Napa rocks

There is this fun group Facebook that we follow called "napa rocks". People paint rocks and hide them around town for other people to find. It is a super cute idea and it gets the kids and adults out of the house and doing fun things together. 

The girls paint them and hide them and then they take pictures of where they hide them and we post the pictures online with a little clue. The pictures below are the ones that Cara took of where she hid her rocks. Haha. No much of a clue there- but cute either way. 

School work

Snippets of Ryann.  Seriously this girl is awesome. Except she doesn't believe in neat handwriting or spelling. But whatever. She is still pretty cute. 

Cara's first haircut (this year)

Her first haircut by someone other than auntie Devyn!!!

She got her hair thinned too which is a relief for us all- cause this girl has HAIR!!  I guess she takes after her mama. 

San Fran for a day

We took the kids to San Francisco to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. 

The kids were good sports and we had a lot of fun. 

Especially since we bribed them with ice cream! 

Red head

I went very red with my hair recently and I figure I would show solidarity for the two gingers in my family. I have since toned it down a little- but sure loved it while it lasted. 

Swim team

We have tried for some time to find a niche for Ryann. Ryann is amazing. She is a thinker- she ponders and doesn't react quickly. She is helpful and tries to find better ways to do things. She has her own timeline and somehow makes it all work during the chaos of our home and family. 

However,  She isn't super self motivated, she isn't very coordinated, didn't have fun at softball, lives in her own little bubble, didn't want to do soccer--- but along came the swim team--- and we thought we would try it out. She is getting better and better each day and she doesn't ever complain about it!!! It helps she swims with some cute boys I am sure. But she also is able to do things at her own pace. Hopefully she continues to like it- but if she doesn't then there is always basketball- right?

Here we are trying on swim caps. 

BYOC

Bring your own cup day at 7-11 was a hit for rich and the kids!!

Even when I am at work dad still does fun things!

First day of school

I feel like school started forever ago! I guess time sure does fly bye. It is harder to find time to blog now that I am not pumping each night at work. But either way- here are a couple pictures of my big girls starting school. Cara is second grade and Ryann is fourth grade. 

Hand me downs

Literally the best day of my girls' lives is when we get hand me downs. It is a major fashion show and they are in heaven. 

My little gymnast

My Cara is getting ready to "test" next week to see if she moves up a level in gymnastics. Less than a year and she is hoping to move up to level II. She goes twice a week, loves it, and hardly ever complains. 

Best day of work ever

My very first day off orientation at Kaiser was with my dad and my two sisters. How exciting is that? It was a great night and what love and support I felt the whole time. 

The park olympics

Our family didn't watch a lot of okympics because we don't have cable- but the girls saw enough gymnastics to know you need to be amazing to win the gold. 

So there they go. Flips and kicks and spins to try and win the gold medal from the park. Good thing there actually wasn't a metal becaus they were all so awesome. 

Adventures

One of the best things about having Devyn live in Napa this summer was all the adventures we went one. This adventure to Alston park was where it took us one hour to walk one mile. Oh the joys of fussy kids!

Relay for life

I had a crazy work schedule this year, but  a bunch of friends and I participated in the Napa relay for life to raise money for cancer research. I only got to spend an hour and a half there but it was so much fun. Next year I am totally bringing the whole family. 

6 flags

About a month ago Devyn and I took the kids to 6 flags. It was hot and the kids got tired quick, but we had a blast for those 3+ hours. I have season passes and we get people in free so thankfully we didn't have to stay all day to make it worth it. 

Mac was actually quite obsessed with roller coasters. 

Thanks to auntie Devyn- without her we might have been home after we got off the shuttle. 

Superman and little sister

Sometimes we get a little crazy at home!

The chair

Shelby's new favorite place to hang out is in this silly little chair Ryann got from her teacher at the end of the school year last year.  She loves it because she can climb up it herself. It also makes it easier for my monthly picture!

We made it!

I successfully made it to nursing each of my babies to the one year mark. 

I took a picture nursing at church to document the occasion.  

Float Mingo

Trying a little early for our Christmas card picture this year. 

Happy first birthday Shelby!!

This little girl is too much to handle. Her birthday party was a blast. Flamingo themed and pink and gold everything. 

We had her favorite foods- watermelon and pizza!

At one year old Shelby has 4 teeth, curly red hair, 1 dimple, loves to stand up and walk holding your hand, hates vegetables, no more bottles, nurses 2-4 times a day, sleeps at least 12 hours a night with 2 naps each day, weighs about 18 pounds, and is such a joy to be around. 

She is super ticklish, loves her siblings, loves to make messes- and purposefully makes messes! We have often found her playing in the toilet and with toilet paper. Yikes. 

She only says a couple words but loves to talk and yell and copy the sounds that you make. 

We love our Shelby shelbs. 

Another birthday

We picked out special flowers for grandma great's birthday a couple weeks ago. 

We sure miss her. 

But we are also thankful every day for her and the amazing life that she lived. I am so happy to know that families can be together forever. What a sweet and simple truth. 

Missionaries visit

There was a zone conference a couple weeks ago and some of our favorite missionaries (who am I kidding? They are all my favorites!!) came to visit. 

More party fun

And the parties continue!!

Food and fun and piñatas and water balloons and kiddie pools.  

Doesn't get much better than this!!