One Year

One year ago today I lost my Dad!

I have missed him SO much this past year. One thing I have learned though is that some days are better than others.

My Graduation day, Brynlees' BIRTHday, Christmas and my Birthday were especially hard.

He was not just a dad-- he was truly the person I aspired to be. He was the GREATEST example of the type of person I hope to become one day!

This Month has been a BLAST. Ryan and I love February because we each have a birthday as well as V-Day.

This year for Ryan's birthday I threw him a surprise birthday party the night before his actual birthday. It was so much fun. I had everyone meet at the pool house and then I was in charge of bringing Ryan. We have been so blessed to have such good friends that helped me pull off a great party.... although he kind of figured out what I was doing :)

OK-- now that I have written all that I think I may have talked about his birthday in a previous post.... hmmmmm... if so.... SORRY!

Moving on.

Other February happenings:

-we have both been sick :(

-we got AWESOME tennis rackets from Ryan's parents.... they always rock at picking our gifts

-ryan is planning an amazing birthday for me on Friday :)

TeEtHiNg TiMe!~!~!~

The past couple of days have been rough..... IT'S TEETHING TIME :(

Brynlee has been a little grumpy since her two bottom teeth have been coming in ...

I rushed to Wal Mart and purchased...

Thank You ORAJEL :)

Flowers.... ugh

I have been DYING to know how to make cute crocheted flowers for Brynlee's headbands. My friend, Abbey, knows how to make them and so I asked her to teach me how. Needless to say.... mine did NOT turn out.

Luckily she was nice enough to make me some...

So I took two flowers and put them together and added a jewel. I LOVE how it turned out.

Tonight I spent another hour trying to figure out how to make them .... I GIVE UP!

25 years ....

Yesterday was Ryan's birthday!

I was finally able to surprise him with a big present. I am NEVER able to do a big surprise because we are both pretty aware of our finances and we both get emails to our phones when we have "exceeded" a certain budget. Anyways.... I DID IT :)

IT'S A ....

KINDLE!

It was such a perfect birthday for Ryan. Monday night I threw a big surprise party for Ryan. Then on his birthday he went out to eat for 2 meals :)... we spent some fun time with his parents and then enjoyed a yummy dessert (a homemade ice cream cake--- let me know if you want the recipe). I am SO happy he was born. I am SO lucky to be married to such a wonderful person. He makes life SO easy....

Thanks for being such a great example to me! Brynlee and I look up to you so much! You are PeRfEcT for me :)

P.S.

Ryan will start working from home sometime soon. On his birthday I ran to Costco and picked up his work chair and assembled it ALL BY MYSELF.

It will be so fun to see this cute boy working at his desk everyDAY!

WOW.... I CANNOT believe it almost February.

This month has flown by for us.... we have been super busy but it has been a great start to 2010.

Here are a couple updates ...

-Brynlee and I traveled to Texas. It was a blast. I loved visiting with family and friends. I truly believe it is always great to go back to where I came from and remember what has made me.... ME!

-Ryan will be starting a new job position with Express Locations. He will be working from home. I am so excited to make him lunch everyday. I am also SOOOOOO excited to have the opportunity to peak my head through his office and see that cute face.... WHENEVER I want :)

- I was called to be Relief Society teacher in my ward. I did my first lesson a couple weeks ago and I think it went pretty well. I was SO nervous but the ladies in my ward are just absolutely amazing and they helped me feel completely comfortable.

-Ryan and I will be speaking in Church this coming Sunday.

- I LOVE Zumba. I look forward to Thursday nights ---- although I try and work out most days... Zumba is by far the most fun workout of the week.

-Ryan is in Spokane, WA for a business trip. I am so proud of him! He works so hard for our family and he is just the best.... I think absence truly does makes the heart grow fonder. I feel as if I havent seen him at all this month.

-I have been working really hard to meet all my fitness goals. I am now lighter than when I was MARRIED. My sister is a personal trainer and when I went to visit her in Texas she really helped me realize how to make my workouts and diet work together. Thanks Angie... you are the BEST.

-I have been blessed with amazing friends. There is a group of 6 girls in my apartment and we are just becoming the best of friends. They keep me sane. We have so much fun watching The Bachelor, doing crafts, Zumba, etc.

-Brynlee is eating baby foods now... which means these cheeks will just be getting bigger :)

Well I think that basically covers all the new things in our life.

CrAcKeRs!!!

Up until today, our little Brynlee has only tried rice cereal, a little bit of pickle juice :) and of course.... milk. However, when you get 27 people into one cabin .... she is bound to be fed something different than the usual.

Nancy decided to feed her a Ritz cracker....

Brynlee LOVED it.

She loved it so much that she began screaming as we took it away from her.

By the way....

She is sitting up SO well!

We have had such a blast the past couple of weeks. I love the Holidays. I won't bother explaining every little thing we did; however, I must share a picture of tubing. It just may be one of my favorite things about Utah!

p.s. if any of you have noticed my amazing picture quality it is bc I got a Canon DSLR camera for Christmas ---- now I just have to figure out how to use it! :)