Dancing Queen

I'm posting this video purely to provide Patrick some comic relief in the middle of a busy day.

I recorded this video of our little dancer when she didn't know I was in the room. Now - this is talent that just can't be taught! :)

All "Grewed" Up

Yesterday was Katelyn's first day of preschool and she couldn't have been more ready or more excited!

5:30 am - Katelyn wakes up to exclaim that she "grewed" during the night and is ready to go to preschool

8:30 am - Katelyn, Jake, and I had all miraculously showered AND had breakfast with little drama. (That's quite a feat considering mom isn't a morning person!)

8:35 am - Katelyn makes a phone call to her dad and also to wake up her Grandma Laurie (7:35 her time) to exclaim that she is ready to go!

8:40 am - We're out of here and actually going to be on time. (Another feat!)

Isn't she pretty with her new Ariel "packpack"?

Mom, seriously, you can leave now!

We have been preparing for this day for a long time. We have tried to teach manners, obedience, socialization, etc. She was totally prepared and thrilled to be there. She couldn't wait for me to leave and she didn't understand why some kids were crying.

One problem - we failed to prepare me! I tried to be so brave. I had no idea that walking away from her classroom would reduce me to mush. Don't get me wrong - I'm excited for the free time, it's not like I have never left her before, and I'm sure that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I wasn't prepared for the overwhelming feelings of wanting to keep my little girl little.

I'm sure today is the first of many years of tears! I just hope the mothers who were handling it better than I was didn't notice the tears that were leaking out from behind my sunglasses!

Last Fling Weekend

We just celebrated our LAST FLING (Labor Day weekend)! Our city has a little fair called Last Fling which is so fitting because we are getting ready to hibernate for the winter! We met Patrick Friday after work and went to the fair. So dirty, so greasy, and so fun!

Katelyn won this great prize from the duck pond. It even squeaks -YIPEE!!!

She wanted to try out the jumper! She was so proud of herself that she wasn't even scared.
(She might have been a little more scared if she had seen the woman behind her.)

Saturday we went to the zoo and had a blast. THEY touched stingrays (it's not likely that you will ever see a picture of me touching an animal!)

Yes, Jake was there too! Isn't he cute!

Katelyn loved the kids zoo, but her favorites were the monkeys and elephants.


SATURDAY NIGHT AND A MYSTERY VISITOR!

Saturday night we went to dinner with some friends. Some friends of ours had a weekend visitor (old mission companion) that happened to be a friend of mine from Rexburg! We went to dinner and then came back to our house for some ice cream and played Rock Bank like teenagers! SO FUN!

Can any of my Rexburg friends name the man with the mic?

We rock!

Mystery guest = Andrew Hill and his wife Andrea

Cause for Celebration

We are always looking for a reason to celebrate so we celebrated the release of the new Ariel movie! Reason enough - right?

Katelyn and her friend Bekah baking Ariel cupcakes!

Lots of finger licking!

And then off to Walmart to buy our new movie!
Yes, we are spoiled!

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!