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!

The Church of the Hallway

When Isaac was a toddler we joined the Church of the Hallway. This is the group of parents who have toddlers that no matter how much effort is put into packing a bag full of fun you can not keep your child in the meetings. So you roam the halls. You think to yourself each week... "Why am I even here? If I were home I could at least get something done." Then you hear the sweet voice of the Spirit remind you "Because going to church is a commandment..." Sometimes it feels as if your child is the only one that is out of your control. That only your child has the enough energy to fly to the moon and back. That your child is the only one that lacks the ability to whisper... Sometimes you feel that you are the only one in this situation. It is a bit discouraging and at times very stressful. I think that our Heavenly Father sees this. That he looks at us and is pleased that no matter how broken down we are. Or how tempted we are to stay home just this Sunday... we go. We attend our Sunday meetings knowing... we will be in the hallway. It was in this stage in my life that I met my friend Natalie. I grew to love and appreciate her. I became so fond of her children. Our children played so well together. I remember one Halloween when her husband talked me into watching the Ring. Marc-a-Roni was game. Nat on the other hand stayed upstairs and watched something Disney and pretty... To this day I still wish I would have watched something Pretty... I get freaked out just thinking of that movie!
Natalie and her family moved away and like many moving stories we lost touch. We have not spoken in years. I have missed her. I have missed our friendship. I have missed our bond. BUT... through the world of Blogging we have made contact again. We are able to peek into one another's lives and reconnect. Natalie may well be the most talented writers I know. I find myself lost in her posts. They are amazing!
Why do I bring this random moment in my life up? Because you NEVER know when you will meet a good friend. I made a close friend in the church of the hallway. I will ever be grateful to my Heavenly Father for helping us find one another.
Happy Birthday my dear Friend, Natalie...

ThanksgiBing Feast

We had an early Thanksgiving Feast this year. "Dinner" was at noon! It was a perfect time!
Our Indian Boy Ammon!
Isaac's Favorite Strawberry Pretzel Salad

The Sweet Potatoes are from Scratch... No canned Yams For US! The marshmallows are a bit on the charred sided... Burnt marshmallows are my favorite so I was happy!

Homemade dressing! As a child my job was to "break" the bread. This job has been handed off to Jordie now!

Fresh Cranberry sauce

Mashed Potatoes

TURKEY

Anderson's Cherry Jello! (Thanks for the addiction Nat)

Skunk Eggs
Rolls Dad's gravy
Canned Cranberry Sauce for Grandma

We all know that this day is not about the food...It is about the gratitude we have for this great Country. For the gratitude we have for our membership in the Church. For our freedom. For our friends that have become family. Today, I am grateful.

New York, New York South Mission

My darling cousin Heather has recieved her mission call! I could not be more happy for her. I have such fond memories of the time I served the Lord. I know she will serve with all her efforts. She has an amazing spirit about her. Congratulaitons my dear cousin! I can not wait to watch you serve! Watch out New York here comes a SUPER SISTER! I love you!

Small Trinket of Treasure

I was showing the video clip of Grandma Great to my father... She is his mother. I commented how endearing her accent was..."Don't your mama ever gives you drinks of wata?!?" I have heard her talk with this accent from the time I was small. What I did not know was she mimicking her parents. They were both immigrants. Her mother from Italy. Her father from Sweden. Both came to America when they were young adults. My great grandfather never joined the Mormon church. My great grandmother was tracked out by Stake Missionaries in Lyman. Her joining the church resulted in her strong Roman Catholic family dis-owning her. Great Grandma Youngberg came from a very wealthy family. She was not given any inheritance. Tonight I have gained a great respect for her. How grateful I am to her for her sacrifice.

Condemned

This one is for you Wendy.... When we to L.A. this year we passed one of the old apartments I used to live in... it is now condemned... Guess no more black bra "hump day" burning sessions in the alley way... Good memories... Good times!

Don't Your Mama Ever Gives You Drinks Of Wata?

Grandma Great is a woman that Drums to Her Own Beat... I just love how she keeps saying to Noah "Don't Your Mama Ever Gives You Drinks of Wata?" I giggle each time I watch this clip!

He Can Clap

Random Trip Pictures

Surprise Brooke!

Uncle Shawn

Noah loves his Grandpa!
Aunt Carol, Grandma Great and Grandpa Ike

Noah and Grandma Great

" Stevie Wonderful"

Grandma "B"

Seems like forever since I have updated. I wanted to get my Utah pictures posted before I moved on and forgot.

