tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24978690691105897202012-02-08T03:29:57.566-08:00Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.comBlogger3051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-15735462123900930372012-02-06T23:49:00.000-08:002012-02-07T12:30:26.856-08:00

I've been MIA since Christmas, have you noticed? And I thought for sure the list of 230 followers at the bottom of this bloggy would slowly dwindle in my absence...but look at you- you faithful readers, you hung in there, believing that good things come to those who wait. Didn't you ?! Well guess what? Your patience has paid off. Because I have for your viewing pleasure, 68 photos from last

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-81795862886856949802012-01-05T14:15:00.000-08:002012-01-05T14:15:18.503-08:00

It will probably take a miracle for a man with guts, integrity, honesty, and a firm belief in his convictions to make it to the White House in the current culture... ...but I like a guy who will fight for my child.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-17799414894124829632012-01-02T10:13:00.000-08:002012-01-02T10:13:09.923-08:00

I love this line: "Bella makes us better."

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-88670625217765772002011-12-29T18:30:00.000-08:002011-12-29T18:30:25.241-08:00

http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2011/12/a_washington_county_family_of.html No judgement here...just sad for the birth parents who missed out on a beautiful gift.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-12322639428958471072011-12-28T17:15:00.000-08:002011-12-30T09:43:42.141-08:00

My daughter started the SWEETEST new blog... She writes so well, and of course takes amazing photos. Please hop on over to Puddle Jumpin' Through Life !

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-46120137540437296852011-12-21T16:30:00.000-08:002011-12-21T21:27:56.928-08:00

We held our annual gingerbread decorating party last Saturday. It seems just yesterday we were doing this with Jason, Josiah and Mackenzie. Where does the time go? Traditionally this party is just for our lil' family, but since Jason and Josiah are married now, and Mackenzie was babysitting, it didn't seem right with only seven kids here to decorate. So we invited the Barton girls (and

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-31067093115919657722011-12-18T21:20:00.000-08:002011-12-18T21:20:32.562-08:00

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-13434438335237956952011-11-26T12:21:00.000-08:002011-11-26T12:24:05.811-08:00

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Psalms 14:1 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5 I was cut to the heart watching this video that my son sent me this morning. Because honestly, I've been a bit stressed about the holidays lately. With a wedding coming up and all that it entails, and Christmas right around the corner

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-54928352574309263392011-11-18T22:47:00.000-08:002011-11-18T22:47:27.886-08:00

The first time I watched this video, I laughed so hard I cried. Seriously, the kid at the very end is a RIOT. *thanks, Elizabeth for sharing it first;)

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-66354149598088693692011-11-09T09:07:00.000-08:002011-11-09T09:11:59.930-08:00

This post was written and illustrated by Mackenzie Rice Just wanted to say... HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEEEEEN! from: mama nurse, little miss cupcake, spiderman, princess belle, kiera knightley, captain america, mr. incredible aaaand....well, we're not sure what caleb's costume was. Neither was he. Tyler was supposedly "too cool" to dress up for Halloween this year. Even though his 19 year old

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-41963052416249474212011-11-04T18:28:00.000-07:002011-11-04T18:33:40.106-07:00

Apparently I'm not the only one in my family who decided to take a break this week... Jackson was playing tackle football in our living room with his brother Noah last Saturday. We heard a scream, and then Noah's worried voice asking,  "Jack, are you okay?! "... and I thought right when I heard the scream that he had broken his arm. Because you know, when you've been parenting for 23 years

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-50909312576527752522011-10-30T08:34:00.000-07:002011-10-30T08:34:48.859-07:00

Just in case you've been wondering what Jason and Naomi have been up to... ...you can see more like these over at Lilybird Photography.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-59466964164382972312011-10-26T13:22:00.000-07:002011-10-26T13:22:26.196-07:00

You may want to be sitting down. I am posting on Notes From Home. (some people love to harass me about this. who shall remain unnamed. hope you're happy, cousin Brandon and Uncle Chris!) Sorry for the lag, I've been busy saving orphans elsewhere. We had a lovely time at the coast last month. My favorite thing about the coast? No cell phone reception. I can just enjoy my family and have

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-5709640533475072011-10-08T09:59:00.000-07:002011-10-08T09:59:38.151-07:00

beach pics coming soon!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-38471066523718901762011-10-08T09:55:00.000-07:002011-10-08T09:55:12.768-07:00

