Christmas Day

Wow, what a whirlwind of a day!! Jax woke up at 6:00 a.m. and Shade woke up around 6:30 and they started yelling at us to come and get them. Zach went in and hung out with them until 7:00 getting them all crazy and way to excited. I don't know how they stayed in bed that long. They came running out and were very excited to see everything. Shade ran around the house looking for Santa. He was a little sad Santa had to go home. They started opening everything and of course were looking for their Ben 10 Omnitrix watches. That is all they have been talking about for months. Well, Santa was very good to them and they got them and about 6 different Ben 10 action figures. They got all kinds of good stuff, learning systems, clothes, books, transformers, WWF wrestling belts, light sabers...I could go on a long time. By the time they had opened everything Aynslee decided to wake up. Her favorite gift was her My little pony that Zach got her. I was excited that she got a Popple(remember those?). The very best part of Christmas morning was when I acted like I was taking the trash out and came back in to show the boys what Santa could not fit in the house. They ran out to see what it was and about fell over. They got a John Deere Gator power wheels. They both jumped right in and took it for a spin. I love to see their faces so happy. We are truly a spoiled rotten family. We have been blessed so much. We had a great day hanging out and playing with all of our stuff. The boys ran the battery out on the Gator and Ayns loved to chew on Minty (the pony). Now, we are just trying to clean everything up and find a home for it all. It will take a while, but we had a great time making the mess. Thank you to all of our family for the great gifts and money. We really missed you all on Christmas day, but thought of you often. We love you all!!!

Sugar Cookies

Christmas is almost here and I had a sudden panic attack this morning when I realized that this will be the first year that I would not have my Grandma Leaks mouth watering sugar cookies. I have gone home every year for Christmas and have always had at least one (usually 20). I even made them to send to Zach last year while he was deployed. I didn't want him to miss out. Well, I hate to make sugar cookies. They take way to long and for some reason they never turn out right. I had to try this year. I have to brag a little, they were good. Not Grandma Leak good, but not bad for Rikki good. I also had to send a picture of the cookies because Courtney and Sonnie told me last year that I was the worst froster they had ever met. I thought these looked dang good!! Good enough to eat sisters!! We took a plate to Jacksons friend Gavin and his family. Then a couple of plates to our neighbors. We love Christmas time and love the opportunity to share. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and I hope your mouths are watering for these Grandma Leak sugar cookies. They are the best. Frosting his cookie for Gavin (For those of you who saw our Christmas card, he has the same look on his face. Like why are you making me do this.)
Shades cookie got LOTS of frosting on his

Aynslee was such a good girl. She hung out in her bouncer the whole time

My wonderful frosting job

Not bad Courtney and Sonnie!!

Getting one of the plates ready

Here is our tree and stockings. We are quickly adding to our stocking collection

Our newest addition

Last week Zachs parents flew down here for a visit, and we had a great time. Whenever Zach and his dad get together they always seem to find a project to do. Since we are trying to get our yard landscaped they decided that we needed a flag pole in our front yard. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical at first when they told me they were going to put it together from scratch. They thought the one at Lowes was to crappy for our yard. Go figure. They went to Lowes and looked around for about an hour grabbing things here and there that they thought would make a great flag pole. A few black poles, the top of a bed post, some silver spray paint, and various other weird things, 37 pieces to be exact. Well, with as unsure about it as I was, it actually turned out very well. I have to give them both props for there vision and putting it together the way they thought it would go. It also gave them something to keep them busy. Good job guys. We are now the most patriotic home on Wolfe Road. God bless America. The infamous flag pole ( sorry it is dark, they worked all day)
Our Christmas lights.

Shade rockin' like a true southerner. We are thinking of changing his name to Bubba

Zach, Jax and Rich. Checking out our property. This is a weekly ride for the boys. They love it.

Oh Christmas Tree

We, unlike most of the United States have waited until December to start celebrating Christmas. Today we decided that it would be ok to get our tree. We drove to a little tree farm not that far from our home. When we got there, we were reminded that this is not the west and we are in Mississippi. Not prime christmas tree country. There were about 50 little trees that cost about double what they were worth. It was a lot of fun though. The kids loved looking at all the trees and fire ants around the trees. Shade is a fire ant magnet, he can trip into one anytime. Jax has an eye for calling them out and Shade will come running to see it and trip right on it. We love our boys. Anyway, back to the tree, we found a great tree and cut it down and they wrapped it up and tied it on our car for us. The past few years we have gone in the great Black Hills of South Dakota to find our tree, but this was just about as fun. It was cold, but a lot less cold and not as much wind as South Dakota, and no snow. Grandpa and Grandma Stewart are here for a week and they got to come with us. It was a great day. I will post pictures of the decorated tree later. Trying to decide if this was the one. It was not.
It took 3 strong boys to cut down this monster

What a scary picture. Jax and Shade with saws!!!

