Finally!!

I finally had Rylee's pictures taken again!! I was worried because she's not the 'love to get to my pictures taken' kind of child ---- BUT, this time, SHE WAS!! I'm not kidding...we walked into Ed Vinson's studio & she turned into someone else's kid - LOL! She was strutting around, striking poses, holding her chin up, 'hammin' & just LOVED getting her pictures taken!!

This was one of my favorites! She is the SASSIEST little thing!!

And YES, I am completely aware where she gets that from:)

Overall, she did fantastic! I was thrilled with all the great pictures -- Ed Vinson did a fantastic job!!!

Rylee's 4th Birthday!

Well today is Rylee's actual birthday...but we had her party yesterday! It was BEAUTIFUL outside & everyone had a blast!!

Rylee's 'big' gift this year was a 4-wheeler. I've been working with her with the past 2 months to get rid of her 'gigi' (blanky). I told her she had to be finished with it by her 4th birthday...well, it hasn't been easy..on either of us..but she did it!!!! Her reward was the 4-wheeler. She went CRAZY!!!

She was NOT happy when she had to stop riding her wheeler to come in & do cake/ice cream. I basically had to peel her off it, run in so she could blow out her candles & then return her to the wheeler :)

All in all, it was a beautiful day & her birthday party was amazing!! I cannot believe that my baby girl is 4 years old....wher does the time go!?!

Build A Bear

Rylee & I went to Coralville (Iowa City) this past weekend. We met up with my friend, Rachel, and her 2-year old daughter, Ally.
We took the girls to Build A Bear...and they, of course, LOVED it!! It was SO fun to watch them!

Rylee picked out a black lab (she's a big time dog lover)! She named him 'Ruffity-Ruff' :)

Here's Rylee & Ally stopping to pose (for the ten-millionth time)!

Here she's helping to stuff the dog.

Here she is washing her dog....[I think she's trying to wink at the camera here :)]

Rachel & I promised the girls if they were good we would let them ride the carousel before we left. Both girls were GREAT (seriously-LOL), so we rode it....3 times!!

We spent the night at their house, watched some movies, ordered pizza & played with toys all night! It was a blast!!

This and That....

I got Rylee a set of bunk beds a couple weeks ago....and even though I knew she would LOVE them...I can hardly get her out of them!!! :)

I let her pick out a new pair of sunglasses last week @ Wal-Mart....as she was making her choice..she said, 'They have to be like a rock star, Mommy. I don't want baby glasses.' And then she proceeded to tell me that she had to have some 'fancy jewelry to go with her new sunglasses!'

Here she is modeling all her 'new' stuff.....as I'm taking the picture she says, 'Look Mommy..even rock stars brush their teeth!!' LOL

I'm Doing Better Already!!

See....I'm doing better already!! It's only been ONE WEEK in between posts!! WOO HOO!!

This is one of her 'mean mugs'!

Things are still good....Rylee definitely keeps me on my toes!! She's starting to test my patience a lot more lately.....but she's also making me laugh harder everyday!! She's always singing a new song (or at least singing her version of the lyrics), telling a new story, etc...she's very, very independent & thinks I need to be reminded of that every second of every day:)

Ok, ok....so I've been slacking :)

WOW! It's been a REALLY, REALLY long time!! I don't really even remember how to organize pictures on here, anymore :)....So, I'm just gonna post some random pics from the last....7 MONTHS....a lot has happened [good & bad]...a lot has changed [good & bad] but Rylee & I are doing great!!! She's growing like a weed..literally!! She will be 4 in April - I cannot hardly believe it, either!! Boy how time flies!! She's becoming a 'mini-me'...very quickly!! She's sassy, independent, smart, creative (or as her teacher would call it...'dramatic')...and sssoooo very sweet! Enjoy the pics...I PROMISE to not ever let this much time pass without posting again!!! :)

Rylee was a 'juke box girl' (but she INSISTED it was a 'juice box girl' :)

This is EXACTLY what her teacher means by 'dramatic.'

