Team Ritter

Friday, November 20, 2009

oh no! on ho!

a blogworthy memory:

I (Rachael) stumble into our home, exhausted after two hours of errands ..... I stumble into our home, unfortunately wearing Jeff's surprise (but not a surprise anymore) birthday beanie! (What was I thinking!)

Jeff: "I've never seen that hat before, when did you make it?"
Rachael: gasp! "Oh, no!!!"

Jeff finds huge amusement in situations like these. Smile like Nile. --- I just kind'of crumple into a hug with him, exasperated with myself telling him it's the hat I've knitted him -- and how I've had been working on it durring the day and have been trying to keep it a secret. Bah. Oh, well. Happy birthday Jeffrey! :)

Also, in Ritter news, Raya is two months! ... like a week and a half ago ... but anyways, she weighed 14 lbs 4 ounces! Yikes, Holey Smackererl, Ay Caramba and a bunch of other garbaley gook.

but isn't she cute?

Angry Raya has disappeared in light of Raya the Amiable. She coos and laughs, and smiles like she's roaring. Ah, love it. She's just a teddy bear.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Leviiiii Las Vegas

So.... Levi turned two... like October 27th, here's some pictures:

Why hello Mr. Pig. We had a pancake breakfast (or pancakies as Levi and I like to call them :P)-- and yes, he did eat the entire thing. Levi loves pancakes!We had Jeff's family come for Levi's birthday. We had eight extra adults in our 1,100 sq ft. home (yah, I know) and Levi LOVED all the attention. He was marching around the house, hands in the air yelling, "It's my birthday!" We went out to lunch at Levi's favorite restaurant, Cougar Country and played at the park with his uncles and aunts, after nap we did the birthday thing:
Grandma, Seth and Levi made this beautiful cake:
Jeff made the horns, what a thoughtful daddy .... ahh... and here's Levi immersed in presents:
Levi loved his presents especially: Marble Works, "It's Ninja Wheelie Time!" motorcycle, and his little Tikes boat ("Michael-wave"). Levi still talks about his birthday. Last night we asked, "Levi what do you want for Christmas?" Levi, "My birthday party!"

Levi you are such a character. You are incomparably funny and make us laugh even when we shouldn't, love, love, love you!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

swanky

I love that word -- swanky, anyways ... look what I knitted! My first ribbed hat.

swanky

And for giggles, awww's and oh my's here's my cute little bunch:

When did I become a mother of three?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Help! Help! Saaaaaaaaaaaaave us!

There has been a FIRE!!!!

CALL THE FIREFIGHTERS!!

Firefighters to the Rescue!

So brave ... So strong ...

And we're saved!

Good Work Team!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Where they're at -- they got two turn tables and a microphone

Hm.

Seth: Let's see... he's read his first book this month -- he read three books that contained about 30 words or so. It's amazing. He told me where Machu Picchu was (I didn't even know that), -- really, really into geography lately -- learning continents, countries, major world landmarks (Great Wall, Pyramids at Giza, Eiffle tower, Sydney Opera House ... etc) -- He loves learning, I just wish I had more time to give him. His writing has improved, today he tried to sound out and write "Raya Abigail Ritter" by himself and was impressed at how close he came "Raya Abigal Rittr."

Levi: Let's see... he knows his letters and sounds and he's really trying to write the letters (like his big bro). He'll make an "H" or "F" -- or other letters sometimes, but I don't know if he can do it consistently -- lower case "l" and "o" he has down :) and likes to show me a whole page of "l"'s. Loves to sing and run. Likes to make up his own words and laugh heartily afterward. His laughter is contagious and he makes everyone around him smile.

Love my boys!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

We are all connected

A couple of good videos.

This second one has got me watching Cosmos. I'd suggest checking it out.

Carl Sagan is very poetic.

via Symphony of Science

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Razzmatazz

A month! I can't believe it. I've had this little girl for a month already. -- I took some pictures of her yesterday to commemorate the occasion.

Now about Raya ... she is funny :), I love watching her personality emerge more and more each day. In all seriousness this girl is outrageous, for one -- her tongue, she's crazy about the thing; two -- she's a little boombox, she snorts and guffaws, and makes all these guttural noises I don't know how to begin to describe; three -- she's very particular, whatever you do don't clean her hands! It is apparently the most unbearable form of punishment; four -- I'm just going to say it, she's got gas, she's like a horn, any forced movement and she squeaks; five -- she has the most amazing smile.

by golly I love this little girl.

