Look Out University of Utah, Here Comes Stephenie Lilly!

Seems like just yesterday we were dropping Steph off for her first day of kindergarten....

This past Monday was her first day of college....

I think we were all too nervous to think about taking a picture as she was leaving.

I'm proud to report that she conquered her fears and had a successful, non-traumatic, and dare I say positive experience this week as a college girl.

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What did we ever do before cell phones? I think we spoke on the phone about 15 times through the course of that first day... reminding her how to get to such and such a building, chewing her out when she refused to walk in to her first class cause she was late, praising her for taking the initiative to go talk to a counselor, being excited for her as she went to the Union and ate her first "college lunch".

My favorite moment of the day was when she commented as she was traversing across campus (and it is a huge campus!).... "I feel kinda cool!"

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Yes Stephenie, in my book, you are very, very cool!

Goodbye Summer.....

Just a few things that have been going on in this last (sniff, sniff) month of summer.... Steve in front of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. This was his first time going to do baptisms at the temple since he was baptized himself. It was really cool.

We went to a church campout in Wallsburg (which is named after one of my ancestors, holla!)

Alex had a blast with all the kids there.

A family get together at my sister's house, where she made homemade delicious melt in your mouth scones.

Alex is getting more and more brave on the cousins' tramp.

Alex and Justin "helping" Sissy make cookies.

Maybe we'll see Steph on a Food Network "challenge" show one day. She's got some mad cookie decorating skills.

Kearns cookies for Justin... West cookies for her dad. Yes, it's that time of year again.

I have a wonderful nephew Mika, who is so good with Alex. He watched Alex for me the night Steph and I went to Jack Johnson. It was Alex's first "sleepover" away from home and the report was that he did great!

Steph and I before Jack Johnson. It was a great concert!

I had to work a few nights during the time Steve was out of town this past week, so Steph had to play Mommy and hold down the fort. Apparently, she also played party hostess. This was an impromptu "last get together before people leave for college" gathering at our house. I was at work that night. It's all good though, Alex was there to chaperone!

I can't believe another summer has so quickly come to an end. Can I just do like the bears and sleep through the winter? Wake me up in March!

My Date With Jack

I have a hot date set up for this Friday night. His name is Jack. Don't worry, my husband knows and is totally ok with it. My date is with Jack Johnson... and about 20, 000 other people too.

His concert is this Friday, and my husband totally scored some points when he got a couple tickets from a friend whose girlfriend works for a local radio station. Did I mention those tickets were free?! Steve has to go out of town this weekend so Steph and I are going.

A surfer, an advocate for the environment, and great music. I also hear he makes fantastic banana pancakes.

See ya on Friday Jack!