Sweet things

The 3 day weekend was lovely. I had time to finish up some craft projects and make some cookies. The weather was really nice so we took lots of walks as well. These cookies were inspired by Charlotte's new obsession; butterfly trapping. She looked so cute running down our favorite walking trail waving her insect net around-I should have taken a picture! Do not worry; all butterflies were set free a few hours after capture.

Aren't these cool! I thought I'd give it a try after watching a web tutorial. They were really fun to make.

Cupcakes.

I love the disappointed look on this un-frosted cupcake.

Finn in a tutu-just for fun.

Hope your weekend was nice too!

Out Little Graduate

On Wednesday Charlotte "graduated" : from Pre-school. She learned how to write her name, stand in a line, share with classmates, raise hands, and other such important skills this year. She also made lots of new friends and was in craft heaven all year. We're so proud of our big girl!

The kids performed a few cute song and dance numbers for us.

Here she is next to the growth chart. At the beginning of the year you can see her name right at the 41 inch mark; now she's standing tall at 43 1/2 . Must be all that healthy food she's eating, or candy.

On to bigger and better things now!

Actually, one more year of pre-school and then kindergarten.

Pic-nic season!

We took advantage of some warm weather last weekend with a pic-nic. We went to a beautiful place in Sedona called the Crescent Moon pic-nic area. We pic-nic a lot in the summer because it is cheap and fun!

Charlotte brought her lizard friend along.

Here she is hunting for real lizards. They kept scurrying across the sidewalk while we ate, as a result not much lunch was consumed.

The girls did a little fishing.

Olivia had fun throwing rocks in the creek.

We discovered that Finn is a terrible swimmer. Dogs are supposed to glide noiselessly through the water; Finn splashed and thrashed and looked quite terrified. We laughed.

Luckily we didn't have to jump in and save him from drowning.

Scott tried to catch a lizard to show the girls. In a desperate attempt at escape the lizard lost its tail. This is Olivia's "eeeeeew" face at the site of a detached lizard tail.

One tuckered girl after a day of lizard chasing and creek wading.

Mother's Day

Me and my gals on Mother's Day morning.

Charlotte insisted on wearing her new dress-up hat (above) to Church on Sunday; it is not something we normally do. She was awfully cute in it!

I got to attend a Mother's Day brunch at Charlotte's pre-school. They made all kinds of hand-made gifts for Mom and practiced serving their Moms using good manners. It went something like this...
"Would you like some juice Mom? Mom, I need a drink of that."
"Would you like a fruit parfait Mom? Can I eat all your raspberries Mom?"
then they sang us a song about being a wonderful Mom.
It was priceless.



I love Mother's Day. It is the one day a year you can brag about your beautiful children without being annoying! Scott and the girls woke up Sunday morning and made a delicious breakfast of egg, bacon and cheese sandwiches and fruit. I ordered my own Mother's Day gift a few weeks ago-a beautiful necklace with 2 silver flower charms and a pearl. The flower charms are stamped with the girl's first initials. The day came with lots of extra hugs and kisses too. I love being a Mom; it is a crazy, fun, emotional and ultimately rewarding business. I am so grateful to have my two blond haired blue-eyed cuties!

Farm fun

During our visit in Utah we spent an afternoon at Wheeler farm. It is such a fun place with lots of cute farm animals, cool old tractors, wagon rides and more. The kids had a blast.

Olivia thought the chickens were hysterical. She laughed every time they shook their wings.

Grandma stopped to take advantage of a well-placed stump.

Olivia looks like a natural on this tractor.

More chickens.

Charlotte looks like a little country girl in her floral shirt and braids.

Grandpma and Grandpa Hoth + a cow.

The kids thought this chicken coop tree house was the coolest thing they'd ever seen.

Charlotte and Camden carrying all their treasures.