Miranda's teachers--3rd grade

Well, school is back in full swing. Miranda has two new teachers. She loves them. They are Ms. Black and Mrs. Dunlop. I have a really good feeling about this year.

Red dresses

Is this an "I know I'm in trouble look" or what?

Aunt Emily is so awesome about getting these two little buddies matching outfits all the time. This is Molly (Bella's favorite cousin) and Bella in their matching red dresses. Bella would wear it everyday if I'd let her.

These two girls absolutely love each other. Right now their language to each other consists of screaming almost non-stop. They were having fun here in Molly's backyard playing kitchen. Gotta love childhood.

Fun at Fiesta Texas

I took Miranda to Fiesta Texas for a last hoorah before school started. It was just the two of us. We rode the train and a couple non-intense rides. We played for a long time in the water park. It was just a fun time with just the two of us. I just loved it!

Here is Miranda as Robin's sidekick.

Here we both are with Marvin the Martian and Miranda's favorite: TAZ! We had a great time.

Me and Leanne

Here is my best friend/sister-in-law, Leanne. I just loved this picture. This was taken the morning of my nephew's baptism. We have been best friends for over 15 years. I miss her.

My little artists

Early this summer we went to my brother Phil's house in Springville, UT. One day while we were there, all the kiddos wanted to paint. Here is Miranda and Bella making their masterpieces.

Our anniversary to Austin

For our 13th anniversary we went to Austin for a couple nights. We had a lot of fun. This was the view from our hotel room. We were overlooking the Colorado River at Congress Bridge. This is the infamous "Bat Bridge" of South Texas. Every night millions of bats fly around under the bridge. It is beautiful and freaky all at the same time. Pretty view, huh?

Austin has an art initiative where (I think) UT and Gibson guitars donated a bunch of these 10 ft. guitars and then local artists were asked to paint them. They are located all around the downtown area. We had fun looking for them and truly being tourists.

Biggest guitar he's ever played! :)

This was my favorite.


After we went and watched the bats, we took a romantic horse-drawn carriage around downtown. It was really fun. I hadn't done that in years.

We also went to the capital building. This is such a cool photo.

And of course, we had to attend a concert while we were there. We went to see Rufus Wainwright. He is a folk-y kind a singer. He was really good. The only problem was that is was outdoors and we were crammed in like sardines. Great music, though.

Our new addition

OK!! Where do I start? This is what my husband brought home on Saturday!!!!!!! What am I suppose to do with a snake that he put in a cage next to my bed?!
Well, this is ISIS (pronounced like /eye-sis/) which is actually the Egyptian Goddess of Fertility (did I mention that Rick wants another baby? Maybe the snake's name is a tad bit subliminal). Isis is defined as Queen of the Throne. Like we don't have enough queens in this house already!


She is a ball python. So, most of the time during the day this is what she looks like. She just crawls up into a ball under her log. At least she is easy to care for.

Bella likes to stand and look at her. She kept giving her cage a kiss.