Welcome- to my world

(when you pull into the front of out long driveway you see this sign I just made-

langauges included Amarchic, Chinese, German, French, Hawaiian)

Welcome to my world!

Boys reading in trees

my sweet girl growing up way too fast...

full of spirit and these sweet smiles

and watching spring  SPRING before our eyes.

I love this magnolia in my neighbors yard.  Every year I feel like it is deserving of special attention.

The buds are even beautiful after the petals fall off.... must paint these

Welcome to my world...or at least a part of that world.

notice how I didn't include the virtual construction zone in my front yard, the lack of potty training, cat box or general disorganization .    

Welcome to some of the best parts of my world!

looking back on 2011

As I think back on 2011 it was a wonderful year in the life of the Rikkers

some of my favorite photos from 2011....  its a small glimpse and they are

no particular order (because that would mean that I would need to be more organized!)

Hubby turned 40.

 But he stills got it!

Jack is getting to be such a big boy....he is 5 and loves his buddies

Sometimes they end up in a tree and other times in the muddy stream...

My sister got married.....and had her 2nd baby in 11 months.  crazy girl...I love her.

 We attempted a family picture at her reception....nice try

 Halloween in the neighborhood....riding the trailer in the country trick or treating with friends

 Our crew of characters...

A trip to Mexico as a family....relaxing in the hammock with my sweet girl.

Our oldest, Judson, is 10.

Yep, 10.  I can hardly believe it.  

He is growing and changing to fast for my liking and I have to accept that.

I love him so....

Jack on 2 wheels this summer (age 4)

He was so proud....and it brought tears to my eyes!

 Jack is growing so fast...he is spunky and sweet.

One of his favorite things is tickle time.

Here I am tickling in bed (after I was recovering from back surgery)

Bob the bulldog continues to love, and snuggle and sometimes ends up with frozen drool.

Its the last year we swam in the pool, it became a ramp and then went away forever.

 Drew has an incredible love of life.  He is a happy guy and is usually smiling.  

It has been a great year of growth for Drew in so many ways.

 

 Nana's birthday.....I love this picture of my Mom

She is now retired and we get to see her more.  yeh!

 we were with Pops on Father's Day...I love this picture of him too.

Our sweet girl, Tessa, 

She has grown so much this year.

And "we" have grown up so much this year.

This was the year I really felt our bond was complete.

Tessa is very verbal....so much to say.  She loves to sing and dance....and her favorite thing, other than Daddy, is Yo Gabba Gabba.

she is dramatic....she is 2 (need I say more?)

There were sad good-byes....

to a loving cat name "Felix"

And recently, to our beloved Opa (Andy's grandfather)

 We had a wonderful Christmas....and fun making our holiday card.

There is alot to say "chin chin" to!

Cheers to 2011 and the new year to come!

holiday card for you....

There are sooo many people in out lives that I want to connect with during the holidays.    This year I wanted to give people a little something to have a jolly chuckle about.   (Maybe I needed that for myself too!)


For all of you in our lives through this blog world, through the internet....thank you for touching my life. For all of my friends and family that keep up on our crazy lives here....I love you.  Thank you for your presence in our lives.

And so I give to you the Rikkers Holiday card 2011!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours.....

"Oh, what we will do for a silent night"

Disclaimer:

All Rikkers kids merrily consented to being tied in Christmas lights

 and silenced with apples in their mouths to give Mommy and Daddy a "Silent Night".

It was nice while it lasted!

Happy Holidays!  May you be bit by the spirit of the holidays.....Love, the Rikkers

19 years ago...

October 16th is a special day because....

19 years ago I met this guy and fell madly in love with him.

I was 19 when I met him.  Half my life has been with him in it.  

I am so grateful that our paths crossed on this day 19 years ago.   I love you and our life that we have created together....

over the bridge

3 out of our 4 little people  went over the bridge....  how I wish Jud had been here!   I was just checking out the new bridge in town that is connected to a trail.  Checking the light, the possibilities....

....which are many!

There is something so easy about shooting here....

I even like how the shadows are creating this pattern.

There are fences to hang on to.

And I just love how the bridge frame actually frames the shot....ahhhh.

 Drew is so darn photogenic...."gap", "boden" do you see this kid?

And then the trail just creates this natural background to play in...love it!

Gosh...I wish Jud had been here for this walk over the bridge!

good-bye pool...

good-bye pool...

good-bye to splashing in the sun,  to cooling off in our own yard, 

good-bye to night-time dips in the pool while gazing at the stars and watching the bats "fly-by" us

good-bye to afternoon mommy margaritas with other mommies while the kids happily play

good-bye to  endless hours of entertainment.

good-bye pool parties...

good-bye to opening and closing the pool, chlorine and cleaning out the leaves from the giant oak above,

good-bye to saving swimming frogs and mice.

good-bye pool.  

it was a long life and now it is time to use you as a "skate/scooter/bike" ramp until you are filled in forever.

we are family....

we are family, I got all my sisters and me.  We are family....come on everybody, lets sing!   

Now that you have that song in your head you are officially invited to see our weekend of family.

In celebration of family.....of my sister's family...their marriage, their sweet baby girl and sweet baby boy on the way!   

For the event the McCormick family came up north to help us celebrate....from FL, VA, NC.  Sorry Cousin Jim was left out.  He was cleaning up after all his playing with the boys.  They can spot a fun dude a mile away and were all over him.

Off to celebrate Krissy and Steve at the Van Dusen Mansion....

Introducing the bride and groom!

and their sweet baby girl

who also took a little cat nap

Then there was our family attempting a family photo...looks about right!

And the McCormick cousins

and a shot of them ALL looking.   

Judson basically had that look on his face all day.

I just can't believe how big they are all getting....

 Then there was this sweetie in a sequin pink dress...ahhh.

They didn't have my size or we would have matched.

 And of course there were cupcakes.....

lots of cupcakes!

Tyler better watch his cupcake.

And a birthday cake for Nana....coconut cake. mmmmm

There was a new "cousin" marrying into this McCormick clan in October......

I think he now has all of the information he needed, 

and loves my cousin Michele more and more with each moment....

Then there were kissing cousins.... 

a few of the McC girl cousins....

  The Aunties.... can I just tell you how amazing each one of you are?

And my Dad....I love this shot of you Pops.

And this is possibly my favorite shot of my sister and I.....love you Krissy.

It was a wonderful, family filled weekend celebrating Krissy and Steven,

celebrating family!

Our family is a circle of love and strength.
With every birth and every union the circle grows.
Every joy shared adds more love.
Every obstacle faced together makes the circle stronger.