Merry Christmas from California!

I know I'm a day late. Christmas day was fairly busy, as one may imagine. Eric and I are having a lovely time with my family in beautiful, sunny, southern California. The weather has been warm and breezy at times, but altogether balmy compared to chilly Ohio. We plan to do some shopping tomorrow, meet with some old friends on Friday, and spend the rest of the weekend together doing family-type things. We fly home on Sunday afternoon and arrive home very early on Monday morning, just in time to get ready for our small group New Years party at our house on Monday night! Never a dull moment in the life of the Rices. I wouldn't have it any other way. :) I only have a few pictures from Christmas morning, but I'll post more later.

My adorable husband! I love the hat my sister gave him ~ so perfect!

Mom and Dad opening gifts. :)

My sister Kim is happy about whatever it is she got...

Smile Dad!


We went to the beach today and couldn't have picked a more beautiful day. I could have stayed forever, listening to the ebb and flow of the waves, seagulls calling to the open blue sky, and the cool breeze through my hair. We even saw a dolphin, although it disappeared before we could get a picture. Here are some pictures from the beach.

My baby and I enjoying the sunshine.

Beautiful Newport Beach.

Kim's face sticks like this:

We found a frisbee in the ocean, and Kim was the brave soul elected to fish it out.

Nice catch, Mom! :)

Squinty!

Kim and I being silly.

Awww. I love them so much!

I can't get enough of the ocean!

The bird of paradise flower is so pretty when in bloom. They grow so well in the warmth of the California sunshine!

I will post later this week, after more fun is had and pictures are taken! Fellow bloggers, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as I am.

It's A Girl!

Third time's a charm... we got a pretty good view of what we needed to see at my ultra sound yesterday afternoon. The tech said that she definitely has girl parts, hehe. :) Even the tech who did my fetal echocardiogram earlier yesterday morning said that even though it wasn't her area of expertise, she was pretty sure it looked like a girl. The fetal echo came back perfectly normal and healthy. When the procedure first started, baby was sleeping and they got some great shots. After a few minutes, she woke up and started moving all over the place, finally ending up in her favorite position ~ curled up in a ball and hiding from the "camera"! Little stinker!

The 4D ultra sound was stunning ~ Eric and I enjoyed it so much. Since it was a follow up, they didn't have to measure the limbs and fluids again so we got to spend time watching her move, suck her thumb, etc. She had her hands in front of her face almost the entire time, and the ultra sound tech had to poke my belly more than once to get her to move a little so we could get some good pictures! The doctors all said that she looks perfectly healthy and normal.

All in all, I am happy, excited, and content. Seeing her move, rub her eyes with her fist, suck her thumb, and curl up into a ball while feeling that movement inside my stomach, made the whole process very "real" and alive for me. Carrying a growing baby inside of me has been very surreal. Until yesterday it was hard to connect with the tiny being that is alive and growing so rapidly within me, despite the fact that my belly is growing and I see the obvious process my body is going through. I am starting to feel her kick and move, which is possibly the coolest thing ever! I grow more excited each time I think about our little girl, and how amazing it will be to have her in our lives. God is truly amazing, and I will continue to praise Him and lean on Him during this process and beyond.

Time to start thinking about names and paint colors! :D Here are the amazing 4D pictures we brought home from the hospital yesterday.

She has all 5 fingers, promise, even though you can't see the fifth one in this picture!

Last but not least, the "It's a girl" shot! :D

Puppy Love

Eric had fun playing with the dogs this weekend during our second snow of the year. I was only able to get a few shots.




The dogs love to have snowballs or handfuls of loose snow thrown at them, they try to dodge it or catch it. It's extremely entertaining to watch. Here is an action shot of Gabby trying to catch a snowball and a leaf in mid air, including my extra-professional-stealth-edits (click for large) ~


After we came inside, Gabby still wanted to play (surprise!!!), so I grabbed her favorite ball and teased her while I took pictures. Yes, I love my dogs. :) Her collar says, "Always Nice, Never Naughty", but we call her, "Always Nice, Always Naughty".

Sasha tries to get involved, but she mostly succeeds in just looking cute.

One more, simply because they are so incredibly cute.

More Wedding Photos!

A few more photos of Kyle & Jen's wedding party!

See post below for wintery pics.

First Winter Snow

The first snowfall of winter came the night before last. We woke up to a blanket of white sparkling snow, and the soft powder continued to fall until late in the afternoon. There is something beautiful about fresh snowfall that hushes the noise of the world and brings a serene calm. Night-time is suddenly brighter and more peaceful. It is as if nature stops it's frantic preparation for winter and settles into the surrounding quiet. One can almost hear the quiet. The landscape is swept clean, dark corners are brightened, and dirt is covered with a shiny new skin.

Sasha and Gabby love snow almost as much as they love water at the river or lake. They scamper around happily, pouncing on the white powder and burying their noses in it. The brisk air and cold, wet snow between their toes fills them with a dizzying energy that causes them to chase each other until they can hardly take another step. Here they are this morning ~ I was able to keep them still long enough to snap a picture! You can see how Sasha earned her nickname: Sasha Snowbeard.

Gabby sniffs the air.

Our snowy house this morning, not long after the sun came up.

Outside my office building yesterday morning.

Kyle & Jennifer's Wedding Weekend Extravaganza

Eric and I had a fabulous time in Williamsburg, VA for Kyle and Jennifer's wedding. Except for the 5am flight times arriving and departing (which I hope to NEVER experience again), the entire weekend was wonderful and unforgettable! I was hoping to see more of beautiful colonial Williamsburg, but with all of the wedding preparation and events, we didn't have the time. Eric and I are already planning another trip so we can do more sightseeing! The wedding was gorgeous. Jen planned every last detail to the "T" and it couldn't have been more perfect. The ceremony and reception were held on the campus of The College of William & Mary, a pretigious and historic school of which Jen is an alumni. Here is the Wren Building, where the ceremony was held (that's Jim, Kris, and Kaz walking towards the stairs).


Most of us in the bridal party knew each other from a game we play online called Everquest 2 ~ but I hadn't met most of them in person. We had a blast together. I was hoping to get pictures of Eric and I in our bridal party gear, but since we were both in the wedding party, it was hard to get a picture in the rush of the big day.

Here are the girls of the bridal party at lunch on the first day.


Jennifer treated all of us to manicures and pedicures, which was amazing! I had never had a pedicure, so afterwards I decided it is one of the best things ever, worth repeating at least every few months.


That couch was insanely comfortable. I almost fell asleep during the foot massage.



The happy couple at the rehearsal dinner.


This is my gangsta look...


Jen opening girlie gifts the night before the wedding. Love the "bride" hat!



Jennifer and her mom treated us to wedding day "up-do's" and make up! We all felt very pampered. Here is the end result:


Here are a few of the guys behaving perfectly as always, lounging around at Kyle & Jen's condo after the wedding. Cody, Matt, and Ash are in the back. Eric and Chris are in the front.


Chris donned his superman garb and flew around the condo.



Lastly, I took a few pictures while on campus ~ It was beautiful with the last of the autumn leaves on the trees.


Here is a view from the field where Kyle proposed to Jen. Unfortunately, I deleted the picture of the field itself... sigh.



I hope all of you had a great weekend! I am not thrilled to be back at work, but I look forward to getting my meals and bloodsugars back on a normal schedule. I cannot wait to do my Christmas decorating this week! Pics of that to come.