What goes around comes around...

Ugh-I lost my whole post that I wrote yesterday! Bummer. Well, here's a recap, in a very shortened version, of what's been going on with the Ribclan:

*The flu continues to swirl around the house, hitting some of us a couple of times over (luckily, the parents) and the kids as well. I can't wait for spring and the chance to open the windows for fresh air...recycled, warm air that's tightly sealed in a house just breeds illness! Hopefully, we'll be on the upswing to feeling better.

*Our Jeep is kaput! We were hoping to squeeze out a few more thousand miles before we made the leap to a "new" vehicle, but alas, after 170,000 miles and a transmission on the outs, we had to quickly own up to the reality of a vehicle update. Our new truck is a Chevy Silverado, a big ol' truck that is sure to have us yelling "yee haw!" sometime soon...but seriously, it's a great truck and will be perfect for our needs.

*ribB has joined a local archery league, and is really enjoying the chance to "shoot" once a week and build up his skills for the next hunting season (which, of course, he is secretly counting down to...). If you say "hunting" around little B, or put him in camo style clothes, he's quick to give you a good sentence about "hunting, getting big deer, bucks, etc.".

*Kdee is, as far as we know, starting karate next week. We haven't told her yet, just in case the class is maxed out, but she will be SO THRILLED if it all works out. This may increase her "Tommy Nitro" moves that she likes to show us, but at least they will be educated moves instead of her own unique twists on a favorite karate lesson video.

*It's AWARD SEASON--one of my favorite times of the year...leading right up to my annual Oscar party. Tuesday 1/23 the Oscar nominations will be revealed and I will have some serious planning to get underway. As you may know, I plan a meal around the best picture nominations, so a beverage, appetizer, main course, side dish and dessert that stem from each nomination (think Cold Mountain Dew). I also bring out some fabulous jewels for folks to wear and we also nosh on lots of movie candy, popcorn and other goodies. For some reason, I have a lot of memory retention for all things Hollywood, which is generally useless in life, and this is my month to put it to good use! By the way, all are welcome to the party (which is February 25th, 5pm for dinner and good red carpet coverage viewing). Just let me know you're coming for my food count!

*Kdee and little B got some snazzy new haircuts. Kdee, especially, looks so stylish and is loving her hair. I'll be sure to post pictures soon...

*little B is counting (with light prompting) to 10 now! Beyond 10, you get him saying "8", but we're a bit amazed. He's a pretty sharp little guy. Of course, we're a bit biased with both of kid's capabilities, but we're proud that our 23 month old is doing so well!

Well, that's it in a nutshell! Here are some more pictures from the holidays and beyond!
*our great college friends playing "apples to apples" as the new year rings in; *the kids (and a couple of supervising adults!) enjoying a game of their own; *Kdee and little B snuggling; *Kdee and little B playing in their new "house"--made out of a big box; *Kdee and her good friend/future husband Evan