Thanksgiving Week Three

I have been looking at old photos this week which brought back such fond memories that I would like to share them.




I Am Thankful For....
Ryan's Family & there supportive, fun & loving personalities.
This picture was taken at a bridal shower that Ryan's mom and sisters threw together for me when I was up in Utah to attend my brother's wedding. I had such a fun time. We played games, ate delicious delicatessen desserts and wore cute fun hats.

A quick funny story is that I actually forgot my luggage for this trip and aside from going on a shopping spree to buy new clothes (jk...I only bought three shirts) Ryan's mom and sister Marietta graciously let me borrow their clothes.

Your probably wondering "How did you forget your clothes, especially when you can't miss the big bright blue suitcase???"
All I can say is....I really can't answer that. :)



I Am Thankful For....
Friends and their thoughtfulness!
I had three baby showers when I was prego and never posted the pics...well better late than never. My friend Laura made the above sign which is super cute!


My friend Texas makes super fancy cakes and this is one of them. I don't recall eating or even tasting that cake...but I did eat a cupcake and it was GOOD.


This shower was a couples shower....hence the attendance of Ryan :)
We played a baseball trivia game and guess who won? Ryan.....I believe that Kenny was trailing pretty close though.

My other two showers were pretty girly (a.k.a.- no fellas).


My friend Jeni made this cute & delicious cake.


I'm not sure what game this was, but I remember I definitely had a Fabulous time with all the Branch ladies.



My last shower was in my hometown of Dayton...actually it was in nowhere land b/c where it was held is actually not named....it is outside of the Dayton city limits through the woods of Kenefick and almost to Tarkington. I had a great time with friends and family.



I Am Thankful For....
Chapstick...Burt's Bees in particular...need I say more?!!!




I Am Thankful For....
Staying in touch with old friends.



My old roomies Daranee (D), me (AP) & Hayley (Hayley Bailey)



My friend Jessica and I on a Walmart excursion....(our escape from late night studying for a World History Final).


Susan, me, Sam, & Aubrey Out on the Town




I Am Thankful For....
Opportunities to have a Good Ole Time.

Checking out the news...


Ooooze Ball (a.k.a. mud volleyball)


Mitt head & Gangsta Wannabe


I gave in and became a Mitt Head


Cheese in the Photo Booth (Ryan's mom, me & Ry)

Thanksgiving Week Two

I Am Thankful for....
Ryan passing the Texas Bar.



He worked very hard to prepare for the three day exam and it payed off!
We celebrated last Thursday night by eating at our favorite Chinese restaurant.




I Am Thankful for....
Pacifiers....
It's amazing how a pacifier soothes a baby. When Keedan was a newborn he would scream & howl to keep "the binky" out of his mouth. Now he screams & howls for us to pop "the binky" into his mouth.




I Am Thankful for....
The vast beauty of the world around us!

I need to do better at enjoying it and appreciating God's creations more often. Except for mosquitos & ants :)


I Am Thankful for....
Music and the opportunity I have to hear it.
My favorite music is listening to a child laugh. I thankfully get to hear Keedan's sweet giggles everyday.

Thanksgiving Week One

Because of the wonderful example of others, I am going to start posting a weekly Thankfulness posting for the month of November. That being said, I will now begin.

I Am Thankful for....
The freedom I have to believe how I choose.
I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord's true church that was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith.



I believe that we have a living Prophet on the earth today and his name is Thomas S. Monson.



I believe that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God.



I believe in the power of the Atonement and that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for all of our sins and to succor us in our times of need.



I believe that when you read the Book of Mormon and pray sincerely for an answer of its truthfulness, that you will receive an answer.


I Am Thankful for....
Keedan and the opportunity I have to be a parent.
It is amazing how his sweet spirit has enlivened our home and how the love that I feel for him is immeasurable.
I am definitely making it a priority to cherish the time I get to spend with him b/c he grows so fast.


