Ho Ho Ho!

Actually, we were tear-free this year for Santa! (well, except for me - as I was leaving to hurry to work I looked down to zip up my jacket and totally rolled my ankle...and yes, I do believe I even cried a bit. It HURT! It was like reliving the pain of 1999 Divisional Volleyball Tournament; Choteau vs. Conrad semifinal game. And I'm sure y'all remember that outside block I came down off of now, don't cha? Mom, you r'member? Ah, the glory days:) We shoulda taken state that year...wait, I sound like Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite.
Alrighty, back to Santa. At showtime, Hannah would've glady opted out of getting any closer to Santa but one look at me and she knew she wasn't getting out of it...so, she went on up and sat down which gave Ellie B and Jocelyn the courage they needed to do likewise. Jolly Old St Nick sat and talked to our girls for a good 2 minutes or so. He was asking Hannah what she wanted and she was staring straightforwad (at me) and answering. Sure hope he got her 2-item Christmas list: a princess thing and an iceskating thing:) BTW, how long does this princess thing last? Check the socks and shoes. I'm startin to despise those young ladies.
Oh yeah, and my ankle is still huge and puffy and bruised and quite painful...thanks for asking.



What is up with Ellie always looking "annoyed" in pictures these days?

Merry Christmas to me

Super excited about Christmas and all...but it's NOTHIN compared to my excitement at purchased tickets for all of us to Montana for Spencer's homecoming in February. I never expected to be able to go so for almost 2 years now I've been bummed about the whole "not being there when my only brother gets off his mission" thing. Can't wait to raise up our "Welcome Home Elder Richins" posters in the jam-packed, swarming Great Falls International Airport, to see Spence walk off that plane in his suit and nametag and for my girls to finally see this Uncle Spencer we talk about all the time. Okay, getting a little choked up here. Truly, I haven't been this excited in many moons... Merry Christmas to me!!!

Our Thanksgiving week was an all-out vacation! Barb and Steve made the 2-day trek from Minnesota and spoiled us with shopping, games, movies, dinners out, a good 2 weeks of homemade meals, a temple trip, and, home repairs. To say I have alot to be thankful for is a total understatement to say the least. For example:

Walbruch Girls


Blessing day....(had to post one with Ellie's favorite boots in full view)


Making egg rolls


Making pecan bars


Monkey bars...made easy


Baby Jocleyn - 3 months old


Living proof that tryptophan exists and completely disables even the most tenacious of men


My personal favorite part of Thanksgiving was replacing my irritating vertical blinds with these fun new curtains. Barb did these without even a hint of a pattern....or hesitation.


Probably the only Thanksgiving Dinner I've eaten outside. (It was about 64 here) The Grimes Family was able to join us. Their little girl Arden is Ellie's age.


And here we all are in our hats from my Great Aunt Marge, who is in her late 80s and had knitted hundreds of these hats for her extended family. How lucky was I to get the Minnesota Vikings Purple/Gold one?!?

Jocelyn Blessing

Jocelyn Karin got her special blessing today. It was awesome and we're enjoying G&G Walbruch too! How do you like Nate's new specs? Eh???

Exciting News!

Uncle Nate? Aunt Ashley? A cousin?!? Really?!? Yep, I'm going to be a real live bona fide AUNT!!! I already love this kid like they were my own. I'm so excited for Brit and Alan whose bouncing bundle is due in May. They've been well-prepared and will make great parents. What an incredible blessing!!!!!

Hannah turned 3 years old. Without even asking permission. Yes, folks, I have a 3 year old....and a 21-month old.....and a 2 month old. Hmmmm. We had a great little party (the simpler the better, trust me moms) and thank you to Natalie for snapping some great photos. I know it's hard to tell from the pictures, but we went with a Princess theme. Hannah was in the height of her glory....and so were her guests. Love you Nannah Doo! (that's how Ellie says Hannah June).

Sleeping Beauty, Tinkerbell and the pumpkin patch

Are you beaming?

Because I am. All the time now! And what 8-week old wouldn't be when she sleeps 11 hours at night with one little eating pit-stop?




Zoo 2010 for Hannah's birthday. Pretty much we just brought them a few extra monkeys.



By the time we got to the koala bear, Ellie's (whose shoes were forgotten) big toe was bleeding all over, Jocelyn was screaming, and all Birthday Girl wanted to do was go on the dadgum carousel (for which we had no cash for tickets), Daddy decided to plunk down on the bench and take a breather...only to realize much to his dismay that yes, indeed, that "crack" he felt/heard upon sitting was our camera screen being smashed in his back pocket. That about "didder" and we headed to destination B: the Columbia, South Carolina temple. Nate got a pretty good shot considering our visionless camera.


And here's Hannah June on her 3rd Birthday! And doesn't she look athrill folks? Poor thing was as sick as she's ever been (yes, she even experienced her first fever) on Sunday Oct 24. But don't you fret nor frown because by the time her par-tay rolled around that evening, she was back in action. Nothing like a sugar/presents induced frenzy to rouse your immune system. Pics of that event forthcoming (Thanks Natalie). Really, it is so odd to think I have a child old enough to be in primary. Nate and I were just newlyweds guys....er, was that another life? I really can't remember. Come to think of it I only remember bits and pieces of my pathetic life before Hannah not to mention before Nate. Ugh, and who wouldn't want to clear their memory card of those game-playing single days. Ahem, anywho, back to the present. Hannah gives us a run for our money in the control department but she is smart and sweet (with everyone accept Ellie Walbruch) and gets along quite well on very little, sporadic attention from her frazzled mother. (I was at work the other night and Nate told the 2 older girls to sit down and be quiet because he was going to feed Jocelyn. To which Hannah promptly lifted up her shirt and replied, "you can't feed Jocelyn Daddy, you don't have "buttons" LOL!!!) She is our one and only firstborn and hold a special place in my heart. My favorite things about Hannah right now are:

When she sits down and conducts FHE with Ellie in their room
How she loves getting her finger nails painted
That the girl will do pert near anything for candy or a popsicle
How she can repeat books and songs word for word
That she is always willing to "run upstairs and grab _____ for me" or "sing a little song to Jocelyn while mommy takes Ellie to the potty" or "help Ellie put her clothes in her dresser."

Enjoy y'all!

Lately

We learn all sorts of things at nursery:)


Sandbox fun with Brody and Elise. Between myself, Natalie, and Lauren, we make up 7 children under 3 years old. It's awesome. Wait, does that count as an official preschool?


...and the decontamination that followed


Yep, our washer died. Bless it's heart. Because my wonderful inlaws bought us brand spanking new ones, we sold our dryer here the same day we listed it on Craigslist. Laundry has never been so fun!

"Can somebody please get me outta here before these vultures mash my head in?!?"


...a little dress-up...

...a little wedgie-picking...

...a few little fall festivities...



...a few pig-tails...


...and a little story time... (This is exactly how they were when I walked in the room). How can I not be crazy about these missies?