I had a fabulous visit. It was so great to be able to see family and friends!

Brooke taught Noah to clap... Grandma Great had a good time teaching Noah how to drink from her glass... And Grandma B sized him up to make his awesome blessing duds!

Scarlet Pimpernel

I could not be more pleased with the show last night. The singing was superb! The acting was spetacular! I had to keep reminding myself that this was a high school production. This group was amazing! I dont know if I could have felt more proud of my niece and nephew. Brooke was a peasant that was "too pretty!" and TJ was spot on when it came to being in the stage crew!

This trip has been a real treat for me! Thanks Greg and Jill for watching Noah so I could enjoy the show!

Yesterday

div>Wow... yesterday seems like such a blur. I spent about 3 minutes with the birthday girl before she had to run off to school. My mama, Carol, Noah and I ran to Quilted Bear to fill Carol's booth. Then we ran to Lehi to see baby Maguire...He is simply Heaven on earth. We ran home to see Grandma Great and Aunt Carol. Brooke had about an hour to hang out before she had to get to play practice... I was fast asleep when she got home... Happy birthday Our Beautiful Brooke!

13 days old

Elizabeth has almost lost her first tooth! I promised I would post this picture so she could see it! Dont forget to wiggle and wiggle it every day! Soon you will be able to put in under your pillow for the tooth fairy!

Noah looks HUGE next to this little guy! In 9 short months teeny tiny Maguire will be SO SO big...

I LOVE this silly picture of Noah and Madi! Isnt she SO beautiful!

I have 2 cameras here and only one card reader. I will have to update my photos when I get home...

Birthday wishes... Me? Or Her???

I have thrown you all off! Thanks to Lori for the birthday wish but you are a month off...Nothing better then good wishes! I can never get enough!
As for my surprise...
For the past 2 months I have kept a secret from my niece... You see HER birthday is tomorrow. She is 18. She is also in the high school play this year. My surprise you ask? Noah and I flew to Utah this morning! I could not miss this great event in her life! I love her to pieces. Take a peek tomorrow... I will post a few pictures!!!
Don't fear your birthday wishes will be pasted on to my beautiful niece!

Shhhhhhh... It's a Surprise!

Like Butta

I think Cheryl described Noah in the most perfect way on her blog today. I had to steal it and post it on my own blog. I am sure that many of you will agree Mr. Noah is just like BUTTAAfter sharing her instructions on canning butter Cheryl said:

"Oh wait....of course this isn't butter but he sure is soft and gushy like butter, you melt when you hold him and you just want to eat him up!"

Butter Lover

For all the butter lovers out there that have lost hours of sleep at night wondering how in the world can they get butter in their food storage stay awake no more...
Cheryl and I were busy little ants this afternoon learning to can our butter for the winter!


Canning Butter

1. Use any butter that is on sale. Lesser quality butter requires more shaking (see #5 below), but the results are the same as with the expensive brands.

2. Heat clean pint jars in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes, without rings or seals. One pound of butter slightly more than fills one pint jar, so if you melt 11 pounds of butter, heat 12 pint jars. A roasting pan works well for holding the pint jars while in the oven.

3. While the jars are heating, melt butter slowly until it comes to a slow boil. Using a large spatula, stir the bottom of the pot often to keep the butter from scorchingl. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes at lest: a good simmer time will lessen the amount of shaking required (see #5 below). Place the lids in a small pot and bring to a boil, leaving the lids in simmering water until needed.

4. Stirring the melted butter from the bottom to the top with a soup ladle or small pot with a handle, pour the melted butter carefully into heated jars throught a canning jar funnel. Leave 3/4' of head space in the jar, which allows room for the shaking process.

5. Carefully wipe off the top of the jars, then get a hot lid from the simmering water, add the lid and ring and tighten securely, Lids will seal as they cool,. Once a few lids 'ping', shake while the jars are still warm, but cool enough to handle easily, because the butter will separate and become foamy on top and white on the bottom. In a few minutes, shake again, and repeat until the butter retains the same consistency throughout the jar.

6. At this point, while still slightly warm, put the jars into a refrigerator. While cooling and hardening, shake again, and the melted butter will then look like butter and become firm. This final shaking is very important! Check every 5 minutes and give the jars a little shake until they are hardened in the jar! Leave in the refrigerator for an hour.