Due to the fact that I'm on a blog strike on my other blog, Notes From Home is going to be the recipient of my nostalgic reflections tonight. Typically I save my sentimental musings for Lily's blog, and leave the satire and sarcasm for here:) But tonight, I am a bit emotional, and as I have no outlet for those emotions elsewhere (unless you and 46 of your friends feel like leaving a comment on A

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-81324341781017661622011-10-05T11:11:00.000-07:002011-10-05T11:11:14.141-07:00

This post is mostly for my family and friends, so if you're a Notes From Home follower from somewhere on the WWW who doesn't "know me" in real life...you can skip right over this:) I started an email to address this, but figured it's easier to just post it here....I am sort of drowning right now in homeschooling five of our kids, and posting every day for Down Syndrome Awareness month on my

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-45533277489064494352011-09-16T16:58:00.000-07:002011-09-16T16:58:36.934-07:00

Today my second oldest son is officially engaged!!! Welcome to the family, Monique- you are in for a WILD RIDE!!!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-49781269402736145022011-09-14T23:32:00.000-07:002011-09-14T23:38:19.761-07:00

Yesterday I posted here on our family blog about Lily...in my post I talked about the fact that she will never drive. *side note: My brother (wisely) said he didn't think any Rice's should be driving... Yesterday I got an email from a friend of mine who has a daughter Lily's age who has Down syndrome. She and her husband were on vacation the past few days, and they met a couple on the beach

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-46275899470751586702011-09-13T22:54:00.000-07:002011-09-13T23:24:23.116-07:00

This is going to be a very different sort of post for Notes From Home. I'm hosting a week long giveaway on Lily's blog, and I don't want to interrupt that right now. But I have some thoughts that are really nagging at me at the moment, and I really want/need to journal them. Typically this is our family blog, and I don't ever share thoughts about Down syndrome or special needs here. Because

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-7000635034948769382011-09-11T00:25:00.000-07:002011-09-11T00:44:14.347-07:00

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-26639318383450231672011-09-05T18:07:00.000-07:002011-09-05T18:07:18.781-07:00

It's the first day of school, and I am feeling extremely satisfied at the moment. The kids and I somehow managed to get up on time this morning, we got the house clean and school started by 8:15 and we were done by 2:00. Five kids, 5 different grade levels, six if you count Jack as a preschooler (which he for sure does!) ... and I am stoked. This year already feels so much better than the year

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-76750171172065122852011-08-25T09:17:00.000-07:002011-08-25T09:17:25.924-07:00

HELLLOOOO RICE FANS! This is basically going to be a photo dump post with a few sentences thrown in for good measure. Because we are in revival at our church this week (if you've never been to one, it means church every night, woohoo!) and Lily has therapy today and I have laundry coming out my eyeballs...or something to that effect...and tomorrow we go to Portland to pick out homeschooling

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-8330421025277133912011-08-24T10:03:00.000-07:002011-08-24T10:03:01.456-07:00

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-82844415426856259512011-08-11T12:51:00.000-07:002011-08-11T12:51:02.349-07:00

Will you vote for Lily here? She's already in second place all the way up from 24th after just one day of voting. By Best Special Needs Blog 'Preciate cha!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-73475000074779970222011-07-23T01:27:00.000-07:002011-07-23T09:01:24.820-07:00

*If you're here from A Perfect Lily...guess what? This is my blog too :) This is just a bigger "slice of life" from the Rice Ranch. With an added layer of insanity or two. Or twelve. I read a comment recently on another blog that really made me stop and think. The reader was expressing her love for a particular blog that "didn't just focus on Down syndrome all the time, which was a nice change

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-73940373000772955322011-07-19T19:34:00.000-07:002011-07-19T19:34:57.239-07:00

What's the difference? Between this little girl.... and this one...  or this one or this one  or this one  or this one or this one Nothing. They are beautiful, precious, created-in-God's-image, sweet baby girls who arrived in life with a little something extra. They are blessings, they are worthy, they are valuable, and they deserve to be loved. They deserve a family.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-67060260531012437302011-07-15T23:32:00.000-07:002011-07-15T23:32:00.224-07:00

Is this not the cutest couple EVER?? Well, they're in the top 5. It's the Jo' and Mo' Show !!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-49591439578893013882011-07-15T10:23:00.000-07:002011-07-15T10:33:42.525-07:00

This is going to be a different kind of post. Kenzie took her camera out of state for ten days, so I am without Rice family photos to post. I'm also in one of those moods where I want to scrub every inch of my house and clean things I didn't even know existed. Usually I get this way right before I give birth, but unless there is a little Ricelet hiding somewhere under my ribs that I don't know

