend wedding stuff hit.

Friday, we got up early and decorated the reception hall and church. Orion flew in, and we had the rehearsal and dinner for my Brother Sam and his fiance Jess.

Saturday, was the wedding of the year! That deserves a post all it's own! More to come.

Sunday, we woke up had breakfast together and then Sam & Jessie opened their wedding gifts. We spent the afternoon together before heading to the airport. Our flight to Dallas was delayed due to fog which made our layover only 30 minutes. We got into Phoenix around 8:45 pm, came home and pretty much crashed! I unpacked, and started to put away and wash all the baby stuff we got. And then we both headed to bed!

We had such a good week! It was awesome to see family. I miss them, and am trying my best to talk them all into moving West to AZ! But, it does make the times we see them all the more special and memorable!

I was thinking this trip would be the last time I see them until Ava is born. Crazy to think, but I'll be excited for visitors come March!

Here's some pictures from the week, to see more click here.

Sam & Jessie just days before getting hitched!

Late night snowmobile ride!

Eating lunch at Taylor's Maid-Rite

Happy 19th Birthday Shawn!

Mom & I at lunch at Applebees!

Trip to Minnesota

I've been super excited for my trip back to Minnesota this winter, not because of cold & the snow but because I knew that it would be a chance to reunite with my dearest friends and college roomies. It's been about 8 months since we've all been together, so this trip was extra special. We all have children now (well, Ava's on her way) and it's just a really neat stage of life to see everyone in.

I got in Thursday afternoon, it was snowing and cold. Met Eunice at her work and then we headed to her house. She graciously opened her home to me. Friday, we picked up our friend Becky and her son Chaz to spend the day together. And then much to my surprise our friend Sara came all the way from Wisconsin to surprise me for my baby shower this weekend. I didn't think she was coming and so it was an awesome surprise. They are all very sneaky. :)

My friend Jessie came over Friday night too! We're both pregnant, about 8 weeks apart. She's having a little boy and I'm having a girl; we've already arranged a marriage between our unborn children!

I had such an amazing trip to MN, and it was so fun to see friends and lots and lots of people that I love. There are days when I wished we all still lived closer, but I'm so blessed and thankful for the chance to come visit and spend these last few days with them.

This morning, I'm headed to Iowa to spend the next week with my family as we prepare for my little Brother's wedding! Such exciting things already, what a great way to kick off 2010 but with a wedding! I can tell already that 2010 is going to be a great year, quite possibly my favorite!

Here's some pictures of our 4 days together:

Becky & Sara

Me & Becky

Ellie with her "movie goggles" on

All of us and our children, I can't wait for Ava to be in this picture!

Sara & Macie

Me & Macie

Eunice

Becky & Chaz

The ladies doing some serious construction on a diaper cake

Macie Jill

Macie & Isabelle (they are about a month apart)

Chaz taking pictures of Isabelle

Post & pictures from my Minnesota Baby Shower coming soon!!

Eric & Meliessa's Wedding

Do you ever go to a wedding and just feel the love, and know that these two were made for each other? This was that kinda wedding!

My first and only attempt at match making, ended up in success this past weekend with the marriage of our really good friends Eric & Meliessa to each other. Eric is one of Orion's really great friends, they were roommates and Eric was in our wedding too. I became friends with Eric through my husband and the 3 of us have hung out so much, shared a lot together and a lot of laughs. Enter Meliessa, my husband met Meliessa when they were both in Masters Commission together in Florida for 3 years. I met Meliessa through her sister Sara, who just happens to be my BFF and former college roomie. It's a small world we live in.

Sara and I started dreaming about two years ago how perfect we thought the two would be together. Since that day, we started dreaming up ways to get the two together to hang out whenever we could. The result; soon they started dating, fell in love and now are getting married!

Orion and I couldn't be more happy for two people. It's so awesome when two great people find each other, and it's just PERFECT!! The wedding was so emotional, beautiful and magical! You have to really know the two to understand just what I'm saying. There's no two better people that could have found each other than Eric & Meliessa.

Congrats you guys we love you and are so thankful that we could be apart of your special day!

Bride & Groom

Me & Sara; matchmakers!

Yeah! They are married!

Us with the happy couple!

Me and Orion

Travel Light & Travel Right

My husband and I love traveling, we haven't taken a BIG trip probably since we got married and went on our honeymoon. But, in the last year we've made short week(end) trips to Las Vegas, Sacramento, Kansas, Dallas, Phoenix and of coarse home to Iowa.

Since the new laws of the airports are changing our traveling ways have also changed. I haven't payed for checked luggage in almost a year. If you going on a couple weeks vacation over seas or on a cruise I can see checking luggage, but for week trips and weekend flights packing in our carry on is doable! We've been doing this all year so far, and at first I wasn't all about it. I wanted the option to bring whatever I wanted that would fit into my suitcase and not over 50lbs. I wanted every comfort of home when I travel. But, I must admit I love not paying for luggage and even though it forces me to plan a little more for my trips I love not having an excess of stuff.

Here's some Worley House tips for Traveling Right & Traveling Light:

*Have a regulation size carry on, you don't want those angry airport people telling you that you have to check your bags after you get on your flight. I love hard case luggage because they throw your luggage around so much, it helps protect your stuff. Invest once in great luggage, it'll last forever. And if you plan on always packing this way, then just invest in 1 piece. It's cheaper.
*Remember the 3 oz. rule when traveling. Have all your toiletries in 3 oz. containers in a quart size clear bag. You can buy these containers anywhere, Wal-Mart, The Container Store or Storables just to name a few. No more spending money on travel shampoos that you aren't going to use all of it anyway. This way you can refill them and save money.

*Most hotels have pretty much everything you need these days. Call ahead and make sure you're room has an iron and board, a blow dryer and anything else you think you might need that you don't want to pack. It will help save room in that suitcase.

*Plan outfits ahead of time. This is the one that kills me every time, but if you plan what you're going to wear you won't over pack. I always bring a couple extra pairs or underwear, socks, or lounge pants just in case. I always bring a bag for laundry, your hotel also will have these bags if you don't want to bring them.

We're traveling this weekend, we're headed up to Wisconsin for a friends wedding. We will be carrying on and not checking luggage at all. I'm off to start my packing & planning....................

What tips do you have for when you travel?

HAPPY TRAVELS!!!

Arizona Vacay 2009

Orion and I spent 4th of July weekend in beautiful, sunny Arizona! It was a dual purpose trip of interviewing and seeing friends. We got up early Saturday morning and headed to Phoenix stepped off the plane into over 100 degree heat! Gorgeous! We had a great weekend, and didn't want to come back to Minnesota!

We spent our vacation pool side most of the time!

Watching 4th of July fireworks!

Miss these girls, it's been way to long since I've seen them!

Maupin's & Worley's....we have great friends!