Movie Night in the Canyon

 Tonight, I did something fun and new. I went with my cousin and friend and we headed up Snowbird canyon. They were having a movie night - and tonight's movie was Sister Act! What a gosh dang treat. We got there early for a prime spot and to set up our amazing seats. 

We had chairs, blankets, snacks, drinks, dinner, pillows. We were set! 

This was legit one of the funnest things I have ever done and despite the freeeeeezing temperatures, it was a great night! 

Gecko Starts Kindergarten!

 Guys, I can't believe Gecko is starting kindergarten. He's a tiny man now. 

Look at this adorable man. 

Balloon Animals!

 Y'all, I learned something today. The judge at my work knows how to make balloon animals! He gave me a card today, and attached was the sweetest little dog balloon animal. 

A coworker also got an animal, a tiny mouse! 

What a dang fun talent to have. 

Cake Truck

 There's a cake truck that I have been going to for the last year or so. It's primarily based in Payson, and she rarely does a sale. When she does, I will wait in line for a taste of her delicious food. Sadly, she announced that she is moving to a different state, and today is her last food truck. I went with my sister, and we met up with a friend there, and waited in line. It was HOT but worth it. Afterwards, we snapped a pic of me holding everyone's bags, to make me seem insane. 

I'll miss it greatly! Hopefully a new one will rise up and take its place. 

Darth Starts the Second Grade

 Guys, I can't believe that our tiny Darth is starting the second grade. 

What an absolute cutie, he's so old now! 

Aquarium Day

 School starts for the fellas tomorrow, so we had one last day of summer fun. Darth chose the aquarium, so we headed up this morning. We had to wait in a huge line, despite pre-buying tickets (tbh the aquarium seems very poorly run, it was wild) and so we tried to occupy Epifanio with treats, and when he wanted a new one, he would say, please, wildly. 

Then we had a fun time in there. I meant to snag more pics of us as we went, but that's sometimes harder than you think it's going to be. 

What a fun time, I'm glad we got one last thing in before the school year started. 

Family Get Together

A few weeks ago, my oldest brother (who I have seen once in the last 10 years) texted our family and wanted to get a family dinner going. We planned on for today, and despite my reservations (I don't get along with most of my family, and don't see any of these people, so I was really dreading it. But it actually ended up being a good time and it was nice to see everyone. We snapped some pics, something we haven't done in a super long time. 

But first, Husband had to fix the deck. There was a part that he couldn't get to, so we had to send Darth under the deck to get it. He said he felt like a man doing this. 

Then everyone trickled in, and we had dinner. We chatted, ate, chilled, and just had a nice time, I was genuinely surprised. 

It was so much fun, and then after everyone left, Epifanio was in the car with our other sister, and it totally looked like he was driving, and I died laughing. 

It was an actual fun time, and I'm glad we got to meet up. 

A Success!

 Y'all, the sleepover was a success! Darth came in at around 3:00 AM and said that he was kind of scared, and wanted to know if I could come sleep out there. I said sure, grabbed my pillow, and headed out. I couldn't sleep that great out there (I wasn't in the best position, usually the couch is so lovely) so it was a rough couple of hours until I just got up. Then we did some grocery shopping, and they tried on some hats that they loved. 

These guys are such cuties, and I'm glad our sleepover was a success! Now we'll have to have another and see if everyone can sleep through the night. 

Our First Sleepover!

Yesterday, Darth said that he wanted to have a sleepover. I didn't think he was serious, but then today, he and Gecko showed up ready to have a good time. I was also in charge of taking them school shopping, which went pretty well, I think. After having pizza and watching a movie, pulling each other down the stairs, (kids are weird)

swimming, and taking a walk, we were ready to wind down. We got into our PJs (and our new sweatshirts that we just got while we were shopping - we got them bigger sizes so they could grow into them by the time it's cold)

and then we got into our bed (they didn't want to sleep on the bed in our guest room, they said that was too far and too scary to be alone, so they slept on the couch)

They were ready for be! Hopefully it goes well. 

A Day with the Fellas

 I was babysitting the fellas today, and we had some good times. 

First, we enjoyed the sunshine outside. 

Later, we went to get some lunch (they requested Taco Bell, and I swear y'all, I did not coach them into that) and I got this adorable pic as we were in the line. 

Then it was time to put Epifanio down, and the easiest way to get him to sleep is to take a drive. So, I did. What I forgot, however, is that in my car, I don't have his regular car seat set up (I have it! It's in the garage I just don't know how to install it!) so I usually have him in a booster, because usually I just drive him less than a mile in my car. So I remembered I had the wrong seat right as I saw him do this: 

But then I got him transported from the car to the bed with no issues. 