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-25392763579996159592011-07-12T09:02:00.000-07:002011-07-12T09:02:12.473-07:00

There is a FANTABULOUS giveaway going on over at Saving Our Starfish !! If you're a scrapbooker you do NOT want to miss this! It's only going on for four days, but here are some of the prizes being featured...                                           Cocoa Daisy Exclusive kit Winter Magpie                                Plus all these goodies that will be added in as the giveaway grows!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-58207370723042472832011-07-09T23:03:00.000-07:002011-07-09T23:03:39.952-07:00

More photos HERE

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-91557164382580965112011-07-05T00:33:00.000-07:002011-07-05T00:40:57.129-07:00

Happy Independence day from our home to yours.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-87728358539733943092011-07-01T08:10:00.000-07:002011-07-01T08:33:41.702-07:00

...we're having a church parking lot sale tomorrow. We moved into a new building, and we're selling a lot of equipment- doors, vinyl windows, lighting, ceiling grids, etc.Even more fun than that (because I personally don't go shopping for ceiling grids every day, I'm just sayin'...) we are holding a bake sale for Jason and Naomi's adoption fund!Here's just a sample of what you'll see...

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-59116619387582300932011-06-29T14:41:00.000-07:002011-07-01T08:40:02.946-07:00

*disclaimer: this post is in no way an ad for homeschooling. As will be apparent in the next few sentences.***************************************Ok fokes,to start off i woul'd like to interduce myself, I'm Abigail Joy Rice! I'm 8 years old.And in this pic we have my dad and I.And in this one we have me!And in this one we have Jack-atack!AND OFCOURSE AWSOME JONATHAN!And one of my best brothers

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-87513173090469339452011-06-22T12:51:00.000-07:002011-06-22T13:03:45.974-07:00

...I'm an expert or anything. But this is my little ad for Lightroom.before...and after...I'm sold.and yes, I am having fun with mixpod too. ha.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-32766464065071260002011-06-19T22:57:00.000-07:002011-06-19T23:19:09.779-07:00

I love this photo of Noah because it is so him~ sweet blue eyes on a little heart-shaped freckle-sprinkled face, hole in the knee of his jeans...my all American boy!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-37067064649164120302011-06-10T10:58:00.000-07:002011-06-10T19:07:06.331-07:00

It's a lovely Oregon Friday...gray clouds are on the horizon ignoring the memo that summer is here...I have a kitchen full of syrup-y dishes because we were out of cereal, but had an abundant supply of Bisquick for waffles...the Lilybird is covered in post-oatmeal pre-bubble-bath stickiness and signing that she is "all done"...a trip to the library and four loads of laundry are on the menu for

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-12312603876751716842011-06-06T18:00:00.000-07:002011-06-06T18:30:06.400-07:00

I'm experimenting with lightroom...ignore this little test. unless you want to comment on the cuteness of the subject.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-20545342493337735522011-06-03T21:01:00.000-07:002011-06-06T11:00:08.537-07:00

I cannot believe it is June already, and I barely posted in May...you know how they say time flies when you're having fun? Apparently they were right. Whoever they were. And also...juggling has never been my thang. I have two blogs and one of them I am verrrry good at updating, and the other one....misses me. And it's not because there isn't plenty going on in our home to.... write notes about.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-45002408060438747042011-05-10T12:46:00.000-07:002011-05-10T15:52:50.807-07:00

Last Thursday, this little guy turned the big seven..Noah Stephen Rice made his grand entrance into this world on Cinco De Mayo, 7 years ago. He was anxious to be here- apparently- and arrived three weeks and a half weeks before his due date. After a week spent driving back and forth to the emergency room, due to what we now know was placental abruption, my doctor decided it was time to induce.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-44098099570712866772011-04-28T14:55:00.001-07:002011-04-28T18:29:55.998-07:00

I was going through photos on my desktop computer today...we have to turn it back in to k12 in a few weeks, and I'm cleaning my personal stuff off it. K12 is a wonderful homeschooling curriculum with an overwhelming amount of "extras". If you have homeschooled successfully using it with 5 kids, please email me. I'd love to get your autograph, because clearly you have superhuman powers.Anyhoot,

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-45804375533814866092011-04-25T23:22:00.000-07:002011-04-26T18:15:27.969-07:00

