Dress Up

This little girl all dolled up for recital pictures is just too cute.  I will never get tired of playing dress up with her!

A New One For Us!

We celebrated the end of soccer season by signing up for swim team!

We've still got baseball going on but since the games are right across the street from where the kids swim it hasn't been too crazy.  We can have some kids swimming and some baseballing at the same time.

Saturday was their first meet.  Luckily we've got some seasoned swimming pro friends that helped us maneuver the chaos.

Trey and Bailey did great.  Jack enjoyed the show. Ty was home with strep (he'll have his swim debut in a couple of weeks I guess).

Grateful...

...for the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Happy Easter.

Lesson Learned

Last fall, I had the distinct impression that we needed to go visit my grandparents who live in California.  When I mentioned this to my sister, Josie, she said she'd been having the same feeling.  So we started planning.  Kind of.  Before we knew it, our fall and winter were loaded full of busy things and our trip plans became non-existent.  After receiving a beautifully crocheted sweater for Bailey from my grandma in December, I called to thank her.  That call caught my grandparents as they were walking in the door of their home after a trip to the doctor.  My grandpa had just been diagnosed with Lymphoma.  Long story short, we (us Rickers and the Brenners) were on a plane the next month to go visit.  We had a lovely time visiting in their home, the one home from my childhood that us Ririe Navy brats can return to.  We stayed in Monterrey and went down to Cannery Row, a favorite of my kids. We enjoyed beautiful scenery, wonderful weather, and the most perfect company.  My kids are short on grandparents.  It's important that they have relationships with these two incredible people even if they're an airplane trip away.

A Birthday Explanation...

Out of order? Maybe.  But birthday season around here gets busy.  For the record, Ty's birthday is in December (3days after Peyt's), Jack's in January, Bailey (and Robert) in February, and Trey in March. That totally gives me permission to post them all at the same time.  Happy Birthday, family!

Trey Turns 9

Bailey Turns 8

Tyler Turns 12

Jack Turns 4

11

 

On this day it is I who received the very best gift.

Happy Birthday my sweet Angel.

Let Heaven keep you safe

...'til we meet again

Goodbye Summer...

...although it's going to be summer temperatures for another 3 or 4 months (ugh!)

First Day of School (for two, at least)

#3 and #4 are starting 2nd and 3rd. Old. So very, very old (them, not me. I'm in denial)

Balmorhea State Park

I am scared, truly scared, of one thing. Fish. Not cute ones. The ones who jump up around you when you're in waist deep at the beach. Can't handle it. In the past I've been fine in nice clear water with small fish (i.e. Mexico, swimming holes in earlier posts). This place has BEAUTIFUL spring water, a fabulous set up, and the largest concentration of fish EVER! Even big black catfish. My kids loved it. Robert loved it. I was horrified. I did jump in once only to prove I wasn't a chicken. I was a chicken. I would have screamed, even under water, had I not been afraid to swallow one of the 200 fish that stood, well, swam, between me and the step ladder to get out.

Fort Davis Historic Site

Nothing makes my history loving heart happier than a bunch of little history buffs who actually enjoy going to old ruins. Ty and Bailey even did the scavenger hunt through all of the restored and unrestored buildings and earned a patch for their efforts.
On the way out of the area we stopped by a snake house that was lined with venomous snakes, scorpions, and spiders in the least secure enclosures available (I keep legos in more durable containers). It did add to the excitement, especially when Jack bumped into a big white storage bucket and it started rattling. Apparently that snake had just gotten pregnant and was about to be moved to the back cages. Trey enjoyed a conversation with the owner (who under any other circumstance we would have avoided for fear of our lives-lesson learned, don't judge a book by it's tattoos and personal hygiene). They had a good deal to discuss about all of the early model Suzukis in various stages of functionality that lined the entrance to the snake house.

Carlsbad Cavern

This place is AMAZING! (and for the record, Jack walked all but the last 5 minutes of the loop)