Birthdays and Baptisms

January and February are very busy months around these parts. We have Ashley's birthday on Jan 13 (and she was baptized a few days later), Spencer's on Jan 15, Cory's on Feb 9, and Ainslee's on Feb 17. It's a little hard to keep up and believe me sometimes the birthdays don't happen on the exact birthday day. But we still have fun anyway...

Here is a homemade cake a la Walmart- remember the broken mixer? She got to pick out a bike for her birthday. Everyone needed new bikes this year and since Santa brought Spencer and Andi one, the bigger girls had to wait a little longer.



The kids get birthday parties with friends every other year- on their even birthdays starting at age 6 (I'm so against the entitlement attitude). She picked her 4 closest friends and I took them all out for ice cream Sundaes. Pretty much the cheapest and easiest birthday party I've ever done. They had a great time.

Ashley was baptized on Jan. 16. It was so nice. I was a little nervous about how to 'do' one. Our stake does individual baptisms which is nice because it's just our little celebration but then again I have to plan it all. I had Ashley pick out the songs, who would say the prayers, and who would give the talks. Ashley, Ainslee, and Andi sang "I'm trying to be like Jesus" and it was just wonderful. The whole day was. We had family come in to support us. We know what a sacrifice it is since we live so far away and we don't have anything fun near us to visit. I mean why would anyone want to come here? No beach, city, mountains... just the Rice Family Circus. Here's a sweet story about Ashley. When she was getting comfirmed, she teared up quite a bit. I could feel her strong spirit and she felt for the first time the Holy Ghost. I hope and pray that she remembers that feeling to help her through her decisions. I'm so proud of her and her decision to be baptized.

Next was Mr. Spencer's birthday. It was actually the day before Ashley's baptism so we still had family in town. Again, cupcakes a la Walmart. He got some really great boy toys for his birthday which of course are so needed in this house!

Then it was Cory's birthday but since he's the old man of the house he got his own posting (see below).

Then Ainslee turned 7 just the other day. We have a tradition of taking each birthday kid to a restaraunt of their choice- with just mom and dad. Ainslee had decided months and months ago that she wanted to go to Islands for their mini burgers. She's so funny about food. She has a definite taste for certain foods. She even described her birthday cake to me in perfect detail (I did get a cheap hand mixer for the occassion). So when no one can decide what we want to eat for dinner she'll be the one to ask.

Today is a great day for Cory

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy 33rd Birthday, my dear hubby...

Happy Birthday to you!

I need some Vitamin D... NOW!!!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!
Come again another day...
If you don't go...
someone's gonna get hurt!


Aaahh! Too many gray and rainy/misty days makes me very grumpy. Anyone else? We've all got the itch to go to the park and play and do some yard work. I'm ready to play and have my skin kissed by the sun -no, I didn't grow up in LA or anything :)

Just getting to December?

Really? I'm just getting around to December's events? How embarrassing. I'll just do it picture style then...

Mr. Spencer and Avery enjoying a nice day out in the sunshine. Avery especially liked the garden dirt that day. Yumm-o.


We had our first every fire in the fireplace. We were a little nervous not ever having done one before but it turned out great. I think Cory and I woke up about each hour to make sure that none of us died of carbon monoxide.


The kiddos dressed in their Christmas outfits for church. I've decided to go simple each year and just buy black, red, and white things. That way they can pass everything down each year but they all will still match. It's worked out well for the past few years now.


Gingerbread House-making. This is the night that Cory broke my stand mixer... but I'm not bitter. Anyone got one they wanna give away? Just wondering.


Ashley's poetry reading in school. She wrote a few poems and shared them with her class. She read them so perfectly. I'm so proud of her!

Our Christmas Eve festivities. Of course a yummy dinner of ham and potatoes and jello salad. Then onto a gift exchange game (way fun). Then onto our holiday talent show. Ashley played a few songs on the piano while Ainslee and Andi sang. And I massacred a piano duet with my cousin Lindsey. Nice. Then the reading of the nativity story with hand puppets.

My kids and Lindsey's kids. I think we have the same picture from when we were little kids.

Building the worlds greatest snowman, Mr. Winter. Well, according to the kids it's the greatest. The kids did not understand, though, why we put a pipe in it's mouth. I said, "It's tradition" but I'm thinking that tradition's gotta go!

Our Thanksgiving

It was great. It started with Andi having her little Thanksgiving feast and presentation at her preschool.



Cory made hor d'ouvres (horsey doovers) at 12noon for a little snack. Then we went on a walk to the park down the street. It was beautiful weather. No sweatshirt needed!




Cory decided to be funny and climb up the play structure. He kinda got stuck trying to swing his leg over. I think he realized he's not as agile as he used to be. I guess no more acrobatics for him!



How many people can fit on a slide?



Since we stayed home for Thanksgiving this year, we invited another "Family-less" family over from our ward. They're great friends of ours and their 3 girls are the same ages as our older 3.
Cory and I cooked the turkey, apple sausage dressing (bad recipe), traditionas dressing (good recipe), pumpking pie, carmel apple cream cheese pie, corn, and the mashed potatoes and gravy. I must say... it was DELICIOUS for our first time ever Thanksgiving dinner! Angie and Ric brought over yams, green bean casserole (a classic) and banana cream pie. We then followed the evening up with some guitar hero. Over all, it was a great day.

Had to get a picture of this tree on our walk. So vibrant!

Beautiful 4 yr old

This is our sweet dear Andi 2 months ago. Beautiful, wouldn't you say? Well, I would.



Yesterday I found this on the bathroom counter:


And now this our dear sweet Andi:


I'm not too happy about it. I told her she's very lucky I could fix her "cut off the piggy tail" episode into bangs. I'm not too fond of bangs- too much work!

Time for Fall

Is it weird that our garden is still producing peppers...

...and strawberries?

When I look out the kitchen window, this is my view. The changing colors of the trees sure tell me it's fall.