SO my little Notes From Home bloggy has been pretty neglected as of late. Yeah, I noticed, and I bet you thought I didn't, huh? The truth is, I've never been a good multi-tasker. I know that sounds like a cop-out, given that I have ten children, but honestly I am always juggling about 47 balls in the air and dropping about 13 of them at any given time. The trick is to keep everyone looking at the

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-30879249225365250252011-04-25T13:35:00.000-07:002011-04-25T13:39:04.668-07:00

Lots of photos to upload, but for now...Happy Monday!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-48292816092293041442011-04-05T12:09:00.000-07:002011-04-05T13:49:52.673-07:00

This is going to be a random post... ...because right now our family has so much going on I don't think I can string together one cohesive post to cover it all. SO here's my little attempt at updating this little neglected bloggy... Our Baby Sent From The Stars Giveaway has raised almost a thousand dollars already... We're pretty dang excited about that, and if you don't know what I'm talking

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-73649682233563981392011-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:002011-04-01T09:51:18.151-07:00

Two important items: Lily's blog (sorry, Notes From Home!) was nominated for the Circle of Mom's Top 25 Most Inspiring Blogs list...will you vote for her every day until April 14th? Pretty pleeeeeeze??? (just click on that button above and then find Lily's blog and give her a thumb's up!) AND ALSO-----DON'T MISS THIS!!!!!! Over a thousand dollars worth of prizes!!! :) http://babynumber10.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-68356324545414472042011-03-17T11:33:00.001-07:002011-03-17T11:33:51.174-07:00

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-43836994226273905762011-03-10T16:53:00.000-08:002011-03-10T17:11:41.887-08:00

I can totally "see" several of my kids in this:)

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-81856344170221643562011-02-21T18:03:00.000-08:002011-02-21T21:37:22.590-08:00

I realize that I am a week late posting Valentine's pictures here.I am posting them today on purpose- in honor of President's Day..because...they were all such sweethearts...and they loved our nation... and...Okay, I lied, this has nothing to do with President's Day. I'm just really late posting these pictures.SO ANYWAY...We really love Valentine's Day here at the Rice Ranch. Like really love

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-91991667215434854842011-02-14T17:53:00.000-08:002011-02-15T18:59:16.083-08:00

Do you ever have one of those days..weeks...months...where you feel like you can never get everything done? Or when you feel like the things you are getting done are just not worth much?When you're crossing everything off your to-do list, only the more you cross off, the more things just magically appear? And just when you near the bottom, and you feel like maybe you're getting a grip on life...

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-58868043377526930622011-02-11T09:26:00.001-08:002011-02-11T09:26:56.648-08:00

Not too long ago kids with Down syndrome were being left in institutions...look how far we've come. I'm so full of hope for Lily.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-37725402986630434952011-02-10T08:43:00.000-08:002011-02-10T20:13:17.437-08:00

I have a special little prayer request for you all...actually TWO.One is for my friend Annie...she has a beautiful blog, a beautiful family and she's about to deliver her beautiful new baby girl named Ollie. Annie found out months ago, through ultrasound, that Ollie has some heart issues...and markers for Down syndrome...just like we did with Lily. And just like we did- Annie and her husband

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-53477342222334123672011-01-16T02:16:00.001-08:002011-01-16T02:42:17.617-08:00

Happy Birthday, Lily Anne.. Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-33516117879391261002011-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:002011-01-15T10:07:59.052-08:00

Well, he's in the top eight anyway! Brandon, or Brando as we like to call him, won a giveaway over on Lily's blog. And because I have Random.org select the winners on my giveaways and I have a LOT of family members and friends who enter my contests, I was happy to announce him as the winner. (translation: I didn't rig the contest.)Here is his celebratory video, put togather by his Dad,

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-26510890214509108042011-01-12T15:55:00.001-08:002011-01-12T23:48:50.934-08:00

Just in case you missed it, Lily is celebrating her first birthday this Sunday. In honor of that monumental day, she is hosting some lovely giveaways this week...go here and leave a comment to be entered to win! http://babynumber10.blogspot.com/2011/01/winner-and-another-birthday-gift-for.html

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-47492523692787944572011-01-12T12:06:00.000-08:002011-01-12T12:07:31.509-08:00

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!http://little-did-i-know.blogspot.com/2011/01/oh-praises.html

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-56243143630687538712011-01-12T11:12:00.000-08:002011-01-12T11:13:11.433-08:00

