Skating, Eating & Reindeer Games

Today was a perfect day! Matt was home so I went to CVS and got $50 of stuff for free. I went to a kick butt spinning class, and then we went ICE SKATING! Cooper sat in the penalty box the whole time (wish I had one of those at my house!). Ruby was a natural. It was so fun to see her in action. Ice skating in a rink is so much funner than sliding in an ice storm. I am pleased to say that we are enjoying a balmy 15 degrees now. It was 1 when I went to CVS this morning!
Do you see that look on Coopers face? The busted look! I can't even tell you how many times I have seen that look this month. Especially when he is standing on the counter or scaling the pantry shelves looking for SYRUP! We watched Elf, one of my favorite movies, the next day his face was all sticky from drinking syrup straight from the bottle!
I love our ward. We do the funnest enrichment activities. We dipped (mostly ate, I AM Coopers mother you know) pretzels at my friend Laura's house.
Last but not least, Reindeer Games! Matt has a classmate that loves to hunt. He has shot 4 deer this fall, so we bought one of them from him. We went to the Butcher/Taxidermy to pick up Bambi. As we were waiting for our fresh game, Ruby asked why there was a deer hanging from the ceiling!! What a great photo opportunity (those are antlers on my head by the way)! We have a whole freezer full of local nature.

Sad Angel

Cooper had his Christmas program yesterday. It was awesome, he didn't crack a smile the entire time!

Matt just finished the dreaded CORE! It is a 16 week intensive group of 8 classes. He has worked his tail off. He had 5 finals last week and is now done. We can't wait to hang out with daddy!!! It is crazy to think we are already done with 1 semester. This time is flying by!

The weather has been cRaZy!!! We have had some freezing fog and rain with 20 degree temperatures. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is a disaster! The whole town is covered with a sheet of ice. The roads are pretty good because they are constantly putting salt down, but watch out on the sidewalks! Slippery do dah! They canceled school on Wednesday because of it. Yesterday we were up to 56. Go figure!

While I have been working on this post, the kids have been super quite. Cooper just came in with a guilty look on his face. I asked him what he did and he said he ate THE ORNAMENT! I had just hid all the treats that we have been consuming by bucketfulls. Our neighbor brought over a darling lifesaver christmas tree ornament. Needless to say, it is now much smaller and no longer a tree.

Santa, reindeer, bells and camels

I have to hurry because Matt has to take his computer! He has finals this week and has been very busy. We are looking forward to Friday when he is done! He will be off until January 12!

We went to our ward party last night. Cooper wouldn't sit on Santa's lap because he wasn't giving out any treats! Greedy child! I can't believe how grown up Ruby looks on Santa's lap. She is not a little kid anymore!

We saw a live nativity at Coopers school. Ruby was nervous the camel was going to spit in her eye. There Christmas program had a lot more electric guitar and laser lights on the ceiling than our ward party!

We got to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. I think we had 4 people drop money in over an hour! I have decided that I would be more giving when I walk by those poor cold volunteers freezing their cans off!

I was driving Cooper to school on Friday, in the middle of Bloomington, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a lot of stopped cars and 8 reindeer! They walked right in front of us. I wanted to yell Now Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen! On Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen!

December

Cooper's preschool sang at the Redbud retirement home. I was so proud of him, it is the first time I have heard him sing when he was supposed to. He sang Away in a Manger during church and I almost cried it was so sweet!
Somehow Coop got Poison Ivy in the winter! He had 8 patches of it on his body. He had a welt on his back as big as my thumb! Luckily it didn't bother him too bad. He picked up a stick without leaves. I guess it was a poison light saber!
This is my latest project. I collect advent calendars. The squares are magnetic so it creates a lid to cover the muffin cup holding a little treat!

Matt is just starting finals. He has been working soooooo hard. It is crazy that he is done with 1 semester! The time is flying!

I have made 4 batches of cookies since Friday! I am so sick of COOKIES!!!!!

A Christmas Tag

1- What is your favorite Christmas song? Away in a Manger

2- When was your most memorable Christmas? When Santa knocked on my door.

3- What is your favorite Christmas treat? Snelgrove Peppermint Ice cream with hot fudge.

4- What do you dislike most about the Christmas season? How stressed out people get.

