PrEpArInG fOr SaNtA!!!!!

When everyone had left for the night and the house was somewhat picked up (haha!!), we did our traditional set out milk and cookies for Santa, apples for the reindeer, (We were out of carrots so we improvised! I was NOT heading to the store, even though our children were bawling and quite certain that Rudolph was going to starve and it would be all our fault and...and...and...! There goes my Mom of the Year award!!!) a special letter
(I am not even going to comment on our kids spelling! I will tell you that it is going to be something that will be worked on in the near future! Yikes!!!) and a quick check on Nordic Tracker to see where Santa was. Luckily, he was in Delaware when we checked so we were just in time to get settled in our beds!! Do you think these precious children are sleeping? NOT A CHANCE!!!!

Christmas Eve Fun!!

Christmas Eve was at our house this year! The night started with Christmas carols, then the kids opening gifts and then our ever famous gift exchange for the adults. It is a blast and BreAnn's parents joined us which made it a blast! Something about getting to steal a gift from someone just adds to the Holiday cheer! (teehee! I am not sure that is what Christmas is all about but we only do it with the upmost love and kindness!!) In the middle of our gift stealing, oops, I mean exchange, Santa came! Oh yes! That is truly the highlight of our night! Of course, he always brings us appropriate jammies to wear for the next day from Mrs. Claus and reminds us to head to bed on time so he can come. I just love this holiday! There is nothing better than being together with family and carrying on traditions. We just love it! Merry Christmas everyone!!!

The Sounds of Christmas!

Elizabeth dazzled the family with her very first piano recital on Christmas Eve! My mom has been teaching her notes and how to play and decided that it was a perfect time to show us all that she has learned! She did a great job and we were amazed at all the Christmas songs she could play. Jonathan even played a song for us!! Then Teila, along with Aly and the cousin troop, led us in Christmas carols! It was a lot of fun and a perfect way to start our Christmas celebration!!!

The Party

Happy Birthday!!

Ten years ago today at 1:22 AM our little boy was brought to us in this stocking. Wow, he was quite a bit smaller and all wrapped up in it. How time flies!!! He has become our little man of the house now. The poor little thing has had to share his birthday with so many Christmas events but he handles it with grace and a smile! The last couple of years, he has been blessed with his/our favorite team playing a bowl game on his birthday and that has been a highlight for him. Tonight is of no exception. Everyone is invited over to watch his beloved Broncos play their last game of the season and Ian Johnson (Jonathan's favorite player) play his last college game. Little did the Boys in Blue know they were giving a little man the best gift ever for his 10th birthday. Too bad we weren't in San Diego to help cheer them on but we will be watching and cheering just the same!
Before his actual party, we thought he should take a test to see if he was ready to handle double digits or not... Here is the "Birthday Test" we gave to him. (Thanks Teila for asking him these questions!!!) What a silly little man! ENJOY! We sure do!
Name: Jonathan Tyler Ryan
Age: 10
Favorite Color: Blue and Orange
Favorite Animal: Dog
Favorite Number: 41 or 19 (Ian Johnson's jersey or Vinny Perretta)
Favorite Letter: Z
Favorite TV Show: Spongebob SquarePants
Favorite Movie: Santa Claus 2
Favorite Toy: Football
Favorite Ice Cream: Vanilla
Favorite Sport: Football/Judo
Favorite Breakfast: Grandma Terry's Waffles
Favorite Dinner: Ribs
Favorite Dinner Restaurant: Outback
Favorite Snack: Cookies
Favorite thing to do inside: Play the Wii
Favorite thing to do outside: Football....man, that's in a lot of his answers, haha!
Favorite Song: All Star
Favorite Vacation: Wallowa Lake
What do you want to be when you grow up? Scientist/NFL Football player
What do you want to drive when you turn 16? Mustang
If you could change your name, what would it be? Jacob
If you could buy anything, what would it be? Skybox seats

A good friend + A football player = A Christmas program.

