New Years Eve 2004

I look at all these pictures of all these great people and think to my self how lucky I am. We moved to NC in January 2000 and didn't know anyone. Thanks to these people who all live in my neighborhood for making NC our home. Nicole and Wes, Jimmy and Moriah, Steph and Rich, Shelley and O'Brien, Amanda and her kids, Frank and Pat (aka: Pop and Gram) and everyone else not in this picture that we love so much. To Shelley and O'Brien, Chelsea, and Josh, we miss your family so much. I know I speek for all of us in NC, things truely aren't the same with out you, and we miss you dearly!!!! What a great gang we have!!! 

Tummy Time!!

She is already chomping on her hands...And how about a little tummy time, which she hates by the way. Right after I snapped these few pics she cried and then I picked her up and she was happy. Funny how spoiled they get so quick. 

Aly cat...

Look at my little chunck!! She is so cute and full of life. 

Bath time...

Mason and Michael decided to take a bath, once I said yes they couldn't get their clothes off fast enough!! 

All you need is a bathing suit and a tub!!

Okay, so Mason beged me for 2 hours to get in the bath. So I gave in and said yes. Look how much fun they have, why did I say no to begin with. They have a friendship no one can mess with. Let's hope it stays that way forever!! Oh, and notice the blue bath. A first for Mason, then he wanted to add red and make Purple. They had a blast!!!! 

Reflecting Back....

Okay, mom holding Michael, he was so fat. I just want to pinch his cheeks. Taylor hugging Uncle Benny. This was when he just got off the bus coming home from Iraq. What a tearful moment!!! My kids and I playing out in the snow. Pictures of course were taken by Moriah!! We had so much fun that day. There was even enough snow to make a snow man that day. We had alot of fun!!! 

Alyssa Paige

What can I say, just look at her!!! She has blue eyes!!!!Yeah... 

Picture taking time...

Taylor took the two that have Michael in them and The two of Alyssa were taken by Michael. They did a great job didn't they...HAHA! 

Reading, Reading, Reading...

Last night I told Taylor to go get her book for school and read it before bed. Well monkey see mondey do, and Michael found some books of his own and this is where I found them. They love to lay in our new bed, we often find them both in there either playing on it or watching TV together. The picture you see of Taylor was taken by Michael and the picture of Michael was taken by Taylor. Like I said monkey see monkey do, they saw me taking pictures and they wanted to. There are more that they took, those will be on my next blog. They are funny!! 

Daddy's Attention...

Isn't this a great picture? I was cleaning up from dinner last night and I looked up and this is what I saw...I ran for the camera. They are all fighting for daddy's attention. Not actually fighting but ya know what I mean. What a great family I have.  

Benny Wenny...

AND THEN THERE'S UNCLE
BENNY!!!! 

My Step Family!!

Okay this could get confusing. These are my step sisters and brother. (Jamie's Kids) Top Left: Jodi and her husband Rich. Top Right: Jamie and his girlfriend Jessica. Bottom Left: Jeana and her boyfriend David. Bottom Left: Jeana, my nephew Corbin, Jamie Jr., and Jodi. I just want them all to know what a pleasure it was growing up with them. We miss you all so much and we are looking forward to having you all at our house for Christmas 2006!!!!! 

Mom and Jamie

Hello...This is my Mom and Step dad Jamie. Looking good :-)
To my children this Mimi and Papa. Usually every summer Taylor spends a week at their house. This year we are hoping that Michael can join her to. ( Hint, Hint ) Since he has calmed down ALOT!!!!!!!!! Any way we miss ya'll so much and can't wait to see you!! 

This is my dad, my step mom Chris, my step sister Emily, and my step brother Andy. This is a picture from Marchelle's wedding. They all look so nice don't they. I miss them all very much and can't wait to see them. Dad and Chris have been married for 4 years. To my kids this is Grandpa and Nana. Emily just turned 15 in October and Andy just turned 20 in January. Just thought I would share them with you. Till next time... 

