Baking Cookies

Yesterday, we baked some cookies! This is the first time I have had Amie help me bake cookies. Up until now, I have been afraid to have her near a hot stove and messy ingredients. Since Amie has been feeling so independent, I thought why not? She is going to start helping me in the kitchen sometime, so why not now! We got everything we needed to make our cookies, and then the fun began! She was so proud of herself and her ability to help Mommy now. My little girl is growing up. Thank goodness she still likes to give me hugs and kisses, or else I don't know what I would do!

First, we got everything we needed to make the cookie dough. Doesn't she look proud?

We mixed everything together - Okay, she mixed everything together.

Mixing is hard work! A good baker needs to stay hydrated!

Next, we put the cookies in the oven...she was patiently waiting for her cookies to be done.
Daddy helped with the waiting process by doing what all Daddy's do - lick the bowl and spoon!

Finally, it was time to eat the cookies! They look so happy.

That looks like one happy baker. I think she liked her cookie, do you?

Okay, now what else can I do with her to pass the time until we leave for Alabama? She is so excited to see her Gee Gee. She wakes up every morning and says, "I go to Gee Gee's house today!" And, of course I have to be the meanie and say not today sweetie, in 3 more days we leave. Tomorrow we are going to go to a water park, so hopefully I can keep her distracted for one more day.

The Summer is Flying By...

So, summer break is almost over for me, but we have been having a lot of fun. What have we been doing you ask? Let me tell you! The first week of break was crazy because I had three days of professional development I had to attend, the next week was a relaxed one with swimming, friends and playing. Next, we were off to Colorado to visit family. I love that I get to see both sides of our family when we venture off to Colorado. We even got to see the newest addition to the family - Baby Chase. Last week we went to a Phoenix Mercury game, did some more playing, running in the sprinklers and watched Daddy play softball. This week, we are getting ready for our last adventure of visiting family in Alabama. I am so blessed to be a teacher. I love teaching Kindergarten, and I am so thankful to have these great breaks to share more memories with my family. Here are some pictures of our great time in Colorado and at home.

Amie and Grandlin walking in Victor, Colorado. We spent 2 days at our house in Victor. It was so relaxing and beautiful.

Cousins! They love each other.Grandlin is looking good folks! I think having her Amie Lynn with her makes everything better.

Seriously, how many shades of green can you count in this picture? GORGEOUS!Here is Amie, Baby Chase, and Amber. We went over for dinner and Amie had a great time meeting Chase for the first time.Amie during dessert with Matt and Amber. She loves her chocolate cheesecake.
More Cousinly Love!

Amie with some more cousins in Colorado. They have such a great time playing when they are all together.Amie at the Phoenix Mercury game. She cheered them on, and they won!Amie hanging out at Daddy's softball game with some friends!

What a fun summer, and we still have two weeks of it left. Who knows what other trouble we can get into before it is over?

A Few Firsts for the Baby Book!

Today, Amie Lynn decided to do a few firsts, which can be exciting and also heart breaking because it means she is growing up! One first she did was poop on the potty all by herself! I was on the phone with my husband figuring out some logistics for our upcoming trip to Alabama, and when I got off the phone I heard a faint voice saying, "Mommy, I poopied on the potty all by my my self!" I asked Amie to repeat her last statement because I was in fear of where she was and how big of a mess she may have made in the process! She repeated herself, and I found her in her bathroom on the big potty, and yup, she did it all by herself! I was so proud and excited that we had to call Daddy and Gee Gee before she could even get off the toilet! (Just be happy that I didn't go Jon and Kate Plus 8 style and take a picture of the poop!) So, the potty training is going great, and she has finally gotten over her fear of pooping on the potty. I was starting to feel like a failure on the potty training train last night when she cried and cried about being scared to poop on the potty. But, today is apparently a new day.
Another first, Amie Lynn had today was swimming all by herself. Because of the big girl poop, she got to go swimming, and while we were there, she ventured on to he deep end by herself (Mom close at hand!) and put her face in the water, kicked her legs up and then the spashing started! She is feeling very independent today, and while that is good, it is hard to watch my baby grow up.
The last first is a great one! Yesterday, Amie and I went to the Men's Softball tournament to watch Chris play, and we took a cooler with us with water and gatorade to keep hydrated. Well, this morning after her big girl attitude was in full swing, she decided it was time to start acting like a Mommy and do some dishes! I said, "AMEN SISTER! Grab a sponge and let's get to work!" That was after I snapped a few shots of the situation first. I love my Amie Lynn and can't wait to see what new adventures we have in store for us on our trip to Alabama to see our wonderful family!