First Day of Kindergarten and a 2nd Birthday

August 18, 2010 will be a day this mama will never forget. It was the day my first born started Kindergarten and my baby girl left being a baby and became a toddler. It was an emotional day to say the least...but I made it.

Kailyn was SO EXCITED so it was hard for me to be too sad..but I still managed to ball my eyes out..once I got back to the car. We had a few hiccups the first few days with mama being the lioness over her baby cub but all is settled and Kailyn just loves it. Her teacher is amazing we love her so much. There are still things that I have issues with, but the important thing is Kailyn is happy and loves going to school.

Callie is now such a big girl. She is starting to potty train, talking up a storm and little Miss Independent. She continues to melt our hearts and send the house into hysterical laughter with the things she does and says.

Other than that we are all trying to get settled back into some sort of routine. Holden doesn't start pre school for a couple of weeks still and Chip's mom is coming for a visit Saturday we are SO EXCITED!!!!!! We are too busy, but loving every minute of it.

Time Flies

Well let's see it has been how many months since I posted on our blog? Let's not live in the past let's live in the present and move forward...so here we go!

The Ripp family has been enjoying summer and all of the fun activities that summer brings. We finally ended with all of the commitments of school, soccer, dance etc. and have been able to soak up some sun and have been spending a lot of time water. Oklahoma weather has been unbearable...as usual so we haven't been able to spend as much time outside as we would like with temperatures in triple digits and a excessive heat warning on the board everyday, but we make the most of it in true Ripp family fashion.

We have had play dates with friends almost everyday...this makes for both happy kids and happy mom. We have been able to go swimming, play at the park, splash park, drive in movies, library time and completed the reading program for great prizes, Chick Fil A, Mc Donalds and take turns at each other's houses. Kailyn and Holden both just finished with swim lessons where they both did great. Both swim on their own now without and concern from me now they are just "perfecting" their strokes. The kids and I took our annual trip to Branson with my mom and grandma and had a great week of relaxing and having fun. We just made a trip over to Table Rock lake for a little get away for just our family and had a wonderful time. Spent most days swimming in the lake, lounging, mini golf, napping and just spending time together. It has been a great summer and we still have a few weeks left and so there is fun still left to be had..and we will have it!

The big news on me is that I got a job and have been leaving the house to work. I continue to work with my mom from home and now I am a Nurse Tech at the Children's Hospital in Tulsa and I LOVE it! I work three nights a week so I am gone while the kids are sleeping and so far it has worked out. I love working with kids and being in a profession where I get people interaction and help people during difficult times. I am continuing to go to school I start back in fall and my goal is to become an RN sometime in the next few years. I am planning on having my pre reqs done for the Nursing Program by the time Callie starts Kindergarten that way I can start Nursing School then and get through it. This is the plan on paper, but as we all know life has a funny way of taking our plans throwing them up in the area and mixing them all up...so who knows what will happen. I have learned through life experiences that I just take it a day at a time when it comes to stuff like this. As long as it continues to work out with my husband and family happy and ok with me working and I continue to love it as much as I do this is what we will continue to do.

The next big news is the Kailyn is just 17 days away from starting Kindergarten...where did the time go? Wasn't I just holding her in my arms at a mere 4 pounds 13 ounces? I am so excited for her because she is very ready and jumping off the walls excited, but I am sad too. It is such a bittersweet feeling to see your kids get bigger. She continues to be a sweet, caring, gentle and loving little girl. She will be fine I know that is what you all are saying in your heads as you read this and I know in my heart she will be too, but as a Mommy it's my job to worry it's written in the job description.

Holden with go to Pre K (insert here the question again where did the time go?) at Wee Angels which is at our church I LOVE this! Holden will also start soccer and piano in the fall. He really wants to do the drums and guitar, but the rule in our family is piano first. Kailyn and him will split a 45 minute lesson each week so it should work out great.

Callie will be two in about two weeks. Again, where did the time go? She is talking up a storm and soooooo funny. She is the cutest thing ever and the stuff she does and says just cracks us up. She is starting to think about potty training and still loves Elmo..though she seems to be moving on to Mickey Mouse and Dora now. Ahhh bring on the Dora phase once again...ddddddora Dora the Explorer. Callie will start a Moms Day Out twice a week in the fall which I didn't want to do I really fought it because she is my baby, but the truth is that when the kids are gone Callie is plum bored with her Mom so this will be a very good thing for her to go and have peer interaction twice a week.

Chip continues to stay busy with work and move on up the corporate ladder as they say. He works so hard for our family and it seems that he is on the road for it to pay off...we just continue to pray and see what the Lord has in store for us. I am so proud of my husband and how hard he works for our family. I feel especially blessed that he loves what he does and the company he works for. He continues to play the guitar and spend time with the kids playing whatever they ask him to play when he is home. He has also had to take on a few more things at home since I have stepped out of the home to work and he has done it in stride with nothing but support for me.

