BEIBER FEVER

So for months and months my girls have been mocking Justin Beiber. "Oh he's so dumb... He is so cheesy...I don't really like him." I heard it all and then, the power of peer pressure took over. "Mom, can I go to the Justin Beiber Concert with my friends... I don't really like him, I just think it will be fun to go to the movie with my friends." So Madi and her sister and cousins and friends went to the movie on Friday afternoon. That's all it took. Beiber Fever hit! (Actually, everyone I have talked to about the movie really liked it!) I think it would really be great if one child star that is sky rocketed into fame, could hold it togehter, stay in reality and not totally blow their life by making stupid decisions. Just a hope!

Eli (as usual) is the star of the video. He quite enjoyed dancing with all the girls. He picked up the lyrics "Mine, Mine, Mine" no problem. Hmmmm?!?!?!

****ALL THAT GLITTERS****

Just knowing that the next day was a holiday (President's Day) was reason enough to start the celebration. We decided there were 70 toes that needed "Bedazzling" Something a some funky nail colors and shiny glittler could fix.

BEFORE:

Add a little delicous, scrumptious, tempting chocolate oat bars to the mix and you have a REAL PARTY!!

Steve and Shawn had to validate their Man Card buy using tools and building something while all of the sparkles were being applied. Steve built his awesome Bird House for Webelos.

Poor Eli had to be contained behind the gate... too big of a risk to have him at large with all of that glitter and fingernail polish accessible. He was a good sport being banned from the festivities.

AFTER:

Voila!! The finished product!! Oh Oops... it looks like a tiny foot crashed the party!

More Tricks....

I tried to get another video of Eli showing his new tricks. He was moderately cooperative. But we get what we get! Enjoy! We sure do!!

SURPRISE!!!

SURPRISE!! Oh how we love surprises as our house. Our latest surprise was last Thursday February 3 when Brooke, Eli and I checked Madi and Stevie out of school to go to lunch. I had been promising them for weeks we would go. So when Brooke, "unexpectedly" came home because her school had the equivalent to "teacher prep" days, we told the kids to expect us to pick them up for lunch.

Since Brooke was home, I told her she could pick where to eat. We had pre arranged for her to choose "Panera Bread." So when the kids were in the car (and the bags were secretly packed in the back, she said, "lets go to Panera Bread for lunch." I said, "OK but I the only Panera Bread that I know of is in Kansas City." Madi said, "I knew it!!!" She had picked up on our clues and little slips up and was on to our great surprise. Steve, didn't have a clue. He kept saying "I don't get it!" "Wait, what??" "Oh my brain hurts, what is going on?" So it was half a surprise. We drove to the airport, parked the car and hopped on a plane to takes us to snowy Kansas City. That was no small feat since it Grandma and Grandpa 2 days to get to Kansas City because of the massive snow storm..."the storm of the century."

Grandpa Ike and Uncle Marc left the Ritterb's house to "run to Home Depot" But instead of a new wax ring for the toilet, they brought home 5 excited Fergie cousins instead. (BTW, I think we are way more cool than a wax ring for a toilet!!)

Eli loved all of Noah and Zion's cool new toys. Little Z did not quite think it was so nice to share all of the cool toys. Anything Eli picked up, she promptly took from him. Most of the time, he didn't mind, he would just move to the next toy. But every once in a while, he held his ground and a battle ensued.

Friday Morning, the McAtees's came over to practice the song for the baptism. How cute are 3 babies at a piano?

Friday night had one more surprise in store. Just in time for family prayer, the doorbell rang and it was Daddy who came to join in our fun weekend. Once again, Madi figured it out (thanks to Aunt Kiera blowing the surprise:) She didn't know that was our last surprise.) I think even Steven was guessing, if not hoping Dad would show up. We were all sad that we would miss watching the Packer's SuperBowl with him. TJ opted to stay home this weekend and we missed him, but we know he loves to be with his buddies.

Ammon's baptism was a sweet experience and we were so happy to be a part of it. He was just glowing after he was baptized. Thanks Ritterb's and Grandma and Grandpa for making this fun trip possible.

Sunday after Church we made a stop at the new Kansas City temple site. It was freezing cold but we had to snap a pic of these cute cousins in front of the future temple. We are so happy that the Saints in that area will have a temple near by... what a blessing!

We had to show off Eli's signs to everyone and Aunt Kiera promptly taught Eli a sign for her name and he did not disappoint, he learned it right away.

AUNT KIERA

On Friday we went with Kiera to Build A Bear Workshop so she could get her special baptism bear for Ammon. "I will Bear the name of Jesus Christ." They had a Green Bay Packer bear. Well.... the Packers, our favorite team, were in the SuperBowl (that's a big deal at our house) and Eli is the Golden Boy.... so I couldn't resist. Shawn taught Eli to pump his fist and say Packers, Packers. Packers! (usually, it is just a fist pump and we say the words.)

Our first SuperBowl in KC was tons of fun. Lots of YUMMY treats and food and of course our traditional points game.

Madi and Jordie did an excellent job administering the game and the GREEN BAY PACKERS did an excellent job of winning the game (Although we were sweating bullets for a few minutes at the end of the game.)

I don't have a picture of the final product, but Grandpa, Shawn and Marc had a work party and tiled the kids bathroom while we were there. It looked great, but there were a lot of moaning and groaning the next day from the "old" workmen.

Monday Grandma and Grandpa took the whole clan to "Godfather's Pizza" to celebrate Sharmayn's birthday later this month. That was her favorite place to eat. We always try to remember her by eating pizza on February 16, but this was the first time we were ever able to eat together at Godfather's in her honor.

We had a few hours before our flight left to play "Just Dance" and "Rock Band." Who knew our family had so much talent. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and we had pack our bags and come home. There were lots of tears and sad hugs when left. The sadness when we left was a result of all the good times that we had. Until next time RitterB's ...


Our sad ride to the airport was even harder, because we had to keep Eli awake so that he would sleep on the plane ride home. We timed it just right. He was so sleepy by take off and we were home free... almost. Just before we were to take off, there was a small mechanical problem with the cargo door sensor. So we taxied back to the gate for maintenance to work on it. Eli, just like we planned, fell asleep and slept the entire 2 1/2 hours that we sat on the plane and just when we should have been landing, he woke up. He was done being in that plane! And for the next 2 hours and 45 min he cried and coughed and thrashed around. It was an absolutely miserable experience for him and for us. I was so glad Shawn was on our return flight to help me out. But all's well that ends well and we all made it home safely.

Because we got home so much later than we had planned,Uncle Greg and Aunt Jill met us at the airport with Brooke's car so she could drive straight to Provo. We got home about midnight. But we had a fun surprise to welcome us home. TJ and Bronte upgraded their aquarium to a pretty new 20 gallon tank. It is a pretty sweet setup. Those two love their fish!!