A quick update...

I know I have been terrible at posting lately... but you would be too if you were in my shoes. This has been my heaviest quarter at school. I am a part time student but I actually have 11.5 credits. That is only a half credit away from being considered full time. So you add that onto my already busy life of wife, mom, housekeeper, cook, etc....well, I think you get the idea. I am not super woman, people, and I can't do it all!! I am having so much trouble keeping house lately especially. And my kids are suffering too. Thank goodness eleven weeks from now I will be a graduated, licensed massage therapist! Yes, that means you have 11 weeks to get a free massage. Trust me, you should be taking advantage of this!!! (if you live close by, of course).
Finals are this week. I have one on Tuesday, one on Wednesday, and one on Thursday. Luckily, I finished up one class last week. I had my Trigger Point final which I was scared out of my mind about but guess what? I breezed through it and maintained that 4.0 somehow. WHEW. I think the finals this week I have remaining should be less stressful than that one since it was the class I least enjoyed this quarter.
Not much is new. The girls are cute as ever and growing everyday. Talking rarely stops. Riley's vocabulary is of course expanding and she forgets nothing. But Isabelle is really impressing too. Speaking full sentences sometimes. I am amazed with them both daily and the things they come up with. I wish I would write down the things they tell me. But I don't and then I forget. Although, the other afternoon we were out running errands when Riley declared, "I'm so hungry, mommy. I want the Olive Garden." Yes. She is my daughter!!! We share a love of Olive Garden. Then again, who doesn't love it there??! Here are a few photos from the month of July. I have been so slacking on photo opportunities lately.
Isabelle wearing Trav's goggles. HAHAHA I love this pic!
Riley actually requested I take a picture of her.
All sprawled out
Izzy snuggling with Aunt Randee
All the other aunts should be jealous... Randee is quickly taking the position of favorite!
Riley wanted in on this photo-op.
Messy Spaghetti face. But she is oh-so-irresistible anyway!

ENOUGH PICTURES, ALREADY MOM!!!!
Riley fell asleep on the couch one afternoon with her feet between the back cushions. Just thought she looked so sweet. She rarely naps anymore. And she gets absolutely lost on our over-sized sofa!

Stuff from a few weeks back...

In June (for Father's Day weekend, to be exact) my dad was in town visiting.
The girls always have so much fun when Grandpa Gary visits!

Another recent happening was Riley getting a nice shiner on her forehead. I didn't hear this happen...so I was surprised to check on the girls playing one afternoon and see a bruise on Riley's forehead. I promise there was no crying...

Anyway, I asked her what happened...but what do you expect an almost 3 year old to say? All I could get out of her was that she "bonked" her head on "the door". So. There you go. She hadn't even realized it left a mark until I showed her in the mirror. Then she got a really concerned look on her face!
The day it happened...

A little harder to see it here...
And a couple days later...

Finally, one picture of Isabelle. She is so sweet! And oh, how she loves her blankie!

Mondays are for posting...

...and putting off all the things you had wanted to get done! I was going to start working out again today. I read an article a couple weeks ago that said you are more likely to stick with a workout/diet plan if you start it on a Monday...well, here is another Monday come and gone. Ok, I know Monday isn't over yet...but if I didn't work out early enough in the day, forget it...it is a lost cause. And although I have procrastinated somewhat, I DID clean our shower, do a couple loads of laundry, and put dinner in the crock pot, so I guess it isn't a total loss....

Now for the posting!

On Thursday evening we left for Southeast Idaho. We spent the night at Aunt Dot and Uncle Rich's house in Shelley. Thanks again for sharing your home with us! The girls loved playing with the dogs and the puppies are absolutely adorable!!!

Then Friday morning we got up and made a few stops in Idaho Falls where Adam and Darcy were shopping for the day. After that we made an essential stop in Rexburg at Craigo's where we had lunch with a friend. Oh my gosh! I miss Craigo's!!! It was delicious!

Friday afternoon we finally made it to our destination: West Yellowstone, MT where Darcy and Adam are spending their second summer working for the Playmill Theater. I was able to see two of Adam's shows. And Travis and the girls joined me for one on Saturday, I went to Friday night's show of "The Secret Garden" by myself. Heavenly. Anyway, Riley did really well and I think maybe we have a budding dancer/singer/actor (no surprise there). Isabelle was still a bit young to appreciate it all. She sat really well for the pre-show entertainment...but not long into the show, she had had enough. Thank you to Darcy for keeping her in the box office with her!
Saturday morning we went into the park...and it was so full of tourists (shocking...busy on a holiday weekend! HA!) that we soon turned around and changed our minds. What a bummer. We went to a Bear and Wolf museum that was pretty awesome though and at least THERE, the girls were able to see some animals!

And now, for a plethora of pics!
One of the bears we saw, enjoying some frozen KoolAid



I couldn't help it, but looking at these wolves all I could think of was NEW MOON coming out this fall!!!!!!!


I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pics of Riley's face!

Family pic!! Awesome massive teddy bear. These pictures were taken Thursday night on our way... I thought for sure Isabelle would go to sleep. WRONG. She didn't go to sleep until probably 11 pm that night at Aunt Dot's house. And that was just the beginning of her horrible off schedule weekend!

Hiding under her blanket!
This is Riley pretending to be asleep! Sweet, funny girl!
This was Saturday in the car after we turned around to leave the park due to the high volume of traffic. Isabelle got in a 10 minute nap. That's it. That was her ONLY nap on Saturday. The rest of the day was absolute torture. For her and us.
Riley and Uncle Adam, whom she adores.

Adam is gonna be such a good dad! Can't wait for that baby in October! YAY for a new cousin!!! And for the first BOY cousin!

Apple juice break!