Super Happy Fun Surprise!!!

Random pics from July:

Thinking about solid food... mmm...

Ryan and Sadie's balancing act. They're thinking about taking it on the road.

Too hot for clothes!

Warning: super husband bragging here, so look away if you must. If you roll your eyes after reading this post, it's your own fault.
I just need to start this post with Ryan is a trickster. He plans and plots and always has something up his sleeve. The man is full of really fun surprises. And he really outdid himself this year for my birthday, which he usually celebrates about 3 months early because he cannot contain himself when he finally decides on my gift.
Since we were already going to have Rachie with us for the better part of July, he planned with Laura to have her come too! And instead of any gifts from parents and in-laws, Ryan planned for us to go shopping together, and have Laura completely overhaul my wardrobe. I felt like I was on What Not to Wear! Laura went through my entire closet, item by item, and we made decisions to keep or toss. There was so much stuff in my closet that I hadn't worn for so many years, but for some reason I just couldn't ever get rid of, so it was nice to have Laura and Rachel there driving the decisions. We threw out 4 garbage bags of old clothes, that were either worn out, out of style, or just too young for me to wear. Laura told me, "You need to dress like a mom, not like you're in high school!"

Donations!

The spoils

After making a list of essentials, we set to work (yes boys, work!) shopping. And just when I felt fatigue setting in, Laura would power through and have me trying on like 50 items in 5 minutes! I've never shopped like that in my life, and perhaps I never will. Rachel, you were awesome to help with the kids after we had run them so ragged, in and out of the car and stroller all day long! And then Ryan was so nice to take the kids who missed afternoon naps on our account and let us girls go see Harry Potter, or get our nails done. What a guy!

Pop quiz!: can you tell our hands and feet apart?

Laura was only able to stay for a few days, but she did a ton of online shopping for me too, looking for those last few, elusive must-have's. It was seriously the most fun I've had with Laura and Rachel in a long time. And Ben, Laura has a tangible talent. Don't let it go to waste.

Rachel was able to stay for a while longer, and we did fun stuff around town, like the zoo, going around down town, a party with the judge Ryan clerked for this summer, a hair bow and birthday card night, and way too much super mario brothers. We were sad to see her go, but we left for Arizona the next day, so we had to get ourselves ready. My actual birthday was just laundry and cleaning, but I didn't care because I had been celebrating it for weeks!

Waiting at the Airport

Too much love!

Now we're in Mesa trying to maximize our time with Walker before he leaves on his mission. He's going to the El Salvador San Salvador East mission, and reports on the 10th of August. He is so excited and anxious to go.
We'll be seeing people in Waterton!
p.s.- Laura, start your personal shopping business now!