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'

Christmas @ 'Gendy's' (Jeremy's Mom) Jeremy being a bad influence -- trying to help Rylee open her presents before her turn.

Rylee & Tait......I think he looks scared of her :)

Rylee made out like a bandit this year!! She got dolls, clothes, a rocker pony, dolls, hot wheels, camo gear, a snow cone maker, an easel & did I mention, dolls?? :) She got LOTS of dolls....which she mainly just bosses around & puts in time out :)

Jeremy & I didn't do too shabby ourselves. We mainly asked for $$ (lots of remodeling projects (to pay for & start). Jeremy is going on his annual hunting trip (they're going to Kansas this year) in a few weeks & he asked for shot gun shells, hunting gear & money for that, as well. I didn't really have an specifics this year, just $$ :)

So, as usual, the time off work went incredibly fast & I'm already back to work :( (And as you can see, I'm working really hard.....on blogging!!) Rylee was not too thrilled about going back to school today, either. After you've been home for 4 days in a row, you kinda get used to.....and spoiled by....it. Oh well, that's how the world works. Besides, I've got to start saving for yet another Christmas :)

Our Baby Is Growing Up

I cannot believe how fast Rylee is growing up. Here is her first school photo. We were comparing them to her last professional pictures last night & we were just in awe over how much she's changed! Time flies.

Anyway -- she's doing great. We've had a couple 'rough patches' lately with her attitude & her listening skills....but what toddler doesn't go through that. She is a brilliant, wonderful child that just absolutely lights up our days!

We sure hope that everyone has a great holiday season!

Check back in after Christmas, I'm sure I'll have some great pics!!

The Smaller Things In Life

Life can seem ungrateful and not always kind...

Life can pull at your heartstrings and play with your mind...

Life can be blissful and happy and free...

Life can put beauty in the things that you see...

Life can place challenges right at your feet...

Life can make good of the hardships we meet...

Life can overwhelm you and make your head spin...

Life can reward those determined to win...

Life can be hurtful and not always fair...

Life can surround you with people who care...

Life clearly does offer its Up and its Downs...

Life's days can bring you both smiles and frowns...

Life teaches us to take the good with the bad...

Life is a mixture of happy and sad...

So...

Take the Life that you have and give it your best...

Think positive, be happy & let God do the rest...

Take the challenges that life has laid at your feet...

Take pride and be thankful for each one you meet...

To yourself give forgiveness if you stumble and fall...

Take each day that is dealt you and give it your all...

Take the love that you're given and return it with care...

Have faith that when needed it will always be there...

Take time to find the beauty in the things that you see...

Take life's simple pleasures let them set your heart free...

The idea here is simply to even the score...

As you are met and faced with Life's Tug of War

As the new year approaches, I always tend to reflect on the years past. There are so many wonderful things I've been blessed with in my life. Even though this past year wasn't necessarily bad, I am looking forward to 2008, so I can start with a new, clean 'slate.' I want to appreciate more of the 'smaller things in life.' I sometimes find myself searching for the things that are right in front of me. I've learned a lot this year....some lessons the hard way, but nonetheless, I came out of it knowing more than before.
So, with 2008 right around the corner, I hope to find myself more happy with myself, my life & all the 'greats' that I have!

Jeremy's Birthday

Yesterday was Jeremy's birthday & he took the day off to hunt. When Rylee & I got home, he opened his presents & Rylee insisted that he 'share' with her!

She thought it was necessary to try both of Jeremy's new hunting boots on for size. She had a little trouble walking in both of them.....but she has problems walking in her own shoes sometimes :)

And she insisted that the pull-up she found on the floor (it was a clean one, by the way) was a 'birthday hat!' She decided to wear it the rest of the evening :)

Update

Here's a quick update. Things have been crazy with Thanksgiving, Jeremy's birthday is today, Christmas decorating, Christmas shopping & planning, etc. Thanksgiving was great, except of course, the time off went way too fast. Jeremy hunted (of course), we put up our Christmas tree & the outside decorations. Here's a couple recent pictures of the 'princess.' We let Rylee pick the 'color/theme' for the tree this year & she picked red, much to my surprise?! It actually turned out really nice. She had fun helping us decorate....she's very interested in the ornaments. She took one off the other night and I told her that she could look, but to not touch. Well, it's apparent she can listen, but has a little trouble with 'following the rules' because last night, while vacuuming, I found some ornaments that she had 'stashed' under her bed :) I couldn't help but laugh!!

I think this picture (and the shirt) speaks for itself.

Yes, she's still attempting to pick out her own wardrobe, and........

Yes, it's still very amusing!!

She is growing up so quickly.