Her FIRST, Last Day of School

I've read a few other blogs with posts of their childs last day of school, and read their sad sentiments. I've never been a super sentimental person, and thought, pfffft, whats the big deal, they'll go back in the fall!


Well, there I was sitting at my childs last day of her FIRST year of preschool, watching her laugh, and scream, while jumping with her friends in the bounce house.... and.... I started tearing up. I heard someone call her name, and I flashed back to when we chose her name, and thinking how tiny she was then, and how big she is now! And that the growing will never stop.

I was just in awe at how fun and sweet and innocent and simply wonderful she is. And how easy it is to make her laugh these days (seriously, try it, she'll laugh at anything)
So, for those super sentimental Mama's out there, I feel ya!

Anyways, I just love my little girl! Here are some pictures of her last day:

Riley with her teacher, Miss Bri

Riley and her buddy Esmeralda

Cute face painting, she chose a rainbow

She had, um, 4 snow cones!!!
It was a very fun day!

I just got this message in my e-mail!

Hello Riley,
You have been assigned a talk on Sunday June 13 in Primary (during closing exercises, 11:40-12). The theme for the month is "The Holy Ghost Testifies of the Truth of All Things."

See you on Sunday!

Thanks,
Sister Lopez

Her first talk in church! I can't wait, and yet I'm totally nervous! Any of you "older Mom's" have any advice??

Our Camping Trip

We went camping for the 2nd year in a row up in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We are so glad that our friends were willing to have us again this year with their family! We were even lucky enough to have my sister and her kids join us for 2 days! We stayed for 5 days this time, and made it pretty much without any catastrophes. We did all the normal stuff, take a look at some pics!

Chloe helping to get all our stuff set up in the tent

The girls were so happy to see their friends

Riley fell asleep while everyone else took a hike, when she woke up, she was so disappointed that she didn't get to go, so me and her went together. I enjoyed this time so much, we had a really great conversation the whole way up!

Dad's getting her all pumped for the hike.

This hike was .5 miles, and half way up Riley gets tired! Guess I need to get her out more often

Can one ever get enough s'mores??

We hit the beach on a beautiful Day!

Here's my baby Chloe - isn't her little bum the cutest!?!

We hiked a 4 mile hike (aka "The banana slug hike") Because of all the banana slugs to be found! Sorry I didn't take any pics of these, I think they are gross.

I love this hiking backpack! Chloe slept for an hour in this, while on the hike!

The kids got their feet wet in the river, and in Riley's case, her entire pants. Can you picture the screaming and discomfort as we still had quite a ways to walk with her soaked pants??

We didn't let Chloe go in the river, she's just a little too little, so we entertained her with pictures and climbing. I love her little hand on my neck here :)

The hike ends in the big trees. So cool!
That was our last day! What a good time!!!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

If you visit the bay Area, this place is a must! Riley had a school field trip there, and we all had so much fun, everything is so beautiful!

Riley and all her classmates.

This was the prettiest thing, it was an entire room with a Ginormous tank.

This is Chloe pointing.

Riley & her buddy Esmeralda

Riley & her buddy Michael

Summer's almost here!

A few things we love about Summer:

Otter Pops

You can never get enough, seriously

The Sandbox

Love/hate relationship: Kids get hours of play,

I spend all day cleaning sand off the floor.

Fresh Cali Fruit
Mike whipped this dish up on Mothers Day (so cute)

Flip Flops
Wish I could wear them year round

The Beach
Don't get me started
(You just might get sick of beach pictures this summer)

My Favorite Season!

Thanksgiving in the Spring

Last week, I made this recipe that came from my Mom, its called Turkey Casserole.

It tasted so yummy and comforting, it reminded us of Thanksgiving. Its easy too!

Try it!

2 boxes of prepared stuffing
2 cups of diced, cooked turkey (I only had chx breasts, it still tasted great)

Place cooked stuffing on the bottom of a 9x13
Add turkey on top of stuffing

Topping
Cook all together in pan until thick:
1/2 c butter (I used smart balance)
1/2 c flour
2 c chicken broth
1/2 c milk
1 tsp salt
2 well beaten eggs

Pour over turkey

Top with 1/2 cup bread crumbs
Bake 35o for 20-25 minutes, or until topping is cooked through.

Serve with Cranberry Sauce.

Yumm! Enjoy your Thanksgiving in the spring!!

I'm doing this post every year!

Its beach season, Baby!

Here's last years :)

Morning Conversation with Riley

R: Mom, everyone at church is prettier than me

Me: what did you say??

R: I said, all my friends at church look much prettier than me, with their dresses and long hair!

Me: Riley, you are beautiful and pretty and gorgeous, and you don't ever need to think that someone is prettier than you. You are great just the way you are!

R: You mean I'm PRETTIER than everyone else?? (with a big smile)

Me: Well, lets say you are pretty JUST like everyone else is pretty.

She was OK with that.

{I must admit, my very first thought was YES, you and Chloe are the most beautiful things I have ever seen! - but not sure it would translate, should she tell her friends, don't all Mom's think their kids are the cutest?}

I swear she is a teenager wrapped in a 4 year old body.

Utah 2010

We visited St. George, Utah this April for a baby blessing of our new baby niece Emily. My parents just bought a house there too, so that was fun to be in the adorable new home they bought!

The entire family was there. It sure was a busy time, and super fun too! Here's just a little peak from our trip:

Our Easter Dresses (Taken the week before due to General Conference)

Easter Baskets from the Easter Bunny! I might phase out the Easter Bunny next year, the thought of a big ol' bunny in the house kinda freaks me out!

Jumping Jacks in St. George. Its just this big warehouse with bouncy stuff and slides, the kids had a blast!!

The kids loved playing in Jon & April's driveway with all their scooters and bikes! They were pretty much here the entire time we would be at their house! Riley and Lauren

We went to this super cool FREE water park in St. George. I am totally wishing we had one of these here. It was clean, safe, and I didn't have to get in with them! They loved it!

This is Chloe contemplating whether or not to enter...she's my scaredy cat.Aunt Traci, Mama, and Chloe

Where'd all the boys go? This is all the girl cousins (minus baby Emily)

Left to right: Camryn, Haleigh, Riley, Chloe, Lauren

We enjoyed a big picnic at this great park! You could climb the mountain in the back of us, not to mention the great play structure that was covered from the sun!