Where the deer and the antelope play...

 

Tucked in between some purple mountain's majesty lies a quaint little town full of charm and personality. On any given day you will see a horse parked outside the Diamond Bell Bar and Salon, kayakers weaving in and out on Smelter, "Natives" sceaming against Texans on the slopes, a zuberfizz sitting next to a Serious Taco. Skyhawks cheering on soccer studs, Demons doing the demon beat, and blue grass sounds playing some "mountain music". This is home. It is a place where everybody knows your name. They are always glad you came...(you're singing the song now huh?)
I spent my senior year of high school trying to find a way out--now we dream of ways to get back.

But since there is no permanent fix for us in Durango--we make do with little visits. This time it was for the Fort Lewis Alum game. Never mind the fact the alum lost 7-0...Berns loved seeing his soccer buds, Riley loved being spoiled by grandma, Zoie loved running around the ranch, I loved....home.

My Smarty Pants

Spelling words that consists of things like "foundation"

Vocabulary words that consists of things like "perserverance"

Imagination that consists of fairies, pony lands, and happy ever afters.

Style that consists of "things as fancy as Nancy"

Mathmatics that consist of patterns, dimes, nickles, subtraction, and minus signs

Songs that consist of "Bleeding Love", "No Air", "Smooth Criminal"s, and "I'm Yours"

Reading books that consist of 3rd grade levels.

I would have to say that if you add that all up you get my mini genius who just completed 1st grade in August. Riley made it on the straight A Honor Roll--which would thrill any parent--but what thrills me more is Riley's spunk and drive for life. She is one of a kind. As my mother puts it, she is a "magical child".

I look up to my little Ri. She is an inspiration. Good job with your wonderful year at school baby girl...Now someone tell me when I got old enough to have a 2nd grader?

 

 

 

The Truth of It All....

The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity....





'Nuff said....

Beautiful in Brasil

The average US model wears size 00-3 . So if you're a size 3, you would be on the "chunkier" size. PLUS SIZED models where a size 10+ (explain to me how a size 10 is considered "plus" please)...



Everywhere you look around town or in magazines you will find the newest make up promissing age reduction, surgery for lipo, laser, and plastic surgery. Over 1.2 BILLION dollars are spent on liposuction in the United States every year.

I am not a size 00, or a size 1, 2, or 3.
I am known to have a big butt...it's pretty widely known. In high school, a fellow classmate told me I had "birthin hips"...

I met my lovely husband my senior year of high school. It has not been until the last 3.5 years however that I have been educated about why he finds me so darn attractive. And I will spill the secret to you now.

Brasil likes NORMAL women. Women who embrace their curves. Women who enjoy having a badonk-ka-donk. You dont see a skinny mini walking around the streets. Instead you find women of every shape and size who walk around in confidence because they know what beauty is.
Brasilian men tend to hate make up. They would much rather look at a lady in her natural skin. They love the curves. They love women with some "junk in the trunk" They love a little meat.

I love coming to Brasil to experience new things and all the culture it has to offer. But what I love the most is how accepting and nonjudgemental everyone is.

Yes, my big butt and my birthin hips are beautiful in Brasil.

John John Phenomenon

Who sings good morning to us in 45982384 different languages?

Who can juggle in a unitard and actually pull it off?

Who sits in dog pee for an hour, notices it, shrugs, and continues to sit in it?

Who got married by Riley in our living room to the loveliest lady?

Who has a costume for every occasion you can imagine?

Who is a creeper?

Who wears a 3 year old's tu-tu on his head to look like a flower?

Who kisses his room mate's girlfriend instead of shaking her hand when meeting for the first time?

Who looks better in skin tight bell bottom pants than the majority of the female population?

Who completes a third of Berns' tripod?

Who can't stop the beat?


Mr. John John Phenomenon. And we are so happy he came to visit. We will miss you John--give Leire our love. Congrats to the both of you! Hopefully we can see the both of you soon!

Until the Sun Comes Up Over Santa Monica Blvd....

Berns is Brasilian. Riley wanted to name our dog Fish. I look AMAZING in a bathing suit (moohahahahahah *breathe* hahahaha). Zoie is half Brasilian, half water baby...Do you see where I'm going with this? No?
Our family loves the water. We would gladly take a day swimming, rafting, beaching (yes, thats a word), or boating trip over most anything. So we packed our bags, grab a couple of friends from Vegas, and headed down to Southern California for a weekend at the beach!
My dear friend Pam was lovely enough to open her home and hospitality to all of us. It was a short trip, but full of water, fun, and fattening food.
Riley loved playing on the beach, but loved being spoiled by Auntie Pam more.
Zoie was fearless and went running full force towards the 10 foot waves (I kid you not. The waves were on drugs this weekend...ridiculous).
Berns and Dave (Vegas friend) spent time body boarding the ginormous waves.
Kinnsi and I soaked up the sun and chased Zoie around the sand.

Thank goodness the best things in life are free. A day at the beach with my sweet boy and my 2 itty bittys--simplistic living is pure bliss.

Slacker

I am a slacker...very much so....so remember how I went to Utah eleventy weeks ago and took pictures so that the grandparents and family that keep up with this blog would not get mad and me? Uh...ya...here's those pictures...we went the beginning on July...it's now the beginning of August...

REGARDLESS--I took the girls to Utah because my sister was having surgery and she needed help--no, not my help, my mother's help. BUT my mother was there...SOOOOO we went too (oh, right, we went to help Britt too). It was a quick weekend trip--but the girls enjoyed outdoor activities that didnt involve 115 degree weather.
We hoot and hollered for Riian at her softball game, played in the fountain's at Thanksgiving point, and enjoyed yummy food and games.

Riley was in ultimate heaven because she got to spend time with her best bud Maddie that lived next door to us in Utah. ---yes, it was a quick quick 2 day trip--but we made sure to fill it with sugar, spice, and everything nice.

I would like to note that my lovely, "obiedient", "non-defiant" 6 year old hates pictures, hence the reason there is only one of her...and she's not looking...oh well.