This is my baby...Just look how big she is getting. I can't believe how fast it is going. On Feb. 6th Alyssa will be 3 months already. She has the biggest and brighest smile. She will listen to every word you say to her and not hesitate to talk back. Well ya know coo back. She is trying to roll over already. Isn't it too soon?? I guess I just think so because she is the last and I am trying to cherish every baby moment that I can. I did with Tay and Michael too but this hits hard knowing this is truely the last time. Well more pics to come now that I have figured it out. Till next time... 

My kids...

Do you see how luck I am?? When I see how happy my kids are in this picture it reasures me that sometimes I am doing a good job. I love my kids with all my heart. Don't grow up too fast... 

What a great Sunday!!

Thanks you Edomonson's for a wonderful Sunday!! We got up got everyone ready and off to church we went. Michael and Coop stayed in the nursery to play although they didn't want to. They eventually stopped crying. Sorry Coop!! And up to the balcony we went with Taylor, Mason, and Alyssa. These were the 3 best kids in the church, a little bored but they couldn't have been any better!!! Good job guys...Then home to wake up Mike, yes at 12:30. He didn't get home till 5:30 in the morning from helping Andy and DJ on the race car. We all went to Jimmy and Moriah's house. When I walked in it smelled so good, she made a ham, and potatoes and carrots, green bean casserole,rice, and rolls. Everything was delicious!! Then we had apple crisp which was amazing and creme puffs for desert. Then to the couches for a little Sunday football while the kids played and watched movies in Mason's room. We hung out all day. What a great Sunday. Thanks again everything was great and we had an excellent day!! Then to Target with Alyssa for some grocery shopping. What a great time of night to go. I left the house at 7:45 and I went shopping and pulled back in the driveway at 8:45. How did I do? Alyssa was good, except I'm beginning to thing there is something about the air in Target, because yes she pooped and man did she smell...Poor cashier... ( are you laughing Moriah ) HAHA... We came home to put the groceries away and Taylor was still awake so she helped me put them away. I think it's because she wanted a snack, but I let her have one anyway. Well that's all...Till next time...

Sunday's are great family days...

Well I'm up early to find something to wear again. Can't go to church looking like a slob...haha...Then it's off to Jimmy and Moriah's house for dinner/lunch/whatever...good food!!!!! She's making a ham, potatoes, green bean casarole. She cooks so good to. I am bringing desert, my new favorite. They are creme puffs, you buy them in the frozen section, you just let them unthaw for 30 min. but they are the best!!!! Gonna watch the football games today and hope all the kids behave. They will I just know it's gonna be a good day. Well it's off to the shower for me...Till next time...

A day in my life

Ok, a day in my life...Hum...well it would start off: hell my days don't end. Get up around 4:30 or 5 to feed Alyssa and make coffee for Mike and myself. Then about 6 or 6:30 I get in the shower after playing with Alyssa for an hour. Then wake Taylor up and get her ready for school this takes till 7:45 when Tonya wonderful Tonya picks her up and takes her to school every morning for me so I don't have to pack all my kids up. By then Michael is up and the day starts. Then depending on the day Daniel and Shannen come. They both come at 9am. Then it's play for and hour to hour and a half. Then it's snack time. Well that's always an ordeal because everyone wants something different. I only do one snack for everyone. It's really easier and then I don't go through so much food. Then It's time to feed Alyssa again. Then it's back to the swing for her and lunch time for the other kids. Then it's nap time from 12:30 to 2:30. For some reason Alyssa is always up during this time. Which is okay because then we get to play and cuddle. Then 2:30 Shannen goes home and it's time to pack everyone up and pick Taylor up from school. Then at 3:30 we have snack and juice. Then we all play and watch TV a little and sometimes put the radio on and go outside to let out some energy. Then at 5:15 Daniel goes home, and it's time to cook dinner and do Taylor's homework. She sits at the table while I make dinner in case she needs any help, and feed Alyssa again. Then Mike comes home around 6:30 or 7 ish and we eat. Then it's clean up from dinner, bath's, and listen to Taylor read for a while and then at 8:30 it's bed time. But see I put them to bed at 8:30 and at 9:30 they are still coming out of their rooms. They are coming up with better excuses but I always send them back in a hurry so I can relax. But it's not over yet because Alyssa is hungry again. (And on Thurdays Taylor has Cheerleading from 7-8.) Then about 10:00 I try to go to bed. Then up again at 2 or 2:30 to feed Alyssa and it starts all over again!!!!!!!!!!!!! So are you tired from reading this...I am...Till next time...

