Oh Why Can't Everyday Be Like Christmas?

I'm really not sure how to break it to Ryland that Christmas is over. She is constantly requesting Christmas songs in the car, and we keep playing them for her. I just figure, it'll keep us in the holiday spirit for the whole year of 2012 :) It amazes me how she has learned so many songs in the last couple months. She has a couple favorite Christmas CD's, and she knows what each song is just from the first few notes.

We haven't taken our tree down yet, or the decorations, but sad to say we'll be putting them away this weekend. I've tried to figure out how to make this a fun experience for Ryland, but not sure how to go about that quite yet. I figure we better move on to the next holiday and put up some Valentine's Day stuff.

Christmas :)

Ryland has had a busy and fabulous Christmas! Yesterday was spent with my family at my dad's, eating an awesome lasagna dinner, singing christmas carols at the table, playing christmas music, laughing, and exchanging gifts. On our way home, we enjoyed a stroll down Peacock lane looking at all the christmas lights. In our opinion, it was a perfect Christmas Eve.

Ryland was so excited for Santa to arrive. I'm not sure if she liked that she wasn't going to actually see him, but once she woke up to a tree full of presents, I'm pretty sure it wasn't an issue. The top three things on Ryland's wishlist this year were: a workshop (tools), carnival (ferris wheel toy), and a babydoll. And since Ryland has been very good all year long, Santa brought her all of those things, and more.

I have plenty of pictures to share, but I thought I would post a video of one of our family christmas carols at the dinner table. Ryland LOVED it.

Christmas Past

I thought it would be fun to reminisce a little about Ryland's first Christmas, because it sure is hard to believe that this is her third! I always enjoy looking back because even as a little baby, she had the same sweet little personality. She was just born with it, and it shines more everyday. This is the first year that I think she really understands that Santa is bringing her presents. I keep asking what she wants from him, and she says "I don't know...toys". No worries though, I've been talking with Santa, and I think Ryland will be very happy come Christmas morning.

Since Sunday (Ryland's stage debut)...Ryland has been talking nonstop about the nutcracker, and her role as a gumdrop. She keeps showing me what she did on stage while saying, "I went back and forth like this, then I turned around, and then we did this...". She is very proud that she got to dance on stage with the other girls, and in costume!!

On a side note...this little girl is loving the christmas season. Last night we made a gingerbread house, and she is quickly learning all the Christmas songs by heart. Favorite song? Definitely still Frosty the Snowman.

Gumdrop

This week has been incredibly busy with work and Nutcracker. I feel like I haven't even been able to breath. But luckily, I have Ryland and Champ, who were very patient all week while I had rehearsals and performances. Ryland sat through two Nutcracker shows, and has been humming Tchaikovsky ever since!
She even had a surprise role today, and got to dance on stage as a gumdrop! Wow. My little baby has now become a budding ballerina :)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I've been so busy the last week that it's been hard for me to post much. Luckily, most of you who read the blog have seen Ryland this week anyway :) We had a great thanksgiving dinner with lots of laughs, and we even sang carols at the dinner table (per Ryland's request). We've been getting out the Christmas decorations slowly, and Ryland seems very excited. She keeps singing "Ho!...you better watch out, you better not cry.." and so on and so forth. Turns out...Ryland loves Christmas just like her momma :)

Seattle Trip

baby Aviley

Ryland with Pop

Ryland with Mimi

Ryland and I with baby Kellan

Ryland and Pop

Ryland with Mimi

Last weekend was a very busy and exciting weekend. We were out of town visiting my best friend's newborn baby boy, and staying with my other best friend and her 5 month old baby girl. It was a big baby weekend, and I loved it, as did Ryland and Champ. Hanging out with a newborn really brought me back to when Ryland was a newborn. It's amazing how much they sleep. You can pass the baby around from person to person, and they never even knew they left their momma's arms. I'm happy to know that I milked that time for all it was worth. I'll always wish I could hold Ryland as a little baby again, but I am happy knowing that I spent many of hours cuddling her and watching her sleep. It's amazing how quickly they grow up. In a matter of just two years they go from being completely dependant on you, to saying "no, i wanna do that by myself!".

