York

So I was trying to be clever with the title of this post but I got nothin'. This short word has been in my vocabulary a lot recently. I am claiming it the word for this fall (for me).

First off, there was our New YORK trip in October.

Secondly, there's been much talk of YORK-ies in our home. No, we are not getting a dog. Lydia has to do an IRP (independent research project) in her KARE class and the topic she chose was YORKshire terriors. She saw one for the first time in Jack's pets and fell in love with this breed of dog. Hmm, Lydia...could it do anything with the fact that they usually have a bow in their long hair? Just saying...

Lastly, right now I am typing this blog in YORK, PA! My mom and dad were planning on visiting my brother and his family in December. I haven't been back in this area since summer of 2007, so I asked if I could tag along. It took some figuring out having places for the kids to stay since Dan was out of town this week, but we successfully left Thursday around 4pm and arrived here a little after 1am. One fun memory from the trip was singing to my dad at midnight on the 16th (his birthday). Only I initiated it, not knowing the clock in my mom's car was a little fast. We had fun celebrating two birthday's (my brother's is on the 24th) and an early Christmas with John, Amy, Jonathon, and Matthew. We leave tomorrow after church. Not looking forward to the long drive home leaving YORK, but at least we will have more daylight hours on the way home.

Anyone want to buy me a York Peppermint Patty before the 22nd (the first day of winter)?

A Little Thursday Randomness

Here are pictures taken earlier this fall that I never got around to sharing until now (imagine that)? The kids had fun carving pumpkins. Jake even carved his entire pumpkin by himself this year! Did you notice that tongue that comes with intense concentration sticking out? The last picture is of the finished pumpkins next to Kevin, our scarecrow man and his new friend, Kelsey. Speaking of, I just got done washing their clothes to store away for next year.

And now, on to much more exciting news! I'm going to be an uncle! Woohoo!
Sarah Beth and Matthew had the family over last month for a reveal party. On the day of their ultrasound, I was given instructions NOT to call...since keeping a surprise is hard for both of them. I would find out that evening at their house. Evening came and sitting on their dining room table was this cake. Of course, we had to wait until after supper was over. We were all anxious to get into that cake. You see, the middle layer of icing would be either pink or blue, revealing the gender of baby Rickert #2. My guesses were for a boy...although I thought Anna was a boy, too. Finally, supper was over and my mom had the honors of cutting the cake. Blue icing it was!!! How exciting! Ironically, the night before on Cake Boss, I'd watched Buddy make a gender reveal cake for a couple...only chose to be surprised with their guests and the color of the cake under the icing was the reveal. What a fun way to share! Anyhow, I am super excited to be meeting my nephew in March...due 8 days after his big sis. Only, maybe he'll follow Anna's lead and come a month early and have a February birthday...we shall see.

And now, I must get the kids fed and Lydia ready for gymnastics. Grandpa Kanost is taking her tonight so that I don't have to drag Jake and Claire there. Thanks, Grandpa!

Repundle, Repundle...Let Down Your Golden Hair

FINALLY, here are some pictures of Claire's 5th birthday party, which was a big hit! *Explanation of my blog title: Claire's has a best-est little buddy from school, Morgan. Apparently, Claire had told Morgan that she had "Repundle hair," so Morgan went home and told her mom she wanted Repundle hair, too!*

Wish I'd gotten better pictures of the decorations. We hung paper lanterns and had a tower complete with Rapunzel and her long hair.

This tower cake was fun to do. We had a mishap in the middle of Claire's party with it falling over. I'm definitely learning cake decorating as I go. I didn't put a slab of icing at the base of the cake to kind of cement it in. Thankfully, it stayed upright for Claire and the guests to see it. The last picture makes me think Flynn Rider is calling for Rapunzel to "jump and I'll catch ya!"

First thing we did was have the kids sit down and do a craft. Again, wish I'd taken a picture of the final result. They made Pascal (the chameleon) party blowers, with the blower being his tongue. Very cute idea I saw from online.

Next, we played a game called, Pin The Nose On Flynn Rider (in the movie, he doesn't like how they drew his nose in the Wanted posters). This has been somewhat of a tradition in our household for the 5th birthday party. At Jake's, we played pin the tale on the dinosaur; Lydia's was pin the lips on the frog (prince). It seems to be a big hit for this age.

And of course, even if you are 10 and 8, there is fun to be had. This picture shows Lydia tricking Jake by standing in place of the poster.

Time to eat!!! Frying pans were used as serving bowls for the chips since a frying pan was Rapunzel's choice for a weapon in the movie, Tangled. And off to the left, you can sort of see Lydia's Pascal party blower.

Something funny being shared by Travis and Lydia.

Mrs. Chrisman, Claire's pre-k teacher got to come to her party. Her 1st daughter, Ellie is around Claire's age and even though they aren't in the same class, they enjoy each other's company before and after school.

Blowing out the candle!

Opening presents!

An attempt at a group photo (minus Morgan, who had to leave early).

Claire, Kelsey (we made Keven a friend this year), and "the boys." Claire LOVES the three T's! (Tine, Travis, and Titus)