"smooshed" cake

preparing for kylee's birthday party tomorrow, i spent almost three hours on this cake.  (thank you grama for the wonderful chocolate frosting recipe.)  i think it turned out pretty cute.  but this evening when i went to pull something of the top shelf of my cupboard.....my hand mixer fell smack into the middle of the darn thing....

.....this is what it looks like know.  WHAM!  i am so darn mad, but all i can do is laugh.  that is after saying a few curse words (the kids were in bed.)  so tomorrow a the party it looks like the kids are going to enjoy smooshed cake.  sorry kylee!

great fun

i just had to write a quick update to say that yes, we are still alive....barely!  i am not kidding when i say that we have had just about every kind of illness pass through our house.  so no pictures this time.  they wouldn't be very pretty.  i cannot wait for spring!!!!!

snow

just wanting to wish everyone a very merry christmas. in just two days santa will be making his appearance and we will celebrate the most important birthday of the year....our Lord. the last four years, we've been torn about whether or not to make a big deal about santa claus. we didn't want all the emphasis on him, we wanted it on jesus. however, last year i watched for the first time the "polar express." it made me cry and it made me think. i know the true reason for this season and want to celebrate it as such, but there is something about being a kid and believing in santa claus (i didn't want the kids to miss out on). it is magical, it is mysterious....ya know, isn't believing in jesus? you can't see him, he knows when you've been good or bad, except he is always with you. he can forgive. his gifts....eternal. his love....endless. awesome!

so back to the "polar express," tonight, i want to start a new tradition. we're going to have movie night...watch the "polar express" accompanied by hot chocolate. she probably won't believe in santa clause much longer. i just pray that she believes in jesus forever!

i really do hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating the birth of jesus, opening gifts with the kids and spending priceless time with loved ones. merry christmas!

on a roll

okay....what is it now three posts in two weeks? most of you probably haven't noticed because you've stopped checking:) i don't blame you. but i am back, hopefully a little more consistently. i had to post something that kylee said this afternoon. it really made me laugh. we were in the car just her and i and she piped up and said,
k: "mom, when you have a baby in your belly you can't eat."
m: (i asked curiously) "why not?"
k: "because the baby will get food all over it!"
m: "really?"
k: "yeah, it would get all messy."
i then went on to explain that the baby wouldn't get messy, that the baby is in a special sack....and the stomach was a separate sack where all the food goes. with that she was done. it amazes me how their minds work. i mean really, i can see how she could think what she did. sweet girl!!!!! (and no, for any of you who are curious after this conversation, i am not pregnant!)
look at this crazy girl. it takes a lot of work to get a smile that big! man, i love me girls!!!!!

this was our bathroom before........YUCK!!!!
















bye bye brass.....gag me:)

this is our bathroom now!!!!!










we love it, we love it, we love it. thank you greg. (i forgot to put a picture of the sink area...oops.)

home

is this not the cutest thing....not just the hat, but the blue eyed girl wearing it. my poor kylee has not been in front of the camera for a while. i need to get on that. i am realizing that being a photographer i have been neglectful in taking pictures of my own kids. i have so many pictures, a lag in shouldn't harm too much.

kylee had so much fun in new mexico, i'm not quite sure that she wanted to come home. we are definitely having a time readjusting to real life at home:). i must say i missed her terribly....it was almost too quiet. but lainey, we did have such a wonderful time with you. that one on one time with you was so great. i think you really enjoyed.....you still think it's supposed to be that way. life is getting back to normal.

for being willing to tackle this job. you are so great at what you do. not to mention, it's just been nice i am on a mission to find pictures of our master bathroom after we moved in to our house(four years ago). my uncle has been working hard for a week and a half remodeling our NASTY bathroom. he'll attest to that i am sure. not to mention all the things he has found wrong with the way it was put together in the first place. he is almost done and it looks sooooooo great! i am so excited to see the end result, not to mention have our bathroom back. after sharing the girls bathroom for that long (which really isn't that long) i have had enough......too tight! not enough room for all our (my) crap! i'll post pictures soon. thanks greg for tackling this job. you are so great at what you do. it's been great havin' you around....alaina would definitely agree...."Gag" or "the man." we'll miss you when you are done.

how long has it been? seriously, it feels as though we've fallen off the face of the blogging world.
i wish i could say that we've just been hangin' out, but that is not quite the case. i am so excited this year for the holidays. the kids are growing so fast and it is so fun to enjoy it with them. the fall leaves, making christmas tree chains, hanging ornaments, cookies, chocolate covered pretzels....i could go on and on. kylee has grown up so much. i am being literal, i can't keep the poor child in jeans....she grows too fast.










