and more photos!

Because I said so, here is a blurry picture of "BRETT FAVRE'S TRUCK!!!"--everyone waiting outside the locker room doors kept making a big deal of it, so now you can be a part of the action, too. Also, for any of you who aren't Packer fans, well, take a look at these 3 SUPER BOWL trophies. Just a reminder, just a reminder....

more photos...

Happy Birthday, ribB!

In a nutshell, we've been having a lot of fun over these past couple of holiday weeks! Today is ribB's birthday--always a great day. After work, we plan to celebrate--complete with the infamous "red velvet cake". His grandmother used to make a very grand red velvet cake for ribB and his cousin A., and from the fun stories I've heard, it was AMAZING. ribB's mom makes a yummy version herself, and over the years I've given my effort to mastering this made-from-scratch cake. On this special day, I just have to say that ribB is such an awesome husband, father and friend--he really makes each day so much more fun. I really feel blessed to have met him 15 years ago back at our college dorm. I love that after all of these years together, that each day can still be so new and fun with him. He is truly a wonderful partner!

So, what has the ribclan been up to, you ask? WELL...

1) ribB and I were lucky enough to get tickets to Green Bay Packer game last weekend, to celebrate ribB's b-day and a Christmas gift to each other. I'm still giddy about it. We were in the 11th row, just up from the end zone...we had an absolute BLAST! It was our first time going to a GB game together, my first time to Lambeau and seeing Favre play. A big thank you goes out to Ann, our babysitter, who watched our kids Sat afternoon until Sunday morning (well worth the money spent!), Uncle Bart and Aunt Donna for watching the kids 9-11:30, then my mom from 11:30-9pm. Yes, planning this get-away was a bit of a juggling act, but thanks to ribB, it all worked out great. If you can ever go to Lambeau, I highly recommend it. There aren't many of the "great" stadiums left nowadays, and to be in a place with so much history and fan spirit is just the best. Being there reminded me how great of a state we live in--there's really something for everyone here. Ok, maybe it's not as glamorous as the east/west coast, but that's ok. I love it here. And, yes, seeing Brett Favre play live--especially when no one knows yet if he'll be back next year--well, that's pretty cool. Period. (Also cool? Running into good friends, Julie & Mark (and their family) at that game. Turns out, depsite 70,472 people in attendance that day, that they were only a few rows ahead of us! Also near us? ribB's office mate, Ben and his wife. Wow, what a small world.

2) The weekend prior I was able to do A LOT of holiday baking. I was in total bliss, and I think the family was happy, too. We all enjoyed eating peanut butter blossoms, macaroons, lime zingers...and the very traditional rosettes, lefse and Grandma K's cut-out cookies. Little B enjoyed his first tastes of Christmas cookies and lefse. Kdee helped me for the third year on Grandma K's cookies. It was so nice to do something special with her and I must say, she's become so good at her baking skills--this year was by far the easiest year to work together!

3) Besides football, I've also gone to a MN Wild game last night, with one of my agency's clients & a couple of very fun co-workers. We were only 3 rows from the ice and the action was fantastic! Awesome!

4) The kids continue to amuse us through this holiday season. Whether they are sword fighting with empty paper rolls, making "beds" with our couch cushions, peering at wrapped gifts under the tree, waking up at 5am (thanks, little B), enduring swimmer's ear (thanks, Kdee), thinking jewelry is the perfect gift for everyone (thanks, Kdee), eating lots of cookies (both kids and the adults, too!), having no daycare for a week (both kids--both fun and a scramble for us parents to cover their care), enjoying all of the lights/santas/snowmen/nativity scene around the area, singing holiday songs (esp. Kdee, her holiday concert was a hit)...they definitely make the season extra special.

5) ribB has decided to take a new position within the County system--very exciting for him. He's worked in his current unit for 7 or 8 years--and this is a unit that typically burns out social workers within a year. He loves what he does and is thrilled to try on a new role. He still gets to work with all of his great co-workers, so the transition should go well (albeit very busy!). I am very happy for him!

I have lots of pictures this time (probably in 2 posts!)--pictures from Green Bay (including a blurry photo of Favre's truck, kind of funny to me), rosettes, kids eating/baking cookies, Kdee all dressed up for her holiday concert...enjoy a peek into our busy season!
Happy Holidays--Merry Christmas--everyone!

even more photos

I was a bit picture happy with all of our fun this weekend...here are a few more to enjoy:

Little B doing his new silly smile (he scrunches up and makes almost a "he he he" type grin)
Little B, asleep only miles after we left the tree farm
the tree is up and awaiting decorations
Kdee and ribB
little B and mom

Isn't it the best time of year? So much fun, especially when you get to experience it through the eyes of your children. It's like a mini-miracle in action....

All I want for Christmas...

What a festive weekend the Ribclan had! It was truly the best weekend we've had at home in a long time, especially all together. First off, ribB and I got out for a date Friday night! The kids were excited to have their favorite babysitter, Anne, over to play and we were thrilled to go out on a Friday night and spend time together during dinner hours. We had a blast. We went to a great German restaurant in town, which was the perfect spot to be during the cold winter night. We had a lot of fun remembering back to our days in Madison, and we decided "we should have gone out more!". After dinner we were pretty stuffed, so we did some holiday shopping and headed home. We had fun talking with Anne before she left and got a big kick out of her stories from the night. She is so great with our kids and truly seems to enjoy them both...we are very lucky and dread the day she graduates from college.

Saturday was one of those days I'll remember forever. On the suggestion of my co-worker Heather, we thought we'd try out a local tree farm for this year's tree. As it turns out, this place is INCREDIBLE! I can't say enough good things about St. Croix Valley Tree Farm...the covered wagon ride with blankets and peanuts, the well organized system out in the tree fields (complete with saws and tarps to drag your tree to the staff to bundle the tree), the warming shed full of balsalm pines (I've never smelled so much pine at once--it was beautiful!), the big barn where staff shook the tree and did final preps, the kids' play area (complete with the 3 little pigs houses, and the straw one was set up for the kids to climb on and go down into through wood-frame tunnels), the freshly made hot chocolate and donuts (which we gobbled up in our truck)...it was perfection. We all had a blast for the 2 hours we were there. On an interesting side note, my great grandmother's player piano is at this tree farm...and I didn't know it! I remember the nice family who bought it at my grandparent's auction (and told us they would use at their tree farm), but I didn't realize it was at this farm. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see it this day as I was busy with the kids as Brett paid for and shuttled our tree to our truck. Definitely next year, though! As one would suspect, the kids were sufficiently worn out after the fun. Little B totally conked out on the drive home and Kdee was pretty mellow for the rest of the day.

After we decorated and celebrated at home with cider (and a few phrases like "no! don't touch that", "no, no, no!" and "oh, no, you broke this ornament!")we chilled out a bit. For me, I got to go out with my friend, Susan, whom I haven't had the chance to hang out with much lately. We had a great time catching up and shutting down a local restaurant (ok, it was only 10:30pm, but we were proud of ourselves).

Sunday was all about playing at home and prepping for the first annual "Ribclan Home Thanksgiving" feast. One of my big interests and hobbies is cooking and baking, so I really wanted to get some practice (and leftovers!)on the great American meal. It had been a few years since my last turkey dinner, and overall, this one turned out well. My newest adventure in cooking was brining the turkey and overall it wasn't too hard--whew.There wasn't anything fancy--just your basics like turkey, corn casserole/pudding, green bean casserole, Grandma L's stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes and gravy...all the usuals. Kdee's favorite was the corn, little B's the cranberries (surprisingly!). ribB and me--well, we liked it all. ribB made a nice fire and we ate at our dining room table--it was a good time!

In between the cooking, I got out for a couple of hours to help my mom with her Christmas shopping--it was a good break and a nice chance to have some time together.

Well, here we are at the start of the week...as usual, it's proving to be a busy work week for ribB and myself. For Kdee and little B, well life is always busy. Kdee is working on the 2 front teeth that are actually coming in from Christmas (as well as some molars--yowch!) and little B is still in love with his "new" bed (he comes home asking for it!). He continues to talk up a storm and was quick to say "chocolate milk" and "Christmas tree" during this weekend's festivities.

Pictures: Kdee and ribB size up our tree; Kdee and ribB cutting down our tree; little B "cutting" down trees with the saw blade "sleeve"; the bundled up family in front of our newly cut down tree; Kdee on top of the straw house; hot cocoa and freshly made donuts for the cold crew!