Noah Thomas Ritterbusch

Salt Lake City Temple December 27, 2008
Noah Thomas Ritterbusch was sealed to his parents Marc and Kiera Ritterbusch for time and all eternity.
President Sheldon Child performed the sealing.

Words can not express the Spiritual evening we had tonight as a family. He is ours forever.

I am most grateful the power of the Priesthood has been restored to the earth. Without this power we could not have eternal families.

I am overwhelmed with the love we have been shown. We have so many close friends and family that have shown their support and love. We know there were many that were not able to attend due to distance. You were missed but we felt your love as we were in the sealing room.

For our Record sake People in attendance were as follows:

Ike and Gloria Ferguson

Shawn and Carol Ferguson

Leta Bateman

Helen Ferguson

Boyd and Rhonda Bateman

Breona Bateman Carter

Myron and Miriam Bateman

Matt Bateman

Bill and Carol Burton

Heather Burton

Cheryl Kanenwisher

Melanie Hart

Sam and Lacey Scott

Mitch and Erin Perkins

Greg and Jill Hartvigsen

Charlie and Janice Pan

Phil and Jenny Funk

Today

Eternity

Chrismas Morning

This years Christmas was full of smiles, giggles and gratitude! Oh and a good nap or two!

Christmas Eve A Family Affair!

Aunt Tammy was so excited to see her baby Noah

Aubrianna, Heather, Aubrey, Dustin and Grandma Great

Uncle Bill...

Grandma Helen better know as "Grandma Great" and Grandma B

Noah and the beautiful Aubriana... My cousin Aubrey's daughter

Daddy's flight was a bit late... Noah was SO happy to see him!

Jordie was thrilled with her exchange gift!

Aunt Carol and Heather! Heather leaves in a few weeks for her mission! I am so excited to see her grow and become an even more amazing woman over the next 18 months!

TJ and HIS HAT!

Madi played the Angel of the Lord..."Shazam!"

Taylor played Joseph. Noah was Baby Jesus eating Cherrios. Jordie was Mary. Ammon and Stevie were Shephards. Isaac, Trey and Tyler were the 3 Wise Guys.

The kids seemed to have a fun time acting out the Nativity... TJ on the other hand was truly the good sport!


I am so grateful we have been able to spend our holiday with family. It has been many years since we have been home for Christmas. I am loving every minute of it!

Naughty Naughty Gingerbread Man

Me: Why did you make your gingerbread man sad?

Ammon: Because he was naughty and he is not getting any presents for Christmas.

Me: {No words}

Ammon: Sad huh mom?

This kid of mine is such a ROCKSTAR!

The Return of ELMER

Each December 23 we have a visitor. He is a very sneeky little guy. No matter how late we stay up or how hard we try we never see Elmer the Elf. This year Elmer found us at Grandma and Grandpa's! Elmer always gives a report on the nice and naughty list and he leaves a special Santa for us to enjoy for years to come. The kids made cute little notes for Elmer and Santa.

Isaac's note

Jordie's note

Ammon's note

Elmer's note
Our Newest Santa

The Best Snow On Earth

We made it to Utah just in time for a good snow! Grandma and Grandpa's neighbor Rusty is a real hero in our kids eyes. He hooked a sled up to his 4 wheeler and took the kids for a snow ride! Thanks Rusty!
Ammon, Isaac and Stevie

Jordie and Madi... and friends

Who wouldnt want to sled like this!?!?! No hiking up hill... Just smooth sailing baby!

Take a Lookie.

My Marc-a-Roni went on a little adventure this morning using google... He typed in "yo gabba gabba mormon" Look what he foundhttp://www.newcoolthang.com/index.php/2008/12/the-awesomeness-that-is-yo-gabba-gabba/629/
I know you all know I am a huge Yo Gabba Gabba fan. I use my 11 month old as a front... you know "Noah really likes it" Secretly I am thrilled he jumps with glee with a huge smile on his face an the mere mention of Yo Gabba Gabba. I think the show rocks!
I guess this article helps the pieces come together abit with the song from "I'm a Mormon" soundtrack!

Cheryl: What are you doing?

