Christmas/Blizzard 2009

Here are some pictures of our Christmas Season! I spent a lot of time baking gingerbread cookies and the highly anticipated gingerbread house. Right now it is Sunday evening. We got back from our Council Bluffs trip to Gil's parents just this afternoon. It was the first day we could "kind of" get home. With a tractor escort that is! Here are some pics of the biggest snowstorm since 1913. We were lucky though. We got to spend time with my family Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Then we headed to Council Bluffs. We made it okay, but didn't leave the house again until Saturday afternoon. And finally came home today despite ten foot drifts. There are some classic pics of our adorable little boy on his first Christmas as well.

Merry Christmas to All!

Operation gingerbread house!
Gil in the zone!
We love our gingerbread house!
Smile if you love gingerbread!
Sweet:)

Doesn't it look just like the real thing?!

Don't forget the gingerbread men (and women!)
Barefoot in the kitchen...with a cute apron!
Jude devouring the wrapping paper...his favorite part of Christmas!
Ooooooh, a bow!
Cousin Ashtyn lends a hand
Our little family
Big present from grandma and grandpa Ridenour
A tonka truck, just what I wanted!
Snow in Council Bluffs
Showing off my new deer hat with Auntie Minette
Our street sign
Our tractor escort...thanks daddy!
Our mailbox...mailman got stuck at our place on Christmas Eve...wonder how long it will be before he tries it again!
Our back door
After scooping it out

Almost There

Jude loves playing "catch" with the basketball...and also eating it!

Gil found this spider web on our barn covered in frost. So pretty!

The video is of Jude attempting to crawl. He is getting close!

Christmas in the City

Amy had a few of us (me and my Omaha cronies) over for a party at her newly remodeled condo downtown. We had so much fun chatting and eating delicious treats. We had Jude in tow as all of our sitter options were unavailable. Therefore we didn't get to stay too late, but it was still well worth the trip. I really miss seeing these ladies (and guys) on a regular basis!

Christmas Tree 2009

Gil and I have been on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Gil of course must have the tallest to fill our vaulted ceiling living room. After making several calls to tree farms and only finding short expensive ones we hopped in the car (actually my parent's explorer) and took of for Logan, IA, a one hour 45 min. trip. We came home with a 13 foot masterpiece for only $25! We had a great time and then came home to do the decorating. Here are some pictures of our outing and the outcome. We are pleased. There is also one of our outdoor lights. The fire is on, there is soup in the crock pot (thanks to Carolyn), and the house is decorated with tree and all. Christmas has come to the Ridenour Ranch!

Our candy cane lights and the tree
Tree Farm
Jude wanted to touch and eat the trees!
Our tree on the car
Hot chocolate for the road
Decorated
I made the bow!
Lights:)
In the house
Cut!

Puppy Love

Here are a few updated pictures of our babies playing together! Babbs is a little rough for Jude right now, but I have a feeling that will switch one of these days.

Baby Puppy

I have heard many people talk about how their puppy is like having another child. I always thought that was a bit of an exaggeration. Now I know! I have been noticing all of the similarities between babies and puppies lately. And it is quite interesting having them at the same time let me tell you!

Both whine in the morning (and sometimes in the night)

Both chew constantly

Both make messes I have to clean up after

Both play with colorful noise-making toys

Both take long daytime naps

Both eat multiple meals throughout the day

Both get excited and flap their hands/paws

Both cry when I leave the room

Both grow and change at an astonishing rate

Both are fearless of the other animals despite their constant rejection

Both are at the mercy of whatever ridiculous outfit we may decide to put them in

Both just want to love and be loved:)

Afflicted with Indecision

"...I simply couldn't make up my mind to do it. I never can make up my mind about anything myself--I'm always afflicted with indecision. Just as soon as I decide to do something I feel in my bones that another course would be the correct one. It's a dreadful misfortune, but I was born that way, and there is no use in blaming me for it, as some people do."

Philippa Gordon in Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomary

I read this in my book a couple weeks ago and thought of myself immediately! I feel quite often the dreadful misfortune of being afflicted with indecision, as anyone who knows me well can attest to. Luckily my husband has not even a hint of this terrible flaw, which has helped me to overcome it at times (or at least try!).

On another note I think I fixed my blog so that anyone can leave a comment. Comment away people (if you can make up your mind what to say!).

Baylor, Brittany, and Babbs

We had an exciting weekend at the Ridenour Ranch. Actually, we were not at the Ranch but in Lawrence, KS, Conception, MO, and Council Bluffs, IA. We went to the Baylor volleyball game in Kansas and Katie, Russ, and Ashtyn joined John, Carolyn, Grandpa Gilbert, Gil, Jude and I there. We got to see Gil's sister Brittany for the first time since the beginning of July. And she finally got to see her nephew again! Then we stayed at Grandpa Gilbert's house and finally headed home on Sunday. But before reaching Maryville we picked up the cutest little Beagle puppy ever! We decided that Barry (our male Beagle) needed a partner, so on a whim we bought a 6 week-old female from some people Gil knows. I got her a blingin' pink collar, and today I officially (on paperwork) named her Babbette Sweetie Sunday (after both of her parents, "Babbs" for short). I have been playing with her ever since. She cries at night (even more than Jude!), but she is getting acclimated to her new home I think. Jude loves to "pet" her as the pictures show. Here are some fun pics and a video of our weekend and the newest addition to the Ridenour Ranch. There is also one of our new swing set we hauled away from Sioux City for free thanks to a fellow MOPs mom who hooked me up, one of the bean field across from our house being harvested a couple weeks ago (finally!), and one of Jude and Bailey when we went to Bob's bar with Ang and Justin Schuiteman. So all is well here. Gil head's out to Georgia on Thursday with a Briar Cliff trip and I'm going to Omaha/Ridenour Thanksgiving. Then the next week it is down to San Antonio, TX to see the Herrick's for Thanksgiving:) Fun Times...I'd better get packing again!

Bob's Bar in Martinsburg with the Schuiteman's...biggest hamburgers EVER!
My "Feed the Five Thousand" basket I made for MOPs. 5 loaves and 2 "fish" coupons to Long John Silver's!
Combining!
Swing Set:)
Barry meets Babbs....so far no sparks are flying!

Jude meets Babbs

How precious!

Babb's meets Michael Jordan

playing outside

Babbs meets my car

Me and my other new baby!
Jude and Ashtyn at Baylor game
Our "happy" family (could Jude look more excited to be there?!)
Brittany and Jude
The whole gang!