{Ali}

{Mother’s Day 2012}

Happy Monday y'all! I can't believe how fast May is flying by! I swear, we were just celebrating the New Year, right?

I had a FABULOUS Mother's Day yesterday. The whole weekend was just plain great!

The weather in Utah was just gorgeous! Loved it!

My brother and his finance hosted our family and her family for dinner and a Mother's Day Celebration yesterday.

We grilled Whole Foods burgers, which were so good. I'm going to have to pick some up soon!

I was in charge of bringing dessert. I'm on a cupcake kick right now, so I whipped up some Brownie Cupcakes

Quick, easy and delicious!

I was treated like a queen by Carl (and Chloe!) all day long, and I got a super nice text messages from Tyson and Madison as well!

Madison totally surprised me with these BEAUTIFUL tropical flowers and the sweetest card ever. Made my cry!

Sorry, for the crappy cell phone pics! Too lazy to break out the digital camera!

Carl and I finished off the night watching the Season Finale of Survivor. Do you watch? If so, what did you think?

All in all, it was a really a nice weekend!

Hope you had a FABULOUS weekend as well!

Graduation Time!

 
A whole lot of envelope addressing is going on at the Moll house!

Madison's last day of high school is today.  Really?  How is it, that my baby girl is old enough to be graduating from high school already?  It can hardly comprehend it all!

We've been busy tying up loose ends (end of year projects, extra credit and studying for finals), as well as getting the graduation announcements (courtesy of Jostens) and graduation party invitations (courtesy of Shutterfly) addressed and out in the mail.

Starting tomorrow, things will begin to get out of hand!  The first of the graduation parties that Madi has been invited to (and some that we are invited to as well), begin.  No school for the kids next week, but there is the Activities Awards Night on Monday, and then the Athletics Awards Night on Tuesday, along with several rehearsals for both Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation thrown in throughout the week.  On Thursday night we celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, which is beautiful!  Definitely one of the things I love about my kids attending a Catholic High School!  ALSO, Tyson will be home from college on Thursday!  Woot Woot!  Can't wait to have everyone under one roof again!

Friday night is Madi's big graduation party!  A time to celebrate with friends and family!  I have been busy making these

 
Tissue paper Pom Poms to hang from the trees in the backyard!  I know, I know....as you can tell from Madi's graduation announcements....Puple and Yellow are NOT her high school colors!  LOL!  She LOVES the color Purple, and wanted that to be the "theme" of HER night!   I also rented a Cotton Candy machine for the night!  Hoping to serve Purple cotton candy!  Fun, right?

A few more graduation parties on Saturday, and then Madi's Graduation on Sunday at Abravanel Hall.

Such a crazy time for all of us!  But, what an exciting time for Madi!  Her facebook status last night said:

beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but its everything in between that makes it all worth living...♥

I love it!  Perfect for her and this time of year!

Thanks for sticking with me, and allowing me to document the personal stuff that is going in my life!

Happy Friday!

Ü

The End of an Era.....

 

 

For the last 13 years, this girl of ours has been playing baseball or softball.  She started at the age of 5 playing baseball with the boys, and then started playing Bonnet Ball at the age of 6.  From then on, there was no stopping her.  After playing Bonnet Ball for a few years, she began playing "Comp" softball.  What fun times!  Some highlights:

• Madi has played for 3 different comp teams (Sting, Sliders and Extreme), and 1 high school team (Judge Memorial Bulldogs)
• Made countless friends, both teammates and on rival teams
• We've taken MANY trips as a family to tournaments (Steamboat Springs, CO ~ St. George, UT ~ Las Vegas, NV ~ Portland, OR)
• She is the ONLY Pitcher on her high school team and has never played in a JV game
• She has usually been one of 3-4 pitchers on her comp teams, and primarily played 1st base, and occasionally 3rd base
• Played in every Triple Crown World Series, since playing comp ball
• Had swim parties and sleepovers with teammates
• Played on the Sting soccer team with her softball friends
• Pitched almost every game as a high school pitcher on the varsity team, even as a freshman
• Played most of her sophomore high school season with a "boot" after having surgery to place a metal rod and 6 screws in her ankle
• Countless BBQ's and dinners out after games with teammates and their families
• Received several scholarships and offers to play college softball

BUT, after all is said and done.....Madi has decided to hang up her cleats, put away her mitt and say goodbye to the sport that has brought so much to her life.  It is time to move on to a new chapter for her now.  And while, it is bittersweet and we (the whole family) will miss seeing Madi on the softball field, we are so excited to see what is in store for her.

Thanks for all the softball memories you have given us Madi!  It has been so much fun to travel around with you and watch you play over the years! 

 

 
 

 


 
 
 
 
 

 

 

A Month of Milestones

This is a bittersweet month for me.

Lot's of different milestones for my baby girl, Madison.

She is a senior and will be graduating from high school at the end of the month.

While I am sooo happy for her and excited for her future, I am still sad that it is the end of an era. She has attended a fabulous Catholic High School  (as did Tyson), and it's sad to see our time at the high school end.

The first milestone she (we!) celebrated this past weekend, was her last Prom!

We used my brother's backyard to host a group of Madi's friends/dates and their parents for pictures. It was a lot of FUN!

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
It was so fun to see the kids and how excited they all were....and yet a touch sad as it was their last prom.

Next milestone?  The last softball game of Madi's career.  Should happen today, weather permitting.  This girl has played baseball/softball since she was 5, and this could be the very last game ever for her.  She has elected not to play this summer at all.  Carl and I won't know what to do with ourselves!

Thanks for letting me take a break from craftiness, to record some personal stuff, here on the old blog!

Happy Tuesday to you!

