FIRST DAY OF DANCE!!!

Today was Rylee's FIRST DAY of DANCE CLASS! I don't know who was more excited? Me or her? We have been talking about her dance for quite some time... We have been reading "Emily's Dance Class", naming her friends who are in her class: Belle, Sophia & Avery! Yesterday we made a stop by the studio to see the 'real balerinas' dancing- the anticipation was killing us:) Then last night, Rylee layed out the dance outfit she wanted to wear to her first Dance class! She chose Hannah's leotard, her new skirt, and the pretty dance shoes Daddy bought her months ago:
Last night Steve asked me what I fed Ry for dinner, and wanted to make sure I gave her a CARB LOAD!!! Ha ha ha:) Well, maybe it was the eggs we ate at breakfast, cuz Rylee was so excited when we got to dance this morning, she ran right in, sat down by her friends, and didn't even care if I was stayin or leavin! (which NEVER happens).
It was honestly about the cutest dang thing I have ever seen! I had to post a little video clip or two for you to get a small taste of how stinkin sweet it was:
TIPPY TOES:


WATCH THEM TWIRL:


Here are our beautiful, graceful, future Ballerina's!!!

Amelia is 10 months?!

Wow- how time FLIES!!! I cannot believe Amelia is already 10 months? I took some cute pictures of her... look at this sweetest little face!
Oh, and don't mind the marks on her poor little noggin- sadly enough, it is a regular occurrence around here. Don't turn me in to DCFS, it's just our adventurous, crazy little Milly who is always bonkin her head on somethin tryin to do everything her big sister does! She's gonna be one tough little cookie! But, as crazy as she is, she is a CUDDLY little love- we recently discovered she loves to hug/pat/cuddle people and babies (even though she's a baby herself). So, we gave her a little teddy bear and baby doll, and she lays her head on it and says "awh..." It's SO SWEET!

BEAR LAKE

For Labor Day weekend, we went up to the Ralphs' grandparents cabin! We spent the weekend relaxing by the beach while the weather was still warm, and Steve helped Greg & Alan build a deck! It's always nice to relax somewhere fun like this!

Sittin on the back porch Swing:













Good Mornin Grandpa Alan:













Milly LOVES Melon! Sittin with Tiff, & cousins Addy & Easton:












BEACH BUMS:

Pineview Dam

After our fun morning up in Park City after the big run, we went up to Pineview Dam to my Dad's lakehouse and spent the day on the lake!

I just figured- what else can I do to work out my exhausted legs... OH! A PATTLE BOAT! perfect- Ya, we didn't get too far:) ha ha...

Nice action shot of all the wave-runner-ers...

My 1st 1/2 Marathon!!!

Saturday morning I ran in the
PARK CITY 1/2 MARATHON!

I officially ran farther than I have ever run... 13.1 miles! That's right, I DID IT!!! Ya, you can just call me Pheidippides:)

I finished in 2:01 hours, averaging 9.2 minute miles- which was pretty good for me, considering I have never enjoyed running before, & I used to think that a 5K was a big feat (3 miles? please, that's a WARM UP!)...

I ran the race with my friend Erin Dane- Well, lets just say I started the race with her, but after 3 miles her competitiveness kicked in and she was marching up that 7 mile hill a little too fast for me, and she left me, slightly discouraged and music-less. So, even though I was used to chatting away while I run (to take my mind off how far I had left, my aches & pains, etc), I chugged each mile along by enjoying the beautiful scenery and making a few friends along the way! I guess it was for the best, however, because I was able to finish the race on my own- which I would have not before thought possible! Also, I conserved my energy in order to finish strong- running through the finish line!
Those last 2 miles were the WORST, because I thought it seemed so short, & I felt like I should be seeing the finish line any second, but 2 miles was still 2 miles. Everything was all worth it when I heard my father in law Blaine yell: "yeah Jamie", then, just around the corner I saw little Rylee Jo on her Daddy's shoulders waving her hand off, yelling "hi mommy!!!" There was Blaine, Becky, Steven Ry & Milly! Man, that was an emotional moment right there... All my biggest fans, there to cheer me on through the finish line! YAHOO!!!
I DID IT- I finished my first 1/2 Marathon!

...Now, one may ask- on to a full Marathon? Well, that was once a goal/ dream of mine... but now? Umm, maybe not so much! I may just stick with the 1/2's. A half was perfect- I pushed myself super hard, but didn't kill myself. So, we'll have to see if I ever do a full? (but maybe next time when steve decides to sign us BOTH up for a race, he'll actually run it with me? And not just get the awesome t-shirt...) ha ha ha:)

MESSY MILLS

I turn my back for ONE SECOND...

BUSTED!
ha ha ha:) I LOVE moments like this! You wanna be bugged (especially when you're tryin to hurry out of the house) but you can't even get mad cuz it's so funny & she's just in heaven! Watch crazy Milly go to town:

THAT FAMOUS PRESTON NIGHT RODEO!