That about wraps it up around here for now. I am going to try and not let so much time pass before I update again, but can't promise anything :)!!

Callie's Special Day

Callie and I went to see Sesame Street Live yesterday at the BOK Center and had a blast! I will remember the look on her face forever- it is etched into my heart now. I thought I was going to cry when I saw her face light up eyes as wide as they could go and a smile from ear to ear it was so precious. She of course will never remember it, but for me it was one of the greatest experiences I have had with her. Of course Kailyn and Holden were none to pleased that Callie got to go and they didn't. A quick reminder of how all Callie gets to do is be toted around to all of their privileges and activities put it into perspective for them :)!

I really enjoy the one on one time I get with each of my children it allows me to give them my full attention and to really notice each of their personalities and qualities. I must admit I tend to overlook during our normal daily grind. I hope as they are getting older Chip and I can schedule more one on one time with each so that both we as parents and them as children get the needed one on one attention and connection that is such an important part of making us a close and loving family.

A Job Description for being a MOM:

POSITION:
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and this wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Vacation

The Ripp Family took a vacation last week. The kids took a vacation from Mom & Dad and hung out with Grandma, Grandpa & Nana- had a BLAST! Mom & Dad took a break from the kids and went to Hot Springs Arkansas for a few days and had a BLAST!

It was nice to have some time just Chip & I and reconnect with one another. It amazed me at how much we needed it even though we didn't feel it among the hustle and bustle of our crazy everyday life. It was nice to have coffee and talk without being interrupted, the hot tub with the fire under the stars was divine and all the romance just felt good! Of course me being me decided we needed to do the strenuous hike- so 11 miles and 5 and half hours later we finished our VERY strenuous hike- it was so hard, but we loved it and the weather and scenery were gorgeous!!! We didn't have any plans (so nice since we live our lives attached to our calendars full of appointments) we just went with the flow. I am a firm believer in trying to take the time to stay connected and in love even though at times with three little ones it is VERY hard. I just don't want to lose the very special love and friendship that I have with Chip- I will give our children everything I have, but Chip was here before and will be here long after they have grown and started their own life. I don't want to end up having lost everything by neglecting our marriage- so this trip was so much more than just relaxing it was time to show each other how much we appreciate, love and need one another.

What are you giving up?

Lent and Easter are my favorite times of the year. It is such a time of reflection and rebirth I love it. but being Catholic ALWAYS brings up one question once Lent starts "What are you giving up?"

This is so annoying to me, but it's not people's fault they just don't know. I want to clear up a few things. First is we do NOT have to give something up. Lent is a time of fasting, reflection and almsgiving so basically we are called to sacrifice. This would mean giving something up if you would say in your mind "I can't live without ___________. If you do not put God in that blank then maybe you could sacrifice for forty days by not having or doing that thing. This is not intended to benefit you- what I mean by this is saying "I am going to give up chocolate so I can lose weight." No, this is not why you should give something up. It is meant to be challenging and difficult, but nothing can be as difficult as being in a desert for 40 days being tempted by the devil or dieing on a cross for mankind.

The second thing is you can also DO something to benefit others or your relationship with Christ. This is also encouraged and acceptable during lent. I found the following and thought it was a PERFECT description of what lent should be:
WHAT TO GIVE UP . . .

Give up complaining. . . . . . . .focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments . . .think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . . . . trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement. . . . .be full of hope.
Give up bitterness. . . . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . . .be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . .be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . . . .become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . . . . .enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy. . . . . . . . . . . .pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . . . .control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . . . . hang in there!

This is what it is all about people. This is what God is calling us to do. God doesn't care what religion you are- He is calling us all to do these things we are ALL His children.

I thank God everyday for the opportunites He gives me to reflect, love, practice and give up all the things that are hazardous to my relationship with Him.

Couponing

Yes I am a dork I know this. This is not something you need say behind my back I am fully aware that the things I enjoy and get satisfaction out of are not ordinary. I love running long distances for starters who really likes doing this?, organizing, finding deals, saving money, cleaning and oh yes cutting & using coupons.

So one of my favorite things to do is get as many coupons as I can to save money on the ever climbing grocery bill. I do this in several ways and Chip asks me how many coupons I print out a day- I am not sure of the answer, but what I am sure of is that I get things we use for a fraction of the price. It really doesn't take that much time either I know it can feel overwhelming, but once you look at the receipt- complete bliss and satisfaction I promise!

So I have some FREE coupons to give out if anyone is interested. They are for FREE 4 pack Hiland yogurts and I have some for a FREE Yophoria Smoothie Yogurt- let me know if you are interested. I buy the paper every Sunday, I belong to our local Coupon Queen (918couponqueen.com) where she tells me about every deal there is, I subscribe to All You & Family Circle magazines tons of coupons. I belong to websites such as: coupon mom, smart source, red plum, target and I write in to my favorite brands tell them how much I love their products and they always send me coupons in the mail!!

