Molly's first day of Preschool

My baby started preschool today. She was so excited to go to school at Miss Roxann's. It's all she's talked about for weeks. When it came right down to the time to leave the house for school, she was scared and didn't want me to leave her.

As soon as we got there, she saw 2 of her friends and she was all excited again. She hugged me and told me "bye!".

I am no longer a "young mom".

I have no little toddlers at home. There are no more babies to come..........

I have graduated to the "old mom" stage of life.

I remember envying the "older moms". I remember thinking, "Oh I can't wait to not have to chase after my toddler. I can't wait to NOT smell like spit up. I can't wait to not have to slip out of the party/dinner/Disneyland/church/etc to nurse! I can't wait for my kids to be more independent......"

Now that I am here to "this" point, I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Creepy Old Cat Lady

You know those creepy old maids who never got married and they just live with a bunch of cats. They pet them all day long and love to hear them purr. They talk about their cats like someone talks about their children. They buy cat toys and think that the kittens are "just so darling" when they play with the toys....... You know THOSE people? The sort of weird ones.....

I AM TOTALLY ONE OF THOSE CREEPY CAT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Long story in a nut shell. Remember my post back in May when I posted that I got a "darling" new kitten named Panther? Well sadly, my brother in law (I don't want to name names but it was SCOTT) accidentally backed over him and broke his right leg and broke his left pelvis. So we had to put him down. Jens and I bawled like babies in the vets office. It was pathetic. We took him home in a box and buried him in the backyard. Two months later..... much to Jeff's DISMAY and DISAPPROVAL, I got a darling new little kitten! Her name is Peaches and she has the prettiest pale blue eyes! We love her!

Carrot Zucchini Cake

Carrot Zucchini Cake

4 Eggs

2 cups Sugar

*Beat together

1 cup Oil

*Add oil and mix in

2 1/2 cups Flour

2 tsp. Baking Soda

2 tsp. Baking Powder

2 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Allspice

1 tsp. Ginger

1 tsp. Cloves

1/2 tsp. Nutmeg

2 cups Grated Carrots

2 cups Peeled, grated Zucchini

*Pour into two 9" pans and bake on 350 for 35 minutes

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounce Cream Cheese

1/2 cup (one stick) Butter

2 tsp. Vanilla

About 2 cups Powdered Sugar

Super Easy Hair Ideas

The first idea is so simple that a kindergartner could do it. All you have to know how to do is tie!

Start out by taking a small chunk of hair and separate it into two sections and make a loose tie, just like you are going to tie your shoes. This looks best if your hair is damp. Then you won't get so many fly-aways. (I did it when her hair was dry so it's a little fuzzy)

Then just repeat the process as many times as you like.

You can just bobby pin the ends underneath your hair, or you can tie each side and connect them in the middle with a hair holder, or bring them back into a pony tail...... so many possibilities!

The next idea is just as simple. So easy that I had Sidney's friend, who is 11 years old, do the hair do while I took pictures.

Make a braid that is on the looser side. This works best when your hair is very wet. It slides easier and looks better without fly-aways.

Once you get to the bottom of the hair, hold the braid loosely with one hand and hold just the center strand with your other hand. Hold the center strand tightly.

Slide the braid up the center strand.

Once you get to the top, put a hair holder in it. That's it! So simple!

Fun in the Mud

Every time we get a heavy rain, the dirt roads in the fields across from our house fill up and make these giant mud puddles. Jens and his friends went four wheeling through them a couple weeks ago when I wasn't home. I was so sad that Jeff hadn't taken any pictures of them. So yesterday when they decided to go four wheeling through them again, I tagged along with my camera in hand!

Now this is a WALL of water!

This picture is my favorite! I love each of their expressions! Especially Jensy's.

Each one of them wanted a turn driving. After about 2 puddles, they decided to loose their shirts. The muddy water would just run down from their hair, down their faces, and down to their stomachs. Then they would laugh and laugh and say, "Let's do it again!" Boys and mud.

This picture is my other favorite. This wall of mud is picture perfect!

I brought out some shampoo and told them to just wash with the hose. Good thing it was a hot day!

I was trying to take a picture of Jens and Cooper's ears. They were filled mud. Nick popped up in the middle of them and his expression is the best! It says just how much fun they had!

Happy Anniversary to ME!

For my 16th wedding anniversary this year I booked a trip to Atlanta. I have always wanted to go there. After I got the trip all scheduled and booked, Jeff sprung it on me that he would not be able to make it because he had "too much work to do". Soooooo..... I called my dearest friend Allison and invited her to come along. No need for me to not have fun still right?!

Alli lives in Phoenix so we met in Atlanta. The first night we were there I told her that we HAD to go to Turner Field to watch the Braves play the Cubs. But they were sold out so instead we went to eat at a place called Fat Matt's BBQ Shack. It has been featured on Food Network. It was good but not my favorite.

We had the best 4 days!

We had fun driving around neighborhood after neighborhood just looking at houses and the sprawling yards. I loved the yards!

And I loved all the greenery! Alli lives in Phoenix, so between she and I, we both live in deserts. I really don't why I STILL live in UTAH!

One of the days we spent at the Atlanta Aquarium. It was the best aquarium! It was HUGE! If you ever get to Atlanta, you have to go here. The dolphin tanks were really neat.

They would jump out of the tank and come splashing back down in. They would come right up to the glass and look at you and then do flips. They were so fun to watch.

There was so much to see! So many fish, alligators, otters, etc.

There was also a tank with 4 Beluga Whales. They were fun to watch too! They had me intrigued forever!

At the aquarium, they have a place where you can scuba dive with them. Cool huh!

On Sunday we took a helicopter ride over the city. It was really neat but I got a little queasy.

I loved all the views from the air.

We flew over Stone Mountain, which is the largest exposed piece of granite in the northern hemisphere.

After the heli ride, we went shopping at this underground mall. It is underneath the subway system. Then we went to see the movie The Help, which has just come out. The movie was awesome to see! It was a sold out crowd. I loved the book but watching the movie there was really a neat experience. Then we did a little shopping and then had dinner at this delicious place called Copeland's Cheesecake Bristo. It was fabulous!

We split this appetizer that was lump crab meat, craw fish, and cheeses............ Oh My! It was DELICIOUS!!! Then I had crab cakes for dinner. Heaven found!

We stopped by this chocolate shop called Kilwin's. If you have ever been to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, it's just like that only on steroids.

Chocolate dipped apples, Oreo's, Twinkies, rice crispies, short bread, you name it!

Thanks Alli for coming with me! It was one of the most fun anniversary's I have ever been on!