What's new?????????

This is Rylie performing "Bitsy-bitsy" or as you & I would call it, "Itsy-Bitsy Spider". This is on her list of current faves, along with "Twinkle-Twinkle" & "Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes"! She is Ms. Betty's biggest fan when we go to story-time at the library! Other favorites are: The Doodlebops, books (Peek-a-boo Baby & On Top of Spaghetti still get rave reviews from the littlest Fox:) & Baby Einstein videos.

Rylie & her little cousin John Gavin playing in the bubble bath !

Here is Stewart's latest project......rebuilding his jeep! Yes, the same jeep he has had since he turned 16! As you can see, it is in many pieces. Where are they, you ask? Why you ask? And more importantly, how are we getting into the attic????? Mysteries......In this picture, Stewart is removing the motor, transmission & transfer case, single handedly! He is so smart!

**As a side note, Melinda, Kenon, Haleigh & Breanna came to visit on Saturday. We all went to the park & had a picnic, but ended up having to eat in the back of the SUV because we didn't realize gale-force winds were blowing in from Antarctica! Unfazed by this, we headed to the playground, where Rylie braved the big slides for the first time with Breanna & Haleigh. It was all fun & games until they headed into what I like to call the "tube-of-terror", a plastic tube that kids can crawl throught to get to the next level of platforms. As Rylie & Breanna entered the tube, Rylie took a nose dive & emerged with her first bloody lip! After the wailing ceased, her lip swelled so that she looked a little like Rocky Balboa. She was a trooper! We all went home & made Valentines & grilled hamburgers & had a great time! I will have to get pictures from Melinda, because I left my camera at home when we went to the playground!

Mini-kitchen-makeover!!

We finally did it.......painted the kitchen! After weeks of mulling over what shade it should be, I decided on a color & my sweet (patient) husband helped me. O.k......he pretty much painted the whole thing. I did the initial base coat, but he knows better than to leave me alone with a paint brush (that spells DISASTER), so he took over, doing the tedious trimming & the all important final roll coat. Here is a shot of Stewart putting on the final touches!

Before..........

After!

I love the color........sort of a pear green. The picture doesn't do it justice. I loved my red kitchen, but I need a change. I have all red kitchen-aid appliances & they look so cute with the green!

Our little helper, caught in the act! She kept climbing up & down the ladder. Stewart & I were both concentrating so hard on keeping her out of the bucket of paint while we were painting that we failed to notice that she was underneath Stewart, rubbing her hand on the freshly painted wall! Her whole hand & part of her sleeve was green! I didn't get a picture of that!

Our sweet little helper!

Another "after" picture!

Christmas pictures Part 2!!!!

Yes, I do realize that it is February, but I posted a part 1 for Christmas pics & the OCD in me had to complete it with a part 2! This is a family shot of us at Santa's Village. We were in Santa's sleigh! I am still slightly dismayed that we never saw snow....the snow machine flaked out on us. I seriously considered boycotting next year's visit because of this unfortunate lack of snow, but I am sure I will cave & go :)

I know this is terrible, but it is hilarious at the same time, huh? Needless to say, Rylie is not a fan of the real live Santa experience. She freaked out & then looked over her daddy's shoulder at Santa (on her way out) & said "bye-bye" & waved, though she was still crying a little! I guess she still wanted to be polite!

This was too cute not to include! Merry Christmas, until next December!

Time for an update!

This was a rare sunny January day......Rylie & I had a picnic in the front yard! I had to put the camera on our car to take the picture & while I was busy adjusting the settings, Rylie dug into the yogurt & had it all over her face. I think I cleaned most of it off of her face before taking this pic!

Here is a cute one of Rylie & her Pawpaw. She tackled him & gave him lots of kisses!

Cheese!!! Check out her teeth....they were just coming in. She has 8 now! She was playing in the big rubbermaid box that we were going to pack the Christmas tree in. Who needs toys?!

Rylie & daddy spending quality time watching one of Rylie's videos. She is really into Baby Einsteins' baby sign language now. She can do the signs for "kiss", "eat", "milk", & "baby". That video is pretty cool! Another thing she loves is the Doodlebops!! She could watch them over & over!

Rylie in her "bat" (that's what she calls the bath). Sometimes she just runs towards the bathroom saying "bubbles!". The girl loves her bubble bath!!

Christmas pics part 1

Here are some belated Christmas pictures, but I thought you still might enjoy them. Here is our little gingerbread house all lit up for Christmas!

Here is doodle-bug helping us decorate the tree. She got stuck on one ornament, taking it on & off the tree repeatedly!

Oops....another sideways post....tilt your head! This is Rylie helping me to wrap a few gifts! She loved the ribbons & bows!

Busted! Doesn't her face say it all? I caught her red-handed opening gifts behind the tree! This face was hilarious!

The Circus came to town!

This picture is classic! We had just arrived at the circus & this is Rylie's first reaction. There was an elephant in the pre-show & a man was leading him around the floor. We got an up-close & personal look at the elephant....Rylie was a bit concerned!

Here he is....Rylie couldn't take her eyes off him. Stewart put her up on his shoulders to get a better look!

We hiked up to ours seats & the lights went down & the show began! This is Rylie cheering & clapping! We couldn't believe how excited she got. It was great to see her smiling & clapping & saying "yay!"

Here is a lovely shot of the three of us....We went with the Wilsons & the Carlisles....we all had a great time & the kids loved it!

I am not sure why this posted sideways...I apologize for the inconvenience! Anyway, this was at intermission! Such a little sweetie. She just couldn't quite hang in there after all the excitement. So we packed up & called it a night...on our way out we got to see the zebras eating backstage. They are my favorite!

*As a sidenote, we are teaching her to say "Thank you" & today she used it appropriately several times without us having to tell her to! Yay!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

We just wanted to take a minute & say Merry Christmas to all of you who check our blog.....we are so blessed to have such wonderful friends & family. God has blessed our family so much......Rylie is growing like a weed & this Christmas she is big enough to enjoy the tree & try to unwrap a few gifts! We put out our nativity scene & Rylie loves to look at baby Jesus & the animals, especially. We are going to take her to see the live Nativity this year. I want her to always know the true meaning of Christmas....the birth of our Savior. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas & a wonderful New Year....& don't be afraid to say "Merry Christmas" to people in a society that focuses on "Happy Holidays"! :)