It was time for a Mommy Day!

Every Saturday is "Daddy Day". We look forward to it all week and we try to fill the day with fun. Well, I'm sure that most of you can relate with me when I say I was tired of being the nagging, disciplining mom. I was tired of being the mean stepmother and Patrick being the handsome prince. So - last week Katelyn and I had a "Mommy Day".

We began the day by going bowling with several of our friends from our ward. It was so much fun. We then picked up a couple of Happy Meals from McDonalds and headed to Chicago.

We went to the Museum of Science and Industry where we only saw the things that Katelyn wanted to! We watched baby chicks hatch, we pretended to drive John Deere tractors, we played in water, but the best part of the museum was. . .

. . .when we stopped at the old fashioned Main Street for an ice cream sundae.

Yes, we ate it all!

We were able to pick up my cousin, Kaylie, who was in Chicago and went to the American Girl store and my favorite restaurant - The Grand Lux - for dinner. What a fun day!

SIX Months!

He is as sweet and good-natured as the day he was born!

FAVORITES:
Eating, splashing in the bath, sleeping, cuddling with mom, pulling Katelyn's hair, giggling, smiling, and eating some more

I'll do my best to not let him become too much of a mommy's boy, but I sure do love this little guy!

(I might be a little tainted by the fact that he has yet to hit me, throw a temper tantrum in the middle of a store, call me "stupid mom", or throw his food on the floor because it wasn't cut up just right - not that Katelyn would do any of those things!)

Little Performer

Katelyn loves to sing and she'll sing for anyone! I often joke that her life is a musical.

The other day she came to me holding the Primary Children's Songbook turned to the page with a picture of the temple and said, "Mom, I found my favorite song. I need you to play it for me so I can sing." She learned this song while in Rexburg this year because to get to Grandma Laurie's house you pass the new Rexburg Temple and she would sing it EVERY time we passed.

I had to share because it really is sweet (and because I'm pretty proud that she's still in Nursery and knows all the words!) I'm just sorry that we didn't record it so you didn't have to see me! :)

Zucchini

If any of you planted zucchini this year, there's a strong possibility that it is currently coming out of your ears! Personally, my hopes of having tons of zucchini were dashed by the family of bunnies that live in our backyard, but thanks to our friends, Shane & Meredith, I was able to get my hands on a couple of large zucchini.

SO - the reason I bring this up at all is because I have a recipe that needs sharing in the event that you might have an extra zucchini on your hands. I actually shred and freeze mine so I can make this recipe all year long! This is the best chocolate cake recipe I have ever made!

CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE (seriously you had to know it had something to do with chocolate)
From Aunt Marilyn

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup oil
2 cups zucchini, peeled and grated
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and bake for 25-35 minutes at 350 or until toothpick comes out clean. Frost with favorite chocolate frosting. (I use Betty Crocker instead of making my own!)

Hope you enjoy!

Today. . .

I realize that I have an entire summer worth of updating to do, BUT . . . I didn't want to let today go by without shouting out. . .

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, PATRICK!!!

I, for one, am thrilled to welcome you into the 30-something crowd! Thanks for being such a wonderful husband & father! We love you!!!

Hurry home! Here's what's waiting for you. . .

. . .presents that Katelyn can hardly keep from opening - even though she wrapped them herself using an entire roll of tape, AND. . .




. . . two really cute kids who can't wait to have a birthday party! In fact, they are both napping in preparation for the big event (you'd think it was my birthday)!

Katelyn says. . .

This morning I have been busily trying to get packed for a trip and also trying to get the house cleaned for my sister to come back with us for a visit. Of course, Katelyn isn't cooperating!

From downstairs I heard something going on upstairs so I called, "Katelyn, what are you doing up there?"

Katelyn: I can't tell you.

Mom: Are you getting in trouble?

Katelyn: Nope, not yet. In a minute though.

THANKS FOR THE WARNING!!!


This is a fun picture of her with her new scooter that her friend, Erin, from Rexburg gave her for her birthday. Of course she is in jammies!

Katelyn says. . .Friday

My friend, Mandy, is one of my blogging inspirations! Every Friday she does a "Flashback Friday" and I look forward to reading them every week. So - I thought I would copy her and indulge in a "Katelyn says. . ." Friday. It's probably more for my record keeping than for anything else, but they are pretty funny!

My First Food post!

Rarely do I cook (ok. . .I could end the sentence here) something that is worthy of taking a picture and posting, but I was so excited about our Father's Day dessert that I had to share.

Patrick loves cinnamon rolls, but I wasn't in the mood to cook all day so I found this recipe on Erin's cooking blog. It's called Cinnabon Cake! It was really yummy and looked good enough to take a picture of!

One word of caution - because cinnamon rolls can be easily justified as a breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert item, you might find yourself eating the entire thing bite by bite like I did!

My Sweet, Sweet Baby Boy

Just so we can remember that we really do have two children now, I thought I would post some pictures of Jake! He is as sweet as ever. Right now his 3 year old sister cries and whines a lot more than he does. He is getting more fun everyday as he smiles and laughs and notices the craziness that is going on around him. I told Patrick the other day that I wish I could freeze him right at this age because he is so sweet and so cuddly. Patrick, on the other hand, isn't opposed to him getting a older, mobile, and able to grip a golf club.

The poor kid still sleeps in a pack & play. We haven't set up his crib because we still need his room to be a guest room. He is touching both ends of the pack & play so the move to the crib will be shortly. Also, please don't turn me in to CPS, but he wakes up the very second I lay him down on his back or side but will sleep for hours on his tummy. SO - desperation says he sleeps on his tummy!
Still chubby and I think he's trying to lean away from Katelyn who was trying to steal the corner of his picture!

We bought this double running/biking stroller with Katelyn hoping we would soon have another child. I'm not sure how much he likes it right now, but he pretends to! (Yes, Katelyn is wearing a nightgown and pajama pants in the middle of an 85 degree day!)

Saturday Adventure

We finally had a Saturday with no storms so we had an "adventure". We went to a place called Morton Arboretum. There was a HUGE children's garden where Katelyn was able to run, splash, climb, and play.

What a fun day!





This was a tadpole pond that the kids could wade in and catch tadpoles. I'm not sure if you can tell, but Katelyn has the funniest look of astonishment on her face. What a good dad to catch tadpoles. Needless to say, mom didn't make it into the tadpole pond!



You might wonder if we take Jake on any of our "adventures". The answer is - yes, we do - he is just such a good baby that he hangs out in his stroller and doesn't make a peep so his picture doesn't get taken often!