A going away party for Summer!

Today the high was 90 degrees, tomorrow 80 and then on Wednesday it looks like we'll be taking a dive into the 50's and Fall will be in full force! We couldn't let that happen without one last summer hurrah! It was a impromptu goodbye party for summer.

300 water balloons, popsicles for all, and one last dip in the pool!

Thanks to all our friends and neighbors for contributing!

Tanglewood Rocks!

300 water balloons didn't last as long as you would think. 2 hours to fill them all up and gone in 10 minutes.

Reese went with the "bite them until they pop" method.

Maybe she should be a vampire for Halloween. She must have broken a dozen balloons by biting them.

Popsicle heaven! Reese had 3!

Brynn & Reese. They could be sisters!

After the balloons and popsicles, we busted out the pool!

Reese & Sadie had much more fun when all the boys left and they had the pool to themselves.

I think I've mentioned...

that Reese loves to play outside. Since she learned to crawl at 6 months, she has been going to the front door and banging on it, when she wants to go outside. Lately it's been geting earlier and earlier in the day. Today, she wanted to go outside before she even had breakfast. I know as the days get colder, I am going to have to invest in some serious outdoor gear or have one unhappy baby on my hands.

Surprised!

I came home from running errands today and found this email in my "in-box". I was a little shocked and very honored. It should be really fun...now deciding what recipe to submit!


Hi Mindi,
This is Briana over at Utah Valley Magazine. I hope you're doing well!

This may come as a surprise to you, but .... congratulations! You've been selected as a winner of Utah Valley Magazine's Dessert Cook-Off Contest.

Now, I know you didn't officially enter our contest, but we came across your food blog and fell in love with it! You have such fun recipes (and fun ways of showcasing them) that we knew we needed to include you among our tasty talents.

So here's the deal — each winner will be featured in the November/December issue of Utah Valley Magazine with their original dessert recipe. Would you mind picking one of your original desserts for us to showcase? Just to avoid a repeat, the other winning desserts are: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, Holiday Fruit Cake and Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes.

Participation includes the following:

1. A photo shoot at the Thanksgiving Point Emporium on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
a) You'll need to bring your dessert, as we'd like to photograph you with the winning delight.
b) Please let us know if you have a platter/dish to present your dessert on, or if you would like us to help with that. We are happy to help if you need it — just let us know!
c) If you can't make it on the 7th, let me know and we'll figure something out.

2. Answer the questions below by Sept. 30. Don't worry, it won't feel like homework — they should be fun to answer! :)

Thank you for your time and cooperation, and please let me know if you have any questions.

I'm excited to work with you!

Briana

Utah Valley Magazine

It's official...

Our toddler has arrived. While I know she's been slowly transitioning for some time, it seems like a little toddler has appeared over night. From her ever emerging personality, to her increasing independence and curiosity of her surroundings, she is definitely keeping Arnold and I on our feet and laughing up a storm. She is such a little character. How did we get so lucky.

Today Reese decided to remove all the shoes from the shoe bin. When she got to her shoes, she spent almost 5 minutes trying to put them on all by herself. Last week while folding clothes, she grabbed a pair of her shorts and tried to put them on as well.

At lunch the other day she was eating off of my plate and really wanted to use my fork. She successfully pierced the food with the fork, but couldn't quite maneuver it into her mouth. It was a huge fork, I guess I need to buy her a little toddler fork.

She loves to help me with just about everything I do around the house. She's getting better at sorting laundry with me. She loves to help me fold. Yesterday while folding the clothes she grabbed a pair of Arnold's shorts and brought them over to me, while handing them to me she said.."Dada". She then proceeded to bring me one item at a time handing them to me and telling me who's clothes they were.

She also insists on sitting on the counter while I'm cooking or doing anything in the kitchen. This week we've been dehydrating peaches. She was handing me one peach at a time, until she decided she wanted to taste one.

One Year Photo Shoot...

With Reese being sick on her birthday, we didn't get any happy pictures of her. Chellese was nice enough to do another photo shoot after she was feeling better. This time we achieved smiles. Reese also got to finally dig into her birthday cake. There was no hesitation!

The big "one year" party!

I want to clarify that this wasn't just a party in celebration of Reese's 1st birthday! While that was defiantly the focus and most important reason for Arnold and I to throw a party, we had a hidden agenda...This was also an anniversary party for the two of us. The anniversary of our lives changing forever and receiving the most precious gift we'd ever been given. As first time parents you never know what to expect, but our expectations were far exceeded with Reese. This past year has truly been the greatest year of our lives. I really wish I could put into words the joy and fulfillment Reese brings to us everyday. We know there will be tough times as parents, we know there will be trials and challenges. But this year...this year was perfection!

So let the party begin!

Poor Reese wasn't feeling so well. You'll notice we didn't get a single smile out of her the whole party...but hey...it's her party, she can cry if she wants to.

Reese and her Aunt Jen.

Reese and her Uncle Kit. He held her for most the night. Reese is a big fan of her Uncle Kit.

We filled 100 water balloons and attempted to have a water balloon toss...the kids had other plans. It didn't help when I told them all to grab a balloon and go throw them at their dads. From there it turned into a total balloon smashing water fest.

Trey Peterson

Pin the nose on the clown game.

Christian Staheli & Brynn Tate...no 10 second rule required when you're under two.

Our cute little neighbor Sean.

Jared & Sadie Lee's

Rowan Tate

You're a little off there Hudson

Sean's mommy, Merrell...and new little brother arriving soon.

Mommy finally getting a chance to eat something.

Reese's cousin Mycol

Dalin & Michelle Peterson

McKinley Wood

Lucy & Emily Nuttall

Party Central

Lindy & Blake Baker, Estella & Benjamin Bellows

Cindy & Adam Koenig

Left to Right...Trey Peterson, Dalin Peterson, Holden Bunker, Izzy McDonald, Ashlyn Staheli, Brighton Tate, Bradyn Wood, Clair Nuttall, Sean, Hudson Bunker.

Hudson Bunker...enjoying him some awesome cupcake!

Can you tell this neighborhood is multiplying. Every woman in this picture is pregnant...except for Michelle.

front to back...Izzy & Lacy McDonald, Brad & Michelle Peterson, Merrell, Juliann Tate, Megan Martin.

Uncle Kit & Logan manning the grill. Aunt Jen keeping them company.

Dalin Peterson

That's one good hotdog

Cody Anderson

Our little neighbor Claire took a liking to Mycol. Mycol was her new best friend.

If you can't tell...Brynn Tate really liked those cupcakes.

Logan and Uncle Kit...need I say more.

Uncle Robert

Nice hair cut Braydn

Brad Peterson, collector of circus animals.

Blake Baker

Benjamin Bellows

Ashlyn Staheli

Mom & Dad

Daddy passing out goody bags to all the kids.

Melissa, Steven & Cody Anderson

Abby Peterson

I liked how Chellese labled this picture...Three men and a baby...

left to right...Jon Tate, Brooklyn Wood, Dale Wood, & Todd Nuttall

Pin the nose on the Clown. Uncle Kit drew this clown for Reese's party. He even helped me color it. What a great Uncle!

All the party detail! It was so fun planning this party, but I couldn't have done it without my brother Kit. He designed the invitations and all the signage. Everything turned out just how I had invisioned!