Summer Fun

I can't believe how fast this summer is coming to an end- I think it went so fast because it rained all through June and it didn't seem like summer. What is even crazier to me is that Brooklyn is going to be starting Kindergarten is a couple of weeks. WOW! We have back to school night on tuesday. It is crazy. We have had a fun couple of weeks- our good friend Monica and her daughter Addie were up from California and we got to spend some time with them. Brooklyn just loves Addie and couldn't get enough of her. It was super fun to see them!

Brooklyn's new favorite thing to do is hair. She loves it. She got Addie right up on the countertop and did her hair. Gracie's favorite thing to do brush her teeth. She will stand by the bathroom and door and say "eeth" over and over again until we get her a toothbrush with a little toothpaste on it.

The girls had a blast driving around in Brooklyn's princess car. Too bad I had left it turned on so the battery didn't last long. Sean was so good to push them around. Try getting the 3 of them to look at the same time. It wasn't happening.

We went to the pool on Thursday and had a great time. We only made it there twice this summer. Gracie has not been a fan of the water- but she actually had a good time and even got in. That was a major accomplishment!

HELP!

So over the 4th of July my friend talked me into running in the Ragnar Relay in Las Vegas on October 9th and 10th. I have been training really hard and looking forward to it. Last week she called me and told me that our team had basically dismantled. I am so sad! I was really looking forward to doing this. If anyone is interested in going to Vegas and participating PLEASE do it and let me know. I don't know a ton about it- but we would have a team of 12 and we run about 200 miles in 24 hours- going in shifts. You could go to http://www.ragnarrelay.com/ and check it out. Oh- each team has to come up with $1200- $100 for each member. We have missed a deadline and there is an added late fee that would put the amount to $115 each. Let me know if you are interested!

Bear Lake & Zuchinni

Over the 24th we went back up to Bear Lake for the weekend. And as usual we had a blast! My parents were there, me and the gals, and my brother Brian and his wife Sher. Brooklyn attatched herself to Sher's hip and they became BFF's. Sher did her make-up, let Brooklyn use her lip gloss, and had patience with her (which is a biggie!) I got this cute picture of them together- (minus the huge elk head in the background.) I didn't get any other pictures- sad. I wish I would have gotten a picture of Gracie and Brian together- because every time that Gracie walked by Brian she would hit him. At first she would glare at him as she did it- but then it became a game and she would just smile at him. We had such a great weekend- thanks mom and dad and Brian and Sher for a good time!

Brooklyn and my cute sister-in-law Sher

We decided to plant our first garden this year. We when planted it- I was hoping that I would get 1 thing to grow- I have got to say we have had quite the success. Our tomatoes are out of control and we have gotten 10 Zuchinni's so far. I took these pictures to try and show how big the tomato plants are campared to the gals- but it doesn't do it justice. They are as tall as me- now.

Gracie was so excited with the zuchinni and of course Brooklyn is stiking a pose of some kind

My cuties

Those are the tomatoes behind Brooklyn

So since I am going to have a TON of zuchinni- if any of you have a good zuchinni recipe will you please share it with me. And I am going to share a couple of my favorite recipes using zuchinni. I made both of these this past week and they are so good. The first one is a zuchinni casserole.

Zuchinni Casserole

Mix togther

Brown 1 lb. Hamburger

1 can Tomato soup

1 cup Minute rice

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1 Cup water

A couple handfuls of cheese

Line a 9x13 pan with zuchinni (I cut mine in fourths so they are more bite size) and pour 1/2 the mixture on it. Put some more zuchinni and then pour the rest of the mixture on it. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

My friend Karen gave me this recipe- it is a variation of the classic zuchinni bread.

Chocolate Zuchinni Bread

3 TBS Cocoa

2 cups zuchinni, grated

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup oil (I use applesauce here to make it less fattening)

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Grease 2 8x4-inch loaf pans. Mix the dry ingredients together. Beat eggs- add sugars, oil, and vanilla- beat until creamy. Add the zuchinni and stir together. Mix in the dry ingredients. Add the chocolate chips. Bake at 325 for 45-50 minutes.

Funfilled 4th!

