Saturday, December 27, 2008

A Very Merry Christmas!

It was a really nice Christmas this year. We had my family's Christmas at our house (incentive to finish the main floor bathroom, hee hee!) My brother and all of his kids were able to come, as well as my Grandma who broke her hip just this winter. She is 92 and recovering magnificently!
Then we went to my in-laws house for another fun time with family, although it was in a shadow of sadness as Shane's Grandfather is fighting for his last days in the hospital. It was sad not having him there at Christmas to play Christmas carols on the organ, enjoy the grandkids and the "special" sugar cookie that Andie likes to make for everyone (that usually involves every kind of sprinkle).

Sawyer is a little blurry, but he was having a grand time pushing his new cart from Lake Gammie and Papa.

The Rist family photo!

This picture CRACKS me up - this Elmo doll is talking nonstop and Sawyer is just not sure... :)
Wyatt loving the classic stomp rocket

Andie and Daddy doing a new Fancy Nancy puzzle


My dad (Lake Papa) managing two wiggly boys!



Sunday, November 30, 2008

National Lampoon's Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was one for the books. I don't even know where to begin...maybe with almost EVERY single person getting the stomach flu? Or, the guys getting stopped by the DNR for illegal 4 wheeling? Or maybe when the sewer backed up? Well, for complete details send a request for Sandi Sue's commentary on the day and you'll get the whole story. These were the pictures I managed to get before it all went haywire...

A brainstorming session on how to best market and launch Uncle Greg's new singing career.

My poor baby was so out of sorts. He just wanted to be held (by Aunt Sandy here).

Cousin Jason modeling his favorite leisure suit.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

4th picture challenge

My friend Megan challenged everyone to open up the 4th folder of pictures you have stored on the computer and post the 4th picture from that folder explaining what it is and what it means to you. Well, apparently I'm not that organized to have all my pics in folders, but this was the 4th picture over... and it happens to be one of my all time favorites! This was Andie and Shane on a slip and slide at our good friends house - Wayne and Michelle. Andie is 2 years old and I just happened to catch the pure joy on their faces as they slid by. Thanks for the fun game, Meg!

Friday, October 31, 2008

trick or treat!

Andie and Wyatt had a terrific time on beggar's night this year! They were so excited and SO in their element with these costumes it wasn't even funny. Andie was a princess and did little ballet moves for her trick. Gammie Guely made her beautiful little dress and she loved it so much I could hardly get her to take it off. I can't count how many times she told me she loved her dress and her crown. And, Wyatt wore a vintage costume that Shane wore when he was little! (Sandi made it, too). Shane was a little older when he wore it, so it is a little big, but Wyatt just loved it. He ran around "flying" and punching the air and then would put his fists on his hips and say, "Sup-er-man! To save the day!"


The tough Superman stance and look. HA!
And little Sawyer was along for the ride - he wore the infamous bee costume that we got at a garage sale. Andie wore it, Wyatt wore it, and now the littlest bee. :) He isn't fully dressed here, I didn't have his black sweats on. But the weather was so nice on trick or treat night for a change, it was almost too hot for the sweatpants!

Monday, October 27, 2008

P is for Pumpkin


That's what Andie told me while we were carving pumpkins yesterday. She is really learning her letters and sounds. They had fun scooping out the mushy pumpkin innards!
Gammie Guely with the cute scarecrow they made. I saw it might rain the other night, so I ran out to grab the stroller out of the back of the truck and when I stepped out onto the porch that thing gave ME a scare!!
Sawyer staying warm in Aunt Sandi's quilt at Howell's tree farm, where the kids played in a corn pile (like a sand box of corn), and other fun things. It was a very blustery day - which cut it a little short, but they still had fun.

going geothermal

We're officially having a geothermal heating and cooling system installed in our home! It is something Shane has been thinking about for a while, and after last winters propane bills, decided to go ahead and do it. The energy company also offered some rebates to encourage people to do this - so that helped, too. The kids pulled their little chairs up to the sliding back door to watch the whole thing. There was a huge drilling truck to drill holes 200 feet into the ground, then this scoop (or, backhoe thingy) to put all the dirt back. It is a muddy mess!!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

the outdoor kitty




marble jars full!




