Iron Chef - Lime vs Coconut

Copycatting my sister Dawn who was inspired by the Food Network, tonight we had an Iron chef party - a fun version of pot luck with competition and prizes. We had to make something with either lime or coocnut, and were judged on presentation, taste, and originality. Everything that everyone brought was super yummy! And of course any excuse to get a group of lonely wives together to eat delicious food and chat is always fun! I think I have the worst attention span because I started to take pictures of all of the food but somehow I managed to miss a few things so I'll just list them: green-green guacamole, lime cookies, chicha morada (corn juice), and pina colada.

Memories...Let the memory live again...

So here's a fun game...

1. Add a comment on my blog, leave a few memories (or 1) you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me lots or know me a little... (Now let's play nice)

2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I will return the favor

I can't stop singing that song from Cats, can you?
Mo I know you're singing it

Exciting Happenings of a SAHM in July

Actually I did not stay at home earlier this month...Dan took the office down to Raleigh, NC to work for a week, so the girls and I (and Erika) drove down there for 2 nights. It was a quick 3 hour drive and the girls slept almost the whole way there. See...









While we were there we watched Frosty the Snowman, walked around Target, saw Wall-E, and ate some yummy crepes. We also saw a lot more of Dan than we usually do (by alot I mean he was only gone from about 9:30am til about 10pm)


Later that weekend Makenzie beat up on Kaitlyn...OR we went to a Mary Kay party and Kaitlyn discovered her new calling as a make-up artist.

We got a new 'car'


Makenzie was introduced to Cheerios


And I caught married Cinderella helping Kaitlyn put all of the headbands (a.k.a. bracelets) on her arm.

For all your spoiled produce woes...

Rubbermaid Produce Saver

I kept walking by these at the store and always thought about buying them, but I was always a little skeptical. I finally decided to try them out, and now I'm a fan. Last week I bought a ton of strawberries, this week I went out of town and when I came back the strawberries were still as good as the day they came home from the store. When I get back to UT, and my bigger refrigerator, I will definately be buying more.

6 Months, 4th, & Laziness

MAKENZIE IS 6 MONTHS

The months are just flying by. Makenzie is halfway through her first year of life and she is such a joy to have around. She has the most adorable smile and smiles all the time but for some reason I can't capture it with my camera. Even while she's crying if you smile at her she will crack a smile mid cry another DRAMA queen in the making? Makenzie has been scooting around for a few weeks now but she's really starting to pick up some speed. She's just barely discoverd that she can use her arms to help her scoot. Before it was a knee and head scoot ::sigh:: so cute! Makenzie can also sit up by herself anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on how quickly she gets distracted or over excited. Currently her favorite food is avacado and she will only put a bottle in her mouth if it has water in it.

FOURTH OF JULY

One of my favorite things about the 4th is that Dan only works until 5pm. We had a bbq/pool party with all the people from the office. Afterwards Dan and I took the girls to go watch the Mount Trashmore fireworks from the Kmart parking lot. Sounds a little WT ok alot but we live right behind the Kmart and it had a pretty good view, and who really wants to deal with all the people and traffic, especially while toting tired kids around.

Kaitlyn at the pool before the bbq wondering where all her friends are...


Makenzie LOVED her first forward facing stroller ride, she laughed the entire time

Daddy and the girls before the fireworks


We saw the Johns at the Kmart parking lot and enjoyed the fireworks with them in the back of their truck


LAZY WEEKEND

Friday night Kaitlyn started to feel pretty crummy and had a fever. So her weekend pretty much consisted of sitting on the couch staring- I would occasionally turn on Dora, Diego, or Little Einsteins -and falling asleep on the floor.

Having a sick kid is always sad, but I did enjoy only having to clean up after Makenzie ;) Yesterday Kaitlyn was still feeling awful and burning up so I took her to the doctor and the poor girl has an ear infection. I was just glad it's nothing contagious. And today she is feeling much better!

Trip to Az

STEPHS WEDDING

We went back to AZ for my little sister's wedding last week. It was a lot of fun to get together with all of my family and of course to celebrate Steph and Nate's wedding. Like always I'm really bad at taking pictures so I don't have pictures of everyone who came but here's just an inkling of a glance into the fun we had...

Emily, Lydia, Steph & Makenzie in the scorching AZ heat after the ceremony

This is my friend Becky we have been friends for 20 years!


Kaitlyn just danced the night away with Grandma


And the beautiful bride Steph


Makenzie just slept the night away in aunt Cathy's arms


Ted came with a mohawk


Welcome to the family Nate!

SWIM LESSONS

My awesome friend Shelley teaches swim lessons so while we were there she taught Kaitlyn how to swim, or at least not be so afraid of the water. The first day Kaitlyn was crying, screaming, and kept running away from the pool. Then by the 3rd lesson she willingly jumped in and swam. And now she is a little fish (but has to warm up first)

Kaitlyn's 'please don't make me do this' face

Monkey walking with Shelley


So proud that she got the ring!


Makenzie LOVED the pool! She was just so content to hang out and watch Kaitlyn at her swimming lessons. When it was finally her turn to get in and splash she didn't want to stop.


5 GENERATIONS

Pretty self explanatory. This is my sweet Great Grandma Watkins (97 years old), Grandma (Allen)Stephenson, my Dad, me, and my girls.

Kaitlyn is 3!!!

Well she has been 3 for almost 2 weeks now but due to recent travelings it has taken me until now to post my little tribute to her.

*I did have a cute photo of Kaitlyn on her birthday, but due to a computer crash it has now gone into cyber heaven...so this picture of her from her party will have to do

Just a few things we love about Kaitlyn:

Her beautiful smile a.k.a. akward 3 year old smile

When she's crying and I tell her that she needs to be happy she says "See mom, see my happy face" while forcing her beautiful smile always makes me think of "Strictly Ballroom"

She LOVES to help cook, unload the dishwasher, and do laundry

She is so thoughtful and aware of others feelings

Everytime Dan leaves the house she HAS to give him a hug and a kiss and says "I love you Daddy, I'll see you when you get back"

When she says goodbye to Dan on the phone she also gives the phone a hug and a kiss. When she gives the phone a hug she also says "Ooohh"

When she does something she shouldn't she always apologizes "I'm so sorry mommy" She will even tell on herself if I don't catch her in the act

She LOVES to cuddle

She LOVES Makenzie and always makes her laugh