The girl can turn the tears on like a faucet!!

Christmas 2008

Her FAVORITE Christmas present!! Her & Gonga are jammin out here!

Anyone Still Checking????......

Of course I will start off with apologies (like my last posts)....and I promise I'm sincere, just outrageously busy!!! So, here's just a few pics of Rylee...and some of myself (surprise! surprise!) from the last month or so! Enjoy.

Tasha, my sis Eddeana, myslef & my sis Debbe @ Chintz's over Memorial Day weekend!!

Rylee Rhea

Rylee & her 'future husband' Trent @ Monster Jam

Trent, Reid & Rylee @ Monster Jam

Tasha & I Memorial Day weekend

Yes, We're Still Here....

Ok, so I've been terrible about blogging lately. SORRY! There has been so much going on in our life, I'm basically only able to find time for the absolute necessities!! Here is a recent picture of Rylee. She's doing great.....full of attitude, but doing great :) I promise to start updating more!!

Rylee's New Bike!!!!

I finally got Rylee a 'big girl bike' (it does have training wheels). She outgrew the trike that she got on her 2nd birthday......which was almost 1 year ago....she will be 3 years old in 2 weeks!!!! I cannot believe it!!! Rylee LOVES her bike!! She's still 'learning' the brakes, but heck, so am I :) And we've been lucky enough to have great weather over the past couple days and she's been able to ride it a lot!!

We're Okay

So, even though this past month has been one of complete change.....Mz. Rylee & I are doing just fine. I'm sure you all know that Jeremy & I have decided to go our separate ways, as a couple. The most important thing to us is Rylee's stability & happiness. We are all just fine. It will be a challenging transition, but we all agree it's for the best. I can't express my appreciation for all the phone calls, e-mails and letters of support. I'm SO VERY LUCKY to have the family & friends that I do. God has truly blessed me.

Update

Ok, here's a quick update. This past month has been busy (just like all the others)......Jeremy went on a hunting trip, Ry & I went to STL, we've got lots of snow, Ry & I went to my cousin, Daryle Ann's, basketball game (I'll post pics soon!) with my sister, Eddeana & nephew, Spencer. I came down with (& still have) strep throat, Jeremy's had (& still has) a terrible case of hives (maybe he's allergic to me -ha! ha!) & we got more snow today!!! Work has been crazy (when I've been there, that is) & Rylee has been...well, she always is....crazy!! So, stay tuned I promise to post new pics soon.

St. Louis Trip

Last weekend, while Jeremy was in Kansas on his hunting trip, Rylee & I went to St. Louis with my Dad & Kathy to visit my sister, Debbe & my neice, Rowan. We had a blast!! While we were there, we took Rylee to Chuck E. Cheese. She loved it!!!

Rylee was in heaven.....'dog heaven' to be exact. She LOVES dogs & Deb has 3.

So she was plenty entertained.

This is Simon. He's HUGE -- the picture doesn't do him justice. And I was really surprised that Rylee wasn't scared of him.

We all had a blast & are looking foward to our next trip down there. Although, next time I think we might have to skip the whole Chuck E. Cheese thing ??!!

Sledding!!

We've been dying to take Rylee sledding & finally Sunday, we had the time & the snow was still perfect for sledding. We took her out to Papa Mark's. I can't put into words how excited she was!! It was so cute.

Here's Rylee sportin her new Carhart bibs! She LOVES them!!

Christmas, Christmas & More Christmas

Christmas @ Home with the Goldie's

(In our recently finished (well...almost finished) basement) :)

The Gang

Rylee & her new camo jacket from Papa Butchie & Grandma Kathy

Christmas @ Home

Rylee with her new camera. Now she can be like Mommy!

Here's the pony from the Patterson's (my Aunt & Uncle)!

And this is the shopping cart that Santa brought her.

Christmas @ 'Gonga & BaPop's'

What a perfect present!!

The easel that Rylee got from Gonga & BaPop :)

Rylee & Mallory playing with Claire's 'Baby Alive'