A Phew Photos

Brad & Krissy: Back together again!

Looking much like they did in pictures when they were much younger...
some things never change!

Juan, Elijah, and Krissy.

Aren't these three cute together? Wait, that's four!

Thanksgiving!

I'm back! (Maybe with a vengeance... we'll see how long this lasts!)

Thanksgiving was wonderful! It was SO great to have everyone together. We had SUCH a good time visiting and joking around with everyone. Julie did an awesome job cooking (and fretting over) dinner and it was yummy!

Friday night we went over to Krissy & Juan's and she taught me how to make mexican rice, carne asada, and authentic green chile sauce. I know what I'm going to be cooking often now!

It was quite amusing having two pregnant ladies together. "I'm so fat..." "WHATEVER! Look at me! You could fit TWO of you in ONE of me!" :-) (Krissy ended up being ok after all. They told her she will just keep on having contractions until the end, just rest and drink lots).

Elijah is ADORABLE! I will post pictures and video. Juan is really good with Elijah. He loves that kid, that's for sure. Brad enjoyed being an uncle. :-)

And of course it was wonderful hanging out with Mom & Dad Riddell. In the past I've kinda worried about keeping my goofiness toned down some, but not this time (don't you guys feel privelidged?) :-) I wasn't self-conscious at all, and I didn't even realize it until we were driving home. Maybe it's just more of that being "comfortable in my skin," but I really did just be myself without even thinking about it.

Turkey Days

Leaving in the morning for North Carolina for Thanksgiving. Will be heading back Sunday. We were looking forward to all of the family being back together again, with Krissy (who has called me a couple times now and we've really enjoyed visiting), her fiancee Juan (whom I've met before, I really like him, he reminds me of Josh), our almost two year old nephew Elijah, and the yet to be born Silver Destiny. She is due January 6th (the same as Elijah's birthday, and Julie's dad's birthday), we are almost the same exact amount pregnant!

But we got a message from Julie when we came in the door tonight, Krissy went into premature labor and they were on their way to the hospital. They have already had to stop her labor earlier on in the pregnancy, but as far as I know, that's the only problems she's had.

So please pray that Krissy and little Silver will be alright. We may get to meet our new niece sooner than planned.

Everyone have a fantastic Thanksgiving! I will try to be a better blogger when I get back home. Only six more weeks to go!!!!

Our Baby Shower... Part One

(For those of you who'd like to see ALL the pictures, hop over to here.)

Weekend Plans

Heading out to Ladies' Retreat tomorrow after the diabetes clinic in the morning. Brad is dropping me off there on his way to work, I'm getting breakfast at the hospital cafeteria, then my appt. is at 8:30. Finishing up at 11, Kasey picking me up, meeting Sis. Shaw a la Megan in Lebanon then onward.

Kasey is going to be mad/disappointed/irritated that I did not get her apron done. TOO much to do to get ready around here. :-(

Thou shalt not surely eat it all...

Big container of candy pumpkins was on sale for 94 cents and I DIDN'T buy it!

Go me!

And now, a few words from our sponsor...

I started a baby afghan today. I think I might ACTUALLY finish this one! It'll be a first! It's a granny square so maybe it won't be so overwhelming. Other ones I've tried I got disinterested quick or it was a bunch of small stitches so it took so much effort for so little. I will post a picture when it is finished.

I remember when I first learned how to crochet, when I was 8. Daddy taught me. I was so excited, I made a chain about 6 feet long and proceeded to single crochet about 5 rows. I was determined to make an afghan. Daddy tried to persuade me to let him teach me how to do a granny square so that I could get done faster, but no, I would have none of that. I was going to make an afghan my way. Needless to say, I made it through those 5 rows and that is where I stopped. Actually, it was a lot of work for an 8 year old to accomplish even that! At least in this day and age, I know about a hundred years ago and more 9 year old girls had completed quilt after quilt after quilt entirely by hand. But for me at any age, and especially 8 years old, those 5 rows were quite a feat.

Kim and I started an afghan. We were each going to make enough squares in our coordinating colors for a whole afghan, and then swap half, and sew them together and trim each in "our" color. I think I made it to about 20 squares and then fizzled. Kim gave Mama an afghan not too long ago that has some of those colors in it... It brought back memories and made me wish we/I had finished that project.

I'm missing people today. I'm missing Kim. And then while crocheting with yarn that I have had FOREVER, a long blond hair was tangled up in it. It's BEKAH'S from who knows how many years ago. We always shared a room until I got married. So I miss my sister too and I'm wishing we were close so we could do girl stuff together. Sigh.

In other news, I was listening to last.fm radio this morning and heard some interesting new stuff. So I've compiled an iTunes wish list.

She Will be Loved by Maroon 5 (heard already but put it on here to remind me to get it)
From Where I Am by Enya
Economy of Mercy by Switchfoot (owned the album this is on but it has disappeared)
Tall Trees in Georgia by Eva Cassidy
Passenger Seat by Death Cab for Cutie (who wouldda thunk it??)
Speed of Sound by Coldplay
Clocks by Coldplay
Fix You by Coldplay( Can you tell I like Coldplay?)
I Will be Blessed by Lisa Ekdahl
Take it From Me by The Weepies
All I Do is Dream of You by Stacey Kent
We Came to Learn the Sea by Dar Williams
The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice

Mostly just folksy/easy listening/jazz type stuff. Very relaxing. Note that I have no clue about these artists other songs, I just like these that I've heard. I would like to have more candlelight dinner type music and this just might start me off.

Going to try to do the diabetes clinic thing on Friday if all works out. Had a BIG fiasco with insurance because my caseworker neglected to enter info into the computer when she has had the fax on her desk for WEEKS. I arrived at the clinic only for them to tell me that I'm not covered! Yikes! But all is well now. TWO WEEKS later. Grr. Oh well.

Ladies' Retreat is this weekend!!! I cna't wait! It will only be my second. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the one in WV last year, it was FANTASTIC. This may be my last one for a while so I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity for sure. Though Sis. Kim has forbade me to go into labor while I'm there. Hopefully not! Though if this retreat was about a month later there is no way I'd be there. So it's perfect timing.

Hoping my jean skirt arrives in the mail before Friday...

The (Might as Well Be) Finished Project

Here I am in the jumper I made. I love the drawstring waist (enhances the tummy, Jaci!) but I still want to but the velvet ribbon on to trim the neckline so it doesn't look so plain. I'm contemplating a black eyelet peeking out from underneath the hem, too. We'll see. I think I'm skipping the pockets while I'm ahead.

The first time I've ever been in a position to use one of these parking spaces!
This was at Kroger. I just had to snap a picture. :-)