Wednesday, December 9, 2009

It's BEEN lookin a lot like Christmas, like since Nov....

This December has brought out the Christmas decor, cold weather / snow, and the news that we are having another baby. This was a crazy weekend as we got snow, a lot done, and took the tests that would change our lives again! What a fabulously cold & snowy weekend it was. Perfect for decorating, glad that's over with. The day it snowed we were anxiously waiting by the windows, as the snow started falling, we waited for John and Bash to get home. John got out early and stormed in demanding Mia and I to go outside with him. It was so precious seeing him show her the snow. Bash got home and we enjoyed the beautiful weather God gave us.

The kids helping decorate

Mia waiting for daddy

Mia having a snowball


So I set out the make a Christmas baby gate that would keep lil Mia out of the presents and away from my ornaments, this was inspired by my brilliant sister in law Jennifer. She made a train, (so cute), and so not to completely copy her, I made a gingerbread theme. I used a sheet of 3/4 plywood and had it cut 2 x 21/2, I sanded it, drew out the pictures, cut out the shapes with a jigsaw (my new favorite toy) and painted & hinged it. It took me two days but I got it done.

Here is the finished product: Completely Mia proof, and hopefully whatever other babies come along

Family Pics by Yanet. We were off to a Tacky Christmas Sweater party Saturday night and I realized we hadn't taken any pics together for cards so I had my MIL snap a few before we left. That night when we returned John left to Walgreens for a midnight snack run, when he asked what I wanted I said Sour skittles, Funyuns, and a preg test. Lo and behold both were positive.


My poor little pneumoniac...

First off, thank you all for your emails and calls, Mia is doing great now and has completely recovered, I think it is because we were out of town for Thanksgiving and no one had heard from us then the word leaked and spread like wild fire that rumors and concern grew so quickly. She started getting really sick the Sat. after Thanksgiving in Corpus and so after the pediatricians exchange told us to go to ER, we sped to Houston. She was immediately admitted and hooked up to an IV and had multiple tests and x-rays taken. (SIDE NOTE: Kingwood Medical is not the greatest place to go with a child in need of URGENT care!!!) So, there were of course no beds so we were treated in the hallway for 13 hours and even cathed, HELLO HIPPA!!! Anyway, you can see after the IV and meds started to kick in, she was happy again. The real fun began at home after we were discharged  when the diarrhea continued and we got a wicked diaper rash for extra fun. But, she's a trooper, and can you believe, didn't lose a pound, that's John's favorite part.


Right after the IV, so not happy


Waiting


So much better


Its that time again, Elf Yourself Silly!

We couldn't decide which one was funnier, so we posted two. They are different, even though the image on the front of them is the same.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards
Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Merry Christmas to all !

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Those Ririe kids may be crazy, but they sure are cute!

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Fried Green Tomatoes....and blankets

Kind of long, but PLEASE READ!!!

