December 24th

Pixie brought us breakfast from the North Pole and also laid out the Jammie's I got the kids. It was our last morning with her. This year was a blast! See you next year, Pixie. Safe travels.

December 23rd

Apparently our elf, Pixie, thought it would be funny to hang our underpants on the Christmas tree. Caitlyn actually woke up in the night and heard Pixie rummaging through her drawers! She was so excited to share this with us. Only one more day until little miss Pixie returns to the North Pole.

December 22nd

Oh boy... Our elf is getting naughty. The kids woke up to find the elf had graffitied their bathroom with words like Fa La la la la and Elves Rock. I had to wake up early to be at church to help decorate the Christmas trees and while I was there the kids had woke up found the elf and somehow convinced Ashley to open up one of his gifts that we had wrapped the night before. I cannot believe he let them convince him. I came home and Caitlyn told me all about it. Pretty hilarious!

December 21st

The elf must've been pretty tired last night after her travels to the North Pole. Probably lots of last minute preparations for the big day. Looks as though she gathered a few things from around the house that I had brought home from work from local vendors. Thank you local vendors for sponsoring tonight's visit from our elf

December 20th

The elf brought a few small holiday arts and crafts for the kids and chocolates for Babcia. Love her.

December 19th

Looks like the elf planned a sleepover.

December 18th

Woke up this morning to find our elf fishing. Looks like she caught one. We also got to spend some time with my nephews, Brayden and Kellen today. We watched the Elf on the Shelf movie on tv. It was so magical.

December 17th

Pixie must be real tight with Beth's and Tiffany's elves cause I saw they spelled out messages to their kids too. Those elves are sneaky!

December 16th

Enough with her generosity. Pixie decided to eat most of the candy from the kids advent calendars. Ashton wasn't very happy to find this. Caitlyn told him she would share what she had left.

December 15th

Pixie was extra generous this weekend. She brought both the kids new winter jackets and gloves. The temperatures are getting low and Gram, Pap, and Auntie took Cait and Ashton to Enchanted Village with lights. They had a blast.

December 14th

Pixie must've known Friday is movie night at our house. She brought us a new elf movie to watch.... And she made her own popcorn.

December 13th

Pixie must be getting a little home sick cause she spent the night in the freezer making snowmen. Caitlyn looked high and low for Pixie. Thank goodness she thought to leave a few snowballs right outside the freezer so she could be found.

December 12th

It took the kids a while to find her upstairs making photo copies of herself. Caitlyn took the copies to her kindergarten class to show her friends.

December 11th

She was caught red handed in the cookie jar. Good thing my mom made 60 dozen this year for us to decorate. So there's gotta be some leftover after Pixie ate ours.

December 10th

Oh boy. Our elf was a little naughty. She drew Santa hats on one of our favorite family photos.

December 9th

Pixie had a wardrobe change on the 8th for our annual sweater party. It was hilarious because Caitlyn watches the elf constantly and her eyes were looking the other way for just one second and when she looked back Pixie had changed. Caitlyn wouldn't stop laughing out of pure excitement. She said that Pixie was able to change so fast because of her magic .

The next morning, Pixie was found in the tree.

December 8th

The kids found her in our nativity scene.

December 7th

Our elf flies to the North Pole every night to report back to Santa whether or not Caitlyn and Ashton have been naughty or nice. She must have gotten back late and decided to quickly fly on the chandelier.

December 6th

Loved this idea from the Newgard's elf who recently move to Hawaii and was dreaming of snow. Maybe our elves FaceTimed and came up with this idea.

December 5th

Pixie was found having tea with Barbie. I wish I would've thought to record the kids reactions to these. Today's was priceless. Caitlyn wouldn't stop talking about how awesome our elf was.

December 4th

Clearly Pixie was a little chilly from her extra evening up North, so she relaxed in a warm bubble bath of mini marshmallows. The kids especially loved finding her because she left a trail of mini marshmallows from the bathroom to each of their rooms.

December 3rd

The kids were a leaning towards the naughty list so Pixie stayed up at the North Pole and left them this note.
It read:

Caitlyn and Ashton-

I’m writing to say

Santa’s keeping me up North

for a whole extra day.

I had to tell Santa

You were both being bad.

The news that I shared

Made him real sad.

I am still watching you

In the car and at school

The word will get out if you break a rule.

Please remember,

so I can come back tomorrow:

There’s only one rule

That you have to follow.

Please do not touch me.

My magic might go,

And Santa won’t hear all I’ve seen or know.

Please be extra good

and say a few prayers

So I can come back in the morning

when you come down the stairs.

Love,

Pixie

December 2nd

Pixie was found reading some Christmas books.

December 1, 2012

This elf was sent to us from the North Pole. The kids named her Pixie.

Future Mr. & Mrs. Rychlinski

February 3, 2013 is almost here... and I am just now getting to do a post on Jon's big engagement to Mandy (said in a really high pitched voice out of pure excitement)!!!!

