a little bit of a modified Turkey Day!

This was our very last Thanksgiving as the 3 of us. And Ryan's last for all the attention. And almost the whole day was nontraditional.

I usually have Thanksgiving here for both of our families, then games and desserts. Well only having 8 weeks to go I decided for my own well being (maybe for the sake of some others too:) I was not going to cook the meal this year and we decided to go out.

We still watched/danced with the Macy's parade in the morning, we didn't get to finish it because I forgot about it when I had Loni make the reservations. We went to Blue Springs, then we went home cleaned/relaxed, then everyone came back over around 4 for games/snacks/desserts.

Ryan and daddy danced to the Rocket's.

Going out to eat sounded great in theory (and I actually enjoyed it), but Matt was not so pleased with it, and I think it actually ruined some of the day for him. The turkey they had was just regular restaurant turkey, not homemade TD turkey. And he was really upset with that, and the fact there was not left overs. Which in turn made me feel like a huge pill of poo. I didn't realize making a decision like that was going to affect people so much. But after we got over that, the day was pretty good.

We played games, Ryan even played RLC with us, he would help roll the dice and grab all of our quarters :)

Every year Jason and Loni stay the night to go shopping early the next day. After everyone left and we looked through all the ads, Loni and I decided to go to Toys'R'Us at midnight. First we went to see New Moon. Which I really liked and I have never seen the first one or read any of the books. Then we made it to Fairview Heights for Toys'R'Us. I think there we probably 5 police cars, and the line wrapped all the way around the building. It did move pretty fast I guess. We got inside, could not move, so I ditched the cart, which was the wrong thing to do since we had to hold everything for the hour and a half we stood in line. What great deals did we get you ask, I got 2 packages of diapers for $10 (I got 4), and two board games...that's it. No great deals, but we did learn on what to do and what not to do next year. Then we went to Old Navy, I got Ry a coat for $15 (org. $40), so that was definitely worth it. We got home and it was 5:30. It was definitely an experience, was it worth taking the next 48 hours to recover...I'm not sure!?!

finishing touches

Well the baby's room is almost done, thanks to so many people. Our Bible Study came over one night and got 90% of the painting done, we finished the dressers and the walls, all drawers and closets are FILLED. We are now just waiting on washing all nursing/bottle stuff to be washed and the crib, sheets, and window curtains. Then I think we are done.

Most of all we could not have finished all of this with out Ryan, he has been right there through the whole process 'helping' and loving every minute of it. Now lets just hope he still loves the room as much as he does now when the baby gets here!

oh how time flies when your havin' a baby!

A picture of Ryan with his new haircut and his new book for being a good boy while he got it cut...to say the least he was very proud, and he deserves to be, he has been a VERY good boy these last couple of days. Enough to brag about:) Time never EVER went this fast with my first pregnancy. When I actually stop and come down, its not so bad, but Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks, Christmas is less than 4 weeks, then baby is less than 4 weeks from that...I need to enjoy each day and quit the count down.



It's not only the time frame that gets me, Ryan is growing up so fast. He told me this morning for breakfast "I want muffins too" after I sat his strawberry plate in front of him. He finally got a haircut today which ages him at least by 6 months. He went to the doctor today he weighs 40lbs (I forgot his height). And according to our overly positive doctor, he is very advanced for his age.

When I scheduled his 3 year checkup I scheduled the new little baby's 3 month checkup...that definitely got me. I just found out a minute ago, apparently I said ok to a 9:30 appointment all the way in Belleville, with out paying attention to time. How in the world am I going to get 2 kids to Belleville by 9:30 when I struggle with 1 by 10!?!

I am so excited to meet our new little baby, but a little freaked with time.

"happy birthday mama"

Today on my 29th birthday I woke up at 9:30 to the sweetest little voice at my bedside saying and singing "Happy Birthday Mama". It has been the best birthday yet!

Matt took Ryan shopping for my birthday and this is what his sweet little heart picked out...the best chapstick ever! I don't even want to open it.

one LITTLE (big) splurge

We have had to buy very little for the baby's room, I don't think we will have to buy much till after he is born. That way we will know what we need once he is here. But there was one little weak spot I had...I found this rug and absolutely fell in love with...and it is huge, but beautiful!!!

the halloween festivities

Well if you are from our area, you would know how much of a toss up was going to be this year with record breaking rainfall for the month of October. I rained all the way up until Friday afternoon.

We started a few years ago having a 'stop-n-go' party. We invite everyone we know to come over. Edwardsville does trick or treat on the 30th, since the BIG parade is on the 31st. So we pass out candy, have a small bonfire, chili, hotdogs, smores and other random snacks. This year since there was going to be so many kids we put a movie on for them inside if they wanted to go in there. It turned out great. Everyone showed up at different times, so when one group left another would show up. I decided (remembered) to take pics later in the night. I only took them of the kids. Next year I am going to tell adults to dress up too! I missed some of the earlier kids when they came though...like Chloe, Annabel, and Audrey. I think that is the only 3 I am missing. We did do a little trick or treating, only 3 houses, Ryan was more into getting back to the house. The next night, which was the 31st we went to the BIG parade, I only took 2 pics :( I forget all the time now...what is wrong with me.