A glimpse into our world:

Levi: "I'm going to work ... Mr. Baaabbbyyyy ...." He's tottering between each foot like a little nymph, in ecstasy of delight, "I'm going to work ... Mr. Baaabbbyyyy ...." expressing each syllable emphatically.

Seth is cleaning up his toys and politely asks: "Please don't call me baby."

Levi: "Mr.... Baaabbbyyyy...."

An exasperated holler from the kitchen: "Levi, please do not call your brother 'baby.'"

Levi: "Mr...... BAAGGyyyyy ...."

Levi's favorite game: putting a blanket over his head and running.

AH!!!

We're in the dining room and Levi refuses to sit in his booster seat,

"Ok, Levi you get a time out .. go sit on the mat."

Levi enthusiastically waddles over to entrance mat in the living room.

"Ok, I'm sitting on my mat!" pause; we continue eating dinner. "I'm pooping! I pooped! I pooped on my mat. I'm pooping!"

He didn't really.

"I want to say goodnight to my car!" (A couch pillow)

"Ok, then say goodnight.."

"Goodnight car"

Seth lays crying, hugging the couch pillow.

"Cramo!" Levi states as he smooches Raya's chubby cheeks

Seth: "Raya if you need to yell, yell outside!"

I'm changing Levi's diaper ..

Levi: "I can't see my peanuts!"

He struggles to lift his head up, yep still there, and life continues.

A three-year old's road rage:

We're stopped at a red light, the light turns green, the car ahead hesitates for a second, -- A holler from the back "Green means GO! C'mone GO!"

Anytime we're on a two lane road, "Are we passing those cars? --We need to pass those cars!"

"Sethy! pull down your shorts! oh Sethy..." Seth is running around the baseball diamond, during T-ball practice, holding his shorts up to his chest.

A man with the last name of "Beamer" is announced

Levi: "Beaver?" he starts laughing "BEAVER!" He's pretty loud, and continues laughing.

"Levi, how was nursery?!"

"I was crying!"

Levi: "Jesus!"

Levi excitedly points to a man with a beard and tries to walk over to him.

Levi: "Jesus!!!!! Right over there! Jesus! Right over there!" -- We're in the middle of the mall and he's just repeating this. It may be considered a spectacle.

Levi is a melon FIEND! He's never stopped eating willingly. After his 3rd helping of cantaloupe Jeff says that he's had enough. Levi puts up his hands and starts counting "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 more melons!" -- We gave him another chunk. (I should mention he's 20 months)

Seth: "Oh, I'm so glad that I'm sitting down, my feet are poofy!"

Jeff: "Levi you have 3 seconds to pick up those toys and put them back in the playroom .... 1 ...2 .... 3 ..."

Levi: "4 ... 5.... 6..."

Jeff: 'Rachael. Did you hear that?"

How are you supposed to compete against that?

Seth fell asleep in the van and Levi begins prodding him with his foot waking him up.

Seth: "Stop it Levi! Mommy Levi is touching me!"

Mommy: "Sethy, I give you permission to tickle or bite his feet."

Levi: "Feet. Feet. Feet." begins stretching his feet to Sethy's mouth.

Seth: "No! Levi!"

Mommy: "Oh, Levi!"

Levi's giggling and starts putting his feet in his mouth.

We had a "yard sale" -- I use the term loosely because whenever I saw anyone slightly interested in anything that was out on display I eagerly exclaimed, "twenty-five cents ... just take it please!" Anyways, so I was not out to make a profit, just trying to alleviate the randomness we had collected over the last 5 years. With this said, selling our stuff should be easy... except when Seth was around:

A couple is looking at a bean bag

Seth: "Mommy, is that the bag I threw up on?"

A woman looking through baby items

Seth: "That is my favorite toy!"

Levi is a dirty wrestler. He always has been. If you're down on the ground he'll go right for your head, and sit and bounce on it until you're immobilized with laughter.

