So I was thinking about how I should update the blog, but then realized I had nothing to update about. I started looking through some old posts and I thought of 3 totally unrelated, unimportant things that I thought I'd share.
Well, I kinda lied, the first one is VERY important, and I wanted to update about it, it just wasn't long enough for a post of its own.
MIKE IS OFFICIALLY GRADUATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup, it's true. Today was the day of BYU's August graduation, and so Mike is officially 100% done with school (unless he decides to go further later, which is likely). Yay!
Have you ever been uninvited to something? Once, about a year ago, I confessed to blog stalking. This one girl I knew from my days in a singles apartment has a blog that I happily stalked. Then she went private and told people to give her their email addresses if they wanted invites, so I did (after much angst- as Joanna commented on the old post, do I admit to blog stalking even though we never talk anymore?), she added me and it was all good. Then, a good year later, all of a sudden I couldn't see her blog. I emailed her again, thinking that maybe blogger was having issues, but never got a response. Granted, we do never talk anymore, and weren't great friends to begin with, but why allow me to see it and then randomly decide not to anymore? Weird. I'll have you all know, if I ever invite you to anything, I will never un-invite you!
The third thing is another confession, this time a bit more serious one. I have been rather ungrateful lately. I have been so tired of being Miss Susie Homemaker 24/7 and of not getting things done that I wanted to get done, and I was letting it get me down. I felt like I was always entertaining a baby, cleaning, cooking, entertaining a Mike (love you!) exercising/eating healthy and not losing weight, and trying (and failing) to get a good nights rest. It was depressing and stressful and I was starting to wonder if I'm just not cut out to be a stay at home mom. And then, as I was looking over those old posts, and looking at all those pictures, I am so grateful that since Alexa was born I've only had to work a few weeks. And you know what? During those few weeks, I wanted nothing more than to be at home with my baby. I'm so glad that I have a wonderful husband that supports us (in many ways) and that encourages me daily. I'm grateful that he doesn't mind being a bit on the poor side and that he realizes the importance of having me home with our daughter. I'm so lucky to have Alexa and to spend so much time with her, to teach her, and play with her, and be amazed by her when she says a knew word suddenly, or counts to 2 by herself. I can't imagine missing all this and having to hear about it from someone else! Sometimes, I just need a new perspective! The weight thing is still getting to me though. I gained so much when I was pregnant with Alexa, and lost almost nothing after she was born. The past couple of months I've really been trying, but nothing. Any tips?
and hats...
painting with yogurt...
being an animal ambassador...
except when she accidentally decapitates one!
On her down time she likes reading in the tub...
playing videos games with her friends...
and trying to ship herself to Grandma and Grandpa!
We had Alexa paint her pumpkin after her nap on Sunday, figuring that she was a little young to carve her own :) She had a grand time.
And got so into it that one paint brush just wasn't enough.
And once the paint was about 3 inches thick all the way around the pumpkin, I took it away and let her paint on the 'drop cloths'. 
This is a picture of the paint right after she started, it was a brand new set when we started, and there was no paint left by the time I made her stop. 
My 4 pumpkins:
Alexa and Daddy wandered the whole pumpkin patch looking for a likely bunch...
When they spotted one they went closer to inspect them...
And considered carefully the pros and cons of each...
Until the very best was found!
Sweet success!
Maybe we need to buy a new fridge or something to get her a box she can fit in...
Lately Alexa's been wanting to sit on the potty, but as I have to hold her on it to keep her from falling in, we decided it was time to get her a mini potty. She hasn't gone in it yet- I'm not sure she's figured out how to know she needs to go before going. She does, however, always announce when she is going and then wants to sit on the potty. I figure it's a good start seeing that she's not even 2 yet. Hopefully this bodes well for the future months!
Tutus ( I converted her!)
Her entourage- Cookie, Baby, and Doggy (we're not creative with names yet) go eveeerrrywhere with her!
"Sharing" food, ie eating everyone's food.
Elmo AND balloons. Daddy hit the jackpot with this one.
'Winging!
Eating breakfast with Daddy before he goes to work
Ranch!
And hamming it up for the camera. That's right folks, she looooves pictures now. The only difficulty now is getting a picture of whatever she was doing before she sees the camera and comes to smile for it!
She also liked watching Grandpa cook on the grill.
She did not like the baby gates banning her from going upstairs by herself. Luckily, they were only needed the last day or so when she figured out that she didn't need to wait for anyone to come up with her.
She looooved playing with the cars and trucks. Apparently we need to get her some of those!
She also loved having a chair that was her size, although she still hasn't figured out that she can just turn and sit rather than climbing up onto it and turning while on it to sit. We're working on that.
Last, she discovered her love of jelly beans. She'd go pick up the container and bring it to someone, then follow them around pushing it until they gave her some. 
We got her some here, and they are certainly her treat of choice, although she calls them stars for some reason. Her talking has gotten so much better lately, and it is so awesome when she suddenly says something that I've been trying to teach her for days. The latest example of this is "thank you". I've been trying to teach her please and thank you for a couple of weeks now, and we're still working on please, but she's a champ at saying thank you. Babies are so amazing at this age!
Of course, who would want to pet the demon horse?
She did love the "elephant ear" which, thankyouverymuch, is NOT the real deal. I was disappointed. I haven't had a real one in a looong time, and by a real elephant ear, clearly I do not mean like, off the animal. Growing up in Massachusetts we had the REAL elephant ears. Basically flaky layered pastries that were delicious. This thing was pretty good too, though.
She had a great time playing with the sand and all the little rocks.
I just wish we had found out about it sooner, because I plan on spending a lot of Saturdays there for the rest of the summer!
