This is a page I scrapbooked of Ryen last December. It is so hard to believe it was that long ago! It's fun to look at photos from the same time a year before to see what we were doing then and to see how much the girls have grown. What a fun year we have had! I know I say this a lot, but I truly feel SO blessed to have these two special girlies in my life and to have such a loving husband forever by my side. I am so grateful for all of the fun and growth this last year has brought us!

Operation Ho Ho Ho

Meeting Santa

Ryen was so enormously excited to meet jolly old St. Nick! She looked like she was about to explode with anticipation. The second it was our turn, she dashed straight for him, flung her arms around him, and gave him a gigantic hug. As soon as she sat up on his lap however, she turned into a different child... A shy and downright coy little girl who only spoke in whispers. (I wondered what it would cost to hire Santa to sit with us in church on Sundays???) Madelyn was scared of old Kris Kringle and couldn't get off his lap fast enough. She kept squirming and wiggling in an attempt to slide down his leg and out of his reach. Poor girl. We were able to keep her on his lap just long enough to snap one picture. What a fun and funny memory! 

Christmas Cooking

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Sisters

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Ryen has been getting more and more interested in this whole blog thing. She loves to look at it and even tells me what to include sometimes. (It won't be long before she is writing her own entries!) When she checked it out today, she asked me a good question. Who reads it? Well, why don't you tell us? Roll call! Just write a little comment under this post if you don't mind.

Our Disney Vacation

We just got back from Orlando and I'd be lying if I said the kids weren't suffering from a mild case of No-disney-itis. Man, did we have a fun vacation! Before we hit D world, we took the kids to a carnival-type place where they went on their first fariswheel. Madelyn hated it while Ryen couldn't ride long enough. We let Ry go on one of those huge swinging pirate ship things where I felt certain I was going to die (or at least lose my lunch). Ryen, on the other hand, squeeled with delight the entire time. She got off the ride chanting, "Again again again!" Also at this place was the world's tallest dropping swing thing. I'm not sure what it's exactly called, but you strap into this vest attached to cables, get raised 300 FEET above the ground, and then just get dropped. Can you imagine??? Sonny not only imagined it, he experienced it first-hand! I thought for sure I was going to leave that place a widow, but as luck would have it, he lived to tell the tale.

We arrived at Disney world first thing in the morning and stayed until closing. We didn't plan on that, but the kids were behaving so well and having so much fun that we just settled in for the long haul. Ryen was beyond elated each time we bumped into one of the characters there. While waiting in line for the Pirates of the Carribean ride, she encountered Captain Jack Sparrow and Sonny and I got to see our little girlie blush for the first time. Ahoy! Talk about shivering timbers! Besides her pirate crush, the most exciting person Ryen met was, of course, Mickey Mouse. She bolted for him (completely cutting in front of a huge line of children) and threw her arms around him. Sonny managed to pry her away long enough to wait in the line and then she was able to introduce herself properly. She went on every ride besides Space Mountain, but her favorite was the Dumbo ride. (Probably because it was the only one we tried to discourage, since the line was always so long!) Madelyn really loved the rides, but her favorite things were the shows. She got SO into them and would scream and cry when they were over. She could have watched those Country Bears perform a thousand times! Maddie also loved the Jungle Cruise. Both of the girls were delighted by the parades and were certainly enthralled by the whole experience. We're really glad we took them!

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Bienvenu Maddie Moo

I think it's time for a little change to Ryen's blog. Madelyn is getting older, showing us more and more of her beauty and personality. We relish each new discovery and want to share it with you. Rather than create a whole new blog to pay homage to our dear second-born hooligan, I've decided to simply make room in "Ryen's Room". Welcome to the club, Moo! We love you!

Doodlebug

 

The Alphabet Project

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Color Safari

The girls and I have been going for walks every morning and yesterday I decided to take my camera along. Ryen and I talked about colors and, as we walked along our street, I had her point out each tree she wanted me to capture on our color safari. She and Madelyn loved it! As we were walking along, I couldn't help thinking about how blessed I am. Surrounded by the beauty of nature with my camera in my hand and my two beautiful daughters by my side. Life couldn't be more spectacular! 

Octopus & Fishie Celebrate Halloween

Another Day Another Pumpkin Farm

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Starring Ryen

After going to a puppet show at the local children's museum, Ryen and I were inspired to make our own puppets and prepare a show for Madelyn and Daddy. We made sock puppets and puppets out of construction paper. Ry may have found her true calling!

Two Little Wildflowers