*G*O*L*F* (really???)

So this is the new passion. Well, maybe that is a little overboard saying that it is a passion, but it definitely is new. The 'gals' at work were forced, screaming and kicking, into taking GOLF LESSONS. Haha! But we have THE BEST TEACHER EVER, so we are surviving. I know that those of you who know me are wondering what I might do to embarrass myself at this venture. Well, so far the only mishap is when the sprinkler came on, pointing right at me. Ya, I was pretty much drenched but we all got a kick out of it. Cheers to golf! These next pictures are an evening we went to the driving range. The kids loved it. I mostly cussed myself. :)




Cara - I know you'll love this picture. But that's what you get for not practicing with us. Haha!

Happy Graduation RILEY JAN

Congratulations to the girl who continues to amaze me every breath of every day!

What an honor it is to be her Mom.
I truly look up to her example in every aspect of her life.
SHE makes me who I am.

I had to include this next picture of all my girls.
They are my life!

Riley came to our family after a seven year space. We were all soooo EXCITED for her to come. Well, at least I have always thought that, until just recently I learned that Caramie was not happy. She had enjoyed being the youngest and was not ready to give up that title.

Sorry for two things. One, the quality of the pictures and two, the order of them. But I think you can see from them what a happy little girl our Riley was (and still is!)

Riley never lacked for attention. Here she is blowing bubbles with her sis, Bridget. Check out Bridget's hair! Those were the days!

Christmas morning, complete with Christmas hair. Haha!

Obviously, Riley loved Barney. Before you give her too hard of a time, remember those were the days where there weren't alot of options on TV like there is now.
I love you.. you love me...

That is a little teeny girl way up high on a great big barn.
What were we thinking?

She loved to play in the dirt. Loved it! After we moved into our new house, she asked for years when we got to move back into our old house. She was an adventurer and there was a lot of exploring there.

Riley and Kevin at Disneyland. Nanette tended Riley, so her and Kevin grew up together. They were hilarious. One of there sayings, when they could barely talk, was this:
VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!

I know you can't see this very well, but it is Riley and Alex painting there fingernails. These two were inseperable. They grew up pretty much as sisters. One time they rigged a 'phone line', consisting of a string with cups on the end from Alex's bedroom window, across the street to Riley's bedroom window. That was so cute! It was even hard to get mad about the tear they created in the screen so their set-up would work.

This would be at the District Pentathalon. Riley is a natural athlete. She won many of her events and we thought she had won her division over-all. They ended up moving another girl into that division because she had whooped everyone in her division, which left Ri in second. Pretty amazing, huh!

HOPE OF AMERICA - Perry Elementary 6th Grade
Riley is a good gal through and through. This was a great honor for her to receive. We were all very proud of her once again. This pic is with her sis Bridget, cus several years earlier, she too received the same honor!

This picture is very special to me. One year, all on her own, Riley had her sister's do a photo shoot of her. Then she took the pictures and created a collage for me for Mother's Day. She wrote the most tender notes to her mom. I sure love her for her tenderness!

This is the high jump at Perry Elementary, to qualify for the District Pentathalon. First of all, you've gotta love that athletic outfit she is wearing. Haha! I think she even borrowed a pair of her sister's tennis shoes for the event. What? Anyway she was the OVER-ALL WINNER, even beating out the boys. That's the way to go GIRL!

This was the best soccer team EVER! They had so much fun. Jenny was an amazing coach and taught these girls so much about being good people.
These were great friends and were ALWAYS together!Oh dear! Whatever!

At the beach in Florida

So Riley!

Riley ran track as a Freshman. She ran the 100, 200 and relays. It's all in the thighs (private joke) Haha!

I guess I better say something about soccer, because that is who she was for so many years. Riley was an awesome player and so much fun to watch. When she first started playing, as a little tiny girl in AYSO, she exclaimed her love of the game with a little teeny voice "Mom, soccer is my life!" It was so funny, but oh, so true. She entertained us for the next 15 years with her awesome moves and powerful play. Its hard to imagine that those years are over because they were so much of who she is. If you know Riley, you know her first true love is soccer!

This girl is always so much fun to hang out with because she has the ability to make the simplest things hilarious. Even when she was little, her laugh was absolutely contagious, and it has never been any different. Along with it is that great big smile she has, that can't help but bring brightness to any occasion.

I love you Riley. More than words can say. You possess all that is good, and indeed are an inspiration. These next few years will be fun and hard, and you will probably love every minute of it. I am going to miss coming home to your stories and will miss how you turn my life around. You are amazing and I wish for you all that is good in this world! With all my love and heart, Mom