lainey is also getting too big too fast. she is still our little clown, always good for a laugh. she talks so much, always imitating big sis! what are we going to do with just one child for a week? kylee gets to go to new mexico with ohie for one whole week! i don't think i have been away from kylee for more than a night....now a whole week? she is going to have so much fun. she even got a fancy party outfit (she will be attending papa's christmas party at work)....she's not in the least bit excited:) we will miss you. but lainey, we are going to have so much fun too (watching my uncle remodel our bathroom!)....really we will.

happy halloween

a belated "happy halloween" from the rimbo girls. our little barbie princess (big surprise....seriously!) and raggedy ann (how do you spell???). this was alaina's first year to actually trick or treat. she loved it. after leaving each house she'd reach in her bucket, pull out whatever she got and say, "got, got!" she actually went a lot further than i thought she would. i'm sure it was much more fun with big sister.

we are all sick around here. in fact, i am leaving you with this small post because i am tired and don't feel well. hope all is well with everyone.

punkin' patch time

though the fall seems to get shorter every year....i still love going to the pumpkin patch. my husband doesn't feel the same, yet he did "take one for the team." we went all the way to lawrence to schaakes pumpkin patch. i know it was a little out of the way, but it really was a great pumpkin patch. i've never seen pumpkins that big at any of the pumpkin patches around here. kylee really liked the green and white ones. lainey didn't care too much, she just liked the baby calf and the bulls. hopefully next year it will be a bit cooler....it'd be more fun for everyone:)

aren't these kids getting big....it is fascinating to me how fast they are growing!

31

okay, is everyone ready for a lengthy post. seriously....where does the time go. i am exhausted, and it's only the second week in october. speaking of october, today is "my sweets" birthday. since you don't like a big "ta' do" on your birthday, i'll keep it simple. nothing beats an apple pie, and your daughter thinking you are her superman! i love birthdays with kids....they make it so much more fun. for example....the presents, they are ten times more interesting. there is no telling what they'll pick out. in this instance, kylee had her eye set on these superman pajama's. she could barely stand it not telling him what her gift to daddy was. she even made him a birthday card at school today in which she drew a picture of him wearing his "super" pants.....so cute. i told alan it was either that or a "hula girl" tie.....at least this way he can wear it at home and not have to go out in public.

oh, and wrapping the present was so fun too. although my type "a" personality had a hard time. i just told her that i would hand her the tape and she could put it wherever she thought it needed to go. she really did a pretty good job. i am really trying to encourage her independence, it's just so hard to do sometime....okay, most of the time!









"superman pants"











....fun halloween nails (lainey, just can't miss out on an opportunity to have "pretty" nails....and as soon as she's had them painted she goes straight to daddy to show them off.)









happy 6 yr anniversary sweet heart.....what a WONDERFUL time together. a nice quiet dinner with the man i love.....lovely!!! i am so glad that you are my husband.










lainey, just "hulkin' it" up.....after eating all of my eggs and two more. the kid loves eggs! come to think about it, the day after this picture was taken she had had eggs for breakfast, eggs for lunch (had breakfast/lunch after church), and eggs from lo mein for dinner. she's going to start clucking before we know it.









and miss kylee, just being the social bug that she is. she wants a new friend to come over daily. she loves school and is learning so much. her handwriting just amazes me....from where we came from this summer....awesome. the girl loves to color and draw....hmmm i wonder where she gets that:)

still here

oh my goodness......can i please take a breath? i so need to update this poor neglected blog. my girls are growing before my eyes and i haven't written a darn thing. but what can i do? fall is upon us....(well, sort of) which means business for me is picking up (YEAH!!!). fall foliage, christmas cards and babies....quite a few babies. oh how i love this. needless to say it may be a while before i really truly post something worth while. just wanted to let everyone know that we are still here!!!!

(photo compliments of alan's cousin karen....thanks girl! great shot!)

37

i am so honored to make this post. thirty seven years ago today my husbands parents (mom and dad r.) tied the knot. what an accomplishment, what a blessing! God sure knew what he was doing when he brought you two together. There is so much love between the two of you....God's love....selfless love....it just pours out. i am so lucky to have been able to par-take in that love (still par-taking :)) what a great example you are. not only to us, but to the girls and everyone else who is watching. i watch, i've watched for a long time now. just seeing the two of you last night in the parking lot hand in hand. showering each other with love and respect. you fit together like a glove. the way you look at one another....when you dance. i love watching the two of you dance. so graceful...so beautiful. you two are great. we don't tell you enough. mom, dad, thank you for your marriage, and for your gracious love. without it, i would not be married to your wonderful son whom i long to be married to for 37 years too(and them some.) we love you so much. we hope you have a wonderful day!

