Young Frankenstein

Now that Ryan is walking as her main source of transportation, it is a lot easier to get video to show! I think she looks like a little Frankenstein the way she puts her hands out and has such a wide stance. A lot of the time she even growls when she walks too! It's so funny!

This is just a funny picture to show how lady-like Ryan is. She is actually wearing a skirt here, but she prefers to have the skirt up out of the way... good thing there are shorts built in under! I hope I can teach her to be more of a lady by the time they don't make skirts with the shorts in them!!

Birthday Parties

When we went north to celebrate Ryan's birthday we went to also celebrate my dad's and niece Riley's birthdays as well. It was really fun to spend the time on the cakes and make it special for the girls--who both turned one! All the cakes were chocolate with regular colored frosting. The fins were made with Airheads. We wanted to do a fish theme, and I think they turned out great!

Ryan's little fish cake I made.

Riley Bug's fish done my her mom Natalie--she is the artistic one in the family who came up with the idea.

My dad's birthday cake that Natalie and I both contributed to. Most of the frosting was Nat's work--making those stupid stars is way harder than it looks!


We also had two really great parties. Both sides of our family spoiled her too much. Ryan is really lucky to have so many family members who love her so much. I just really felt bad for Uncle David on Jared's side of the family. All kids adore Dave... but Ryan has yet to realize that he is wonderful! He and Brian spoiled her to the max and Ryan cried every time they even looked at her. Don't worry David one day she will realize how awesome you really are and you will be the favorite!

Uncle David and Brian with their gift that was meant to win over Ryan... It still didn't quite do the trick; but now, that they are not around to see, she loves all the toys that were in the box!

Jared's mom also had a cute little princess birthday hat that would have been so fun if only she didn't hate it so much!

Justin and Abbie giving Ryan her cake. She was more appreciative than she looks I am promis... lol!

Blowing out candles at my house.

Destroying the fish I spent hours creating! I loved every second!

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Today Ryan is ONE! I can't believe my littl girl is a year old already! She is such a blessing in our family! Here are 10 things I love about Ryan...

1. She is my little buddy! There is no one she loves to be with more than mom!
2. She is always so happy! She can make you laugh till you cry.
3. Her smile is so cute. I love when she crinkles her little nose.
4. She loves her chocolate and other sweets just like her mother.
5. She looks like a zombie when she walks.
6. She has no fear. This is good and bad I realize, but she is so fun to play with
because you don't have to be as soft with her.
7. She is a cuddle bug. She loves to give hugs and loves--especially when she
first wakes up.
8. She gives me kisses. Not everyone gets kisses. She only kisses mom and
sometimes dad if he is lucky.
9. She is a tease. She loves when I chase her and pop out of hiding places to
scare her.
10. she is the most beautiful and most precious gift that we could ever have dreamed
of. She is everything that we hoped for and more. We can't even begin to
explain what a blessing she is in our home! Without her we would be nothing!

In the near future I will post her cute birthday pictures... so stay posted.

Pay it forward

SO--Here's how it works-the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Then come back, let me know you're going to play, and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Remember that only the first 3 comments will receive a gift from me, so be quick!

Almost One!

This month will be Ryan's first birthday! I can't even believe that it has been this long! Just a year ago on this week we were waiting to see if Ryan would come on Valentines Day! Instead she waited another week--at the request of Kenzie, and came on the 23rd! I thought I would shoot some photos to hold me off until I got her pictures taken up north. Plus I am trying to learn my way around my new camera.

Covered with Happiness!

We had some friends over the other night and were about to play some games when Jared offered everyone some chocolate pudding. Ryan wanted some right away. So I offered to share with her. Jared thought it would be easier if we just gave the pudding to Ryan and let her do her thing while we played the game. Here was the result! Enjoy!


We started off with a spoon

Quickly ditched the spoon!


Oh so happy!


All Goods things come to an end!