Happy 4th of July!

We were fortunate to have our cousin/nephew Benjamin with us for a week this summer. We celebrated the 4th of July with him, along with Uncle David's family and Grandma and Grandpa. Here were some of the days activities...

Uncle David and Benjamin had a blast setting off fireworks in front of our house while Ethan and Lexy played with the sparklers. Bella loved the view from Courtney's lap!

All ready to enjoy the day at Grandma and Grandpa's for a BBQ and water games!

Happy 4th of July!

We started the day riding on the scooters! (Yes, we are nieve... the next time the kids wore helmets I promise!)

FUN in OHIO

We have just returned from a GREAT vacation with our family in Ohio. It is always so fun to see everybody. We are the only ones who don't live in Ohio (or within a couple hours driving distance) and we don't get to see everybody whenever we want, so it is a treat for us to be out there. We spent about a week and a half with Tony's parents during which time we got to spend a lot of time with Uncle's Tim, Joe and Brian and Aunt Nicole. While we were there we also got to visit with Tony's Grandma, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and other extended family and friends. The kids are really excited about the fact that the next time that we go out there, they will have a new cousin... a little boy! Aunt Nicole had her ultrasound while we were out there and Ethan was way excited that to hear that there will be another boy in the family since he and his sisters are the only grandkids!

Rico Family July 2009

The Rico Brothers

Joe, Brian, Nicole, Ali, Tony, and Tim

Our FUN in Ohio....

FUN at Cedar Point!

FUN in the Pool!

FUN at the Park!

FUN at the Lake!

During our visit, we went to Uncle Brian

and Aunt Nicole's to celebrate Father's Day. While there we swam in their pool, walked the dogs, and played cards. (Playing cards is kind of a tradition that we do every night while we're in Ohio!) We also went to Cedar Point, we went to a couple of different parks, hiked a trail to some waterfalls, celebrated Papa's birthday, went to Lake Erie, played some golf (Tony anyway), and saw a movie. It was a busy week with lots of FUN!

Thanksgiving Point

Thanksgiving Point with Mandi and her family. We got to spend some time with my best friend Mandi and her family for just a short time between her sister's wedding and our trip to Ohio. We took the kids to Thanksgiving Point to see the animals and enjoy some ice cream!

4 Years Ago Today...

June 3, 2005, 3:32pm.... Our first daughter was born. Alexys Renee Rico was 7lbs. 3oz. 19in. long. We were so excited to have our first baby girl. She has brought so much joy into our home and our hearts. She has got the funniest personality! Her goal each day is to make everybody laugh. She is silly and fun-loving. She is a great playmate for her big brother and a wonderful caretaker for her baby sister. We love you very much Lexy, and wish you a very Happy Birthday!

Our Beautiful 4 year old!

Lexy's fun personality coming out!

At the lake with Nana and Papa

Princess for Halloween

Don't I look like a princess!

Lexy- 1 year

Lexy's 1st Christmas!

A Busy & Exciting Week for the Rico's!

The last week of school is always busy, but for the Rico family, it was a bit much for me to handle... physically and emotionally! First, my oldest graduated from Kindergarten! Yeah! Before the big day, he had a dance festival performance at the school, field day and many other "fun" days. But the big day came on Thursday. Of course my own class was doing all of the same things so I was as busy as Ethan was. Each day that we practiced for graduation, I would get a little choked up. I just figured it was because my son was graduated. When the big day came, I cried while handing out the diplomas to my class. Evidently, I was also sad about ending the school year and saying good bye to my own class. (What a SAP ha!)

I had to clean out my classroom the next day to get my stuff ready to be moved to the new school. The next day, I had a day long "Activity Girls Day Camp" to attend before getting Lexy ready for her dance show. That was lots of fun. While attempting to make it through this busy week, I have found myself sick as a dog! My body just knows when it can finally relax, then I get sick! I can't wait to feel better and get all of my summer plans started... like cleaning house, organizing, you know, all of those things that have been put on hold for the last 9 months of school! YEAH for SUMMER!

"I Want to be a Dancer!"

(From left to right: Lexy, Cassidy, McKenzie, Sophie, Emily, Emery, & Tayli)

These were just a couple of pictures I got of her not looking at the other girls while she was dancing. I don't think she was very confident in knowing the steps so she spent a lot of time watching the other girls!

Lexy with her Dance teacher and the whole class together. Aren't they the cutest!

Ethan's BIG Day!

We are so proud of you Bud! You have grown so much this year, and have really done so well in school. It was a lot of fun to share this year with you teaching at Fox Hollow. Congratulations Ethan!! We love you so much!

In line to get his "diploma" and sitting with his classmates. He did a great job with his speaking part as well. I can't believe he is growing up so fast!

Ethan graduated with his best friend Landon... We have pictures of them as infants too... wouldn't it be funny to see them looking like this 12 years from now! I know they would love it!

We love Mrs. Peck! We'll miss you. (I say "We" because I got to work with this great teacher, and I will miss her too!)

Family Pictures 2009... & then some

We were fortunate enough to have a wonderful neighbor take some great family pictures for us that I wanted to share. She did such a great job! The kids could not have been worse, and yet she got some really good ones!

Isabella- 1year

Ethan- 6 years

Alexys- 4 years

It has been a while since I have posted a blog. I really can't give a reason as to why I have been a slacker. The last two weeks really haven't been the greatest in our family (extended family mostly) and I really didn't feel like there was much to be excited about. However, there are a few things worth mentioning. As most of the neighbors have slowly been finding out, the rumors are true... I will be teaching full time kindergarten at the new elementary school starting this fall. It is for sure now and it's an appropriate time to share this fun news. I am grateful that I get to continuing working where my own kids will be going to school. More news that is worth sharing is our recent plans to go to the Bahamas in the fall!!! I am so excited. All of the plans have been made. We are so lucky that Tony's parents offered to fly out here to watch the kids while we enjoy ourselves on this vacation with my best friend Mandi and her husband. Mandi and Josh invited us on a trip to New York a couple years ago, so we thought it would be fun to have them with us on this trip too.

I Can't Believe He's 6!

This handsome boy blessed us with his presence at 8:27pm on May 1, 2003. He was 7lbs. 9.5oz and was 20 1/2 in. long. It took all day to get him here! Ethan is such a great son and brother. He is such a pleaser for his mom and dad, as well as his teachers. He is a wonderful example to his younger sisters as well. They look up to him and want to do all of the fun things that a big brother can do. We love him so much and are so proud of him.

Ethan's 1st day of Kindergarten.

Don't I look handsome!

Say "Cheese."

Ethan's love for learning started early.

Ethan's 1st birthday!

Ethan was blessed by his dad on July 6th, 2003.