The annual night in Preston Idaho with the Ralphs' family...
August 1st 2008:

1st THE PARADE:
Rylee (& STEVE!) collected TONS of candy

Milly found some candy too?

Steve's really just so proud he got the most candy:

2nd- THE RODEO:

Awh, Cowgirl thinks it's a little too loud???

Ha ha, I thought this was funny... cute picture gone bad:

3rd- THE CARNIVAL/ RIDES:
Rylee's Romantic ride on the Ferris Wheel with her one true love...

UH-OH... looks like a little competition? Cuddlin' up to Cohen?

Milly or Rylee....you make the call!!

A

B

5 YEARS!

Steve & I have been married 5 years now, Wow!

While we were in California last week, Steve & I went back to the place we stayed for our HONEYMOON! It was AWESOME to go back... we ate at good 'ol Gina's Pizza, and saw the beautiful beach:

Laguna Beach, California- July 2003

Laguna Beach, California- July 2008
A few things have changed...

Seacliff's Inn on the Beach! Our romantic honeymoon suite:

Here are our 2 little sweety's in Laguna. We are so lucky! We could not be any more blessed...

What an awesome 5 years this has been! I cannot imagine life getting any better than it is right now. Life is great- Happy Anniversary Steven!!! I'm looking forward to the next 5 years, and grateful we have an eternity to spend together.

Our Family's California Adventure!!! July 12th-19th:

We spent last week in Newport, California and had the TIME OF OUR LIVES! Our family went with Steve's Brothers family- Scott, Katy & their 3 girls! That's right, we had 5 little GIRLS... 5 cute GIRLY GIRLS! Let's just say we got quite a few crazy looks, & people would stop and ask- "are they all yours?" Ha ha, I guess you get that outside of Utah!
We drove the first day to Las Vegas, and stayed in the EXCALIBUR Hotel, or as the girls called it: The "PRINCESS CASTLE"! They thought that was pretty cool. We walked down the strip & checked a few things out.

The next day we drove to newport, where we had the nicest, most enjoyable vacation EVER!...

NEWPORT BEACH:

This was Rylee & Milly's first time to play on the Beach! Rylee thought the waves that washed up on the shore were hilareous! She would run, screaming & laughing every time a new wave came and sunk her feet into the sand. So funny. She also loved jumping over "BIG WAVES" in the water with Steve.
Milly was not a big fan at first, she was a little taken back by the cold water. Once she warmed up to it, she enjoyed it. She splashed in the water, ate the seaweed, and rolled in the sand like a snickerdoodle!

BEACH BABY:

NAPS ON THE BEACH:

Cousins on the BEACH!

Abby, Anna, Happy Rylee, Eliza & Milly:

DISNEYLAND:

Disneyland was AWESOME!!! I don't know who was more excited- Me or the kids? It is such a Magical place! Rylee will tell you ALL about it: "I saw Cinderella's Castle at Diney-wan" and "held Snow White's Hand" and "I wide the Teacups"!

Amelia loved the rides as much as Rylee... The teacups were the best & funnest ride that everyone had a blast on. Rylee hates the scary Pinocchio ride- it's worse than the freaky Haunted Mansion in Lagoon? It was the only one that made her cry:( But the crazy Matterhorn roller coaster didn't scare her a bit.. she still managed to keep her arms up over her head! (is that legal?) Milly's favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean- she was wide eyed the entire time! Rylee was still traumatized from Pinocchio, and kept her ears plugged the whole ride:)

Princesses at the Princes Castle:
(or as Ry calls it "Cinderella's Castle")

*RYLEE's *DREAMS* CAME TRUE* AS SHE *DANCED* WITH *SNOW WHITE*...
*This picture doesn't do the story justice... but this was the Highlight of the entire trip! So, Rylee was wearing a Snow White dress at the Princess ball, where the Princesses were teaching all the little girls how to dance. Rylee was enjoying watching the princesses on stage. She danced around, then it was time to do a ribbon carousel. Rylee was picking a ribbon to hold, when all of a sudden snow white comes from off the stage, takes Ry's hand, and dances around holding her hand!!! Honestly, it was THE MOMENT! I was all emotional as I watched Rylee just in shock as this REAL PRINCESS was holding HER hand! She just kept looking up at her, then at me, saying: "mommy, that's ME!" pointing to Snow White!!!

DISNEY's PARADE OF DREAMS:
I wish you could have all seen Ry's face at the parade- she was just blown away that all these Disney character were right in front of her! She clapped, waved and blew kisses to all the princess. Every time a princess waved back, she'd wave even harder and her eyes would get HUGE, as she'd say "HI BELLE, HI BELLE"... So darling!

PICTURE WITH MINNIE MOUSE:

Rylee also got this princess autograph book that she was REALLY into! She may, or may not have been the only princess who actually signed it that day:)

And of course, you can't leave disneyland without your very own mickey mouse hat with your name on it!

Well, that was our fun trip to California! GOOD TIMES:)