The Butterfly Whisperer

Violet got this amazing butterfly growhouse from the Eaquintos (thanks guys!) for her birthday and has totally loved it! You order the caterpillars in the mail and they come and grow so quickly I could hardly believe it! After a few days they were so big and hairy and pooped like crazy. The day after that they made their little chrysalises (what is the proper way to spell/make that plural?) Anyway after our Salt Lake trip, we came back to butterflies! (I forgot to tell you the names, trust me, they are worth mentioning: 1. Hot Dog 2. Chip 3. Sparkles 4. Sprinkles 5. Swirlies).
We kept them for a few days then Swirlies and Sparkles shuffled off the mortal coil so I thought it was probably time to release them. Most animal rights (or insect rights activists) would not encourage handling the butterflies, but we did anyway and Violet will NEVER forget it! She was so happy! Just in case anyone was wondering, Violet endorses the butterfly growhouse and so do I! In fact we're going to pass it on to our friend Bria who would definately love the experience as much as we did!

Baking and why I hate it.

My lovely friend Kristin had her birthday yesterday and I wanted to do something special for her. I thought cupcakes would be a fantastic idea! So I looked to see if I had ingredients for them and sure enough, I had a yummy lemon poppyseed cupcake mix. I thought sweet! Violet and I mixed all the ingredients up and the end product didn't look at all like a proper cupcake. Instead, they looked like what Violet called "doughnuts." I realized later that since we're in a high altitude area, I should have added flour to the mix. pshhhhhhhh. Why didn't I think of this previously? I also tried to make buttercream frosting for them. It tasted like a heart attack so I put it in the sink. AHHHHHHH!!!!! I am so not meant to cook, grow plants, or sew. I hate these things and am grateful I have friends who CAN so I can enjoy delicious treats, graciously accept beautiful homemade gifts and eat homegrown veggies. What would I do without you girls?

Lucky for Kristin, the Mama Mafia met at Cold Stone and ate ice cream that was DE-LISH. It's always to nice to chat with ma ladies! Happy Birthday Kristin-I love you!

SLC Awesomeness!

For the Memorial Day weekend, my inlaws offered to take the kids and I to Salt Lake City to see family (Travis had to stay home with the LSAT, or as I affectionately call it "the other woman"). I have to say I was a little put off by the drive-3 hrs to my inlaws house in Carbondale then 7 to Salt Lake. I'd like to put all the blame on my infant son and toddler, but truth be told-I HATE driving for long distances. My butt gets tingly. I have to pee all the time. I get car sick. etc. I finally broke down and decided to go when I found out my amazing mother and father in-law would be doing all the driving so I could focus on the kids. On the way there, Ollie, Violet and I slept forever! It cut the drive in half and gave them the rest they needed (me too!). The drive was pretty too! When driving through the desert, she kept talking about how there was not meerkats, only prairie dogs that lived in the desert. She went on and on and on and on and on about them until we got to a gas station where grandpa bought her a squirrel key chain which became the new topic of conversation. She named it Brown Squirrel Green Stripe Tail, which cemented the fact that all Violet's animals are Native American.

I need to quit misjudging places I've never been because I LOVED Salt Lake! There are so many beautiful homes and charming shops. The architecture is amazing in so many of the old houses and church buildings. I really fell in love. The drive was SO worth it! I loved seeing my sisters-in-law and their kids. Violet had the best time with her favorite cousin Kennan. We went to the "This is the Place" monument, went shopping, saw Night At the Museum 2, had so many great meals together, and lots of laughs. Violet also informed me she wants to live in a Marriot some day. I can't say I blame her, the best mattresses, hot breakfast ready when you wake up, someone that comes in and tidys your room when your gone, a pool inside, valet service, etc. Ollie just wishes their Pack-N-Plays were a bit for comfortable. There were many tears shed when we had to go and I would be very happy to move there for law school. (If that's where we supposed to be of course!)

Ballet

Unfortunately, it's that time of year when all activities come to an end. I say unfortunately because, when I don't have activities to keep us busy, I go to Target or the mall and shop. Not so good for our poor summer months (the financial aid gravy train has departed until September!) Violet and some of her friends (who have mommies I adore and love to chat with for an hour) were in the class together. She liked going to see her friends, but during most of the class I think she had plastic animals on the mind. She also enjoyed inventing her own dances. Poor Miss Jill. I have so much respect for people who deal with large groups of children. Especially 3 & 4 yr. old girls!

Violet's Graduation

My sweet little girl graduated from her first year of preschool this month. I adore her teacher and am so pleased she had the chance to teach Violet. I loved all the little songs and rhymes she learned. She always gave me the rundown after I picked her up everyday too. "who got in trouble, who brought what for show and tell, who had to sit in the 'thinking' chair, etc." I loved hearing all about it!

Her teacher gave a cute little graduation ceremony for the kids in which they did little performances of what they learned and recieved a sweet scrapbook full of pictures from the year that her teacher had put together. She can't wait to go back next year (me either!) and also wants to know when she can start going "every day." She really took a lot from the experience and I am so glad. I can't believe how fast that year flew by. I really need to do better about enjoying the moment because they slip away so fast..........

DON'T LOOK AT ME!

I gave Purrington the most atrocious haircut of all time because I'm too cheap to shell out 60 bucks to a groomer. Here's the result of over an hour of chasing her around my bathroom with Trav's clippers. sigh.

Not only did I realize she is freakishly skinny, I also realized I have NO future in the pet grooming industry.