18 mo

my sweet funny face. i could just eat you up. today my dear marks eighteen months of pure bliss! you are so darn cute, i can barely contain myself. i never knew that having a second child bring so much more love and laughter into our house. you are our little clown....spinning 'round and 'round then falling over on purpose, wearing your high heeled shoes, blowing lainey sized zerberts on my belly...you make me laugh. your big blue eyes and your big front teeth, sparse hair (very sparse on top...just like your daddy, but you do look just like him). just looking at you makes my heart swell. really swell! when you look up at me and smile, i absolutely melt....holding up your arms "mammy, mammy." you are my little buddy. i love you so much. i am so thankful for the gift of wonderful you!

golden aspen

harley, harley, harley......they are every where. i am in ruidoso, new mexico visiting my in-laws. donna and i headed out yesterday morning to have a short but sweet weekend up in the mountains. this weekend is the golden aspen motorcycle rally. motorcycles from all over come to just hang out i guess. i'm not sure i really understand why, but it is pretty interesting. it truly is a site! it's just a good thing alan isn't here....he would get back on his "wanting a motorcycle" kick....and i don't think i could handle that again.

the weather is beautiful, no one is screaming or crying....it's quiet (with exception of the rumbling of the motorcycles.) i love my family so much, but this really is a much desired and needed little break. thank you. mommy will be home soon. love you alan, love you girls.

de-sterilization

before.....(as you can see above that kylee was allowed....just this once, to color all over the counter tops. did i emphasize "just this once?")

after......

before...white and very sterile. maybe not clean per say, but hospitalization or psych ward WHITE! but now there is more warmth, the room is more tied together. i felt like a little kid waiting for christmas morning to arrive. i can honestly say that i have hated those white counter tops....they showed everything, not to mention, not very fun to clean. i love the darker counter tops. and good bye nasty white porcelain sink, hello stainless steel. as much as i am loving the new counter tops i can't forget that they came with a price. several trips to lowes, a few thrown tools and plenty of nicks on my husbands head from those nasty child proof locks on the cabinets below the sink. my husband had a heck of a night. i can't thank you enough honey for persevering....you did a great job. i thank you so very much.

perfect fit

earlier this week i had the privilege of taking pictures of my cousins newest edition....sweet callie! i just loved these picture of her with her nini (alaina's nini too if you ask her.) such a sweet and beautiful baby. though her first week in this world was a little difficult everything has fallen right into place....bliss! we are all glad you are here, happy and healthy.

little piggies

i know this may seem a little ridiculous, but i just had to do it. the poor girl has no hair on top, it's all in the back. she is all about looking "pretty." i asked her if she wanted "pretty hair," she said, "uh huh." i asked her if she wanted pretty toes and nails...."uh huh." you should have seen how proud she was to show daddy her nails...bent wrist and all (unfortunately after being in the pool a few hours later it all came off.) such a pretty little girl, and so darn funny. she really is a clown.

as for poor kylee, she is sick AGAIN! what is going on? i feel so bad when they are sick. please pray for her....and that the rest of us don't get it. if she still has a fever in the morning we will be one our way to the clinic....happy labor day. hope everyone else has a great holiday!




here's lookin' at you kid!

"rolling"

so we could have a little more one on one time with first let me say, "thanks dad" for watching alainakylee. we had a date with our oldest tonight. a little pizza at minsky's (love it!!!), and bowling. kylee wasn't really thrilled with the idea of going "rolling" but once we walked in the doors her mindset changed. i haven't laughed so much in a long time. she was hilarious. she didn't just roll the ball, she threw it (up in the air that is....alan, even had to catch it mid air) it sounded like the floor cracked everytime the ball hit down. she loved it and had a great time....not to mention a chocolate chip cookie from the guy behind the food counter and ice cream on the way home...what a night out with mom and dad. we had a great time with you kylee. you are such a sweet girl.

dough girl

i remember afternoons when my mom would decide to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies....licking the spatula and the beaters was the best part! that sweet, soft dough and bittersweet chocolate chips...mmmmmmm. it's still my favorite part of making cookies.

kylee has had a rough few weeks. she's been acting out a lot more than normal....i think we're dealing with a bit of sibling resentment. lainey, i know kylee loves you so much, but being the big sis' is tough, just as it is to be ther little sis'.

anyway, i thought that today since kylee doesn't have school on fridays and i got canceled at work last night...that it would be a great idea to spend a little one on one time with her (instead of a nap.) so, we make cookies and watched "dreamer." (i still can't believe that i sat next to kris kristofferson and his wife on the plane ride out to hawaii.) what a great movie, always makes me cry. thanks kyleebug for a fun and yummy filled afternoon!