Happy Birthday Ryan Dear!

Happy Birthday to one fine young man! Turning 35 yrs. old is only the beginning!

In celebration of Ryan's Birthday today, I borrowed a friend's idea and came up with some fun words to describe my wonderful husband on his very special day . . .

FantasticDad, SuperDuperHusband, GuitarRockinMan, Ultra-AmazingArtist, WiiPlayingFool, SpiritualAnchor, Air-BrushHobbiest, ItalianFoodLover, TerrificSon (andSonInLaw), FunLovingBrother, Mac&CheeseEater, BEST HUSBAND AND FATHER THIS GAL COULD EVER ASK FOR!

I Love You Ryan - You Are My Everything!

Daddy and Bethany out to dinner for the birthday celebration this evening!

Bethany wants to wish her Daddy a wonderful and happy birthday too! She loves you more than you'll ever know!

January Wrap Up

It is hard to believe that it has already been a month since this new year started. We have been busy, busy. Starting back to work full-time has been quite the adjustment for me and the gang! At least I don't have a stressful or time-consuming job. Thank goodness!

Here are some fun shots of Miss B from this January. She has finally started to take a few steps on her own! Walking won't be too far off! She is funny and silly and we are enjoying all of it.

Oh how we can't wait for winter to be over. We really hope that Phil the groundhog doesn't see his shadow next week! Spring, where are you? Please come soon!

Allergies, Ear Infections, Rashes and More . . .

Poor Miss B! After what we thought was just the beginning of a cold a few weeks back then turned into a double ear infection, high fever and then some funky rash! The first antibiotic wasn't working so they switched her to a more powerful drug. For more than two weeks Miss B has suffered with all this junk but is NOW finally feeling oh so much better! We have been blessed that she is now 14 months old and this was her first real sickness.

Suffering from severe allergies since moving to TX last August, Ryan FINALLY went to see an Allergy specialist (thanks J&J for the recommendation!) He is pretty much allergic to all things green, flowery and plant-like - in all seasons! Ryan came home from the Dr. and told me he was allergic to TEXAS and we would have to move. Ha.Ha. Not going to happen. Instead he will just get allergy shots for the next year to help cure him of all this junk!

We are looking so forward to February and all it will bring!

To, From and Everywhere Inbetween

A Very Happy Belated (very late) New Year to All!

Well, so far this new year has been BUSY! After enjoying family & spending over 35 hours in the car traveling to Colorado for Christmas and then to Vidor for New Year's, we are very happy to stay put for a while right here at home in McKinney! Here are some updates on the family:

Ryan

Ryan enjoyed the New Year's festivities at my parent's home. We had front yard fireworks in the driveway and Ryan got to blow stuff up. Pure satisfaction! He is still hard at work teaching art to 800 students a week at his elementary school. He has some art shows coming up in the month of February and is preparing for that. He is also looking forward to his birthday in February!! Ryan has been using his creativity and it shows in our study with all his paints and art supplies all over. He recently got back into doing air-brush painting. It is fun to see him so happy and excited over it!

Miss B

Bethany is GREAT! She has gone over into "toddler-hood" and is loving it. She talks more and gestures for what she wants or doesn't want. On top of that she has started to throw "mini-tantrums" and I call them that because I know it only gets worse as she moves towards 2 yrs.

She has learned to climb our stairs and for all those who were worried - we FINALLY got our downstairs baby gate put up. This doesn't keep Miss B from finding other mischief to get herself into. Miss also loves to move around all our furniture, especially our chairs. She pushes them all over the kitchen and downstairs with ease. I know it is only a matter of time before she learns to move the chairs and climb onto them. Pray that she doesn't learn this for at least another 10 years!

This past week she has suffered with a heavy case of allergies. I took her to the doctor but nothing can really be done for her. Poor baby has her eyes and nose running all day! I told one of my sister's that Bethany is "whinny with extra whinny on top" the past few days. We enjoy her so much and hope to have many visits this year in 2009 from family and friends so they can enjoy her too!

Lori

Me, well all I can say is whew! Our current circumstances have put me back to working full-time. I started working just about a week and a half before Christmas break and now I am full on working at a great little preschool called Applecreek Private Preschool in Frisco www.applecreekpreschool.com. A gal from my sister Angie's ward actually owns the school and there are a lot of LDS women who work there. I am co-teaching with another girl in the Pre-K classroom 5 days a week. It is a great fit for now but I am preparing to possibly start teaching again in public school SPED next school yr. I am studying now for an exam to get two more endorsements (EC-4 and ESL) put onto my TX teaching license so I can be more marketable. Wish me luck and pray for me!

After our ward split, in December I got called into the Young Women's presidency for Frisco 4th. I am serving as secretary and have already learned that this calling is A LOT of responsibility. We only have 6 girls right now in Young Women but I am sure we'll get more as the year goes on! Ryan and I chaperoned the Youth Stake Dance last weekend. It was too funny. Teenagers crack me up. Good times.

With all this came the blessing of finding a wonderful babysitter for Miss B. I put out an email and had a gal from my ward and in my neighborhood take the job of watching Miss B in her home. It is only about 2 minutes from our house and fits into our budget. It was definitely an answer to many prayers! Miss B seems happy to be there and has a playmate to keep her busy each day while mommy and daddy are both at work.