Jax, Shade, Zach, Grandma, Grandpa, and Aynslee

Same picture, just me instead of Zach

Our family and our tree 2007

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving....what a day!!!! Let me first start out with letting you know who was here. Zachs brother Jed flew in from Logan, Zachs friend Walter from high school took the train from Virginia, and Zachs cousin Chris and Stephanie and their VERY cute boy Ben came from Alabama!! I can't even begin to tell you how much fun we had. It was the best It is so great that we are so far from home, and this is one of the biggest Thanksgiving dinners we have had. We had great food, Turkey, cornbread stuffing (thanks mema for the cornmeal!!), spinach salad, sweet potato souffle (don't know how to spell that), mashed potatoes, rolls and pumpkin pie, coconut cream pie, and banana pudding!! It was the best. This was my fourth time doing the turkey, and of course it always takes longer than planned, so we ended up eating 2 hours after we wanted. Don't worry, there was plenty to eat before the dinner. Jax, Shade and Ben had a great time playing outside in the freezing cold (cold for Mississippi, it was in the 40's). Walter bought us a great gamecube game that we couldn't stop playing. That may have contributed to dinner being a little late. The boys got to sleep on the floor in our closet while Jed and Walter got the bunk beds. They loved it. They thought it was the best party ever!!
I promised I would add a quote of the day. Here is my favorite quote from Thanksgiving dinner.
" Holy cats, I wish I was a vampire".... Stephanie I still laugh every time I think of that.
"Ben is playing in the potty, I went pee pee in it....Shade.
Lots of tums were consumed, plenty of snoring on the couch(Walter) and great memories made. Thanksgiving 2007 in the dirty south.

Jed and Zach rocking in the rockers
Shades gingerbread man

Jacksons Ben 10 gingerbread man

The boys sleeping in our closet

Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Shade, Ben and Aynslee were asleep, it was greatBefore dinner

Hanging out before dinner

Tagged

I was tagged last month from Cathie, and I am finally getting around to it. Enjoy...

For those of you who don't know how this works, here are the rules:
A: Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
B: At the end of the post, the player then tags people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog for these rules.

1. Everyone always asks me how I can move around so much. I have to admit that I love it!! I don't know what I would do if I wasn't moving around. After about 1 year somewhere I start to get ready to move again. I love to make new friends and see new places and new cultures. I have learned so much moving around and I am thankful that I can. I know, alot of you are shocked that I would like it, but I really do. Promise!!

2. I finally like the person I am. I have always been shy and needed someone to lead the way, but I think that I have finally become who I have wanted to be for a long time. I am a wife and mother, and I love that. I have become A LOT more independent and enjoy it. The old quiet, shy Rikki is gone. Look out!!!

3. I have a very strong urge to can and freeze food. I hear people canning and freezing and want to do it so bad, but I don't know where to start. Now that I am in a home for a few years, I think I might try this summer. If you have any tips I would love to have them.

4. I am 26 years old and this is the first year that I will not have snow for the holidays and I am so sad. I am trying to get my kids to be sad with me, but no one cares but me. I might have to make some fake snow for our yard. I love you cold Idaho weather!!

5. I love shoes. I have a very bad habit of going to any store and looking at shoes. If I only have 10 minutes to get something I spend 5 of them in the shoe department. I have so many they are overflowing my closet. I can't help myself, I buy them and sometimes never wear them. This is something that will probably never change.

6. I love to read. I love to sit down with a good book in a dark cozy room and ignore my kids, husband and house and read until I fall asleep or the book is done. I have a bad habit of getting a book from the library and reading it that day and returing it the next for a new one. I get into the story so much that I can't stop. Poor Zach has to take over my duties while I read. I love it and crave it. I have had to limit myself from reading so much so I can get something done. Is that bad? I thought reading was good?

Ok, those are finally done. Sorry Cathie that it took so long. I am now tagging Courtney, Mary, Boedee, and Barbara. I can't wait to read them. Don't take as long as I did.

Our little missy is growing up

Our Aynslee Lyn is 6 months old. I can't believe how fast time flies!! When I think of all the nights that I have been awake it seems like she has been here forever, but when I look at her smiling at me I can't believe that it has been 6 months since I held her in my arms for the first time and saw how beautiful my baby girl was. We are so lucky to have her in our family and can't believe that we even lived without her. She is such a fun little girl and we are so lucky to be able to watch her change and see her fun personality grow. We love you Ayns. Happy 6 month birthday.!!!

Aynslee at 6 months

Eating Sweet Potatoes

This is our backyard. We are so lucky to have such a pretty view

More pictures of our backyard