two by two

All Good Things...

2010-08-10T22:15:00.002-04:00

On August 4th, 2010, nearly 4 and 1/2 years to the day (Feb, 5, 2010) Addy made her inaugural trip to Wrigley Field. From the day Addy was born and we decided on the name Addison Clark Ritner, I have looked forward to taking her to her first game so she could stand on the corner of Addison and Clark and feel like there was a part of her Mom and Dad's love for Chicago in her life. Even when we created this blog, Life at the Intersection, I was foreshadowing our eventual trip to Wrigley.

With her passing that milestone and Jackson having just turned two, we think this is a good time to sign off from the family blog. Blogger.com is very time intensive to upload to and Facebook has just become more a part of our everyday online life. We will keep uploading pics of the family and even videos there.

If you are not already friends with us online, please find us and friend us:

Jon: http://www.facebook.com/#!/jritner

Kristyn: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1632554119&ref=ts

I will warn you, Kristyn only accepts friends from Chicago...it is her way of not having to be Mrs. Reverend Ritner online. Nearly 1/2 of my friends are Chapel people.

Thanks for sharing in our lives online for the past 1,650 days!

First Trip to Wrigley!

2010-08-10T20:55:00.004-04:00

Coming Home from the big day!

At the Corner of Addison and Clark!

First time to the L stop, Addison

Off Michigan Ave.

First L train ride for Addy

2010-08-10T20:52:00.002-04:00

Like Father, Like Son (while thinking of Grandpa Gary!)

2010-07-17T20:20:00.002-04:00

Jax and I watching the third round of the British open from St. Andrews. Jax likes to tell me everytime someone swings, "Dad! They hit the ball!!"

Fireman Fred

2010-07-17T20:17:00.004-04:00

The French students toured the Firestation, so the family tagged along. Kristyn always jokes that if I die, she is going to marry a Fireman in NYC. So this picture was just too funny to pass up.

Friends from France

2010-07-17T20:15:00.000-04:00

Our French guests, Lea and Solenne, taking a walk with the family. There are with us for 12 days on an exchange program.

Saturday Morning Family Run to IHOP

2010-07-17T20:14:00.000-04:00

Off Roading

2010-07-17T20:13:00.002-04:00

Every boys dream...a bed to jump on.

2010-07-17T20:11:00.001-04:00

Cinderella Ballet

2010-07-17T20:09:00.000-04:00

Sibling Love

2010-07-17T20:08:00.000-04:00

Free Food for Cows at Chick Fil A

2010-07-17T20:06:00.001-04:00

Jax New Bed

2010-07-17T20:02:00.001-04:00

Chapel Family Fridays

2010-07-17T19:06:00.000-04:00

Our homemade set for The Price is Right.

2010-07-04T20:40:00.008-04:00

2010-07-04T20:40:00.006-04:00

2010-07-04T20:40:00.004-04:00

2010-07-04T20:39:00.002-04:00

Fourth of July Update

2010-07-04T20:06:00.010-04:00

addy and her scarf that she decided on her own to wear to dinner on family date night

Auntie Kate

On the ferry with the lees heading over to pick blueberries.

The only way to watch world cup soccer, surrounded by the people you love.

Aunt Nancy and Cousin Megan's visit from Chicago.

Thanks to katie and doc for the great fruit and chocolate basket!

Like Father, Like Son

2010-06-07T19:48:00.014-04:00

My boy eating his bran flakes and raisins like me.

Addy and Brennan Wrestling

2010-06-07T19:48:00.013-04:00

Fairest Lord Jesus

2010-06-07T19:48:00.011-04:00

Addy backstage working on Fairest Lord Jesus before her big performance at church last night.

Bright Lights in the Small City

2010-05-29T21:44:00.001-04:00

Addy and Jax at their Moms Morning Out sing-a-long last week.

Can you tell which one likes being the center of attention?

The Loud Family

2010-05-23T18:35:00.002-04:00

Wait for the real music to kick in, Jax gets down.

King Jack

2010-05-23T18:32:00.003-04:00

Where was Dad on this Day?

2010-05-23T18:28:00.005-04:00

Women Drivers: Be Warned

2010-05-23T18:28:00.004-04:00

Summer Lovin'

2010-05-23T18:16:00.005-04:00

Daddy/Addy Date Picnic

Bingo Night at Chick Fil A

Scoping out the Pirates

2010-05-04T08:18:00.002-04:00

Addy/Daddy Date Day at Yorktown Landing

2010-05-04T08:10:00.002-04:00

Addy and I spent Saturday morning at Yorktown. There were pirates, Ferrari's and we had a picnic lunch while Blackbeard taught the boys how to sword fight. It was so fun.

Addy at a princess party on Monday.

