March 10th was a big day for Dillon. He turned 12! Friday March 13th was an even bigger day for Dillon because he received the priesthood and was ordained to the office of a Deacon. Dillon was surrounded by friends and family. Grandma and Grandpa Browning came from Oregon, Grandma and Grandpa Ricks came from Utah, Favorite Aunt Cristal came from LA, Uncle Craig and Aunt MaryLynne came from Santa Rosa. There were also fellow deacons and members of the bishopric here to share in this special event. We were able to do the ordination at our home while family was here and then he was able to pass the sacrament on Sunday. Dillon, your dad and I are very proud of you! You have chosen to live a very righteous life which we know is not always easy, and because of your righteous choices you are worthy to hold the priesthood, a very special power from our Heavenly Father. We love you! Keep being that wonderful example to us, your sisters and those around you!

Jessica in the kitchen

Jessica is learning how to cook for one of her Young Women value projects. I have had so much fun teaching her and spending time with her in the kitchen. This was "Applebee's Chicken Tortilla Soup" and boy was it YUMMY! Keep up the good work Jess!

Madison's class at Valley Days standing in front of a school house built in like 1836

Mike and Heather as pioneers.

Valley Days

Thursday March 12 was a fun day for Madison, Mike and I. We went back in time to when California was first being settled. The field trip is known as "Valley Days." We all had to dress up as pioneers and the children were able to experience what life and school was like on the frontier. Here Madison (in the blue bonnet) and her friend Lauren are doing chores. They are washing clothes. Mike worked the rope making station and I taught the kids how to do copper crafts. We all had a great time and Madison sure loved having Mike and I there all dressed as pioneers!

Mike with VS. commentator Bob Roll (if you watch any cycling you will know who this is...he makes me laugh when I watch the Tour de France.)
Mike and I met some of our Chico friends in Sacramento on Sat. Feb 14, 2009 (yes it was Valentine's Day.) We were able to enjoy the Prologue for The Tour of California. I had so much fun watching Mike drooling over beautiful bikes and his favorite riders (and you thought I was going to say beautiful women:).) It was truly an amazing feeling and so incredible to be there watching the "big boys" of cycling...even if it was super cold!!!

YES! It is Lance Armstrong!!!
and yes...he did walk right in front of me
close enough that I could reach out and touch him
(but I didn't)

Take another look...

Valentine's Day

Do you know who this is?
No, it is not the stud bicyclist Mike Ricks...

My grandmother (who is in her 90's) made these wonderful stocking caps for all her kids/grandkids and great-grandkids for Christmas. I think it was close to 100. Anyway, I have been trying to get our whole family together to get a picture of all of us in the hats so that I could send a note with the picture to my grandmother. I think I was fighting a loosing battle, so I was able to get the kids together to take a picture. I thought they looked so cute (and Jess is going to kill me), but I had to share the picture. Thank you G.G. for making us such wonderfully cute and warm hats for Christmas! We know there was much time and love put into knitting these hats for your family. We appreciate you and the love you show us! Aren't Grandmas the best?!

Our kids LOVE the snow!!!! Especially Dillon and Madison. Utah had a ton of snow while we were there for Christmas and the kids had so much fun sledding and tubing. Dillon and Madison are just as happy on the sled as they are rolling around in the snow! I am quite happy either on my skis or inside with a blanket and hot chocolate! Mike always gets daddy duty and he get to take the kids sledding and tubing. What a GREAT daddy!

Happiness to me is having my family close by. Mike picked this beautiful background for our family picture. The mountains are amazing!!! (and not a bad looking family either!)

Christmas memories

I love to watch the kids decorate the tree for Christmas. They always have so much fun looking at the decorations from the past and talking about what year they got them. We had a perfect spot for our tree this year in our new house.

Madison enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving break nap cuddled up to Uncle Leigh. We had a lot of fun and had some late nights, so Madison found time to slow down a bit.

Dillon and Heather started out Thanksgiving day with a great run. It is called run against hunger. Dillon ran the 5K with his friend Keagan, and Heather ran the 10K. Both had great runs. They were cheered on by Mike, Jessica, Madison, Grandma and Grandpa Browning and Uncle Leigh.

Halloween had the kids going in all directions! Dillon (the phantom from Scream) had plans with his friends, Jessica (Dorthy) went to the high school haunted house with her friends and tried to trick-or-treat, and Madison (the vampire bride) went trick-or-treating with her dad and a friend in the neighborhood...they got to trick-or-treat by golf cart which made Mike very happy!

People who have come to visit us like to tease us about our neighborhood and the undulations. We don't have speed bumps like "normal" people, but undulations. They keep the traffic safe, but when we are in a hurry to get Jessica to early morning seminary they can be a drag!!!!

We got home from the cabin to our new home in Stockton, CA. We closed on the house while on our vacation, so we were really excited to get back and get settled. We are living in a beautiful neighborhood with some great families. A lot of Dillon and Madison's friends live in the same neighborhood. We had to do some painting before the moving van pulled up to our house, so for a week all we did was paint.

While at the cabin, Jessica, Dillon and Madison were introduced to their 1st cousin. Mike's brother Grant and his wife April had a baby boy in March 2008. His name is Gage and he is the cutest baby and very well loved. Jessica, Dillon and Madison took many turns holding him and loving on him!

Next was a trip to the Ricks Family cabin in Idaho. There our sweet Madison was baptized by her daddy. She was surrounded by friends and family who were so proud of her and the decision she made to follow Christ's example to be baptized. She has had some great examples before her (like her brother and sister.) She looks so beautiful in white:)

Update of the Ricks Family

Our summer started out with the graduation of Jessica from 8th grade. She is sitting here with some of her best friends. For those who haven't seen Jessica for a while, she is the one in the orange dress with the cute smile!

It is about time!

This is our beautiful home in Chico, CA. We LOVE this home and the neighborhood, but life is always full of changes...Yes the Ricks family is on the move again! We will be leaving Chico June 27th for new adventures in Stockton, CA. Mike Has been working as the COO for St. Joseph's Hospital (part of Catholic Healthcare West), since January and we are very anxious to be reunited as a family.

Thanks to my good friend Alicia Dimmitt, I have entered the world of Blogging so that we can keep in touch with loved ones around the world. So here we go... just be patient while I learn.