Happy Holidays

The Christmas season started off with a trip to Bass Pro with our friends to see Santa! We got to go on Greyson's Birthday & since daddy was out of town, it was a nice little trip to spend time with his friends.

We got to meet Charlie- she's so cute & tiny. It makes me want to get the kids a dog someday =)

I love this Santa. He is so neat looking =)

These kids had a blast together.

Love spending time with my friend Emily too. =) 

I was in charge of the Christmas Program this year. We did "The Not-so-Silent Night" pageant. The kids loved it & did a great job. Greyson got to have 2 parts playing a shepherd & a wiseman! 

He loved being on stage & singing the songs. After the program, we grabbed a couple photos of these 2 little girls. Courtney found these 2 little matching skirts so we had Natalie & Rilynn wear them to the program. Rilynn was busy eating Chocolate.

A new thing the ladies in our church participated in was a cookie exchange! I didn't remember to take any pictures of the party but I made my grandma Good's gingerbread men & they were so cute.

The weekend before real Christmas, we celebrated ours together as a family on Saturday. It was the only morning we had daddy all to ourselves. Friday night, we got the house all ready...the little elves were busy.

We recycled Uncle Jac's old tool chest from when he was little & set it up with a bunch of new child sized power tools for Greyson's big gift.

Rilynn got her little kitchen decked out with pots, pans, utensils & food =) It is something I know she will have fun growing into as her imagination continues to change. Right now, she just loves pretending to eat the food & feed others...playing "house" will be down the road I'm sure! 

We had to cover up the playroom with a sheet so they couldn't see their big surprises.

Opening stockings & pictures with Mom & dad... I love these precious moments!

They both LOVED the gifts & have had countless hours of playtime.

Showing off his super cool tool belt!

The one main thing I asked for was the new pots & pan set from Pioneer Women. I have loved using them & the color will go great in our new kitchen! (that we will be renovating this summer)

We topped the day off with Gingerbread village & Christmas ornament making!  

So fun to experience Christmas with our own kids. 

Christmas Sunday we dressed up for the occasion!

And the next day celebrated with our Crawford/Locklin family time at Maudine & Jimmy's new house. It was so nice that Gmama got to come & enjoy it with us =) 

We headed to PA on Christmas Eve & got to Nana & Papa's house around 7pm. Nana had some Christmas Eve goodies to open...new jammies, hot chocolate mix with mugs, santa hats, stockings & books!

Greyson & Rilynn always get jammies with reindeer or moose on them! I think it's so fun to see what they come up with in the stores each year =) but there is always bound to be something with antlers!

The biggest hit in the house this year was the indoor snowballs! Since we didn't get to see much snow at the time, the snowball fights inside were the best!! Everyone got in on them & anyone that visited did too! 

Christmas morning, the kids were anxious to get started! Papa read the Christmas story from the Bible first & reminded us all that the best Gift of all is Jesus!! Greyson has really caught on to the meaning this year & seems to really enjoy listening about the baby Jesus.

We had a lot of fun opening our gifts together. Mom always knows the best things to get us...the box next to her was my very own "cups for days" metal rack just like the ones Joanna Gaines uses on Fixer Upper. Can't wait to display lots of mason jars & decor with it.

She also got the guys "Man Crates" that they loved!! Matt got all things fishing & Brandon a hunting one. All they had to do was pry it open with a crowbar! haha

We had such a great time opening the gifts. Then mom & dad went all out on a big Christmas dinner! We had a few friends over to enjoy it with us... 2 kinds of petite filet (with dad's mushroom sauce), roast, & several sides made up the majority, but dad kept talking up his famous cream pies making sure everyone knew that he made them so save room for dessert...haha They were pretty good!

We got a family picture after church on Sunday. Just missing the other 3 members of our family in Idaho! This picture will have 3 more little additions to it very soon when all the babies get here =) We can't believe how much this family has grown in just 4 years! 

The rest of the week we visited family, had a few shopping excursions (like to Ikea in Pittsburg) went bowling & got plenty of food!