The 4th of July in our family means a week of fun at our cabin in Bear Lake. The 4th has always been my mom's favorite holiday (and it has also become mine)- a time we can stop and think of all our freedoms and think of those who have served and our currently serving in protecting our country. I am so grateful for them. We left on the 3rd when Sean got off work and stayed until the 10th. Sean had to come down and work on the 4th, but came back up on Sunday and stayed until Thursday. It was nice that he was able to have the time off and we could spend some together! I always love going up to the cabin and just slowing down for a little bit. My parents, our family, Nat, Greg, and Garrett, the Anderson clan, and our good friend Karen were all there for the weekend and then just some of us for the rest of the week. We have outgrown the cabin so the Anderson's bring their 5th wheel trailer up. I have the best family that will help with my girls. Thank you so much for your help! We had a blast hanging out, going to the lake, the pool, Sean, my dad, and Brooklyn golfed, went for jogs and walks, watching Season 1 of 24, eating good food, and having lots of laughs. (We were having so much fun that I didn't take very many pictures.)

Grandma feels it is VERY important for the gals to have a new outfit for the 4th- and I agree! (Thanks mom for the cute dresses) Gracie spent the majority of her time pushing the lawn mower around or her favorite- the little stroller.

The golfers- Brooklyn looked so cute trying to golf. Since we got home, Sean went to the D.I. and bought her a pair of golf clubs- that she loves!

This girl keeps us on our toes. She would get too cold so she would have to put on this robe and then get wet again. The best was when she came out with the goggles on.

We found out the Gracie DOES NOT like swimming- last year when she was 7 months she couldn't get enough of it- this year she started screaming the second she got in. She did like to walk around- just not to close to the pool. Brooklyn of course loved every second of it and we couldn't get her out.

She also loved the beach. We didn't even bother taking Gracie with us because she cannot stand when anything gets on her feet. So the sand would have been a nightmare. It was windy a good share of the time we were there and as I am taking this picture I am wrapped up in 2 towels.

I think I got this visor at Yellowstone when I was Brooklyn's age- we looked over and this is how Gracie had put it on. She is also holding a cup that had to have ice in it at all times. It kept her occupied for a good share of the trip.

In Montpelier, there is an Oregon Trial center and we decided to drive over and check it out. We went on a simulated cover wagon ride. I would not have like riding in one of those bad boys.Brooklyn loved it- Gracie not so sure.

On Friday we came home straight to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. I think this is our 6th or 7th one. It is such a great event that raises money for cancer research. This is our team (minus a few) Team ABCP. I lost both of my dear Grandparents on the Petersen side to cancer. My Grandma to Colon Cancer and my Grandpa to Pancreas- so research is VERY important to our family. Our team has had 5 people effected by cancer- 4 have passed away and we have 1 survivor. My cousin Janalee found out a month or 2 ago that her cancer is in remission. This is why we relay and have such a great time doing it! (Again we had such a great time that I didn't hardly take my camera out of the bag)

This is our survivor! They always have a survivor lap and it is very humbling to see all the survivors from old down to little 1-2 year olds.

Gracie and Brooklyn had the time of their lives. Last year- it was freezing and I had Gracie in a snowsuit- it was perfect weather this year.

Brooklyn wanted to get her face painted. We tried to talk her into getting something small- but this is what she picked a butterfly.

My cousin Lori and her sister Melissa cut off 10 inches of their hair to donate to Locks of Love.

Big Girl!

We reached a major milestone in our house this past sunday. Gracie had her first day and possibly last day (for awhile) in the nursery. She did really well. I stayed with her for a couple minutes and then snuck out and they said she went from thing to thing and had a good time. I checked on her once and she was cuddling with the nursery leader and they said she fell asleep on him. Sean and I debated if we should send her or not because after having her sick for 2 straight months we were enjoying having her healthy. (And when Brooklyn was in nursery she would go on sunday and on wednesday she would be sick.) This is probably a total coincidence- but she woke up sunday night and I thought that she felt fevered. I had told Brooklyn that I would take her to the pool on monday and was planning on taking Gracie. But- monday she was super onery and fevered so I didn't take her (thanks mom and Paula's clan for taking her!) Brooklyn and I had a great time at the pool and when I got to my car there was a message on my phone from Paula saying that Gracie was really sick. She was fevered and just miserable. She slept well and yesterday woke up very fevered and started pucking. I had the honor of being puked on 3 times and Sean once. So far today she woke up happy and isn't fevered. So to make a long story short- I think that we will keep her away from the nursery for a little while. Lucky for me my aunt Paula's ward overlaps ours and she takes Gracie home when they are done! But- it was a great milestone for her and us!