The trip to Target

So tomorrow we are going to church with Jimmy and Moriah at the church Michael goes to pre-school at. The boys are so excited and can't wait till tomorrow. I am trying to find something to wear but it's just not working for me. I have nothing to fit me. I thought that I would get things ready tonight so it's not so much tomorrow, but I'm frustrated just trying to get myself together...HELP!!

I took Michael and Alyssa to Target tonight to get out of the house because we were so bored. I saw Michelle and Erica, and Erica was playing with Michael and then she helped me feed Alyssa. Erica is Taylor's best friend. She was such a big help to me tonight, and when ever she comes over. She's become best friends with our whole family. Even Mike thinks of her as his own. Takes her riding on the 4 wheeler and everything. Erica fits right in our family. Thanks Erica for being so sweet. Then Michael started running around and wouldn't come back to me. I was starting to get upset with him and all of a sudden he came back and sat right down. "Mom, I pooped in my pants" he knew I was gonna be upset with him. "Guess you will be throwing these underwear out" he says. That's what I have been doing instead of trying to clean them. He hates when I through his underwear out. The worst part was he stunk so bad. I hurried up and payed for my stuff and got the heck out of there. He just had to make things more difficult for me. Oh, well what are ya gonna do... Till next time...

Taylor's Cheerleading

Taylor had a cheerleading game this morning. I was kinda hesitant to go because Mike had to work. That means I had to take all 3 kids. Well I was surprised Michael was so good. He stayed right by my side, until Jimmie got there. That is Taylor's friend Erica's dad. Michael loves to play with him. He was busy talking to some people today but still made time to play with Michael. Thanks Jimmie that was so nice. Then Mike arrived and he was still on his best behavior. Taylor is so cute in her uniform. Everytime she has a game they have this huge blow up arch that they put in front of the door way. They play music, turn the lights off and announce her team name and all the girls come running out shaking their pom poms and screaming. I cry everytime. She is getting so big. What's even more sad is that next year in 3rd grade she will be able to cheer for the school's football team.. Can you believe it already!! It brings me back to my childhood. I used to love cheering. And going to my sister's volleyball games and Benny's wrestling matches. I wish in a way we could go back and be careless again!! Mostly because I was skinny then.. HAHA... Well I took some picture so I will up load them and share later. For now Michael is doing something wrong. Not sure what but he''s too quiet. Till next time...

My kids do love eachother, sometimes...

Yesterday Michael was feeling much better. Right back to his usual self. So Michael, Alyssa, and I went to Subway and got lunch and we brought Taylor lunch at school. She was having a good day surprisingly but she loved having us there, especially because she didn't like what was on the menu for school lunch. Just as lunch is over her class goes out to play on the play ground. It's just too cold to take Alyssa out so we said goodbye to her in the hallway. It's times like this where I know I did or am doing a good job. Michael was crying because Taylor didn't hug him long enough. She heard him crying and asked her teacher if she could see what was wrong, she said yes and Taylor came back. She asked Michael what was wrong and he told her. They stood there hugging each other for a few minutes. They said their good byes and as she is going out the door Michael yells to Taylor I love you sissy!! And yet again she ran back for one more kiss and hug. Gotta cherish those moments.

Mike and I took the kids out to dinner last weekend, and we were sitting there waiting for our check and the waitress finally came over and she told us how beautiful our children were and that they were the best behaved children she had seen all night. What a compliment. The best part was that everyone is quick to tell you when their rotten but never when their good... So that was great to hear. But they were being good. Michael listened and Taylor was good like usual and Alyssa was in her seat smiling and cooing away. What a good family night!! Love my family so much...