2010-04-19T16:47:00.001-04:00

2010-04-17T18:19:00.006-04:00

2010-04-17T18:19:00.005-04:00

2010-04-17T18:19:00.004-04:00

Mom's Morning Out Poetry Recital

2010-04-17T18:12:00.008-04:00

Irish Dancing...Addy's new favorite move

2010-04-17T18:12:00.007-04:00

Addy and Daddy working out

2010-04-17T18:12:00.006-04:00

Highlights from the Spring

2010-04-17T18:09:00.007-04:00

Some popcorn and PJs

Easter Morning

Choco Bunny goodness

Busch Gardens Open again...spent the day with Coleman and Braden Lee

Easter baskets on Easter Morning

Playing at the beach..great new find..quiet beach with no other kids

Favorite way to relax after work!!

Easter Eggs

2010-04-17T18:09:00.004-04:00

Day out with the Girls

2010-04-17T18:05:00.001-04:00

The whole family went to a puppet show at the library this morning with some other small groups mates. Here are some pics of addy, kaliegh and ella

Amazing all that can come out of her mouth...

2010-03-29T11:03:00.012-04:00

Nature Girl

2010-03-29T11:03:00.010-04:00

A White Boy Trying to Dance

2010-03-29T11:03:00.009-04:00

Stroller Racing..Jax favorite game ever

2010-03-29T11:03:00.005-04:00

Purpose Driven Egg Hunting

2010-03-29T10:59:00.001-04:00

2010 William and Mary Hall of Fame Induction for Mike Cook

2010-03-29T10:52:00.002-04:00

Eggselent Saturday Morning

2010-03-29T10:45:00.001-04:00

Love/Hate

2010-03-29T10:30:00.000-04:00

Here are Addy and Jax at their worst and best. Fighting at Brusters to measure their height for free cones, and then jofully sharing popcorn during a movie night.

Newest Fun Phrase

2010-03-26T22:10:00.001-04:00

Addy's new phrase that we love is, "I forgot my mind." At first we thought it meant, "I lost my mind", now turns out it means, "I forgot what I was thinking."

Strolling in Style

2010-03-16T23:16:00.002-04:00

Sibling Story Time

2010-03-16T22:53:00.007-04:00

Trapped in the Stroller...

2010-03-16T22:53:00.006-04:00

Date Night out at the Tribe CAA Champtonship game

2010-03-16T22:53:00.003-04:00

Addy butchers a knock knock joke...

2010-03-16T22:52:00.002-04:00

Spin Cycle

2010-03-06T12:07:00.003-05:00

Addy and Jax hate when we have to wash their beloved blanket and bubbies. Mom decided this irrational anguish needed to be preserved on film.

Addy takes her first shower and loves it

2010-03-06T11:58:00.005-05:00

Pajama Party Saturdays

2010-03-06T11:58:00.002-05:00

2010-02-27T10:48:00.002-05:00

2010-02-27T10:47:00.005-05:00

2010-02-27T10:47:00.004-05:00

2010-02-27T10:46:00.010-05:00

2010-02-27T10:46:00.009-05:00

2010-02-27T10:46:00.008-05:00

2010-02-27T10:46:00.007-05:00

A Sign of Things to Come?

2010-02-27T10:30:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Night Out at Opus 9

2010-02-27T10:20:00.001-05:00

Free Pancake Day at Ihop

2010-02-27T10:14:00.004-05:00

From Paris with Love

2010-02-27T10:01:00.005-05:00

We have had a great past 8 days with two new friends from outside Paris, France who have been our guests as part of a student housing program in Williamsburg. Maelle and Camille are both 17 year old Seniors who speak excellent english and loved playing with our kids. We learned the only thing easier than hosting one student, is hosting two. They were close friends and loved staying in a house together, and didn't even mind having to share a bed. We celebrated Camille's birthday while she was here and took them to Chuck E Cheese and out to our favorite restaurants. On their last night, the girls made Crepes for us.

Here are some highlights...

Trying Jello for the first time.

Our Funny Little Valentines

2010-02-15T09:33:00.002-05:00

"Addy, you're four now!" -Cara

2010-02-01T16:55:00.005-05:00

Playing Hullabaloo

2010-02-01T16:55:00.003-05:00

Birthday Party Highlights

2010-02-01T16:42:00.002-05:00

Girls Just Want to Have Fun was Addy's Birthday Theme Song

Princess and a Princess Cake

2010-01-31T11:31:00.000-05:00

Bouncin' to Beyonce

2010-01-31T10:23:00.002-05:00

The Professor

2010-01-31T10:19:00.001-05:00

Great Smiles!

2010-01-31T10:16:00.001-05:00

Getting reeady for Preschool

2010-01-31T10:15:00.002-05:00

Addy and Her Art

2010-01-31T10:15:00.001-05:00

Ice Cream in Winter

2010-01-31T10:14:00.001-05:00

Snow White Ruins the Royal Ball

2010-01-30T18:22:00.002-05:00

10 inches of snow cancelled Addy's Royal Princess Ball celebrating her 4th Birthday today. We will try again tomorrow afternoon. She handled the news pretty well, some tears, but then some chocolate chip pancakes and some present opening made her forget pretty quickly. Pictures and videos tomorrow night after the big party.

One Liners

2010-01-28T08:35:00.001-05:00

D: (After reading the kids bible story of Samson in the Bible). Ok Addy, lets answer the questions about the story. Question 1, Where did Samson's get his strength?
A: Vegetables?

