Ryan's First Tie

He looks so grown up!

I thought you were

Just a few pictures of Ryan before I get to my point...

Brett was very glad that Ryan wanted this bow out ASAP! I hope our little girls have hair like him!

Today, I received a nice compliment, one which I am sure that many of you have received. A lady at Chick-fil-a asked if I was LDS. When I said yes (are my g's showing?) she said " I thought you were... you can just tell."

As I left there, I was thinking about how she could tell. I thought of all of the people I have seen who I was certain that they were LDS, too. You really can tell. There is just a peacefulness and a glow about fellow members of the church because we really do have what makes us most happy. I hope to always live up to that "glow". I hope people will always be able to tell that I am LDS. I will do my best!

Laundry

Before I type... my conscience is reminding me that I challenged myself to 30 days of finding joy in the everyday things in life.

Ryan learned how to stick his finger up his nose. It was funny, cute and gross at the same time.

OKAY....

now i am free to say that i DO NOT LIKE putting away laundry. I am doing it right now and I just had to vent about it. I don't mind doing the laundry. I especially don't mind folding laundry because I always fold watching a mindless tv show. but, then the basket usually just sits and sits because I hate putting it away so much. But, I am trying to put it away within 24 hours of washing... so that is why I am in this putting away laundry funk!

(Conscience poking me again)

At least I have clothes to put away. For that I am so grateful!

Thanks, conscience!

(no pictures today... just imagine a pile of laundry the size of a little hill and me with my eyebrows furrowed)

Conversations

Conversation One:

Me: Ryan, will you sing me a song?

Ryan: Ya.... AHHHHH!

( video coming)


Conversation Two:

Me: This Crystal Light doesn't taste as good as it usually does.

Brett: Did you get the light kind?

Me: Are you trying to be funny?

Brett: I don't know.

joy

Today Brett gave an amazing talk in church. I was so proud of him. As he was giving it, I was thinking, "wow... I am married to this guy!" One thing that he said that I loved was "joy should not be a destination, it should be a companion on the journey."

My life is so full of joy, but sometimes I think that I just don't think about it. As I reflect upon my day, a lot of times my mind comes up blank. No funny stories or sweet memories or cute antedotes arise. But, I do know what I have to do tommorrow... hour by hour. I seem to focus more on what needs to be done and how I can get it done the best then savor the now.

So, my 30 day challenge to myself and who ever wants to join me is to try to remeber these little bits of everyday life that bring joy. And if life is so mundane that there really isn't anything to tell then I need to change that! This is my last day thinking about tomorrow... tomorrow I am going to think about today!

La la la la... Ryan's World

Ryan is sure a funny kid. I love that he is really becoming his own guy. Currently, Ryan loves:

Elmo's World

I decided that I would not expose Ryan to TV until he was two. However, we went on a road trip and Sesame Street DVDS got us through. Not long after that, Ryan got sick and was bored, but didn't want to play so I thought that a video wouldn't hurt. My sister showed Elmo's World when she babysat... and now he loves it! All day today he pointed at the TV and tried to turn it on. I made this mistake of humming the Elmo's World song and he ran to the TV! I foiled my own plan. I guess a little TV here and there won't hurt.

Dogs

A blue-eyed dog lover.... I never would have thought! But,I love that he loves dogs so much... so much that I can picture myself getting a one. Me... the anti-dog lady! I just can't resist that cute face!

Helping

Ryan loves helping out. He gets such a big grin when I ask him to help me push the shopping cart or carry a bag. Anytime I am cleaning or doing laundry, he is right there trying to be a part of it. After our Stake Confrence, Ryan saw all of the men putting away folding chairs. He started draggin chairs to where they needed to go and was helping random men carry their chairs. I was so proud. He is such a great helper! Does anyone need their gloor mopped?

I Believe in Dates.

On Valentine's Day eve, Brett took me out on a date. I told him that I wanted him to just take me out like the old days. And he sure did! He came up with the " Tour of You". He had 5 envelopes and I had to give him a kiss to get one. Each had something that he loves about me and an activity associated with it. We went to dinner, my favorite yogurt place, shopping and to a movie! What a night! He is so thoughtful. It was so fun to have fun just the two of us. I was very proud of myself as well because it was the first time that I left Ryan while he was still awake - besides with my mom and dad. Usually I feel better if I get him down before we go out, but this time, I just left. My sister was watching him and she did great! I had nothing to worry about! It was a big step for me. I think I can do that more often and MAYBE even handle an overnight date! I am now a huge believer in dates. Go on some!

My Loves

I am so LUCKY to share my life with two wonderful guys. They fill my life with so much love! Three reasons why I LOVE Brett

1. He is so kind and good.

2. He is amazingly patient and rarely gets angry

3. He leads by example and strives to do what is right at all times!

The cherry on top is that he is SO handsome!

Three Reasons Why I LOVE Ry-Ry:

1. His eyes.

2. The way he spontaneously gives me kisses and hugs and cuddles with my every morning.

3. He brings such pure joy to me and Brett.

He is SO handsome,too!

(these amazing pictures were taken by Mollie Jane. She is so great - I highly recommend her.)

What I Learned Today

Do not ever put a curious, techno-loving boy in the car, with your ONLY set of push-button lock keys and then close the door....

It was scary for a minute. Good thing he loves pushing those buttons!

Sleepy Memories

Ryan woke up from his afternoon nap after about 45 minutes. I knew that he would still be tired. So, instead of laying him back down, I took him to the couch and snuggled in with him. This way, I could get a nap too and feel completly justified. He needed me. Then, as we were laying there, Ryan stuck his little arm around the back of my neck - you know - back in between my pillow and neck. He really had to work to get it back there, so he was purposefully doing that. What a little snuggle-bug man.

IT WAS SO CUTE!

I never want to forget that.

This was pretty cute, too.