Confessions of Leslie Rife

CONFESSIONS of Leslie Rife!!!

I have something to confess to all my family, friends and people whom may read our blog...

My daughter Katelin set our blog up a year or so ago and started posting things on it as if she were me... the Mom. It was Great! :) However, I always felt somewhat guilty for letting all of you think that I was the one posting and also she is quite busy herself. (Especially since she is getting closer to having her baby...due in Feb.) Her intent was to teach me, but, I am a very slow learner!!! Well, she finally put her foot down and told me that I was sitting down at the computer and she was going to make me learn! FOUR HOURS later we can happily say she was successful.
Today she helped me post my 1st post.

Happy Halloween is my first one with her help and now this post she left me to do on my own. She did say I could call her if I needed help! THERE, I FEEL MUCH BETTER now that the truth is out! :):):)

THANKS Katelin for being so helpful today and in the PAST. I love you tons.

Me, posting my real 1st post!

We were a success!!!

Happy Halloween

Another Halloween that was FUN!!!

October 31st this year fell on Saturday so the children had their school celebrations on Friday the 30th of October.

Tyler leaving for school as a Mime . He had wanted to be a mime for the past three years and he finally figured out the costume this year!

Tyler 13 years old

Tanner in the Halloween Parade at Westridge Elementary.
I did get him to stop long enough for a quick picture! :)

Tanner 10 years old

Tanner convinced his teacher to let me come and help with a game. We decided to play the doughnut game. We hung doughnuts from a string and the kids had to put their hands behind their back and then try to eat the WHOLE doughnut before it fell to the floor.

Here is Tanner making his attempt at the doughnut!!!

GOT IT!

It was sooo much FUN even his teacher, Miss Rawlins had to give it a shot.

Kynsie had to work on both the 30th and 31st. She works at Macey's in their Photo Lab. They were having a costume contest and there was a prize involved. That was enough motivation for Kynsie! She came up with this costume. I thought it was quite appropriate and She took second place and won 50 bucks.

Kylee had been wanting to be a princess all year for Halloween. Here she is as she is getting ready to go to her "Baby Bulldogs" Preschool.

Kylee 4 years old

Kylee wanted to wear a different Princess outfit on Halloween because in her own words, "my pink outfit itches me." :) I guess what the Princess wants the Princess gets!!! Right?!!!

Mom, Dad, and Kylee trick or treating at the Campbells.

Little Side Note: Kendra dressed up too in her "My Costume" shirt but I failed to get a picture. Darn it...maybe next year!

I Have 8 Children

I have 6 children of my own, 1 that married into the family, and 1 I MARRIED!

Somedays Steve makes me wonder!

For the last year Kynsie has been practicing the art of break dancing stalls. She Practices them EVERYWHERE. One day after Kynsie accused steve of not being able to do better than her they decided to have a compitition...right in the middle of the kitchen.

We were all laughing so hard we were crying. Looks like dad still has some skill eh? :)

Katelin made the side by side picture above for comparison, and posted it on facebook to see what our friends and neighboors had to say.

Here are some of the responses we got:

Karla Mercer: "Pretty impressive...(I wont say for an "Old" Guy)"

Stacy Bateman: "I think I would hurt myself, Papa Bear wins!"

Vanessa Hill: "Oh my goodness...I think I would pay to see this in real life! HILARIOUS!"

Brad Cherry: "I have the final vote, and Uncle Steve, I have to give it to you man, you win!!!"

Later Kynsie replaced the picture with the one below, and posted it on facebook.

Here are some of the comments she got on her post:

Annalisa Wilde: "Kyns, youre totally rockin' it. Both very impressive. I just cant decide."

Stacy Bateman: "your form is beautiful. However, as an older woman almost in my 30's, I would like to credit your dads age and body. We're not all young like you."

Terri Jensen: Look at the angle if the fridge door and the frame, looks like the picture isnt straight for your dad. Im thinking maybe dad is straighter. I am voting for the "old" man, because age really IS a handicap. ;-)"

Kynsie Rife: "I am deleting you all as my friends!"

Holly Holbrook: Honestly, I cant even believe he can do that! Amazing!

Brad Cherry: Uncle Steve still wins. He's like 50 and can do that! Now thats cool!

Too funny! Looks like people are still impressed with steve's skill. However, as your mother Kynsie, I think you look pretty darn good yourself! ;)

Growing Fast

I cant believe how fast time has gone. Katelin has completed her 24th week of pregnency and everything is looking great! She is also feeling a lot better. Thank Heaven she wasnt sick the whole 9 months! (I am afraid she wouldnt have forgiven me if I had passed that down to her! haha!)

The Doctor says from the heartbeat it sounds like a baby girl, but they are only right half the time. So I guess only time will only tell since they are keeping the gender a secret from everyone including themselves until the day its born. (What am I going to do with that daughter of mine?!)

Here are the pictures from the 20 week ultrasound. Look at its cute little nose, and below you can see all five little toes!