We've been doing this marble jar thing with the kids for a month or so - if we catch them doing good (sharing, getting a drink or spoon for each other, helping with the baby, using their manners, etc...) then they get a marble in their jar. They can't ask for a marble, they just have to be caught doing positive things. When the jars are full, they get a special treat. The first time around, they got gumballs and were THRILLED, because I just don't usually buy gum. But, this time the jars were full Shane had this crazy idea - he has been wanting to take them to the toy store. I was thinking, "you're crazy!" But, we took them and they had a great time. We heard a lot of "Wow!" and huge gasps as they kept seeing neat toys aisle after aisle. Andie actually put her hands over her mouth and her jaw dropped when she saw the Disney princess section. Anyway, they ended up with these two wheel scooters. Big hit. But, I told them that was a special treat, that we won't be able to do that every time the jars are full!

Monday, September 22, 2008

dirt magnets


Shane had a whole load of dirt in the dump trailer to fill in some landscaping and the kids had quite a time. We think they seem most at home in the dirt! :) I'm not really for this - as it gets dirt everywhere in the house and bathtub (how does that happen even if they go straight up to the tub??), but once in a while is OK! Wyatt is jumping from the top of the pile and then sliding down the hill. nice.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Friday, September 19, 2008

happy ending


Making chocolate pie

If you haven't heard our story, we had a real life nightmare occur last weekend. Andie fell out of a window... on the second story. It was absolutely horrible. I can't even describe. Miraculously, she is OK. No broken bones or internal ruptures. She is still a slight bit sore when she does somersaults or other such fancy moves, but other than that is basically back to her goofy self. Just a bit more cautious, maybe. I am finally sleeping at night without replaying the whole horrible moment over and over and over again in my mind (seeing a pink flash by the lower window, running out into the rain, scooping her up...) and can finally talk about it without sobbing! Shane and I are still in a kind of somber shock with the weight of what could have happened, but feel so incredibly blessed that she is OK and it turned out to have a happy ending. Praise God!!!

Mucho thank you's to Aunt Teppie and Aunt Chele for sending the most fun surprise care packages!! Homemade cookies - and her very own rolling pin that was put to use the next day! And, gigantic suckers made Andie and Wyatt's faces light up...(see videos :) - I especially like the serious kazoo performance by Wy-Wy. What a hoot!) It really was so nice and thoughtful and brought out huge smiles, which we needed! Thank you!!

Friday, September 12, 2008

first day of preschool

Andie had a really good first day of preschool, I think. She seemed excited, but not over the moon about it. By the third day, though, she said she liked school and didn't want to leave. (I suspect that's because they were playing out on the playground...) She also said she has a friend, but can't remember her name. :)

tiny kickers



Andie tried Tiny Kickers (intro to soccer) through our parks and rec. I wouldn't say she was thrilled about it - so we'll see. The coaches weren't too energetic or enthusiastic, is that the word I'm looking for? But, it was definitely good exercise! Wyatt, on the other hand, wanted very badly to get out there and try kicking, too!

Monday, September 1, 2008

trauma

Well, Shane had a horrific event occur this weekend... he cut his finger off (well, almost) while using a table saw (that he has used hundreds of times) to create our front porch. It was still barely attached by a shred of bone and some skin. It was a mad dash to the ER, all of us scared to death, and Shane's heart breaking at the thought of not being able to play the guitar. I'll spare you all the details, but WOW, it was horrible. (At first I thought I was going to be looking for the finger on the ground!) We are so thankful, really, because it could have been much worse. The doctor is optimistic that it will mend - so now he is supposed to be resting after they sewed it back on to hopefully keep his finger!

Friday, August 29, 2008

meet the teacher night

Andie's first little meet the teacher night for preschool - do you think the sassy red boots gave the teacher any worries about this girl? :)
Shane has been building a new front porch for our house (since it didn't have one) and the kids have a new interest in their play tools. I found them measuring and fixing their trampoline. too cute.
And now the infamous "letting go" of things...

Friday, August 22, 2008

Grandpa Great

There is something about Grandpa Great's scooter that all of the kids love. When they were little, it was almost mesmerizing to gently glide around, now Andie pretends she is riding a bus and Wyatt wants to DRIVE the thing!
Doing chalks together...the simple pleasures of summer.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Lake Gammie and Papa's

Andie went to visit my mom and dad for a couple of days with her cousin Raeanna. They went to a butterfly garden in Ames, then down to their house at the lake. She had so much fun! (Her mom and dad were a little nervous, though, as it was her first time spending the night away from us!) She came home exhausted, but as they were pulling away, she was crying and said between sniffles, "I...don't want...Gammie and Papa... to go."
My mom and Andie at the gardens.