I just love those dimples!

She did not want a picture taken and was not cooperating

This picture cracks me up. She was eating an Oreo and got messy so Sean got the camera out to take her picture and as soon as she saw the camera- this is the face she made. Silly girl!

Happy Father's Day!

Friend

exAmple

Teacher

Helper

protEctor

leadeR

I wanted to wish the men in my life a very Happy Father's Day!

This handsome man is such an amazing daddy to his little girls! We are so blessed to have him. He works so hard for us. The gals are always so excited when daddy comes home (as am I). He is also a wonderful husband! Happy Father's Day- babe- We love you so much!!

Happy Father's Day to my own dad! This man is one of the best men I know! He does so much for our family and is one of the gals favorite people! We love you Pops- thanks for all you do for us!

Happy Father's Day to Joe! We appreciate all you do for us! Thank you and Gisele for raising such a great guy who has become a wonderful husband and father. We love you!

There are also a few other men I would like to say Happy Father's Day to. Sean's grandpa is such a great man also and has taken me in like I am his own granddaughter and I am so thankful for that- we love you! My uncle Ric- who has always been like my second dad and surrogate grandpa to my gals- thank you for all you do for us- we love you too! I was really close to my Grandpa Claude- our family called him "Butch" there is hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of him and miss him. I miss him calling me "Emmy" everytime he saw me. We love and miss you Butch.

Favorite Pictures

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the past couple of weeks. We got Gracie feeling better for 2 whole weeks and she enjoyed being able to play outside with Brooklyn. These 2 little cuties are my world I love them so much and I love that they love each other so much.

Girls in the Princess car

Brooklyn started playing T-Ball and likes it- sometimes. This girl is going to do Sean and I in- she will be excited all day for the game and then we get there and she will not play. (Well she played in 1 full game.) And she is good- you should see this girl hit the ball. So I hope the rest of the season will go a little more smoother.

I went with my cousins and sister to see Taylor Swift in concert. It was such a fun concert- minus the grown dad and 2 teenage girls yelling at each other right behind us- but that is another story. We had a great time!

This morning when I went to go to church I noticed that my rose bush had bloomed over night. This rose bush was here when we bought this house and my mom's friend came and taught me how to prune and care for it. It does really well. It has somewhere between 12-15 blossoms that are out or close to blossoming. I love this time of year when flowers are blossoming. If you look closely you can see the rain drops on it making it even that much more beautiful. I took this picture this morning and by this evening more blossoms were there- it is so fun to watch. I am also happy to report that in our garden- we have corn coming up. This is our first attempt at a garden and it is quite a fun process to watch it grow. I am hoping for success in at least one thing that we planted.

And this little monkey that we call Gracie has learned the art of climbing and it quite good at it. Earlier today I was working on getting this post done and she had gone into the kitchen- I noticed that it seemed a little too quiet so I came into the kitchen to find her standing in the middle of my table. AHHH! I wanted to run and get my camera- but decided it would be better to get her before she decided to walk right off. One of the chairs was pulled out and she had climbed onto that and from there onto the table. Little stinker. She has had a rough 5 weeks or so- between her 3 ear infections and now she has a terrible looking throat and awful cough and fever. I am just waiting for it to go to her ears. She is such a sweetie and amazes me daily. Yesterday, she dropped something and said, "ah oh!" And kept dropping things and saying it. That is my favorite when babies do that. She will also repeat words she hears. Earlier Sean, Brooklyn, and I all said, "good" and next thing we know Gracie pipes up and says, "good." She also loves to throw things away. She will go around looking for anything that she can put in the garbage can. So far she has been good at only throwing garbage away.