Check it here...http://little-did-i-know.blogspot.com/and keep praying!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-4557941169364032932011-01-11T08:48:00.000-08:002011-01-11T08:49:47.264-08:00

My friend, Stephanie, over at Daily Smiles posted a heartfelt plea about a boy who needs our prayers. Please, please, take the time to go there and read this...and pray.http://ourdailysmiles.blogspot.com/2011/01/plea-for-david.html

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-20609933067303447182011-01-07T08:50:00.000-08:002011-01-07T09:54:41.629-08:00

Okay, clearly nobody was really entering my giveaway for the purpose of winning my dogs yesterday. Y'all are missin' out!!! Courtney even threw in her two poochies. This was an offer you couldn't refuse! I am speechless. I guess I'll tell Tillie and Lady they are staying at the Rice Ranch for now.Did anybody notice ChrisK donated to Tille and Lady?? Chris, if I didn't know Lori would KILL me for

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-79700315107512321322011-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:46:32.848-08:00

I know this blog is getting stale. I have a perfectly good excuse.My daughter took her thousand dollar camera to the east coast, and my camera sucks. It didn't used to ... but now that I've seen what a nice camera can do, I don't want to use my $300 one. Comparisons are odious they say. Apparently they didn't know about good cameras when they said that.SOOOO...this pitiful picture-less little

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-8357257310726904602010-12-23T12:17:00.001-08:002010-12-23T13:36:12.536-08:00

Just in case I forgot to send you one of these...Merry Christmas from the Rice's !!!If you didn't get a card in the mail...I had a great excuse ....I have been multi-tasking just a tad these days..and as a result I'm pretty sure I forgot to mail some of the cards, sent out duplicate Christmas cards to some, stampless envelopes to others, cardless empty envelopes to still others...So lost or

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-10764404610881337152010-12-20T08:24:00.000-08:002010-12-20T20:04:33.650-08:00

Our Christmas "to do" list (see post below) got shuffled around a bit.And you know what? All of my kids keep telling me- "This is already the best Christmas EVER!"If you want to know why, go herehttp://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2010/06/i-left-my-heart-there.htmland then herehttp://babynumber10.blogspot.com/2010/12/winners.htmland Brandon, these pics are just for you...So what are you going to do...

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-25645051468886701952010-12-03T16:12:00.000-08:002010-12-03T17:44:26.066-08:00

I've had some friends ask recently if I could post our "December List"...just fun, (mostly) free things to do each day of December ...Obviously, some of this is only do-able in Corvallis..but I'm sure every town has some fun events you could replace my ideas with!Sorry I don't have any Christmas-y photos to post with these right now...I am typing with one hand, holding a nursing Lily with the

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-82213051401256057482010-11-30T16:50:00.000-08:002010-12-01T11:34:33.338-08:00

I haven't posted here in FOREVER!! So to make up for it, here is a motherload of videos and pictures..The first vid is Caleb being his typical aggressive self in flag football- he was King of the Flags this year, and we lost count of how many he pulled in one season.Jonathan had TD's every game...you can tell he got his head-bobbing victory run down by the last game here...And as a Grand Season

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-59202876438611321042010-11-18T19:47:00.002-08:002010-11-19T07:57:45.465-08:00

The other day the kids and I were studying ancient Egypt...learning about pyramids and ziggurats (Jackson calls them "cigarettes) and mummies and Pharaohs and such. I felt like I was stepping back in time as we read stories of grave robbers and buried treasures, wealthy kings and kingdoms, tombs made of gold, and mummified cats. We read about how the Pharaohs were buried with their treasures,

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-82052063323874463592010-11-18T11:12:00.000-08:002010-11-19T11:18:58.829-08:00

I just found the coolest giveaway- you can win a pair of legwarmers from etsy owner mama runs with scissors (isn't that the funniest name? I love it!)Go here to enter!! And if you win and don't want the leg warmers- wrap em up and give em to Lilybird for Christmas!! (she likes the blackbirds on the wire ones)Check it out!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-22533122966609518752010-11-17T17:30:00.001-08:002010-11-17T18:19:29.651-08:00

Dear blog readers:SOMEONE hacked into my blog and stole my last blog post!! But never fear- my brother, covert spy and counter-terrorist that he is- has foiled this evil plot...you can view the NEW AND IMPROVED POST HERE!!!! (I fixed the link!)

