Well, Riley turned SEVEN on the first day of August!!! We love him soooooo much. I love having a little boy, and watching him grow and become "cool" is so fun. Ben and I took him to McDonald's for lunch while our good friend Jill watched Malia. It was so fun to just hang with Riley and give him all our attention.
I think, for once, this is a picture where he and I look alike! I just want to gobble him up!
Talk about a perfect McDonald's poster picture! I know Happy Meals aren't the healthiest, but they sure are fun, and they DO include apples.
We gave him a few presents here at McD's. But the best was yet to come......
BUNNIES! Riley had been wanting them sooooooo badly, and for the whole month of July, not a day went by when I wasn't asked about the possibility of him owning a bunny. I knew all along we were getting him a bunny, but I didn't want HIM to know so I was constantly stalling when he'd ask. I can't tell you how many times I said "We'll see."
This is "Charlotte", named by Riley. He met this bunny before we got her, and fell in love with her. She really is cute! This is the bunny Riley was hoping for.
We decided to get two female (we hope) bunnies so Charlotte wouldn't be lonely, so meet "Charly", also named by Riley. I'm glad we have two. It is just as easy as one, and they are sisters!
Here is the house, pre-birthday party. I kind of went crazy! It took so long I left it up for a few days...and then I really was going crazy. My kind mother took it all down for me, and I felt much better.
We had quite a turnout for the party! I think 15 kids came, and we invited 16. It was insane, but nothing went wrong, everyone had fun, nobody got hurt, and Riley had fun so I'd call it a success.
Ben was home to help.....YAY!!!!
All the kids turned their water balloons on Ben, with my permission of course! That was the best! They loved it!
Is this safe? Don't the trampoline instruction manuals say "One person at a time." ? Or does it say "Fifteen kids at a time?" Hmmmmmm...must not be that important.
Wow that's a lot of six/seven year olds! They all loved the angry bird cake. I loved it too. I also love Walmart....they made the cake.
Can't believe that I didn't get a decent picture of this pinata before it was thrashed! It was so much work, and took several days with all the drying and layers and painting involved. Well, it's and angry bird pinata, and was filled with bags of gummy worms (bird food, right!).
One thing we really want to improve on as a family is reading the children's scriptures nightly as a family. Kortley was here for a sleep over, and they all looked so cute in their jammies.
Birthday presents from Grandma and Grandpa Cook. They got Riley a cool plier/knife combo and a lantern/flashlight. These are perfect for him!
I went to Park City with some of my pals from the neighborhood. I always have such a great time with them. I would be heartbroken if I ever had to leave the neighborhood because I truly love my neighbors!
On a whim we took the kids on an overnight date to SLC. Liberty park has rides and fun playgrounds. As you can see in the picture, Riley is tall enough to ride pretty much anything now!
Walking along in the little stream area that represents the water flowing from the many canyons in Salt Lake's mountains. It's kind of cool.
We stayed at Little America, and the room was pretty nice!
Malia loved this game of being pulled into the pool by Dad. Riley was OBSESSED with the swimming pool, just like he is anytime we go to a Hotel.
We ate at Zupa's......really YUMMY. My salad was killer. Everything was so good.
Geez they are practically twins!
Temple square was the greatest. The kids loved this room, with the statue of Christ. Ben and I hadn't been there in quite a while. It was really, really nice to be there.
One of the beautiful fountains. It's fun to go at night, when everything is lit up.
After the temple we walked over the the new City Creek Center. It is very upscale, and fun to walk around.
LAZY! I love it when Malia sleeps in. Doesn't happen to much any more, but with the room darkening in the hotel, she snoozed until 10!
As I'm typing this, it is nearing the end of August. I am so excited for Fall! I have recently oriented to Pediatrics, Mother/Baby, and starting tomorrow I will begin orienting to NICU. I am really excited to be able to go to those areas, but it is overwhelming to be used in so many places in the hospital, and in other hospitals. I think in a while I would like to settle down in some area of the women's and children's nursing. For now I can be called to 4th floor (ortho/neuro), 6th floor (med/surg), 7th floor (med/oncology), Rehab, Mother/Baby at all three hospitals, Pediatrics at two hospitals, and soon NICU! Phew.
Things are going well for Ben. We have been a one car family for a month. Blah! But are getting a new car very soon, which will be Ben's commuter car. He is also starting school next week, two classes. He is majoring in Business Management. I think that will be good for him. But life is so busy, I hope we can make it work and still have a little peace!
Riley just started 2nd grade! And Malia had her first dance class today! Pictures to come...