Finally after several days, Greyson got to see a little bit of snow =) Nothing compared to what they have NOW but at least he saw some.

We spent New Years Eve celebrating with family in Cooperstown! We played games & had a blast...then went back to Nana & Papa's to watch the ball drop in NYC & sip some sparkling cider. Greyson stayed up for all the fun, but the 2 little girls couldn't quite make it with the rest of us =) 

New Years day, we tried out dad's new gun. It was FREEZING & SO windy!! But I had to try it.

Then our good friends Janice & Bill came to eat the PA traditional sauerkraut & pork with mashed potatoes. It was so funny, because we had it for lunch, but they were having it for supper back at their place. It sure hits the spot! Then they introduced us to a new game of Wizards!! It was so much fun & we played for a few hours =) 

All too soon, our visit was over & it was time to go back home. Thankfully we had good roads & made good time. 

Our Christmas card this year made a lot of people laugh! If you know these 2, they are anything but silent. Greyson hasn't stopped talking since he was 10 months old & Rilynn is trying to catch up. =) they thought it was funny to make this card but Greyson was a little disappointed I couldn't tape him to the WALL like another Christmas card he saw online. I tried to explain photo shop to him but he wasn't having it. Next time I refer to Pinterest for card ideas, I won't let him look with me! 

Greyson & Rilynn's Birthday Party!

We celebrated the kids birthdays on December 6th with our family. 

We had a Minnie/Mickey party & they shared it with Aunt Cinda whose birthday was on the 1st =) 

Greyson's birthday was on the 9th & Rilynn's on the 10th.

Of course our friend Courtney made the cute cakes again this year =) 

We had lots of fun opening presents!

Courtney made this super cute mason jar sign for Jacinda's birthday present. Can't wait to see it hanging on the door of her new house! 

Happy Birthday to these little cuties! I can't believe they are 2 & 4 already =) 

Since Rilynn & Uncle Ben share a birthday, we decided to have a mini party at Gmama's. 

Uncle B & Rilynn blew our their candles & then opened presents! 

They were so excited to have another little party & we enjoyed being with Gmama too =) 

Catch up 2015

Its a new year & there are so many things I haven't shared from last summer/fall! So, I am playing catch up today. 

 One of our favorite things to do when it is super hot is go swimming! We loved spending time at our friends community pool =) 

Then our little family has been trying to spend more fun times together by taking little trips. Before we know it, Greyson will be starting school! So, we decided to take a little mini trip to Pigeon Forge, TN over Labor Day weekend.  We went to Dollywood a couple times & visited The Island. We love stopping in at Paula Deens Restaurant anytime we are there.

Baby Ronan Artillary was born in September! We got to meet him just before heading to PA to visit my mom after her cancer diagnosis. Those photos from our trip were in my last post. I have not gotten to see this sweet baby since we first met him, but I see he is growing so fast & super cute =)

Our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch with the Powell's was so fun! We even got to enjoy it with Aunt Cinda this time. It was a little rainy but we still got our pumpkins & had fun =) 

A few times during the fall, we had cookouts at the barn with friends. A big fire & good food makes for a fun evening. 

Halloween was a lot of fun this year! Our church has a trunk or treat in the parking lot so we get to showcase our trunks & pass out candy to the community trick or treaters. 

This year Greyson was really into Jake & the Neverland Pirates...so he is Jake. Rilynn is the cutest little Tinkerbell, & I am just blending in with the theme. =) 

My trunk was supposed to look like a cave where you would find some treasure =)

My sweet friend Skye turned 40 this year!! we had so much fun at her party celebrating & catching up with friends. 

Some exciting family news, included more babies coming to the Ritchey clan! 

We are so excited for both of my brothers & their families! Everlee will get to be a big sister (hopefully finding out gender soon) and Karleigh a big sister to a baby brother & baby sister!! 

