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!