Current Updates:

Summer is coming to an end here in Sunny St. George, but that doesn't mean the heat is fading anytime soon. We've gotten back into routine with fall semester starting back up for Byron. I've been busing myself with little home renovations and of course entertaining a toddler all day! Our Labor Day activity is repainting my nightstand as well as my rocking chair in my room. I have never, ever repainted any furniture so this will be a learning experience for all! SUMMER This summer flew by so fast! We had so much fun spending our weekends together when we could. There was lots of traveling for us as well as lazy weekends. We went to Salt Lake and then traveled up to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. We spent 3 days up there. Just the 3 of us, and it was much needed. We came home and got back into our regular routine. Byron had his AEMT (Advanced Emergency Medical Training) class 4 days a week. It really put a damper in our summer plans of going to California. We celebrated Ryker's first birthday on June 5th and then had a family party on the 8th. I still can't believe that I'm the mother of a toddler!!

We then celebrated my 24th birthday at the end of July. We had a mustache party and it was so fun. We had homemade Cafe Rio salads and just hung out at our house. The month of August flew by! We were able to enjoy going to the pool a couple times, then we ventured out to Lake Powell for a day. My summer is complete now that we went to Lake Powell. Ryker and I went up to Cedar City with my family for Kolin's Baseball tournament. Ryker loved it! He loves being with his Aunts and Uncles. Between games we played in the river and Ryker had to be right with the big kids standing in it!

RYKER WAYNE Let's see.. Ryker Wayne will be 15 months on the 5 of September. He loves climbing on EVERYTHING! He is currently in love with monster trucks and tractors and we have to go down the toy aisle every time we go to the store and look at the trucks and tractors. He likes playing on the grass now and he loves rocks and dirt. He plays with the pugs outside in the backyard and now he barks like a dog when he is with them. His words for the week are "Go" and "Car" and conveniently he uses them at the same time. His favorite foods are: Cheetos, Cucumbers, Cheese, Chicken, Tater Tots and of course Mandarin Oranges! He goes up and down the stairs. He is in love with the Lorax! (If you haven't watched it, come to our house, it plays 4 times a day!) He still loves Mickey Mouse and dances when they sing the "Hot dog Dance". He is rough and tough and all boy! He's a daredevil and has absolutely no fear. If he falls down he gets right back up. He blows kisses to you and says Bye. I love when he comes over and loves on me and then carries on with his day, like it's no big deal to come love on Mama. His Dad is his favorite person!! He recognizes Byron in our family pictures, so we ALWAYS have to look at them and he points and says Dada! He plays pat a cake and Itsy Bitsy Spider. He likes books and music. He changes daily and is learning something new constantly. I'm amazed at how much he looks like me and acts like Byron. Haha! It's been fun watching his little personality develop. I can't wait to see what the next few months bring us! Ryker Wayne, we love you way too much!! You are one awesome kid!!

One Year Old Right Around The Corner......

Holy moly!! I can't believe that my sweet little boy will be 1 in a week and a half!! That first year with Ryker has flown by! Let me tell you about our boy... Ryker Wayne now weighs 23 pounds. He walks and is starting to run. He LOVES playing with his trucks. He growls. He has 8 teeth. (4 on top 4 on bottom) He says: "Mama" "Dada" "Papa" "Bobba"(bottle) "Babe"(baby) "Hi" "Pug"(Pugsley) He dances. He shakes his head "No" constantly at me when he knows he's being naughty. He loves to brush his teeth. He loves Mac 'N Cheese, Cheetos, Cheerios, Mandarin Oranges and Spaghetti. He enjoys eating rocks as well as paper. He thinks it's fun to chase the kids and they yell "Zombie!" at him. He still has the sweetest smile. He hugs. He "sings" to me often. He kisses. He likes to ride his bull. He loves the car. He screams. He plays pat-a-cake all the time. He likes when you play pat-a-cake with him. He will make you play it if you don't do it on your own. He loves music. He loves Mickey Mouse and will come running from the other room if he hears the Mickey Mouse theme song. He loves Sock Monkeys. He loves his and mine silk blankets. He throws things, particularly his food if he doesn't want to eat. The list goes on and on about him and it is constantly being added to of all the silly things he does on a daily basis. I love that I have been able to spend every day with him and that I have been able to see first hand all the many things this boy does. He truly was and is my greatest achievement in life and I couldn't be more proud to be called his Momma. Ryker Wayne you will never understand my undying love for you, but no one will love you as much as I have and do. Love your Mom.

