Always Playing Catch-Up!

It feels like I'm always so far behind I just give the basics of what has been happening! Wish I could say that this post was different - but it's not. So much has been going on I haven't been able to find a free minute for myself! I'll try and pick up where I left off and maybe then you can understand why I don't get to post as often as I would like.

The end of May I decided it was time for me to get my degree. Things moved pretty quickly after that! I enrolled at Western Governor's University and started classes on June 1st. I am doing my B.S in Business and Human Resource Management. I love the way the classes are set up. You pay a set fee for tuition every 6 months and can complete as many classes as you want. I'm pretty proud of myself for finishing 18 credits my first term. It is all done on-line so usually after Ryker goes to bed I lock myself up and force myself to study.

In July Ryker and I got to go to Colorado and spend some time with my family. We went shopping, tubing down the river, hiking, rode the alpine slide, and played A LOT of games. It was so much fun, I love the time I get to spend with my brothers and sisters and their spouses! And of course all of my nieces and nephews - they are so great! Everything was great until the drive home. My niece Shy was my navigator and I think she was having more fun texting than watching the road. We took a wrong turn in Roosevelt, UT and ended up in the Uintah mountains. I nice little 2 hour detour! We had to turn around and go all the way back but made it home in 1 piece!

A couple days after returning from Colorado Rick and I found out we are expecting our second child! We were trying and so thankful that it didn't take long. Ryker is convinced it is a sister and I am keeping my finger's crossed that he is right. I would love to add a little girl to our family. I would love to see Rick with a little girl, I know she'd have him wrapped around her little finger in no time!

It was also about that time that we found out the house we were supposed to move into was not going to work out. We were bummed but figured everything happens for a reason. We got busy right away trying to find another one and found a home we were both so excited about. After a lot of negotiating and endless paperwork we closed on our house the end of August and moved the first of September. It is in Plain City which is close enough to all the action but far enough away that there is no traffic and the neighbors are really friendly. We have a nice big back yard for Ryker to play in(he LOVES it) and plenty of room for our growing family.

Two weeks after moving in we celebrated Ryker's 2nd B-day. Can't believe my little boy is getting so big! He is so smart, he loves to sing, is a huge tease and laughs the hardest when he is with Daddy. He is still a Momma's boy, but his best buddy is for sure Rick! That little boy is my heart and I'm so happy every time I'm with him!

We spent September getting unpacked (still working on that) and getting my classes done. In October we had a surprise 60th B-day party for my Mom. I am so thankful she got to celebrate this milestone and it was so heart-warming to see all of her friends, church members and family there! I admit, the pregnancy hormones got the best of me and I cried when everyone yelled surprise. I know it meant a lot to her too and the one word she used afterward was "honored". So much time and preparation went into that night and I couldn't be happier that we kept it a secret and still had her here for it!

Of course Halloween was after that and Ryker got really lucky this year with 4 different opportunities to trick or treat. Not to mention all the time he got to spend with his cousins and me with my brothers and sisters. He was a lion this year and looked so cute! I'll post pictures soon.

I think that brings you all up to date but if I think of anything else I'll try and squeeze in a quick post! Hope everyone is doing well and is ready for the upcoming Holiday season! Love you all!

Twice the Glam

For those of you in Utah who are looking for an incredible photographer, for a great price, visit twicetheglam.blogspot.com - You get 2 photographers for a great price, and the pictures are amazing!!!

I entered a Mommy and Me contest through these wonderful ladies and (unfortunately) didn't win, but decided I really wanted some pictures with Ryker and my Mom, so I booked a photo session with them anyways.

The day of the pictures was a very emotional day! For those of you who know my Mom, you know she has been battling cancer for the last 8 years and has recently decided to stop treatments as it is no longer effective and makes her feel terrible all the time. She (and all of us) want to enjoy whatever time she has. Well, we started our day at the Dr's office where he told us that the tumor in her neck is growing and if left alone it will get to the point that she can not move her head, it will eventually block her airway, get into the bloodstream and tendons and make things very painful; worst case scenario it could actually erupt through the skin. He also found traces in her liver and lymph-nodes. After meeting with a Radiologist we were told that radiology could possibly keep the tumor in her neck from getting any worse, but would probably not give her anymore time.

I can't even begin to tell you the multitude of emotions I was and still am feeling, most of all I just come away with an even deeper appreciation for the time I've had with my Mom and want to spend as much time with her as possible.

After her appointment we came back to my house to relax and let Ryker sleep for a while before pictures were taken. My Mom fell asleep and as I went to close the blinds I saw outside that the sky had turned dark gray and it was poring rain outside! I wanted this day to be beautiful and sunny since we were doing pictures outside. My sister Heidi assured me that it would clear up and not to cancel. She was right - about 2 hours before we were supposed to meet, the sky cleared up and it was beautiful!

Then Ryker woke up from his nap - and I'm pretty sure he woke up on the wrong side of his crib - he was so incredibly CRABBY! I tried everything to make my son happy and nothing worked, Daddy tried, Grandma tried - NOTHING! So I got him dressed and ready and prayed for a miracle! Thank goodness my prayers were heard and answered! By the time we got to the park he was happy and playful.

We had a blast and our photographers were just snapping away, every now and then they would stop and have us pose, but they were so much fun and it made for an incredible day! I can't wait to get the pictures back and will for sure post them once we get them!

I don't know how long I will have with my Mom and it breaks my heart, but I am thankful for every minute I get with her and for the example she has always been. She is an amazing woman, full or strength and courage, love and charity, her positive attitude and faith have gotten her (and me) through a lot of tough times and I strive every day to be more like her. I love you Mom!

