Prescott & Gingerbread Houses!

On Monday, Dec 23rd, we headed up to Prescott. In route, we stopped off at the Desert Ridge Marriot to see the life-sized gingerbread village.

It was pretty impressive. I would have been even more impressed if we had been able to get everyone to look at the camera all at once.

Hot Air Balloons Galore! (12/7/13)

On Saturday night, Dec 7th, we all layered up our clothing and headed out to the Holiday Balloon Glow at San Tan Village. It was so neat to see the balloons all a-glow at night. When standing near their bases, the fire made us so warm!

This butterfly was Kailyn's favorite!

This was a big dog, I think!

The kids had a blast jumping on their inflatable slides and bounce houses. They finished off the night trying to walk on these big balls.

Alton trying to get out! We we amazed at how well they did with these.

Fall Sports Class

The kids had a blast in their sports class this fall. Kailyn didn't get to attend much because of her dance class schedule, but she still had fun. Alton has really progressed in his dribbling and Hunter is getting much better at his coordination.

The class!

Love Hunter and our friend Eric's faces in this picture.

Grandma Riley

My sweet Grandma Riley passed away the Thursday before Christmas. She was one of the most patient, sweetest, loving people I know. She had a great life and lived 95 wonderful years. I will greatly miss her, but know she is busy and loving being with her husband again.

Grandma at her 95th birthday (about 5 months before she passed away).

The Mullin girls: Kim (my sister), Pat (my beautiful Mom), Grandma Riley (my mom's mom), Kristi (my sister), and me.

My parents' posterity.

My beautiful parents, Mike & Pat Mullin.

Birdie Riley   December 18, 2013

Birdie Nitzsche Riley, 95, of Kountze, died Wednesday, December 18, 2013. She was born on August 8, 1918, in Greenvine, to Rosa Engelmohr Nitzsche and Ewald Nitzsche, and had been a longtime resident of Kountze.  Survivors include her children, Charles Riley ofCanton, Dr. Thomas Riley of Carmel, Indiana, Patricia Mullin of Canton, Catherine Morvant of Chandler, and Karen Turner of Kountze; twenty-two grandchildren, Pam Castleberry, Tammy Hamilton, David Riley, Katrina Waldrop, Misti Turner, Robert Turner, Bill Morvant, Stacey Walker, Paul Payne, Kristi Andrianatos, Cindy Barrett, Kim Ottley, Jon Morvant, Tommy Toronjo, Colleen Riley, Randy Riley, Keri Richardson, Craig Morvant, Robby Riley, Jimmy Turner, Tara Priest, and Ross Riley; forty-six great-grandchildren, Jessica Bostock, Taylor Castleberry, Trent Castleberry, Jordan Castleberry, Brianna Riley, Brandon Riley, Megan Riley, Andrew Walker, Zachary Walker, Bailey Walker, Cameron Barrett, Peyton Barrett, Olivia Barrett, Isabella Barrett, London Porter, Sadie Riley, Brook Andrianatos, Joshua Andrianatos, Mackenzie Ottley, Madison Ottley, Conner Ottley, Ashlynn Ottley, Hunter Richardson, Kailyn Richardson, Alton Richardson, Kinley Richardson, Christopher Morvant, Alex Morvant, Vivian Morvant, Lucas Morvant, Sam Morvant, Jacqueline Blair Morvant, Elizabeth Morvant, Jackie Morvant, Justin Morvant, Ben Morvant, Jacob Morvant, Sara Dupuis, Haley Waldrop, Nathan Waldrop, Monica Rutland, Morgan Rutland, Shylor Foshee, Kruz Foshee, Emily Priest, and Carli Priest; and five great-great-grandchildren, Bryce Bostock, Jackson Bostock, Zane Bostock (arriving January 2014), Lillian Dupuis, and Willow Rutland.   A gathering of Mrs. Riley’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2013, at Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze.  Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2013, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Old Hardin Cemetery, Kountze.          Seeing her like this was peaceful. She looked amazing and beautiful! Such a sweet lady. My parents, Kinley and I started driving back to Arizona after saying our goodbyes and had the opportunity to swing by and see my other Grandma, Granny Mullin ( my Dad's mom). She is 92 years old and I'm sure her days are numbered, but it was so wonderful to see her.  I sure have good genes and come from a great ancestral line. Love my family!!!

Sleeping Beauty (12/27/13)

On Friday night, my mom and I had the opportunity to take Kailyn to see Sleeping Beauty at a nearby dinner theatre. It was super fun to just have girl time with three generations. The show and costumes were great and we all had a great time. They left some time for questions after the performance for the kids' curious minds and then Kailyn got a chance to meet all if the actors/actresses and get their autographs. So fun!

Yum! Pink lemonade.

Someone is full of kisses!

Couldn't decide between these two pictures. My Mom is soooo beautiful. I love her so much!!!

The three fairies.

Aurora and her prince.

Kailyn was in heaven!

Climb Every Mountain/Duttons (12/28/13)

Saturday morning, my mom and the three younger kids, got to go exploring some area trails near our home. We grabbed a few snacks, our camelbacks and hiking poles and headed out. The kids were pretty excited to be outdoors and they did a great job.

Kailyn decided she wanted to carry her new purple elephant, Plum, on her adventure. It really added to the adventure with her trying to keep her balance and not drop her elephant. Such a funny girl!

Handsome Alton! He was pretty funny on this hike because he would find a "cool looking" spot and say "take my I tire mom". I told him he would have to smile for dad if he really wasted me to take the picture, and he did! If you notice that there are several pictures of just Alton and his smile, this is why. Sometimes his smile is hard to catch. Love this bit so much!

Kailyn and Grandma Mullin! Beautiful girls!!!!!

Taken just across from the previous wash.

Cutie Kinley. What a fun way to be carried. Lucky girl!!

Phoenix in the background.

My Mom concentrating on her every step down. The gravel was quite slippery if hit at a wrong angle.

This is what we found when we rounded one of the corners. He looked like his was just sitting these basking in the sun, but as we got closer we realized he had slid because of trying to run down. Silly Alton! Luckily he was not hurt. Or at least I should say, there was no blood shed.

Kinley was dying for her chance to hike, so we let her have it. The other kids were super excited to show her how to hike and how to avoid the cacti.

She just wanted her freedom.

After hiking, we ran a few errands. While at one of the stores, Kinley thought she would just take a seat on Alton's lap. They were super cute. 

Then at 2pm that afternoon, we went to see the Duttons. We sat on front row and got to be quite involved in the show. I got to dance with one of the brothers, the sister, Amy, kept talking about Mike (my Dad) throughout the show and mom got taken up on stage. So fun! Great memories!!!!  

My mom held the violin while Benjamin Dutton played it. Pretty amazing!