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).