Hard to argue with that, even if it is not the right answer.

Our Sweet Girl

2010-01-25T13:02:00.002-05:00

Here are some great quotes from Addy lately.

A: "Look at those big clouds Dad. Jesus is on those, He is so lucky."

A: "I am going to marry you, Dad"
J: "You can't marry me, I am married to Mom. You willl find some boy who will love you even more than me."
A: "Dad, no one can love me more than you, you're my hero!"

Addy woke me up the other night at 2:00 AM telling me she had a bad dream. I told her it would be ok, and she needed to go back to bed. She cried and told me, "No! The bad dream will come back." So, I walked her back in her room and she asked me to sing her a song and scratch her arms. After singing, she says, "Thanks Dad, I think the bad dream went away now."

Sunday School Showdown

2010-01-18T08:11:00.002-05:00

At Sunday School yesterday, we heard there was some commotion between Addy and her friends and a new boy who was in the class for the first time. Turns out the new boy was being mean and bossing kids around. At one point, he yelled at Addy and she walked away and told her friends that he is not being nice. So three of her friends walked back over there with Addy, surrounded the boy in a circle, and then Ella points at the boy and asks Addy, "Is this the one?" When Addy says Yes, Ella pushes the boy down to the ground.

Now we don't support or condone 3 year old girl gangs, but if we did, we like the ones who look out for Addy.

Later I asked Addy what she can do when someone is mean to her. (If you are scoring at home, the right answer is, "Walk away.") Her answer...."I can use my superpower and yell, "ZAGAA" and everyone has to back away from me."

I guess that is an option as well...

OCD in her DNA

2010-01-09T19:44:00.002-05:00

Addy has become quite a room cleaner/decorator. Here is her work from this afternoon. Mom is very proud.

Snow Day

2010-01-09T19:37:00.004-05:00

We got our first dusting of the year this week. Enough for the kids to want to go out and trek around in it for 20 minutes or so.

No better way to escape the cold, than at a Tribe basketball game. The Tribe is off to a 12-3 start with wins over Wake Forest, Maryland, VCU, Richmond and a close opening night loss to UCONN. Amazing season so far.

Christmas Portraits

2010-01-05T16:40:00.003-05:00

Not quite as memorable as last years "sitting on each other's lap" pics, but still cute.

and just to see how much they have grown, here is last year's picture.

Barbie Surprise

2010-01-05T13:51:00.005-05:00

Let it Rain

2010-01-05T13:51:00.004-05:00

A New Christmas Carol

2010-01-03T17:41:00.013-05:00

...king of the chocolate...

..angels sang glory....

...1,2,3,4,5,6, We will show you the baby Jesus...

(the rest is up for interpretation)

Kid Karaoke

2010-01-03T17:41:00.011-05:00

Jax on a Box

2010-01-03T17:41:00.010-05:00

Bathroom Ballerz

2010-01-03T17:41:00.009-05:00

Jingle Bells

2010-01-03T17:41:00.008-05:00

Apple Jax

2010-01-03T17:41:00.007-05:00

Christmas in Virginia

2010-01-03T16:45:00.002-05:00

After Mom and the kids got back to Williamsburg, we had our own Christmas morning at the house. Stockings in bed and then presents downstairs. Jax loved his blocks and train set, and Addy was very excited about her big request, an umbrella. (not sure why, one theory is that we watched Mary Poppins recently.)

(this picture just freaked me out because somehow both kids are in focus even though they are feet apart.)

Hugging on Santa's helper

Apron from Aunt Caroline that Addy loves wearing.

Here is Addy sprinkling her Reindeer food outside at the base pf the chimney the night before our Christmas (which was actually December 27th) Shh. don't tell.

Christmas in Chicago

2010-01-03T16:03:00.009-05:00

Mom and the kids flew to Chicago on December 11th for a wedding and to visit Nana and Papa. Mom said the new portable DVD player we got ourselves for Christmas made all the difference o this flight.

Addy and Mom took a date day and went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks together.

The McKendrick Clan

Uncle Dan, Aunt Kristen and Skylar.

Four generation of Ankerberg/McKendrick ladies.

Christmas jamies.

Ah...the Chicago cold.

Addy and Skylar

Watching football with Uncle Dan.

After Dan's Deefield Basketball game.

Loving her Dunkin Donuts like Papa McKendrick.

Making a snowman. Addy was very excited to have real snow to work with as opposed to Virginia snow which melts by the time you get you warm clothes on you.

It was a Disney Princess themed Christmas all around for Addy.

Grand Illumination

2009-12-07T11:37:00.003-05:00

Kristyn and Addy braved the cold last night in Colonial Williamsburg along with Laurie and Braden to watch the fireworks at Grand Illumination. Well worth it, they reported. Addy even said they were better than Disneyland!

Christmastown at Busch Gardens

2009-12-07T10:56:00.013-05:00

Jack in the Box

2009-12-07T10:56:00.004-05:00