Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I've Been Saving Up All Day...

...that's what my Grandma says every year, "I've been saving up all day for this" as we sit down to eat Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. For the past few years we've joked about it as we all sit down and it's something we all wait for Grandma to say before we start eating!

This year at Thanksgiving I think about how thankful I am for everything and everyone in my life! I am so thankful for my loving husband and my awesome baby boy, Ryan! (OK, he's not technically a baby anymore but he's still my baby!) I am thankful that we are all healthy and happy and that in these difficult economic times, we still have full-time jobs! I am thankful for my siblings, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, for nieces, nephews and another on the way! I love the holiday season and look forward to spending lots of time with family in the coming weeks.

I'll update with pictures from our Thanksgiving festivities soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

He loves the water

Tonight Ryan has washed his hands no less than 32 times, or something close to that! He has a stool in his bathroom that he can stand on all on his own and he loves to wash his hands, brush his teeth and just play in the water. Tonight I caught him on video singing the tail end of "happy birthday", making silly faces and cleaning the sink! Here's a glimpse of Ryan in action.


Saturday, November 21, 2009

Oh Happy Day!

Six years ago today was our amazing, beautiful and FUN wedding day! Here are a few photos of us through the years:

Dating in 2002 - 2003

Engagement Pictures

Wedding Day!

Me with Mom & Dad

Pregnant with Ryan!

Ryan's Baptism

Coast Trip in 2008


Happy Sixth Anniversary, Jake! I Love You :)

Monday, November 16, 2009

Thanks for the comments on my Truth post. Really, it helped me to think about even more than I was already pondering.

I'm sad to report that I have not ventured outside of my comfort zone and attended church yet. I have, however, been able to be in contact with an old (in years, not age) friend that is very dear to me and we have agreed to be each others support and church attending partner! (Chaundra, if you're reading this now, I just realized that Sunday is our 6th wedding anniversary! Needless to say, I'm hoping to either get away for the weekend with the hubby or at least enjoy his Sunday off together. I may have to attend church on Saturday evening local and then meet up with you the following weekend...Life sure is busy these days!)

Tracy, I look forward to hearing more about your Beth Moore study. Keep me posted on how it's going!

Tamara, thanks for the comments. Our prayer time is coming along and yes I would love to converse with you about these issues! I'll be in touch soon.

Right now though, I have a 2 year old who is running through the house playing "hide & seek" with his daddy and I think I want to join in on the fun!

I'll post more soon with some pictures of our weekend birthday party and visit with family.

**UPDATED** Please know that I DO know when my anniversary is, I just didn't realize until I looked at the calendar that it is falling on Sunday this year! Just wanted to clear that up for anyone who may be thinking..."she doesn't even know when her anniversary is"!

Friday, November 13, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Somehow we always say the least
To those we love the best
And hope our thoughts are understood
Although they're unexpressed -
That's why it means so very much
When days like this are here
To say how very much you're loved
Each day throughout the year!

Love you Mom, Happy Birthday!!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Truth

Ever since we found out we were expecting with Ryan, I've always pictured us as a church-going, Catholic-practicing family. We had Ryan baptized but we have never made the commitment to going to church every Sunday. In the beginning of our marriage it was difficult to predict Jake's days off and I never wanted to take Ryan (who could, in an instant, become a crying infant in church) to church alone. I read a lot of blogs of Christian women who belong to small groups within their church family and who rely on their faith to see them through every day situations or trying times in their lives. I LOVE it. I am inspired by these women (most of whom I've never met in real life - but I stalk their blogs because I am so inspired).


I've also been reading a lot lately about Beth Moore Bible Studies - and don't laugh - but I don't know who Beth Moore is and I am so anxious to find out what it is that a Beth Moore Bible Study is all about!!


So I am going to challenge myself to attend church as many Sundays as possible this month even if it means I go alone or just with Ryan. I want Ryan to be familiar with and understand the Bible. I am also going to challenge myself to incorporate some new things into Ryan's bedtime routine. On top of putting on his pj's, brushing his teeth and reading bedtime stories, I want to start bedtime prayers with him too.


This might all sound really random to most people who know me but this is always how I dreamed my life would be and now that I'm responsible for my own actions and the way I raise my child, I guess I have no one to blame but myself if it doesn't happen.


I challenge you all to make a change in your lives, to do something you've always dreamed you would do but just haven't followed through with. Maybe it's something as small as being kind to strangers, offering a "good morning" to the co-worker that you never speak to, or foregoing the lazy, sleeping-in on Sundays and attending church yourself. If anyone wants to join me in going to church, the more the merrier!



John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from

Barney!

Here's Ryan trick-or-treating at Grammy & Papa's house.


And Ryan being shy and not wanting to be a part of the cousins picture on Halloween!

Here are the rest of the cousins (sorry for the blurry pic). Bryce the football player, Kayla the witch, Anthony the baseball player and Jaylynn the lady bug.

We took Ryan with his cousins to the church in town instead of our original plan of the church in Hanford because he skipped his nap and was really cranky. He wanted to be held the entire time. Here we are in line for the Cake Walk.

It was a good but long day. We're hopeful Ryan will be more active and interested in Halloween next year and we can enjoy the church activities a little more next year (Ryan says, "yeah, right!").

Hope your Halloween was fun too!