Goodbye TEXAS, Hello VIRGINIA

 Saying goodbye to good friends like Jenna and Shelby Linford, the Smiths, and the Moores was tough.  Here are a few last hoorahs!

Ryan, Shelby, Jenna, and Izzy tied themselves together and let Ryan lead the way!

 Saying goodbye to 116 degree heat on moving day...not so hard.  Ryan and Graf were out before we left the driveway!!

Ryan did a great job embracing our new home in Virginia...especially this climbing tree!  Unfortunately that love affair ended the day Ryan slipped off a branch and landed flat on her face/belly.  The double bloody nose made it extra memorable!

 First day of school at the bus stop...so many fun kids!

 

Ryan LOVED when Graf came to school and she got to show him around!

She kinda liked Mommy coming too :)

 The other amazing things we have to do here also made the move feel like it was a good one!

Museum of Natural History in Washing DC

See the Empire State Building?

 

Brooklyn Bridge...Ryan walked/ran the whole way!

Lady Liberty

 

Dillan's Candy Shop in NYC

Beautiful Ryan!

 If you look very closely, you will see that Ryan stuck a long piece of crab grass down Graf's shorts to make him look like he had a tail.  She thought that was pretty funny!  Her creative spunk follows her everywhere she goes!

Pre-school Grad and Summer Fun

Ryan ended up loving preschool at Treitsch.  Her teachers loved her too.  Let me recall some of the feedback at parent-teach-conference time:  It went something like "Really?  She's never had any preschool before?  We definitely feel like she's ready to move on to kindergarten.  She is delightful to have in class.  There is one thing she could work on however...when she doesn't like a suggestions, she tends to roll her eyes at us quite a bit!..."  Oh Ryan, you've got spunk!!

Her program was adorable!  She got to do this silly song that had her tongue out and knees together and spinning in circles...she really thought it was hilarious!

 

 

 

 OFF TO IDAHO, THE OREGON COAST, AND BEAR LAKE

Ryan and her cousin, Jaci

Half way up Multnoma Falls.  Keep on truckin' Ryan!

We made it!!

 Bear Lake!

Lemonade Anyone?

When Ryan gets an itch, you'd better get out of her way!!...
For Easter she had Cory put up a sign and hang it on the mantle for all to see: "Easter is coming and we need more Easter decorations!" She then commenced to have him braid some pastel material and hang it from the stairs. Next she got an 18 holder egg carton, colored it and displayed it on the mantle. Finally she found some wrapping paper, cut a huge piece, turned it to the white side and drew a gigantic easter bunny complete with basket and eggs in hand--colored, made me write "hoppy easter" on it and taped it to the wall...you get the picture.

For Graf and Dad's birthday she decided there were not enough decorations that morning. She demanded we go get more or they would not have a good birthday. We promptly went to Party City where she picked out some balloons, party hats, noise makers, and dangly Happy Birthday signs. Done!

LEMONADE ANYONE? Want a VHS tape to go with it? With a permanent wave, smile, and pointing gesture toward the table, she was able to make $15.00 in one hour...what a girl!

Ryan turns 5!!

Ryan turns 5!!

Ryan is 5!!! Lorin woke up first on Ryan's birthday and had a special breakfast prepared for the birthday girl complete with her favorite bowl of cereal and a happy b-day note...so sweet!

We partied like there was no tomorrow. Queen Ryan got to hide eggs for her guests. They found them and then had to do what the note said--basically entertain the queen in some really funny ways. It was a good 'ol time. By the end of the day (after Chuck E Cheese) she was exhausted!



Some fun tidbits about Ryan: She says things like "Yes, Izzy is a little more distracted than I am" when I asked why she was the only one with her pj's on like I requested. She also catches lizards and HUGE spiders and tells them how cute they are while petting and manipulating. She's a one of a kind. We love her!!

Cute Random Pics