Mommy is 3-0!

On December 1, I turned 30! I told Robert last year, that all I wanted for my birthdays to come, was to be with my family. Well, life hit some bumps and as we grew closer to December, I knew that it was not going to happen. This brought me great sadness, but I could not let on because the last thing I wanted to was make Robert feel guilty as I knew that he would move Heaven and Earth to get me there if he knew just how badly I wanted it.... Well, he did just that! 

Friday evening, November 30, I was told someone wanted to come look at our house. To say that I was excited is an understatement - the thought of moving to MS made the pain of not going to MS for my birthday bearable. But boy was I surprised when I walked in that door....

Waiting for me was Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer... and my parents, sisters, and brothers! It was incredible! My single, solitary birthday wish had been granted! That night, we laughed, we smiled, we caught up on lost time. I was absolutely in Heaven! Around 10, they left for the hotel and Daddy and I put the kiddos to bed. We stayed up talking until almost 2am as I could not sleep.... When Wesley woke at 4, I was not a happy camper, but luckily, he agreed to snuggle in my bed until Hannah woke at 6 :-(....

When the sun rose and we were all awake on December 1, we realized that Mr. Elf pulled a trick on us - he had the yard decorated with a barn and 30+ cows! The barn read, "HOLY COW! Mary is 3-0!" The kiddos LOVED it! As the day moved on, Aunt RaRa and Uncle JoJo came over and took the kiddos for a bike ride. When they returned, Daddy and Aunt RaRa went to the store.... for some odd reason... while JoJo, the kiddos, and I walked to the Dock. We came home, fed the kiddos and put Wesley down for a nap and Hannah in her bed for some quiet reading, while Little Robert did some reading on the couch.

Within minutes of laying Wesley down, the rest of the crew came over... they have not had little ones around in a while and do not understand how to use an inside voice! Luckily, Wesley slept right through it all.... for almost 4 hours! We all enjoyed some chilli and then just spent time relaxing and bonding --> Making memories! It was fabulous! I LOVED just sitting and chatting with Mama and Papa. I LOVED feeling a part of the family, instead of the outsider that I so often feel. It was so incredibly wonderful!

After a while, everybody decided to go out to dinner. We did and it was so much fun! Of course, they told everyone that it was my birthday! The company was great, the restaurant was slow and mixed up entrees, bills, etc etc. They definitely could have done better! So, we left there a bit frustrated, but little did I know, ANOTHER surprise was coming....

Robert, with the help of 2 very dear girlfriends, had organized a surprise party! After the surprise of the night before, this was the last thing I had expected! I so enjoyed it, though. I LOVED being able to introduce mama to my friend girls - that alone meant so very, very much to me. Since we are so far apart, we do not see each others day to day. So, to be able to do that, made me feel so very good! This was the perfect end to a perfect weekend!

Sunday brought with it the dreaded goodbyes. Those are always hard, but this time it felt just that much harder. I adored every single second of my time with my family. I enjoyed every single second of the entire weekend. There is not a single thing I would change.... except for someone truly buying our house and us moving back to MS! Special thanks to my wonderful husband for all he did to make this past weekend so absolutely incredible!

Riker Couponing 101

The Riker family has taken on a new hobby and you can probably guess what it is by the title! We LOVE to coupon! Just today, I went to the store armed with 2 coupons. I walked out with 4 bags of coffee, 24 rolls of toilet paper, some coffee creamer, and a carton of vanilla yogart and spent $5.88! Yep, that is it! You need proof?!?!

Well, that is just part of the coupon, but every bit of that coffee was F-R-E-E!

With the Riker Recession, we had to find a way to cut back, and this is it! Our grocery bill has *at least* been cut in half! And we have plenty of extra to put towards produce, or other expenses!

Here are a few of our other couponing successes!

2/3's of food from the receipt below!

For all of this, we paid just over $60!

 

9 {Wonderful} Years

 Today, Robert and I celebrated 9 glorious years of marriage. As I sit here writing, it seems like only yesterday, but then when I look at all that has happened (moving 4 time, including 1 600 mile move, bringing 3 beautiful children into this world, etc etc) I am completely overwhelmed.

I also found myself reflecting on how we met. I have not really thought much about it, nor have I ever realized just how chance of a meeting it was. Seriously, a college kid who was walking across Florida as a visible, tangible reminder that ALL life is precious - from conception to natural death - meets a 20 something because he did not want to go watch COPS so came to a Friday night party! What if I had never done the walk? What if he chose to go watch COPS after all? What if....

In reflecting, I realized just how crucial God is in our lives. HE brought us together. HE allowed this chance meeting and  the subsequent adventure. HE knew - we just had to trust. Much like we have had to trust in HIS guidance and wisdom, especially these past few years.

