Fun find!

I know these crayons have been around probably forever, but I just found them and thought I would give them a try. My girls just love drawing on the tile and enjoy wiping off the mess just as much! The did get creative this last time and tried the crayons on their face. . . We found out they wash off faces just as well. All in all, a fun activity for the bathtub! And, they actually last quite a long time. I have had these for a month!

Maggie's 1st

So, Maggie goes to a little preschool once a week and as we were leaving Thurs. morning she said, "Mom aren't you going to take my picture with my backpack like you did for Lilly?" OOPS!



She felt so big going to school and just loves to do somthing like Lilly. So, my Thurs. are fun days--take both girls to school and spend the next 3 hours doing whatever I WANT! Ryan thinks I enjoy these 3 hours a bit too much:) But, after those hours, I actually get a little lonely for my little friends and am always excited to pick them up and have the rest of the day with them! So, I enjoy a break once a week, but am confident I would never trade these two for anything!!

Big shoes to fill

Yesterday I was cleaning in the kitchen and I started hearing giggling. . .that always makes me nervous. So, I rushed to see what the situation was. This is what I found--


I never knew trying on dad's shoes could be so funny. Maybe they were laughing at how big they were and how hard it was to lift even one shoe, I'm not sure, but I had to smile and grab a quick picture!

IKE is gone!

The rains came (as predicted),


Maggie couldn't stand it and had to get outside and see for herself what a hurrican looked and felt like! I'm not sure how her clothes were wet under that raincoat, but Maggie is the girl that can figure out how to manage the impossible.

The skies darkened (as predicted)

Then Lilly had to see what a hurricane was like. She rates the storms according to how big of splash her bike tires make in the puddles. I must say she was a bit disappointed!

But, the storm ended there. It was finshed before we knew it and we all breather a little easier. . .that is all of us on the west side of storm. But, Ike went right through our stake, so half of us were without much action and the other half. . .well Ryan is with a large group that left early today to see what they could do to help. It was such a moving experience to drop Ryan off early today and see 30+ people all in the same shirts (mormon helping hands) and ready to go off and provide such a needed service to our community. People are so grateful that these "mormons will come work for free." It is just a breath of fresh air to them.

In the end, we lost power for 1 hour--and that hour was during lunch time. It was Ryan's time to shine--he made a mean lunch of home made french fries and fish sticks on the grill!! The sticks were a bit on the darker side and the girls turned their noses up, but we told them this is what you eat during a hurricane and they "endured" it!



By the end of the afternoon, Ike had tuckered us out! Nothing like a barbie movie on the couch as a family. And thats a wrap! Hopefully we don't get another visit from a potential hurricane for a long long time!

First day of school

So, I'm a week late, but hey--I'm late for everything. Lilly has been talking about this day FOREVER! But, the closer it came, the more apprehensive she got. Finally, the week before school, every time we would talk about it, she would burst into tears and beg not to go. So, when they had a mom and me kind of day before school begins, I was thrilled! We went and met her teacher (Mrs. Popp) and all the other kids. She loved seeing all the stations and the fun things that kids did in school. After that, excitement was an understatement! So, the morning of her 1st day, she ran out the door with a "see ya mom" and that would have been it--but of course I dragged her back in for pictures and a kiss! She had the best day ever, has great friends and loves school (even chapel time).




The worst part of the day was when Lilly and Ryan left together. Maggie wouldn't hear of it. She cried at the end of the driveway until they turned off our road onto another street. She was so sad that she was losing her playmate for 1/2 the day. But, when I told her that she could have all the toys to herself while Lilly was gone, she wiped those tears and got to work. We did puzzles and played house. She kept telling me "that's not how Lilly does it." So, I guess I'm a lousy replacement but I'll have to do.

Lillys boyfriend and such

While we were in Idaho, one of our stops was to Twin Falls to see our good friends, the Lusks. We first met the Lusks in Moscow when Ryan was doing his masters. We went to church the first Sunday, and Ryan leaned over to me and said, "that guy over there looks just like one of the guys I served with on my mission." He kept looking through the meeting and afterwards went and introduced himself, and sure enough--they had served together. So, we ended up moving into the same apt. complex and becoming great friends. Our kids were all a year apart, and they were one of the friends for life couples. We got together all the time. His wife Candria and I would see each other on the playground and soon our husbands would find their way when they got done with school. We discussed dinner and would OFTEN do it together. We played games and watched movies late into the night and morning. I would put my girls to bed at their house and it was just some great memories.

So, now they have a "real" job, (he is a vet) and a cute house, but still the cutest kids. Ryman is a year older than Lilly and years ago we joked that they were going to get married. Well, Ryman is the cutest boy and dressed up in his spiderman outfit and would save the girls from bad guys while they played house. It is nice to know that even though we are back in Texas, Lilly still talks about her boyfriend, Ryman. Why can't it turn out like the parents want? I think they look pretty cute together. I guess we'll have to see in about 20 some years. . .(Lilly can't get married until she is atleast 30).

We're back from summer break

We just recently got back from our summer vacation in Idaho. This year we were only to go once, so we made it a LOOOOOONG trip. The girls and I were there for a month and Ryan came for the last two weeks. It was a lot of fun and our girls cried when it was time to come back. It just spoils us to be with cousins and siblings all day and night for a month. During our stay we went to birthday parties, boating trips, Bearlake, Lava hot springs, Challis, etc. We did a lot of fun stuff with our families too. Thanks everyone for all the fun times, late nights, good food, and GREAT COMPANY. It is sad to think it will be a whole year until the next time, but we know how time flies.

Neither Lilly nor Maggie would go tubing the entire time we were there. Then on Monday afternoon (we left on Tuesday) they both got brave and tried it out, realized it was so fun, and didn't want to get out. So, next year we will try and convince them a little earlier! Lilly just loved the dune buggie at the cabin in Lava. It looks like Ryan enjoyed himself too! Our trip to Bear Lake was tons of fun. My brother in law, Marshall, brought these steaks for us to try that he bought from his work. They are a special breed of cow and the cut is the same type of meat they serve at the grammy awards. Boy did that spoil us and we ate like celebrities that night. I could get used to eating like that!!

Anyways, this email could go on and on, but just a great big thanks to all our families. We had a great and relaxing vacation and couldn't have asked for better company. We miss you all and are excited to see you again!! Love you all!