Happenings at the Ririe's

Lets see if I can finally get caught up now. We are on a pretty good routine so there isn't anything overly excited to mention here. Maybe I can add some pictures and be good. Now that Eric is in school, it is a little crazy having only 2 at home. Nice at the same time, so I'm not complaining. I wasn't planning on doing a preschool with Nate this year. We were going to be doing swim lessons at the fitness center and a class called Fit Kidz. He has been loving those classes. The wonderful teacher that Eric had for preschool last year really wanted another boy in her preschool this year (she had one boy and 5 girls!), so she convinced me to bring Nate as a friend for the other little boy. Nate is loving preschool too. So, we have gotten surprisingly busy. I have been trying to make it to the gym to go to a class I like called Tone and Tighten (yes everyday I have a new sore muscle group. It's awesome!). Then twice a week Nate was there for class and once in the afternoon for Eric to have swim and then my workouts. It's crazy how all that driving around makes for crazy days. Mitch takes Eric to school in the morning and that is good bonding time. Nate, Hailey, and I pick him up in the afternoon. We had our first parent teacher conference last week. It was a little weird to be sitting on this side of the table instead of the teacher side. Eric is a great kid (he is at home too so thats not really a surprise). He is just exploding with learning. He is sounding out almost any words he sees and is trying to spell things too. He definitely has a math mind and is constantly adding and subtracting things. All the sudden I'll hear: "4+2=6" or "Do you know what 9+9 is? It's 18!" It's fun to see him be excited about learning and trying to figure these things out for himself. We have a word wall with sight words on it and even Nate has learned a few (he knows but and four the best. He even knows that he will be four on his next birthday). Hailey is growing and getting into things. Someone once told me that girls were more calm but she is just as active and into things as my boys were! Plus, she has an attitude on top of that if she doesn't get what she wants! We are very excited for her to start talking but she isn't saying too much yet. She will nod and shake her head and knows a few signs (all done, please, and more). She is starting to say cup (sounds like pup). She has the cutest wave. My mom calls it the Miss America wave because its with her wrist too. She always waves to the boys as we say good night. I am surviving. Some days it is hard being a mom; kids don't listen, someones always hungry, Nate still has potty accidents where he pees over the entire bathroom floor because he waits too long, etc. I am trying to keep running and working out. That seems to help me handle the craziness better. I may need another race to train for or something. It is amazing the peace I find as I try to make time every day to read the scriptures. I am also trying to be diligent about writing in my journal. I was supposed to do it every day but I got bad at that and it's probably at least every few days. It has been neat to go back and read the past few months to read about some very spiritual experiences I was blessed to have at those times. It reminds me that the Lord is aware of me and will send me the guidance and direction I need for my life. It is such a blessing to know that and have that testimony. Last weekend was my favorite weekend of the year: the general conference of our church. The leaders of our church spoke to us such edifying words. Plus, we were able to hear a prophet of the Lord speak. So uplifting and inspiring. Helps me be better. Mitch is a busy guy. He is crazy busy at work and he is taking a class to finish getting his CPA. He has completed the test portion but needs 3 more credits to officially be a CPA. He is also some how finding time to look for jobs in Utah. Back in March we both had strong spiritual impressions that the Lord wants us to move to Utah. We don't understand why but we are trying to follow Him and what He wants us to do. So far we haven't found a job but we know that when the Lord wants us too we will. We are quite happy here so whenever it happens will be okay with us. Finding jobs is hard. So, if anyone knows of any finance or business jobs out there, let us know! ;) That is what the Ririe family is up to these days. Here are a few pictures for Grandma and Grandpa and any one else who wants to look at our cute kiddos! Hailey is loving books right now. She will sit and "read" them

Mitch texted me this picture one day while I was out shopping. I love these crazies!

We were able to go to the local baseball team's game one night with Mitch's work. Eric was into it; Hailey, not so much!

Nate being goofy!

Hailey started making this face at us. I'm sure its her irritated with us face but it just cracks us up whenever she does it!

One evening we went up to Tanyard Creek and went walking up the stream bed and played in the waterfall with our good friends, the Porter's. It was a lot of fun! I don't know why we don't do it more. oh yeah that's right. It's too stinking humid some days!

One night during FHE, Hailey wandered off. We didn't hear her for awhile so we went looking. She wanted back into the living room with a blue mouth and blue hands. She had climbed on the desk and gotten a highlighter and thoroughly destroyed it! The blue took a few days to come out completely. Don't worry, first thing we did was check to make sure it was non-toxic. Now the chair is not allowed to me by the desk if we aren't using it.

I understand Nate gets tired of getting in trouble (he does go to the corner quite a bit. I'm still figuring out this little guy. He is my challenge). But when he falls asleep in the corner, it's too funny!