5- What do you like best about the Christmas season? The light in my kids eyes!

6- Who is the hardest person to shop for on your Christmas list? Ruby, she isn't into anything anymore :(

7- If you could receive one gift without money being an issue, what would it be? A full ride scholarship for Matt or a new camera.

8- What is your idea of a perfect Christmas Eve?Dinner with the Peterson's followed by hanging out with the Rich Family. I can't give any more details in public past this point:)

9- Which do you like best, eggnog, or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate with peppermint whip cream!

10- Do you prefer a fancy Christmas tree, or one decorated by the kids? The kids! We pick a family ornament each year and one for both kids. They love to get out their ornaments.

11- What is your favorite family Christmas tradition? Festival of the Trees, Christmas dishes, Christmas stories.

12- Do you like fruitcake? Only the one I am married to!

13- Do you prefer skiing or snowboarding? skiing!

14- Are you dreaming of a White Christmas, or do you say “Bah Humbug” to snow? I like snow from inside a warm house. This piddily Indiana snow we had this week doesn't count as snow!

15- What was your favorite gift from Santa when you were a child? My Fashion Plates and the Raggedy Ann doll that my mom made for me. Ruby now has her.

16- What is your favorite Christmas movie? Charlie Brown.

17- Have you ever eaten snow? Skiing, many times. I have actually made ice cream out of snow. I love to catch snowflakes on my tongue.

18- Who do you wish could be with you this Christmas? I would love a little visit from my mom.

19- When do you put up your Christmas lights and decorations? Right after Thanksgiving

20- Real or artificial Christmas tree?We have always done a real one, but I could easily be converted.

Thanksgiving!!

We kidnapped Matt several times over his Thanksgiving break. We spent one day in Indy. We went to the zoo where my children were head butted by walruses (through the glass). We went to the Children's Museum which was PACKED, and The Indianapolis Motor Speedway! We went on a tour of the race track, unfortunately we only went 35 mph instead of the 230mp

We spent Thanksgiving with friends here in Bloomington. As you can see, we had quite the feast. All I had to make was rolls, raspberry honey butter, and Ritz Cracker Stuffing. That was our 4th dinner! I was more stuffed than the poor turkey!



Matt had the whole week off from school. We had so much fun having him around! We made a list of all the things we wanted to do and we did them all and then some! His greatest desire was to make a paper mache volcano! It was AWESOME!!! It was a 3 day process with building, painting and errupting, but oh so fun!

We have so much to be thankful for. I am humbled by the amazing people that we have in our lives. I feel so very blessed that we are here in Bloomington for this incredible opportunity. Everytime I think about the way things worked out with our house selling, I am extremely grateful. I am so grateful to be a mom, I have amazing kids! I am also grateful for my incredible husband. I am so proud of Matt for going after his dreams and working so hard at it. Life is good!

Walmart Bingo

I stole this from one of my very favorite people (thanks Shawnee!).
I think at the Bloomington Walmart you could EASILY get blackout!

Thank you CVS!

So my friend Jenner, the CVS queen, told me about some screamin' deals! CVS is a drugstore here in these parts. When you buy certain items, you get "Extra Care Bucks" back to put towards another purchase. I went in this morning with $15 in bucks from last time and LOOK what I got for $3.17!!!! It all added up to$93! OK, some of this stuff I am going to have to learn how to use, but hey, it was nearly free!

I was reading Cooper a Star Wars book and we were reading about the planet Naboo. Cooper said, "Hey, we went to Naboo!" You know Nauvoo, Illinois! It totally cracked me up.

Ruby and I were reading in the Book of Mormon where Nephi's brothers wanted to leave him to be devoured by beasts. She asked what that meant. I told her how animals go nibble on dead things and mentioned the ginormous racoon we had just seen in our dumpster. She thought about Nephi getting eaten by racoons and said, "At least they would have washed him first!" I love being a Mom! These people sure crack me up!

I realize that I am behind on our 4th street restaurant quest updates. We tried Thai Siam's lunch buffet (4stars), the Indian buffet (4 stars), and Dats Cajun Food. I think Dats was pretty tasty, but I am not sure because I burned my tastebuds off because it was so stinkin spicy! We went there on a hot date last night and then saw Twilight! Loved it! I kind of want to bite Matt's neck and see how he tastes now!

