April-May 2009

Well, I seem to be on 2 month blogging streaks, not too good. I promise to try get on here more. Seems like life slows down to only get busier?? Doesn't make sense, yeah, but I'm going with it :) Here's what we have been up with the last couple of months.


Riding a pony at the circus, last time we went she wouldn't even get close to them...now Livia was that girl :)

Chillin' out after getting her face painting.

Makynna's friend Elliana was able to go with us to the circus, this is her getting her face painted.


Makynna's birthday, which was 2 months ago...ehem..Grandma Cheryl sent her balloons and a candy bouquet to daycare. She was pretty confused by the whole thing, just one of those things that she hadn't experienced, but was super excited!

Makynna with some of her gifts.

From Mom and Dad...


Ariel cake that I made. She had a pool party with her friends...had a blast.

Livia enjoying the pool.


Makynna's cubbies celebration. She was always excited to go to cubbies every Wednesday. She had to memorize a bible verse every week, normally on the drive over to the church (I didn't just say that did I). Next year she will be in Sparks and is already excited.

Makynna's friend Elliana.

Makynna's preschool graduation. It was such a good program! On her last day both Daddy and I made the comment on how sad it was that she was done with preschool, with her reply "why is it sad?" ...well, guess just for mom and dad...
John's confirmation. We are so proud of him, it was a lot of work!!

John and Uncle Cory

John and Great Grandma Phyl and Great Grandpa Neil

Brad and I

Brad's mom, Cheryl, John, Brad's sis Becky, Brad's sis Ericka, Brad's bro Bob, and Brad.

Grandpa Randy, John, and Grandma Rinda.

Cousins: Kolby, Livia, Chloe and Makynna

Jan-March 2009

Well, it really took me a long time to post an entry this time. Jeez, where does my time go. I probably should be doing my taxes, since they aren't done yet, but this sounds like much more fun.
Below are some pics from our neighborhood of the blizzard in March, since then we've had a record crest with the Red River and another 10-12 inches of snow. I must say that I am proud to say that I am from Fargo/Moorhead after being involved in the fight against the flood. Our communities joined together filling over 5 million sandbags and saving countless homes. It was nothing short of amazing.

There's supposed to be a road in between the tree on the left and the mailboxes.

Grandpa Ribstein and Livi reading a book - Liv's absolute favorite thing to do.

Makynna and Grandpa and Grandma Ribstein's new puppy. He is a Yorkie, born in November and is now known as Keister (IV i think).

Isn't he cute??!!

The proud parents :)Liv was able be in this session of gymnastics, they can start at 18 months. It is a parent/child class, and I wasn't sure how she would do. Livi is much more active than Makynna ever was or is. She did really good though. Above she just got done with a station and had to raise her hands and say Ta Da to get some stamps.

Getting stamps. Once she realized what she needed to do to get them, there was no stopping her. She was covered!

In the foam pit...looks like fun, but Mom has to pull her out. Talk about a work out - whew!

Makynna did these. She drew hearts and cut them out herself, I thought that was really good! She worked hard to get them just right (I would say there were 10 practice ones that she drew that were just right). She colored the picture too, she is getting really good at coloring. Will do the whole picture now, instead of just part. She pays attention to detail, coloring the flowers red and putting stripes on Arthur's sister's shirt (not sure what her name is).

Makynna took this picture of John, one of the rare ones that we get of him...

Brad and Makynna made snowmen after this last blast of winter. Note - it was just this week. Ugh!

Makynna and the snowmen.

Liv

John buried Kynn in the snow.

For valentines day from Brad, all of us girls got matching pjs aren't we cute :)

Sisters - so much fun. Although Makynna has a "devilish" look about her...

Makynna before her dance.

Makynna's group danced during half time of the DGF boys basketball game. She loved it!!

This is a picture of John and his team. Livia decided to color on it. Makynna brought it to me and in a very tattling voice said, "Mom, Livi itched it all up!" Itch - Scratch, I can see where that would be confusing.

Once last pic of John playing hockey. The HS boys ended up going to state and getting 2nd, which was awesome. They (unrated) beat Edina (ranked 1) in the first round and was included in an issue of Sports Illustrated. Pretty cool!