Life sure is busy but it is a GOOD life and we are so happy and blessed. We know that this year will bring more changes, ups and downs, trials and many many blessings of happiness as well! We look forward to keeping in touch with friends and family through blogs, phone calls, emails and visits! Our home and hearts are always open.

The new baby gate . . . no more stair climbing.

Poor Miss B looking miserable from allergies all week and maybe saying " Mom, why did you make me wear this pink tu-tu?" If you are wanting one I found them at Target in the $1 spot. They have pink and purple!

Just being a cutie pie on New Year's Day!

Check back often and don't forget to leave comments! They are so much fun to read and one day I hope to show them all to Bethany!!

Whew!

This year has already been super busy! Hang in there . . . updates on the Leavitt's are coming soon! Most likely this weekend . . . maybe even tonight!

A Hike Down Memory Lane

Christmas Day and The Garden of The Gods

Christmas day was a very special day for our little family. Ryan and I were engaged here and hadn't been back since. We decided to go back and enjoy it again. Lucky for us Ryan's family lives only about 5 minutes away. Yay! We took Miss B along for some fresh air and scenery. It was great taking in all the beauty of this place and remembering the day we decided to get married!! It was a perfect proposal that day but I will save all the sappy details for another time. On Christmas it was so nice to be in a place where nature reigns and to remember all of God's creations.

HERE is where we got engaged on June 12, 2006 . . . That is our rock! We hiked up there somewhere past all the trees and brush behind that fence. This is where we made that important decision to be a family. It has a fantastic view from up there but you are just going to have to trust me. Awwahhh!

Now - two and 1/2 yrs later here we are again with our Miss B!

Ryan with his little sweetie!

Miss B's first snow. It did also snow a little while we were in CO. Just a little though.

It was the best Christmas anyone could have asked for!

A Colorado Christmas

Christmas really is so much more fun when you have a child! Miss B was the center of attention and the life of the party!

Ryan, Miss B & I drove from McKinney to Colorado Springs with Dulce the doggie. It was a pretty uneventful drive out and back with only a few minor issues. Miss B travels really well! We spent some quality time with Ryan's family for Christmas week and enjoyed everyone so much!



Here are some memories of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning in pictures . . .

Miss B gets a "popper". Fun times!

Like the great mom I am, I put the moose in her shirt to see how long she would keep it there.

Ryan with his sweet & beautiful sisters - Suzi and Carissa! Miss B LOVES her aunts so much. They get to be extra silly and fun with her and get away with it.

Being silly with mommy . . .

Wow . . . are all these gifts for me? Cool!

Grandpa and Grandma enjoying time with their granddaughter!

Checking out her new "big girl" car seat. She loves to face forward now and see what is going on all around!

Christmas was really special and it was so wonderful to be with the people who love you most!

Meet Santa

Last year Miss B was just under a month old before Christmas so we never got an opportunity to have her meet Santa. This year it was time! After much procrastination in getting a photo with Santa we finally were able to have success at the mall in Colorado Springs.

We waited in line for just about a hour so Miss B could have her big moment. She was great! Grandma Sue kept her occupied and distracted while we waited . . . she was in great holiday spirits when the picture was taken! I LOVE this picture of them just looking at each other. Santa was probably trying to read her mind for what she wanted for Christmas since she doesn't talk yet. Too cute!

We wonder what she asked for?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

We've been up in Colorado Springs with Ryan's family all this week. I promise to post all about our Christmas adventures and put up pictures when we return home this weekend. We've had a road trip with a dog and a baby, a little snow, frigid temperatures ( 1 degree - buurrr!), a visit to see Santa, movie watching, much video game playing, good food and lots of fun with family!

We hope that this Christmas season has given you much happiness, peace and joy.

Love,

Ryan, Lori and Bethany

Our Little Family

We finally got around to taking some really nice professional pictures as a family. It only took us a year!

Birthday Surprises for Grandma

Happy Birthday to a great mom and grandma!

We love you so much.

We hope you enjoy a look back at some of the family time we've spent together with the newest edition of the family. . . Limited edition Ryan and Lori offspring one, a.k.a. Bethany.

We love you MOM.

Ryan, Lori and Bethany

Today Bethany learned something new just in time for her Grandma Gloria's birthday . . . watch the video and see for yourself!

O Holy Night

I am just now getting around to putting these pictures up. I started back to working full time this past week and as you may guess - Life Is Busy!

Last weekend we went to our church's annual Nativity display. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of nativities from big to little, all over the world and of every kind. It was beautiful and really hit on the TRUE reason for the celebration of Christmas. There were some choirs and musical performances of beautiful Christmas hymns and favorites. One of my VERY favorite Christmas songs is 'Mary's Lullaby'. It has a wonderful meaning of what it must have been like to be Mary the mother of the Savior of the World! I LOVE IT!

O Christmas Tree

I LOVE Christmas!

For the first time in my adult life a have a tree to fit it. All the past trees I have owned have been pint sized - just big enough to fit a table top or in an apartment. So thanks Mom & Dad for lending me this tree for a while! We are so happy. It is much prettier at night time but this picture will have to do!

Merry Christmas!

Smile and Say Cheese

Getting Miss B to do these pictures was a miracle! She was so busy that day and in to everything that I almost didn't think it was going to work. These were some of the best shots of more than 100 pictures. Miss B is an amazing little person and we love her so. Enjoy her 1st yr photos!

Photos By: Janie Oyakawa

www.imagesfromoz.com