Pre-baby party

Before Ammon was born, we had a few last fun times with just the 3 kids. Lea and I had a girls night out - she's definitely her mother's daughter......to which I'm sure she will cringe in her later years to hear that, but she is. We went (at her suggestion) to McDonald's for dinner, Target to buy a CD (Kidz Bop), then to QT to buy a drink and some treats for her and her siblings and daddy.  Sweet girl. :)

The other silly kids: Abbey was dressed like Lucas and "talking" on her 'phone' - a number 1 puzzle piece. Lucas - he's just silly. :)

Visitors

Grandma Judy came to help for 2 weeks; Eric, Sharolyn & Kaibrey came to visit; and Grandpa came to visit too!! Grand total of 11 people in a 1300 sq ft home......we were cozy, but it was so much fun!! :) We welcome visitors at any time!

 Kaibrey, Abbey, Lea, Ammon and Lucas

 FINALLY!

After dinner at Red Robin, we went to the Mesa Temple to visit the Visitors Center - an appropriate thing to do with visitors. haha. :)

We decided to have the kids (Jeff too) get some energy out and run laps in the grassy area outside the visitors center.

 The 'glares' to the right of Lea is Jeff and Abbey

 She really was happy about the running. :)

Ammon's first bath - gross cord finally fell off. He's thrilled....

 3 Risenmay generations

 The brothers spent a lot of time here......every night.

 the girls played close by - Abbey loved having a 'little sister'.

 Isn't she sweet!

Bye Uncle Eric!!

Family outing with Grandma

So we decided to go on a little family adventure with Grandma Judy before she left. We headed to an "Oasis in the Desert"........at 8 am to a little place called Tres Rios, next to a water treatment facility - sounds exciting huh? If you saw this picture you'd be excited to check it out.

Doesn't it look so peaceful and beautiful!?

Well, it wasn't so bad to start out: heat was still at a minimum 90 degrees and off we went. Armed with water and sunscreen. We found the above location and it was less than beautiful like my friend's picture (borrowed from Candace). Imagine a more jungle atmosphere, ducking under the weeds, bugs EVERYWHERE!, and Jeff's mom leading the way (insert SCREAM!!). She walked into this MASSIVE spiderweb - covered the path from one side to the other. I kid you not the spider was as big as my palm........ACK! Jeff helped her clear the web out of her hair and face (bluh!) and we continued to the gazebo - COVERED IN BUGS!!!! Time to go. Candace had these great photos of her boys crawling around, enjoying the gazebo......there were no bugs or even webs in her pictures. :)

Jeff walked down another path on the other side, he walked in, disappeared, then reappeared and seriously his clothes were ALIVE with ants............definitely time to leave. Judy and I quickly brushed them and and we hurried home to shower and get rid of that buggy feeling.

Everywhere we walked, the ground had these dark lines. Nope! ANTS, ANTS, ANTS!!!! I wish I had a picture of it, but I didn't want to stand still for more than 2 seconds or they started to climb. They were in Abbey's crocs and I had had enough - so long Tres Rios, so long. :)
It was an adventure and I quickly lost my enthusiasm for this place - maybe we'll give it another shot....maybe.

BYE GRANDMA JUDY!!

Blessing day

For most of August, I was out of it, so not much family time was documented. We blessed Ammon at home and had a an enjoyable time with friends and family. Thank you all for coming!!

 Chris Wallin (our faithful and loved hometeacher), G-pa Riz, Jeff & Ammon, Geoff, Uncle Steven, Scott and Uncle Eric

 Abbey misses her Erin

 the kid party in Lea's room

 shhhhhh.......these moments are few and far between - the one where they sit still and where they get along :)

 Abbey, Ally and Ammon

AZ cousins!!!

Little ones

Ammon Earl - 8/11/10

4 kids, really!?

Baby Brudder - Ammon

STATS: 7lbs 4 oz, 21 inches long and cute as can be - beginning stages of male-pattern baldness and looks just like Jeff. :)
So excited to have him here - not so excited to be recovering from major surgery... a few cute moments already.

My sister Kristin has been here with her 3 girls - Aubrey (14), Elizabeth (11), Calla (9). My kids love these girls although I was really nervous for Abbey - she is a MOMMA's girl to no end. ONLY MOM can do anything for her. Turns out I can be replaced for a few days by Kristin, but not anyone else. :)

She brought the kids to the hospital the first day: Abbey "Hi mommy!, hi mom, hi mommy, hi!" 

Lucas walks right over to Ammon and pulls the little hat off and says "Does he have red hair like me?" As he was sitting on Jeff's lap with Ammon, he unwrapped to find his little toes and count them. He loves this baby more than I could have ever hoped for!

Boys night - Jeff took Lucas (since he was surrounded by girls all day and night) out on Friday night for a boys night. Trying to figure out what he might want to do, Jeff asked him:

What's your favorite thing to do Lucas?

Feed my baby brother. (Awwwwwww....... :))

The girls love Ammon too - Lea is fascinated by all the little things - "He opened his eyes all the way.....he did (insert whatever was done)......." and Abbey just keeps a close eye on him all the while not leaving my side since we walked in the door. She missed her momma and I missed them.

First day of school - Aug 2010

Lea started 2nd grade at Vista Del Sur Traditional School. After having 2 years of wonderful teachers - Mrs. Gardner and Mrs. Noyes, we are looking forward to another great year with Mrs. Zwick. More pics to come of the first day - just a little comparison from 1st grade to 2nd. So cute!

1st day of school last year - 2009

this year - 2010

More of day one: 2nd grade!!! :)

I've officially given up on getting a decent picture. :)

Okay not bad.....

At the school, headed to class

Abbey wouldn't look at me so she got cut out of the picture.....she snuck into the corner. :)

Lea and her friend Laura Lisonbee (they sat by each other for one day.......Lea was moved back a row because there was a newer student to the class). I was quickly informed (because I told her to be careful not to get in trouble for talking) that she was moved for the new student and not because they were talking. :)

One last picture - BYE LEA!!!! :)