These Moments Go Too Fast

 Without fail, my heart smiles and melts with moments like these. 

I love you Baby Maya!

Pictures taken at Christensen's house on a weekend visit. July 23, 2011.

Christmas Eve at Great Grandma's house

A look around to see what was happening.

All were good sports to play the girls' new Princess Friends Forever game with them. Yes, even the men.

It is always so fun to see family and spend time with them.

Kool Aid Days

We went to visit cousins a few weekends ago and enjoyed the Kool Aid Day events. Here is our recap via pictures.

Aleah, Cousin Elizabeth and Nani on the train.

Proof I was there.

It got hot sitting and waiting for the train.

The Kool Aid Stand.

You buy a Kool Aid mug and then drink all the Kool Aid you want all day long. It was pretty good Kool Aid. They had some really good flavors! The invisible one was cool!

Aleah after her proud moment of going down the slide herself! Good job Roo, way to be brave!

Matthew took the little girls down the inflatable slide. I guess I didn't get a picture of the sliding.

She tried getting the Kool Aid mans attention several times. Maybe next year!

They had lots of games for the kids to play. They girls enjoyed it and so did we! I think we mostly liked being with our cousins!

A little cousin time on the pond

Almost 2 weeks ago, we visited my sister Shannon out in Missouri. They have a great property with a pond. They had built a small, cool boat to go out in the pond in. Aleah and Nani got to ride around in the boat a few times that day. They loved every part of it...being with their cousins, wearing cool life jackets, trying to row, being in the pond...They loved it all!

Happy Birthday Great Grandma

Last week was Great Grandma Rios' birthday. On Friday we went to visit her in Manhattan, KS, after Matthew finished work. It was a really quick visit, but we were so happy to be able to make it. Aleah had started coughing the day before and it wasn't too bad. The next day it was a little more and by the time we got to Grandma's she had a fever. Aleah wasn't into to taking pictures that night so we don't have very many. Here are a few.

She had to look cute to go visit Great Grandma, so that morning I put a big green juicy apple on her shirt to match the buttons on her skirt. I love it!

She thinks she is so funny making her grumpy faces.

As you can see, Aleah isn't feeling very well.

These a some pics on the yummy dessert Matthew made. I don't remember what it's called, but it's Angel food cake, some chocolaty whip, cherries and a little chocolate syrup.

Great Grandma we love you and we were happy we were able to visit.

Happy birthday!

Trip to Akron and Denver, CO

Starting the drive. It was about 6 hours. We had plenty of free rentals from Blockbuster, so the trip went rather well.
The next morning we went to the Denver temple. Grandpa watched the girls all day. What a Champ! Thanks Grandpa!

While we were in Denver, we saw 2 friends from Dental school. They were quick visits, but still good fun. (Only one pic.)

Then the next day we raked leaves with Grandpa, went to the park and did a little shopping.

I just wanted to put this picture because the girls are riding little toys that Matthew and his bro and sis rode when they were little. Isn't that so cool?

(So lame, I don't even have pics with grandma and grandpa. Obviously I need to get the camera out more.)

Conference weekend

(I'm trying to catch up again, so this is a quick run through)

The first weekend in Oct. we went to Hastings, NE for Mikey's baptism. We had a great time hanging out with family. Sat. morning we went to a museum in Kearney, NE. It was pretty cool. Here are a few pics.

Matthew warming his hands by the fire with some folks headed out for the Gold Rush.

That's right I'm in the mid-west now. Palin, can I get a woo woo?!

Then we headed back to Matthew's bro's house for Mikey's b-day party.

Having some good fun.

looking cute with frosting

more cuteness, the girls cuddling on the swing

and more, Aleah snuggling with her cousin, Sammy

The cousins on baptism day

beautiful ladies, Grandma and Aunt Missy

the Perry fam

another Perry fam.

the whole fam.

We did catch a litle conference, but caught the rest when we came home, via internet. btw, every talk from conference seem to answer every concern and gave comfort. Loved it!

Congrats again Mikey! So glad we could be there!

Matthew's Happy Birthday and weekend.

Matthew's cake

baked mac-n-cheese
(one of the food items Matthew made for his dinner)

Last Thursday, we celebrated the anniversary of Matthew's birth! It was a crazy fast day. We ran a few errands while Matthew was at work in the morning and then brought him and his co-workers fruit pizza. Then the girls and I filled Matthew's car with balloons and wrote happy birthday messages on his car windows. Then I packed us all up for the weekend in Kansas City. Too bad we weren't going for a little birthday trip, it was so that Matthew could go to an implant seminar by his boss. That night we went to IHOP for birthday breakfast. In KC, we stayed with Matthew's cousins. We had fun getting to talk and hang out with them and the girls loved playing with both Matthew's cousin and her husband. Then we headed home sat. afternoon and stopped on the way home for a baptism of one of my primary kids. Then when we got home we did chores. Then to finish up the busy weekend, we had some friends over for Matthew's birthday dinner. Well, it was supposed to be Matthew's birthday dinner, but he made almost everything himself, including his cake. I know I sound like a mean neglectful wife, but I promise, he said he wanted to do it.

I don't have any pictures, except the 2 I posted, sorry. Just imagine a picture of Matthew with a big smile and lots of balloons.

Happy Birthday Matthew we love you! We're so glad you were born and have had 33 years of blessing the lives of others and especially blessing our lives!