A first time for everything....

I can't believe this little guy is 3!!!

Yes...that was 3 years ago that he came into our lives....

That special day was a very big first in my life.  One of my biggest dreams came true.

I became a mom!

The events of his birth...and everything leading up to it hold a very special place in my heart and is something that I will never forget.  No words will ever be enough to express the gratitude and love I feel for having Ryker in my life.  Each day he has been a part of our family has been some of the happiest.  From the bottom of my heart I want to give a special thank you to Ryker's birth mom.  We love you very much and want you to know how special you are to us.  Thank you for loving Ryker so much and for choosing us to be a part of his life (and yours!).  You are an amazing woman with an unbelievable amount of courage.  I truly hope that I can be like you.  That I can have the kind of faith and trust that you have.  Thank you for taking such good care of Ryker and letting us be a part of your pregnancy.  You really are so special to us.  We love you!  xox

Over these 3 years we have learned that this little boy is full of personality.  He is so super sweet...so smart...keeps us laughing...provides endless entertainment...and is so stinkin' cute!!!  I seriously just can't handle him getting bigger.  I mean where have the past 3 years gone??!!  I still think of him as my little baby, but then I look at him and see a little boy.  Can time really pass so quickly??  I don't every want to forget any of the details of his life...big or small.  I know that's impossible.  Of course there will be things I'll forget...and not because I want to forget them, but because I'm human.  I just hope that I can remember and keep all these precious moments.  Childhood is short and before I know it he'll be a teenager and won't want to hold my hand anymore...or kiss me goodnight...haha!!

I've been trying to write down the funny things he says everyday.  He is always making me laugh.

• Yesterday he really wanted to go for a car ride, but I told him it was too cold.  So he said to me, "I'll wear a coat!"

• And today when we were at some friends house playing their little boy took a toy from Ryker.  I said it was okay and told Ryker to find something else to play with.  As he was walking away from me I heard him say "I didn't even get to say please!  Hmmpf....  I didn't even get to say please!!"  (all dramatic and while slumping his shoulders...haha!)

Too many to remember them all tonight, but oh so funny!

Ryker....

I love you!!  And hope you have a great day!!

xoxox

The countdown is on...

okay...

so there's still lots of time until we leave, but our flights are booked!!

11 days of sun!!!

We're taking the kids with us and we're traveling with my sister and her family.

Let's just hope we have great weather...cause I'm sure no matter what it's going to be a fantastic time :)

As requested...

Okay...

So I had a few emails asking me about some of the other books I've collected. Just thought I'd share a few more that my little family loves!

This first one is a classic. I searched for just the right one (I can be picky with my illustrations...haha) but I loved this one.

We also have this edition as well...the pictures are really cute too!! This book definitely takes me back to my childhood. I can specifically remember one Christmas when my sisters and I acted out this story and video taped it...if only we still had a copy. It was the funniest thing. We dressed up my Cabbage Patch doll to look like Santa and everything. It was pretty good.

Then this next one was a favorite from my years in elementary school. I can still remember perfectly the librarian reading it to my class for the first time. It's really really cute...with little envelopes with letters and Christmas cards tucked inside...or little activities. I haven't read this book yet this Christmas season, but I think it's one of my very favorites.

Okay...so this one I originally bought cause it was like $3 at Walmart or something like that and just thought it would be a good one for Ryker. But I have to say it really was a great purchase. I completely love it for many different reasons. The story is really sweet...it goes through all the animals and talks about the different things we remember at Christmas time. It focuses more on the birth of the Savior than Santa. And I always get a little teary reading it. It's a book that really brings the true spirit and meaning of Christmas. (and how can you beat $3??!!?)

A couple of years ago my sister bought this book for my family. Yes, I had already seen the movie so it was already a favorite, but I love the book even more!!

Here is another one that takes me back to my childhood.... It's a fun one cause you get to scratch different pictures and smell the items as you read. Fun for kids!! (It also reminds me of all the scratch and sniff stickers I collected when I was littler...remember when you collected stickers and kept them in your sticker book???! We always traded with other people too...haha!! Oh the memories. I probably still have my sticker book in a box somewhere.)

This book was recommended by some family friends...another really good one to have. I love snowmen!!

I actually just ordered this one and haven't received it yet, but a friend from church shared it with us and I immediately knew I had to have it. It talks about the characteristics of Santa and then compares them to Jesus and his characteristics (I haven't read much further than that, but she said the rest of the book is really good too). When it comes I'll tell you what I think, but when I read reviews for the book online everyone LOVED it! I can't wait for it to come...sooo exciting!!!
All my books are sitting in a cute little basket by the Christmas tree.... Ryker and I read them and look at the often in the day and I love it. I love reading to my boys and I love to see them enjoy it as much as I do. I didn't always love reading as a little kid, but as I've grown up I've learned the importance of it. And hopefully every year as a family we can read through some of our favorite Christmas stories and cherish the special moments and memories that it creates.

