Five years

December 29, 2006 to December 29, 2011 equals five amazing years!

I feel like we look a lot younger - just five years ago!
I was trying to think about the most memorable moment each year we have been married, and it is hard to pinpoint one thing!

2006 - In the two days we had left that year, I would probably have to say the one thing I really really loved about being married was being able to wake up next to Ry - it was so nice to have someone to snuggle up with!!

2007 - Getting settled into our new little home, trips up north, and we spent lots of time that summer cheering each other on at softball games and triathlons

2008 - We both started our master's degree programs, Ry bought his first road bike so we could ride together, first big vacation together to Riveria Maya for our 3 year anniversary

2009 - Pregnant!! Lots of preparations for our family to forever change!

2010 - Taylor was born and we figure out the whole parenting thing... one day at a time, and we also both graduate from our Master's programs

2011 - Ryan takes a whole week off work for a long vacation up north, we both had a brother get married, pregnancy #2!!, and finding out we were having another girl :), big basement renovation project

Here's to LOTS more anniversaries together! :o)

New playroom!

I like to say that we live in a cozy house. It was perfect for Ryan and I when we were first married - nice street, the house was well kept when we purchased it, it was a good size for two people, and close to our work and the gym.

But now there is one more occupant in this house (who requires a lot of "stuff", by the way!), and another one on the way. So our little house just keeps getting "cozier". :o)

We're not in a place to put it on the market right now, but definitely feel like we could use a bit more space, hence the basement project was devised! We didn't want to invest in completely finishing the basement (putting up walls, ceiling, etc.), but decided that with a lot of purging, cleaning, painting and new carpet, that we could create a new play space for Taylor and her little sister!

Are you ready for some ugly "before" pictures? We have never had water in our basement (thank goodness!), but there was some definite clean-up to be done. After throwing away/donating/selling a lot that we had in storage that we determined we didn't need, we were able to start the process!

First to go - the yellow walls!!
Yuck

Ick

Gross

Now we're getting somewhere...walls primed - the yellow is gone!

A common scene this Christmas break - Ryan with a paintbrush (working on our laundry room area)

Next up, get rid of flaking paint on the floors and put down a new coat of paint

SO much better!!!

Taylor thought the newly painted space was a fun place to run, run, run!

Carpet laid!

(We could NOT have gotten this project done so quickly without the incredible help of Mary and Steve!) Thanks, guys!!

Pretty much done! And already a well used play area, as you can tell :o)

We have things we want to hang on the walls, and some other little wrap up projects, but for the most part we are done!

**It should be noted that anytime I say "we" - it is mostly just Ryan. Being 25 weeks pregnant I passed on a lot of the painting and moving stuff. :o)**

Yay for a little more space! (Well, you know, until we get our 10 bedroom mansion with our next house :o)).

A quick visit to Santa

This post will be out of order, but the Friday before Christmas Eve, we stopped by to see Santa. Taylor is now familiar with Santa from books, shows, wrapping paper, toys, and will say "Ho, ho, ho" when she sees something with Santa on it.

We weren't sure, however, how it would go actually meeting him in person. :o)

Despite a little uncertainty about the man with the white beard, she merely looked at him and seemed more curious than anything.

 

Santa even got a "fist pound" from Taylor before getting a candy cane and saying goodbye. :o)

It will be interesting to see how next year goes! :o)

Christmas 2011

It's Sunday night, Taylor is sleeping soundly, others are out to play, and I am feeling exhausted and BLESSED this Christmas season!

As a family, we decided to do our own thing on Saturday morning - breakfast out together, a little gift opening, and playtime. :o)

Saturday afternoon it was time for celebration with Ryan's family! Taylor was much more tuned into the whole Christmas present thing, and went crazy over her first gift - a stuffed whale from uncle Jason. She loves whales and yelled, "whale, whale, whale!" while running back and forth LOTS of times, clutching her new little toy. :o)

Snuggling with a handmade pillow by great aunt Jan

And showing off her new blankie made by aunt Liz - monkeys!

We did a late evening drive to BC and woke up to a relaxed Christmas morning at my parent's house. We had a huge bowl of fruit for breakfast that Taylor decided to eat directly out of....

And I got caught eating the last few bites myself a little later :o)

Strike a pose :)

Taylor entertained herself while she waited for everyone to finish breakfast with a little playtime with Speedo (Speedo is so patient and sweet with Taylor :)), piano playing with Mem, stair climbing, and book reading.

Capturing family time (and it almost looks like it is a white Christmas outside!)

She LOVED this little pot with food from uncle Jeff and aunt Jen

Taylor completely cashed out over an hour and a half earlier than her normal nap time, and went down at 11 (hardly any nap the previous two days combined with all the excitement = one tired lady!), so her big gift that was hiding in the basement was saved until later.

Taylor loves to play with food and kitchen sets, and I think I was as excited as Taylor when the surprise gift was revealed and she got her own kitchen from Bapa and Mem! We are working on making our basement into a play area, and this will be a perfect addition to her new play space.

We also got our little lady a basketball hoop to add to the fun - showing off her dunking skills before bedtime. :o)

This was one of the last pictures of the day that I captured, and as I look at this little profile with pigtails, I am left with a feeling of complete joy and thanks.

Thanks for the family that I am blessed with, for the birth of Jesus - the ultimate gift we could ever receive and the reason we come together to celebrate, and joy in thinking of what the future will bring! Next year we'll have another little one, and I can only pray that we will be as blessed in 2012 as we were in 2011!

What do you do when it RAINS in December?

It is cold, but not cold enough for snow. It is a dreary rainy day, so we had to figure out something fun to do INSIDE!

Fingerpaints! Who doesn't like fingerpainting? Well, Taylor is not exactly the most ambitious when it comes to sticking her fingers in the gooey bright paints, but with a little encouragement, it did provide some creative fun this afternoon!

Dressed to get messy

"Quit taking my picture, mama, I want to paint!"

Ready to make something pretty

"You sure you want me to stick my finger in that?"

Little artist

She really wanted to do a little mixed media project

All done!