Land That I Love

We're heading to Michigan tomorrow for the 4th of July and Maddie's birthday. Each time I go, I am afraid I'll be unable to leave and chain myself to a maple tree. I can't wait to give the kids this opportunity to play with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grammy. I'm also excited to get them reaquainted with the "land that I love." Ryen keeps asking me every five minutes if she can get in the car yet. She's got her beach toys in one hand and her infamous never-leave-home-without-it yellow blankie in the other. Her shoes are on and she is ready to go! She's going to have so much fun! We'll post pictures when we get home.

Southern Living

We've been doing some work on our house lately- just little things to update it and make it more our own. (It feels like we are always doing something, but nothing is ever done!) We put new light fixtures, door hardware, and house numbers outside and also added planters. The new carpeting will be installed in a couple weeks and we are so stoked! We recently had a little family meeting and it looks like we will be living here for at least the next five years. We're very excited about our plans and really love it here! Every now and then a word pops out of Ryen's mouth with a southern accent. Yesterday she asked for some "ahhscream". Home sweet home!

Two Peas In A Pod

 

Madelyn's Birthday Portraits

We took Maddie to get her portraits taken for her first birthday. It seems to be the year of the tutu- but I think Madelyn's shots will look so cute next to Ryen's birthday portraits... if we ever get them back! It's rare that we go to the portrait studio without Ryen getting her picture taken. Wouldn't you know it, she got jealous of Madelyn and kept diving into the scenes yelling "Cheeeeeese!!!" Now I'll know for next time that I only have to tell her it's not her turn to get her to cooperate! 

Garden Fairy

We call Ryen our little Garden Fairy because she loves to eat her fruits and veggies. She loves tomotoes, "trees", peas, berries, and even salad. She has been in heaven during strawberry season! I always catch her sneaking into the frig for a berry yummy treat! 

Funny Face Phase

Ryen loves to play with water and I often find her in the bathroom splashing around in the sink. She knows that when she is done eating, she is to head straight in there to wash up. She gets her hands nice and clean every time- but never washes her face. She hates water on her face! It's always a battle. She thinks it's hilarious, but we are doing everything we can to coax her out of this phase. 

Guilty Girls

Ryen recently figured out that getting into trouble is even more fun with company!

 

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day and I just want to say that Ryen has the most incredible Dad. He is everything I knew he would be and the greatest gift I have given my children. Ryen looks at Sonny with so much love and tenderness... and he, in turn, looks back at her with a love in his eyes that he would be unable to hide even if he wanted to. He adores her. She is everything to him. Sonny lives for "his girls" and loves the three of us in a way that is inspiring.

Here's to my daddy! For every owie he kisses, for every time he drops everything to give me a "wub", for every good-night story, dance under the stars, and peanut butter and jelly sandwich- cut into perfect triangles. I love you Daddy!

Love,

Ry

Pictures From Powell

ryen with her cousins- ashlyn amberly & camry

ry takes the wheel

coaxed onto a seadoo

ryen and maddie play with ashlyn

dad grabbed the wrong diaper- check out that junk in the trunk

happy in the shade

 

keeping busy out of the sun

kissing a gecko

ryen and brooke

 

ryen and maddie goofing around

playing with uncle sterling

ryen's fake smile

 

our houseboat

kids water ski

little footprints

in all it's glory

 

Heliophobia

We recently got back from Lake Powell. Ryen had a great vacation, albeit a sunless one. Early on, she complained about having to wear sunscreen so I told her that she needed it to protect her from the sun... so she wouldn't get burned. She spent the entire trip chasing shadows and only playing outside when the sun had gone beyond the walls of rock. We had to force her on boat rides and into the water... and even then, she carefully paid attention to wear the sun was shining and meticulously avoided it's rays. At least she isn't in any danger of getting skin cancer! Since we have been home, she has handed me bottles of lotion insisting that I put it on her so that mean sun won't get her. She is well moisturized.

Besides her development of heliophobia, Ryen had a wonderful time at Powell. She enjoyed playing with her cousins and conning many unsuspecting (and adoring) relatives into reading books to her. She played in the sand (after the sun passed), hunted for geckos, and "watered" the fish regularly. What a little character!

Missile Potato Head

Our little Ry gets so frustrated when her body isn't skilled enough to do what her mind wants it to. She has a real love/hate relationship with several of her toys... one of which is Mrs. Potato Head. Ryen is absolutely ecstatic when she gets all of the pieces to stick in all by herself. When she doesn't Mrs. Potato Head becomes a missile.

Little Bookworm

Ry is learning how to read. She knows all of her letters and likes to play computer games on Sesame Street's website. She also loves to play hide and seek on the keyboard. I tell her to find different letters and she types them spelling out words. She likes to write "letters". Here is a letter straight from the little lady herself...

HIMY NAME ISS RYEN. KMY FRIENDISADELINE. YLPOIUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYTREWQUUUUU88UUUUUUUUUUUH I LOVE YOU

Ryen's 3-year Portraits

This little piggy went to the portrait studio...

That's My Girl

I love this picture of Ryen! I think, maybe better than any other picture, it shows her personality so perfectly. She loves without limits, laughs without worry, gives without taking, and dives into anything and everything face first.