Blah, Blah, Blah...

Well, It's been a busy last few days for us. I am trying to get so much stuff done. So I called and tried to get things rolling so that Taylor can make her 1st communion. Who knew that you had to take classes for 2 years before?? So now she can't do this until she is in 4th grade. I also called and got things all set up for Alyssa to be baptized. She will be rid of all sins on April 1, 2006. Which is another question what 5 month old do you know has sinned??? Well any ways we have officially asked people to be her god parents and the have accepted. They will be Moriah and Jimmy Edmonson!! Thanks so much guys!!!! And we will have a 3rd god parent that is Aunt Stephanie. Thanks Steph. We love you all so much and we are honored to have you be a special part in Alyssa's baptism...I wanted to have my mom stand up for us but you know the catholic religion is really strict, and I guess she wasn't supposed to find true happiness with Jamie. Because she is remarried she can not be a got parent. Sorry mom, I tried so hard. But for me that's fine I am so glad you found Jamie. You truly were made for each other. Which brings me to another topic. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE!!!! I am not sure how old you are today but you don't look a day older that the day I met you : - ) Till next time...

Sometimes life is tuff!

Well today will be a lazy day for us over here at the Ryan household!! No pre-school today, Michael is running a fever. Matter of fact he did all night long. Came and layed in bed with mommy and daddy so that he could be comforted all night long. Poor Michael was up more than Alyssa. So needless to say I AM TIRED!! Some one let me sleep!! Well it's always easy getting up when your child is sick, because I feel so bad for them. So now that he was up at 5 am and Mike is was getting ready for work, why go back to bed...Well I would but Michael and Alyssa are both up. I feel bad for the little guy because he couldn't wait to go to pre-school today, because he wanted to see all his buddies. Coop is in his class, Mason is across the hall, and Eric is right down the hall. Oh, well there's always next week buddy!! Let's hope we all get a good nap in today.

So I thought I would also share this...Poor Taylor is out in a trailer this year for school. Now normally she loves school, but this year she begs me every morning to stay home. I can't help but think it's because she is out of the building. She gets scared because if she has to go to the bathroom the doors to the school are locked and she has to sit there and bang on the door till someone hears her to let her in. Now how safe is my child at school???? Yesterday it was very windy and the wind was whipping in between the trailers. ( There is 4 of them ) Well Taylor suddenly felt ill and I received a phone call to pick her up from school. So I get to the school and her teacher is at the front door. She tells me that Taylor is not sick, that she was scared from hearing the wind and she would like her to stay the rest of the day. Poor Taylor so scared she faked being sick so she could come home. Well she did end up staying at school but I did have to give her some Tylenol because she had a headache because her nerves were shot!!!! So now I am convinced that the whole trailer idea to teach kids is not such a good idea. Should your child be that scared at school? Will the principal even care when I call her today to discuss this problem. Will anything be done, or will my child be in fear for the next 41/2 months till school is out? Well I'll let ya know what happens...Till next time...

My favorite pics of Marchelle's wedding

Isn't she beautiful!!
They truely are the perfect couple...
Marchelle and Michael, he shure does love her!!
From left to right, Jeana, Jodi, my beautiful sister, me, and Katy
My sister Marchelle got married on June 11, 2005. Just thought I would share some amazing pictures from her special day. Taylor was the Jr. brides maid and Michael was the ring bearer...

Picture Sharing

My all time favorite picture: my biker boy!!

He is definitely daddy's boy : - )

5 things you didn't know about me...

Here are 5 things you didn't know about me:

I don't like odd numbers. But I have 3 kids. My birthday is 11/29, Tay's is 9/25, Michael's is 11/21, Alyssa's is 11/6 but she was born at 3:33am. Now we have a family of 5... Mike's doesn't count cause his b-day is 8/14 just like my mom:-)

My favorite number is 16 and oddly enough I was married on Feb. 16th. Coming up on 5 years. I love ya Mike, it's been a long road!!!

