Su-Su-Su-Summertime

It's been my favorite summer;

full of family,

full of friends,
and full of musicals.

( ...plus there was a little Texas in there too.)

  

Although, it has also definitely been 

the summer of me admitting how gorgeous Utah really is.

And it really was the summer of musicals;

Cinderella...

Les Miserables...

(they were both at the outdoor theater in Orem)

And Fiddler on the Roof at Sundance 

with my most favorite aunt Angie

(and sweet Grandpa Merlin too!)...

for which I clearly felt I had to dress up as Yenta the match maker.

And it was seriously so great, I saw this one twice.

Hey, and just in case no one has told you--

Utah is the best place to experience the 4th of July.

Especially if your friends can cook

your 4th of July food on a grill.

#merica

Plus, any holiday is enhanced by spending it with sweet kids.

My cousins' kids are the cuuuutest.

Also, speaking of cute sweet kids,

my students are actually, literally the best students in the world.

And they drew/brought me treats all summer long.

And then I got to "fill the canteen"

with tons of family time.

A little in Utah....

(my ridiculously good-looking, duface brother)

A little in TEXAS...

(When Sister Robinson came home!!!)

(We were a little cramped for space to take naps when we were all at home...)

#MaxtheModel

#LoveLoveLoveLove

And then a some more in Utah again...

Aaaand, Logan brought us each our own hat 

from his accounting adventure at Disney World.

I mean, really,

just so good.
#blessed
#UtahLove
#TexasLove
#friends
#family
#summer
#sunshine
#grateful

Birthday cake for breakfast.

One of my favorite parts of the summer comes on July 15th;

It is by little brother Max's Birthday.

 This is partially one of my favorite days because he's quite a sweet brother,

who opens the door for you, and offers to carry your groceries.

But also because,

He and I get to make a magical and whimsical,

and creative and artsy-fartsy

Birthday cake.

It started all with a hamburger cake.

Made of two vanilla cakes, with a chocolate cake in between

Complete with fries and ketchup made of strips of pound cake.

Then one year, after one of the Pirates of the Carribean movies came out,

(the first one with Davy Jones)

we made a cake covered with barnacles and starfish

and here's the fun part: they were made of cheerios, 

smarties, and chocolate covered raisins...

and banana pieces covered in icing squiggles

Last year, we made him an "Up" cake.

Complete with clouds, 

and lots of confetti sprinkle balloons, 

and a floating house,

...and Carl and Russell of course!

So thiiis year, after google-ing lots of cake ideas....

We decided it was time for a colosseum/gladiator cake...

With bananas for the arches,

and chocolate and butterscotch chips for the spectators.

Can you see why this is my favorite part of the summer??

Happiest (and much belated) Birthday Max Daniel!!

I love you!

Quote of the day:

"I tried to bake for my mother's Birthday - it took me four hours.

It was terrible, and I cried for three days."

--Rachel Ray