:)

Ornaments and Cards....

Last month at church (as a Relief Society activity) we did a service auction. I was offering 10 Christmas cards...which somehow I seemed to keep putting off making. So finally I got to it and created these....

I used this kit and this kit from house of 3. And then of course I also used...

Making Memories - Vintage Findings Collection - Tickets , BRAND NEW
Scrapbook.com

and my favorite inks...some christmas stamps...and some bling!!

And then...

This year I was part of an ornament exchange. How it worked was everyone had to make 25 home made ornaments and each person got to take one of each persons home with them. So you end up with 25 home made ornaments! It was a really fun night...and so much fun to see what everyone created. I'll have to take some pictures cause there are some really impressive ornaments that I never would have thought of...people are so creative! :)

Here's what I made...

It's a count down to Christmas ornament inspired by Heidi of course :)

It would have been so helpful to have had these ones...but I started my ornaments before they were available. In photoshop I just changed some of the colors to red and shrunk them so they would be a better size for an ornament. I kept them super simple, but when you're making 25 it just has to be that way.

Okay...next task...set up my Christmas tree and decorations! I still have something I'm trying to put together for the boys before December 1st...ughh...that's next week....

:)

This year....

Every year at Christmas time I buy a Christmas book to add to our collection. This year while browsing through blogs (you know how you start to read a blog and then click on someone else and then click on another blog and another until you can't even remember how you came across it in the first place??!!) I came across this book and knew I wanted to check it out. It came highly recommended by the blog writer and I have to say that I really enjoyed it too. I think I love the illustrations just as much as the actual story.

The Christmas decorations have not made it out of the basement yet and the tree is not up, but I'm getting anxious to get everything out and get the house decorated. I'm also looking forward to have Ryker stop asking if we can decorate for Halloween. I keep telling him that Christmas is coming and we'll get to decorate the house for that...I guess he really enjoyed the halloween season...haha!! Hopefully Christmas won't disappoint him... :)

And I'm really excited to have my little basket of Christmas books sitting out by the tree that we can read. It's one of my favorite things. I have some fun stuff planned for the holiday season...lets hope I get everything done soon. And if it gets done...I'll share. Cody's leaving again this week, so maybe it will give me some time to myself...but maybe not. Haha!! It usually just means I'm more tired cause I'm doing everything on my own.

Any other Christmas books that I shouldn't be living without?

Please share...I'm always looking for recommendations :)

Every so often...

when I'm shopping I find something that I just have to have. And a couple of weeks ago it was this mirror. It hasn't found a home yet, but it's sitting above our fireplace until I decide on the right spot. I love it!! (I know it's a weird angle for the pic, but it was the only way I didn't get weird light reflecting from the kitchen...haha!)

Making cupcakes right now for the primary party...one thing to check off the list. Not too sure how the rest of the stuff is coming along. I'm planning on packing in as much as I can tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Have a great weekend!

:)

p.s. Did I mention that I watched New Moon last night.... :)

Wondering where I've been...

It's feeling like a really long time since I've posted anything. November seems to be a busy month for us. There's already a bunch of Christmas stuff going on and lots of church things I'm involved with which = Craziness. I've made my Christmas list and I've started my shopping...but there's still lots to do. I figure if I can get as much done as I can this month then next month I'll be able to enjoy the season. Is that how it works??? Haha!!

The boys are keeping us busy and providing us with never ending laughs. Cody and I managed to go on a date Friday night with NO KIDS! Amazing. That never seems to happen for us. We had Ryker asleep before we left, but I guess he woke up while we were gone. Alex said he came and gave her a hug not realizing who she was...he quickly did a double take and then asked "Are Mom and Dad safe?" He must of had a bad dream.

And today Maguire wiggled from the living room under his little play toy into the kitchen. He was making his way to the kitchen table. Ryker and I were quite impressed with how far he got wiggling on his tummy. He's growing so fast.

Goals for the week...

• finish my ornaments for an ornament exchange I'm doing (I have 25 I have to make and they're turning out super cute!)
• Make Christmas Cards
• Clean up Ryker's room and get it decorated. I finally got all his bedding and it's really cute. When I'm finished I'll have to share.
• Primary stuff...need I say more. We have our Primary Presentation in 2 weeks.
• Make cupcakes for the Primary Party Friday night
• And I'm sure a million other things

Really there's just too much going on.

K :)