Toy Drive

I am a little late posting this but On Saturday we did a toy drive for the Mesa Fire Department. It was a lot of fun. We all met at Harley Davidson in A.J. on our Harley's (we borrowed my in-laws). We also had the old station One Fire Truck there as well that drove Santa and led all 100+bikes down university to Station one were we let CPS kids come sit on Santa's lap and pick out toys. It was so cute to see these kids light up when Santa got there and then get to sit on his lap.
I was a little nervous going on a Harley. I have been around the block on one but that was it, so this was a whole new experience for me. I actually really enjoyed myself. I defiantly decided though that street riding was my limits. A few times we had to catch up to the other bikes because we lost them at a light and we had to go VERY fast to catch them....did not like that at all. But I really enjoyed the whole RIDE thing. Not to mention that it was fun too to have a few hours with just Mike and I. We even went and had a nice sit down lunch after the ride.

Mike and I getting ready to leave. All dressed up in the in-laws gear.

Us all loaded up and ready to go.

Mike backing the truck up. Our friends actually drove it for the parade.

Santa waiting for the kids to come sit on his lap at station one.

Thanksgiving

We got to spend this Thanksgiving in Minnesota. Mike's grandpa turned 80 on friday so we had a huge birthday bash for him that night. It was so much fun. While we were there we also got to go to Mall of America and let Ryan ride on the rides. He had so much fun. The weather was beautiful too. We were hoping for some snow but only got the low degree weather instead. I will have to say that Ryan is such a trooper when it come to flying. He was so good on the 3 hour flight. Here are a few pictures of our week.

Ryan eating his morning muffin.


Daddy and Ryan all ready to go play outside in the cold.



Grandma and Ryan



Cousin Alyssa and Ryan.


Dad and Ryan walking on FROZEN White Bear Lake.

Ryan and his cousins.


Mom and Ryan on the Merry go Round


Dad and Ryan on the Semi Truck roller coaster.


Ryan doing his favorite thing, going up and down the elevator.

WII Night

Last night we decieded to have a WII bowling tournment at our house. Everyone in the neighborhood was gone so it was just Andy, Heather, Mike, me and Ryan. We had so much fun. Andy and Heather had never played before. We laughed so hard and just had a ton of fun. Unfortuantly I didn't get any pictures of anyone else playing but Heather. Please note the shirt that she is wearing. Mike came out with a "bowling" shirt and Heather decided that she needed one too so that is why you see her wearing a crazy shirt

You know you are a firefighters wife when...

I saw this the other day and thought this says it all.....

You Know You’re A Firefighter’s Wife…
…If your husband isn’t wearing his usual work uniforms, he still has a T-shirt on that has a fire department logo on it.
…When you know the difference between a police siren and a fire siren.
…When you know that all of your smoke detectors work.
…When you find it hard to sleep when your Hubby is at work.
…When you get severely angry when people don't pull over for firetrucks and ambulances.
…When you've held more holidays at the fire station than should be allowed.
…When you've lost all sense of what a "weekend" really is due to your husband's crazy schedule.
…When all of your calendars have every third day circled.
…When you are always prepared to cook any form of desert or pick up any flavor of ice cream to take to the station at a moments notice.
…When everybody that knows a firefighter, will assume that you know them too.
...When you know that it is much better to call an ambulance to take you to the hospital.
...When you get to listen to stories about fires and medical calls when you're husband gets home from work.
...You feel like the luckiest girl alive when he comes home off shift and sends your heart a-flutter

NASCAR

As many of you know that twice a year we go out to PIR to watch NASCAR and camp all weekend. Well we just got back from 4 nights out at PIR. We had a blast out there too. Ryan thought it was the greatest thing as well. He got to spend 4 days outside, see fireworks, fly overs, BLIMPS, airplanes pulling banners, garbage trucks, and lots of RV's. He was so cute out there. Here are a few pictures from our weekend. On thurs we took him to the miget races, which he loved. He wore the ear plugs the entire time. He lasted the whole hour and a half out there too. We then took him to the truck races on Friday which he didn't last as long at but still over an hour. I can't wait to keep taking him out there every year now.



Mom and Ryan wearing there favorite drivers clothing. Well Maybe not Ryan but we had to show the t-shirt to Tony Stewarts dad who camps with us

Loving his wagon rides around camp.

Daddy and Ryan at the truck races.

I know I am a little late posting pictures but here are a few from Halloween. Ryan was a dragon and was so dang cute!!! He thought he was hot stuff wearing his costume too. He loved to be in.

Mowing the Lawn

So Mike always talks about how when he mows the lawn Ryan makes him hold him. Well yesterday was the first day I got to witness this. I was inside doing a few thing while the boys were outside being boys and this is what I looked out to see. I was cracking up. Ryan has ALWAYS loved the lawn mower. I remember him being 3-4 months old, putting him in his swing outside and he would sit there and stare at the lawn mower the entire time he mowed.