 

What I will be Celebrating this Spring! And a giveaway!

 
What will I be celebrating this Spring?

The graduation of my baby girl! 

 

This sweet girl will be graduating from high school next month.  It seems like only yesterday that I was dropping her off at preschool for her first day.  My how time flies!  We've had so many years of homework, field trips, science fairs (my nemesis), parent teacher conferences, report cards, school plays, etc. 

I can't believe it's almost over! 

Her senior year of high school has been one of the best years so far!  We've watched our little girl grow into and amazing young woman, with so much confidence, and such a good heart.  We've watched her cheerlead this year at football and basketball games, and watched her pitch for the varsity softball team.  We've watched her attend her last homecoming dance and will watch her go off to her final prom next month.  It is all so bittersweet!  As I ran something to school for her a few weeks ago, I admit I got a bit teary-eyed!  We've been a part of the high school community for the last 7 years (while our son was there too), and I just can't imagine not driving up the hill anymore. 

But, all good things must come to an end.  When one door closes, another one opens.  Madison has a bright future ahead of her with so many opportunities, experiences and adventures to be lived!  I am so excited for her and for what her future holds.

What are you celebrating this spring? 

Graduations?  Weddings?  Babies?

Check out these great ideas from Shutterfly:

Graduation Announcements

Birth Announcements

  

Now for the fun part!

 
I will be giving away 50 Shutterfly announcement cards to one lucky winner!  And also a Shutterfly 8" x 8" Photo Book to another winner!

 

Here how you can win!  Just leave me a comment on what you will be celebrating this spring!  Easy as pie, right?  I would also love it if you would consider becoming a follower of my blog!

I will select a winner on Saturday, April 16th!

GOOD LUCK!

Are you a blogger, too? Click here to register for a chance at 50 free announcements! This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

  

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Happy Fat Tuesday y'all!  Live large and party on tonight!  For tomorrow, we fast! :)

What's on your menu for tonight?  Maybe some Spicy Shrimp Jambalaya?

Photo and recipe credit HERE

Or how about some Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

Photo credit and recipe found HERE

If spicy  isn't your cup of tea, how about something sweet? Maybe a nice warm Beignet?

How good does that look?  Photo credit and recipe found HERE

Or you could always have a slice of King Cake!

Photo credit and recipe found HERE

Or will you be spending tonight on Bourbon Street, in New Orleans....wearing a mask & riding on a float?

While I would love to experience Mardi Gras some day in New Orleans, the Moll Family will be hanging out at home.   Possibly celebrating Fat Tuesday with some fast food!  Since we are giving up fast food for Lent!  Last day for 40 days to partake.....what to do, what to do!

ENJOY!

"Let the Good Times Roll"

Happy Valentines Day!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

to my three favorite Valentines!

 

And to all of you!  May you have a day filled with LOVE!

My boy.......he turns 21 today

And I can't possibly believe it.  Where has the time gone?  I remember it, as it was just yesterday (no, seriously......it was) the day he was born.  It was a Sunday.  I had just gone through 36 hours (YES! 36 HOURS!) of labor.  It wasn't pretty.  I screamed.  I yelled.  I cried.  And yes....I swore.  "Only I didn't say 'fudge'. I said THE word; the queen mother of all dirty words -- the F-dash-dash-dash word!" (Ralphie via A Christmas Story), but it's true, I said it.  I think to my Mom...or my Dad.....but either one, they forgave me, cause they love me!  Parents are great that way! ;)  It was New Year's Eve, but since I had been in labor for like forever, and it was a Sunday.....I couldn't figure out why NO ONE was answering their phone, to share our goods news.  I mean really, it was a Sunday night....the LAST night in 1989...the LAST night of the 80's (hair bands, the breakfast club, leg warmers and flashdance) where could everyone be?  Totally didn't "get" that it was New Year's Eve.  Oh well. 

Anyway - back to my boy.  He's been a joy.  Loves his Mom and Dad.  And his sister (more than she even knows), and his relatives. Will do anything for the fam.  Loves football.  Loves school (sorta).  Likes to be sarcastic (always).  Thinks he's pretty cool (he is).  Makes us laugh (at him as much as with him!).  Is happy.  And he is 21.  Where did the time go?  Bittersweet.  Happy, yet sad.  Excited, yet apprehensive.  Wishing my boy, Tyson.....all the best.  Happy 21st Birthday to you!  You make us proud!  We love you, oh so much!  Celebrate!  Be smart!  Hugs!

 

 

Queen for a Day

 
 
Yesterday, Madi and I got to be "Queen for a Day" with some other mothers and daughters at O.C. Tanner , which is a high-end jewelry store here in Salt Lake City.  Carl and I attend the school auction a few weeks ago, and purchased this Mother/Daughter date for Madi and I, and I am so glad we did! We had a great time!   We had our own private room at the store, with champagne (for the Moms) and sparkling cider and OJ for the girls, along with some FABULOUS pastries.  We got to spend 2 hours in the store chatting with friends, and trying on any of the jewlery we wanted.  It was so fun!  The girls all had a blast trying on the gorgeous engagement rings!  The one pictured below was $142,000!  It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

     

 

Madi's Christmas Tree

As I was cruising the Christmas aisles at Walmart last night (looking for more red/silver ornaments!), I came across this CA-UTE white tree!  And just one aisle over, I saw these funky blue/teal ornaments, which would match Madi's room perfectly!  And, since I hadn't seen much of my daughter the past few days (busy with cheer, school, sleepover) I was missing her and thought I should surprise her with a tree in room!  Here she is!  Cute, huh?

 

 

Enjoy your Saturday!  Madi and I are off to a Mother/Daughter Champagne/Tea today!  Should be FUN!