More alike than I would have thought...

I scream, you scream...

For my birthday in March I decided I deserved an ice cream maker and I haven't looked back since. I bought this lovely maker which I LOVE! It doesn't make too much, just enough for all of us to have a bowl or enough for Joe and I to have two bowls. But, it's the perfect amount for our family right now.

After I bought said maker I went on a hunt for great ice cream recipes and boy have I made some amazing ones! Upon a very reliable source, I found a great cookbook all about ice cream. Most of his recipes are a bit sophisticated for our taste buds, but we love his strawberry frozen yogurt, chocolate peanut butter and I really liked his chocolate raspberry (although Joe did not).

I wasn't quite satisfied with all his recipes so I went in search of more. I found this delicious strawberry ice cream that I love with the mini chocolate chips. This cake batter ice cream was really good, but Joe thought it just tasted like a very vanilla flavor, I disagree (as did Blake, he loved it!). I made this cookies and cream and it was amazing! I seriously was in love with it and wouldn't remind Joe we had any so that I could have it all to myself. And I made this one tonight and am loving it! So yummy! But I would cut the cherries a bit smaller.

Overall, I think my ice cream maker is getting some great use. I can't wait to make some of these over and over again. I'm waiting for peach season to make a great peach ice cream a friend of mine gave me.

If you don't have an ice cream maker, get one! Seriously I LOVE mine. Or at least make friends with someone that has one, the benefits are superb!

3 months

Lexie turned 3 months yesterday.

In celebration she found her fingers. It was a good day!

Another season down...

Last year we put Blake in a little league for tee ball and he seemed to enjoy it and Joe and I enjoyed it. We decided to stick with the same coach and go out for spring ball, which is a bit more competitive and time intensive. Pretty much every week we had one practice and one to two games. It was fun always having something to do and Blake really looked forward to both practice and games. Joe was assistant coach again and he loved it. Kalli loved going to all the games and practices and playing with the other kids and wandering. It's crazy to think we started out the season with me being huge pregnant and ended it with an almost 3 month old!

Our family in their tee ball shirts. Super cute! He loved wearing his pants like this, because that's how the bigger boys wore them. Up to bat. The coaches pitch 3 balls to them and if they don't hit them then they hit off the tee. Blake would usually hit off the coach, only a few times did he have to hit off the tee. In the outfield. A tired ready position.

We had their awards ceremony last night and Blake was awarded the most improved player over all the other kids on the team. It's so fun to see how much tee ball has helped Blake work better with others and communicate better. Can't wait til fall ball starts!

She likes to sing along...

our most exceptional trip to Vegas

We spent our Memorial Day weekend in Vegas with my family. The main reason we went is because my brother Braeden was receiving the priesthood and Joe wanted to participate in his ordination. The first day we took our kids to the water park that I love there. You can't beat that it's free and fun! The kids had a blast. We then tried to go to Ethel M Chocolates factory, a place I loved as a kid. Unfortunately they had no workers in the factory, but the bright side is we still got our free chocolate. You will see the above pictures of what an empty factory looks like. I fell madly in love with the chocolate covered worms, their little eyes spoke to me. The second day Joe, Blake, Braeden and my dad went golfing while all the girls had pedicures and went shopping.

I also pretty much ate my way through Vegas, the only way to do it. We really only ate at home on Sunday. I love eating out and it was so nice to eat at the places I love that I can't get here in ABQ.

Overall we had such a great time and on our way home Joe and I were wishing we had stayed one more day. But then Joe bought ice cream cones in the middle of nowhere NM and we quickly got over our sadness.

Thank you to my family in Vegas for hosting us, we had such a great time!

Blake is moving on...

This school year has flown by and Blake "bridged" into kindergarten on Friday. We were so lucky that Blake was able to attend the school district's free preschool. Blake went four days a week, three hours a day to an amazing preschool that is through the school district for free. It truly was a blessing in his life. We loved his amazing teacher and her assistant. It was amazing to watch him through the year and see how much he was growing, maturing and learning. I will be forever grateful he was able to attend.

Blake in his graduation robes. So cute! Right after he walked the bridge. They don't call it graduating, they called it bridging. They would come from the preschool side, walk over the bridge to the kindergarten side. It was really cute and Blake was so methodical as he walked over the bridge. Blake with Ms. Cunningham, his main teacher. I just loved her! She was strict but loving, exactly what Blake needed. Blake with Mrs. Knolla. She was an exceptional assistant and I so appreciated her. And this is what Lexie did while Blake was bridging.

I went and picked up Blake from his preschool for the last time today and I got teary eyed. In a few short months he will start all day kindergarten. He will be gone about eight hours a day. That's a lot to be gone, and I really am going to miss him. I also know that once he starts kindergarten, he will grow up at too fast of a pace. He's ready, I'm not sure I am. I also got sad because I made good friends with some of the moms that also pick up their kids. It was nice to be able to talk to them each day, I will miss them.