Jeff and Seth were at the "green weird house" (as Seth now refers to it) mowing the yard (which is like an acre) -- I thought Jeff was just doing part of it .. so I call wondering what's taking so long. Jeff hangs up. Seth inquires .... "Are we going home now because Mommy said 'Goodness gracious sweetie?'"

We're in the car and I see that Seth has unbuckled himself.

"Seth, why are you unbuckled?!"

"Oh, because of gravity."

6 hours into a very long car trip, I unenthusiastically indicate, "Oh look, there's a cow."

Seth very enthusiastically says, "Good eye Mommy!"

My life with Seth:

I'm driving the van.

"Mom, are you driving?"

"Yes Seth I'm driving."

"Mom .... are you driving?"

"You tell me Seth. Am I driving?"

"No, don't say that! -- Mom are you driving?"

"Sethy ... I think you know the answer, am I driving?"

"You can't say those words!"

I can't help but smile at the ridiculousness of the situation ... and situations ... as this occurs multiple times in many varied instances, daily.

Levi is playing with two cars .... "Achoo" he makes one say ... "Bless you" he has the other car say. His baby voice is too unbelievably cute.

Levi is shirtless in his highchair with jam splattered across his chest and face. He is pulling down his pants and diaper,

"Levi! What are you doing!" I tease.

"Nothing" Levi states with an enormous grin.

to myself ... "Nothing? Nothing! Sass, he's only 17 months old! "

Jeff begins giggling in the background as I stand rooted to the spot with my mouth open.

It starts too soon.

"This is my special licking time."

Seth licks gobs of ketchup off his plate.

"Now! Milky time!"

Sethy the Super Singer!

Debuting ....

"A Tyrannosaurus Rex ate me all up and wont let me out"

"Pizza boots, Pizza boots, I'm wearing Pizza boots"

"My mommy says I should eat my cereal, yum, yum yum"

He likes to make up his own songs, it's pretty cute, if you can imagine Seth standing on his booster seat (not eating his breakfast) belting out whatever randomness that is inside his head and giggling hysterically. I should mention he also has his shirt tucked into his shorts and his shorts are WAY above his waist -- that's how he likes to wear'em. Oh Sethy we love you sooo much!

Levi learned the word, "Ow."

Brushing his teeth .... "Ow" .... clipping his nails ... "Ow" .... changing his diaper ... "Ow" .... putting on his socks "Ow" ... picking him up .... "Ow" ...

You get the picture.

Ok, so Seth is at the stage where he likes to tell every detail of his life, no matter how incriminating, to anyone! This usually leaves me with my face in my hands and a long explanation to a stranger. For example, at the science center:

A mom was sitting watching her children play in the large play-rugged-area and happens to compliment Seth's frog boots (which are pretty sweet I must say) as we walk in.

Seth smiles, "My poop is too big for my diapers."

"What!?!" I'm thinking to my self. Where's the connection, where's the train of thought. Frog boots, poop, I don't see it. So needless to say, much embarrassment and a bewildered stranger. She was very kind; and gave me a lot of potty training tips that I had already heard before.

Seth is coughing, choking on his kiwi (Jeff insisted he try the skin).

"Sethy are you ok?"

Seth nods, "It went down my esophagus."

I walk into the living room to see that all the pillows (are once again) strewn about. "Look Mommy, a nesting ground!" Seth excitedly indicates (We had recently learned about penguins). How could anyone mind straightening up the pillows after that? Even if the third time that day.

Levi's Amens

Levi was gulping his milk as we were attempting to persuade him to fold his arms for dinner prayer. Jeff ends up holding the milk while Seth is saying the prayer. He gives the milk back, Levi continues to engulf. "Levi, can you say Amen?" Levi puts the milk down, "A-milk" and recommences.

There is no reverence in a Levi Amen. He loves to bellow the word. So if you're in church, especially after sacrament prayer, if you intently listen you can here a Levi Amen.

What have I created?

Levi lifts up his shirt and pokes his tummy, "Ma babies," he grins. He also calls his feet, his "baby toes," ... any body part really is prefaced with "baby" now.

Levi is a tricky guy. "Nose," he will state innocently and indicate your nose. "Nose," he'll state again with a devious smirk and try and put his finger in your nostril! Oh he thinks he's so funny too.

"Sethy, would you like some hot chocolate?"

