P.S. Yes, I do love my other kids.

Yes, I do take pictures of my other kids birthdays!! I just am trying to figure this blogging thing out. It seems to take forever for pictures to load, so I have stayed away from it before. I post everything on Facebook because it is just faster and easier. I'd like to try to blog / journal more, so I'll keep trying it out. Anyway, maybe I'll find the pics of Trev and Alex birthdays and put them on here....... before another year goes around!!

Seth Birthday

We have never put our kids in any sports or activities. Mostly because we can't afford it. It is expensive to do soccer, football, baseball, swimming.... and times that by 3.... it just hasn't happened. So I saved up some money and signed Seth up for swimming lessons. I wanted to sign up everyone, but I thought it would be a fun Birthday gift, and then we could see how it goes anyway. I hope to get everyone swimming lessons this summer....
The cake. I bought the molds for this cake LAST year. But i ran out of time to try and make it. Thankfully, Seth is still a major Chess fan, and made the time this year to make this cake for him. It took me several hours over a couple of nights to get it done. The pieces are solid chocolate, the board is fondant, weaved together. I think it turned out great. It was another surprise for him. And he LOVED it!
Seth had a great Birthday. I love it when we can really surprise them. Seth never really asks for anything, but has needed a new bike for a LONG time. But he was content with me telling him that we would try to get him one this summer. He was genuinely surprised to open the door and see this bike with a big red bow.

Jared Talcott (a cousin) had a project at school where he had to send a "Flat Jerrry" to someone and have them take pictures with it and write a letter and send it back. He picked Alex! Alex was so excited to receive the package and spend a day with "Flat Jerry". Here are the pics we took and sent back.


1. Eating Breakfast
2. Playing Checkers with Grandma
3. Reading for Quiet Time
4. Playing Batman on the new Leapster
5. Fixing the BobCat with Grandpa
6. Getting a good nights sleep

And of course Alex had to get a picture of our favorite billboard in Minot, North Dakota!! (Even though the sun was in his eyes!)

SMILE


Thanks Jerry, we had a really fun time doing this!

HALLELUJAH!!!!

WOOOHOOO!! We are officially Debt FREE! We have 0 consumer debt! And it feels FANTASTIC!! We still have student loans....but I'm not counting those.
We got twice as much back from taxes as we thought we were going to. So we had more than enough to pay off the remaining credit card debt we had. AND then, after getting some counsel from some wise people...(G & G R.) We decided to pay of the Van. Wow! I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me! We might actually be able to save some money and feel like we are getting somewhere......that seems so foreign since we haven't ever done it.....but I am so excited not to have to pay those bills anymore!!!!!!!!
WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

Seth is 9!! I can hardly believe it!
Seth is a wonderful son. I am such a blessed Mom! He was such a cute baby....always screaming it seemed....but really cute when he wasn't screaming! I gave him a hug and picked him up and I thought...I wonder if I'll be able to do this next year. He is getting so tall! Tall and Skinny! Even though he is the only one of our kids that actually eats! And eats, and eats and eats! Thank GOODNESS he outgrew his picky food stage...(now I am just praying the rest of them do too) He is a great eater now. He will try everything at least once, and generally likes it after he has tried it. I love Seth's attitude and his never ending smile. He is a happy boy and it is fun to be around him because he can make you smile at the silliest things. The last couple months, Seth has been self conscious about his teeth. His front teeth are pretty big, and some stupid kid at school keeps telling him that his teeth are really yellow. I hate mean kids....ugh. Anyway, Lucky us, we live with Grandpa R. the dentist. Seth asks him teeth questions all the time...especially How can I make my teeth white? Anyway, Grandpa is great and pretty much says the same answer everytime....BRUSH! So Seth brushes his teeth VERY faithfully and has his dental appointments scheduled for the next...oh 2 years or so!! Who knows...maybe he will grow up and be a Dentist!
Anyone who knows Seth knows that he loves to sing and dance! Well, we were able to put him in a choir! Western Plains Childrens Choir. And he loves it! (of course). They sing and dance and every song has some kind of movements to it. There are only 20 kids. 3rd and 4th grade. And with him, now there are 3 boys. All of the kids are so nice and fun... They had already started a few weeks before he joined. But they all were so willing to help him and get him involved! One girl even came up to me and said "He is really good. He is doing great!" I wanted to hug her!! I LOVE IT!! (mean kids=bad....nice kids=good!!!) Anyway, they have a big concert in April. We are all very excited.
Seth, I love you. I hope you will never forget or wonder about that. I will always remember the day I brought you home from the hospital. I was up in the room waiting for Daddy to bring the carseat up, and I looked out the window and saw all the cars whizzing by, the people rushing around, every one was in such a hurry. I just cried. How could I take this precious new baby into such a cold, mean world? I didn't want to take you out there. But I heard a whisper..."It will be alright. He is stronger than you know. He will make it." I just pray every day that I am doing all I can to make that true. You are a strong boy. The Lord knows you. He loves you. Remember that always and you WILL make it. I LOVE YOU SETH LEWIS RICKS!!

bye bye Christmas

Mass hysteria. I started taking down the Christmas stuff and everyone flipped out. I guess they want the season to last a little longer. I do enjoy it all, but sheesh, after awhile, it just seems to be more clutter hanging around. So, sorry guys, its gotta go!

Ice Skating Cousins

We went ice skating for the first time over Christmas Break. It was fun! My kiddos loved it and definitely want to go back and keep trying! Danielle even had fun! She would just giggle every time she fell down. She didn't whine or complain at all. Seth and Trevor caught on pretty quick, and although they were soaking wet from being on the ice more than above the ice, they loved it. And Alex....he started out running and really just didn't stop! He was a natural. I think I better get him in Hockey. He even didn't want to use the little door to get out on the ice. He wanted to hop over the side just like they do in Hockey. Which he really only knows that from watching the movie The Tooth Fairy. Anyway, we had a great time. And then we went to the movie Megamind. So funny. And after the movie we drove through Oak Park to see the lights. What a fun day. And the best part was the company. Thanks Audra!