The ants go Marching 3 by 3 Hurrah, Hurrah

These are some ants.

Just a few of the many that attack the citizens of the Las Vegas Valley once it gets hot.
I keep my kitchen garbage outside and it keeps thousands of them at bay, while the temperatures are still in the low 100's.

Once it REALLY heats up they will be scampering inside to cool off and than I'll have a BIG problem!

I feel Pretty, oh so Pretty (part 3)

Some days Emma won't let me touch her hair. Other days she's chasing me down the hall way screaming for a "Poe-poe" (pull-pull aka Hair Pretty). And yet there are the rare and exciting days when Emma decides to do her own hair:

I'm glad she hasn't found my make-up yet...can you just see that cute face covered with mascara or worse?!

Summertime Girls are the Kind I like:

Veteran's Memorial Splash Park: less crowded than the Mission Hills Splash Park and still only 10 minutes away!

"Ohh what a feeling!"

You know those old 80's Toyota car commercials where everybody would jump up into the air at the end?

Yes I had to spend 2 hours at the dealership due to some recall but I LOVE me some Toyota. They not only had wireless (so I accomplished 1.3 hours of work) but they had a mini playground and basketball court for Emma.

The stairs were just her size and the slide was at an appropriate height so she could do it all by herself making mommy and toddler happy as clams.

Hey Good Look'n What Ya got Cook'n:

Thanks for the apron Grandma Sandi!

I've been helping Mommy in the kitchen by grabbing whatever I can reach from the counters, throwing dropped food into the trash, and asking to be picked up so I can double check that things are cooking just fine.

lots of love,

Emma

and at Last I See the Light...

We've been watching the movie Tangled in this house...

...over and over and over again :)

I've been Dreaming of a True Love's Kiss...

Shane and I were happy to celebrate our Anniversary just doing normal things without Emma for a few hours.

A friend of mine kindly babysat and joked about how she and her husband celebrated their anniversary by opening a bank account without their 4 children! She recalled going grocery shopping without the kids a few years back too. We laughed realizing it's the simple pleasures and remembering what it's like to be just you and your spouse that makes an Anniversary special.

Shane and I went to an indoor putt putt. It was great, it was all under black lights and designed to the theme King Tutt. I forgot my camera which is sad because you should have seen my toenail polish!

We ate dinner at Cafe Rio (my favorite place to eat of all time) splitting their shredded chicken salad as well as a Key lime pie with the works (that just means they added strawberries and extra whipped cream).

We found ourselves meandering the Outlet mall just because we could go at our own pace and not worry about a diaper bag and all the needs that go with it.

We ended at the movie theater and were shocked at how loud it was (we haven't been in a while). It was a great date night and a wonderful way to celebrate each other.

Three years have flown by, didn't I just get married?! Yet how is it possible to feel that I've known Shane my whole life?

Going to the Chapel and we're gonna get Married:

Well we believe in Eternal bliss so we skipped the chapel part and went straight to the Temple:

It's our 3 year anniversary and I couldn't be more pleased with where we are in life.

I feel the blessings of Heaven showering down on our little family still. I love my husband, the man who supports me, cares for me, listens to me, and laughs with me. I love our daughter who is so much like us both: silly, smiley, sassy, and stubborn.

I love our goals, where we live, our work, our 4 cars-even if only half of them work and I'm sure our neighbors think we must be hoarders...I love it. I'm glad we don't have any serious pets, that would be like having another child. I'm grateful for our attempts at growing plants and flowers even in the middle of the desert. Sure living in Nevada gets hotter than a BBQ at the Devil's house but I'm so happy none-the-less.

This picture is funny now, us walking into the cultural hall. Shane stepped on my dress popping off one of the bustle buttons causing this candid shot with that angry look on my face. I'll never forget Shane turning to me and saying "Smile Erin, people are looking at the new Mr. & Mrs. Oldfield."

What fond and tender memories. Thank you Shane for loving me unconditionally.

This my friends is a Date Night Jar, many ideas found HERE. Plus a new hand mixer and Root Beer Float mugs. You can count on there being root beer freezes in this house tonight!

She floats through the air with the greatest of ease...

At her age what could possibly compare?

The Rain Came down and the Floods came Up:

Traveled to Utah to visit with family for the long weekend. We had an enjoyable time and loved getting away from the heat. Most everybody in Utah was disgusted by more rain but we loved it. I could hardly believe how quickly my skin dried back out the second we got home and out of the car.

Anyway, our Memorial day weekend in review:

Played with cousins

Saw prego Carlie and Sara did our nails

Shane bought a new car...a parts car to fix Anakin (yup we have 3 4-runners now)

Visited Grandpa's Property-Emma really wanted to see Grandpa and kept banging on the door

Went to my cousin's mission farewell-played and ate and saw family

Went to the Movies (Emma's new word for the day was 'POP')

Came home to my first Gladiolus blooms

Whoa, that was our busy weekend in a nutshell.