2012 Catch Up...

Wow... another extended period of bloggers block!  I've got to get better at fighting this off.  Thinking there are too many things to write about and not enough time, or too many distractions...that is what keeps me from it at times.  My fear of failure. I guess, in the literary biographic sense.  At least I know what the enemy is and I can strive to defeat it.

To catch you up on 2012...Rylie is growing so fast every day.  She is almost 21 months old and it seems like she is so eager to learn and do everything she is exposed to.  She gets frustrated when she doesn't understand or she thinks I dont understand what she wants. She also gets frustrated when she doesn't get her way. I am working on my technique in handling this... her tantrums, that is. We'll see who comes out the victor when she get's through the terrible two's growth period.  She is so damn cute though, it's hard not to laugh at every emotion she expresses, regardless of tone.

Here are a few cute pics from this weekend.

She loves walking around carrying mommy's camera bag. I wonder how she feel's about living with a mommy papparazi?

She helps mommy put away laundry, but she likes to play dress-up while we're doing it. She likes putting on mommy's shirts.

 I took Rylie to the home and garden show Saturday. I was great! I am absolutely obsessed with making over my backyard this spring. I've worked a lot in the yard these past few years, and this spring it's really going to rock!  I cannot WAIT for flowers, decorative paving stones, and colorful garden accent lighting!!  But I digress. Below is a pic of the mommy/daughter matching aprons I bought at the garden show.  So freaking cute!!!  I'd love to have our names embroidered on them. I'm thinking about buying a sewing/embroidery machine so that I can have it for cool projects with Rylie.  Brian's cousin Sara has one and she makes the coolest things.  I'm hoping I can find a "starter" machine for pretty cheap, since I don't know how long this "interest" will last, if it even starts.  I have a lot of ambitious hobby/project ideas that I'd love to follow through with.   (I remind myself that I also want a table saw so that I can build things with wood. Yes, I want to build a built in bookcase in Rylie's room. It will happen.)

 And this is the other evening when we were running her bath water.  She's showing off her teeth and saying cheese, waiting for daddy to get her bath toys out.

Okay, let's go back in time a bit more so I can feel good about catching you up and starting with current events on my next blog entry.  You know, the ones i'm going to start creating more often.

2012 has gone by so fast so far. Let's look back quickly....

Eating cantelope with daddy.

Mommy cutting Rylie's fingernails.  She does very good with this.  I sit her up on the washing machine out in the garage and she sits there calmly while I talk to her about keeping her nails looking pretty. Daddy decided to take pictures this night, so she was cheesing it up. Daddy got some great shots of her precious little face. Thanks daddy!

Our nightly cuddling before bed. She must have her nightly cuddling...and so must mommy!

Our trip to the Aquarium... She loved watching the fish and the shark tank. But her favorite part was the stingray pool. She wanted to touch them so bad!

This is Grammie showing Rylie the stingrays this year.  Reminds me of the first time we took Rylie to the aquarium when she was 5 months old, back in November of 2010.  Grammie lifted her over the edge to see the stingrays back then too.  My how much she has grown!

Rylie at 5 monts old at the Aquarium...  She loved watching them back then too.

Okay....what else do I need to catch you up on?  Rylie learning how to brush her teeth. She really just loves to play in the running water!

Reading with Nana, Valentines Day weekend.

Reading her Valentines day card with Pops!

Sitting with Mommy watching the 2012 Superbowl.

 Prancing around in her new summer swimsuit.  Rylie loves to play dress up and to try on different things, including mommy's clothes.

Alright, I feel good about this catch-up post.  It's not perfect and it doesn't include everything, but that's okay.  :)

Dinner Out...

I love having adult dinners with kids. There are many enjoyable venues in town that I like to frequent, irregularly :) , on a new "mommy-level" kind of frequency.  Rylie does great as long as we can have her in the right places at the right times. We have her patterns down pretty good now, so she does well in restaurants.  Beautiful little stinker, she is.   LOVE her!!!!  Oh...and she finally has a top tooth coming through.  16 months old and only two bottom teeth. geez.

Okay, so i've totally slacked off of blogging lately. For the last 5 months, to be exact. WOW! that was a long lazy bloggers block.  However, I've been re-inspired.  :)   And I'll probably be posting backwards for while too so I can get some past stuff posted.

Back to my original post topic... Dinner Out... The other night at dinner with the DeBoers in the pics below.... Great food, awesome company, tasty margaritas and my sweet, sweet baby girl....... Made for a good little photo shoot too......... (Notice the dark locks I'm sporting?... let's remember this moment fondly, it probably wont last long....i'm ready to go back to blonde.)

Memorial Day Weekend...

Happy Memorial Day to everyone!  Although my first thought when I think of Memorial Day is that it's the kick off to Summertime, we must also remember that, in reality, Memorial Day is a celebration of our veterans and the men and women who have died, fought, struggled, and tirelessly championed for the freedom of our nation and people, and continue to do so.  My father was a veteran. He fought in WWII.  He was a Paratrooper. It will be 10 years ago this September that he went to be with the Lord.  He died at the age of 75.  I was 3 months shy of 30.  Although he died too soon for me, he did leave me with a strong sense of family, a desire to show kindness and respect to others, and a love of backroad drives in the country.  My only sadness now, is that Rylie will never get to meet her Papa Joe.  But I know my father is up in heaven looking after her, as he is me and the rest of his family. 

I dont visit his gravesite as much as I probably should, but not a day goes by that I dont think of him for some reason or another.  He was such a strong figure in my life from the day I was born to the day that he died.  I will always have fond memories of my dad and will always carry my love for him strong in my heart. The graveyard he is buried at has a wonderful Veteran memorial. They have their annual flag ceremony and the grounds always look amazing no matter what time of year it is.  We failed to take a cool picture of all the flags waving, but you can get the idea from the background of some of these photos. 

My dad, 1971, when my sister and I were born.

Me with my mom and dad, college graduation.

Showing Rylie where her Papa Joe is buried.

My sister showing off her continuing-to-grow pregnant belly!

Nana and Pops bought Rylie a sandbox crab as an early birthday gift.  She loves the sand, but hasn't quite realized that she shouldn't put it in her eyes and mouth.  She enjoys splashing in her pool too.  The water was still a bit cold and she was uneasy about getting in, so daddy had to get in with her so she would know it's okay.  

Notice the Nutt men in the background putting together our new swing.  Which we LOVE. Thank you Nana and Pops!

Finally, after all these years, our yard finally looks GREAT!!  Thank you True Green Lawn Service. You guys really DO know what you are doing with all that weed and feed stuff.

Later that weekend....How about a day on the lake boating it up?

Rylie went to town on her macaroni n cheese that i ordered for her at the restaurant on the lake. Is there anything cooler than pulling up to a restaurant in your boat?  As for this summer, i'm struggling to think of anything cooler.

Rylie loves her kisses from Pops!

A day out on the water is enough to wear out even the best little boater.  She napped on the bench seat this time, with direct supervision to make sure she ddidn't roll off. I've since made this easier by buying her a little bed for the boat. You'll see in an upcoming post.

Happy Memorial Day to all....and here's to Summer!!!!