Olivia's Professional Haircut...

We took Olivia  to get her first 'professional' haircut on Saturday.  I was worried about a few things... #1 - She wouldn't let the stylist cut her hair.  #2 - We'd cut off all her cute curls and they wouldn't grow back #3 - I wouldn't like the haircut when we were done.  BUT... all my fears were for naught!  Olivia did fantastic!  She sat perfectly still through the haircut, no screaming, fighting, nothing!  She was completely mesmerized by the T.V.  

Before picture.  I love that she looks like a floating head...

The first cuts.  She did great!

I asked her if she'd smile for me so I could take a picture

and she looked at me and said, "No Mom, No."

Finished product.  Not a lot different, 

just trimmed up the ends, layered around her face.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE her haircut!

Baby Update...

I guess I should probably give some details about this pregnancy...  I've heard inquiring minds want to know... but, if you don't want to know, just enjoy the cute little picture of the Marzipan Frosting baby up there... (That's amazing work...)  But, back to the subject at hand:

I'm almost 3 months along.  (11 weeks).  I'm due sometime the first couple weeks of February. Mostly, I feel... okay.  This pregnancy is different than it was with Olivia.  Although I have yet to throw up while being pregnant, (knock on wood), I feel almost nauseated more this time around.   I definitely have to keep my stomach full, but when I eat anything, it fills up FAST, and then I'm too full.  Beyond that, it's the general aches and being tired ALL. OF. THE. TIME. that I'm trying to contend with now.  But, since I'm almost past the 1st trimester, I'm hoping that goes away soon... Oh... and my pants are already getting too small!  What!?  I wore my jeans (button done up and all) until I was 5 months with Olivia!  I'll be lucky to wear them another month! Most people didn't know I was pregnant until I was almost due!  I don't think that's going to happen this time.  My belly is growing faster this time around.

I haven't been to the doctor yet... I know... CRAZY!  My doctor goes out of town, or more like out of the country, a couple times a year for humanitarian work.  She was gone most of July. But, after my first visit, if there is anything new, I'll keep you updated.  In the meantime, anyone got any advice on how to get used to 2 kids instead of 1?  Am I going to die?  I figure if I start trying to psych myself up now for it, I won't be completely blind-sighted in 6 1/2 months!

One last family reunion...

Brad and I just got home from his family reunion.  

What a whirlwind summer so far...  

We had a FANTASTIC time.  In fact, it was hard to 

come home and back to reality.  Here's a little bit of our fun weekend...

As you can see, there was much "eating dirt" to be had by all...

There were many missed opportunities to see a BEAR...

(thank goodness!)

Lots of playing in the dirt and sunshine with fun cousins...

Oh, and I almost forgot...

A little announcement was made by us!

SURPRISE!!!

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

I thought this was kind of interesting.  Do you think I look like her?  I'd love it if I could get my cheeks to slim down and my double chin to go away... then I'd really look like her.  Apparently she's been in movies like... The Truman Show, The Nanny Diaries and has also been on Frasier among other things.  Think she'd share some of her money with me now?

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity

Great Salt Lake

We took some friends from Spain out to the Great Salt Lake while they were here visiting.  

It was also Olivia's first visit.  I'd forgotten how bad it smells by the lake...  

But, we had a good time anyway.

Brad and Olivia.  I think Olivia was trying

to figure out what the smell was...

She had a ball wading in the water...

This is her begging me to go back in... even with her scraped up knees 

that happened on the way down to the lake.  Salt and fresh scrapes...  OUCH!

Missionary Ties

Brad, Pepe, Veronica (daughter), Veronica (mom), Carolina, and Carol

Here's a little Morris family history lesson for you...  Brad, (my husband), served in the Madrid, Spain mission.  Ten years before Brad served there, his sister, Carol, also served in the Madrid, Spain mission.  That's right... same mission, ten years apart.  While Carol was serving there, she met and taught Veronica.  Veronica was baptized, met Pepe, and had two beautiful daughters, Veronica and Carolina.  (Carolina was named after Carol...) While Brad was serving in Spain, he met Veronica and her family.  They treated him like GOLD. (Not that I can blame them....) There were instant friendships formed that will last an eternity. Well, this beautiful family has just made their first trip to the United States, and spent two weeks in Utah!  We got the opportunity to have dinner with them a few times, and Brad and Carol got to reunite with long time friends.  It was fun for Olivia and me to meet them.  They head back to Spain tomorrow, and they will be missed.  It was fun to hear the Spanish flow off Brad's fluent tongue.  It was even more fun to hear Veronica get after Brad for not teaching me Spanish so I could understand what they were saying....  But, that's another story.

Family Reunions... still

We recently had the opportunity to go to my parents house in Cache Valley for a small reunion... again.  My older brother, Bruce, and his family were in town from Washington.  Bruce is in the Coast Guard, so he doesn't make it to the great desert very often.  While here, we were able to have a big family dinner and celebrate a nephew's birthday.  It was pretty good timing! Here's some pictures of the day...

These are some of the adorable grandkids on my side.

We're missing my twin brother's kids.  

He lives in Casper, and couldn't make the trip. 

We're also missing Cooper, I don't know where he was...

Olivia and her Papa anxiously awaiting the birthday cake!

Uncle Bruce and Olivia chasing a ball.  

Me... snarfing down a fresh grilled hamburger!

Olivia snarfing down the much awaited birthday cake!

More Banana stuff...

I found this delicious recipe.  I can't wait to try it, but I have to buy some fresh and (not brown) bananas first.  If you try it before I do, let me know how it turns out.  Looks like the perfect summer treat.

Cold and Creamy Banana Pudding

1 (14 ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 1/2 cups cold water

1 (3.5 ounce) package instant pudding and pie filling

2 cups (1 pint) whipped cream or cool whip

36 vanilla wafers

3 medium bananas, sliced and dipped in lemon juice

In a large mixing bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and water.  Add pudding mix and beat until well blended.  CHILL 5 minutes in fridge. Fold in whipped topping.  (Do this slowly and as few times as possible to combine, so the mixture will retain it's thickness.)  Spoon 1 cup pudding mixture into 2 1/2 quart glass serving bowl.  Top with 1/3 each of wafers, bananas and pudding. Repeat twice.  Garnish as desired.  Chill thoroughly.  Refrigerate any leftovers.  (You can also layer in individual serving dishes.)

Brad's Favorite...

This treat is Brad's favorite thing to snack on.  It's just simple Banana Bread.  I've been making it a lot lately. (Probably cuz I was trying to be health conscious, bought too many bananas, and they all went brown before we could eat them...)

I was surprised at how easy this recipe is, and figured some of you might want to try it out... so, I'm sharing.  It's Brad's mom's recipe, so that's probably why he likes it so much.  Enjoy!

Banana Nut Bread

1 C. sugar

1/2 C. butter

2 bananas, mashed

2 C. flour

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 C. nuts (optional)  

I substitute the nuts with chocolate chips.

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, beating well.  Add bananas and nuts (or chips).  Add dry ingredients, mixing well.  Bake in greased bread pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees with a pan of water on bottom rack of oven.  When bread is browned, turn oven to 325 degrees until done.

I put this recipe into 2 different bread pans, and it makes the perfect size loaf.

Happy 4th of July!

I hope your day is fantastic as you remember who gave their lives for us and for the freedoms we so thoroughly enjoy!

May your picnics be plentiful, your parades wonderful, and your fireworks spectacular!