We got to spend Thanksgiving in Florida this year on account of a wedding I was in that weekend. We were invited to spend the day with the Finney/Carroll Families & it was not only beautiful, but such a fun day. Matt offered to take the kids each evening so I could spend some time with the girls going shopping, visiting a coffee shop or just hanging out. He was super dad that weekend! 

We are truly thankful for the wonderful family Jac married into =) and could not be more happy to have Jacinda join us in Alabama.

The wedding I was in celebrated my long time friend Janelle! She had a beautiful wedding & I was honored to be a part of it =) 

Later that week, we got to see my little brother as he passed through our area for work. We only got to spend a couple hours together, but it was nice to see him this far south & catch up. 

There are so many other memories I could share from the last 6 months! But I tried to share most of the high lights & keep it as short as possible. Again, we are so blessed & thankful for the friends & families in our lives. We could not celebrate these things without thanking the Lord for His faithfulness & help through it all. 

My mom ended up finishing her final Chemo treatment at the beginning of December! She did so well throughout each month & her testimony shined at each dr's appointment. 

I am so thankful for her example!! 

A Moment Like This

I remember when I chose the name of this blog, it was at a time when my husband & I had just found out we were going to be parents. Over the next few years, every moment of our lives, good or bad, has been reflected right here. No, not every SINGLE moment, but the big things...the ones I feel worth mentioning & wanting to remember. 

The vacations, plans & fun times. Projects, DIY & decorating. Holidays, surprises & most of all FAMILY.

*All 4 Grandchildren in the same house! L-R (Everlee, Karliegh, Nana, Rilynn & Greyson)*

I have enjoyed going back over the entries I've made & seeing what we learned along the way. 

We had quite the summer! It was jam packed... I got a little too busy to blog, and at the very end, as August made its appearance, I also got more news that would change everything. 

*Sister in law - Richelle & sweet niece Everlee*

*Sister in law - Mindy, Cousin Julie supporting the cause =)*

MY mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

From the beginning of my blog, I was already experiencing what cancer could look like. We were in the beginning stages of going through it with my mother in law & while her's was a much more aggressive kind, it was something I was still not prepared to handle. Over her long battle I experienced things I never thought I would at my age, never had the kind of responsibility I would have either, & I never imagined that it would test my faith & my abilities as much as it did. 

*Papa & Greyson caught a fish!*

*My older brother Matt & his little girl Karleigh*

To make it to the 1 year anniversary of my mother in law's death, I was NOT prepared to be told that it was now a part of my mother's life. 

BUT something miraculous happened. Yes, I was upset, emotional....all that comes with being told this kind of news...but the biggest thing I noticed was the amount of PEACE & comfort I felt moments later. Why do we have road blocks in our lives? I don't always know the answer, but I do know that knowing GOD & the PEACE that only He gives makes all the difference! 

Do you know how many people my parents have influenced over the years? Do you know how many people are praying for her right now? I could probably say without doubt that there are 100's of people & churches all across the country praying for my mom & this moment in her life. How does that happen? From KNOWING Christ...and MAKING HIM KNOWN! It makes all the difference when God's people come together. They may not even know her or me personally but the prayers that go to the Lord on our behalf is unfathomable to me. 

*sweet cousins*

What would I do over these last few years without knowing who holds the future! 

My family is strong. My mom is strong. She is able to face this with God on her side. We don't ever know the outcome, but whatever it is she will be on the winning side! 

*Nana loving being with her Grands!*

In September, we were able to spend some time all being together. Over the years, marriage & jobs have taken my siblings & I all across the country. We have managed to try & see each other at least 1 time a year....that is NOT often but if its a priority, then we make it happen. 

*Mom in her new wig!*

I was able to watch my mom, who is usually the one in charge, sit back & let us help her. We may have taken over her house, the food, the cleaning & laundry...but we were together & she was doing better than I could have imagined. We got to go shopping, eat out, & have little outings with the kids. One of the highlights for me was picking out her new wig! You have got to try & have some fun in the middle of these things. What could be more fun than seeing my mom get a "makeover" with one of the most drastic things ever! She may have changed her hair a few times over the last 30 years, but she has never worn it down, had it cut super short OR colored! It was definitely something NEW & quite fun to try on ALL styles & colors of wigs. 

