Left Speechless... Again!

What a joy it has been watching Ryah grow up this past year.  It feels like yesterday she was learning her ABC's and now she is making complete sentences and carrying on conversations! 
I had to share this story because I was once again left speechless and didn't know how to respond to my 2 1/2 year old!
To give a little background before I get into the story... We told Ryah that Jessie (our dog that we had to put down a few months ago) went to live with Jesus up in Heaven.  We said that Jesus needed a nice doggie to live with him, and that Jessie and Jesus would be friends. 
I knew that Ryah had not forgotten about Jessie, because everynight when Matt and/or I tuck her into bed we have to go through the list of all the people that love her (and Jessie is included in that list)
So...
A few Sundays ago I asked Ryah if she would like to go to church with me, or stay home and watch cartoons with daddy.  She told me that she wanted to go with mommy, and so I thought I would give her a "pep" talk and explain to her that we were going to Jesus's house and that she would have to sit still and behave and listen to mommy when we were at his house.  Ryah gets a twinkle in her eye and says... "Mommy, we are going to be able to see Jessie!!!"  OH BOY- HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT! 
To be honest, I can't even remember what I said to her- but whatever it was must have been a sufficient response. 

"Chill Out..."

Tonight going through our normal bedtime routine, Ryah caught me off guard and I was left speechless!
Here is how the conversation went down:
Me:  Ryah, lay down now so I can cover you up.
Ryah: (looking around her room for all her barbies she wanted to sleep with) Mom, where is my "tangled barbie?"
Me:  Ryah here she is, now hurry up and get into bed
Ryah:  Mom... Chill Out!

Oh boy- where did my sweet, innocent little girl learn this?  All I could do was laugh to myself and think... It has only just begun!

All Dogs Go to Heaven

I had to make the hardest decision of my life when we returned from Minnesota.  It still brings tears to my eyes as I write this.  For the past several months, Jessie had not been acting like herself.  I noticed she was becoming more "clingy" to me, and would not leave my side.  She was also having accidents in the house, which was very unusual for her.  A couple years ago I noticed a spot on her bottom which had progressively doubled in size over the past year.  The vet told me we could biopsy it, but I think I was too scared to find out the bad news. 
A few weeks ago, we decided it was time for Jessie to be put to rest.  Trust me- this was not an easy decision!  She has been my companion/running partner for the past 3 1/2 years.  She always seem to know if I was having a bad day, and just needed to cuddle with her.  The only times I ever heard Jessie bark were when the OPPD guy walked next to the fence in our yard (wearing a bright orange blazer), and when a salesman came to our door (and Ryah and I were home alone).  Her look was intimidating to strangers but she would never hurt a fly.  She always greeted you at the door wagging her stubby little tail.  Jessie enjoyed going for walks/runs, going to the park so she could run free without the leash, laying in the sun in the backyard, and getting attention from anyone that would give it to her. 
When we adopted Jessie from the Humane Society, she was approx 4 years old.  Knowing that I gave Jessie a wonderful life, and according to my husband, spoiled her a little too much, helps heal my heart.  Genetically, the boxer breed does not live much past 9 years, so I knew her day of rest would be sooner versus later if we had adopted a puppy.  But I wouldn't have changed it for anything! 

A couple of my favorite photos of Jessie Mae:

Watching over Ryah

Merry Christmas

Tears last a moment, but memories last a lifetime!!! 

What we have been up to

Yikes- it has been forever since I have blogged.  I have a very good reason, but I will save that for another blog entry.  This winter we haven't done much of anything.  Just spending lots of quality family time watching our princess grow up, and turn into the very independent 2 1/2 year old that she is. 
At the end of January we had the opportunity to drive up to visit my parents.  Other than the freezing cold temperature, the trip/visit was very enjoyable.  When we left Omaha Thursday evening, the temp was 40 degrees or so, and by the time we got to Montevideo (5 1/2 hours later), the temp was at Zero!  BRR!  The older I get, the less tolerable I am to cold weather.  Our next trip to MN is planned for the end of March, at this point I know there will still be snow on the ground and I will have to pack thermals.