I Am Thankful for....
My husband and the hard work and effort he puts forth to care for our family.
I truly enjoy spending time with him and absolutely adore watching him interact with Keedan.


I Am Thankful for....
Seeing unexpected friends.
I was shopping for some curtains a few days ago(with Keedan on my hip) when I heard my name being called. Low and behold it was Redessa, my former co-worker from Aon. We were on
the same Team together and she was always a tremendous help when I was in a pickle (a.k.a. I needed help).
Although the conversation was brief (she was on her lunch break) it satisfied my want (temporarily) to catch up with an old friend that I had thought about frequently.



I Am Thankful for....
Living in America, the land of the free and for the many brave soldiers who are fighting and have fought to protect our great country.
Compared to other countries, there is really no comparison. We live in a land of plenty!

Bath Time Progression

The time flies when you're having fun and we are definitely having buckets full of it.

My favorite time of night is when I give Keedan a good scrubbing (usually every other night). He gets ooberly excited when he spots the bath tub and begins to jump up and down with excitement when I turn the faucet on.

By the way, Keedan has graduated to the big boy bath tub....no more baby tub for him.
Keedan has progressed immensely compared to a little over a month & a half ago.


Keedan with his friends during the whole Ike aftermath. Notice that he is barely keeping himself propped up on the chair.


Keedan all grown up.

Keedan @ 7 Months

Keedan is quite the character.

Here is Keedan with his hair spiked thanks to Brian Evans and his spiking hair goop.


He looks like THE Maverick type if you know what I mean.

Firehouse Pottery

Keedan & I recently made some beautiful art together. We made a hand tree (from Keedan's hand print) on a salad plate @ Firehouse Pottery. It turned out super cute.



Keedan was such a good sport too when an employee painted his hand. FYI- all the paint used at the shop is non-toxic. A little dabble of painted hand to mouth won't hurt them.

When I was a child my grandmother owned a ceramic shop where my brother and I learned at an early age how to make pottery from scratch. It was delicate work, a bit tedious & time consuming but tons of fun.

For those of you who've never been to Firehouse Pottery, they pretty much wait on you like a food server would at a restaurant.

If you need something they get it.

You make a mess, they clean it up.

The best part is that they do all of the delicate, tedious work so all you have to do is pick your piece & create with paint.

Hopefully this will be the beginning of a family tradition (at least while he's little).

Halloween Day

I told ya I'd have more Gobble Gobble fun pictures to share.
I was a Halloween scrooge and decided not to dress up but Ryan and Keedan looked Great in their outfits.
Keedan of course....The Turkey
Ryan was ... (see next sentence)



Can you guess what Ryan was? It was a bit last minute, but very creative nonetheless. Ryan had a costume contest at work. They had a category for best cardboard costume, so we tried to incorporate as much as possible (at last minute of course).

Okay I'll let the cat out of the bag...he was a Ski Bumb. Ryan was leaving for work in this picture with lunch in hand, so you don't get the full effect. The box he is holding was his home, so he wore it and attached a pillow to it. The long cardboard pieces are his ski poles. He perfected the ensamble when he arrived at work by placing a paper sign on the box that read:
"Ski Hard or Go Home"
& a nicely written cardboard sign that read:
"Please help! Will Ski 4 Food. Cannot work b/c of ski habit. Wife, kids HUGRY :( Olympic Veteran. Disabled Cousin"

Ryan didn't get off of work until after 6 pm so Keedan & I met up with our friends the Poll's & Ormson's to do a little bit of Trick or Treating @ the Pearland Town Center.


These pretty pretty ladies are Keedan's future girlfriends. Sevy on the left and Kenzi on the right. I can just imagine Keedan chasing them around and trying to put his bugars on them. Wonderful memories will be created.

Ryan met up with us at Red Robin to eat after the TT'g. We had a really nice time and a memorable first Halloween with Keedan.



This is the best picture of all three of us .



The Boy's Cheese'n it up.



Out for the count.

123...it's a KO.