I'm Blushing!

 I think we need a little help in the make-up department...

Molly was so pleased with herself

I had to catch myself in order to turn this into a teaching moment - especially when I saw blush all over the carpet. 

Birthday Fun

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago and we got to spend a few hours playing at Trafalga Lehi before Shane had to work.  It was Molly's first time at an "amusement park" and I loved watching the happiness on her face and hearing her laughter.  So Fun!

This was her first ride.  She seemed a little nervous at first, but as soon as the ride started the smiles and laughter began.

 Molly's expression cracks me up!

 Flying the plane

 It was so fun to have some cousins come with us

 Even though it was my birthday, the day was really all about Molly

 Speedy Shane...I think he and Lilly won this round

ready, set, blastoff!

Road Trip!

Roswell, NM!!!  Shane had an appointment in Roswell, NM and since it's so crazy hot in AZ we decided to make it into a family road trip for a change of scenery. 

This is what Molly had been waiting for...the swimming pool.  We weren't in our room more than a minute before she was in her suit and cover-up and ready for play.

Although Roswell is known for UFO's (and yes, there are crazy alien statues and paintings all over this could be cute little town)...

We found this darling little zoo to hang out at while Shane was schmoozing his client.  Here's Molly feeding the deer a blade of grass.

 And what's a zoo without a buffalo?

 And a carousel ride for only 25 cents? 

 That goes for the train ride too.

This slide is identical to one that I played on when I was growing up.  I'd never seen one like it...until Roswell.  Alien abduction?

 Roswell also has an airplane graveyard

 Molly wasn't much into the airplanes (or was she just tired from our fun morning at the zoo?)

 Crazy how this huge plane can actually fly.  It's seriously the size of a cruise ship!

 We found a cute little neighborhood park to play at while Shane did some more schmoozing

 If we bought this darling house I might move to Roswell

 Then again, maybe not

Have I mentioned how hot it is in AZ?  Molly's favorite new outfit?  Anything at all as long as she can wear her fur-lined boots.  So cute!

Just a little dress-up at the mall.  We spend a lot of time there, mostly playing at the indoor playground.

Grandma and Grandpa's Mission Jar

My parents are serving as public affairs missionaries in the Philippines for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  They just left and will be gone for 18 months, which means little Molly will be 4 years old the next time she see's them.  (Whoa!  Just typing that made my stomach drop...I don't want my little baby growing up too fast.)  It's hard for a 2 year old to understand what a mission is and why she can't visit Grandma and Grandpa so we've been talking a lot about missions lately and how Grandma and Grandpa are in the Philippines teaching people about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

For Family Home Evening we made a Mission Jar for Grandma and Grandpa that we will use to collect our spare change.  Every few months we'll cash out our jar and put the money towards my parents missionary service.  We're really excited about the Mission Jar and hope to teach Molly that everyone, big and small, can play a part in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Molly was so excited to dive into this project.  She barely let me explain what we were doing before taking control and getting to work!

You'd think she mod-podged every day.  Nope, first time.

I better start thinking of another mod-podge project for the near future - she loved it!

She basically did the whole thing by herself while I snapped pictures and helped with the placement of the words and pictures.

 A silly face is always in order when the camera is on!

Who knew we'd gain some math skills as part of the deal?  We've already emptied the Mission jar several times separating and counting the coins.  Molly's certainly going to know her way around money by the time her grandparents come home!

Missouri

We traveled to Kirksville, Missouri over Mother's Day weekend to attend Shane's brother's graduation from medical school.  It's just a little town with not much to do, but when you're with family it's bound to be good times and memories no matter the locale!  Molly was especially excited to see her cousins and hold baby Hazel.  We flew into Kansas City, which is right around the corner from where Molly's birth-mother lives, so we were able to get together with her and her cute husband while we were in the area.  In between the graduation, a day trip to Nauvoo, swimming, and visiting I don't think we could have packed one more thing into our fun trip.

 One proud papa and his boys

 Molly and Ana

 Cousin Love

 The Fam!

 Silly Faces

 Baby Hazel

 The Nauvoo Temple

 Visiting Allen and Ana

Shane's expression cracks me up!  I wish I knew what he was saying...

especially since Molly's expression is so serene and angelic!!!

Winter in Arizona

Yep, it's May and I've just discovered this fun picture from St. Patrick's Day.  Oops!  Molly helped me make rainbow cupcakes using different colors of cake batter and then we decorated them after our green themed dinner.  I love Shane's rainbow made entirely from sprinkles.

The winter has come and gone much too fast this year.  As we enter the 100+ degree temperatures of summer, looking at pictures and family videos is one of our favorite indoor activities.  Blogging, which is usually done during nap time, has slowed down as Molly has transitioned from daily 2 hour naps to just 1 hour of quiet time each day with an occasional nap thrown in here and there.  I think the transition has been harder on me than on her!  I'm trying to figure out a new game plan to post all of these cute pictures in a timely manner but until then...

 Love you!

Molly loves stacking and lining things up.  Here she stacked all of the dominos into one of her play fry pans.  I love her dainty little fingers!

Molly often watches me do my hair and make-up.  Whenever I reach for a bobby pin she reaches for several.  She's actually gotten pretty good and putting them in and hiding them in her curly hair.  More than once I've come across a hidden bobby pin while washing or brushing her hair.

My sister and her family came down for a visit.  Molly had so much fun playing with her cousins and a month after seeing them she still asks "Where Luke? Where baby Lance?" almost daily.

 Pony ride! Ever since riding the pony Molly expects to ride every horse she sees.

 Lovin' the train ride at McCormic Stillman Railroad Park

Our favorite winter activity?  The ZOO!!! We love it and will miss it during the hot summer months (cuz there's no way I'm standing around at the zoo in the oven that is summer!)

 Our trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete without a ride on the carousel

 Rhino.  Enough said.

See the giraffe in the background?  

Twice a day you can help feed the giraffes.  Very cool!

More cousin fun