End of July Already?!

(I know, I've been slacking on the posts lately, but here is a little update on the Rice's!)

Wow! I can't believe how fast this year is flying by and here it is, already the end of July! Crazy! It will be Christmas time again before we know it! haha! Okay, well since summer is almost over lots has been happening around our house. We have had numerous friends and family come to visit. In fact it seems like almost every weekend for the past two months we have had company! Which, I love, of course! I have always loved entertaining, so it's been fun!

I also got my wisdom teeth pulled a couple weeks ago which was an interesting process since I've never had any surgery or done anything where I had to take any kind of pain killers or anything. But all in all it wasn't bad and it only really took a few days to get back into the swing of things. Thanks again to all the people who helped me out taking care of Ava for a couple days! And thanks to Chris for helping me out around the house keeping things from getting too out of hand!

As for these dang puppies, yes, we've still got SEVEN of them left! They are now almost ten weeks old and I have to admit, it has been sort of a frustrating journey with these guys. We've had numerous people say they want one and then not ever follow through. So we've lowered the price and are getting pretty desperate to get them into good homes asap. Unfortunately they are very smart dogs, haha, so they are starting to make a mess of my newly landscaped backyard! I still love them, and wouldn't mind if we only had a few left, but 7 is getting to be quite the handful. I doubt that we will be breeding our dogs any more. But you live and you learn right?! So this was definitely a good learning experience for our family!


Other than all that we are all doing good out here in Florence! Can't wait til it starts to cool down a bit in a couple months! Chris is still working for the University of Phoenix and is realizing that the drive to Phoenix everyday is not all that great! Ava is getting to be quite the little talker and loves everything that has to do with Disney Princesses! As for me, I keep pretty busy cleaning house and trying to keep up with Ava! Hope all is well with all of you!

Day at the Waterpark

Last Monday, the 21st, my mom brought my brother and sister and niece and nephew down and stayed for a couple days. So since it was so hot out, we found out that there is a new little water park just half an hour away from my house on Riggs and Val Vista! It was a perfect little water park for the little kids to run and play. We all had a great time and now we have a new park we can to go! Thanks for coming down to visit us mom! We loved having you all here!

Thanks Honey!

I just wanted to post a great big THANK YOU to my wonderful husband! Chris, you have been so good about helping me out around the house lately and taking care of Ava for me and stuff. I know things have kinda been hectic having lots of friends and family come and go for the last few weeks, but you have done such a good job keeping me sane and helping me get things done! I just want you to know that I do notice and very much appreciate all that you do for me and Ava! I am so proud of you and the hard work you do for our family! I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for being blessed with the perfect husband and father to our daughter! I can't wait to spend the rest of Eternity with you! Keep up the great work babe! You are awesome! I LOVE YOU!!!

Another Puppy Update... yet again!

Puppies are now 7 weeks old! We went to the vet today and got all their first shots out of the way! They are now ready to start going to their new homes!! (Thank goodness!) I just re-posted our puppy ad in the AZ Republic so hopefully the inquiries will pick up a little more!

My favorite is the puppy with the curly hair! She is a keeper! hehe

~Ava's Funny Face~

We were sitting around watching tv the other night and Ava and Chris were just messing around with each other making faces... anyways I was laughing hysterically at Ava's funny faces she was making. I don't know where she comes up with these things! So now if you ask her to make a funny face, this is what she will show you! I just had to share... silly girl! She makes me laugh at new things she does every day! I love it! Everyday I get to spend with these two monkeys is priceless!

Tim McGraw Concert

I know I'm a little late posting it... But I just found these pictures of Chris and I at the Tim McGraw Concert a few weeks ago so I thought I'd share!

Chris surprised me Friday night, June 20th, with tickets to see Tim McGraw in concert at the Cricket Pavilion! He got the tickets free from Cory, a friend, that had gotten them and couldn't attend. (THANKS AGAIN CORY!!) Well there were four tickets so Chris' sister and Mom drove down to go with us! Aside from the heat... It was a good time! We brought a blanket and some snacks and sat and relaxed in the grass listening to the live music! We also got to see Jason Aldean cuz he was the opening act! So needless to say it was an awesome night! Thanks honey! Your the best! Love you!!