Back to school!

So it's a little embarrassing to meet with people all day and tell them how important education is, when soon they will have more then me! I figure if I am going to be the expert and help people get into the right program, I need to practice what I preach!

I will be starting school June 1st at Western Governor's University. It is completely online and allows you to set your own pace. I will be doing my BS in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources. I'm a little scared but really excited.

I have a lot of great work experience and now I will have the education to back it up! Wish me luck!

twicetheglam.blogspot.com

I am so behind! I'm sorry! Between work and home I have less and less free time. But enough about that!

I entered Ryker and I into a Mommy and Me contest and am asking for your votes. To vote go to twicetheglam.blogspot.com click on the Mommy and Me Contest link on the right hand side. Then you will see a list of names you can vote on - click on Tabby and Ryker. If you scroll down you can see the picture I posted and why I want us to win.

Ryker is growing so fast, he is such a little boy now.


He is catching onto words and speaks so clearly. He is so funny and independent, he doesn't want help with anything! He is still very even tempered and has even gotten a little bit more cuddly. In fact, in the rare moments when he is mellow, he'll come up to me and say "cuddle buddy". OF course I think it's the cutest thing in the world and could never tell him no!

He was really excited to welcome Aunt Kara to the family. After almost 2 years Jesse and Kara are finally married. The reception was BEAUTIFUL, and Kara looked amazing! Both seemed really happy, but Ryker was having a hard time seeing Kara in her dress. As soon as she was back in regular clothes he was in love with her again. For those of you who don't know, when I first went to work at Stevens-Henager College, Kara watched him for the summer. He is so in-love with her. Whenever he would see Jesse hug or kiss her, he would get so upset. Ryker has a very special bond with Aunt Kara and I am so glad she is part of our family!!!!

Holidays!

I know, I know! I'm always so behind! I swear I don't know where all the time went this year! November was a lot of fun, we finally got to enjoy Ryker with no ear infections! He has been so happy and fun! He is growing and developing so quickly - he loves to talk and I am constantly amazed at how quickly he picks up new words and there meanings. His favorite is to hide his binky and say "where did it go?", he knows a lot of his cousins names, he says Debby (Grandma) perfectly, says na night at bedtime. I could go on and on, I love watching his personality develop and see him become a little boy!

Anyway, back to the holidays! We spent Thanksgiving with Rick's family and had a great meal! The best part was that all I had to do this year was the banana cream pie! Ryker is getting more comfortable around all of his cousins and had a great time playing with all of them. I am so thankful for all the cousins (on both sides) that he has to play with and grow up with. I am also very thankful that we live in Utah and are close to both of our families.

December started off with Ryker's daycare Christmas party. They had each class sing a Christmas song, the infants and toddlers kicked it off with Jingle Bells. They all had jingle bells tied to their wrists and looked so cute! While all of the kids were trying to hide behind the teachers - Ryker was out front and center singing along and dancing for everyone, he was the best! (I have pictures but they are on my old computer so hopefully I'll get them off of there soon.)

Next was a Christmas party with my family. Skip and Emma were able to come in from Florida and it was so good to see them and their cute kids Eric and Lilly. My Grandma Bush was also here from Washington state and the kids had a lot of fun with her. We played games, shared memories, ate dinner and opened presents. We were also able to pull of a "surprise" birthday party for Emma. My Mom gave each of the grand kids their Christmas ornament and PJ's. Ryker's were both monkey themed (of course!). It was a lot of fun and made the Holidays a lot more enjoyable for me.

The next weekend I had 2 different work parties (both were a lot of fun) and did a 16th Birthday party for my niece Shy and one of her friends. It was a Hollywood theme and looked amazing!!!

We had my Mom over for dinner on Christmas Eve, this time I did cook. I made ham, green bean casserole, home made rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy. I even made sugar cookies that turned out really good. Ryker got to open all of his presents from Grandma Debby and she even spoiled Rick and I. With all of her health problems I am so glad we got to spend this time with her and enjoy every minute we get with her!

Christmas morning we opened presents together and then headed up to Rick's parents for more presents and a HUGE breakfast. It was so yummy and we all enjoyed spending time with both families. The rest of the day we crashed!!!!

We ended the holidays with New Year's. Misty and Preston brought their kids from Reno for a visit and got here on New Year's Eve, which is also Eden's Birthday. I had to work that day and Rick ended up staying home with Ryker who wasn't feeling good. Since he had been running a fever we canceled plans and decided just to have dinner with my family and celebrate Eden's B-day then call it a night. It was lots of fun but we were in bed by probably 10:00. The next day Ryker woke up with a really high fever and I had my first real experience with throw-up! Not a fan! Poor little guy threw up on me twice! We found an open urgent care and got him antibiotics for another ear infection, he also had the flu. Thank goodness for Rick, he let me go see Sherlock Homes with my family while he stayed home with a sick baby. That night I got to stay up with him. (PS - Sherlock Homes was GREAT, I highly recommend it!) Ryker and I got to spend some time with Misty and her family before they took off, I wish they lived closer so we could see them more often!

Anyway, as you can see, we had a very busy Holiday season. Between all of this and work I didn't send out cards this year, didn't bake any goodies and (yes, I'm a terrible Mom) I didn't even decorate this year. But it was still a memorable year and gave me a lot of perspective on what is important - Family and friends! I am so thankful for all of you that read this and are a part of our lives! Please know that I was thinking about all of you this year and will do better next year in showing my appreciation!