Because everyone loves to look at pictures of Asher, right?

"Get my good side. Oh, wait a minute, I only have good sides!"



"Uhh...Mom...a little help here!"



"Get me out of this dumb hat."


"Thanks!"

Rives Family Update (or the " I can't think of anything else to write about and I'm sick of seeing that YouTube screen" Post)

The Rives family is doing well. Here's what's happening in our lives:




--Asher is as cute as he can be. He is almost rolling over but I think he realizes that once he does, it will just put him on his stomach--the last things he wants to see happen.

--Kris is enrolled in the ACP (Alternative Certification Prgram) at the local college to get his teaching certificate and that is going well. He is getting to see the utter lunacy that is public education--something I know all too well. He has classes 2 nights a week so we really miss seeing him, but it is just for a season. And it will be so worth it to have him closer to home.

--I have been in "organizing mode!" I busted out the old labelmaker and I have been going to town! Our linen closet, our "multi-purpose" room, Asher's closet, and the laundry room have all gotten some much needed attention. Thanks to Denise for her inspiring posts that got me moving!

--I got my hair cut--at the place next to the Chevron.
The best part--it was only $17.00


--We are still on the South Beach (the diet, not the locale.) Kris, of course, continues to lose while I walk every day, do Pilates 3 times a week, and watch what I'm eating, and have not lost in about a month, but whatever. My clothes definitely fit better and I can see the changes, but I still want to see that number move!

--We have been attending a community group at Laura and Charlton's house and it has been so good. We are going through the book of James and have really enjoyed getting to know everyone and the lively discussions of God's Word. I didn't realize how much I needed this in my life right now. So to all of you who read this that attend, please know how grateful we are for you and the time we spend in the Word together.

I think that about sums it up. Not much happening, but more and more I am seeing the glorious in the mundane...and it just makes me smile.

You Tube Bandwagon...

...we're jumpin' on.



It's nothing fascinating (to people not a Rives or a Bobbitt) and the camera work leaves much to be desired. But I felt left out! I needed video on my blog, too! And Tye and Josiah and Jon David all just looked so precious on theirs, so Asher needed to join the ranks!

Also, Asher updated his blog so you should check it out. And there are new pics on Shutterfly.

Question for you

If you were a bird. where would you build your nest? A tree? A bush perhaps?

Or maybe a driveway.



This is the "nest" that some crazy bird built in the middle of my parent's driveway. Here is a shot of the driveway for some perspective.




The observant reader will note the abundance of greenery to the left and right of the driveway. But why do it the easy way. Anyone can lay and hatch eggs in a nice, safe tree. Not many can pull it off while dodging cars, critters, and who knows what else that may slither across that driveway.

And it's not like Mama Bird stays with the eggs, either. The first sign of a car, animal, or person and she hightails it out of there. That is just not good parenting. I'm not claiming to be "mother of the year," but come on!

Strange, right? I'm sure you're riveted now, so I will try to keep you updated on the status of the eggs. Check back often.

Father's Day

Today is Kris' first Father's Day. Part of the reason I married this guy is because I knew he would be an incredible dad. And he is. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

1. He sings to Asher and the little guy is mesmerized.

2. He is always talking to him about who God is and what He has done.

3. He reads to Asher and does all of the voices.

4. Sometimes I have to race him to see who will get to get Asher out of bed when he wakes up and be his hero for the morning.

5. He is changing careers to have more time with him.

6. He tells me when an outfit I pick out is too girly so Asher's friends don't beat him up (Kris feels this is a very real threat if too much plaid and/or pastels are involved.)

7. As soon as he walks through the door when he gets home from work, Asher is in his arms.

8. He models for our son what tender strength look like.

9. He is so attentive to details about Asher that sometimes I even miss (oops...those nails should be clipped.)

10. He prays for Asher, knowing that God must grant him salvation, that he would repent and believe.

I could go on...new things are added to the list daily. He is such an amazing dad and we are so blessed that he is ours!