7. Canned butter should store for 3 years or longer on a cool, dark shelf. (It does last a long time. We have just used up the last of the butter we canned in 1999 and it was fine after 5 years.) Canned butter does not 'melt' again when opened, so it does not need to be refrigerated upon opening, provided it is used within a reasonable length of time. We have canned over 75 pints of butter in the past year. I buy butter on sale, then keep it frozen until I have enough for canning 2 or 3 batches of a dozen jars each.

High School Campain!

Hey guys! The good news is we get longer recess... junk food in the FREE vending machines... and NO homework!

What do we get In the end?? We will be Lazy, Fat and Stupid!

Here to the next 4 years!

Airing of Grievances...

If anyone knows me you will know I HATE winter. I hate the wetness... I hate the bulky winter coat that makes you panic while wearing it in the car...I hate the cold... I hate the ice storms.... I hate how my laundry had doubled due to wearing socks again... I hate it...
So I came up with this little Pollyanna theory for myself. I have applied it to my children as well.

We the RitterB's are only allowed to gripe for one season. Pick your season and gripe away. If you hate the blistering heat... Make the complaint! Whine all you want! No one can stop your pent up feelings. Why are they pent up you ask? Because of this reason.... You are not allowed to complain during the bitter cold winter days. You have one season and one season only to boo hoo about the weather. So... I bit my tongue this summer when the heat seemed unbearable. And today the weather had turned cold.

I HATE COLD!

Fyi: No I am not going to wash my mouth out with soap for using the word "HATE" I really do hate cold weather!

Finding JOY in this Journey

In our past General Conference, President Monson earged us all to Find Joy in our Journey. It was so easy to find joy in the Morgan's miracle. I am so grateful to have a friend who has also walked the path of adoption.

Welcome Maguire Edwards Morgan! Your mommy and daddy and sister are just so thrilled you have finally made it home!

Bummed out!

Disappointed is what I feel today. I went to bed last night hoping for a Miracle. Hoping that some of the 30 and under crowd would have gotten it. That they would have seen that socialistic health care was not the answer. I would sure hate to need my gallbladder out and have to wait on that waiting list! Believe me people I have seen that happen. There are people in Sweden who have had that happen to them in thier Socialistic world. A few weeks ago Marc-A-Roni and I were talking to a Obama follower. We asked why they were voting for Obama. The reply was "well, I need health insurance". To all the voters who voted for the FREE health insurance... here is a little secret. There was a time when we did not "get" health insurance from the company my hubby worked for... Guess what we did?!?!? WE PAID FOR IT OURSELVES PEOPLE! We didn't wait for the government to take care of us and pay for it. I repeat... WE PAID FOR IT WITH OUR HARD EARNED MONEY.
I am SO disappointed in our people. I am disappointed that we find it OK to vote for someone that has the balls to vote in favor of late term abortion. Listen to me.... I am here today because my birth mother VALUED MY life. My SON is here because his birth mother VALUED HIS life... What in the hell are we thinking! I will NEVER vote for someone who is a Pro-Choice supporter.
This morning the kids woke up wanting to know who won. I said " I would guess it is Obama." Each one had disappointment on their face. I have been surprised how involved the kids have been this year. It is notMarc-a-Roni and my doing... it has come from the school. We had kept pretty quite about it until the questions started coming. We did all we could to help the kids understand that if we were neighbors to the Obama family we would probably be good friends. We would play and have BBQ's together. That Mr. Obama was probably a really good daddy. But that we did not agree with all that he was saying he wanted to "CHANGE." Getting back to my story... Ammon may have been the most disappointed....His reaction was "Well, McCain never gave up! And no matter what I am NOT going to obey Obama." So of course I tried to help him see that even though we don't agree with the outcome of this election we are still so Blessed to live in a Free Country.
Today a wise mans "Dream" came to pass. We do live in a country of equality where black and white drink from the same fountains.
Oh boy this is a random world!

Introducing....

Mr. Sterling Erric Hyde Veigel
8 lbs. 13 oz

20 3/4 inches long

Born 12:18 pm on November 3, 2008

Spencer asked me every hour or so how many more minutes until he could go see his new brother. He was so excited for the new addition!
Hyden was the first one to ask to hold his baby bruder.

Prescott could not wait for his baby to wake up on his own. He cracked us up when he yelled "Wake up!"

The RitterB's are excited for another baby to Spoil! Welcome Sterling to the family! We are so excited you have come to brighten our day!