YES!

I am DONE with my bachelors degree at Utah State University!

I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Psychology with minors in both Biology and Chemistry.

Commencement was December 12th and probably the best day since Ryker was born! My whole family was there and I so appreciate their support. I couldn't have done it without ALL of them! Ryker was such a champ- he walked with me when I received my diploma! He slept through the whole thing but it was great to carry him knowing that he is the reason I do everything I do.

My grandma Joyce wrote a beautiful poem and I honored her and my grandpa with a stoll of gratitude. What a truly perfect day! (minus the snow!)

So what now? I am going to find a part-time job and am qualified for quite a few different positions. With the economy, I will pretty much take what I can get. Really, I am a mommy first but with a new house an extra income will help.

Christmas Crash and Burn

Avert your eyes if you want our Christmas card to be a suprise! :)
I KNOW! STINKING cute huh? My friend Chelsie over at CS Cards designed them and I am so in love. They will have a little "whats new" letter with them and will be mailed out this week! YAY! Seriously go visit Chelsie for all your card and invitations!

Anyways, this year we decided to veto the usual Christmas tree. Why have one more danger in this too-small house for our little man when he already looks like this:

I know, I know- where are his parents? The cut on the cheek is from falling into a table while wearing his massive puffy coat. The ding on the forehead- got bucked off his bronc. The unrelated bruise? A tumble over Mommy's back, sans hands. He looks neglected, but really he is just so tipsy lately! Too fast- his balance just can't keep up!

We decorated our house so I thought I would post a few of my favorite decorations.

Advent calender that Ryker is loving! I guess this could count as our tree?

We

I made this sign and am loving it! (Yes, four stockings, I guess I get an extra one :)

I love the center sign- "Jesus once was a little child" and my Christus is by far my favorite all year decoration.

Well, there is the grand tour :) Hope you are all ready for Christmas, because I sure am not!

Family Fun

Lately we have really been enjoying being our own little family. With Ryker getting older, it is more fun to take him places because he genuinely enjoys going out. In the past few weeks, we have taken a drive to Hardware Ranch to see the elk- suprise, no snow=no elk. It was a quick, cold, windy trip and this picture is terrible, but we still had fun talking and enjoying the scenery on the way up.

Ryker hates sleep, but he loves naps with Daddy. Here they are on the couch in "the thinker" and "quit taking pictures" positions. I love my guys!

We went to our ward party last night. It was really fun and great food. Dustin and I switched off taking Ryker to run the halls. All the other babies (toddlers?) his age sit very content...not our maniac! He was squealing and trying to pound on the piano and well, being himself. Tyson, a neighbor boy has a little brother the same age as Ryker and he played with Ryker all night saying "my baby doesn't walk yet! Look at him walk! (VERY loud forced laugh) He keeps saying tee-tee! (Another laugh)" Man, it was so fun to see him interact with other kids. I am sure we are the "bad parents" in our ward because our kid doesn't know how to "behave" but hey, how do you discipline a 1 year old and "make" him sit still. I say mission impossible.

Anyways, this is getting long. They had Santa come and I thought- oh, Ryker loves everyone! He will be fine...

Not so! Screaming bloody murder the second I put him on his lap. This picture makes me laugh so hard though (I know, scared does not equal funny, but I beg to differ!) Check out another post below for everything that makes me giggle about Ryker.

We are so glad we have our little guy and can experience being a kid all over again!

This kid...

....makes me giggle!
He:

Puts 'nannas' on his head and says "uh-oh!" Screamed bloody murder the second we put him on Santa's lap (this one especially makes me giggle- is it mean to find humor in his pain?)

Gets a Carrot-top beard while eating spaghettios

Looks like a G in that hat and shirt (ignore the yucky carpet-we rent, remember)

Beware: mustache picture....

Thinks daddy's mustache was silly. I on the other hand found it to be absolutely horrendous. This was the last picture with that horrid thing- disclaimer: my husband is the hottest guy around- sans mustache!

Waits patiently for mommy when she goes to warm up the car in the mornings. I return to this huge grin across his face- love him!

I love my little guy and the many giggles he gives me everyday. Kids really do keep you young (except that no sleep part :)