Happy 1st Birthday Ryen!

Our little Miss Ryen has turned 1!  It seemed to go by so much faster than it did with Avery.  Dave and I took the day off from work to spend the day with her and thanks to the snow storm, Avery got to spend the day with us too!  Our day started with sprinkle pancakes for everyone and some singing- even from grandma and papa!

After the birthday girl took a little morning nap, it was off to lunch at Carls and then to the Children's Discovery Museum.  Ryen had never been here before, so it was really fun to watch her explore everything around her.  It was much harder to keep up with both of the girls who were all over the place so I was thankful that Dave and I were both there.

Doesn't everyone eat the paint brush instead of painting with it?  :)  Thankfully there was no one here and the paint station was fresh and clean.

After the museum, it was time for a little afternoon nap.  While that was happening, it was a perfect chance for Avery and Daddy to go and get cupcakes.  After dinner it was time to dig in and open some birthday presents.

Thanks Auntie Judy and Uncle Rich!

Avery picked out a new puzzle and a stuffed bunny all by herself.

That following weekend it was time to party!  We were so thankful for all our friends who came to celebrate.  There was good food, a build your own ice cream sundae bar, and lots of children!  Thank goodness it was nice enough outside to play for a bit.

 Brownies and ice cream with Grandma!

The girls and their godparents.  :)

Side by side comparison:

Miss Ryen on the day she was born, 3 months, 6 months, and 11 months!

At her one year check up, she weighed in at a whopping 18 pounds (20th percentile), 28 inches tall (25th percentile) and all around happy and healthy.  She is walking like a champ, trying to run, and climbing on everything she can get to.  She has successfully been off her reflux meds for a few months, is drinking whole milk like a pro and eats everything in sight!  Sweet Ryen, you have been such a joy this past year and we are thankful each day that you have completed our family.  We look forward to watching you grow and learn over the next year.  Happy Birthday peanut!

Playing Catch Up

In mid-February, Ryen turned 11 months old!  How that is possible, I'm still not sure.  She is a walking super star now and we have even seen her try to run.  She loves eating and trying to do it on her own!

 She is also on the go all the time.  Getting her to sit still for these pictures was not happening!

Other things she loves- her kitties (the feeling isn't always mutual), her sister (see below), eating real foods, and dropping things off her tray while smiling and say "ugh-oh"!  She currently has 2 bottom teeth and 4 teeth coming in on the top.  I cannot believe we are getting ready for her 1st birthday!!

Since Ryen was not so cooperative with her monthly picture, here's a comparison using a different picture.

The weekend before Ashely's birthday the girls and I headed up to Chicago to celebrate with her. And I have zero pictures of Ashley with the girls.  But I do have these two pictures to share! 

This morning Avery had her final dance class and it was a recital day.  I am sure you can picture what this was like with 1 teacher and 8 3 year olds.  So much entertainment!

Ryen was so good too, but like I said it was all very entertaining.

I have no idea!

 This is her attempting first position for their ballet dance.  Wow....

She was so excited that Ga and Papa got to come and watch.

Hope everyone is well and stays warm through the weekend!  (And enjoy this picture of Kitten Love wearing Avery's doll's pink dress.)

Love is in the Air!

It is not even Valentine's Day but love is surely in the air around here!  We started out our month with a little mini Valentine's Day session with our favorite photographer.  We only got one picture of the girls together... Avery was more interested in playing with her friend Ashlyn (Bridget's daughter) than taking pictures with her sister.  And so it begins....  Regardless, they were pretty cute!

Then last week, Avery received a very special gift in the mail!  My cousin Kristine is getting married and she and her fiance sent Avery all sorts of goodies to ask her to be their flower girl!  Avery was super excited and keeps talking about how she will walk down the isle and the flowers she will throw.

First, there was Peanut the bear who came holding flowers and with her own beautiful dress.

Inside the basket was also a necklace, a poem, and a personalized hanger.  I am so excited Avery gets to be part of their wedding and love that they think so much of Avery to have asked her.

Finally, for the last week or so, Ryen has been trying to walk.  We will get a step here and then a huge lunge at the closet person, but nothing more than that.  Then last night, she decided that she was going to start walking from one piece of furniture to another all on her own.  Of course, we continued to practice this morning and she did this.  Shortly afterwards she went to take a nap.  It must have been hard work!  Or it could explain why she was so excited to get up at 6:15 this morning!

Happy Frigid New Year!

Okay so the frigid part of the title is relative to where you are living.  All my family in Arizona, feel free to enter in the adjective of your choice (warm, pleasant, not freezing).  Even though it has been a chilly start to 2014, we have kept busy!  Just before the new year, we had Ryen's 9 month pictures taken and loved them, as always!

A couple weekends ago, Avery and I had a little day together.  After grabbing lunch we met Aunt Ashley to go see Frozen for our second time!  Auntie Ashley arrived with gifts for Avery and Avery got to try her very first slurpee!

The girls and I also headed to Chicago to celebrate Lucas' 5th birthday a bit early!  The kids got to decorate their own pizzas and cupcakes....win win for everyone!

Also this past weekend, Avery started dance class.  It is called Creative Dance- they learn rhythm (yeah, she is my kid so good luck),  counting and some beginner dance fundamentals.

And finally, 2 weeks ago Ryen hit the 10 month mark!  I don't know where time has gone.  She is growing up so quickly.  Currently, she still has only 2 teeth, although the doctor seems to think many more are working their way through right now which would explain her crankiness.  She has learned to climb stairs and other objects to get on top of other objects, she is eating new foods all the time- favorites now: mandarin oranges, graham crackers, and goldfish.

Apparently, I didn't get a 10 month picture of Avery, so here is the best I can do!

And here's a little video (ok it is long, so watch what you want!)  Here is my disclaimer:
1.  This is a not a video showing how much we care about the Earth.  Yes, the water is running the entire time, no we don't always just let the water run.
2.  This is a video on Ryen discovering the properties of water in its liquid state.  She is a genius.
3.  Yes, she has a pacifier in the bathtub.  See above where we think she has many teeth coming.
4.  Enjoy!