Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas with the family

Last night, we went to Birmingham to visit that side of the family.  I've been blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with my sister and nieces and nephew as of late, so we just made a quick stop to drop presents off to them.  I couldn't wait to watch them open them!  I LOVE watching them open their gifts.  Their little faces light up and all the thought I put into each one suddenly seems SO worthwhile!  It thought it was funny how much they loved their socks! :)  I got Autumn Hannah Montana socks, Shelby got Princess socks and Hayden got Justice League socks.  I got them real presents too...I just threw the socks in there for fun, but they loved them!  Ha Ha!  They all got their Ashlyn hugs for Christmas...except Bonnie who wasn't feeling top notch.  I hate that we didn't get pictures.  We stopped by my Dad's house and watched Top Chef for a little while and visited with them.  My Dad's Dupeytren's Contracture is getting so bad.  It makes me sad to see the hands that were once so incredibly creative and inventive with this terrible disease.  He said he would talk to the doctor about the new medicine they have come out with that could help him avoid surgery.  I hope he does.  I tried to clean the house a little when I got home...our house is a disaster area right now!  I am SO looking forward to sleeping a little late tomorrow and cleaning the house.  I have GOT to get the laundry done and I haven't even pulled out the luggage to pack for our Oklahoma trip.  Happy Christmas Eve Eve to everyone!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Card

We are thoroughly enjoying Ashlyn's first Christmas season!  Honestly, I've been living off of 4-5 hours of sleep a night for the last week trying to get everything done, but it has been so worth it!  The tree is up and mostly decorated.  I think Bones truly believes we put a big huge toy in the living room solely for his enjoyment.  I woke up the other morning to an entire strand of Christmas lights strewn out that apparently he had been working on all night.  Christmas cards have been mailed.  We are almost done Christmas shopping - only two gifts left to buy and they are gift cards!  Gifts for co-workers and Ashlyn's teachers have been given and we have Christmas with my Dad's family tonight.  One more day of work after today and then it will be Christmas Break!  Can I just mention how lucky I am to work for the University...I don't have to teach and I still get at least a week off for Christmas and Spring Break each!  I LOVE it!  Too bad we don't get Summers off.  =)  I am SOOOO very blessed to have such a wonderful hubby too!  He has helped so much and been so involved this year!  There is no way I could have done even half as much if he hadn't helped me SO VERY much!  I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We kicked off our "Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas" this past Saturday with fresh baked cookies, hot chocolate with marshmallows and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  We had a great time!  Ashlyn was asleep before the movie even started and David was asleep before it ended...I was pretty close behind him. 

Yesterday evening we ventured out to the mall for Ashlyn to meet Santa Clause.  She did SO WELL!!!  Not a tear in sight.  She looked at him a little funny at first...I think she was trying to figure out the beard.  I think she looks a tiny bit like an elf with her little santa hat on.  She is so cute!
Afterwards, we trooped through the mall to find our annual Family Christmas Ornament.  I found this year's at Things Remembered.  When David and I first started dating, we got our first ornament - It said "Our First Christmas".  When we got married, I couldn't help myself, I got another "Our First Christmas" ornament.  Last night, David saw this beautiful ornament and the front of it says, "Our First Christmas".  I thought it was fitting.  We had it engraved with "Welcome Ashlyn Marianne Ryan August 23, 2010" and we will put her first Christmas picture in the spot available.  
Speaking of Ashlyn's first Christmas picture, we did manage to get two usable pictures and I finally narrowed all the options down to one Christmas Card!  I am so excited!  They are ordered and will hopefully be arriving soon.  I can't wait to mail them out this year!!!  David agreed to lug the Christmas storage boxes out of the attic tonight.  We are running a little behind, but we'll eventually get decorated and festive looking around the house!  :o)  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the Ryan Household!!!