Sugar Love

Giggly Girl

Winter Days

Look at this little Army crawler!

Be patient..for when it happens..it happens fast!

Isn't My Little Pork Chop Cute?

YUMMMM!! Can you hear him saying it? He loves to eat!


And these cute chubber legs are sooo ticklish!

Is it really about the bread, people?

Today I was given a Ziploc bag containing the starter batter of Amish Friendship Bread. Amish Friendship Bread has always made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I love the idea that in this hectic world, it requires you to slow down, complete small steps, and wait ten days before even baking it.

Sure, it's a little odd that it sits in a Ziploc bag for that many days and "ferments" (according to the directions), but anyone who has had it knows it's worth both the wait and its strange means of preparation. Even more so, what I like about Friendship Bread is that you give to a friend, and they pass it to their friends, and so on. It's like a tiny little gift that yields this yum-o bread and mini science experiment all in one.

Today at work I tried to get a few co-workers pumped about me giving them a starter bag of batter when I mix mine in a few days, and they just weren't game. They even wrinkled their noses.

They just don't get that it's not all about that Ziploc bag of goo, do they?

Glamour Girl and Tubby Turkey

Doggy Bowls

Look what I found by Sosa's icky food bowl the other day:

Toddler Rules

Toddler Property Rules





If I like it, it's mine.

If it's in my hand, it's mine.

If I can take it from you, it's mine.

If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.

If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

If it looks just like mine, it's mine.

If I think it's mine, it's mine.

2008 in Review

Goodbye, 2008

Wow! Can you believe 2008 has come to a close? It's hard for me to believe. It has truly flown by. This year has brought us so many special blessings. In January of 2008 Ava earned a new cousin when Chase Thomas Ritchie was born to Ryan and Kristina. In April Ms. Tess turned the big 3-0 and celebrated with an 80's themed bash. Later that month I was diagnosed with low amniotic fluid and sidelined with what was to become seven weeks of bedrest. It didn't turn out to be the leisurely life of eating bonbons and watching "A Baby Story" all day liked I hoped. Instead, I was depressed because I couldn't play with Ava, concerned for my baby's health, and worried about my keeping my job and paying the bills. On May 29th, 2008, we welcomed Alexander John Ritchie into the world. Our big, big, boy weighed 8 lbs 13 oz at birth! No wonder it took so long for him to make his appearance! Alex has given his mommy more love and adoration than she could ever imagine. A few short weeks later in July, Ava and Alex met their newest cousin, Finnegan Ross Ritchie, who was born with the most adorable red coif you have ever seen. Littlest sisser Ashley turned the quarter century in August, and Ava celebrated her 2nd birthday on September 11, 2008, with a birdie themed party. Ava spent all of 2008 pushing the limits, cracking us up nonstop, and letting off more energy than should be legal. Jeremy said goodbye to Bridgeway in October of 2008, and started a new adventure as a Correctional Counselor for the state of Iowa. November gave us the most historic election of all time, and a renewed hope for the future. This December we celebrated our first Christmas as a family of four. We feel complete and can't wait to see what 2009 brings.

Merry Christmas, Baby

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

It's one of those days..

You know, one of those days when the last person at the coffee machine took the last cup and didn't make more coffee, when you hit your knee on the edge of your desk, when your kiddo poops after getting him bundled for zero degree weather, when your car windows and doors are all frozen shut, when your windshield wipers are frozen to your car even with water poured on them and sixty combined minutes of work to unstick them, when your flaccid dollar bill isn't accepted at the machine, when you wear heels and it snows five inches, when you have a headsplitting cold. You know, one of those days.

When a mommy can't find a hair pretty at lunchtime....

....a mommy's gotta do what a mommy's gotta do.

Gotta go private!

Got some spam to my blog so I will go private soon. Email me so I can add you as a follower! mindileah@yahoo.com
xoxo

I am humbled

i saw this story on CNN today about a Korean man who lost his entire family when a military jet plane crashed into his home. He was visibly grieving but still had the strength and character to say that he wished the pilot that ejected safely from the plane no ill will and called the marine "a treasure for our country". His selflessness and ability to put someone else before his own grief truly inspires me.

Here's a link to the story if you are unfamiliar with it as well as a bit of the surviving father's message to the pilot.


http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/US-Fighter-Jet-Crash-San-Diego-Father-Dong-Yun-Yoon-Forgives-Pilot/Article/200812215176255?f=rss

What to wear when your wife has chores for you

What happened to Alex?

I picked Alex up out of his bouncy seat today, and look what I found!
I wonder what happened to Alex?

Winter weather ready (well, sorta)