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!

Lighting a Candle

Last weekend, Stephenie's cousin got married and as part of the ceremony, Steph was asked to light a candle in memory of her Grandma Lilly who passed away 2 years ago.
It was a really nice gesture and I know she was honored to have been asked.

As I took this picture, it made me sad to think that Alex will never have a chance to know his grandma, in this lifetime at least. I know she made a big impact on Stephenie and that Steph will always carry her memory with her.

The bride and groom and their cute kids.

Camping in California

Over the fourth of July, we made our 'sometimes-annual' camping trip to Grover Hot Springs in California with my family, we had every one there except for one niece and one nephew... not an easy feat. We had one heck of a caravan venturing across the vast and "picturesque" (haha) stretch of I-80 through Nevada, as half of us were travelling from Utah. That's when you know you love your family, driving for 10 hours to go camping for 3 days. A daunting task, but so worth it in the end... a marvelous time was had by all. A few of us getting ready to go on a hike. I gained a new appreciation for the pioneers as we all took turns carrying Alex on our backs.

I was freaking out as we were crossing this creek on the log and watching Alex being handed off from Steve to my brother. Of course, Alex thought it was great fun.

Alex had it made, lounging in the raft as I waded in water that quite certainly had to have been freshly melted snow...

Attempting to climb these rocks with the waterfall rushing down on me was tough. I haven't jumped off the rocks for a few years and am not sure what got in to me this year... I think I like proving to myself that I'm still young enough to be adventurous.

Believe it or not, Steve and Alex did not coordinate their outfits here on purpose!

The fishing must've been good this year as my brother Brett shows the catch of the day!

Alex was always trying to include himself in the ongoing round of hacky-sack... or "hack-sacky" as Alex called it.

The whole gang....

I'm so glad we have a family where all the cousins get along perfectly and love spending time together. With everyone growing up, getting married, going on missions, etc. I'm cherishing these moments even more, as I know they won't last forever.

Them's Some Hungry Huggies

The thing I love about 3 year olds is that they start to become quite the little conversationalists. It's so fun to get a glimpse of life from their perspective. For example, the other day I said to Alex, "Why don't you take your diaper off? It looks really full!" Alex replied, "No! My diaper's hungry!"

We were also very proud of him the other day as he said his very first prayer without any help. It went something like this... "Heavny Fodder, thank you food, thank you Thomas, thank you trains, thank you birt-day" followed by about ten other "thank yous".

The absolute very best though, is that he will just spontaneously tell me several times throughout the day... "Mama, I luv you!" Anyone out there have some secret "growth stunting" magic potion? I really wouldn't mind bottling him up and keeping him like this for a while!

My June Babies

My two June babies were born exactly 15 years and 2 weeks apart... June 14 and June 28. The day before Alex's birthday, my sister and her family were at our house because my brother-in- law Paul ordained Steve as an Elder at church that day. We took advantage of having some of Alex's favorite cousins there and had some early birthday cake.

Can't believe this little guy is 3 years old!

The next day, his actual birthday, he got to open his presents. This was such a fun year because it was the first time he knew enough of what was going on to really tear into his gifts and get excited.

Notice the wardrobe change from the previous picture? As soon as he saw this Thomas shirt he had to put it on.

His first tricycle (a Thomas one, how perfect!). He hasn't quite mastered the cycling skills, but we're working on it. Notice Thomas and Percy hitching a ride on the back?

And more Thomas.....

On Steph's 18th birthday (on the 14th), she requested an ice cream cake. We searched for one that didn't cost an arm and a leg, but ran out of time before it was time to go out for her birthday dinner. Then I later remembered my mom making ice cream cakes when I was a kid, so I thought I'd give it a try. Steph wanted white cake with Cookies and Cream ice cream. It's not the prettiest cake I've ever made, but it was pretty tasty.

So Steph and Alex shared this as a combined birthday cake and blew out the candles together, all 21 of them. Can you believe I am now the mother of an official "adult"? TOO WIERD!!