Chris in the Kitchen

Chris is a very dear, dear friend of ours. He has faithfully visited us every year since we've moved to Texas. Actually, make that three visits in two years! We always are happy to have Chris around. But, it's especially good when Chris starts baking.

For those of you who know him, know that he is quite good at baking cookies. And cakes, and pies, and cinnamon rolls too.

Here he is turning out dozens upon dozens of snickerdoodles.

Oh yeah. Hot-out-of-the-oven-goodness!

Thanks Chris.

When you coming back?

Lemons & Dots

Another friend from church is getting married soon and I made these hot pads and matching towels for her bridal shower. What girl doesn't need a little bright yellow to cheer up her kitchen?

Sila-Baby

Is this guy cute or what???

Ch-ch-changes!

Ok, dear friends. I'm trying to spiff up my blog and one of the ways I think I can do that is to add the tabs at the top so you can search for things...specific things...like sourdough recipes or how to sew a crayon roll or knit a hat.

It's too late to stay up trying to figure all of this out right now though. I'll try to work more when the chiblins are asleep. Stick with me as this site undergoes construction.

Repeat after me...I'm not a professional.

Goodbye Nana!

Silas was especially sad to leave Nana's house.

Making Birdfeeders

Nana and Riley collected pinecones outside, covered them in peanut butter and then rolled them in birdseed.

We passed out plates of six ready-to-be-hung-in-a-tree pinecones to some of her neighbors.

Sledding!!!

We had to drive up to the mountains to get snow during our visit to Colorado. These pictures were taken at Carter Park in Breckenridge.

Tom is in the red jacket just left of center, pulling Abram on the sled.

Papa and Abram coming down the "kiddie hill" first, so as to ease Abram into the thrill of the big hill.

Wheee!!!

Verdict? Crying hysterically or loving it?

Answer: loving it!

...and ready for more.

Lots more!

Riley decides he'll go by himself saying "I can do it Papa, I can do it! Watch me!" Sure enough, he did great...walked up the slushy hill and powered down the mountain without any fear.

All three going for it.

Here they come.

With the weight of all three, they get going pretty fast.

...with Riley at the helm

...they zoom on by.

Mama: Was it fun, Abram?

Abram: Yeah!

Mama: Wanna go again?

Abram: YEAH!

Freezing faces

Mama and Abram had a turn.

Nana carrying bundled Silas back to the car after a tremendously fun day in Breckenridge.

Holiday Hikes

This is the winter beauty that surrounds my mom's house (minus the typical blanket of snow!). Tom and Riley left one day to see if they could conquer the ridge in the photo below. Riley took his sword and Papa brought the camera.

What it looks like from the top of the ridge. They made it!!

The babies and I met the boys at the bottom of mom's hill. Riley was so excited about his accomplishment...he couldn't stop talking about everything he saw and the H.U.G.E. mountain he climbed.

The Rickstrew Mini-Fig

Keith Phinney paid us a visit about a week ago and put Riley's love for legos to shame. Keith Phinney LOVES legos. He told us all about the "mini figs"...you know...those little lego people that come in the boxed set with your fire engine or castle, etc. Keith Phinney gave Riley these two important rules for legos:

Rule #1: NEVER lose a lego

Rule #2: NEVER, NEVER lose a mini-fig

Riley got this cute Lego headlamp for Christmas and Thomas put it on Silas...our own little mini-fig!

Silas and His New Vest

Remember I showed you this vest with the "cutest-buttons-you've-ever-seen" a couple of weeks ago? Well, here it is on him. In this picture, he is missing his jeans and suede loafers. They really complete the outfit. But nonetheless, here you go.

Oh! And thus far all Rickstrew boys have been thumb suckers. Not this guy! Not only is he rocking the boat with blue eyes. But he doesn't suck his thumb. No, he sucks his two fingers.

Christmas 2010

Don't you just love the sights, smells, and feels of Christmastime?

This is how everything looked the night before.

Riley was the first to wake up. He ran upstairs and tore into his stocking.

A little while later the sun rose and Abram woke up. Riley "helped" him open his stocking.

This was Abram's first Christmas to open presents. He quickly got the hang of it and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Our favorite gifts are always the handmade ones. Riley got a crayon roll and John Deere (he chose the fabric) pajama pants. Abram got a knit hat and scarf and pajama pants.

Papa made Riley a sword. (He is slowly building Riley the "armor of God" from Ephesians 6. Last year he got the shield of faith.)

Abram got a stepping stool with his name and footprints. Since he'll be moving to his own twin bed soon to make room in the crib for Silas, he needed something to help him get in and out of that big bed!

The boys also got new rain/mud boots.

The aftermath.

Abram sporting his new boots.

Those piggies are even more adorable in spiders.

Our family tradition: Prime Rib and Yorkshire pudding. It is the best meal of the whole year. Around Decmeber 1st, Tom and I start salivating over the thought of yorkshire pudding. This year did not disappoint.

Our Christmas dinner. Simple, but delicious.

Christmas dinner (minus sleeping Silas).

Nana and baby Silas.

Mama and Papa in his new Filson Packer hat. Isn't he handsome?