iCandy

My cute cousin just started a fun blog with lots of fantastically crafty ideas!! I can't wait for it to be HUGE so we can all have lots of ideas of things we will only half make...errr...maybe that's just me! No way, it looks like this inspiration may actually take me through to completion!

Looks like fun Jen!!

Check it out: http://icandyhandmade.blogspot.com/

Christmas Numero Duo ~ And it's a pictoral doozy!

On the 21st we had a Christmas party with Ryan's extended family.

We had a fabulous time and covered all of the holiday essentials...

~ Food ~ ~ Presents ~

~ Games but we were too busy for pictures! ~

~ Laughter ~

~ And a festive Mama-Dilly shot! ~

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CHRISTMAS DAY
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We were supposed to go to Lovell for Christmas this year to visit Ryan's grandparents but it didn't work out! So instead we had a pretty chill holiday at home.

Christmas Eve we went to Ryan's parents for Toy Story 3.
Dylan loves it and held Woody the whole time.

~ Cute and Cuddly in his Christmas Jammies ~

Dylan still doesn't quite understand how the whole Santa visit works, which we are enjoying for now... He slept until 10AM!

We always do Santa at our house with just the three of us before going to Ryan's parents for presents and breakfast.

Ryan's dad is so good at keeping Christmas Day exciting with a bunch of adults! In the past he has created riddles, used music for clues, etc. and if you don't guess (supposedly!) you don't get your gift. This year we each had ten clues to reach our present...

**Cool shot Mike!

The clues led to places and things in the house. It was hard!!

~ Ryan was first! ~

Some clues required research on Jim's iPad {foreshadowing}

~ Then Michael ~


Then we had to break for a delicious breakfast
because it was already 1PM!

~ On to Kristi ~



This round required some old school research materials...
it's called an en-cy-clow-pee-dee-ah kids.

~ And last the best of all the game...ME! ~


Jim & Dylan anxiously awaited our return with each new clue!
Can't you just feel their radiating excitement??

And after four hours of brain racking suspense and non-stop thrills...iPads for all!
Yes, we know we're spoiled!
We also got a beautiful copy of Hans Christian Andersons Fairy Tales.

During the hunt there was no shortage of entertainment for Dylan!
~ An art easel from Aunt Kristi ~

~ GeoTrax from Grandma & Grandpa & lots of puppy love from Bella! ~

~ And never ending Toy Story on Grandpa's iPad ~

Kelly and Lisa joined for a bit via Skype.
Thanks for the adorable Latvian purses!

Florence got a bunch of new swim stuff.
Dylan loves goggles and I couldn't resist posting this adorable pic!

Given the difficult clues (or our slow brains) we weren't done with Christmas "morning" until about 3PM and it was nap time!
At least for Dyl and I.
Everyone else stuck to Thomas family tradition and went to a movie, True Grit.

Thanks to all for yet another fantastic holiday season and generous Christmas.

The greatest news!

We are absolutely overjoyed by the latest family news!

Curtis & Brittany have been in the adoption application process for months and their positive attitudes and diligent efforts have paid off, THEYARE APPROVED! We are so happy for them, truthfully for all of us, and can't wait to have a new little one in the family.

So I am doing my part and spreading the word!

https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/25001259/ourMessage.jsf

http://curtisbrittany.blogspot.com/

Help us out & wish us luck!

Christmas Numero Uno

A few years ago we started the tradition of celebrating Christmas with my family the Sunday before the actual holiday. Genius! It removes the pressure of a single day where you need to see everyone and be everywhere, we love it. We do dinner and gifts and really get to enjoy the time without having to run to the next house or feel guilty that we aren't doing it all. Genius!

This year Curtis and Brittany were our fantastic hosts! They made a delicious meal, I mean DELICIOUS chicken fricasse. And had quite the spread of snacks and treats. After absolutely stuffing ourselves we opened presents, lots of presents! My mom went a little crazy this year but we aren't complaining.

I love this shot. It started as a totally random moment but I made Ryan re-do for a picture, then the camera wouldn't focus so it took a long time and got pretty awkward!

Dylan fell asleep on the way there so he slept through dinner and you can see in the first few pics that he was a bit cranky from just waking up. Also, he insisted on wearing the tie - so cute!

As part of his crankiness he did not like the sound and feel of ripping the wrapping paper.

Ryan insisted I sit on his lap to open our joint present,
he's so in love with me!

Anna has been dying for an excuse to get Dylan this ladybug.
It's adorable and he loves it!

The bubble choo choo train has been on pretty much non-stop since Dylan got it Sunday. If you have been to my house you can attest to this, NON-STOP!
He loves the train and I love the pics...


I also love his efforts to play with everything at once! In the sled from grandma, playing with the train from grandma and wearing monkey from Curtis & Brittany. At one point the ladybug was in there too but it was collecting too much soap.

My mom made us these awesome aprons.
Don't we look fantastically domestic?

We're so happy grandpa and grandma came this year!
Dylan is thanking them for the cozy hoodie, he's such a sweetie.

This is the book we read the ENTIRE way home, over and over.
Like I mentioned in a previous post - constant sugar high!

Thanks everyone for all the thoughtful and generous gifts.
We had a wonderful night!