FAVORITE PERFUMES

I love perfume! I LOVE IT!!! And I have my favorites but I'm looking for more.

Vera Wang PRINCESS

Kat Von D SAINT

Issey Miyake WOOD FLOWER

Armoni CODE

Ralph Lauren ROMANCE

Does anyone else have some favorites they'd like to share?

AHH The Fun of RAIN!!!

We've been lucky to have a couple of great thunder, lightning, and rain storms the last little while, which is good because we needed it desperately!

But oh, the fun rain brings.....

Brent took the kids around to the puddles. All the money in the world can't buy the fun that jumping in a puddle gives.

Then they moved down to the mud. MUD!!! But oh did they have fun. :)

  (Let's just hope that Madelyn doesn't make swimsuit mud fights a regular sport...lol)

 A family of...MUD

 And my favorite part...the hose-off. Keep in mind it was pouring rain during this hose off. So my initial plan of not getting wet(nice pj bottoms you see me in, right) was completely thrown out the window.

 I told everyone they had to take their clothes off outside...Brian got a little stuck. SHOES OFF FIRST!

We've been in such a drout this summer. Any rain has been such a blessing. And the added fun that comes with jumping puddles and family mud fights is an awesome bonus.

Grandma And grandpa Rigby Return to TEXAS

My parents came to visit us a couple weeks ago. It was great! I was so excited to get them out here to see the new house, to see our new life, and to enjoy a piece of country that is also dear to their hearts. My parents served an 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Houston, TX and I think it's pretty safe to say they left a little piece of their heart there.

We visited Fredricksburg and Quadalupe State Park. A nail in the tire through off the time frame for going downtown(but they had seen it before). I kept my dad busy with a chalkboard project(which turned out fantastic, by the way). My parents got to see lots of old friends in Houston over the weekend and then, sadly, It was time for dad to go back home.

While mom stayed the extra week we worked on a sewing project, went shopping, and enjoyed each other's company. 

Fredricksburg....

Guadalupe State Park....minus most of the water going through the river because of the drowt(sp)... 

Curing the chalkboard...we built it from particle board, chalkboard paint, put a boarder on, and vwalla!

Sewing projects with grandma...a "guy" carrier for the go...

 My sewing project with mom....

 Kids playing with grandma and...Marcus made a SPY CAMERA

Yup...got held up for a few days...but mommy waited on me hand and foot. Isn't that how it goes. Thanks mom for everything you did for me while you were here. Well, and actually through my whole life :)

Projects everyday...birdhouses, walks through the forest, made playdough, etc, etc, etc....

As individual days the trip was SUPERB!! As a whole it was FANTASTIC! I'm so glad I have such a close relationship with my parents, that Brent gets along well with them and that the kids love them to death. Sometimes I think Madelyn would trade me in for Grandma Rigby....I just keep the visits frequent so we don't have to do that. LOL. 

FIRST DAY'S OF SCHOOL 2011

Well the kids have been off and runnin' in school now for a few weeks...they are loving their teachers. Madelyn is working as a reading tutor, Marcus is working as a flirt tutor, and Brian is working as an all-around friend tutor. LOL.....But in all seriousness, it's started as a good year and I anticipate GREATNESS throughout the year.

What a good looking group of kiddos, if I do say so myself :)

IDAHO - Summer Trip 2011

Oh my goodness...I should have had this posted weeks ago. We had such a wonderful experience this year on vacation to Idaho/Utah. We were able to do so many things, and visit so many friends and family. It was amazing. It was wonderful. And since there are sooo many pictures(about 600) for me to go through I am literally giving a Ciff Note version.

Alot of you followed along with me via Facebook....here is a recap of our trip.

We were able to spend the first few days in Utah. And lo and behold our friends from Yuma met us there and spent a couple days with us. Melinda, Lauri, and Jenna Meyers were finishing up their vacation as we started ours. We spent the day at the Dinosaur Museum and another day at a water park. Good times.

We also got to see almost all of Brent's family. We had a yummy BBQ, got to ride Bergen's horse...etc etc etc. And then off to Idaho.

First order of business in Idaho...Madelyn's Baptism. It was such a beautiful day and we had so much support from the family and friends. Thank you so much. Not to mention the wonderful pictures that were taken by Jeff, my big bro.

And from there was was fun, more fun, and more more fun!!

A visit with Ann and Don and family in good old Pocatello....

 Water fights...

 Losers of the Water Fight....

 S'mores in the new fire pit...

 Fishing with Grandpa...the hike to the pond was so beautiful. And the pond is so well stocked. The kids caught a fish every time the cast. It made it so fun for them.

Hooper Springs Park...

 Fun at City Park...

 Niter Caves...

 The World Famous man made captive geyser....

This was really fun...Michael and his family invited us to spend the day with them at Steadman's Ranch in Raft River, Idaho. They had two man-made slides, a zip line, play areas for little children and an eating area. It was a great day. Tons and tons of fun.

We were also lucky enough to be invited to Island Park with Cynthia, Ryan and family....those were some good times too...

And then we had more fun...

Digging up the root of the tree that blew over in a massive wind storm...

 Sewing projects with Grandma....

And one of the most beautiful places we visited this year...Bloomington Lake. You have to drive clear up the mountain and then hike into the glacier lake...Its amazingly beautiful.

 Madelyn and Brian both jumped the rocks into the ice cold water....

 Sometimes I forget that Marcus is only 6!!! He wanted so badly to do the rope swing. He watched the other ADULTS intently for a long long time. When there was finally a lull in the use of the swing he decided he was ready. My dad launched him and I stood at the bottom ready to jump in if he needed help. When we screamed "LET GO LET GO!"....he didn't....and then he started swinging back towards us...towards the rocks...towards MAJOR DANGER! So we started yelling "DON'T LET GO DON'T LET GO!!!". My dad was able to grab him(I'm not sure how...it literally was a miracle). Marcus was white as a ghost. He just got so scared. And so did the rest of us. We decided he could wait another 2-3 years before we try it again....deep breath....

 Next was out trip to Boise...and for some reason I didn't take a single picture with my camera. I know I posted a lot of pics on facebook of that trip. It was a good one. I stayed with Jeff and family and got to see a lot of my friends from the old neighborhood. It was great....

And back to Soda Springs....

locked to the fridge...

 Some of my favorite memories were made at this University...USU!!!

 Logan Temple...

 Brent and I hiked to the top of "S" hill in Soda Springs but i didn't have my camera. My dad and I went back up a couple weeks later...that's my valley behind me. I love Soda Springs.

 Soda Springs wouldn't survive without Monsanto...here they are "pouring"....it's quite magnificent in person, really.

One of our last activities was swimming at Lava...

Got to visit with some of my "Rigby" family. Hadn't seen any of them for years. Was great to reconnect. And a cousin and cousin's son(what is that, once removed or something) took the boys down the river float. Good times...

 Swimming at the pool. Lava Hot Springs has a great water park set up with large pools both indoor and outdoor, diving boards, platforms, and water slides. The kids had a GREAT time...Love the climbing wall-you fall off into the water. 

 That is Brian DIVING off the high dive....mostly flopping but he did it over and over and OVER....

And then came the day to come home. We were all excited and ready. We had been away from Brent for three weeks so we were all ready to reunite. But I have to be honest(and Brent will attest to this), you can take me out of Idaho...but you can't take Idaho out of me. I'm an Idahoan at heart for sure. Love Arizona...love Texas...LOOOOOOVE IDAHO!! 

Thanks mom and dad for the wonderful vacation. Thanks to friends and family that housed us, visited with us, and made it a fantastic trip home. We're all already planning next year.