Jon and Mandy became engaged to be married a little over a year ago and plan to be married on their 10 year anniversary of dating (so what if it's the same day as the super bowl?!?!?!) 

I had the privilege of capturing their love on camera for their save the date cards.  

I'd say the pictures turned out great... not because of my skills, but simply because of the love Jon and Mandy have for one another. 

We recently went to Vegas to celebrate the addition of Mandy to our family and I don't know how many times Ksavera, Hana or I said how happy we were to have Mandy as a sister...

I'm just saying...

We love Mandy!

♥

My cousin Angelica just kicked off the wedding season last Saturday (Congrats to her and Sam).  Next up is Hana in less than two weeks and then Jon and Mandy right after the holidays.

***

For more about Jon and Mandy's engagement, check out Mandy's sister, Michelle's blog post. I was super sick and unable to attend their engagement party, so I really appreciated her post :)

Ashton's 1st Day of Preschool

My little guy started his first day of preschool.  He has the same teacher as last year with a new teacher's assistant.  He attends twice a week now and loves it.  It was way easier watching him go to preschool than Caitlyn going to Kindergarten.  He's going to have this year and next year with his current school and then he's off to Kindergarten... My children are growing so incredibly fast.

Ashton was more interested in attending his first day than the pictures.  I love the above pic though because he is holding onto Ashley's GPS (just in case he gets lost on the two minute drive to school.  

He truly makes my heart smile!

Caitlyn's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Well, She did it... My daughter attended her first day of full day kindergarten.  

She loved it.  Her teacher's name is Mrs. Odman.  She has her school, teacher, classroom number, and bus name all memorized.  She is Brilliant!

***

Let's start with the day before school started.  I decided to read a poem my friend put on Facebook.  I barely made it through the first few sentences before crying... so what did I do next?!?! Decided to call my mom and attempt to read it to her... Cried again through the entire thing.  

That night we laid out her clothes, we set her alarm to music for 7:00am, read the book Someday (I cried some more) , said our prayers and Caitlyn fell fast asleep.

The next morning, I get out of the shower at 6:15 begin my morning routine and much to my surprise, little miss Caitlyn comes walking into the bathroom fully dressed and ready for her first day of school.  We ate a big breakfast and then had a surprise visit from her cousins Brayden and Kellen... we stopped for a photo shoot....

 ...then we walked to the bus stop....

The above pic reminds me of the book we read, Someday, I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving to me until I no longer see you.  

And one last picture before she gets on the bus.

She did great... She was so excited... I don't mean to toot my own horn... but I did great too!  All the crying and anticipation of my sweet baby girl leaving me to go out into the world of public education was way worse than the actual big moment... I was and AM so PROUD of her.

Then my Mom, Ashton , and I piled in the car and drove to her school.

I peaked my head into the classroom trying to see what she was up to... and I saw this...

My daughter, whom I was worried wouldn't know where her class was,

wouldn't know where to put her back pack or lunch.

I was worried she would be lost without me, 

but no... she found her way.  

She found her way right to the front of the classroom, 

perched herself on a stool and was reading a book.  

 Seriously... melted my heart!
♥

I am so PROUD of my daughter, Caitlyn Leigh... the Kindergartner!

Kite Festival 2012

 This year, the kids and I went up to the Kite Festival early with my Mom, Dad, and Brayden, and Kellen.  We had a blast. We camped for 8 days.  The rest of the family trickled in about mid week.  It's getting more and more difficult to get every single person in our family together, but we did it.  I didn't take my camera out enough during this trip.  I did convince everyone to jump for our second beach shadow picture.

 I also snapped this picture of the cousins all drinking their morning hot chocolates.

♥

A few memorable things from this trip included:

Sven Miller coming (even though she wasn't invited)

Ocean Park Welcome Wagon

Megatron levels

'Is today the same day as yesterday?!?'

yoga poses on the beach

s'mores & more s'mores

conversation starters, &

the SUNNY beach.

♥

I look forward to next year already...

(I think I'm getting a hang of this camping thing).

5 years

My 5 year old.

♥

My sweet Caitlyn Leigh.

This year was not only big for you... but big for me too.

5 seems SO much older than 4. 

As July came to an end and your birthday rounded the corner I found myself wondering...

where did this time go?!?!

You are so many things...

wonderful

super sweet...

and sassy

smart

so caring

(you're heart is huge)

You love your brother and really look after him.

You are starting Kindergarten in the Fall...

something I don't think I'm ready for.

You are a mother hen to your cousin Kellen.

You are such a big helper.

You set the table to eat almost every night.

You do have a temper though

and that is something we are working on.

You count to ten when you start to get angry.

You get either super cuddly when you're getting tired, but if we miss that small window to tuck you into bed...

you get super crabby.

I don't mean crabby like you whine a little then fall asleep...

I mean it like... you scream and kick and scream until Dad or I have to pick you up and put you to bed... but then you fall right to sleep.

You love riding your bike and swimming.

I love you more than you know and I truly cannot believe you are 5.

