Snow!

Last night, Parker was so, so, so excited! But, after opening the backdoor and letting him run around the deck a couple of times...he reluctantly went to bed with hopes that in the morning there would be enough snow to play in.

I woke up first and looked outside...to be honest...I was disappointed in the amount of snow we got. I mean, c'mon, if it's going to be super freezing outside, we might as well have a good 5 inches of snow on the ground, if not more...at least, that's what I think.

So, Andrew and I waited and waited for Parker to wake up and when we started to hear a little rustling around in Parker's room, we braced ourselves for the disappointment that Parker would have when he walked to the backdoor to look at the snow.

I was completely wrong.

All of a sudden, Parker ran down the hall and said: 'Mom!! Mom!! There is snow ALL over the ground!" To say he was excited would be an understatement.

So, we all walked down to Parker's room, where he had pulled the blinds all the way up and I watched as Parker, Andrew, and even Bella, looked out the window with big eyes, full of pure excitement and anticipation.



Maybe that's why I love snow so much. It seems so magical and makes the world turn into this glittery white masterpiece of beautiful landscape. Plus, sledding, snowball fights, and snow forts....it doesn't get better than that!

Hopefully, there's more snow in the forecast this winter!

(And, by the way, I had a dozen photos of all three of my little ones looking out the window...but, unfortunately, our auto focus on the camera is broken and apparently, I can't focus very well.)

Happy Winter!

Wednesday Challenge

In my quest to find simplicity in 2012, I am going to start challenging myself every Wednesday to 'drop' something in our lives that takes away from the simple life we want to lead. These challenges aren't going to be forever....they won't take too much away from us, and they won't be awfully drastic. What they will do is give us more time, greater value, and help us find our simpler way of life.

Challenge #1: I am challenging myself to not purchase anything online for 30 days.

For those of you that know me, I am a self proclaimed online shop-a-holic. My most frequent stops are Gap, Old Navy, Snapfish, Etsy, Kohls, Pottery Barn Kids, Target, and the list goes on and on. I get a coupon in my email inbox....and I have to use it.

How does doing this make our life simpler, you might ask?! 1) I won't spend my spare time online, I'll spend it doing things with my family. 2) I won't spend money. We are fortunate to not have huge financial burdens...yes we have a few credit cards...and yes one of them has a constant balance...so shoot me, but what I'm hoping to do is this: cut back on spending = cut back on stuff. 3) I'm hoping this will cause me to really start thinking about what I'm buying, instead of 'just buying it because I have a coupon' or 'because it's on sale' and so that next January, when I clean out my closet...I won't have items that have never been worn, that are now on their way to the Goodwill. Imagine that.

So, Day #1 of my challenge is now over (I better put my computer away!). Only 29 more days to go....wish me luck!

Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh...

Well, my two little guys, like most kiddos right now, have the sniffles...a cough...and some nasty mucus running down their throat. They've been on antibiotics, taken more Dimetapp than I care to admit, and they've been champions through it all- not complaining, not one little bit.

We had a WONDERFUL weekend (all caps type of wonderful) and I was looking forward to our quiet evening at home...playing a little Wipeout on the X-Box...Parker and Andrew's newest favorite game to play...eating a delicious dinner of meatloaf, homemade rolls, mashed sweet potatoes, and buttered corn...plans for watching a movie afterwards...and lots and lots of snuggles before we start a new week.

We sat down to dinner and Parker told me how yummy the meatloaf and the rolls were, Andrew was chowing down, Brandon and I were happy to actually sit down for dinner (for once, someone wasn't needing something). All of a sudden....Parker sneezed and two gigantic snot bubbles blew out of his nose...funny, right?! We got the snot wiped up and Parker took a bite of corn...and that's when it hit...his gag reflex kicked in and out came the corn (and some other unidentifiable stuff). Meanwhile, Andrew is still chowing down on some roll and I look over and he's got almost the entire roll in his mouth...and he starts coughing. Upchuck. Yep, that's right, Andrew's super phlemy throat got the best of his appetite and out came Andrew's dinner.

Needless to say, we were all done after that. Into the bath those boys went and this Momma Lysoled (can this be a verb?) every square inch of the kitchen and threw all of our clothes into the washer. And, as Brandon was walking upstairs to the bathtub, he turned around and looked at me...as I was sitting on the floor cleaning up some goo...and we just cracked up. Enough said.

Sometimes as parents, you just have to laugh.

And, don't worry, I don't have ANY photos of the mayhem that went on at our house tonight. I do, however, have a photo of the two cutest, sweetest boys in the universe! They are playing with their new Bat Caves.