I've had this burning desire for about the past year to learn how to sew. I guess it really started when I had Mia. I had all of these ideas in my head about little sewing projects I wanted to do for her and Bash like dresses, bedding, blankets, bibs, and all sorts of girly things (for Mia) and a tee pee and book tote or church bag (for Bash), just little projects that I can't bear to spend a fortune on in boutiques when I can do it myself. I hate seeing all of these tutorials and instructions online to make these things and not being able to even start them because 1. I DON'T know how to sew and 2. I don't have a machine 3. I don't understand a lot of the sewing lingo yet. So, I was at a lodge meeting with John and one of the ladies announced that the ladies would be meeting to compile all of the quilts and blankets they'd made for the Ronald McDonald House. Well, my ears perked up when I heard, and you don't need to know how to sew someone (Mrs. Joan Hudgens) there will teach you. Ahhh, music to my ears. So, I called her up and she was thrilled to have someone younger come by with an interest in learning and helping her make blankets, as she has over 50 years of sewing experience and over 29 grandchildren that never expressed an interest. So, I said I will help you make the blankets but I have one that is of utmost importance and I'd like this to be my first project, it is for a very special nephew of mine. She said come by anytime. So, I get to the door and she is this beautiful almost 80 year old southern woman from New Orleans and a little snowball white Maltese puppy named Molly at her feet. She welcomed me with a "Come on in Darlin" and I knew I had come to the right place when I was tripping over rows and rows of bolts of fabrics in the front room. She said "pardon all the fabric honey, my sewing room is full". So, I didn't mention before that Mrs. Joans and her belated husband were members of Humble Lodge for over 50 years and he died of cancer in 2002, but she'd started sewing things for the Ronald McDonald house years ago and since his passing, it is the only thing that keeps her going. I told her that I would start making the deliveries to the RM House on Holcombe for her, as it is a long drive from where she lives.
We made our way to her sewing room, which is an understatement, it was like being at Joanns, with closets and shelves full of fabric and machines that can design stitch/embroider/surge and tools and devices of the trade, lets jut say a seamstress's dream come true. We quickly got to work and began "get to know ya" conversation. I was hesitant to let Mia down, but she said "Honey, I had four little ones in five year so I'm no stranger to cookin, sewin, or doin anything with a baby on my hip, so you do what feels comfortable". So, she played with Molly a bit, and sat on my hip a bit and slept a lot.
I have to admit that I didn't know how much we'd have to talk about if anything or have in common for that matter. But after a couple of minutes we quickly found so many things in common. She was raised Lutheran (like me), has a crazy sister (in a good way) (like me), raised in the south (like me), went to nursing school (like me, only she finished and completed 31 years), worked in the operating room (like me), loves to sew ( like me, exited to say now that I'm learning), loves puppies (like me), loves candy (LIKE ME!!!!), and adored her ma & pa (like me). There are so many other things but those we actually talked and laughed about. It's funny because everyone who knows me well, knows that I LOVE candy, so when I sat down to start sewing she said, "now darlin, sometimes I get a little tickle in my throat and so I keep these Jolly Ranchers around so help yourself " and pulls out an industrial size Sam's bag of Jolly Ranchers (one of my many favs) and I was like ok I'll have a red one, and its SO cute because the rest of the day she'd come by where I was sewing and toss like 4 or 5 red Jolly Ranchers by me and say "here's a few red ones". Oh, those are moments I live for, just the sweetest kindest moments.
We talked and sewed and talked and laughed for hours. She was just as exited to have a new friend as I was to learn to sew. She shared stories of her college years at 19 years old at Charity College of Nursing in New Orleans in the mid 1900's. When I asked what unit she worked in, she explained how she started out in the "White Male Medical" unit because hospitals were still segregated back then. Later she reluctantly went into the O.R. and ended up loving it. I think her medical background really makes her sensitive to these children whose health is failing and fuels her passion to make them these blankets with love. She told me stories about growing up back then, and courting her then prospect now her belated husband. I just listened and imagined as she talked and even shared pictures and albums of her history. It was funny because every time I'd hear her southern accent, I couldn't help but think of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. We were like Evelyn and Mrs. Threadgoode, one young and inexperienced but wanting to learn more about life and the other older and wiser, wanting to teach about life. In one of Mrs. Joan's stories about her son's wedding, she even mentioned a scripture from the book of Ruth. Ruth Chapter 1 verse 16: Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God, which is coincidently in the movie and one of my FAVORITE scriptures, she said it was hers too. I had a warm feeling inside as we bonded. Its funny how the Lord works and orchestrates us in each others lives, to fulfill and to help, to learn and to teach, bond and befriend, to love and be loved.
I spent Saturday afternoon with her and can't wait to see her again this week, I think I'll make some fried green tomatoes for her and see what she thinks.
I am so grateful and honored that I've made this new friend. She is a remarkable woman with all the wisdom and kindness that God has given her to share. I believe that the Spirit lead us to each other for whatever reason, I mean anyone could have taught me to sew, but I believe it was meant to be her.

Friday, November 20, 2009

When what to my wondering eyes should appear...

....my daughter in downtown Conroe posing for a picture here. more to come

Long overdue visit to Lake Jackson...

So finally we were able to go down to "LJ", Lake Jackson for those of you from not round these parts. And it was well worth the wait to say the least and perfect timing, because we got to not only see the Rickers, but the "other" Rickers (Jared and Elaine, lil Jared and Wylee), the Carruths, and Grandmacita aka Rosario. We had a blast. We drove straight to the field where Bailey and Trey had their soccer games that morning. It was the cutest thing, they ran that team, seriously I think they were the only two scoring goals. The bigger kids and the dads had their own soccer game going on at the adjacent field, oh my goodness talk about reliving the glory days. They were jukin the kids and bending in goals like it was world cup, too funny. So after games and trophies, we headed to the Ricker house to celebrate David's birthday. Raise your hand if you're 3. He was so cute and exited to cut his cake, open gifts and hit the pinata. We loved spending time with all of you and can't wait to do it again. It's super hard not being able to see each other everyday because of the distance, so trips like this are what we live for.
Ruth- we will definitely hang out more, without making and breaking plans especially because my son adores you and James and the kids/Sebastian said, "Mom, if Aunt Ruth lives so close, how come we don't play with them everyday?"
Elaine- we will definitely be at your sealing and endowments!!! I can't wait, and Grey Wolf Lodge here we come!
Please feel free to take pics, that's why I posted so many. Enjoy!
Daddy's girls
Bay goin in for the kill Trazor in action Sweet victory!
Our own soccer game Relivin the glory days
Mia, I think you have to stand up to be goalie?
Holly your not making John's baby fever any better
Happy Bday David

Wylee's like,"What do you mean she's not 3, she's a friggin monster?" My nose isn't going to stop running anytime soon, so can we stop with the tissues?

Do you have poop Jack?
John calls this a portrait of the 3rd Reich
Not as fun having to wait your turn to hit the pinata this is more like it
Weeee Ahh, it seems like only yesterday we were in the same hospital, on the same day, on the same floor, with these two, where does the time go?
Oh these boys love them some Aunt Ruth

Finally, Bash let me get a shot