"Yah! I'm a hot chocolate man!"

A defiant Seth Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father.. Thank you for the milk, thank you I'm not going to eat my soup. Jesus Christ. Amen

I went in to get Seth out of bed. He was standing by his bed.

“I pooped in my diaper, you need to change it.”

“Okay, come lay down over here.”

He starts shuffling over on tip-toes.

“I’m stuck in the muck!”

I was eating breakfast with Seth. He was eating corn flakes.

He takes a bite. “These corn flakes are lovely.”

“Wha? Where did Levi go?!”

This is a question that is often declared now in our home.

We find him in front of the mud room with his finger in this one peculiar hole in the wood floor that only Levi would notice. We find him under the desk and kitchen table, or in a toy tub. But more often than not, we find him in the bathroom searching for his toothbrush. (It is located on a low shelf in a labeled toiletry "tub".) The boy loves to brush his teeth! and I find him in the bathroom with the box dumped out him sucking on his toothbrush.

More bathroom humor. It’s just so fun. Well Seth is now on the big toilet, and when he’s peeing he likes to remark at the glistening shade of his urine: “It’s kind’of sparkly.”

Seth and I are reading a book on our couch.

Mommy: “Look Seth there’s the airplane and there’s the aviator. Do you remember who else flies planes?”

Daddy: “Mickey”

Seth: “President Uchdorf”

Mommy: “That’s right Sethy, President Uchdorf flies planes.”

I just give Jeff an incredulous look and laugh.

Seth looks at Jeff with his finger out “No daddy … not Mickey”

Levi is a little kix pixie, he likes to scatter and drop kix all over the house. They’re every where, including on Levi, we find kix in his rolls and his clothes which allows kix to roll to all areas of the house. The humorous part comes when Jeff enters a room that Levi has just left, crunch "What?" crunch "Oh come on!" crunch "They're everywhere!" Obviously he has not developed the art of maneuvering around these little grenades. An art that I have developed out of necessity, and out of dislike of sweeping my house five times a day.

Seth wraps a green blanket around his legs and announces, “Look! I’m a little mermaid!”

Lately Seth has been playing around with language, he likes to call objects by other names that rhyme or sound similar for instance the “pool” is now the “cool,” a “sucker” is now a “suckle,” and a “tick” is now a “tickle.”

Seth had a tick in his hair (suffice it to say I freaked out) and as consequent for my behavior Seth is now cautious about these strange bugs called ticks. A few days after the tick incident we were heading out to the library when all of a sudden Seth turns stoney, “Mommy, I have a tickle in my pants!” The tickle turned out to be urine (he was peeing), but Seth was not convinced and it took two thorough checks of his pants, turning them inside out inspecting all the material, to make sure no “tickle” was in there.

Levi no longer puts his hand in my mouth while nursing!!!! Yay! Instead he is content making the “more” sign over and over again. Oh Levi.

(In switching templates I lost most of this section of my blog ((!!!)) so from here on out is my attempt to recapitulate the lost memories)

Seth has an amazing imagination. A straw in his hands becomes an airplane, then it is a camera, then it is a flute, then it is a baby joey tucked safely in his pouch (Seth's shirt). -- These transitions may occur within 2 minutes.

Jeff: Seth this is a picture of a chimpanzee

(indicates a picture from his mammalian physiology textbook)

Seth: No Daddy, that's Grandpa!

Levi's struggling to roll over, he's pushing hard to move from his stomach to back, we're all cheering for him ... He did it! Seth pounces. "1,2,3 PIN!" He shouts. Seth pins his 3 month old brother.

Levi has an fixation with holes: nostrils, mouths, you get the point -- this makes it very difficult to nurse.

Seth puts a purple basket over his head, "Look! I'm Jupiter!"

I walk into Seth's room (the aforementioned person should be napping), and see that he is sitting atop every linen of he bed, behind his bed (his bed is kiddy-cornered). "Look mommy, I'm sleeping in a nest."

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Friday, November 20, 2009

oh no! on ho!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Leviiiii Las Vegas

Sunday, November 8, 2009

swanky

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Help! Help! Saaaaaaaaaaaaave us!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Where they're at -- they got two turn tables and a microphone

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

We are all connected

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Razzmatazz

A glimpse into our world: