Baby!

Hello everyone. Madison is 7 weeks and 3 days old. She now smiles and sleeps 6 to 8 hours a night. (YES!) She is such a good baby. In these pictures we are at my friend's wedding. This is Maddy before and after the ceremony. She is as cute as ever. I have yet to get a picture of her smiling though. But I keep trying. She is also starting to coo! Well, there she is.

Also, today, Tyler and I have been together for one year. Yeah, only one... we just skipped a couple chapters in life. ;).

Birthday Girl

Guess whose birthday it is today?

We'll here's a hint: she doesn't seem to be getting older, and in fact, she appears to be experiencing some sort of newfound youth...

It goes by so fast!

Today was Daniel's & my one year of MARRIAGE!!! It went by so fast... minus the four months he was deployed (& the one to two week trips every month). Although we didn't get to spend most of the year together, we always have fun & goofy times when he is in town. Daniel took me to a nice Bed & Breakfast in Tacoma last night. It was wonderful! It was so sweet & romantic & then today we went out to dinner. Very nice 1st anniversary! Anyway, just wanted to share a few photos with you. Hope you all have a lovely week!

Recipe for Fun

I've been cleaning out cupboards and getting ready for a garage sale in July, and I found an old favorite recipe - - - for Playdough. When Rick, Cheri, and I were little, we played with a salt, flour and water dough, but by the time my children were little, the new and improved recipe arrived on the scene. It differed in 3 ways - it is cooked and it has cream of tartar and oil. If you don't have this in your file for children/grandchildren, you don't know what you're missing.

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
1 T. salad oil
2 tsp. cream of tartar
add some food coloring to go with the water
Mix dry ingredients in pan. Add cold water and oil and mix. Cook over low heat 3 min. or until mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. Let cool. Knead until smooth. Keep in tight container in refrigerator to prevent it from drying out.

My Boys

Every once and a while a moment happens when I think to myself that I am truly blessed.

No more training wheels.

Took the training wheeks off of Shiva's bike today, she took to it like a fish to water.

This last weekend...

Daniel & I decided at 3pm that we wanted to go camping. We also invited our good friends/neighbors, the Tacbas'. I was babysitting till 5pm across the courtyard so Daniel & Junior went to the Commissary for the food, Erin packed what else we needed & by the time I got off of babysitting, I just needed to pack myself. We went to Cougar Rock in the Mt Rainier National Park. It is an amazing place to camp, if you like that sort of thing. Anyway, we got there at 9pm set up camp, ate, roasted marshmellows & went to bed. We left the next morning at 10:30am (we had a surprise LUAU party for a neighbor's 40th that day) & even though we didn't even stay a full 24 hours, it was a wonderful time! Here (of course) are some pictures from our trip. Enjoy!

Devonnes update

billie and maddy moo moo

tyler alesta and maddy at the grand opening
car show

maddy moo moo and auntie
house warming
billie and papa

well, lets see. we had our housewarming a few weekends ago. dad ans patty, and ric and cherri came. ( oh, and uncle ric, we went and got the solor power lights for our deck, thay are installed and beautiful, thanks for the hint.) ( and i haven't killed the flowers you (cherri, ric, dottie, and larry )got me, i'm shocked. i've been very dilligent at keeping them watered and beautiful).

anyways, then last weekend we had johns (my husband) grand opening for his shop. those of you that don't know, my husband owns a garage door company. it went great. lots of people, some pics below. we had a car show at the grand opening also. some really nice rides.

other than that, my son is growing like a weed. his biggest thing to say right now is " I do it!" they sure grow up fast. and i'm completely in love with little maddy (maddy moo moo is what i like to call her).

also, kelley is doing a pampered chef party at my house on june 16th at noon. ladies, or gentalmen, if you would like to attend please let me know. the more the merrier. wine, drinks, and appitizers. along with laughter and conversation. 12-2pm at 5040 terrace view dr. brem. wa 98312. call if you have any questions or need directions 620 8752.

good bye for now lots of love and prayers sent your way. devonne

Gabrielito (little Gabriel)

This is the newest member of la familia Rosario Kilmer. Eliacin Gabriel Rosario Kilmer. In this picture he's just about five months old. For those who don't know his story a quick recap. Gabriel was born at 1:13 in the morning Christmas day at a whopping 9lbs. 9oz. and 24in. He had problems breathing and was on a ventilator for 3 days and we didn't hold him for four. But he improved rapidly and once he was off the vent, he got better even faster. He's been in perfect health since and is a real joy. He's growing like a weed and is already wearing 12 month clothing!

He was just baptized last weekend and we're really excited to be bringing him into the Christian family. His big sister adores him and the first one she wants to see in the morning is no longer her "papi" but her Bwuder Gabrielito. Gabriel is a real smiley boy. I've never seen a baby who smiles so much!

For those who may wonder why for heaven's sake did we give our kids such long names, a quick lesson in Hispanic culture. In Puerto Rico and many other Hispanic cultures you use two last names: your father's father's name and your mother's father's name. For example mine would be Ricci Leigh Kilmer Drew. Mom's would be Cheri Catherine Drew Fine, etc... . Also women don't change their names when they get married (that would get extremely confusing.) So when Eliacin and I were married we decided that we'd go with the Hispanic traditions instead of American ones which is why I'm still Ricci Kilmer and why are children have two last names. (Catie is Catherine Ester Rosario Kilmer.) In the US we have to hyphenate them but in Puerto Rico all forms require two last names. Women down there get can quite offended when the mother's name is left off because to them it lacks respect for her role in the family. So there you go! Lesson over.

I must say that I'm really loving reading this blog. When I was away I expected to feel a sense of distance from my family, but since I've been back I've actually been feeling it even more especially since I couldn't travel far from the hospital around the holidays. I'm thrilled to be getting reaquainted with you all and I don't feel so distant anymore. When I can collect a few more photos from Eliacin's computer I'll get you more updated on us and show you how Catie has grown. Peace be with you!

Madison.

Little Maddy is four weeks old today. Gosh, it went by fast. I feel like she just got here yesterday. But nope! In this picture she is wearing a hat that her Auntie Devonne got her for summer. Poor Madison. Always getting dressed up. :). Anyway, it's a pretty neat hat. She is still doing well. Today she was constipated all day. Very sad. She is also stretching out to about 4 hour periods of sleep. It's very nice. And she is becoming very alert. She looks at people and moving objects all the time. She's amazing! Oh, and she can hold her head up too! That is all.

Back from Mexico

Hello again...I'm back from Lake Chapala, and I managed to take a few photos of my visit. I had a great time, mostly just lounging around on the veranda, but we made numerous trips into town, a couple trips to the big city (Guadalajaura), and one trip to a village in the mountains with a guide. Anyway, as much as I enjoyed Mexico, it felt good to get back to the Great Northwest and breathe that (sometimes) cool air again...also nice to get back to Tami, who was unable to go but will be joining me next time. Now here are a few photos I took.

Above are pictures of Yours Truly with my good friends, Lindy & Larry Pellegrini on our trip to the village of Mazamitla on the other side of Lake Chapala. Below are pictures of the Plaza (i.e., Town Square) of Ajijic where I have stayed on previous visits, and of course, me again, enjoying my last sunday morning in Ajijic. The Pellegrini's home, where I stayed this trip, is about 7 miles East of Ajijic, near the town of Tlatchachilco.

If you want to see more pictures, please follow this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/redrew47/MexicoTrip

Our 36-40 Party

Last August we celebrated our 40th with friends and family. We recently received some photos we thought you would all enjoy. If you have any pictures of your own, we'd love to have copies for our scrapbook.