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-47181371716053862732010-11-15T19:05:00.000-08:002010-11-15T19:07:01.205-08:00

Wow, our annual Christmas photo shoot is over and it went so well!! Amazingly we got a great photo within just a few minutes and everybody looks perfect!!!!scroll down....................Gee, I'm so relieved.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-74610521658600983192010-11-15T14:30:00.000-08:002010-11-15T18:59:00.508-08:00

It's halfway through November, and I just realized we really need to do our annual Christmas photo. I am dreading the drama of it all joyfully anticpating this happy family event.Speaking of photography...Mackenzie's new site "Lilybird Photography" is up and running! Here are some sneak peeks from her site......and if you're wondering how it is that Kenzie is both in the photo and acting as the

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-18481092268935474662010-11-12T07:32:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:34:28.916-08:00

Don't forget to take a peek at Pressed Petals, where I'm guest blogging for the day:)

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-69131604214078268682010-11-12T01:11:00.000-08:002010-11-12T01:51:13.978-08:00

My (foster) grandbaby turned 2 on Wednesday. My son Jason and his wife Naomi threw her a grand birthday party at good ole' McDonalds ..While I am known as "Nana", Naomi's mom is "Nonnie"...I know it's crazy that we're both grandmas, cuz we hardly look old enough to have kids!! Dontcha think?SO, I am a Nana and a Mama... ....and I'm lovin' it !!Jason and Naomi are such naturals- they act like

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-47104577886037591412010-11-11T12:52:00.000-08:002010-11-11T13:23:17.836-08:00

Still havin' fun with Kenzie's new Canon...We slept in today...yay, Veteran's Day!!!Sissy came in at 9 a.m. for a little impromptu photo shoot...And the bedhead look...Lily didn't get the memo that there was no school on Veteran's day. ...I don't think she's upset about it, though...Lily's classic bulldog mug...Oh, one more thing:Alamama from Pressed Petals has asked me to be a guest blogger

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-36970706984144688842010-11-10T15:23:00.001-08:002010-11-10T15:33:10.157-08:00

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-45891269207851684002010-11-10T15:14:00.000-08:002010-11-10T15:17:00.973-08:00

This is an unedited photo, right off of Kenzie's new camera......can you say LOVE?????Pretty sure the next few weeks will be Canon commercials here on Notes From Home.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-51096943542853199352010-11-10T10:35:00.000-08:002010-11-10T10:40:05.901-08:00

Kenz got her new camera!!!!!!!!!!We are having SO MUCH FUN!!More goodness to come!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-42183279977210664362010-11-09T17:55:00.000-08:002010-11-09T18:18:34.466-08:00

Well, I wrote this last week, but I never got a chance to edit the photos and upload them...so this will sound like today, but actually it is last week:)If you've read this blog for any length of time, you've probably figured out that I tend to bounce around a bit. Some days things are very light here...like yesterday...and some days are a tad heavier. Some days are just for fun, and some days

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-39634705095811351382010-11-08T12:03:00.001-08:002010-11-09T22:59:45.388-08:00

Hi fans...guess what time of year it is??FAMILY CHRISTMAS PHOTO SHOOT TIME. yay.Typically just the teeniest mention of this annual event sends shivers down my spine and evokes loud complaints from my brood, such as,"NOOOOOOOOO, NOT AGAINNNNN!"So last year I tricked them. I had us all dress in red white and blue for the 4th of July and at a church event I just yelled- hey! look- we're all matching

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-45956832109920855492010-11-05T22:52:00.001-07:002010-11-06T08:58:51.523-07:00

This little guy..Get cuter and cuter every day. Those eyes- are they gorgeous or what?I'm in the middle of a new post loaded with good times, but I just had to put this picture up...because I realized I might be getting extra visits tonight from BABBLE (vote for Notes From Home AND A Perfect Lily!!) and maybe leaving that "My Daughter is on Crack" post up as the welcome mat might not be such a

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-17892390324165999162010-11-04T10:13:00.000-07:002010-11-06T01:12:29.817-07:00

Okay...I'm about to blow anyones image of us as a normal Christian family.I'm also going to destroy that image some of my readers might have in their minds of a typical home schooling family. You know- the ones with sheltered kids who don't really know what the real world looks like. Who wear long denim skirts daily and bonnets on their heads, and who plant their own vegetable gardens and ban

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-26219906576194376202010-11-01T12:04:00.000-07:002010-11-01T23:29:56.164-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about perspective lately.What got me going down this little path in my brain was a post I submitted recently on babycenter.com.To explain- I'm a part of two groups on Baby Center- one was a group I originally joined when I got pregnant with Lily. It's called "February Birth Club 2010" and it is a group of moms who were due that month (although Lily ended up being born in