Me: Watching Yo Gabba Gabba with Noah

Cheryl: {laughing}

Me: {Screaming} Listen to this song they are playing

Cheryl: Oh my gosh it is a Jeanene Bradey song from "I'm A Mormon Soundtrack"

Me: What are the chances?!?!?

Imagine this...

I peaceful night of sleep. No children in your bed. No children camped out on the the floor. NO BARF BUCKETS. No worries...
Tuesday night Isaac threw up a few times. We had a hard night with him. Up what seems like a million times. Wednesday he was still pretty yucky feeling. So we stayed home.
The nurse from school called me yesterday afternoon. "Ammon threw up and you need to come get him. He is really pale." I was not surprised... Isaac and Ammon are attached at the hip. Of course they are going to share germs. He threw up until about 11pm. Sometime around midnight Noah started the puking act. Babies and throw up are not my thing. I hate it... they give no warning. No time to get to the bathroom. We thought we had the kids all under control until Jordie started up. SHE HATES TO THROW UP. She cries and moans. She laments about the taste in her mouth. After a quick course in Barfing 101 she finally felt some relief. I called Marc-a-Roni this morning.. He lasted until 8am. No he is not home. He has to get a few things wrapped up before he can come home to wait out the bug...
Good news with all of this is that I did 4 yes count them 4 loads of laundry throughout out the night!

This just in....

Me: I finally caught up on all my blog posts.
Cheryl: So you did a blog barf

Enjoy the barf y'all!

200 Posts & Counting!

Blessing Day

Noah's name is officially on the rolls of for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Marc gave Noah the sweetest blessing. Among many of the sweet things you were blessed with Noah, You were blessed to befriend and show love to those around you and share the gospel with those you love. This was my first impression of you the very first time I saw you. I knew you were to be a missionary for Our Father in Heaven. I am so thankful you came to our family.

These are a few of my FAVORITE things!

Diet Coke

Stuffed Deep Fat Fried Avacado

Catherine and went out to the Yummiest Birthday Lunch!

Telling Secrets...

I like to think of this as the time Noah's heart speaking to Joy's heart, telling her of the sister he left in heaven just 10 months ago. I am sure he asked her to keep her eye out for our little "Miracle." And I know that Joy promised to do just that... She is a kindred spirit. Each time I spend time with her I walk away feeling more uplifted. Thanks JOY!

Friends

My good friend Catherine spent the morning with me in court. She was my right hand man! She did thing like... help me find the court house, pick up spilled cheerios, oh and run out of the court house with my diaperbag because of a ringing phone! Ahhh I forgot to shut that thing off... Catherine and Matt also opened their home to me with a bed as soft as a cloud and pillow just as soft to match! (I am not kidding her... I am talking SOFT!)

As I said before court happened so fast I could not blink an eye... But My Dear Friend had to blink due to her tears. Silly girl... Those tears mean the world to me.

New Bear

The Judge gave Noah a new bear. He was super excited.... Some of you may know how much I am NOT a stuffed animal kind of girl. They are dust collectors.... My kids on the other hand are huge Build-a-Bear fans. Infact we had a family night there a few months back. Noah was past due for his first bear so they all thought. Noah LOVES his Panda... Looks like he has another best buddy in the making!

Because the Paper says...

I flew to Houston this past weekend to finalize Noah's adoption. Honestly it was a bit uneventful. It all happened so quickly... 2 minutes with the Judge and that was that. He is ours. I noted several other families that were so excited it was there big day... That day were all was final. To me it was the paper I need in order for that BIG day.... The day we will be able to have this amazing spirit, our son, sealed to our family for all eternity. We have our appointment made. December 27th. The same day 34 years ago I was sealed to my parents.