Tag...your it

Rules:
1. Post rules on your blog
2. Answer the six '8' items
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

8 favorite TV shows

1. I NEVER watch tv! I am changing it to favorite smells!
2. My kids after a bath.
3. Rain.
4. Bread baking.
5. Cool cement.
6. Matt's deoderant (when it is working properly!)
7. Sunday dinner at Morrissa's :(
8. My mom's cedar chest.

8 things I did yesterday (sorry, I chose today! Much more exciting than yesterday)

1. Slept in!
2. Made Waffles
3. Cleaned the house
4. Took Cooper to the doctor. He has 5 patches of POISON IVY!!!
5. Went to the WonderLab with the WHOLE Rich family!!! Matt has a break! All 4 of us climbed to the top of the grapevine structure. We made awesome bubbles!
6. Played at the YMCA. Matt gave me bball pointers, currently I can't hit the broad side of a barn when I shoot.
7. Ate a KitKat :) my very favorite!
8. Hung out with the ladies while the boys watched the Utah/BYU game. Go UTES!

8 things I look forward to

1. Hanging out with Matt over this break!
2. Hanging out with Matt over the Christmas break!
3. Warm temperatures.
4. The end of "The Core" (it's getting closer!)
5. Seeing my family in VA for my nephews wedding at Christmas.
6. Christmas parites
7. Having a house again.
8. My next visitor, whoever you are!

8 favorite restaurants

1. Cafe Rio :(
2. The Ethiopian on 4th street
3. Anything Indian
4. Market Street Grill
5. Paradise Bakery
6. Soup Kitchen
7. Panera
8. Anywhere with my hot date!

8 things on my wish list

1. That Nike/iPod thing that measures the distance while you run.
2. My family/friends to come visit!
3. A date with the mister!
4. Enough money to stop worrying about money
5. A house!
6. My family to be happy.
7. An immersion blender.
8. To be best friends with my kids when they are grown (now too)

8 people I tag

1. Kara
2. Holly
3. Jenner
4. Lori
5. Shawnee
6. Jedda
7. Celeste
8. Kristen
& anyone else who feels like it!

11/21/87

November 21 always makes me stop and think. 21 years ago today, my brother Mike shot himself. It is crazy to think that I haven't got to hang out with him for that long! Mike is one of my heroes. He was amazing, one of those people that everyone loved to be around. He had the greatest costumes and was oh so handsome. He was hilarious and always up to something with a sparkle in his eye.

• Our gas gauge in our 79 Camero didn't work so we had to record the milage so we didn't run out of gas. In the little notebook he wrote, "I hope you enjoy your ride in the car, but if you don't get gas you won't go far!"
  
• Another time one of my brothers had brought home the gerbils from school to take care of over the weekend. Apparently one of them ate the other. Mike walked out with the carcass on a Ritz cracker and said, "Everything is better on a Ritz!"
• My mom was really frustrated one day and told Mike that he needed his support. A few minutes later he handed her his jock strap, you know, an athletic support!

It is so weird that he has been gone longer than I was able to hang out with him here. I miss him incredibly and love to tell my kids how awesome Uncle Mike was. Mike and Matt both did graphic design. They both have a ton in common.

I am so thankful to KNOW that Mike is just fine and that one day I will see him again. I love knowing that my family is ETERNAL.

LOVE YOU MIKE :)

Barbarian Boy

We have already had 2 Thanksgiving meals and still have a week to Thanksgiving! We had a Partners Club dinner, Coopers school had a feast, and the Kelley Kids Club had a Thanksgiving potluck. Cooper loves the drumstick! I love that it is bigger than his own thigh bone! Matt saw it and wondered where he got the icecream cone from (Matt is lacking in the sleep department!)

We love our neighborhood grocery store KROGER! They had lots of great samples last weekend and face painting.


We made these cupcakes for our Family Home Evening treat or Happy Home Evening as Cooper calls it.

Edinburgh

One of our dearest friends, Grammy Nora, was in Indiana this week!!! I can't believe how excited I get when a friend comes to see us. We met her in Edinburgh which is about an hour from Bloomington. I have known Nora for most of my life. She is one of the funniest people I have ever met. It felt so good to laugh. She took us to Ruby Tuesdays (one of Ruby's personal favorites!) and spoiled us at the outlets. I feel so blessed to have so many AMAZING women in my life! Thanks for everything Grammy Nora!

