Saturday at the Zoo!

Saturday morning we were out and about and Ava had the idea to go to the Zoo! So since we have a year membership to the zoo we decided we might as well! It was a fun day! When we go to the zoo we usually go with friends during the day while Chris is at work, so it was nice to have him along for the fun for once! We rode the train around and went to the petting zoo, played at the park, and Ava got soaked playing at the splash pad! I can't wait til they open the new water park area with a new water slide this coming weekend! Sounds like we will have to go to the zoo more often! Great idea Ava!

Riding the Train!! It was pretty hot, so instead of walking all around the zoo we decided to take the train around so see all the animals! SO worth it!! haha

Petting the goats! As soon as we walked into the petting zoo, a huge goat walked up to me and I said "Wo! Hey there big guy!" So after that every goat that Ava walked up to to pet with the little brush she said "hey there big guy!" It was pretty funny... I dunno... guess you had to be there... haha!

Ava and Daddy playing on the Tractor!

This cute little prairie dog was Ava's little friend. As soon as we walked up, it ran up to Ava and started playing around. Ava loved it! Ava tried reaching in a couple times to pick it up... it was funny!

This is our sassy little princess throwing a fit because she couldn't ride the merry-go-round...

Labor Day @ the Cabin!

For the holiday weekend we took a bunch of Chris' family and some friends up to our cabin! It was a blast! The weather was just heavenly! It rained everyday and it was nice and cool! I even put on a sweater! Can you believe it!? It was great! We all had a good time! Thanks to the Rice's and family and Fringer's for going up with us! We had a great time!
We have to get up there as much as possible from now on because they have put the cabin up for sale... Which makes me very sad! My grandparents built the cabin when my mom was in high school and it really stinks that they have to sell it now... It is my favorite place in the entire world! I love it up there and I am going to miss it when it is sold... :( But it has been a place full of great memories both as a kid and now as I've gotten older! We have been so lucky to have such an awesome place to go up and spend time away from the real world every once in a while!

I didn't take very many pics over the weekend, I was havin' such a good time I forgot to get my camera out! But here are some family pics we took on Sunday!

We took a lot more good family pics with the Rice's, but I think Jolin is going to use them for Christmas cards... so I won't spoil them!

New Web-Site!

Hey fellow bloggers! Just got my new web-site finished! Check it out!

http://www.primerica.com/jennirice

Ava's First Bike

Chris' aunt Becky gave us this little bike that was sitting in the garage at her house. Originally it was painted blue and yellow and red. So it was kinda boy-ish looking. But we fixed that! It also needed a couple links taken out of the chain, so Chris fixed it and I painted it and now its a brand new bike for little Ava!
She still has to get the hang of the whole bike concept, she hasn't really figured out how to pedal yet. Chris had to push her the whole way around the block. But she did get better at the steering aspect of it! So I'm sure it will all come together eventually! She looked so cute though! I can't believe my little girl is old enough to ride a bike! Mommy and Daddy love you and are so proud of you Ava! Keep at it and you can do anything you put your mind to! All it takes is belief in yourself and you can learn how to do achieve anything you want in life!

Primerica in Palm Springs!

This last weekend Chris and I took a very much needed vacation! We went to Palm Springs for a Primerica Weekend Retreat and it was AWESOME! The 5 Star resort we stayed at was just incredible and the education and motivation we got was priceless. We have now returned with a whole new outlook and are ready to grow our business like never before! We've set some big goals for ourselves so it is going to be a great next couple months! I am so excited and so lucky to have such a wonderful husband and partner. I know he is going to do great things and we are going to be able to provide an incredible life for our family in the process!

Here are some of the pics that we took over the weekend!
We had fun going around the grounds and taking all kinds of pictures...

In the lobby of the hotel they had these parrots. They were pretty and fun to look at!

These are the views from our room...

This is after one of the sessions Saturday morning. The resort was so neat! Definitely a place I want to go more often when we are rich some day! haha! In the middle of the resort was this little lake! And you can see it very well behind us, but in the lobby there was this dock that had boats and you could get on the little boats and they took you across the small lake to the restaurant! It was a pretty snazzy place!
This is at dinner Saturday night. It was supposed to be a sailor/pirate/ aquatic costume themed party but we didn't dress up... It was fun to see the creative costumes some people came up with though!

We car pooled with some friends of ours that actually introduced us to this business last year. Brett and Malori Kartchner. We have become great friends with them so we all had a good time hanging out for the weekend! We owe them a lot for introducing us to this incredible opportunity! THANKS BRETT AND MALORI!!

Hard Work Weekend

Well, I don't have any pics to show, but yesterday Chris and I went and finished landscaping the back yard at my parents rental house over in Queen Creek. And we didn't bother to ask any one for help because we had done most of it a couple months ago but we ran out of rock. So the trees and plants were all done, we just had to spread the remainder of the gravel which was about 5 tons. Anyways, boy did we learn our lesson! Never under estimate how long it takes to move 5 tons of gravel... ugh! Needless to say, instead of it taking the two hours we thought it'd take, it ended up taking us about 5 to get it all done. So we are definitely feeling it today! In fact, I'm so sore that I swear trying to pick Ava up this morning it felt like she weighed ten pounds heavier than usual! haha... so we won't be volunteering to do any more landscaping any time soon... But it was still a great weekend! It is nice to work hard like that every once in while. It definitely gives you a feeling of great accomplishment when you push yourself to your limits! Never thought I'd say this, but I am grateful that my parents taught me to work!

Little bits from Last week...

Here are just a few pics from last week! Nothin too exciting, but we are just keepin it real! haha!

--Ava and Mommy wasting time at McDonalds on Thurs while our truck was being fixed across the street.

--Well, I am getting old... Friday was my 22nd birthday and although I didn't take any pics, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone! And Thanks Chris for taking me out to dinner! I had a good time! Love you!

--Saturday Chris and I decided that it is coming down to the last wire and so we packed up our puppies in the truck and camped out on the side of the road to sell our puppies! I know... pretty red neck right? Well, it was kind of the last resort option! This is also a pretty popular place to sell puppies, every weekend there are always people on this particular corner in Queen Creek trying to sell random stuff... So we thought it was worth the try! And surprisingly a lot of people stopped to come and see the puppies! We only sold two, but it was better than sitting at home all day and not selling any! And we gave out our number to lots of potential puppy buyers! So hopefully the puppy selling will pick up!

Can't believe we've had these puppies for 10 1/2 weeks now! Boy, how time flies!

I was out in the yard trying to get some decent pictures of the pups to post another ad in the paper and Ava just insisted on getting her picture taken too! Silly girl....

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!!!