HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Celebrating your 33rd birthday together was my first birthday celebration!


At your 34th birthday I loved your balloons!



For your 35th birthday I loved picking out your presents, getting you balloons and picking out your cake, although I still think we should have gotten you the Elmo one!

I love you very much! Thank you for being the best Daddy EVER!
LOVE, Reese Ryan

Talented man

I have really been thinking about how great Matt is at his job and how his job is perfect for him. Matt sells real estate. I know, most people don't think this is a noble job, but I am proud to say that Matt makes it a noble job. He was an English major which means he loves to read and is a naturally good writer. Matt is always reading more about real estate, working to improve his craft. He writes wonderfully descriptive ads for the homes that he sells. Matt has started a community blog to tied together his love of selling homes and his love of this area. Matt is a rule follower! He checks each document carefully to make sure he and his buyers or sellers know what they are signing. Matt is good with numbers and loves statistics which help him to be efficient in his advertising and wise in his advising of homes selling prices. Matt is a listener(one of the main reasons why I married him). He listens intently to what you say. Then he finds different homes and shows you what you are looking for. He cares about people. He really does understand that a home purchase is an important and emotional one. One of the things I like the most is that many of the people that have been Matt's clients have become our family friends. That speaks volumes to his work and who he is as a person and adds such richness to our lives. Thank you Matt, for working so hard, so well, so honestly and thoughtfully.

New addition....

This is a whole new road just for walking, running, biking! They have extended the bike trail through the harbor. This new one is nice and wide and quite too as it is not right next to the freeway. I love doing walks here because it is a bit hilly I feel I get more of a work out. Matt wants us to do family bike rides soon too....we'll have to see about that!

Happy New Year!

We started off the New Year by doing a 5K down in the Harbor this morning. It was to benefit the families of the fallen officers. Reese was excited to be in a race and cheered on the runners from the jogger. She kept asking to run so we let her out just before the finish line to run across.



Reese LOVED getting to race! Especially since they handed her this snowman as she crossed the line. She was so proud!



It was a fun family morning and a great way to start off the new year!

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY KAMI!

My baby sister turned 21 today! She would tell you that I still think she is eight years old. But that is no longer true. She is becoming an amazing young woman who is learning to love Christ with her whole heart. Honestly, she inspires me! I knew when Kami became a Christian that she would give Him her all. That is how she was created, to put forth her best effort in all that she does. Kami has always been a very thoughtful and generous person. She used to save all the treats and candy she would get in a stash at home and she was more than willing to share her special treats with her big sisters. We didn't even have to beg her! Now Kami is a generous aunt as she showers Reese and Kylee with love and attention. She graciously lets the grand kids take the spot light. I wish I could see her more often and grow in Christ with her side by side. But I know that we can continue to encourage each other from a far. I am so glad that you were born! I love you Kami!

Christmas

Reese woke up and said "Open presents please!" We took her into our room where she opened her stocking.

Then she walked down the stairs and was a little unsure of what to do next. We had to convince her it was okay to open a present. So she did. Then she was done and wanted to watch baby Jesus on TV. We did that for a little while until we told her today was the day she could open all of the presents under the tree. Reese finally decided that would be okay. She slowly opened her presents. She enjoyed her new snow pants...

And her binoculars to watch the "octopus" with Gramps....

Reese opened present after present, enjoying them a little bit at a time, but still out of sorts until....she opened her present from Aunt Kami!! Aunt Kami got Reese a new baby doll. After that Reese was herself again, happy, cheerful and loving ALL her gifts, now that she had a new baby to enjoy them with. Go figure!

I spent the morning trying to make cinnamon rolls from scratch. My friend Erin had made these and they were so yummy. I thought I could make them too.

I started making them a 7:30 and they finally came out of the oven at 11:30! I learned a lot in the process and Matt has even agreed to let me attempt them again.

After a late breakfast and nap time quickly approaching we headed over to Canterwood for a family walk in the sunshine. Reese brought "cute baby" with her of course.


We enjoyed our walk together and thought we were coming home for some peace and quite....but Reese decided not to nap. Here is a tired two year old at 5:45pm on a no nap day...


We still enjoyed a tasty turkey dinner together, gave Reese an extra long bath and put her to bed early. Then Matt and I got that peace and quite we were looking for and enjoyed a movie together! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Today we made scones for breakfast and we went for a family walk on the new trail in the Harbor. It was very hilly but had great views of the Harbor and Sound. And it was nice and wide! Then we checked out Grammie and Gramps beach, swung on the rope swing and watched a huge seal eat a huge salmon! Back home for lunch and naps, spaghetti dinner then off to the Christmas Eve service. We sang Reese's two favorite songs, "Away in a Manger" and "Little Town of Bethlehem" among others. Next it was home to open one present.


Reese got a cookie dough set for her oven, Daddy got a "gorilla pod" for his camera and Mommy got cozy slippers. I asked Reese "Did you help Daddy wrap these slippers for Mommy?" Her response was "YES! And a jacket too!" Can't wait to see what my jacket looks like tomorrow! :) Merry Christmas!