Family Time

As tradition, Jeff and I spent Christmas Eve with the Rippy family. Having a spectacular dinner, put on by the whole family at the Frederickson's home. Enjoying the Nativity put on by the children. Evalie was an angel. They always do a talent show after the Nativity. This year I contributed by playing Clair de Lune. I have been practicing since June. Then went over to Grandma and Grandpa Rippys home with the rest of the Rippy family to open some presents and enjoy some quiet company.

G & G Rippy got Evalie Little People's BarnYard set. I was so excited because I had been wanting to get that for her too, but decided to stop spending money. Apparently Evalie was really wanting this as well, I didn't see but Jeff said when she saw it her eyes got all big and she just couldn't wait for Daddy to open it.

For Christmas we always go to my parents house in Moses Lake. We got there about noon. It was a quiet family gathering this year. It was Kim and Trent & Family, Mom and Dad, and us most of the time, and periodically we would see Sean and Kim & Family. Mom and Dad got Evalie a dolly that giggles and makes noises. Here she is trying to feed it.

Mom made a delicious dinner, that she presented on a beautifully decorated table. Last year for Christmas we got her the whole Friendly Village set. So she used it this year.

My Grandparents sent my mother a beautiful center piece for her table.

The day after Christmas my brother in law Trent took us out to the farm to go sledding. He would pull the GT and the tube behind the truck out in a field. London, Isabelle, and Brennan all took turns. Then London and Isabelle each took Evalie on it. She absolutely loved it. This was the first time she has really gotten to play in the snow. She screamed when we put her in the car and kicked and screamed the whole way home.

After Evalie, then my sister Michelle wanted a turn. She fell off and when asked why she fell off (because she did it on purpose) she said because its fun! She's so funny.

After Michelle's turn, then was MY MOM's turn. Now my mom is just shy of 60. But I tell she is so active and really loves doing things you wouldn't expect her to do. So here she is.

And then this is our little family wishing you all a Merry Christmas. Hope yours was as wonderful as ours.

Restaurant Review

Dupus Boomers: ***
Jeff and I always go out to eat during finals week, to celebrate being done, not necessarily getting good grades :) So this time we chose to go to Dupus Boomers, a new restaurant in the CUB. It was Saturday night about 6:00 pm and only a few people were there. It was great. Evalie won a free kids meal and a T-shirt. The Jeff and I really enjoyed our food. It has a great variety of food. From burgers $9 to some Kobe steak $46. it has lots of pastas, salads, fish, steaks, stews, and other rare food choices. Really nice atmosphere and lighting. Good view of Martin Stadium. Big proportions of food. A delicious dessert called Oregon Berry Crumble. It was nice, we would go there again.

Jeffrey Cluff Rippy

My sister in law did this about my brother and it was so sweet. I wanted to do it for Jeff. I'm not very good at telling Jeff how much he means to me and how much I love and appreciate him. I know that about myself so I want to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.

1. Where did you meet?
In Pullman, Wa. It was a blind date. We floated the Snake River.

2. How long did you date before you got married?
10 months. Dated for 5, engaged for 5. Jeff proposed January 5, 2006 in the movie theatre. He had created his own movie of us with our song. It was beautiful. He is so creative, and he is so so good at keeping secrets.

3. How long have you been married?
2 1/2 years.

4. What does he do that surprises you?
He is a problem solver. Seriously, if I was in a tough spot and I couldn't have McGaiver with me, I want Jeff. He is so creative. He has an expansive imagination.

5. What is your favorite feature about him?
His broad shoulders and the two dimples on his lower back. But sometimes, he'll just stand there and it will catch me off guard. I remember how attractive he is.

6. What is your favorite quality about him?
He doesn't beat around the bush, straight to the point, no games. No matter how sensitive or difficult the conversation is, he is honest and says exactly what he means. He does think before he speaks, so as not to say something he doesn't mean.

7. What is his nickname for you?
One time when we were dating I asked him to say some nice things for me. This is what he came up with one night while leaving a message on my phone. " something, something, just wanted to call and say I love you, miss you, my love bucket, bye". Yes love bucket was the term he used to refer to me. So sometimes, not very often, he calls me bucket.

8. What is his favorite color?
Blue, because he knows he looks good when he wears blue. Rippy boys always look good in blue.

9. What is his favorite food?
A good BBQ-d steak with Sweet Baby Rays steak sauce, with boiled corn on the cob loaded with butter and salt, BBQ-d asparagus covered with salt and a little crunchy and chopped up potatoes covered with oil and Lipton onion soup broiled for 15 minutes. With a Dr. Pepper to wash it down. Then some good homemade ice cream to complete the experience.

10. What is his favorite sport?
This one is more difficult because he likes to watch basketball and football, but he plays racquetball, goes rock climbing, and likes to wake board and water ski.

11. Who said "I love you" first?
Jeff did. It was before he even kissed me. I was getting into my car, and teasing him about something. He said "I hate you. I hate you so much I love you". Later I asked him if he meant that. He said "no." I said "oh." And looked away. Then he said " I only meant the I love you part." Then I said "I love you too". He said "Really?" I said "yep, I've known for a week. I knew I loved you when we walked into sacrament meeting holding hands, and you didn't drop my hand when everyone looked."

