Starting Over

Starting over.

O.k. O.k. haven't been keeping up on the blog thing. No working camera has been a big issue, moving in and getting settled over the last few months hasn't helped either. So... here we go, another attempt to document our life here in Maple Valley.

HO HO HO...We've got snow and a very white christmas

Well...it's official. the snow has hit here in Maple Valley. Some say they haven't seen snow like this here in 20 years. We are feeling a little relieved today that we made it through a major wind storm (blizzard) and never lost power. Evidently Maple Valley is known for major power outages. PHEW! We prepared for the worst but survived. The kids are enjoying the winter weather and are out sledding as we speak. The family should be packing but evidently that is a mom's job and partying down in the winter wonderland is the rest of the Ringhiser clans contribution. We are excited for Christmas and to see family soon. Merry Christmas one and all. We love and miss you.

I am thankful for...

1. Slivers of pumpkin pie, made from scratch, perfect pie crust.


2. Four healthy, talented, beautiful children.


3. Amazon.com (both for employment purposes as well shopping, Free super saver shipping.)


4. Parents who raised us well and continue to provide love, support, and a "home" to gather in for holiday festivities.


5. Friends who listen and listen and continue to listen.


6. Alexander Graham Bell who blessed us with the means to reach and and touch someone via the phone


7. good music, very subjective of course


8. THE United States of America


9. Diet Pepsi (the nectar of the Gods)


10. Ten tiny toes painted red

Rainy days are here again...

Well... I guess we all knew it would happen being that we live in the Northwest but I couldn't help but take notice when seeing Miss Addison perched in the window today longing to be outside. Although the transition has been a little hard we have been grateful (most of the time) for the cul-de-sac of kids we have come to know over the past several months. Whoa nellie, it's going to be a long winter.

Happy Halloween

A great time was had by all. As you can see from the pictures Liv and Carson were vampires and Addy mezmorized the neighborhood as Miss Tink. She was less than thrilled to get dressed up for a second time (Thursday was Trunk or Treat at the church) so Halloween was so old news to her. Alec has finally given up the art of collecting candy through trick or treating and instead stayed home to greet the masses. For the first time in many years the weather actually cooperated and the rains didn't come tumbling down till the following day. Not too much to report around here. Waiting for the economy to even out and interest rates to come down. Such a fabulous time to be building a home. Oh well. We are looking forward to the upcoming holidays and seeing family soon.

So much to say...little time to say it

Gees. It's been a while since I posted last and I think the longer you go the easier it is just to skip it all together. Life is good, relatively speaking, just so dang busy. Perhaps this is "divine intervention" to keep my mind from wandering and missing friends, family and Albany. We are moving along on the house and its hard to believe we may acutally make our closing date in the beginning of January. How often does a builder give you a date and stick to it???? The kids are adjusting as best they can to a new home, neighborhood and school. They have their days but all in all they are doing great! Addy and I are staying busy playing outside lots and running errands. Maple Valley is no longer a mystery to us and now we are settling in and waiting for it to seem like "home". There is no denying that this area of the country is beautiful. I know most think the rain is unbearable but with that comes a stunning, green, tree-filled landscape. We are looking forward to exploring the terrain a little. We went to see Lake Washington last weekend and it really is a little piece of heaven on earth. Wish I had more time to ponder but we are off to soccer for Carson this morning. Wishing all of our loved ones a great beginning to fall.

August busy August

Wow... we just returned from our first official family reunion in Montana and what a great time was had by all. So much to be celebrated in the last ten days its hard to know where to start.

Addy was sealed to us in the Billings temple and we were extremely blessed to have all of our immediate and some of our extended family there. Even though it's the fourth time we have done this words are never sufficient for what a special day it really is. As you can see sweet Addy looked beautiful and she was happy and laughing the entire ceremony. It was neat to see Alec, Olivia and Carson so excited for the event as well. We all know how lucky we are to have Addison and what a great dynamic she brings to the Ringhiser family.

Alec turned 14 and celebrated with lots of new "designer" clothes and even a name brand backpack. Ah, I remember the days of Guess jeans....and now the best jeans for me are the ones that fit no matter what the brand. :) Alec is turning into a young man whether we are ready or not and I continue to say I have no idea where the time has gone. Alec was such a beautiful baby in so many ways and now he's a very talented, smart, good looking teenager.

Ray and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary---HOLY COW! With our family and crazy- busy day to day "stuff" I know that Ray would give his right leg to just have 18 minutes as a couple alone at this point. I look back at where we were and where we are now and I am amazed at how much we have accomplished together. I think we both can honestly say we have had or ups and downs like every couple but we wouldn't change a thing. We "work" together and it seems as those that is something hard to find these days. Here's to another 18 years because who would ever want to start over again at this point---hee hee

So, the reunion of sorts. We had a fabulous time seeing everyone. The kids literally played together from sun up till sun down. It was amazing to see how much the babies have changed and grown since Christmas. It was great to see Cody and Chelsea have settled in to married life and Will is now Dr. Winterholler with a successful new office and new house on the way. Erika and Aaron still amaze us all as they remain "cool" under the pressure of two busy boys and living so far from home. Justin and Melissa blessed us all with some great produce from the Hodges Whole Foods market aka/their garden. Her belly continues to grow and we are anxiously awaiting th arrival of....well....thats yet to be determined (the name) Mom and Dad entertained us, fed us, blessed us and sent us on our way again hoping we would be back soon to cause more Winterholler memories and madness.

The 10 days with family was a great pick me up! Back to Maple Valley we go with the last week of summer looming....