Independence Day!

Eatin' Watermelon!

Ava with her Aunt Alyssa! haha

My Girl!
Ava playing w/ Aunt Terrin
Sisters!Grandma was nice enough to buy all the kids these fun glow-in-the-dark toys! They had a blast with them!

Ava "surfing" on Uncle Chandry

We had my in-laws in town for the weekend, and will for the next few days! They are stayin to do some school shopping and stuff. So for our Independence day celebration we went to the Florence 4th of July Festival! It was kinda risky since we didn't really know what to expect but it turned out to be a great time! they had live music and multiple big bouncers and slides and water activities for the kids! ( although we tried to avoid the water slides cuz by the time we got there they looked more like mud slides... egh!) Then a little parade and a playground! So the kids had a great time and the fireworks show was spectacular too! (Except that Ava hates fireworks... She is terrified of them. Probably one of the very few things that we've found she is scared of...haha) The only thing we decided that we'd do different is maybe bringing our own grill and cookin our own dinner next year instead of buying the piddly little $3 hot dogs that we had... but you live and you learn right? So all in all it was a great Independence day for us Rice's!! haha....

Another Puppy Update!

The puppies are now 5 weeks old! We will probably start sending them off to their new homes in just a couple weeks! I can't believe how fast time flies... They have grown up so much! They are like regular puppies now! They run and jump and play with each other and chew on everything! It's so cute to watch them all play! I love them all, but I have to admit it will be nice when they are all gone and things can go back to normal! They are so dang cute, but it has been a crazy 5 weeks with these little guys... that's for sure! Seems like my life is just puppies, puppies, puppies! So I've had my puppy fill for the year!! haha! So far we have 3 of them sold for sure and still some other interested callers! My goal is to have them all lined up and ready to go to their new homes at 8 weeks! So we'll see... Who wants a puppy?!!!

Father Day 2008

I just wanted to start by telling Chris how amazing he is! Chris you know how much I love you. But I just want to thank you for being such a great father and husband. You do so much and sacrifice so much for our family and I am so grateful for that. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for being blessed with a worthy priesthood holder in our home. You are everything that I dreamed of in a husband as I was growing up. And you have been such a wonderful daddy to Ava, as I'm sure you will to all of our future children. I couldn't ask for anyone better. Thank you for everything! WE LOVE YOU!


For Fathers Day Weekend we went to Cottonwood and stayed at Chris' parents house. Saturday Chris and Ava attended Tannah's baptism, and although I missed it, I heard it was a great one! Congrats Tannah! Saturday morning my sister, Wendi, and I attended my best friend, Amber Echols', sealing in the Mesa temple. It was very nice to be able to witness such an awesome thing! To see them sealed to each other for time and all eternity... I am so thankful to have had the same privilege of being sealed to my own husband and daughter just last May! So it brought back some good memories! Congrats Amber and Ryan! Then we drove up to Cottonwood that afternoon and went to Amber's reception. It was beautiful! It was at the Echols house and they had it decorated so perfect! I had a great time helping keep the food on the tables stocked with my mom and sisters. Thanks Amber for letting me be apart of your special day!
Then Sunday after church Chris opened some presents from Ava. Although I think Ava had more fun helping him opening his presents!! She loves presents! haha. She kept saying "Happy Fathers Day Daddy!" "Its your Father's day!" Then we blew-up this huge water park things that the Rice's had bought. And all the kids had a blast playing in the water the rest of the day. All-in-all it was a great weekend!

Puppy Update

The puppies are now 3 1/2 weeks old! It is so fun watching them grow every day! They have opened their eyes and they are walking all over the place! In fact, they are becoming quite the handful because they have all figured out how to climb out of the pool! So we have to keep the gate closed now because they can escape! Cute little rascals.... If only they didn't smell so dang much! ugh!