Learned a new trick...

Can you guess what it is??
Emily are you jealous?

Back to the Grind

School started...wah-waaah.
The kids were excited and I was sad.
You can tell they all have first day jitters and excitement...

The Fourth

Nothing is better than celebrating the fourth at the

Deseret Ranch Rodeo!
It's our own slice of Americana!

I was able to capture this gem of a photo!
Love my girl and my country!

Read Me

This boy loves to read!
He is second out of all the first grade classes for his AR (Accelerated Reader) points!! Woohoo!

He got a trophy and a t shirt for completing his goal of 150 points! And he kept going by the last day of school he had 195 points! The majority of kids in his class had 30-50 points.
I'm totally bragging about this because I had nothing to do with it!
He did it all on his own!
Makes me feel like he just might be on the right track!

He was awarded his trophy by the Harmony High Baseball team. And gave the players and coach high fives down the line. Rett just might have more AR points than those jocks!...okay, now I'm just being annoying.

Good job Mr. Rett Rooster!

My Sweet Mama

I have been dreading this post because I knew it was next in line...

My sweet grandmother on my mom's side past away on Easter day.
We were lucky enough to have gone down to Miami the weekend before on one of her last good and conscious days.

We love her and miss her.
Can't wait to see her sweet face again and tell her how much I love her.

Family is what it is all about and I love mine.

Her hospice room was very calming and family friendly.
Beautiful Brynn.
My amazing mom has cared for her parents with such love, patience, and empathy.
She was with her all day and many nights.
She was the only one with Mama early Easter morning kneeling by her bedside when she left this earth.

She loved her great grandchildren so much!She kept looking around the room at each face saying, "I so happy."

There are so many things I will remember about my mama. Some of them are:
Sunkist soda, her delicious tuna salad that she always had ready in her fridge, the color khaki, paddle boating in her lake, the smell of her clean organized house, how she always told me she thought I looked so pretty, Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album, her love of all things Ralph Lauren, chorizo and muenster cheese on cuban bread toasting in her counter top oven, and the first time she held Emree who was her first great grandchild.

Those are cherished final memories in that room! We love you Mama!

Soccer Champ

Lil' Rye guy is playing some soccer these days...

Well, as much as a five year old that has no clue how to play, can play.

Getting some pointers from the coach.

Getting in the zone before going out on the field.

It's hot out there people! He needs his water breaks...

He even has the cutest little cheerleader! Who also cheers for her big brother...

Who happens to be Rye's best bud at church, school, and on the field! These boys are pretty intense together. They love hard, play hard, and fight hard.
The coach has learned the hard way to play them at different times because when they are
hot, tired, and crabby from playing there will be tears and arguing on the field during the game!
But they do love each other most of the time.

I want to re-live this day

This guy down here planned such a fun day for us...

He loaded up the boat, boys, bait and brought along the girls.

This would look really yummy if you were a fish.

The three fishermen in my life.

Rita was a trooper with her huge honkin' vest.

They reeled 'em in while I sat back and watched. Loved it.

We caught a whopper...

Love all four of these kids.

There was a dolphin swimming by us...bottom right of the bird.

Joey docked us at a park and the kids played...
She gets her sweet pumping action from me.

Is there anything better than a happy girl?...Oh yeah, and Rita was pretty happy too.

Superman wanted to fly.

My Latin lover.

After the park Joey docked us at a fun restaurant on the water.

We ate and then the kids played in the sand.
There was a live band playing and the weather was BEAUTIFUL.

Can not believe I'm typing this...
but anytime you want to take us fishing Babe, I'm game!

Photography Don'ts

With my new camera in the bag
and inspiration galore
I am ready to be a photographer.

If only it were that easy.
I am pathetic.
It is a s....l....o....w learning process.

So here are tips from a complete novice on what NOT to do.

Don't go outside by yourself with your one year old thinking you'll get stunning photos.

Don't keep calling her name thinking that will get her attention.

Don't get frustrated when everything is coming out wrong.

Don't forget to be aware of clothing craziness and
making your one year old look pregnant.

Thank you, Rita. This is exactly how I feel.

Crawler to Toddler

A little over a month ago Miss Pita stopped doing this...

and this...

and she stopped walking in this...

and started being my little walker girl...

We are so happy/sad about this!

Boys Club (and sometimes two girls)

Any given day these boys, Jack Jack, Emree, and Rita are playing outside.
They are quite the crew and they have a good 'ole time doing what kids are supposed to be doing...
PLAYING!