Have a growth spurt or two....

Mr Ryker has been having quite the growth spurts lately! He's gone from wearing 6-9 months to 12 month clothes in one day. He eats like a horse and sleeps for hours on end! Here are some pictures of him recently!

Trouble X 2

Well here they are. The 2 teeth that have been giving my poor boy a sore mouth for a month! Look out! He knows how to use them already! My greatest fear is that he's starting to teeth AGAIN! BAH!! Anyways we were pretty excited for these :)

Be My Valentine!!

This year for Valentine's Day was possibly the best V day I've had in my whole marriage. You see for the last 2 Valentine's Days my sweet husband thinks its a great idea for us to move. I know, it's possibly the most romantic thing to do on the official day of love. This year we just BBQed some steaks and ate at home then went and got frozen yogurt with Lex, Sarah & Ross. It's been fun having Ross & Sarah here now. I got Byron some stuff for his grill and he got me a new vacuum :) I'm a total housewife when a new vacuum makes me all giddy! Ryker got some little toys. It was a great day and I'm glad I have 2 Valentine's!!

~8 Months & Counting~

I cannot believe my baby is 8 months old today!! It feels like we were just bringing him home from the hospital yesterday!! Lets see.. what's new with the boy.. He's getting closer and closer to walking. He walks with the furniture or if he's holding your hand or pant leg. He is currently still trying to cut his 2 bottom teeth. He loves to eat! If he is in his highchair he expects to have Cheerios or something else to munch on. He loves Mac 'N Cheese. Dada is still his favorite word, but he's starting to come around to saying Momma more:) He loves playing with his toys and his aunts and uncles, but most importantly, he loves my dad! He can just hear my dad's voice and it puts the biggest grin on his face. This boy is certainly spoiled and loved so much every day by everyone. I don't know what I would do without him. He brings so much sunshine into my life.

Resolutions....

With the new year, I like almost all Americans have made resolutions... I don't want to change who I am. So therefore my resolutions will be to better myself. A few that I have are to create as many memories with my family that I can. Even if they are the tiniest of memories I want to make them. Be more healthy. Yes that means cutting back on the sweets and soda, but I am human and I do enjoy food. It makes me happy. I come from a family who makes delicious Mexican food, why would I cut myself off from that?? Not to mention I do enjoy a cold, crisp Diet Coke with limes as well :) Stop swearing: Let's be honest... I'm my father's daughter... cursing is just part of the language I speak.... But cutting back, I'm definitely trying to do that. Making it on time for church: Church is at 9, I'm not a morning person. Do I really need to defend this?? Have family prayer & scripture study more regularly: Byron and I decided we need this. We've gotten better on praying but we struggle with family scripture study. If anyone has any advice, pass it along!! Our biggest resolution: Go through the temple by May. I want my family to be an eternal family. I don't think I could ever imagine my life without these two. I want to be with them for eternity. This has been a major goal for Byron and I. When we talked about this when we were first married we were so close to it living in Wyoming. Then we moved back to St. George and it got really hard for me to even want to go to church because of how our ward was towards us. We started going back to our old ward up in Winchester, the one we both grew up in. It made me feel the way I did when we were in Wyoming. We serve our calling faithfully and love every minute of it. We feel we are more ready than ever to go through the temple. I have so much faith in us. Here's to us and making 2013 even better than 2012 was!!! Good luck to you and your resolutions!!!