Baby vs. Wild

Kris and I love watching the show on Discovery channel "Man vs. Wild." The guy who is on it, Bear, puts himself in all sorts of desperate situations and then proceeds to get out of them using his keen survival skills.

In one of the episodes, he is in the Serengeti and happens upon a freshly-killed zebra. Next, he says what we would all say in that situation, "This is good meat. I will eat it." He then takes a hunk of meat off of the carcass and actually puts it in his mouth and chews. Are you grossed-out?

I tell you all of this because we have taken to referring to Asher as "Bear" because of what he does with this toy.




Yummmm. That's good zebra.



Our little wilderness baby!

Happy Anniversary

Today is our second wedding anniversary! We celebrated by eating a fabulous lunch in The Woodlands while Mamaw watched Asher. Two years have flown by and I suspect the time goes by even faster now that we have a little one.

It was been an incredible two years filled with so many great memories. We continue to be honored to have the opportunity to take part in God's design for demonstrating to the world the love between Christ and the Church. Although we are a dim reflection of the reality, we realize what a huge responsibility it is to portray, as we are given grace to do so, a picture of faithful love, selfless serving, and humble submission.

Oh No!

"I'm 4 months old already?"

My little Asher is 4 months today. I have no idea how long he is or how much he weighs, but I would guess about 14 lbs. He's a big boy and we have learned not to despair over small beginnings!

ps--I picked him up right after I snapped this shot and he calmed down--no worries.

A Recipe (who knew!)

I just thought I would see how far of a departure I could make from my typical self. So I will post a recipe. Kris and I had this last night (so Asher had it a few hours later.) It is Baked Pesto Chicken and it is super easy. Here ya go...

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I cut off all visible fat because that's just gross and I pound the chicken so it is even in thickness by putting it in a ziploc bag and pounding the heck out of it with one of those little meat hammers--whatever they're called))
1/2 jar of pesto (Or I'm sure you little Betty Crockers out there could make your own)
shredded mozzerella (as much or as little as you like)

All you do after that is heat the oven to 375 and spread 1/2 the pesto on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Salt and pepper the chicken and put it in the dish. Then put the rest of the pesto on the chicken and cover with foil and bake for 25-30 min. Then uncover, add the cheese, and bake for another 5 min.

I made some whole wheat pasta (because we are all about South Beach here) and served the chicken on top of it. It was pretty good.

I think now I have secured my place in the Traci/Rebecca/Robin club. Not necessarily based on merit, but on effort.

I am not an Aggie

**A brief explanation for my readers who may not be familiar with the term "aggie." It refers to those who attend or have attended Texas A&M University. To just give you an example of an Aggie, those who are one are trying right now to figure out why I think I need to explain what one is because they assume EVERYONE knows--how could they not?***

Kris is. I'm just not. I'm sorry. I went to Lamar University. So many of our friends did attend there and when they find out that I didn't, a brief look of pity crosses their faces. Robin's husband once told us that Kris was my "kinsmen redeemer," saving me from the shame of my non-A&M past.

But I humor Kris and even took a picture of our little boy sporting an Aggie hat. And I have to admit, he looks pretty cute!



And now a few things that you probably couldn't care less about...

---I need a haircut. My hair is way too long. My husband's only request is that it stays long enough to pull back into a ponytail. Fair enough. But the thing is, I am no longer at a place in life where I can afford $60 cuts. I probably should have never been getting $60 cuts. So now I need to find a reasonable but amazingly talented hair person. Any suggestions, greater Houston area friends?

---I need to hang pictures on my walls. They are quite bare. I used to think I could decorate a house pretty easily, but it turns out that I can't. I like our cookie-cutter, no-character house, I really do! It just needs a little something. Any suggestions, greater Houston area friends?

---New pictures on Shutterfly!

1986

It was a good year. I graduated from kindergarten. I started first grade. What a life! Can you spot me?

And I would like to mention that my husbad was in fourth grade at this time.

Cradle-robber.