Our sweet little children were in the church Christmas play again this year. However, the only things being talked about by Elizabeth was she was so excited that she got to be next to her good friend Maddie. While Jonathan was ecstatic that he was #19 (Vinny Perretta's number a football player from Boise State). Of all the things to be excited about for a program that is all we heard about for over 4 weeks now. Not the songs they were learning, not the story or the play, not the story line of what Christmas really is but just being able to stand next to a good friend and getting to wear a college football players number. Should we worry? Na......it could be said that Christmas is about learning how to share love (good friends) and I am quite sure that Jesus would all want us to focus a little on football, especially since it is bowl season. Don't you think?

The Last Dance......

Our baby girl was in her last dance recital! It is so hard to believe that she was three when she first started dance! My how the time flies! Getting ready this time was bitter sweet, we missed having the Armbrusters be with us but of course my sister is always willing to help me out when I need it (What would I do without you Tammy! I love ya!) and Teila brought over 2 of her friends. It was fun to watch the teenagers get my little girl ready! They did a wonderful job and Elizabeth looked beautiful! She enjoyed the personal attention as well. I am scared that she will expect that kind of attention on a daily basis now because I am not capable of putting on anything other than mascara!!! Thanks girls!!! So, we closed a chapter and can't wait to see what will be next. I have heard rumor of Softball, gymnastics or Cheerleading. Hum.....we will keep you posted. One thing we do know for sure, with Elizabeth you just never know!

Welcome Winter!

We made a quick decision to go up to the cabin to get a start on blowing the snow and getting it off the roof before it becomes too deep. I have to admit that I wasn't that thrilled about going because there are so many other things we need to be doing right now (Plus I had made plans for us to go to Elisha's birthday party! Sorry Elisha and family! Thanks for understanding! We are sorry we missed out! We did miss you!) but once you get up in the mountains and you see the gorgeous outdoors....life slows down and it just feels right. There wasn't that much snow when we got up there but we awoke to LOTS of snow and it continued snowing during the day and was still going strong when we finally left. Ronie got to use the new "snow blower" (I swear he was like a kid with a brand new toy!) and we all played in the snow. Bailey was happy doggy too!!! Nothing is better than enjoying a winter wonderland while spending time with our kids! Hum......why is it the minute you get back you start to feel the pressure of a clean house, groceries needing bought, laundry needing finished, kids projects needing completed and bills to be paid!?!?!? We need to figure out a way to bring a little of the mountains/cabin down with us!!!

LiViNg ChRiStMaS TrEe 2008

Christmas always begins for us at the Living Christmas Tree. This year, not only did Aunt Nana sing in it, but Raina and Teila did as well! We cannot believe that Teila is old enough to sing in the tree with the adults but whether we like it or not, sang she did! She was beautiful and the kids absolutely LOVED seeing her all dressed up and singing! There was a part when the singers came down off the stage and sang in the aisles of the congegation and I thought Elizabeth was going to jump off my lap and run to her! It was so sweet. We are so blessed that Tammy and our kids are so close. They act as if they are siblings and cannot stand to be apart from each other. It is funny when something happens and they aren't able to spend a day off together. My kids go into withdrawals. It is cute!!! As Teila gets older though, she would rather have some more space but she is such a good sport about it all! Through it all, it is great that they have each other for support and in this crazy world they have someone they can lean on and loves them!! We are so very blessed!

Yet Another Judo Tournament....

Can I just say that sports should understand and take the back burner when it is the month of December? This is a month for family, cooking, decorating, entertaining, and shopping(yuck!). I really do not have time with all of the parties and programs to fit in a Judo tournament as well. Especially since I have explained several times that tournaments make my heart and brain hurt. There is something about having your little boy, oh excuse me, man, be out on a mat all alone with another child that has every desire to throw him until he lands with a thud on the floor. I realize this is what he trains for. I go to practice to learn and appreciate the sport but nothing helps. The pain in my heart begins when he is out there all alone with no way for me to help him. (Or should I say send Ron in there to help him!) However, all of this ranting and raving does me no good! No one of the male species in this house cares and Elizabeth doesn't have the same argument. So, lets just say as the Treasure Valley tournament date was announced, I was less than thrilled. We had Ronie's work party, Teila's living Christmas tree performance and I still haven't done ANY shopping for the BIG holiday coming up..... Then to find out that it is just three kids in Jonathan's bracket to compete. That is when my lovely husband, knowing how I feel about tournaments, sweetly asks for five more dollars to have my baby boy compete in the next bracket up or play up as we call it in Judo. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!? Play up with kids that weigh 10-20 pounds more than Jon, play up with kids that are 11-12 years old and are getting ready to enter the world of choking during competition, play up with kids that are strutting around with green, blue and every other color of belt except my sons little yellow/orange!?!??!?!?! However, guess what? Play up he did and even though he didn't win, he learned and again he reminds me of how a true sportsman competes! We are so proud of him. The true joy comes in watching Ron's face when Jonathan does something correct and both of them have a smile of contentment. Oh yes, Judo is a great sport! (Well, now that the tournament is over!!!)