=) 

*fun at the corn maze* 

We had a great time! It it always worth the trip...as much as we travel, what's another 13 hours here & there. 

*enjoying quality time together at the corn maze*

I know what my mom is facing can't be easy. She has her good days & bad. I don't doubt that we all wish this never would have happened...but it sure is teaching me a lot. 

Its teaching me to be a better mom, a better wife, a better Christian & to learn that it's worth it to live in the moment, kind of like....

THIS!

My beautiful mother! You got this! =)

STAND UP TO CANCER!

*My cousin Ryan got all of us these bracelets*

18 Months!

Because our computer was down & I hadn't been blogging much this year, I missed updating you on Rilynn's 18 mo status! Before too long, she will be 2 so I thought I better catch up =) 

Rilynn 

   so far you...

*weigh 25 lbs & are 33.5 inches tall! 

*nursed all the way until 18 months! You would have gone longer, but were too distracted with SUMMER & traveling! Mommy was ready to be done anyway...you did a good job! =) 

*have 16 teeth! You know how to use them -_-
*aren't always a picky eater, but like to inspect everything that goes in your mouth. You only eat when you are super hungry & that seems like all the time...except lunch & supper. You are what the dentist calls...a grazer! We have to keep the snack bag up but even then you seem to find it, pull things out & eat whatever you can find. I have caught you with a powdered donut bag a few times! You definitely prefer sweet stuff to anything else & can sniff it out a mile away. We don't know how you know...but whenever someone has chocolate you come looking..haha
*have lots more hair to work with! We love to do little pigtails & pony tails! 

*sleep all night from about 9:30pm - 8am. Your naps are usually 1-3 hrs in the afternoon & you sleep just about every time you ride in the car

*can walk, run and climb! You can figure out the best or quickest way to get from A-B...you are all over the place & my biggest mess maker. You can climb anything & push anything to use as a device to get anything! 

*hate hearing the words no no but now you repeat them back to me. You are very independent, stubborn & strong willed. If you are caught doing something & get in trouble, you don't really cry, but if you just want something & we take it away...you get MAD & let us know how you feel.
*are talking quite a bit & taking after Greyson when he lets you get a word in. You can say sentences like "I love you" and "where are you", You call Greyson (sha-sha) & have been working on extended family names. Uncle B is just "B" but Poppy, Nana & Papa are super easy. There are lots of other words you say but your favorite is "Baby!"
*love your big brother, but definitely know how to push his buttons. You CAN play well together & love to cuddle in the mornings & be very sweet...but as the day goes on, there is lots of screaming & carrying on & I have to play referee
*love to read, play with toys & pretend. You have a bright imagination! I love to see you play Mommy with your babies. You comfort them (shhh shh shh) let them know when they need a diaper change & like to put them to bed with a blanket.
*have been learning to say the blessing at dinner time. Right now all you do is fold your hands & say "Ameeee" (Ah-me) but you know when its time to pray!

*are in size 4 disposable diapers, & still wearing our cloth diapers. You have started to potty train just a little bit but don't seem quite ready yet.

*wearing 18-24 mo size clothes depending on brand and in 5-6 shoes. Your feet seem to be growing the fastest & we cant keep you in shoes very long 

*traveled to New York to Black Lake on our family's fishing trip! You love playing with cousin Everlee & are learning to share toys & play nice with kids your age
*love being outside, loved the boating we did in NY & then spending time with Nana & Papa in PA. You are a Papa's girl! but love to talk to Nana on the phone
*you love to ride horses & take mule/kabota rides. Your favorite is riding in the pasture with daddy
*don't have a fear of water...which can be nerve wracking! You could swim all day if we let you...in the kiddie pool you love the slide & learned how to go down on your belly. In a big deep pool, you like jumping off the steps to go under. We have had lots of sun & you have the cutest little tan lines.

What we are looking forward to: 

*Visiting family in a few months
*Fall festivities!