The best part of living in a small town... photo opp in the middle of the road!



Hiding from the snowball fight

 

My Snowman

Playing barbies with Ashley

Playing in the toybox with cousin Rylee

Breakfast with Santa

It's amazing how Santa is everywhere.  We had the pleasure of having breakfast with Santa in Springfield, for a fundraiser.  Ryah was excited that she was going to get another present from him.  Even though she wasn't as friendly with this Santa- she was still so adorable sitting on his lap.

Christmas Program

Look at this ADORABLE GIRL!

 

This picture was taken the night of Ryah's Daycare Christmas Program.  She had been practicing her songs for past two weeks and was excited to get to see Santa at the party.  Here are the pictures from the evening.

 

Singing Jingle Bells

What a joy to see all these kids dressed up and singing Christmas songs!  They all did a wonderful job.

 

Here comes Santa Claus...

 

So ready to sit on his lap

Telling him she wants a doll

 

She would not leave his side

 

 

AND... A KISS FOR THE ROAD...

 

(Matt and I were shocked she did this- she knows who to be nice too!)





Decorating the Christmas Tree

I was excited to get the Christmas Tree decorated this year, since Ryah is older and was excited to see all the lights on the tree.  Each year it is such a chore to dig out all the decorations, and then have to put them all away a month later- but making memories for Ryah, makes it worth every minute.

Matt, Ryah, and I all decorated the tree together.  I had a hard time not telling them where to put the decorations- Ryah was matching all the ornaments and putting them together on the tree, and Matt was decorating more of the back of the tree than the front, but the tree was still beautiful!

Ryah always gets to put the 1st ornament on the tree

Ryah's ornament from Ashley (from when she was a baby)

Family portrait

  Kisses!

Daycare Halloween Party

Well, I am back at blogging and am going to play a quick catch up...

This year the Daycare Halloween Party was held a few days after Halloween, since all the kids were sick on Halloween, and even though the party was delayed, all the kids enjoyed getting in their costumes again.  The kids did their "spook walk" again down to the neighbor's house.  She had saved some goodies for the kids- since she missed them on Halloween.  I thought that was so kind of her!    I was able to sneak out of work a little early to join Ryah at the party.  Missy and Rhonda always have a great party for the kids!

Ryah and Olivia enjoying cookies

 Ryah's cupcake we decorated

Happy Halloween!

Ryah with her kitty mask that she made



Blog update

I just wanted to give everyone an update on the blog.  I have run into a little problem with uploading pictures to our blog.  It is stating I have reached my maximum storage capacity for photos, and can pay to "add additional storage."  At this point I have not decided what I am going to do (create a new blog, pay to continue this blog, etc)... I am going to check with a few of my "blogger friends" to see what they are going to do.

Thanks,
Me :)

Happy Halloween 2012

This year for Halloween Ryah was a princess.  I will be honest- I couldn't justify spending over $20.00 for a costume that she is going to wear once- but Matt said she had to have it- so guess who bought it (not me!).  I was excited to have Ryah go trick-or-treating because she was practicing all week to say "trick-or-treat" and had been singing her halloween songs.  But life doesn't always go as planned!
The daycare ended up with a bad case of hand, foot, and mouth disease.  It spread like wildfire and all 12 kids ended up with it.  Some kids had it worse than others, and I would say that Ryah was one of the kids with a severe reaction.  It started out on her bottom and then spread to her hands and feet, and I saw a few spots on her face/in her mouth.  So- needless to say, our trick-or-treating was not much fun with a sick girl. 
It was a battle to get her to put on her costume- she didn't want any part of it.  I guess I don't blame her- I wouldn't feel like doing anything either if I was sick.  My sisters were able to talk her into putting her costume on to go get candy, while they stayed back at my house to pass out candy.  Ryah was hesitant at the first couple of houses, but after that she was so good about asking for a treat and opening her bag to let them put the candy in it.  We made it a short night since this mama was exhausted and Ryah wasn't feeling well. 

 

 And this is what you get when a 2 year does not want her picture taken: