Do Over

So what do you do when you are two picture obsessed dorks when your phones died at Seaworld and you didn't get the pictures you wanted? Well obviously you go back the next day and take some of the photos you would have! And maybe they turn out even better because no one was there yet!














What a fantastic trip!

It was three full days of partying and celebrating the two cutest girls in the entire world turning six! And things couldn't have gone any smoother! I'm SO thankful that Gama Linda came with us! She was a huge help and we just adore her! And again I'm SO thankful to Paul, Susan, Derwin and Nana for making this possible!! But all good things have to come to an end.

I guess it's probably a good thing cause we are exhausted! Just ask Gamas who got kicked and snuggled to death by a little Riley all night!














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Seaworld!

The bad news is my stupid phone died half way through our day today and I didn't get half the pictures I wanted! We all know I'm such a big picture kinda girl so I was more upset about that then I probably should have been. But the good news is that we had such a fantastic day at Seaworld!! It was ridiculously fun! Even better then I had planned on!

Before the festivities began we had a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then we were at the park when it opened. We didn't get to everything we wanted to, but we had perfect weather, the girls were happy and so good and we all around had an absolutely amazing day!

Keags loved the Sesame Street show, Riley watched from a distance. The penguins were amazing. The Shamu Story was incredible. We were so close to the dolphins it was ridiculous. The diving, swimming, belugas and dolphins at the Azul show was probably my favorite. And the One World show was completely breath taking! We also rode the train, ate way to much and did some shopping! The girls each walked away with the cutest stuffed Shamu with a baby attached (cause we saw a baby killer whale), and Keagan picked out a water bottle and Riley picked out a shirt. Gamas also spoiled them with the cutest Shamu bubble guns!

The best part of the day was watching the girls faces and creating such great memories with them! They are only 5 for one more day and I'm pretty sure we ended this year well! Turning 6 has been so fun! I've already started trying to convince the girls to do this every year!

































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Road Trip!

It's birthday celebration weekend and we kicked it off well today! I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to have this weekend to celebrate the girls turning SIX! It was completely made possible by my wonderful boss Paul Hamm, his wife Susan and good friend Derwin Perkins! They donated Marriott points, tickets and even more funds to give us all an incredible weekend! Nana also contributed to the trip and we are ready to have a weekend to remember thanks to some really amazing people!

I am also so thankful that Gama Linda came with us! What should have been a 3 hour drive to San Antonio ended up being a 5 hour drive! Good glory we stopped a million times! But don't worry, one of those stops was at Bucees! If you're not from Texas then you probably don't know the glorious "GAStination" that is Bucees! Riley took over the crowded place and tried to order one of everything! It was hilarious!


Once we finally got to San Antonio we went straight to Kiddie Park. It's the cutest little vintage children's amusement park and is actually the oldest amusement park in the country! We seriously rode on a carrousel built in 1918! The girls had an absolute blast on all the rides and then adored their ponies Alfie and Skittles! Such a fun place!























Then we stumbled on the beautiful Breckenridge park and rode the fun Zoo Train!





And finally we checked into our beautiful hotel, the Courtyard Marriott that's across the street from Seaworld! Keagan unpacked and organized us and then we ate dinner downstairs before the girls crashed in total excitement for tomorrow!








Tomorrow we meet Shamu! We all can't wait for day two!

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Glow Party

I know school fundraisers are necessary in public schools, but I'm just not a big fan. Usually you end up buying cheap crap for way too much money that you didn't have to begin with. Well this year Brill did a genius campaign of straight donations. The "Write a Check" campaign was simple and keeps all of the money for our school. Sounds good to me!

The girls dad was very generous for this fundraiser, so the girls got to enjoy the fruits of that this week! On Wednesday they each got to sit at a special party lunch table with music and popsicles on the stage! Then today was the oh so exciting Glow Party!

The students that raised a certain amount of money got to leave class and come to the gym with all the windows blacked out, get glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets and got to party in all the strobe lights! They had a dance party, played fun games like bowling, fishing, hula hoops, and got popsicles again! They even got to meet a real American Ninja Warrior, Sam Sann who was there to sign autographs.