By the way, Jonathan placed 2nd in his division and Teila placed 2nd in both of her brackets. All in all, not a bad day.

Kids in "BIG" Church...

Okay, no pic (Sorry, but I didn't bring my camera to church!)but I need to share a sweet story about church today. When there is a month with 5 weeks the kids are asked to worship with their parents. So this morning (coming from experience) we packed up a special "keep quiet bag" and off we headed to church! The kids sang with us(I love to hear them sing) and for the most part the kids did perfect. All in all, I am pretty proud and realizing my kids are getting older and we can handle these Sundays with much more grace. This was all before we head up front for communion (I have never let my kids have communion with us until today but that is another LONG story. Let's just say Thanks Uncle Bob for helping these silly parents through some of our parenting struggles!) Anyways, as we get up to the front of the church, I see Ron start to grab Liz's hand because she is almost running back to our seat. Hum... However, as we stopped to take communion, Jonathan starts to make this wonderful gagging noise. Not too loud but loud enough for the people in front, the people behind us and those already back sitting in their seats to have a little giggle. When we got back to our pew Jonathan gives me an explanation. "You guys sure do have the strong stuff! That was horrible!!! The juice in our Kid's Church tastes much better." After we finish trying to keep quiet and stop laughing hysterically, Liz explains to Ronie that she didn't understand that we needed to stop because as she put it, "Downstairs we use the Grab and Go method!" Oh my! You gotta love my kids!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are so very thankful for each and everyone of you and all of the love and support you give us! Our lives are enriched and full because of all of you and we hope that you know how much we appreciate you!! We love you!!

Ron and Deb Plus 8?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

We were asked to watch my cousins on our day off before Thanksgiving. Of course Teila and Aly were at our house because without them, my children just simply cannot cope! (We love them though and think of them as part of our clan!) After talking to my "parent teachers" at school, I decided that I need try to do some more "crafty" things with my kids. Some of my parent teachers are amazing!! They can do all sorts of arts and craft projects and they can do even more in the kitchen. So, I figured why not! What a perfect day to spend with the kids in the kitchen making old fashioned sugar cookies that I loved growing up! Well....let's just say that I need to listen to the stories a little bit more before I take on such a project! After making a HUGE batch of dough, the kitchen was cleaned up and we were ready for the actual rolling and cookie cutting, Ron tastes the dough and spits it back out! Hum....apparently, the word sugar in sugar cookies is VERY important! With a range of children starting at almost 1 year to 14 years (or 34 if you want to count Ronie but that would be another story in itself!) keeping them all entertained while a select few used the counter and the cookie cutters was also quite a challenge! We had to take a few timeouts and watch Charlie Browns Thanksgiving (My poor niece Teila of course has never made sugar cookies and never seen this classic! I swear that child acts as if she has never been out of the house!) but this provided a much needed rest time for the little ones! With 9 children (Elizabeth was dying to have her friend over and we figured what could happen with one more! We love you Miranda!!!)Ron and I definitely felt outnumbered!!! However, we had a GREAT time and loved every minute of it!!!! I was proud of all we had accomplished in one day and we were able to spend some quality time with family and I believe that is what the holiday is really about!!!

ThE fIrSt SnOw FaLl!!

Yes sir ee Henry!!!! You read it correctly! It snowed for the first time this year! It didn't stick but it sure made us excited to get the Christmas stuff out! (Ron told us NO with a firm face, so we will just have to wait until next weekend after Thanksgiving!) The kids were so excited and the dog loved the company outside! While Ronie and I enjoyed a nail-biting Boise State game, the kids (along with Teila!) played outside! Here comes winter, ready or not!!!