12. When and where was your first kiss?
This one really shows how great Jeff is. We had been dating for a month. Now for me, usually the first date and the first kiss happened in the same night. So I asked him one night why he hadn't kissed me yet. He said, he's rushed things before, and he wanted to do things different with me. He wanted this to be right. So I waited, and he waited for the right moment. The night the Cordova closed, Jeff surprised me and came to Pullman. He brought me flowers and took me to a random farmers field to look at the stars. He brought blankets and sparkling cider. During our conversation Jeff asked me where I thought things were going to go between us. I was hesitant because I knew school was going to be grooling and I really needed to focus on it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to have a serious bf, but as I was saying all this I realized I didn't want to lose Jeff because I thought he came at a bad time. So I told him I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, or how much time I could give him, but that I was going to try. He looked at me then leaned in and kissed me. It definitly was the right moment because I had decided that I wanted to be with him during my most difficult times and he decided he wanted to support me through those times.

13. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Plan events to do with family or friends or for each other. Imagine activities we want to do in the future. Describe every detail about our ideal home. We work very well together. We compliment each other in that way. We can really pull each others strengths out when working together.

14. How many children and what ages?
One child and she is 17 months old. And ya, we will leave it at that for a time.

15. Does he have any hidden talents?
He is very personable. This talent does wonders for him with his teachers. They like him so much and he chats with them often to the point where he can get away with anything. He can not turn in an assignment for two weeks past it's due date and still get an "A". Along with that is he is a great public speaker. He thinks he's lost that skill but I think its still there. He also knows how things work. Like for instance our computer was broken. So he pulled the thing completely apart, never seeing what the inside of a computer looks like, he decides this certain piece needed to be sodered back together. So he gets a soder and does it himself. And lo and behold the computer is working again.

16. How old is he?
26 years. Although nobody believes him because he looks so young.

17. What kind of music does he like?
You name it he likes it. He has this weird innate knowledge about music. He knows everybody and their names and what bands they have belonged to and how many albums. And the stories behind the songs.

18. What do you adore about him?
I adore his efforts at always being original to find the perfect gift, for anybody. He does all his research, he seeks for that one thing that could make somebody happy, or make their life easier.

19. What is your favorite pass time?
Reading stories to each other. We've done this for a few books and we spend hours at night before bed reading to each other. Its a special time for us. Have any suggestions on good books to read together?

20. Is he going to read this?
Jeff thinks blogging is so for girls and so silly, and not manly at all. Yet I always catch him checking my blog and my friends blogs. So yes, I don't doubt he'll read this. And I want him to because all these questions are useless if the person they are meant for doesnt read it.

This was fun. It's good to take a moment and remember the reasons you fell in love with your husband in the first place. I sure do love him.

As per request from Camille,
Movie Review

Four Christmas's: *** Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn. At first you think, oh great, my beliefs and this movie do not match... however... after awhile you find that maybe there is still some good in the world. Cameo of Tim McGraw made it just that much better, and I have to say I found myself more than once crying I was laughing so hard.

Sorry I haven't seen Bolt. Want to, but haven't.

HELP! I'm drowning in vomit...

Since last Tuesday, we have all been sick around here. And I tell ya sick toddlers are probably the worst of all out of sick children. When they throw up they throw up everywhere, they get it all over themselves. They don't realize that when you are sick you don't get treats or anything that would be gross coming back up. They don't get that you can't have the pillow you just threw up on. They don't understand why you yell "don't touch that" after they just vomited all over themselves. They cling and cling and cling to you. The very few items they would eat before they were sick is now limited even more. When you say "peeeuuu... you stink like poo, go away" they don't go away! They get germs on every toy they own. It could be toys they have never been interested in, ever, but hey since we are spreading germs we can't very well leave this one out. Laundry every day at all hours of the day. Oh and I am positive that they wait till the most inopportune time to throw up, 3:00 am one night, 4:00 am the other night, just before mommy goes to work, just when daddy thinks he's going to get some studying done, just when you think your in the clear, getting over it, all's looking good, we lasted a day, and then bam, right when she wakes up. The stink never goes away, the bleach bottle has been refilled multiple times. Your clothes stink just as much as theirs. And so to all of you who say "Well Stacey, welcome to motherhood!" I say no, no, no, no. I am refusing to resent motherhood with such a scaring event. Instead I am placing sick children under the category of service. Completely separating the two in my mind. If I don't then my sarcastic remarks of this being our only child just might come true!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I absolutely love the Christmas season. The feel of the Christmas spirit with all the decorations hung by the chimney with care... It's something that brings much joy and excitement to me in an otherwise gloomy time of year. As a tradition, Jeff and I go ornament shopping each year to pick one that we really like and add it to our tree. Well this year we decided not to get a tree because, well you probably know, but we still wanted to display our ornaments and have something to put our new ornament on. So we decided to get a wreath and decorate it as if it was our Christmas Tree. It turned out so beautiful that we are thinking the idea as a back up tree we put the children's crap ornaments they will get every year from school, and other places. Hang it above the mantle piece where the stocking hang. It sounds wonderful to me. Jeff thought of this idea. He's so creative, I love having him around.