Both girls had a blast! Riley was beyond delighted with all the energy and fun around her! She was so busy I couldn't even get a picture of her. And I'm certain both girls cheeks must have hurt from smiling so much!

I was smiling too because I was standing with Keagan and some of her friends when Riley came in the gym. Keags went straight to Riley and was so happy to see her. She gave her such a big hug that she picked her up off the ground! I almost didn't go help with the party but I'm sure glad I didn't miss seeing that!

Well done Brill PTO! We loved it!




















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Confrence Weekend

Twice a year we get to go to church in our jammies! That just means we watch General Conference on TV and have the huge blessing of hearing from a modern day prophet, apostles and leaders of Christ's church.

Nana is now home from Utah and the rehab center. So she was here to watch some of it with us! And between sessions on Sunday we took Raquel to the airport and thanked her for bringing Nana home. Then we had a picnic and watched planes land!


What a fantastic weekend it was! There were a lot of messages that spoke directly to me. And I'm so thankful to the Lord's servants who I know deliver His messages to us. Here are my favorite quotes of things I learned. And yes I tried to narrow them down.

Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Take time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. – Richard G Scott

When all is said and done, the home is the ideal forum for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. –Tad R Callister

Seeking the Kingdom of God leads to joy and happiness. –Allen F Packer

We are not here in this life just to waste our time, grow old, and die. God wants us to grow and achieve our potential. –Carlos A Godoy

Rise above any rationalizations that prevent us from making righteous decisions, especially with respect to serving Jesus Christ. –Quentin L Cook

Lowering the Lord’s standards to Society’s inappropriate behavior is apostasy. –Lynn G Robbins

Physically walking where Jesus walked is less important than walking as He walked. –President Thomas S Monson

Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible to endure those challenges. –Richard G Scott

The church is a home for all to come together, regardless of the depth or the height of our testimony. I know of no sign on the doors of our meetinghouses that says, “Your testimony must be this tall to enter.” –Dieter F Uchtdorf

Decisions determine destiny. –President Thomas S Monson


If the Restoration did anything, it shattered the age-old myth that God has stopped talking to His children. –Russell M Nelson

By asking sincere questions, and receiving divine answers, we learn precept by precept. –Larry S Kacher

As parents we can teach our children to pray for the things of eternal consequence. –Tad R Callister

Kindness is powerful. –Dallin H Oaks

Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. –Richard G Scott

The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the cleanser necessary to be made pure and clean. –David A Bednar

Are my decisions firmly planted in the rich soil of the gospel of Jesus Christ? –Larry S Kacher

When we build our hose upon Him, the rains…may descend, the floods may come, the winds may blow, but we will not fall. –Robert D Hales

The words of the prophets in the scriptures…are words of comfort, love, strength and good cheer that will embrace us all. –Carol Louise McConkie

Loving kindness is required, but a follower of Christ, just like the Master, will be firm in the truth. –Dallin H Oaks

When others demand approval in defiance of God’s commandments, may we always remember whose disciples we are, and which way we face. –Lynn G Robbins

Nothing else, no other choice we make, can make of us what He can. –President Thomas S Monson








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World Cerebral Palsy Day

To celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day all three of us wore green today. But much more importantly, Riley JUMPED for the very first time ever! It was in physical therapy, on a trampoline, and both her feet purposely left the ground! This is seriously huge and something we've been working on for awhile. We are both so excited!

Riley's CP diagnosis is the one that effects her the most physically. It's the diagnosis that she has to physically battle the most everyday. But thankfully she proves more and more each day that she is winning that battle!

She is a rockstar! A rockstar that just happens to have cerebral palsy.


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It Continues!

And the more then usual sisterly love and kindness continues! Keagan even wanted to put Riley's shoes on her last night. What a sweet sister and good helper! Somebody get that girl a "pa-cicle!" She deserves it!



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