Riechmann Family

Monday, January 16, 2012

Finally...SNOW!

This winter has been the opposite of last winter in snowfall. When the snow finally came, the kids were super excited to get out and play in it. After school, it took me 20 minutes to get the big kids ready to go out. Kendall was set to go...until she realized how cold and windy it was out there. She lasted about 5 minutes. Oh well. Maybe next time!

Kinda funny, really.

When they came in, Avery insisted on putting on their wet, snowy clothes.

What?

Pinewood Derby Part 1

Braden has really been enjoying his time in Cub Scouts. This coming weekend is the pinewood derby car race. Daddy and Braden have been working on his car. Here are some pictures of them hard a work. I'll post some later of the finished product and race day! Stay tuned...

Hiking is for the Boys!

I guess you could say I'm a "fair weather hiker." I would only consider it in the spring or fall, but Dustin is much more adventurous and outdoorsy than me, so any warm day, he's wanting to go. Since the weather of late has been less than "wintery," Dustin and Braden took the opportunity to make their way up to Pere Marquette State Park and hike around. They've been before, but there are so many different trails that they could still go a few more times and never repeat their route. Dustin, good daddy that he is, took some pictures of their adventures. The boys came back happy and exhausted and looking forward to their next opportunity to hike!

Braden in a life sized eagle's nest

What a view!!

My handsome hikers :)

Braden got about half way out there...

and then waited for Daddy to rescue him! Dustin said this log was about 6 feet off the ground.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Year's Eve - Riechmann/Rodgers Style!

This is the 8th New Year's Eve we've spent together with the Rodgers'. We started on NYE 2004/2005 when I was pregnant with Braden! Since then, we've spent most of the NYE with the kids and one without. This year's celebration was low-key, but so fun! We arrived at the Rodgers' house in our jammies (required NYE attire), ate dinner/snacks, and let the kids play for a while. Jaycie and I put the babies to bed, but then realized that we forgot to take a family picture, so we got them back out, took pictures, and put them back to bed again! After that, we played darts, Wii (You Don't Know Jack - SO FUN), and watched the ball drop with the big kids. We've given up trying to put the kids to bed before midnight, but not too long after the ball dropped, Kendall and Olivia fell asleep on their daddies laps. We headed home not too long after that. It was a great night and we are looking forward to a fantastic 2012!!

Our boys! Sometimes they remember to smile the right way!

NYE 2011

Smurf Dancing on the Wii...hilarious!!!

Getting ready to ring in the new year...

Or play guitar. Whatever.

Those boys!

Happy New Year!

Ba-dum-bum-ching!

My Ninja.

We figured out that his tongue was blue due to the "Christmas Wreath" cookies he had been eating!

No night would be complete without a picture of Dustin kissing Randy while he grabs his crotch. Good times! (Thanks to Jaycie for capturing this heartwarming moment!)

Christmas Morning 2011

Santa came overnight! Before we slept, we sprinkled reindeer food (to attract reindeer) and grinch glitter (to keep the grinch at bay) and left golden oreos and milk for Santa. It must have worked!!

Lots of bed head, but they were excited!

Checking out the packages

Doctor Barbie and Doctor Ken. They have to be doctors to afford that mansion they live in :)

Santa brought this for Braden...and Daddy.

Avery enjoyed opening her potato head stuff!

Mimi and Papa came over for a late brunch and then helped to assemble scooters they bought for the kids.

Since we are having a seasonably warm winter, the kids were able to ride the scooters outside on Christmas Day!

I'm surprised that scooter can hold so much sass!

Let's race!

Avery saw me get out the camera and immediately said "Cheese." I had to snap a picture!

and another :)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is always a busy day for us! We started early in the morning so we could travel to visit Grandma and Grandpa Riechmann at the nursing home. We needed to get our visit in before lunch so Grandpa wouldn't miss eating!! While we were there we also saw Uncle Ryan, Meghan, and Tanner! When we got home, we ate a quick lunch and then had another visitor. Aunt Sandy (Dustin's Aunt) came by to bring the kids some clothes. She (along with Aunt Donna) always buy the kids one awesome outfit. The kids look forward to it, and in the past couple of years, have worn the outfits on Christmas day. After Aunt Sandy left, we got ready for church (a feat in itself), gathered our gifts, and headed to mass at 3:15, which didn't start until 4:00, but you have to get there that early to get a seat! The mass was lovely, the kids mostly behaved, and then we headed to Mimi and Papa's.

When we arrived, Avery went straight to Papa's lap!

Hey, who planned these twins??

Our Christmas 2011

Uncle Nana, Aunt Kelsi, Amelia, and Addy

Uncle Nana and Baby Ethan...love those red shirts!

Presents!! I think Papa is helping direct traffic.

Addy is ready!

Daddy and a very tired Avery. No nap, but she hung on until the bitter end!

Gunkle and Baby Ethan :)

She's SO excited!!

Our big boy!

Avery is ready! She was able to open most gifts by herself!!

Riechmann/Rodgers Christmas 2011

Each year, our families get together to let the kids exchange gifts with each other. They really enjoy giving gifts to their BFFs! The adults enjoy getting together just to chill out...we don't get to do that as much as we used to!! We had delicious Bully's take-out, opened gifts, and hung around until bedtime. Can't wait to do it all again next year!!