Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve
 
Every year for New Years I always think we should plan something and we never do and I'm glad because then it's just low key and we all just hang out and I like it that way. We started the night at the Ricedorffs since Rachelle was leaving the next morning we thought we should hang out with her as much as possible. We BBQ'd and had a great time hanging out. Around 10 or so we set off fireworks and laughed at the kids dancing around them.


We left the Ricedorffs around 11:15 or so and headed home but it was raining and we thought I bet it's snowing somewhere in the valley so we drove to Las Sendas and sure enough we saw snow. Crazy to think it was that cold that we got snow in Mesa but we did. We had a great night celebrating the end of the year and the beginning of a new year.
Here's to 2015, can't wait to see what it brings.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas

I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I love the excitement on my kids faces when they wake up and wonder if Santa came and what they got. I love that they get excited for the gifts they gave and can't wait to see if that person will like it. We had a good Christmas and I know I am truly blessed.

Jack, Kate and Jay with their presents. Jack a new basketball, Kate a doll and Jay the "Gregor the Overlander books.
 Spikeball for the whole family to enjoy. I love that we can be outside on Christmas morning and not be cold.
 Christmas night at my parents. It gets very crowded but so fun to see all my brothers and sisters and the families. So fun for the kids to hang out with their cousins. I love my family.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve
I love Christmas Eve. I love that we now have our own traditions.
 
We started the day off with a hike. I love being outside and taking advantage of the nice weather. We put up with very hot summers to have very nice winters. I like it this way.

When we got home Ryan did some yard work and talked the boys into jumping in the pool. Texas Roadhouse was on the line and the boys really wanted to go. So they jumped and we went out to dinner with just my family. I really like being with Ryan and the kids. I love listening to them talk and get along.
After dinner we went to the temple to look at the Nativities from around the world and walk around the temple grounds without huge crowds of people. I love seeing the Nativities and I hope my children feel the same way, just a little bit.
Christmas Eve night we went to look at Christmas lights with our friends, the Bartletts, but Kate wasn't feeling good so Ryan took her home. I missed having them there. It just wasn't' the same without them there. But once we got home the kids opened their Christmas pajamas and then we read the Nativity and talked about the true meaning of Christmas. Then my favorite part is putting the kids to be in Jack's room and having them pretend they are asleep. It makes me laugh every time. I love my family and love spending time with them.


Thursday, December 11, 2014

Disneyland

We had a great time in Disneyland. I have been wanting to go since the beginning of the year but kept putting it off so I could go at Christmastime. I love Disneyland at Christmas. It makes me smile. We decided last minute to go and I'm so glad we did. We met the Bartletts and the Andersons and had a great time. Even better everyone was tall enough to go on all the rides. We missed Ryan but since he doesn't like Disneyland he wasn't too sad to miss out. I can't wait to go back but it will be a few years. There really is something magical about Disneyland.




Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Jack is 12

Jack is 12 and I now have two priesthood holders in my house. It is very weird for me to see Jack pass the sacrament. I love the man he is becoming and I love watching him grow up. He is so sweet and such a great brother to Kate. He wants to be good and every teacher tells me he is going places and will be a leader. Which I totally believe. He is friendly and kind to everyone and loves football. Jack is great and I am blessed to be his mom. 

We spent an extra day in California so Jack could spend his birthday on the beach. Plus eat sugar shack in the morning. 

 Jack's birthday party
We took all the boys out to the desert and had a bonfire and played night games.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Kate's upbeat kids

Kate was so fortunate to participate in Aubrey Denton's upbeat kids class all year. She learned how to sing and perform. At the end of the class Kate did a performance and had a couple of speaking parts and solos. I loved watching her perform and not being scared to stand up in front of people. Hopefully she always has that confidence to do things like this.

Kate and Allison Smith


Monday, December 1, 2014

ASU

I think it's safe to say that we are huge ASU fans in this house. We had a great year watching ASU sports. We had season tickets to the basketball and football games and loved watching Kizzy play volleyball. It's fun to cheer on the local team and even better when you know a few players.
Go Devils!!!








Friday, November 28, 2014

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday. I love being with my family and remembering how blessed I am. I am thankful for my family, friends, freedoms, education, church, health, sunshine, good running shoes, house and so much more.


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Jay's Football Season

Jay's football season was a success. They went 8-0 in the regular season and won the championship. It was fun to watch his team and it was fun to watch Jay get better throughout the season.

The winning team: Brigg Wolfe, Bryant Goodman, Wilson Kerr, Jay Ricedorff, Jay Tingey, Carter Banks, Carson Campbell, Ashton Adcox and Travis Tingey.
Great bunch of boys.
 

Jack's football season

Jack had a pretty decent football season. His team went 7-1 in the regular season and then lost to the stinking Broncos in the playoffs. Jack is getting to be quite a good quarterback and really enjoys playing football. The games get intense and I had to keep reminding myself that this was only an 11 year old game.
Jack's team
Coaches: Ryan and Justin Wood
Players: Ezra McNaughton, Ike Farnsworth, Davis Banks, Jack, Cooper Arnett, Ethan Caldwell, Isaac Frame, Nolan Wood


Kate's Soccer

We had a fun time watching Kate play soccer this year. She didn't win any games but she had fun and made some new friends. And Kate got better and a little bit more aggressive as the season went on.

Kate after one game when they only had 4 players and it was 100 degrees. Love her red cheeks.

Kate and Lila Driggs

Monday, November 24, 2014

Girls Cruise

Girls Cruise
 
My annual girls cruise was an interesting trip. Only four of us made it, Me, Eileen Bartlett, Kierra Lewandowski and Amy Smith. But we laughed and had a good time. We went on a 7 day cruise that was supposed to go to Roatan, Honduras, Belize City, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico but we had really rainy weather so Roatan was taken out. But we really enjoyed Belize and Cozumel. I am amazed at the clarity and warmth of the water each time I go to the Caribbean which is now twice.
          Belize was interesting. We got there and the water and town were gross. So we asked someone to take us to white sand and blue water so we got on a boat (Ecotoursbelize) and rode with about 10 other people to an island in the middle of nowhere and snorkeled. It was raining and cold outside but the water temperature was warm so we had a great time. I think the snorkeling would have been incredible but with the storm the water wasn't super clear. But we still saw a shark and some really cool sea life.
            Cozumel was the best, maybe because we had sun for the first time all week. We booked a catamaran (Cozumel Fury) through the cruise, that took us out snorkeling in the ocean and then to their private beach that had water trampolines and giant water slides and such. The slides and tramp were fun and we laughed so hard. Especially at Eileen who fell off the back of one of the slides.
          The cruise was fun mainly because of the great company and definitely not because of all the gay men on the cruise. Yes, we had booked on a gay cruise. Which just added to the laughter. What else can you do when you are on a gay cruise that is stuck in port an extra day? Laugh, and that is what we did. Already looking forward to next year.
 





Monday, November 10, 2014

Goodman Family Reunion


I love the Goodman Reunion. Every year we have it as close to my Grandpa's birthday in November. It is so fun to see my cousins that I grew up with and to see the next generation all playing together. I am blessed to have such a strong family unit.
 
Uncle Jim, Aunt Katrina, Uncle Steve and Dad


 


 

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Halloween

Halloween
 
Halloween is still not one of my favorite holidays but I'm trying to like it for my kids. I was really happy when my kids decided to be something that was easy to come up with. We had a good night and I hope my kids had fun.
Jay: Banana, Kate: a Katie Kat or kitty cat, Jack: a rasta man
 
Kate at her school Halloween parade. 



Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Ryan turns 40

Ryan turned 40 this year. It's crazy to me that we are getting that old. I totally remember my parents turning 40 and thinking they were old. Now that Ryan is 40 and I'm close it's really not that old. We had a good day. I tried to get someone to take the kids for us for no such luck so we sent the kids to school and took them out early to tour the Phoenix Temple. I love being able to take my kids to tour temples before they are dedicated. I hope and pray that they feel the spirit a little bit.
But back to Ryan's birthday. I love this man of mine. I am blessed to have him as a husband and as a father to my kids. He is such a great man. He loves his family, works hard and enjoys life. He really does live life to the fullest and is a great example to me on how I should live each day.
Happy Birthday Ryan!!!!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Snowflake

We love going up to Snowflake/Show Low/Pinetop to watch football and play in the pumpkin patch. We went up to watch Rhett play Blue Ridge. Unfortunately Show Low lost, dang yellow jackets. But that didn't dampen our Saturday. We had a great time at the pumpkin patch and even ran into some other Mesa people.