Updates

I have caught up a lot so check below if you want to know how Christmas was for us :)

Ryker-
His tummy is still bad. Our Primary Children's appointment gave us a lot of hope. We are waiting for test results and going back in for another test Friday. The doctor is testing for pancreatic enzyme disfunctions (would require medication), celiac disease (would require special diet) and cystic fibrosis again (this is not good and scares me, so we won't talk about it).
I think he is also allergic to pomegranites. He had an allergic reaction with terrible, bleeding diaper rash while I wasn't there :( He seems okay today, but his little bum is still burned :(

Ashley-
Enjoying being home and not in school. I am looking into a part-time job and haven't heard back from the three places I applied. I am loving being a stay at home mom and loving my time with Ryker!

Dustin-
Working hard but enjoying his time off. He has been snowmobiling a few times and loved his time off and playing with Ryker. They are best pals and I love watching their relationship!

Fun!

Oh wow, I must have been really busy lately- funny thing is, my appointment book looks like this ____________________ completely blank!! No school, no work- just fun!

We have been having a whole lot of fun lately! New Years Eve brought lots of fun at Dustin's parents. We have quite a puzzle obsession lately and also have been having fun playing spoons and oh darn!

New Years Day brought, guess what, MORE games at Grandma Nielsen's! We had good food and lots of fun. I love being with everyone so much- it is too bad that we are always so busy.

Like Dustin and I always tell each other- "there is never enough time or money!"

Dustin has found a little time out in the powder- Ryker thought he would help daddy get ready to go snowmobiling.

I have learned since Ryker was born to not take for granted or waste time EVER!

Christmas 2009

Yay horray! Santa came! He brought Ryker a stick horse, hut and mini tractors! He loved it all and hides in his hut all the time.

We had a very busy Christmas (as usual). Grandma Shanna's party on the Sunday before Christmas was fancy ;) Grandpa Jay's party on Christmas Eve was crazy as always! Grandma Nielsen's on Christmas morning did not disappoint. Grandma Baers was a nice place to catch up.

We really enjoyed our first Christmas that Ryker actually, well kindof understood!

I love being around family and friends and the wonderful feeling that Christmas brings.

What a Big Girl!

Our niece Nikelle turned 3 just before Christmas. I cannot believe how big she is and how fast her first 3 years have flown by! To celebrate we went sledding at Old Main- my neurotic, worry wart self has a hard time watching people fly down the hill toward cars without anything to stop them, but it was fun :)

Birthday Girl!

I love this cute picture! Kristi, Colby and Kelle

Us! Ignore my high heel boots- I did not know we were going sledding :)

All Bundled Up!

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!