I also plan my meals I belong to a plan that emails me every week with seven meals plus side dishes and a grocery list- LOVE this and it's only $1.25 a week!! You can't beat that. We do the family Point System one because I love Weight Watchers and eating healthy and this allows us to on a budget. The meals are YUMMY too!!! If you are interested please use the link on here so I can get credit :).



Anyways, not that any of you wanted these tips BUT I love to find new and easy ways to save money and thought maybe someone else out there would too.

Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions (I am not a pro but would love to help you) and also if you want some of the FREE coupons!!

Snow Day

This is one of the main reasons I am so happy to live somewhere where there are seasons. To all of you Californians yes there are other seasons besides Sunny and 75 :). I know some people want that weather all of the time they hate the cold, but not me I love to see the seasons change. Yesterday we got about 10 inches of snow and had a wonderful snow day. I think the reason is like Aunt Carol said, "It's because you do things you normally wouldn't do." That is so true. Yesterday we made waffles for breakfast, I did a workout while the kids played pretend, had hot chocolate twice, did crafts, snuggled, napped, did puzzles, played in the snow, read tons of books, had the fire going all day, had homemade pizza for dinner and finished with more snuggle time. How perfect is that? Chances are you don't do that when it's sunny and 75 outside (especially the play in the snow part). It was an almost perfect day the only thing missing was Chip- he was one of the few that worked yesterday.







Comet & Pixie were loving the snow



Our Home covered with snow. Beautiful in my eyes!



Holden loving the weather



The Ripp Trio playing



Snow Angels



Callie loved the snow!



Mommy Kailyn helping her sister



Of course you have to have hot chocolate after playing out in the snow!

So Proud

So I just have to brag about my husband for just a moment- I am so proud of him. Chip is one of the hardest and most dedicated providers that any family could ever hope for. In our family we don't take having a job lightly- we have painfully experienced unemployment and hope to never have to deal with that again! So I am a very understanding and supportive wife and he is a very dedicated and hard working employee. Most of the time he feels like most other employees under appreciated and over worked, but he still LOVES his job. So this past week he was out of town for a GM Conference and finds out he is one of the top 100 employees for DISH Network for 2009. There are approximately 25,000 employees for DISH so this is HUGE! You have to be nominated and everyone has to approve it up the ladder even the owner of the company. Chip hates when he isn't recognized, but hates even more to be told congratulations you did a great job even though he more than deserves it!

Babe this is for you Congratulations you deserve it!!! You are an amazing husband, father, provider, friend and person!!!! You never ask more of your employees that you wouldn't get out there and do yourself. You are an amazing manager and I know your employees respect and trust you because you are an honest and hard working person just like them. I love you with all of my heart and I am so proud of you!!!!!

Time Away

There is nothing better than getting away for a few days to enjoy the ones we love! This past weekend the kids and I ventured over to my grandma's lake house in Cape Fair, MO. We love going there it is so peaceful her back overlooks the lake and hills of Missouri. Every time I go there I just think of the beautiful scenery God has given us to enjoy and live in. My mom also drove over so we had four generations together for relaxing fun times. I got to run the hills - such a hard workout (I even fell and scraped my hands and knees- yes I am a dork). We went and saw Safari IMAX and of course shopped the outlet mall. We played games together, danced and just had fun enjoying each other's company- that is the best part of family! We laughed and loved the whole time!

It is funny to me how I live in this chaos every day and it doesn't phase me one bit. We are loud and always going, but to get together with others who don't live with it everyday and see them become exhausted by just watching us makes me laugh. By the end of the trip I can always tell that who ever we are visiting is really going to enjoy their quiet time once we leave, but at the same time they enjoy getting a taste of the chaos- they are happy it leaves, but enjoy it while it's there. Someday I will be there and I know I will miss all of the noise, but for now I like to have a taste of the quiet if even for just a few minutes a day! That is what time away does for me it helps me to be a better mom, wife, friend and person. So for time away I thank God, for the love of family I thank God and for the ability to make three children five years and younger to be completely quiet for just a few minutes a day I THANK GOD!!!

Finally I am a blogger!

I am finally a blogger with my own blog I am so cool. I have been wanting to do this for so long and just never have followed through, but now here I am. I am hoping that this helps to keep everyone filled in on what's happening in the day to day lives of the Ripp family. That is one thing about moving a lot you have friends and family all over. We certainly live a life full of chaos, but most importantly we have love and laughter that fill our day in between the yelling and discipline. At the end of the day we all snuggle together in a bed say prayers, give hugs & kisses good night and end on a good note- for that I thank God. I am happy if that is all I accomplish in a day to raise a happy and loving family then I have done my job (all by the grace of God of course).