Seriously... I was just laying on the couch with you snuggling on my chest... yesterday.

Was that really 5 years ago?!?!?

I know this year is going to be big for you.... full day kindergarten is HUGE.

You are also playing Soccer with the Vikings again with your dad as the coach.

You continue to challenge me and make me a stronger Mom everyday

and I love you for that.

Happy Birthday, Caitlyn Leigh!

You are so L♥VED!!!

 

 

My kids made dinner...

While I was on the phone having a pity party because my sister cancelled our dinner plans at the very last minute, my children got out my Easter dinnerware, set the table, and made dinner.  If you can't see real clearly, the menu was:
♥

string cheese

the last remnants of sour cream and cheddar chips

sour patch watermelons &

white grape juice boxes

♥

Caitlyn even put an unlit candle on the table to add to the ambiance.

Seriously... they made my evening. 

I loved my dinner and I love my children even more.

I ate everything and enjoyed all of it.

DISNEYLAND

Riggs' Disneyland Family Vacation 2012

Seriously... it might have been the happiest place on earth.  The days before the trip were a little rough in the parenting department... Caitlyn and I weren't seeing eye to eye and Ashton spent a ton of time either crying or whining... so each night before the trip I lay awake anxious and wondering 1.) Am I going to be the Mom whose children are acting out because they don't get a churro or because the lines are too long? 2.) After such bad behavior during the day... is a Disneyland vacation really what my children deserve? and 3.) Am I a strong enough person/Mom to handle taking two very young children to one of the busiest places on earth?!?!   I was super anxious to say the least.

Turns out... that little extra attention from Ashley and I is just what they needed. 

The trip really was perfect!

They were posing just like Mickey and Minnie.

 We spent 8 days and 7 nights  at the Happiest Place on Earth and it was Magical!

The flight down was super fast, the kids each helped me pack special travel bags which they loved.  I packed a lunch for when we arrived filled with apples, carrots, mickey mouse shaped PB&J sandwiches and some sugary sweets... the sandwiches and sweets were a hit.... the carrots and apples made there way into our hotel fridge where they stayed until we went home. 

The rooms were recently redone and were AMAZING!  Everyone's favorite part about the rooms were the large dark wooden headboards that spanned across an entire wall of the room with the Disney castle carved into it and at night with just a flip of the switch music played, the castle and fireworks lit up and twinkled while we slept.

Speaking of sleeping.  I think that was one of my faves of the vacation.  Disneyland wore my children out... whether we were at the park or just played at the water park at the hotel, my kids were ready for a nap.  We all (even Gram, Pappy, and Aunt Scarlet) would head up to the room around 1ish and take a nap that lasted anywhere from 3 to 4 hours.  We would then wake up play some more and the kids went to bed like little angels each night.  One of the days we skipped a nap, so we went out for an early dinner.  Ashton was getting a rambunctious in our booth and I whispered (sternly) in his ear that he had better mind his manners at the restaurant.  Next thing I know he's quiet as can be (I was super proud cause my whispers in his ears were clearly effective), then I looked down at him and he was passed out sitting up at the dinner table.  We all got a good laugh. 

The parks were fantastic and thanks to my work we saved a ton of money on the passes.  The kids were great.  They had no breakdowns over churros and no melt downs in the lines.  As a matter of fact we hardly hit any long lines.  We used the fast pass on the bigger rides and the others weren't that long of a wait.  The kids favorite rides were The Buzz LightYear ride, The Pirates of the Carribean, and Caitlyn liked Splash Mountain (the 2nd and 3rd time, but not the 1st).

We really lucked out with all the characters they got to meet.  Thanks to Disney's Mobile Magic Ap on our phones we were able to see which characters were where and what the wait times were for each ride... If you are going to Disneyland soon... You NEED this app.

On our last day, we had breakfast at Ariel's Grotto with all the princesses.  This was a fun thing for our last day there.  We ate family style while each princess came to our table for pictures.  The kids' favorite was Bell (Ashley's too). 

Aunt Scarlet brought her super cool new camera that was able to take pics under water.  We enjoyed a few days just lounging by the pool.  We had a blast taking as many pictures as possible under water and going down the water slides. 

All in all this was a great family vacation! 

It was wonderful watching my kids get swept away by everything magical.

Thanks Aunt Scarlet for being the photographer (she took just under a thousand pics) and thanks Gram and Pap for joining in on all the fun and memories.

The Riggs Family ♥s Disneyland!

4th of July

 Our Independence Day was celebrated as usual at the Riggs' house over looking the Puget Sound...

... with most of our favorite family and friends

(Dad was at work and Hana doesn't come anymore.)

 Pappy sat and patiently taught the children all about firework safety.

FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!

 How's that saying go?!?!

Fourth of July is the holiday that people we wouldn't trust with a glow stick

get drunk and light off fireworks...

 LOL!

Happy Birthday, Steve!

 I loved watching the kids watch the fireworks.
 As usual we had an amazing time.
♥

Now the real countdown to Disneyland begins!!!