This one is crazy, I can hear Moriah laughing now...I use chap stick like it's going out of style...My lips are always chapped!!

I have to have nail polish on my toe nails at all times. But I hate nail polish on my finger nails. Love it on other people.

I love my feet...That is the best body part I have!!!

Thought I would share. Till next time...

BLOG TAG, I'M IT...

Okay, Moriah has tagged me and here are the answers to my questions:

4 Jobs you have had!
1.)K-mart! My first Job
2.)RG&E , worked at the nuclear power plant with my mom and step dad for a year before moving to NC...that was the best!!!!
3.)Starbucks...Great part time job when Taylor was born.
4.)Now a stay at home mom. The most demanding job I have ever had, but by far the BEST!

4 Movies you would watch over and over
1.)Dirty Dancing
2.)Steel Magnolias
3.)Jersey Girl
4.)And I have to say it, Harry Potter

4 Places you've lived
1.)Webster, NY
2.) Ontario, NY
3.)Mooresville, NC
4.)Sherrills Ford, NC ( I have left a lot out )

4 TV Shows you love to watch:
1.)The O.C.
2.)Reunion
3.)Desperite House Wife's
4.)CSI

4 Websites I visit daily:
1.)Right now HGTV
2.)Moriah's Blog spot
3.)My bank account ( haha)
4.)and that's it...

4 of my favorite foods
1.)Anything Italian
2.)Mexican
3.)Shrimp
4.)Cheesecake

4 Places I would rather be:
1.) NY, to see my parents
2.)FL, to see my family
3.)TX, to see Jamie and the kids
4.)And at any vacation spot on a beach with my kids and husband!!
Okay so that's it, enjoy...

Inspiration...

So I have to Thank Moriah for getting me started. I hope this will be as good for me as it's been for her. So I want to thank her for being such and inspiration in my life. It took me to move to NC until I finally found a true friend. At 22 who knew it would take that long. I see so many things in so many different ways, a more positive way. Thanks for being there for me and my family and loving my kids like there your own. You and Jimmy are more wonderful than you'll ever know. We appreciate you showing us the true meaning of friendship!! And with that being said Alyssa is crying so I have to go...Till next time...

Kids say the darndest things!!!!

So, funny story we took the kids out to dinner on Saturday and of course Mike's dinner was messed up. Not once but twice they had to take it back, so Mike told Taylor that when she has a boyfriend and he takes her to dinner and it's not a steak house don't order a steak. Needless to say he ordered a steak. So Michael says he has to go to the bathroom. So I get up and take him and while he's going he says "mommy, when I get bigger can I have a boyfriend too." Well I started laughing and told him he can have a girlfriend when he gets bigger. He was happy with that. Mike about choked on his steak when I told him what Michael had said. It was such and innocent thing to say, he doesn't know better. Any way just thought I would share... I am really not any good at this blogging thing. Moriah's is so inspiring to me and mine is just blah...Well this is the first day, hopefully I will get better. Moriahfound this absolutly hilarious, which makes me laugh too. I'll try to get better. Till next time...

Sweet Alyssa

Here it goes...

Well, Moriah keeps saying that I should BLOG, so here it goes...I'm not sure if I will be any good at this. Today is a crazy day at my house. I have 5 children here today including my 3 wonderful children. There is no school because it is a holiday. Daniel and Adrian that is who is here today. They are all being good except MICHAEL...Nothing new, he doesn't want to share his toys with anyone. But I make him anyway and that makes him even more mad. I have been trying for the last hour to get him to take a nap. He keeps telling me he's tired but doesn't want to miss out on anything. Time to give up. Taylor and Adrian the "older" kids are actually playing with him, and I can see the glow about him now. So no nap today. Alyssa is sleeping in her swing just like usual. Not demanding anything from me at the moment, which is good because I can start this blog...Hum welp, I will be back in a little bit because of course Alyssa is crying now...TILL NEXT TIME...