Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.

Well we are! That's right, our small family is now located in the windy state of KS for the summer. Alex got an internship with Garmin's aviation department. Basically, him going to this job is like a child going to a playground everyday. I'm glad he is enjoying work so much, it's just a bit hard to not be close to our families and friends. It will be an adventure, though.

We are lucky enough to be staying with a family in the ward. They had a couple bedrooms and a bathroom they weren't using, so they let us move in for a really good rate. Sadie's room was filled with toys when we arrived! She has a play kitchen, easel with a chalk board and place to finger paint, a play vanity, and desk. What fun she will have this summer. There is also a trampoline, with the fancy spring cover and netting, outside. Yesterday, Alex and I played with Sadie on the trampoline and she roared with laughter every time one of us bounced on our bottom. :) It was adorable.

The weather will be an adventure too. One day it's 80 degrees and very sunny. The next is incredibly rainy and windy and the news is reporting twisters. Interestingly, the twisters are not my biggest concern, chiggers are.

They are tiny bugs, so small you can't see them, that live in the grass. They crawl up your body and find a nice spot to bit you. They feed on your skin and cause lots of itching and a sore that looks like a welt.

(Not my leg, or Alex's, thank goodness.)
They are related to ticks. Speaking of ticks, they are also a big problem in this area. The other creature to watch out for is this poisonous snake that lives in the water. Yikes! I'm scared to go outside. But the more I think about it, there are little pests to look out for wherever you live. For instance, Utah has it's rattle snakes and scorpions. The East has those dangerously gross spitting camels. You just have to adapt.

We'll keep you updated on all the sites we visit while we are here.

Congrats Graduates!

I just wanted to congratulate Brian, Kasey, Kiara, and soon to be Darwin (with his Masters) for graduating from college. What a great accomplishment!

Brian and Megan


I was able to make Kasey's, Kiara's, and Darwin's graduation cakes. Kasey's is the green cake a few posts back. Kiara's and Darwin's cakes are below. Kiara's is the UVU logo and Darwin's has the Mississippi State logo. They were fun to make. Thanks for letting me be a part of this huge milestone in your life!


Congrats again! Now go buy yourself an ice cream cone.

Animals with Ayden

For those of you who don't know, Sadie really loves animals and making animal sounds. Luckily, there is a home about two minutes from our condo that has lots of animals. Some of the animals you can see there are lambs, chickens, turkeys, geese, pigs, a wallaby, lamas, alpacas, goats, ostriches, muskox, horses, and a donkey. My friend, Angie, and I took our little ones to see all of these fun animals. Her son, Ayden, was fearless! This pictures accurately shows how the visit went.

Sadie was cautious, but very curious. Ayden was fearless and enjoyed chasing the chickens and picking everything up.


They had a lot of fun! I think their favorite part was feeding grass to the goat. We need to take them to the Zoo.

R&R on the East Coast

A few weeks ago, Alex flew to Georgia for a conference and then continued with his father to Florida for Sun n' Fun (aviation gathering). What a tough life! Since he got to go on vacation, I figured Sadie and I should fly to Massachusetts for our own vacation. It started off as a surprise for Mimi and Kate, but we had to spill the beans to keep Mimi from going to FL with the guys. The guys met us in MA toward the end of the week.

We had a great time. On our first full day in MA, Mimi took Sadie and me to the Yankee Candle shop in South Deerfield, MA. This wasn't a little building full of just candles. No, there are lots of themed rooms, including Santa's workshop where Santa himself is there all year round. Sadie was a little scared of Santa, until he pulled out an Elmo figurine. How did he know she is obsessed with Elmo? Magic...

There's a pirate ship, huge stuffed animals, a Bavarian village, and much, much more. Check out there website here.

On our second day, Mimi took us to a Children's Museum. Basically it is a house that has been converted into a discovery museum for children. Each room has a theme. Some of the room themes were jungle, ship, kitchen, colors, puppets, magnets, and water. This is a picture from the water room.

Sadie and Kate are standing on a giant bubble maker. You dip the pipe ring in the solution around the platform and then slowly raise is by pulling on the handle. If you're successful, there will be a huge bubble all around you. So much fun! Sadie could have spent the entire day there. I know of several places like this in MA. Does anyone know of a place like this in UT? I would love to find one close by.

After the Museum, we went out to lunch at Friendly's. Sadie got to share my ice cream cone. She loves ice cream.


Sadie also discovered how fun it can be to smell flowers. Every flower she saw, Sadie wanted you to smell it. FYI, dandelions stain. Check your nose after smelling a freshly picked dandelion!


While in MA, I had my first pilot's lesson! Alex's dad, AKA Grampy, is a wondereful pilot. He taught Alex to fly like a pro. Grampy is also a great instructor. This is the only reason I wasn't freaking out to be sitting left seat; I knew he wouldn't let us die. Flying is blast! I wish I would have taken a picture of me sitting left seat.

All in all, we had a great time. It was good to see Grampy, Mimi, Aunt Kate, and Abby the Dog (who taught Sadie how to pant).

Just Keep Swimming

My friend Angie threw a double party this Saturday for her son's first birthday and her husband's graduation. I was very flattered that she trusted me to make all the cakes for the event. The birthday part of the party was Finding Nemo themed, so we decided to make a Nemo cake. This was my first character cake and the first one that required a lot of carving. It was fun to get more experience.



Since it was a first birthday, it was necessary to have a small cake for the birthday boy to devour.



The graduate also got a cake. This one was fun to make too. It's a bit whimsical and just plain fun.



I know what you're thinking, and you are right, that's a lot of cake! I think they will be eating cake three times a day for the next week. Thanks Ang for letting me be a part of these huge milestones for your family.