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-74002232831909048852010-10-31T23:16:00.001-07:002010-11-01T10:55:26.632-07:00

I am too tired to upload all of them tonight, but for now here a few Halloween pics...***and if you wanna see Lily's twin, click HERE...and the return of the pucker and pop...More pics to come!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-21836607824889969422010-10-28T17:11:00.000-07:002010-10-29T12:14:25.146-07:00

Have any of you (female) readers ever experienced Mommy guilt?It goes something like this:You are folding laundry in your bedroom and your children have come in for the 25th time in five minutes. There really is no good reason why they shouldn't be in there- maybe they were just coming for a quick hug or kiss. Or maybeeee...they wanted to tell you for the 46th time that their brother or sister

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-2532107112428483462010-10-25T12:58:00.000-07:002010-10-25T13:20:15.786-07:00

For those of you who are just learning how to use the Interweb...scroll dooooooooooown to the bottom of this page, and press pause on my player. (Grammi, I'm sorry it's such a long way down. Don't get lost looking at pictures and forget what you were looking for.)Next: observe our daily ritual- cranking the tunes and bustin' out our moves.Lastly: leave a comment and tell us how awesome our groove

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-20139548391453835632010-10-22T20:05:00.000-07:002010-10-22T23:26:05.644-07:00

There's a blog I follow where the author sometimes just writes what's flowing through her brain. It doesn't have to flow smoothly or make sense, it's just ...streaming. Is that a word? I hope so. If not, I just made up a cool word!! Yay for homeskool! private joke.ANYHOOT, tonight's post will be a stream coming forth from my brain, flowing onto my keyboard. Beware...(key scary music.)

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-18171349121726034952010-10-21T09:10:00.001-07:002010-10-21T09:19:00.894-07:00

I just realized I haven't posted in awhile here at the Rice Room (other than Patti's Picks).Fear not, little bloggy readers..I just took this amazing footage of an incredibly talented Lilybird for your viewing pleasure.***please ignore my disgusting sing-sing voice...mothers stoop to all levels to get their kids to perform!****If you've never been to Lily's blog, please stop by!Happy Thursday!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-62694241268377428032010-10-19T17:04:00.000-07:002010-10-20T09:02:07.612-07:00

I thought I'd randomly post something every now and then called "Patti's Picks." I am one of those people who LOVES getting good tips from other mommies or even non-mommies. I love reading an article in a magazine that tells me what kind of pie crusts are the best, or what children's cough syrup has been proven to give great results, or how to get that ugly ring out of your toilet bowl. (Have you

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-58767696615364338972010-10-15T23:35:00.000-07:002010-10-16T00:34:33.792-07:00

It's midnight on Friday...I successfully uploaded all 35 pictures to photobucket, resized them and got them here to blogger. No small accomplishment.My boys have their first flag football game first thing in the morning.Sam is telling me it's time to go to sleep, and my pillow agrees.So here it is in a nutshell......we went to the pumpkin patch.....it rocked.Lily loved her some pumpkins..Noah

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-64031209164724324702010-10-15T09:13:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:10:38.319-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day. ***all photography done by the amazing Mackenzie Rice***Like one of those days my kids will talk about in years to come.."Remember when we went to that pumpkin patch in Junction City?" "Oh, yeah- remember those gigantic ice cream cones?!" "I loved that place! Remember all those goats, and how Jackson kept calling them ghosts?" "Oh and remember how much Lily loved

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-801296879487832622010-10-15T00:43:00.000-07:002010-10-15T00:46:31.661-07:00

I have half a post done...and I am TOO tired to finish it.But it's gonna be gooooood.Here's a little peeky......be back soon!!

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-55202308696879438132010-10-13T11:08:00.000-07:002010-10-13T11:10:06.544-07:00

my daughter is truly a talented photographer. a couple days ago she took the most BEAUTIFUL pictures of lily i have ever seen! if you would like to check 'em out, here's the link. leave a comment and tell her that she's awesome :)

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-56533162897401242202010-10-11T09:34:00.001-07:002010-10-11T09:44:26.134-07:00

Thanks to all of you sweet friends who prayed for us! I took the kids (7 of them not 6 like I wrote last night- see what I mean about forgetting one of them??) for flu shots this morning. I was still feeling crummy when I woke up, but MY HERO Sam, got me ibuprophen and told me he was taking the morning off from work to help with the kids at the doctor!!When we got to the office Abbi broke down in

