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!

A Weekend in the Arizona Heat

This past weekend we got out and did what every family in Arizona does when it is 100+ degrees outside, we got wet! On Saturday, while Dad was at Mobifest (No, not the band, the mobile tech festival) Amie and I, went to Desert Breeze park and enjoyed the cement animals spit water at us. It was a little crazy with about 20 other kids there raging in age from 1 - 40, but Amie held her own and had a wonderful time. Okay, I have to admit, I had a great time to running around like a 2 year old - If you can't beat them, join them!Elephant Sprinkler

To be 2 again...

On Sunday, Chris and Amie and I celebrated our 6th Wedding Anniversary by staying home all day, making wonderful food, playing in the sprinklers and spending time as a family. It was the most relaxing day I have had in a long time. No stress, no worries, just my little family having a great day. The simple things in life really are the best. Give me a day with my Amie and Christopher with nothing to do, and I am in heaven. It is on those days that I really get to watch my daughter, listen to her, and watch her grow, which is scary and exciting at the same time.

Amie and Daddy Running Through the Sprinklers

Yummy Food

When Did This Happen?

So, my daughter who is only 2 years old, has decided that she can do everything "All by my myself!" (Not a typo, she says, my myself) Well, the other night while we were doing our nightly bed-time routine, she decided that she could put her pajamas on all by herself, and except for getting her head completely through her shirt, she succeeded. Here are the pictures of the big event...I know I take pictures of absolutely everything. I know Gee Gee likes it, and one day, Amie's high school boyfriends will get a kick out of all the glorious pictures!

The Shirt
One Leg
Two Legs
All Done!

Gardening in Arizona?!?!??!

Yup, I have ventured into growing vegetables for the first time since I have been married. I love to garden, and plant flowers, so I finally bit the bullet and planted tomatoes, squash, and carrots. I decided that even if I failed that I would do so having fun playing in the dirt. Well, the pictures are worth a thousand words....my garden is flourishing! My squash has taken over, and it is covering my poor carrots, but my carrots are survivors and they will make it! They are buried under the huge squash leaves, so you can't see the little guys right now. I planted the tomatoes (Roma tomatoes on the left, and in the pot is a regular tomato variety) and squash from plants, and the carrots I planted from seeds.
During Spring Break, I decided to not only plant some veggies, but I wanted to surprise Chris while he was away on business and build a garden! I chose the perfect spot. I cleared the rocks away in the corner of our yard that has a purple plum next to it. Put down the concrete borders all by myself, prepared the soil (Yes, I used organic soil, but I did add Miracle Grow...how awful!) and gingerly planted my lovely plants and seeds. I even made a blueprint, and measure the garden out! Chris was not as thrilled as I thought he would be, but he was impressed with my garden building skills none-the-less.It is not a big garden, but it is just the right size for the three veggies I decided to grow. I also threw in a tomato plant that can be grown in a container for some experimentation. I never thought that my squash would extend the little garden area sooooo much! One shoot is beyond the tree to the right of the picture, and I don't think it is done growing!
Almost every other day I wake up to find another squash bloom opening, and I love the contrast in color, and the potential for yet another squash. Seriously, those squash leaves are bigger than my head!
The heat has not posed a serious threat to my garden yet, hopefully this continues! Otherwise, you may have a very depressed Melissa on your hands. I am excited that I finally got off my duff and did something I have been wanting to do for years. I love my backyard, it is my sanctuary, and adding the veggie garden has made it even more so.

Now I am a blogger too...

Yup, I am a blogger...never thought it would happen! But, here I am in front of my computer typing away about my silly, crazy, fun and sometimes, more than often, boring life.


I was reading some of Chris's family blogs when a funny little story came to my mind. Amie has just started to name her babies. But, they are all named the same...Laura, which comes out as aura! She is so cute it cracks me up. She has named every baby aura, and even her kitty that she got for her birthday from her loving babysitter. I am sure there are other stuffed animals named aura that we will find out about later.









At least Tinker Bell, is still Tinker Bell!







My daughter is the light of my life. Her smile, kisses, hugs and funny ways brighten up my day. On Mother's Day, I am reminded that without her, I would not be a Mother. My life would be even more boring! But, with Amie around, it is hard to be that bored.