A day at the Zoo

Yesterday Mike and I took Ryan to the Zoo. It had been so long since Mike had come to the Zoo with us. So we made it a family day yesterday. It was so nice out. Ryan had a blast. We took the wagon this time. Note to self do not take the wagon alone. It was so hard to pull up those hills and coming down the hills made it very interesting. Most of the animals were out and about so that was lots of fun.

Bath Time

Its been a little while since I have blogged so i have a few new pics. Nothing special about this picture just thought it was so cute of him. I was giving him a bath and daddy came in and started taking pictures of him. He loves his bath time in the morning. I love bath time in the morning because then he smells good all day long.

Family Photo's

On Sunday morning we met Andrea at Las Sendas for some family photo's. Note to self to feed your husband before you go. Geez boys can get grouchy over nothing when someone has a camera in there hand. She was awesome with Ryan. Here are a few that she has shared with us so far.

Guess What???

I am going to be an AUNT again. I am so excited. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have been trying for a long time and finally after 2 doctors, drugs, and 2 procedures later they are pregnant with there first child together. This little one won't make its big showing until June.I am just so excited!

A picture of the proud mommy!!

Wagon Rides

So this morning Ryan wakes up bright and early and now that it is so nice outside we play outside. This am he found his wagon in the corner of the patio. Mind you I am sitting on the patio too drinking some coffee and reading e-mails, it is awesome, I look over though and there he is sitting in the wagon all ready to be pulled around the yard at top speed. So after many laps around the yard I caught this picture. He is still sitting in it as I type this laughing at his dogs doing circles around him.

Like Father Like Son

Ryan has always loved to watch daddy mow the lawn. Ever since he could sit in his outside swing. So last night while at ToysRUs I decided to buy him one. We couldn't take it away from him this morning. He could care less that it even blows bubbles. Oh yeah, I really do dress my kid but he was still in his p.j.'s at this time.

Freestone Park

I forgot to add that while my cousins were here we went to freestone park. The kids had a blast. Maya kept saying "whoo whoo"

Grandma and Grandpa with Ryan

Waiting for the Train.

Cousin Maya

So last weekend my cousin drove over from San Diego with his daughter who is 4 months older than Ryan. They had a blast together. She is so cute too. We didn't do too much while they were which was nice to let the kids be kids and run around. Here are a few pictures from our weekend.a>



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Golden Spoon

So I was craving an ice cream today. So Ryan and I went to Golden Spoon to get a cup of Ice Cream. We compromised though, I got my favorite ice cream (peanut butter cup) and he got his favorite topping (mini chocolate chips). He sat in a big boy chair the whole time and did such a good job. We had so much fun enjoying an ice cream together. No one cared how messy we got or anything. We both had so much fun doing it. Although afterwards he had to go to the grocery store with me...bummer. Anyways, just wanted to share with you what a fun day we had. I just wish I had a picture of him sitting in the chair.

Bed Time

So usually at night time when Ryan is getting tired we lay him down in his crib and he goes to sleep on his own. Well the last two nights he has fallen asleep in the living room with us in some crazy places.


This one was from last night.



This one is from the night before last. He loves his Bailey dog and Baliey let him do WHATEVER he wants. So here they are cuddled together sleeping. We even video taped this one.

Stoneman Lake

I know its been a while since I last posted. This past Monday it was Mikes birthday and we decided to take the little guy camping. We hadn't been since he was a new baby. We decided that a crawler and camping probably don't mix. But now that he is walking we decided to take him. He had a blast. He could do what he loves to do and that is be outside!! We saw lots of animals. The weather was beautiful day and night. Although he really didn't like being outside much past 7:00 so then we had to head in the camper. So much for a campfire at night. We were up there for 3 days 2 nights and that was about enough with a one year old. Here are some pics of our trip. Once again who would have know that I was there, but I guess someone has to take the pictures.
Ryan and Daddy trying to get the wood already for the campfire.



I just love him in a fannel and hat.



Are we going for a Ranger ride? Cause i am ready.




I am all set to go. Usually we put the car seat in but we were just playing around here

Wow we made it.

Ryan's 1st birthday was a blast. We had so much fun that day. He could have cared less about opening his presents though. He would have rather hid underneath the present table. But when we got to the cake we loved it which I figured he would. Ryan got so many wonderful gifts. I don't know who was more exhausted that night..him or I. Wow now I see why parents have parties at chuck-e-cheese where they do it all for you. Honestly though I loved all the planning and prep work. It was such a good feeling to know I gave my kid the best party ever.

He loved his new riding toy.

THe airplane cake that Kelleigh helped me with!!

My new car that Grandma and Grandpa gave me that I won't get out of.

My new slide that GREAT- grammy gave me.

More cake please!!!!