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-45066301247003684852010-10-10T20:14:00.000-07:002010-10-10T22:49:40.114-07:00

This is going to be the fastest thrown-together post I've ever done. Because in a matter of 2 hours I have gone from feeling a little yucky, to full blown chills and aching all over and head pounding and put-me-to-bed-with-pain-killers-or-shoot-me feeling. Yes, feel sorry for me.But before I go there, I wanted to post a few pics from our week...because tomorrow is Monday which means: flu shots

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-38264135676898035072010-10-09T13:14:00.000-07:002010-10-09T13:18:55.536-07:00

At the risk of soliciting sarcastic comments from Uncle Chris about homeschooling.. and the kind of spellers it produces...I am going to post this lovely picture I found on my desktop computer.Abbi used the "paint" program to create this, and saved it on our desktop.I love it.

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-90620710123284959322010-10-04T22:36:00.000-07:002010-10-05T19:09:39.374-07:00

It's the end of a long day.My babies- all of them- are asleep, and the sound of rain from my beloved sound machine is purring in the air...the only other sound in my bedroom, the clicking of the keys as I type, and an occasional sleepy sigh from the Lilybird.It really was one of those days today. And they don't happen often around here...I mean, the usual chaos happens, but happiness filters

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-40163922495369877452010-10-04T16:53:00.000-07:002010-10-04T17:00:31.221-07:00

Hello.My name is Patti and I am a whine-aholic.I whine when things get tough.But luckily, I have friends, prayer, and CHOCOLATE.Our afternoon got much better.Thanks for praying:)

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-34266202274633937052010-10-04T11:42:00.000-07:002010-10-04T12:39:45.033-07:00

...one of these days???...When 3 out of 4 computers quit working..and you are trying to have 5 kids do their online school..and the dogs puke AND poop in the laundry room...and your toddler slaps his brother and says he has a fat butt...and your teenager goes to move the portable a/c unit out to the shed and 3 gallons of water spill across the carpet...and everybody is fighting over how many

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-82351698907884379772010-09-30T23:24:00.000-07:002010-10-01T03:28:50.121-07:00

Eight years ago this past Monday I was doing my favorite thing on earth...giving birth. I'm one of those crazy women who actually loves, loves, loves labor and delivery. I GET HIGH in labor and delivery, seriously. I mean, I've never actually gotten high, so I wouldn't know...but my husband tells me I'm acting like I'm on drugs, so I believe him:)Everything is more colorful to me, more vivid,

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-11056207138740329222010-09-30T09:20:00.000-07:002010-09-30T09:45:52.098-07:00

Fear not, little bloggy...I have not deserted you forever. I have folders full of photos just waiting to be uploaded here...princesses in tiaras, a magical sugary pink castle cake, a grown-up princess and her gayla graduation celebration, little waiters dressed to the nines, a Lilybird sitting up like a big girl, Jack-attack displaying his daily antics...I hope our faithful followers here have

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-22851529931894520352010-09-17T23:30:00.000-07:002010-09-18T03:27:18.980-07:00

Another week of homeschooling has flown by, and I must say we fared much better this time. Each day we ploughed through, tweaking schedules, rearranging and combining lessons, refining our "system" again and again, until finally towards the end of the week we all began to breathe a little easier. Some days were better than others, but I do feel the children are enjoying the new curriculum, in

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-84530918177371018012010-09-16T08:31:00.000-07:002010-09-16T08:48:58.898-07:00

...no, not Lily.This one...Look how cute he is!!! Jason is my oldest baby. And I really can't believe I have a 22 year old. Especially when I feel like I'm just 27. This week he began training (he is already certified) as an EKG tech at our hospital. He and Josiah are BOTH now EKG techs, so if any of you have any heart issues, just stop by for a free check. just kidding. So now Jason gets to

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-13333738668756418472010-09-12T17:15:00.000-07:002010-09-13T00:54:13.391-07:00

Well, we survived the first week of homeschooling.Five kids, 5 different grade levels, a new curriculum...my respect for the school teacher on Little House On the Prairie just skyrocketed through the roof last week. How did she teach all those different grade levels in one classroom all day and still keep her hair in a neat little bun?? Cuz mine was pretty much pulled out each day, and I don't

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497869069110589720.post-68410301309865268502010-09-08T11:48:00.000-07:002010-09-08T11:57:46.356-07:00

Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17285336545936110323noreply@blogger.com2