Anyways, on our way home from Seattle, we stopped by Mimi and Pop's house. It was a much needed visit. Ryland got to show off her talking skills, and play with all the fun toys they still have from when Champ was a little boy. It's a great feeling to see Ryland with her great grandparents. What a joy!

Frosty the Snowman

It appears Christmas time is rapidly approaching because 'Frosty the Snowman' is already stuck in my head (which is fine by me). Last weekend my dad got Ryland a children's Christmas cd that she absolutely loves, and it turns out 'Frosty' is one of her favorites. Yesterday while driving to ballet, I think I heard it a total of 5 times. Champ had put it on repeat for Ryland, because each time it ended she would request it again. This Frosty marathon was then followed by an extensive recap (by Ryland) of what happens in the cartoon.

"and then Frosty was alive, and Karen was happy"

"frosty was in the refrigerator because he needs to be cold but Karen was too cold in there"

And so it starts. I have a new companion to share my Christmas love and excitement! I couldn't be more happy.

Trick or Treat!

The whole family...A Cupcake, Cookie Monster, and a Jar of Cookies!

Ryland and Aviley...Cupcake twins!

Since Ryland has been telling us for weeks that she didn't want to go trick or treating...we were a little unsure as to how Halloween night was going to go. Turns out, she did awesome! Had a little trouble initially getting her into her costume, but after she realized what we were doing, we were off! Ryland said "trick or treat" at every door, and people thought she was adorable. Champ and I enjoyed seeing her face light up at all the pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, and trick or treaters. When we got home, Ryland ate a little candy and fell asleep. But there was one more treat before the night ended...one of my best friends went into labor and had her baby boy :) Pictures to come in a few days!

Pumpkin Patch!

Pony rides...

U-pick pumpkins...

Memory making...

Pumpkin carving...

Kid's face painting...

Incredible food...

Nikkie's birthday...

Pumpkin launching...

Animal feeding...

Tractor seeing...

Cookie eating...

Haystack climbing...

Costume Adventures

Finding a costume for Ryland has been almost impossible. Ryland has been telling me all the things she just doesn't want to be. She has turned down being pretty much every costume in the entire Halloween store. For the entire month of October, it's been "mom, I don't want to be a bat....mom, I don't want to be a witch....mom, I don't want to be a ghost". The list goes on and on and on, and just the other day Ryland informed me that she doesn't even want to go trick-or-treating. I've been trying to convince her of the fun she'll have, but i'm not sure she believes me.

Anyway, the other day she finally found the costume she wants to wear. A cupcake. Funny since it is the same exact costume her good baby friend Aviley is going to wear. Since this is the only costume she finally wanted, we bought it. However, since buying it, she has informed me she wants to be Buzz Lightyear, a duck, or a rocket ship. So, what I've concluded from this, is...I have a very indecisive girl on my hands. As for what she will really dress up as on Halloween, I'm still not so sure....

Singing

Ryland loves to sing. She sings all day, and is constantly requesting songs in the car. She even likes to make up words to the tune of songs she already knows. Some of her favorite songs currently are This Old Man, Hakuna Matata (from The Lion King), You're Amazing (Bruno Mars), and pretty much anything by Disney and my dad...

Mayfield Style

Strange to say, but our trip to Kentucky was almost a month ago! I feel like I have so many stories to tell, and pictures to show, but I really don't even know where to start. The pictures here are just a small snapshot of our trip. Everyday was full of family, friends, and food (especially barbeque). I'm so thankful my dad and Sally let us tag along.

Ever since we got home, Ryland continues to talk about Mayfield, and keeps saying things are "Mayfield style" (not sure what that means, but its cute anyway). She seems to remember a lot of things about the trip. For example, I just asked Ryland "what should momma write about in her blog about our trip to Kentucky?", and she replied with "uhh Airplane, bus, uhh Mayfield, Hall of Fame". Apparently riding on a bus was a big thing to her! Anyways, I intend on posting more pictures soon, and telling more stories from our trip...until then, I hope you enjoy these few :)