While we were looking around at the stores, my kids would hide in the racks of clothes (see above picture). The highlight of the evening was Cooper pulling one of the racks to the ground in Eddie Bauer! It's a good thing he is so DARN CUTE!

The weather warmed up this week a bit, but it has rained for 4 days straight. All those beautiful leaves I have been bragging about are gone. It is crazy, now there is all this new stuff to see that I have never seen before because it was covered by trees.

Here comes winter!

The Partners Club went to The Latest Glaze this week. This is my little creation. We had so much fun. I am going to be on the leadership committee for the Partners Club next year. I am really excited. I feel pretty dang lucky to belong to such a great group of people.
We went from wearing t-shirts up until yesterday to ARTIC winds today. We went to the last tail gate party of the season. I can't believe what a big deal these are here. There are thousands of people who pay $15 a parking spot to come and freeze their knees off. BRRRRR!


I was so proud of myself. I drove me and the kids up to INDY as everyone calls it here. I am terrified of driving on freeways when I have no clue where they are going. I did it!

Brown County State Park

Cooper and I visited Brown County State Park. It was BREATH TAKING! There are trees everywhere, and they are all amazing. Cooper took this picture. Too bad the 30 I took of him didn't work!

Halloweening

Our backyard!

Looking up at the owl that wanted to prey upon my children, with a UFO landing behind us.

These pictures are out of order, sorry I don't know how to fix that. We have the most beautiful wooded area behind our house. The trees have been so dense that we couldn't go back there. We ventured in there today. The kids spotted an owl, sitting in a knot in a tree. He looked like he wanted to eat us!
We had party after party this week. Seriously,this in one happinin' town!

• Trick or treating to all the Greek frat/sorrority houses. (Cooper was invited to throw a pie in this HUGE frat boys face. It was hillarious! Man, he has a good arm.)
  

• Coopers class party.
• pumpkin carving for Ruby's class
• Teter-Treat
• Faculty Auction
• Ruby's Class party
• Kelley Kids Club party and trick or treating in Elletsville (the picture above- I am SOOO thankful Ruby didn't drop beautiful little Ella Jean)
  
• Pumpkin Launch (ready, aim, fire, KERSPLAT) Awesome!
• Sugar Cookies-a Rich family tradition
• Graphing trick or treat candy-another Rich family tradition, notice how I am passed out on the side of the picture!
  
• and all the normal stuff!
  

Ruby is the Flamingo on the far left. She is in love with the race car driver in the middle.

Mummy wrap! He better not try this at home!
I love all the expressions in this picture.
Cooper is the Ninja on the front row. He has told me several times that "injas don't have mouths". HI YA!
Making sugar cookies. Yummy! I should know, I ate about 10 of them.

The week in review...

Another busy week for the Rich family. Matt was in Chicago and Battle Creek, Michigan checking out some companies. We played hard while he was gone. Last night we had 3 Halloween parties: Cooper's school, Kelley Kids, and the ward Trunk or Treat. Kelley Kids did a hayride and bonfire. The hayride was so much fun. We were followed by a herd of hungry cows! I am glad we lived to tell about it!
This is one of my favorite crafts, it has become a tradition at our house.
We went up to INDY as everyone here calls it, to the Children's Museum. It was phenomenal!! It is one of the best museums in the world. Cooper loved the Indy car!
Yes, that is the BATMOBILE! I personally like the weinermobile better.
We ate dinner with our friends from Japan. YUMMY!
No story, just love my little tub diver.
I made these cupcakes for the Partners Club dessert night. BOO!

Let me introduce you to my new favorite game CORNHOLE! It is not a bean bag, it is a corn bag and you throw it in a hole. I can finally say the name without cracking up.

Cooper has been doing and saying some great things. He put Ruby's t-shirt in an unflushed toilet. I am sure he had a good reason, just not quite sure what it was! Just when I thought I was going to trade him in for a monkey he redeemed himself. Matt was eating some chocolate. Cooper said, "What would Jesus do if he had chocolate? He would share it!" How can you say no to that?