So, whilst we slept, the other fellas and I hung out and played some games and then we started to watch a movie. When Epifanio woke up, he wanted to join us but not watch the same thing as us, so we just put on Cars for him on the iPad. 

Look at that adorable hand on my knee. 

We all had a great day, and nobody got hurt! I call that a success. 

A Seductive Epifanio

 We went to the famers market/food trucks in Springville tonight, and we met up beforehand to travel together. When I got to my sisters, the snaps on Epifanio's outfit had opened, so it looked like he was trying to seduce everyone. 

I love when you ask him to take a pic - his "cheese" noise is just a "ssssss" and it makes me laugh so hard. 

Then, we went to food trucks. we had gotten some lemonade, and when Epifanio tried it, his face screwed up with how sour it was, and then of course, they wanted to see him do it again. He would not. 

Such a fun evening, everyone should go to this if they get the chance. 

Neighborhood Shenanigans

 One of my former YW is heading out for her mission this week, so she had her farewell today. I went to a shindig at her house and y'all, she had a tiny turtle wandering around the yard and it was so cute! 

This was as close as I would get to it - turtles freak me out, you never know what they're going to do. And then of course, memories are best preserved by cameras, so we had to snap a pic. 

Then later in the evening, at popcorn time, we were discussing different types of braids. A friend said she didn't know how to braid a pull through braid, so I was showing her. I did the braid on my YW, and she did it on her husband, it was perfection. 

I was so proud of the braid afterwards! 

I need to learn how to do the top of the hair better, but this is only the second time I have ever done this (on another human) so I think I'm doing pretty okay. 

The disappointment of a child

 Yesterday, I went on a small walk after the cupcakes were all done, I needed to get out and move after having been in the kitchen all day! As I was walking, I was nearing my house (about a half a mile away) and all of a sudden, my nose started to bleed! Now, I get nose bleeds so often that it really doesn't matter, but this one was going like a faucet. I texted Husband, not at all expecting a response, but to my surprise, he had seen the text within seconds and came to save me with a box of tissues. I had to snap a pic of course. 

Then we were babysitting the fellas for a little bit. We went to get some ice cream (heck yes I'm this kind of aunt) and after I made a stupid joke, Husband told the nephews to say they were disappointed in me. Gecko was more than happy to oblige. 

He looks so proud of himself haha. 

After Epifanio saw that we were taking a pic, he posed in the next pic, what a goof. 

Cupcakes Upon Cupcakes Upon Cupcakes

 Today I had the opportunity to cater a wedding with cupcakes. They requested 400 cupcakes at first (they wanted 4 different flavors, 100 of each...but we were able to convince them that that was a heck of a lot of cupcakes, so the total ended up being 300. I baked all of the cupcakes on Thursday.

 Then I made the frostings on Friday. Then, this morning, I frosted and decorated. First, I set up the stations of each flavor. 

And then I got to work! I had the help of my trusty assistant, Husband, and we frosted/decorated for the next 5 hours or so. 

First, we have Oreo, a chocolate cupcake, with an Oreo cookie on the bottom, frosted with Oreo cream cheese frosting, and then sprinkled with Oreo bits. 

Up next is a Heath cupcake, a vanilla cupcake with a chocolate frosting, topped with Heath bits and a caramel drizzle. 

Here we have a raspberry lemonade cupcake, a lemon cake with a raspberry frosting, topped with delicious slices of lemon and a raspberry. (My fav!)

And lastly, a strawberry shortcake(ish) cupcake. A strawberry cake, with a vanilla frosting. Topped with (and this was so dang good) golden Oreos smashed up, and then combined with melted butter and strawberry jello. Absolutely dynamite. 

We then had to get them to the venue and get set up. It didn't take too long, but we probably took longer than necessary with our over-thinking. 

I loved how it ended up looking. And then I was told at the end of the night - they only had about 30 left. Not too shabby! And this was a great thing for me, in terms of learning. Someone that I work with does cakes professionally, and she gave me so many tips that made this go so much smoother than it has previously, and it was pretty stress-free and amazing. So hype to get to use that knowledge in the future! 

Just Gotta Feel the Feels

 We went to the splash pad today with the fellas, taking advantage of the cool water in the heat. As we were there, someone was having a shindig in the pavilion, and as they finished up, they had a stack of pizza boxes. Epifanio tried to get into the boxes to find some food, and as we were telling him that he couldn't eat the strangers pizza, he was just so upset, he had to just sit down. 

He just makes me laugh so hard when he just sits and won't do anything with us. He won't come over...he won't play...he just... sits and processes. 

Then later, we went to Target and made him get into the cart. He was so hurt by this.