happy birthday boyfriend!

look how happy he is!

is it that he's gracefully growing older?

could it be the lady at his side?

or is it just him being a dufus, trying to keep his eyes open in a picture?...for once.

probably all of the above.

enjoy this year, cause you officially get old (according to you) next year.

{chloey}

april 2000-december 2011

we unexpectedly said good-bye to our dear chloey-girl yesterday. on mornings like today, when my heart is heavy and my lungs can't seem to quite fill, i am grateful for the choice we have made to open our hearts to the simple love that comes from animals. they are a wonderful reminder of how a fully belly, a warm shelter and others to love and share it all with really, truly is all you need.

thank you for the wonderful years, friend, we love and will always miss you.

the coop

once the fluffy, cute chick phase passed, the coop became a place where layer feed was consumed at an expensive rate and droppings littered my pine covered coop floor. that all change on friday, the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year. the convergence of 11's proved to be lucky indeed. in the weeks that have followed they've slowly increased production and while we thanksgiving-ed in the warm texas sun, those ladies got on a steady schedule of five a day.

each day bringing this.

so pretty that i sometimes wish i didn't want to eat them.

organic, free-range, home grown chicken eggs...pinch me.

sound advice and a quick study

about a year ago, our elderly lab visited the vet for her yearly check-up. at this visit, we were counseled by out dear vet to consider adding a puppy to the family while we still had chloey with us. puppies, like most everything else, learn by example and the process can go smoother with a positive role model to follow. because we ourselves are such good students, a few months later ripp brought home rose. chloey, going into her twelfth year, hasn't been the most patient teacher and has spent most of the past year hiding in another room. but...a few of life's greatest lessons must be passed on to the future generation.

1. never pass up the opportunity to pre-clean the dishes. i have been doing this my entire life and i imagine you will too.

2. anytime you smell the griddle or waffle iron heating up, get right in the middle of things and wait patiently for yours. it always comes, even if it means making extra batter.

3. finally, on frigid winter days, find the warmest spot in the warmest room and only move as the sun does. this same philosophy can be applied to shade trees in the summer.

and that, according to chloey/agreed to by me, is what makes for the best life experience as a dog in the rippstein house.

a rat, a reaper and a couple creepers

happy halloween

{fall with a camera}

in an effort to be really on the ball and get my christmas picture done before the snow falls, i headed outside this morning with my camera to test the morning light. fortunately, for everyone involved, sunrise isn't the best time for where i want them taken. i'll head back out tonight for some sunset outtakes. fortunatley, morning or night, i have plenty of quirky, curious and willing participants to practice on. i love how the cold weather has made my outside dwellers, the sister's, so fluffy. sara's face has taken on a more square appearance and roxy's hair has at least doubled in width and sticks straight out. makes me giggle and happy to know they have each other to spoon with. inside, i'm putting on my own extra layer...just in time for my christmas card? ugh!

what i love most about the coop right now, since the duds still aren't laying any eggs, is how they come in the perfect assortment of fall colors. i don't want to eat them, can't stand to touch them, don't like how messy they are, but sure do love to look at them.

finally, since a neighbor brought over a box of apples, i intend to spend the weekend thickening my layers with crisps and carmel. then i'll take a picture of what i look like when i am all fluffed up for winter.

go rangers!

a year older

we have lucked out the last few years, and had yet another gorgeous fall birthday. this time of year has just about everything that makes me happy-cooler temps, changing colors, donuts, cider and the need to get rid of energy before hibernation season begins. but that's just me. if you like foot upon foot of the fluffy, white stuff, seeing your breath hang in the air, piling on layers of clothing, hot chocolate and hibernation, then a february birthday is perfect. lucky for us, we get to celebrate in both seasons.

happy birthday mister!

another year goes by

the pill. 2 weeks shy of 7. with his favorite, special occasion tie. creative and super sweet.

e. almost 10. with a snaggle-tooth and really long hair. compassionate and spunky.

i want

i have only sorta liked the oxford trend, definitley not enought to buy. these however, i may have to go for. yeah for fall!

eat that and lessons NOT to teach your children

dear daughter is half way through her third season on the strikers competitive soccer team. a darling team of girls that were thrown together in a week, have steadily improved their game and finished last season in the second spot. just one big foot behind those burly stangs. darn those wild horses.

like any team, this season brought a few minor changes and along with those, some minor mishaps. however...last night our girls SHUT OUT the top team in the league! didn't let them score, managed two goals of their own and handed them their first loss. (pause for arm pumps throughout the kitchen)

the last time we played the lady wolverines, they acted just like their name. smiling their way through team handshakes while quietly telling our girls, "you suck." no, our girls didn't put up with that and following a apology from their coach, we packed our bags and went home.

last night, with giant smiles on their faces, our girls handed them a polite high five and a giant slice of humble pie. while a fellow mother and i contained our urge to yell "eat that!" from the sideline.

competitive sports at this age shouldn't be taken too serious. but sometimes, it is seriously hard not to.

WAY TO GO STRIKERS!!!

something funny i noticed:

the pictures above were taken last season, when just having the opportunity to play was enough. hair was done. bows were tied. pictures were taken.

the pictures from this season? there aren't any. games are too intense to hold a camera and hair doesn't have to look cute. must be functional.

tuesday, schmoozday

tuesday's are the lame day of the week for me.

she leaves the house at 8:30 in the morning and i don't see her again until 7:15 at night.

then it's all about getting food in her belly, homework on the paper and her body in the shower. all so she can get up and leave me at 8:30 the next morning.

sandpoint in pictures

the long drive, two days apart, was worth it and we have declared a new labor day tradition. spending it in the backyard and on the lake in sandpoint.

the water was still nice and the outside temp a mild 80. perfect for rolling around on a giant tube.

my red headed nephew, always good for an exciting story, a photo op and a tight hug. the other, a curly blonde who loves to know people are watching and listening, calls me uncle ali and loves his cousins without restraint.

my children. mmmm...

on a normal day with friends and family, the pill is largely outnumbered by girls. a boy cousin his same age, with the same love for trucker hats and skateboards (all for $2.50 at a garage sale), made him calm, happy and drama free.

rose and campy. just watching them made me tired.

fall fest at schweitzer. when the pill wouldn't even attempt a back flip and only cared that his feet land safely back on the tramp, ripp decided to bribe e with .25 a flip. she did 36.

a weekend away with family, turned them all into happy crazy-pants.