Home sweet home

Well, we're back from vacation and I'm guessing we'll need about a week to recover, give or take a few months. :) I feel like I've been gone for years; I've been running around like I'm on crack trying to get my home into order again. But I thought I'd post some of the best things about being back in our own place:

• when I want to brush my teeth, the brushes and paste are right there at the sink - I don't have to fish them out of a Ziplock bag two rooms away
• a big, comfy bed that I fit right into (probably because I created a permanent valley in it last year when I was pregnant)
• I don't have to feel slightly awkward about my very impressive bed head in the morning
• I know exactly where everything is in the kitchen
• since we were away for three whole weeks, it's like Christmas for Riley - all his toys seem brand new again

and last but not least

• it's my mess, my rules, and my stuff! (I mean not totally, cuz I've got a husband and kids, but you get the gist.)

So, yeah, life is good.

One of my many talents

A friend once told me that if you skip one of the important life stages (childhood, the high school experience, being truly independent for the first time, etc.) you will eventually go through that stage sometime later in life. Well, I must have missed out on some of my fun childhood years or something, because this morning when I should have been showering, I sat down and played with playdough for almost an hour (Riley got to play, too, in case you're wondering). I had a blast! Maybe if people over the age of ten implemented more playtime into their daily schedules, our world wouldn't be quite so messed up. So I challenge everyone to get in touch with that inner child. Try it - you'll like it!

And by the way, if you're thinking that this isn't a very realistic piece of art, I'm sure giraffes, elephants, and snakes get together for a nice plate of spaghetti and meatballs all the time!

The Ames family: Hollywood style

Got bored today cuz I'm mostly done packing and wondered what I could find to do that was both intelligent and productive. Here's what I came up with:

Repeat after me: I love my kids...

We embark upon our journey to Idaho this Thursday and I thought I'd post a few pictures of the kiddos. This is so I can look back and remind myself of how cute they actually are; I'm afraid after a flight from Anchorage to Idaho Falls, I might forget how adorable I usually find them.

If you look closely, you can see Riley sporting his first black eye in this picture. He walked right into the side of the trampoline. He had a bicycle helmet on at the time. Go figure.


Millie enjoying a meal of chicken and yams. So ladylike!


Riley catching some air. He's a huge fan of our "new" trampoline. We picked it up for cheap from a family who just moved out of the ward.


Riley regressing a few years. When he's not pretending to be a baby, he fancies himself a puppy.


Our little diva. She's got papa wrapped around that little finger!


Anyway, it should be a fun trip. We're looking forward to some warmer weather and a chance to visit with our peeps.