Some cute pics of Liv :)

December/January....fun stuff.

We had a great Christmas, the kids were spoiled as usual and it was very busy. We headed to South Dakota on the 23rd and spent time with my parents and headed to Brad's Dad and Elaine for the day. We had a great time playing games and spending time with the family. All the kids have cousins that are close to their age so they had fun. All the gifts were associated with Disney, since that was the main gift from Stan and Elaine, see the pics below. Christmas Eve night was spent with Brad's Grandma Fannie and his aunts, uncles and cousins. Christmas Day started at Brad's Grandma Clark's, then to Brad's moms, and ending up at my parents...back home the next day. It was great seeing everyone, just wish that we could have had more time with everyone.
We had to skip my Grandma Phyl's and Grandpa Neil's so that we didn't feel so rushed Christmas Day. It gets hard to travel when Livi's schedule is messed up. I missed seeing my cousins, aunts and uncles but we'll be there next year :)
As you can see I don't have a lot of pics from Christmas, I forgot the cameras at home. The sister-in-laws took pictures so hopefully I'll get a few from them.

Livia FINALLY getting to go outside and play in the snow. She had fun on the sled with Makynna, didn't want to get off. The only problem she had was getting up when she fell, too many clothes on....reminded me of the Christmas Story.
We stayed out for over an hour on Saturday.
John digging a tunnel for Makynna in the snow. I thought this was hilarious, so I had to take a picture.

Surprise, had the camera ready when he came up for air :)

Liv, again, outside....

Makynna in the tunnel that John built :)
Makynna is doing really good. Loves preschool and I think that she'll do well in Kindergarten. We had to sign her up last week for that, doesn't seem like it's time already. She asked me the other day why God put "naughty" in us. I told her I wasn't sure (she caught me off guard). She said that Jody (daycare) told her that it was so that we learned how to make good choices. (Pretty good Jody, if she got it right). I told her that made sense, I didn't want to go into the devil with her. Since monsters don't sit well with her (nightmares). She said that she wanted to ask God to take the naughty out of her, cause she doesn't like to be naughty. I told her that she'll have to pray. :) The things she comes up with.

Livia saying "cheese" for the camera.

Hello?? She has to be just like the big girls.

Happy girl!
She has started to say more and more words. I finally ventured out with her last week to Target we were in the toy isle looking for a gift and she is looking at all the toys and says "Dora" and points. Then I hear "Pooh", "Mickey"...didn't even know she knew who they were. I'm sure it's mainly because of her big sis. She says "Thank you" very clear, but please is "SSS". She is constantly asking for something whether it's a book or something to eat (is it bad that she knows how to say "candy")? If she doesn't know how to say the word she just says "this". Probably from me holding things up when she wants something and asking "do you want this?". So why wouldn't she say that she wants "this" when asked.

John at hockey. The season is almost done, and it's about this time of year that I'm glad it's almost done. Practice 4 nights a week and games on both days during the weekend gets a little old. Luckily my parents came up for the last tournament in Cloquet (4 1/2 hours away) so we didn't have to take the girls. The ride there and back was so nice...and peaceful. Hopefully Brad's mom will be able to come up for Districts at the end of the month. :) At the last tournament John learned an important lesson. Restraint. He has been pretty physical/aggressive this year, probably because this is 1st year Bantams so there are kids closer to his size. He tends to retaliate when someone checks him or does something that he thinks should have been a penalty but wasn't seen by the ref. It usually results in a penalty for himself, and a lecture from his mother. "The team does better when your on the ice then when you're on the bench...." blah, blah, blah (I'm sure is all he hears). Well this time was different. There was a minute left in the game and he was pushed/hit in the back and he turned around swinging. Ended up hitting the guy in the face (helmet) and he went down. He ended up going off the ice on the board/stretcher and taken to the hospital. John is a very caring person and wouldn't intend to hurt someone like that on purpose. Brad went to get him out of the locker room so he could see he guy getting taken away. He was pretty emotional, and so was mom. Brad and him when to the hospital to see how the kid was and found out that he was going to be fine (played the next day). That was a wake up for John and happy to say he hasn't had a penalty since then... On a happier note...he has reached top scorer for the team, pretty excited about that! :)