the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year

 

Some of my favorite memories from Christmas season:

What?  You’re going to put MY BIG necklace on the Christmas Tree?!?!?

Which reminded me of this:  

We got 3 tickets at the last minute to see The Nuckracker Ballet.

I went out on a limb and took both kiddos – Tanner and Brooke – for the first time.  It may have changed Brooke’s life, forever, cause she still TALKS about it all the time. 

During the performance, she yells out:

B - “I want to go Dance!  I’m a ballerina too!
Me, “Ok, maybe after the show”
B - “No, the curtain will be closed.  I go NOW!”

Nearly a month later – she’s still talking about seeing The Nutcracker and is still gracing us with her ballerina moves [in full tutu attire, of course!].  And I have to say, she looks more graceful than ever!

Here she is, practicing her twirls and spins.  And the tutu was HER idea, not mine!

  

And here she is, a month later, still talking about the Nutcracker.

 

Upon realizing Tanner ate the very last cookie –

“Ohhhhh no!  My uncles need to come back her and make some more cookies!” 

Cause obviously Mom can’t make them…and clearly her uncles are way more FUN!

And just for the record, Tanner couldn’t finish this cookie cause he got a “cookie ache.”  At least he knows his limits, lol!

   

And you’re never too let to partake of the fun around here!

  

Man to Man Talk

Tanner got to spend extra time with Uncle Brendan visiting us from Dallas.  On Christmas night, they rode home together, and Tanner took the opportunity.  “Brendan, can I ask you a personal question?”

Do  you love Alisha?  Are you going to marry her?  How do you now when you’re in love?  When can you marry someone? 

Then the big REVEAL.  I love Brynlee and I want to marry her.  sometimes, I don’t like Caden cause he is mean to her. 

Brendan, “Maybe you should think about finishing school and college first – even go on a mission.”

Ok, I’ll go on a mission.  But I don’t need to finish school! 

(At least he’s willing to put God first, lol!)

He has good taste in women.  Brynlee is fun, smart, and cute! These two have been best friends as soon as they were born, went to preschool together, and now that we’ve moved miles aparts, their hearts are still connected.

   

Hoping their friendship remains…years down the road! 

Lucky for all of US, Ruth came up to Wichita during the break.  We made a day trip to hang out with them…and it was so fun…for ALL of us!

Here are the two love birds, together again!

We went to Exploration Place – a children’s museum and they got to run, play, explore, and even learn a thing or two.  Maybe…

 

Tongue sticking out = mesmerized   

Dinner at our fave – Jose Peppers.  Although it’s definitely no Chuy’s!

Glad no distance can separate us from being besties!

Rylee – 12 to 15 months

Oh…how to you even begin to  describe Rylee.  It’s really more like an experience.   That never ends.  Morning, noon, and night – that’s just when all the fun begins. 

 

That smile.  Those eyes.  That PerSONality is forming – in BIG ways.

 

I want to know what the real, healthy Rylee is like.   We’re now on a first name basis with our pediatrician – two ear infections, several fevers and viruses, and a never ending supply of snot.  Everywhere.  Just when enough should be enough – teething.  When turned a year, she had just barely gotten her two bottom teeth.  Now she has a whole mouthful – 4 on top, 1 more on bottom, and her first back molar will be poking through any day.

But she’s tough.  That flu shot – didn’t even cry or wince.

So…guess who’s always the one crying when Rylee and Brooke go at it?  Yep – Rylee wins every “fight” and has quickly learned hair-pulling will immobilize Brooke and land her in a feat of tears in a matter of seconds.   And there’s been several times Rylee wakes up first thing in the morning and goes straight for my hair, pulling it as hard as she can.  Seriously…how does she learn these things?!?

  

But despite her mischievous ways, she really does LOVE Brooke.  When Brooke is asleep, Rylee doesn’t know what to do and in fact, she’s made it her mission to wake her up.  Whether it’s 6am or 3pm  – first thing Rylee does is ALWAYS run straight to her room, push the door open, and runs towards Brooke.   Thankfully, Brooke  usually turns over and keeps sleeping (loves her sleep – just like her momma!).  Brooke is not pleasant to be around until she’s ready to get up – in which you’ll hear her come down the stairs and yell loud enough for the whole house to hear, “I awake now!”

When it comes to food, Rylee is the first one to jump in her chair, ready to eat!  She’s also the first one to remind us to pray…and will fold her arms and reminds us to pray before anyone has even mentioned it.  She’s so stinking cute!!!

She is hard to stop!  Her fascination with bathrooms has turned to the bathtub – which happens to be right at eye level.  And just when I thought we were out of the danger stage – she’s learned  to climb the barstools to get on the kitchen island.  As evidenced by her helping herself to several Lindor chocolate truffles.  But if those weren’t have been there to distract her, far great damage could have been done.

One of my favorite things about her is that she isn’t afraid of anyone!  She’ll run up to random strangers and want them to pick her up.  Third child – will take love and affection in any shape, way, or form.  Santa – heck yes!  After one visit, she kept wanting more.  And I’m pretty sure she’s convinced that Aunt Chelsea is her mom – she’d easily prefer her to me ANY DAY!!!  Compare that to Brooke who would be inconsolable near anyone (even family!) unless I was right next to her. 

She knows if she keeps pushing, she can open the chapel doors, and inside the house, she waits for opportune moments to escape out the garage door –straight to her “car” (a push-stroller thingy).   Doesn’t matter how cold, she wants to go outside. 

When it snowed, she didn’t hesitate to run right for the snow.  She grabbed a a handful and tasted it.  Brooke just stared and watched her, not wanting to inch out of the garage.  Rylee couldn’t stop…PLAYING!

On even the coldest of days, I swear Rylee gets a high off of being outside, bouncing in delight when a cold blast comes her way.  It’s so exhilarating to her.

Hence – she LOVES LOVES to go places.  When she hears someone saying, “It’s time to go!” she’s the first one to head to the door, waves goodbye and says “bah-ye,”  grabs YOUR shoes, and brings them to you.  Every single time.  It’s actually quite helpful!

There’s never mistaken what Rylee wants – through  series of headshakes and shrills, she makes her wishes known loud and clear.  Yet the rewards are sweet – when she gets what she wants, she says thank you in the cutest voice ever!

She can entertain herself talking to SIRI on my phone and HAS to play with MY BELLY button before drifting off to sleep.  She still thinks she’s attached to an imaginary umbilical cord – still nurses ALL the TIME and prefers to keep my in sight.  Just as we get more strict and let her cry it out, a new virus or ear infection springs up shortly thereafter.  She’s a fighter – even after an hour of crying she’s not ready to cave.   Which means…I’m going to need a LOT of help in the years to come!

She may be small, but she occupies a HUGE place in our hearts and homes!  We love ALL of you Rylee!!!

This is the sick version of Rylee – only serious faces, no smiles!!!