The annual December marathon...

December is a month full of shopping, twinkling lights, merry music, happy energy and more activities squeezed into a three week period than are humanly possible in which to partake! Add on top of that all of the special performances expected of our Choirs at Christmas, and you have the annual December marathon! After three weeks of having an obligation every night of the week (except for 1), a couple of lazier days, thanks to our Christmas vacation, are much appreciated. And, since I now have nap time on my hands, I can catch up on my much-neglected blog. Thank you for being patient with me! There are so many things to report... too many to put in one post. So, keep your laptops open! The Ritter Life will have posts galore over the next week!

Thanksgiving 2010 was a wonderful time spent with my side of the family. While things just weren't the same with my Grandad Rhodes around at the Rhodes Thanksgiving, cracking jokes and doting on all of the babies, it was wonderful to have time to catch up with my aunts, uncles and cousins. Mom also organized a Thurlkill Thanksgiving. It was a relaxed wiener and s'mores roast - a great time! It was also wonderful to have the opportunity to stay in a cabin on Lake D'Arbonne with my parents, brother's and sister's families and all of our nieces (well... the second niece is on the way!) and nephews during our stint in Louisiana. We were even able to celebrate Christmas with my family while we were there. It's the first time in several years that we've had the joy of sharing Christmas as a "complete" family. It was was a wonderful time, and seems to be the beginning of a new tradition for the Rhodes, Jr. family. Here are a few pictures from our Thanksgiving with the Rhodes and Thurlkill families, as well as our "Christmas Day".

All the boys

Mike and Sam check out the beautiful cabin view
Madelyn and Isaac - too cute!

The Pruitt Family

The Rhodes Family

The Ritter Family

Oh, Christmas Tree!





Before the gift exchange





Santa after playing with the grandboys...



Greyson tears in...

Sam loves his train set!

Vroom, vroom!

No wonder all the grandkids are so good lookin'...

The Thurlkill clan

Walking to the pier behind the cabin


Isaac loves the water

Stay tuned... there's more to come!

The pumpkin patch

Brandon, Isaac and I, along with most of Brandon's family, made a visit last Sunday to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound. It was great fun! When we got there, all of us got to enjoy a beautiful train ride after which we chowed down on a picnic lunch. After lunch, we enjoyed walking around and looking at the various halloween attractions before heading back home. I look forward to visiting again next year!

Most of the Grandkids... we miss you, Bella!

Enjoying the train ride

I am so adorable...

That was FUN!!

Look, Mom... there's a pumpkin over there!

Karley found one to take home with her.

Told you I'm adorable...

We're looking forward to next year's visit!

Isaac's First Birthday!

It seems like only yesterday that I blogged about the adventures of Isaac's delivery, the absolute joy of his much aniticpated arrival, the awe I felt in laying eyes on him for the first time and the excitement of bringing him to the home we had so lovingly prepared for him. I can hardly believe that our first year with him has come and gone. It's been such an amazing thing to watch him grow from a newborn so in need of his parents tender loving care, to a one year old that crawls almost as quickly as we can walk, loves to throw a ball back and forth and adds more and more words to his little vocabulary each day. It is incredible, to say the least, to watch them learn all about the things that surround them. It's extraordinary to see the world through a child's eyes... to get excited about a bird or a balloon, a ball or a book. And, until you've experienced all of these remarkable changes and discoveries through the life and eyes of your own children, you can never truly appreciate the staggering amount of growth they undergo and the vast amount of knowledge they acquire in a year's time. I feel so incredibely fortunate that the Lord chose me to be Isaac's mother. He is the most amazing little boy... full of smiles, laughter, dancing and high-fives. He is the most precious of things in my earthly life. I will always strive to be the mother he deserves and the mother that the Lord would have me to be. Lucky for me (and him!), I've been blessed with a pretty fantastic mother of my own, who has been the greatest of role models for me in this oh-so-important job of mine.

In order to properly commemerate Isaac's first year of life, we did the only thing we could... we threw him a party! It was a wonderful gathering of family and friends in which we enjoyed some good ol' American fare and the pleasure of each other's company. Many of the people in attendance traveled sizeable distances in order to celebrate Isaac's birthday with him and, for that, we are forever greatful. While Isaac probably won't remember the day that we all gathered together in order to honor and celebrate his first birthday, Brandon and I will always cherish the day and the memories you had a hand in helping us to create. Thank you so much for loving our Isaac and celebrating his first birthday with us!

WARNING:

RIDICULOUS AMMOUNT OF PICTURES


Cupcakes a plenty

Birthday banner made by Mom with love

In line for grub

Melissa and Conner

Corey smiles for the camera

The Cat in the Hat! (aka Daniel)

Adorable Hunter

Sweet Sam

Aunt Patsy and Brenner

Aunt Karen, Grandpa, Mark & Karley

Uncle Eric & Aunt Julie

Sam helps open presents

Excited about all the new stuff!

Playing with the loot

I LOVE my new teddy bear!

Dylan, Karley, Audrey and Mark pull Sam

Isaac's new piano!

"Happy Birthday To You!"

Mmm... frosting....

Wait a minute... this isn't frosting!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ISAAC!!

Looking forward to many more birthday celebrations with you, my sweet...

Help with the laundry

After washing Isaac's diapers and sitting down to prepare them this morning, he decided to climb on board and dig in to help his Mama. What a sweetheart! :)

Just had to share...

Here are several picures I snapped of Isaac sitting at the piano the other day. I could just chew on him he's so stinkin' cute! But then again, I am his Mom so, I suppose I'm a littled biased...

Sam's 2nd birthday!

I can hardly believe that our sweet baby nephew turned 2! Brandon, Isaac and I made the trek up to Moore for the big birthday party. It was such a great time! We met some wonderful couples and had so much fun watching all of our kids run around and play. We had burgers, hot dogs and all the fixin's, and enjoyed watching Sam blow out the candle on his birthday cupcake. He actually did it all on his own - what a big boy he's getting to be! Here are some of the highlights of this oh-so-fun birthday bash.

Decorated and ready to party!

Thomas the Train, made by Mom and Dad especially for Sam

Jasmine, Jason and Jocelyn

Jules... lookin' good!

Mike hard at work on the grill, catching a breath when he can!

Zane checks out the tractor

Beautiful Sadie

My beautiful boys...

Tractor!

Having fun with balloons
More presents...
Ready for the eatin'...

Getting ready to blow out the candle

Mm... this is good!

Happy Birthday, Samuel Keith. We love you!!!