So, Happy Anniversary, My Love! I cannot wait to celebrate a decade with you in just 12 short months..... and be on the Today Show with you in a mere 67 years!

Just A Bit Busy....

Well, once again, I do great updating friends and family on our family happenings and then for some reason, I stop. I think this time however, I have an excuse. Are you ready for it?!?!? Okay, well......

We have been busy! Our homeschooling studies are taking longer than they have in the past 3 years - and yes I know, this year I am teaching a 1st and 2nd grader while also teaching/entertaining/keeping away a full of life 3 year old who thinks (and knows) that he is just hilarious. It is a job these days. I hope that satisfies as a good enough reason for all. If not, well, come spend a day here, handle all of the homeschooling and entertainment needs ON TOP OF all of the daily household chores....

To give you a better understanding of our day, I will let you into our typical daily routine, Monday - Friday, with VERY few days, or even weeks, off.... We are trying to 'train' the kiddos to not leave their beds until 7a. Somedays this works, most days it does not, so they end up snuggling on the couch with mommy - they *quietly* watch cartoons while I close my eyes until 7! At 7, we start the process of getting daddy out the door, but only after I have at least 1 cup of coffee. Once daddy leaves, between 7:45 and 8, our day really begins. I make breakfast for the kiddos and while they are eating, I am reading them the morning prayers and Bible verses from our Magnificat. After breakfast, we do chores. As soon as those are done and checked off of the list, we will begin school. In the morning, Robert and Hannah do their handwriting work solo while I do a bit of 'work' with Wesley. Once they are done, we move onto the mommy supervised subjects: Spelling, Language/English, and Reading. Typically after these are done, they are antsy because we have been working for 1.5-2hrs, so outside we go. Most days we go for a bike ride around the block a few times. Lately though, they have preferred the backyard. Whichever they choose is fine with me, as long as they are happy...and done with the 4 morning subjects! Around 11:45, I attempt to serve lunch. I say attempt because there is always the I like this, not that - this is nasty - I will eat if you let me skip nap - etc ~ UGH! Once lunch has ended, we enter my favorite time of the day.... nap/rest/reading time!!! Welsey MUST nap. Hannah, must read for 30min and is not allowed out of her room until 2pm. Robert must read for 30min and then he can play on the computer, do puzzles, anything that is quiet and he can do solo. I clean, start dinner IF I am cooking, sit for a few if I can, fold laundry, and prepare for science, math, and Religion. Once they are all up and fed... again.... I will do math. This is a 1:1 subject. So while I am working with Hannah, Robert is working with Wesley - teaching him colors, shapes, songs, etc. Then they switch and I work with Robert. After math comes science. To simplify things this year, I am starting with 1st grade science for both. Once that is done, we will go to second, and so on. Finally, our last subject for the day is religion. This includes a story every week from their children's Bible, with review questions all week. They also have a religion text and activity book that we use. Once school is done and we put all of our school marterials. Around 5:30 I serve the kiddos dinner. Then bath/showers, playing with Daddy, watching Figure It Out at 7, and then reading a book to mommy while snuggling in bed. Once they are out, I set about cleaning up from dinner. Doing some more laundry. Getting lessons for the morning. Hopefully taking a shower. Saying hello to my best friend and thanking him for all he does so that I am able to stay home and teach our beauties. He is such a great man... . Hopefully before midnight I will make it to bed where I say a quick prayer thanking God for the day and begging him to not let anyone have nightmares - this last part almost always is answered for 2/3's of the kiddos.... I will pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow for just a few hours before life starts all over again....

So, like I said previously, I hope that you realize this is not just an excuse. When I say life is busy, it is! And this is just a day where we have no doctor appointments, homeschooling field trips, the kiddos weekly run club, or Adoration that I try to squeeze in at least once a week. But, although our life is crazy and some days I feel like I cant breathe, it is a life I would not trade for anything! And without the hard work of my true love, this crazy, hectic, wonderfully blessed life, would not be possible.

On a different note, I realize more and more every day, what a great life God has grantI re me - even with all of its challenges that have come my way these past 3.5yrs, there is nothing I would change.... Well, 1 thing - to have my family about 590miles closer! If there is one thing I have learned in these past 3.5yrs, with all that has happened with me, with trusting God, and going from 2 to 1 incomes, and then on top of all that, our decision to beginin our homeschooling adventure, I have learned that it truly takes a village to raise children. Honeslty,I believe we would be completely lost of it were not for all of our incredible friends who are there in a moments notice, no questions asked. Who don't offer help just to sound nice, but rather because they rnd truly care. And our family who is only a phone call away at all times, no matter where they are....

