How the Ritchie’s spent their Saturday…
Our day began with sleeping in past our normal wake up time, which is always a wonderful way to start the day. The morning was very low-key with some Mario Kart, pasta salad preparation, gift wrapping and relaxing. Here is Veda and the pets to illustrate that…
Charlie, Veda, Rudy & Napoleon
Veda and Rudy were chilling for about an hour in this position, in fact…
...
And Napoleon has deemed our bathroom sink (which just barely holds all of him) as his new bed. So this is often where we find him, this morning was no exception.
This afternoon we all went over to Mark’s Aunt Judy’s house for a Ritchie family gathering. Every year for the last 45 years Judy has hosted this get together, but this year will be her last. She is handing over the reins to the next generation. I wish our house was bigger, because we would be honored to take on the hosting responsibilities. We shall see who decides to take this on (we nominate Molly and Joel!).
Here is the evening in pictures…. what? Did you actually have any doubts that’s how the story would be told?
cousins: Veda (8), Gracie (6) and Claire (11)
Rudy (seen here with his head on upside down) meets Hailey's dog Mo who is a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix, so they are basically related, one half or maybe one quarter?
...and the wrestling began...
Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Chuck, cousin Julie on the right
sister Amy, cousin Hailey holding Mo, cousin Kayla
I received the biggest bottle of wine I've ever gotten in my life, and Mark and I are enjoying a glass right now as I type this post..
meanwhile, dogs are still wrestling...
Mom Betty and Aunt Judy (the hostess with the mostest) and that's Molly's beau Joel in the background
cousins Molly and Jodi
cousin George and Dad Bill get a kick out of that wrapping paper, I guess...
...still wrestling...(Mo seen here with his face on sideways)
Mr. Ritchie gets a cordless drill!
Then it was finally time for the girls to open their gifts...
...
I held Rudy so that I could take a picture of the beautiful pomchee Mo..
Gracie with olive fingers, who wouldn't love olives on their fingers?
the dogs even talked the girls into joining in the wrestling fun..
George and his phone
Joel and cousin Molly, voted Most Photogenic couple of 2009 .. by me.
The Ritchie clan (i hope it makes sense): Terry, Julie, Chuck, Joel, Mark, George, Molly, Judy, Stephanie, Donna, Amy, Betty, Bill, Tim, Melissa, Jodi, Hailey & Mo, Claire & Rudy, Gracie, Veda, Kayla
xoxo
Wonderful xmas pictures and comments. I wasn’t sure how that group photo would turn out but it was perfect. Melissa you have that camera all figured out and are making great use of it. These pictures are special now and will be even more in years to come. Keep up the GREAT work.
I love Claire’s hair cut! It looks great!
1. i love the photo of veda and rudy. rocco and i maintain the same position on the couch, too.
2. i friggin’ love claire’s hair! tell her she looks gorgeous.
3. xoxo
Veda is a pet magnet!! and opy is a dork! i thought cats don’t like water?!