35

1. I was a foster child for 3 weeks. I went by the name "Christmas Rose"
2. When my family came to bring me home I wore a green sleeper that was too big. It was a terrible snowstorm that night... I sat in the front seat in my mom's arms.
3. I lived in Ohio
4. When I was in Kindergarten I was in the newspaper.
5. I lived in Bountiful, Utah until I was 9
6. I spent many hours in my Grandma B's beauty shop.
7. My older brother gave me my first black eye due to walking on stilts... Guess he was not very good.
8. My parents fostered a infant when I was 4 or 5. His name was Kevin. He had CF... He was biracial. I loved him. When he left our home is the first time I remember seeing my mom cry.
9. I was given my second black eye by our second foster child... The TV didn't work.... guess my eye was to fix it. My parents never fostered again.
10. My dear sister died when I was 6. I miss her more and more each day.
11. I was baptized by my dad when I was 8.
12. I have lived in Zionsville, Indiana
13. I have taken years and years of voice training.
14. I have an adopted brother whom I love dearly. I pray for him daily.
15. We moved back to Utah the summer before my 7th grade year. My brother went on his mission that year... 7th grade was the worst year of my life!
16. Shawn married my best friend Carol when I was in 10th grade... No we were not best friends then but we have become more and more sisters as the years pass by.
17. I LOVED the social scene of High School.
18. I went to Snow College
19. I served a Mission in Los Angeles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
20. With help from the Internet I met and married the man of my dreams.
21. My dad performed a beautiful marriage ceremony in Paradise Arizona for Marc-a-Roni and I.
22. Marc and I were sealed in the Mesa Arizona temple.
23. After 14 hours of hard labor I had an emergency c-section. The result was a BEAUTIFUL daughter we named Jordan Rae. The Rae came from my mother. But you will find me calling her Jordie.
24. Marc-a-Roni and I bought our first home in Kearney.
25. We were blessed with a Beautiful son 17 months after Jordie... We named him after 2 men I love dearly... Isaac Marc
26. I have owned a Mini-Van... which I LOVED
27. I have watched ER since the first season
28. 21 months after Isaac Ammon joined the RitterB's on earth!
29. Marc-a-Roni and I bought our 2nd home which was much larger
30. I have had a tummy tuck... and other unmentionables... although I hear I showed a few of you while under the influence! Sorry for the visual!
31. I have been to Disney World over 7 times and cant wait for more!
32. I have mourned a failed adoption
33. I have found joy in adopting our Son Noah Thomas.
34. I have started a blog
35. I have found "JOY IN THIS JOURNEY"

It was my birthday on Friday.... I am 35 and so happy!

Ghana

A few weeks ago my dad asked if I would like to go to Ghana with him in February. He is going on assignment. My mom is his usual sidekick. She has offered to play with her "human toys" in trade for me to work with my dad. We will be working with a medical training group that will be teaching neonatal resuscitation classes to midwives. It is a chance of a lifetime opportunity for me to experience. The downside to the travel is that I will be leaving my dream man and our baby's home. 10 days is a long time to miss them!

Typhoid, Meningitis, Yellow Fever... OH MY!

I went to the Health Department this morning to start my rounds of vaccines for my trip to Africa. I had NO idea I had to get so many shots.. If I had I may have turned my dad down without another thought... But... I didn't so I walked in like a lamb to slaughter... I wont lie... the Yellow Fever one is the worst by far! Only 2 more to go and I will be set... aside from the one I need to complete in June!

Time in a Bottle

No matter how I try I can not slow time down... Where did my baby go? He has grown so much in the past 2 weeks I can hardly stand it!

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others...

Sara and her crew came and cleaned today. I found a new character mingling amongst the kids nativity.... I am not thinking it takes a genius to know this bandit does NOT belong... I did get a good chuckle about it with my dad though!

Mexican Train vs.Mexican Siesta

We had a lot of fun playing Mexican Train Dominos while Daddy.....

Took a Mexican Siesta...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Seeing Double

I was one of the many women who stayed up Vampire hours to see the premiere of Twilight. I thought it was good. It followed the book really well. The cast was perfect in my opinion. Edwards hair... WOW! If only Marc-a-Roni had that much hair... Very cool.

I have a 9 year old daughter that knows very little about the book. But what she does know sends her into this pre-teen dreamland. So yesterday My mom, Melissa and I took her to her to see TWILIGHT! She was happy alright! Down right sweet! She loved the movie and called her cousin before we had left the parking lot. She said she loved everything except the ballet studio scene.

No matter how hard I try to keep my little girl a little girl she is growing up. I caught a glimpse of her teenage years. I am excited! I see that we will be best of friends!