Mommy/Son Date Night

After a week of superior behavior, Lil' Robert and I went on our long awaited date! He called all of the shots from what we did, to where we went - and it was SO much fun! We both had more fun than we had had in a while.... and it was just the 2 of us! Lil' Robert was so very proud of himself and all that he planned/prepared for tonight's festivities!

My 7 year old son was such a gentleman towards me. He not only rang the doorbell and presented me a flower before we left, but he also opened every single door for me - even if his hands were full, held my hand whenever we were walking, and set our table at dinner and dessert. My heart is just beaming with pride at how incredible this boy is! As we were snuggling together tonight, all I could do was praise God for such an incredible gift.

My Date picking me up!

Ready to Leave!

Where are we going? Nobody knows!

This is where we went for dinner - who would have guessed it?!?!?!?

Lil' Robert enjoying his nuggets, applesauce, and (ssshhh) sprite!

Having a great time!

He was so proud of himself for this!

Wwwhhhhhheeeeeee!

Silly mirror!

He tricked me telling me he wanted to get some pizza - ha! This will never happen!

He told me to close my eyes and when I opened them, he had drawn a picture of  him and I holding hands on our date!

Checking out the map at River City!

Our last picture before the night came to an end - eating some ice cream at cold stone! What an incredible and memorable evening!

Baseball's Never Been Hotter Than The Jacksonville Suns!

Today, we met up with our homeschool group, HomeGrown Homeschoolers, for a field trip/behind the scenes tour of the Jacksonville Suns Stadium! To say that we were excited is quite the understatement :-)

At first, we tried to keep the trip a secret and let it be a huge surprise for them today, BUT I needed some bribery for nap yesterday and told Ms. Hannah. Now, she was under STRICT orders to not tell a soul, but evidently, she is not ready for secrets.... not only did she not take a nap, she also told both brothers within minutes of me telling her. Ugh!

As usual with the Riker Family, we were running late, but luckily, this is common among home schooling families, and well, families in general, so we had plenty of time to spare. This would have been great, but it was a 90* October day - with no breeze. Another UGH!

Before the tour started, we took a group shot of all the kiddos - go figure, my midgets would stand in the very back where they were only visible from side angles!

 After the group photo, the tour began - at first it was the boring stuff, but after a bit in the fabulous Florida heat, we made it to the dugout, followed by the indoor batting/pitching/practice area, followed by the Suns weight room and locker room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this, we made our way to the main level, right behind home plate.

 

 

 

 

The kiddos were quite anxious to get to the third floor and after daddy finished taking pictures, we were off. The third floor held the press box (where there was an actual hole in the wall where a ball came flying through the open window and hit the wall - the announcer leaned to the left and kept talking as if nothing happened the entire time!), the crew room for the video guys and scoreboard people, and the suites where you pay too much money to sit in an air conditioned room and watch baseball!

 Once this was over, the tour was over, and it was time for lunch - Capri Suns, chips, and hot dogs - what more could a group of hot, sweaty, hungry kiddos ask for?!

 

After lunch and a few more pictures.....

 

....it was time to head down the stairs and get home....

.... but Wesley wanted to try and buy some tickets first!

As we were driving home, we saw the Jaguars practicing and as we continued towards the Hart Bridge, we noticed that the road was closed and there were many marines and combat vehicles. Curious, we pulled into a parking lot to watch, only to see a few Marines sitting inside of a tank. We pulled all of the kiddos out of the van and walked over to see what was going on. These gentleman told us that they were setting up the vehicles to show off for the Marine Corps Half-Marathon in the morning, but would LOVE to open up the other tank and give us a private tour!

We were able to watch as they lowered the gate, which was pretty cool. Who would have known that lowering a gate was a two man job?! We were able to see him climb into the drivers seat, instead of opening a door - the kiddos thought that was SO neat! He allowed all of us to walk inside, ask tons of questions, and then he even let the kiddos try on the bullet proof vests and helmets! This poor marine, was in full fatigues, and sat in the fabulous, non-breezy, 90* blazing sun....

 

 

We said our thank yous goodbyes and decided that since we had already skipped nap for the day, that we would take the kiddos to Adoration since it was on the way home. Let me just say, I am so very impressed with each of my children. They were so very respectful. The behaved so nicely. There was not a single poor choice made. Lil' Robert for the first time ever, instead of genuflecting in front of the Blessed Sacrament, he laid down prostrate - this brought tears to my eyes as he is going to be receiving this beautiful Sacrament in May of '13.

Once we left the chapel, we walked over to the Rectory to see Grandma, since we had not seen her in a few weeks because of the missions trip to Jamaica, but she was nowhere to be seen. We waited, Robert recited his entire Act of Contrition, Wesley acted like Wesley, and Hannah sat perfectly still. Finally after a good bit, we packed up and left!

 It was an incredibly adventurous morning! We all had a great time as a family and made some very, very precious memories!