My mom turned hmmmfffmumblemumble years old this year. She's been great ma to me and a great friend.

My neighbors have teenage girls that seem to drive them up the wall. They argue about who gets to use the car and how long their current grounding will last. I laugh and think about how I was when I was a teenager. I don't remember my mom and I having any huge fights or me storming out of the house screaming, "I hate you!" I'm sure I was annoying and slightly bratty though. And I remember always wanting NEEDING to use the car.. "I neeeeeeed it. I neeeeeeed to go to so-and-so's house. Pleeeeeaaaaasssse!"

Anyways...these days, I smile at my neighbors as they're sending one of the girls to their room and taking the others phone away and say, "Don't worry, when they are in their early twenties, they'll come around. I promise."

Happy birthday, ma. Love you.

Warning: Love is in the air for the following couple.

My work here is done.

Recently I traveled down to AZ to visit my sister.

On a side note: Can I just say that the plane ride there and back was simply glorious? Reason being - no baby this time. I know that sounds horrible, but as you may have recalled, I have vowed never to fly with my little one again until she turns 45. It was just THAT traumatic. (Ok...45 is pushing it a bit. Maybe at least until she's old enough to tell me that she has an ear infection and also a molar coming in and also a fever and also a runny nose and also that she might decide to puke on the flight...whatever age that may be). In any case-I was able to bring (and read) a great book and my trusty camera without any fear that they would be forgotten or trampled or vomited on or thrown to the heavens in frustration. I knew things were safe this time around.

 I haven't seen my sister or her hubby in two years. It's terrible, I know. Even more despicable - it was the FIRST time I met their twin daughters, my nieces. And they're almost a year old!

This is Harlow. She's pretty serious about her food (notice the cheeks..and her plump little arms). That string cheese didn't stand a chance.

This is Lyla. She's a checker-outer. An observer. A what-are-you-doing-in-my-house-and-why-are-you-taking-pictures-of-me type gal.

They love their mom. It's serious business. I'm talking L-O-V-E.

I'm not quite sure who loves who more. It's a toss up.

You'll notice the mohawk...or is this technically a fohawk? I'm not sure what the kids are calling it these days. I'd just like to mention that both Harlow and Lyla's hair forms this fohawk..naturally. No styling products needed. I'm almost jealous.

You see? Amazing hair.

So.. we read lots of books...

..played with our toes...

...jumped in the jumper...(Stood...jumped...same difference)

...and sat around, looking just plain CUTE.

I mean...seriously.

Help me Rhonda. Those cheeks!

And THOSE cheeks!!

Do you see what I'm saying? I can't take much more!

But this one's my favorite. *tear.

I wish Arizona was right next to Idaho. In fact, I wish it was in my backyard. 

I miss my sister. I missed her when I got out of her car and ran to catch the flight home that I almost missed (due to an awesome pair of free shoes...it's a great story).

AND

Twins are double-trouble. Twice as much cuteness, but twice as many nieces to miss.

Hello. Let's just get right to it.

I'm a big blogging slacker. I'm sorry. Don't hate me.

Where have you been? - you ask

Are you still alive? - you wonder

Answer: I've been here. Not up to too awful much. Sitting on my tushie. A lazy couch potato. -I know, isn't that the lamest excuse ever? I'm sure you were thinking I might have some amazing adventurous excuse for not writing ANYTHING for the past 3 weeks.

Maybe I was kidnapped by pirates...

(Well, helloooooo Jack Sparrow..)

...or...

I went on a world-wide tour with my psychedelic rock band..

(Please tell me she has pants on under that shirt/dress thing)

...or...

I was abducted by Aliens..

(Don't worry. That's just the rockstar dressed in an alien costume......Don't ask)

(He was just doing something for church. Again......Don't ask)

But, alas. There are no pirates in Idaho, I'm not even IN a rock band and I've never been abducted.

However, I have been busy taking pictures of people, places and things...and I'd love to share them with you. Starting......NOW.

**you may now return to your regularly scheduled program**

Summer is slowly coming to an end. (And by that I mean - Please summer, please won't you end slowly? For me?) I love where I live. I think I say that a lot. And I'm not trying to brag about it either. I think I'm just stoked that I actually LOVE where I live! I've had the opportunity to reside in several different states, different houses and apartments... but, this place, this IDAHO is my favorite. I've never been able to, on a whim - take a boat ride on a lake, watching the sun slowly fade behind the mountains AND bring my family along. Maybe that's what makes this place my favorite. I'm with the ones that I love. Perfect.