Flashback Friday: Always Wear Clean Underwear

A few years ago, this was my New Year's resolution:



And, yes, I do always wear clean underwear, but that isn't what this book is really about. This book reminds us parents of the importance of having 'things' in order...just in case.

I know none of us want to think about the 'what if's'...if something were to happen to us...what would happen to our kids?

But, this book, it puts it all into perspective. The best part about the book is that is lays it all out there in a story format...yes, it's super scary to think about all of the scenarios outlined in the book, and yes, it's depressing, makes you feel sick to your stomach, makes you want to lock yourself up in a bubble...but, what it also gives you is a way to have peace of mind in knowing that if something were to happen to you, your spouse, or God forbid, both of you...your kids would be where you planned for them to be.

This book provides tips on little things you can do and huge things you can do to protect your family if the worst thing imaginable happens.

If you haven't done any type of estate planning, created documents to say exactly what should happen to your children if you aren't here, or if you haven't created a living will...you need to do these things...make it your resolution in 2012!

I still have this book and if you leave a comment below that you're interested...I would love to pass it on to someone!

(The first person to comment that they want it, will get it! And, if you're not the first person to comment, then look at your local library!)

Double-Trouble

These boys of mine...man oh man do they crack me up. From Andrew's pouty lips to Parker's wise cracks, they sure are keeping me on my toes. And, just when you think you're going to have a completely normal 'moment' with them....they flip the coin and do something that makes me giggle, roll my eyes, gasp, or grab them up and smooch all over them. Or, then there's a 'moment' like the one that happened in the bathtub tonight....yes, this kind of moment that makes me wonder where in the world they get their goofiness....surely it can't come from me?!

I wasn't going to put these photos in here....but, as I was uploading the other goofy photos, I saw these from the other night and I couldn't resist. This is Parker, in my boots and Brandon's 'explorer' hat. Why is he dressed like this? He was a postman, of course!



Now here are the photos from the tub tonight. I started calling them 'Double-Trouble' and they thought it was hilarious!! So funny!!

Simplify

I read quite a few blogs and it's been very interesting to read those blogs today and see what others are doing in light of the New Year. It's been intriguing to me that quite a few of them have decided to use one word to describe their hopes and ambitions for 2012. I've read a few that said they are going to 'embrace' 2012. One that used the word 'happiness' and one that used the word 'hope'. And, this got me thinking....what are my goals for 2012? How can I sum up everything I hope to do this year in just one, tiny word?

Then it clicked. I knew exactly how to say it.

SIMPLIFY.

I know this word can take on many meanings in many different contexts. But, for us, in 2012, our resolution is to simplify our lives. The Riffel Family needs to take a few steps back in time and slow down life a little bit. Part of this is letting go of activities so that our lives aren't filled to the brim with things to do. Part of this will be eliminating clutter in our home (which we've already started doing....you should see our Goodwill boxes). Part of this is cutting back on all of the things we think we need and really working on the quality of our time together. Part of this is starting new hobbies that ask more of us than browsing the Internet. I think you're starting to get the picture.

The part of this word that has the biggest impact on my individual, a-type personality world....not sweating the small stuff. Keep it simple. Make moments matter without trying so hard.

So, for those of you out there who have mastered this with your family....if you have any tips, theories, ideas...please pass them on- I'm open to doing anything that slows us down a notch.

Here's to 'living the simple life' in 2012!!


(I've just ordered this adorable sign from a cute little shop on Etsy. It will be hung in our living room this year to remind us of our 2012 resolution!!)

The Greatest Gift

I know, I know, Christmas has come and gone....why, you might ask, am I writing about gifts on the first day of 2012?

This year for Christmas, Brandon and I wanted to focus more on the gift of time and friendship, rather than elaborate gifts and goodies. So, for Christmas, our best friends, Justin and Julie, got a date with us (I know, I know, super cheesy right?!).

Our date: An afternoon at the KU game and dinner in Lawrence.

For most people, this may not seem too exciting, but for the three of us (sorry, Brandon, you're outnumbered) that grew up in Lawrence, this was the perfect way to spend time together!!

We laughed, talked serious, got chills, ate good food, and had a 'hot' time (they'll get it) together, and we ended 2011 with our best friends. The most exciting part about the day...coming home from our night out together and seeing that our four boys (yes, my brave Mom volunteered to watch all four of the boys) had just as much fun as we did! Best buddies!

The greatest gift we've had this year? That's easy. Our friends and family.

Thank you for this precious gift.