What A Slacker

I have been a slacker, I have not updated FOREVER! But, I have made a promise to myself to be better, and get busy posting! Boy is there A LOT to catch up on. Its going to take a few days to get it all posted, but its coming, so STAY TUNED!

Grandma, and Grandpa Already?!

New Arrival on the way!
(No, its not ours, but Katelin, and Nicks!)

Were Excited!

Tyler is a Teen

Oh No! Teens are now the majority in our house. Outnumbering the adults and the children! What are we going to do?! (**wink**) July 5th Tyler tipped the tables to the teens.

Tyler is 13!!

2 weeks after his real birthday after a failed attempt or birthday party number 1 the week of his birthday (due to him getting sick) we were able to have a party for him and his friends. We headed over to Nick and Katelin's pool where we fired up the grills and jumped in the pool!
In the words of Steve, "good thing we have RICH kids who can afford a pool for us to play in!"

Here is a picture of the kids playing and jumping, they had the pool all to themselves for a good hour, before anyone else showed up.
When did he start to like girls?!

Tanner Swimming

Kylee and I at the pool

Tyler opening his gifts
It was nice to jump in the pool, it was SO hot. It even melted the cake (I was pretty worried about the cake melting (darn it) Katelin kept telling me noone cared and finally just asked the kids to raise their hands if they cared if the icing on the cake melted and if they thought it would make it taste worse. Nobody raised their hands....I guess sometimes she does know what she is talking about! :) My Melted, but VERY tasty cake

We had a lot of fun!
Happy Birthday Tyler!

"Happy Birthday Deeeaar Kendra, Happy Birthday To You!"

Well everyone, I must be getting old. *wink* I didn't think this day would ever come. Kendra is 15, that means I only have one more year of driving her around to all her activities, one more year of telling her she is "too young to like boys", and one more year til she is one of the "older girls" in Young Womans. How fast time flies, and how fast children grow up. As I watch my children growing everyday I remember how important it is to cherish every moment we have together.

Unfortunately this year for Kendra's Birthday we didn't have exactly the perfect conditions for a PARTY! We are in the middle of remodeling the kitchen, repainting the house, and replacing carpet. Not to mention that her Birthday was on a Sunday this year. Katelin wouldn't let her not have a party though. Nick and Katelin heard we were not going to do much of anything Saturday Night and they were off to Walmart getting plastic cups, plates, forks, spoons, cake, and some decorations. They threw together a little party for her Sunday evening with the family, including Cherrys and Grandma.



Make A Wish


Monday Night we all went to Kendra's Favorite restaurant, Tepanyaki for her birthday dinner. It Tasted wonderful and we had a lot of fun. Both Nick and Tyler caught the shrimp, and we found out that Kylee takes after Kendra with her love for shrimp. (Yuck!) haha!


Happy 15th Birthday Kendra!!

We Love America

Last night our family attended the Westridge patriotic program. It was GREAT!

A night full of singing, speakers, and sideshows. Tanner was in the main choir. He had to get up and go practice before school to be in the choir but it was worth it, and he did a wonderful job. Its amazing how children singing, showing their support for America, and their appreciation for their freedom can help us remember that we need to be thankful for what we have. Way to go Tanner, what a show!

This is a flag that Tanners class made for the patriotic program.

Some Things NEVER Change

When Steve was growing up he was blessed to meet the Jensen Family. They helped him out a lot, and taught him essential principles of the gospel. They have always treated him, and us like their own. Its been a lot of fun being able to be part of their family. The kids, (and adults :D) ALWAYS have someone to play with when we get together. Katelin and Kynsie were lucky enough to have 4-5 cousins their own age growing up, they are all best friends.

Fun with the Jensens

This month at our Jensen family Home Evening I couldn't help but think about Kylee growing up and having similar experiences as her sisters did. Being able to find best friends in her family.
Kylee and Bryn
July 2007

Bryn and Kylee
February 2009

Kylee is just about the same age as Melissa's Daughter, Bryn. These pictures were taken about 2 years apart. :) These Pictures are too cute! Even in their young age they are friends. I hope that Kylee will see the need to have good friends, that are good influences on her as she grows up, so far it looks like she is making good choices. :)

Attention Harrington Family :)

I saw your comment on the Tigger Post and am glad YOU are trying to stay in touch with us. :) By the time I got around to accepting your blog invite it had expired. We would love an invite again and were not sure how to get in contact with you. So... I thought by posting on my own blog I might be able to contact you. :)

Hope to hear from you soon! :)

-Leslie

T-i-double gu-r

That spells Tigger! that is exactly what Steve's focus was on during the Holidays!

Thats right, that is all built out of snow (and a few 5 cans of spray paint)! Ha Ha! Steve's is quite the artist and whenever we get good packing snow he is out playing like a child. Building "snowmen"! Ha Ha!

A few years ago he built Winnie The Pooh with a pot of honey. So this year Tigger was no surprise. He spent a few long cold nights after work outside sculpting this. I think it turned out wonderful!

Maybe next year we will have the whole gang from pooh corner visiting for Christmas!