I am trying so hard to get caught up on my blogging since I started this blog. I am new at it so I am still working at it but anyways, I have dedicated today to a few blog post just so I can get caught up. Time has flown by but it has been so much fun. Ryson is now 3. He had his birthday November 7th and was so excited about it all. We counted down to the actual day, got excited about his party at daddy's, had the family to my house to celebrate him turning 3 AND had a big birthday party. Ryson loved all celebrations and is already wanting it to be his 4th birthday. Here are some pictures from the special event. It brings tears to my eyes that I can still remember laying in the hospital waiting for his arrival and now he is 3.






We had so much fun celebrating Ryson's birthday. It's always so much fun to have everyone together in one place. Ryson loves playing with all the kiddos and opening all his presents. More importantly we just feel so lucky to have so many great friends and family that are always there each year with us as he grows a year older to celebrate with us.

Wow…time really slips away from you during the holidays. The older Ryson gets the more I realize it. This year we had so many fall festivals, Halloween activities, and Thanksgiving dinners that December was here before I knew it. I always get so excited for Black Friday because I just can’t say no to a good deal. However, this year I was less than impressed with the sales. Therefore, I had a lot of deals to find throughout the month and of course I had zero problems finding these deals ;) Most of them were online since I traveled the first two weeks of December. Once I got home I had to get in a party with my girlfriends, Christmas in Owensboro and then of course Santa came to visit us.
We had so much fun celebrating this year. Ryson is at the perfect age where he gets Christmas, he was interested in anything and everything Christmas, and wanted it to be Christmas Eve very bad for about a month ;) The not so fun part, his wish list. Most of you know, Ryson loves anything pirates, swords, and guns. Typical boy I KNOW!! This wouldn’t be such a challenge for Santa to get him some fun stuff to fulfill his wishlist…EXCEPT HE WANTED A PIRATE SHIP. In my eyes this was nonsense. He received 3 PIRATE SHIPS for birthday presents at the beginning of October. Why in the world would my child tell Santa 3 different times that this is what he wants. To make matters worse he also wanted pirate guys. Well, we may or may not have about 50 pirate guys at home. I refused to add either of these to our collection come Christmas morning. Santa didn’t listen…he definitely brought pirate guys…and a pirate ship…AND WAY TOO MUCH MORE. I must say though, Santa got very creative with his pirate ship. He was so kind to bring us a pirate ship that is a sand/water table! WE CAN’T WAIT FOR PRETTY WEATHER SO WE CAN PUT THIS TABLE TO USE!!!

Of course, Allen and I both had a great Christmas too. We both got so many great gifts but the beset gift of all was the people I got to spend it with. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas Eve...spending time in Owensboro with Allen's family. It brings such a big smile to my face to watch Ryson and all the boys play together. They have a blast just running and playing with each other. I always feel so relaxed and loved when I am around Allen's family. Christmas with my family was on Christmas day. As always we have it at my brother's house which is nice beccause we get to celebrate Olivia's birthday too. Olivia is extra special to me and is like my own...if they would let me have her I'd take that child in a heartbeat. Christmas with my family this year seemed a little extra special. We decided not to exchange gifts, except getting mom something. It was so nice to not stress about each others gift and just focus on the kids.

After all was said and done with Christmas, I looked around at the overflow of toys, thought to myself "What has Santa done..." then quickly realized how truely blessed I am. Some people do not go overboard at Christmas like I do. It's silly and I say every year I will cut back but no matter what I know that there are people out there who can't afford to do what I do. I am so thankful for my life, my family and my friends who have pushed me along the way to give me the opportunity to do this stuff for Ryson. Hoping everyone had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and enjoyed the holidays as much as I did.

Dear Santa, I Can Explain...

"I didn't mean to....I will use my words Elfred" Ryson told him one morning shortly before Christmas. This was a result to Elfred, yes the popular but very special to us Elf on the Shelf, taking Santa a bad report one night. Elfred came to us at the beginning of December and made for an interesting friend. Never once did Ryson forget to look for him first thing in the morning, or mid-day, or possibly all day long ;) Elfred had a huge impact on Ryson's behavior...I just may have used this to my advantage ;) Either way, Eflred was great...he even went on long trips to Owensboro and Danville which Ryson just loved. Here are some of our fun places we found Elfred and the trips he made just to watch over Ryson(who needed it...)

His first night in the house

There's an Elfred in my underpants...

Just a midnight snack...

Coloring everyone pictures

Woody and Elfred hanging out

Hanging on the door

Elfred's trip to Danville
UH OH

Santa sent a note by Elfred and Ryson was rather scared when he woke up. The whole month of December he worked hard to not get a note from Santa...and one morning he did. Before I could read the letter to him he was apologizing to Elfred so Elfred could go back and tell Santa. It was so cute because you could tell that he did not want to be in trouble. Once I read it to him he noticed that getting a letter wasn't all that bad from Santa. Santa had sent him a letter just as a friendly remind to use his words and to watch his behavior! He also sent him a special shirt to go visit him in because he was headed to visit Santa with Gammie that day.

Elfred was so much fun and we can't wait for him to come back and visit next year. Ryson still talks about him and he definately helps with the behavior so I AM READY FOR ELFRED TO COME HOME TOO ;)