Kicking off the Christmas Season

It always feels like the Christmas season right after Thanksgiving and it wouldn't feel like Christmas without the official kick off events like the annual lights parade!! Usually my Dad has a float in it for the Water Dept. but he hasn't done one in two years now. I have mixed feelings about this; I love helping decorate the float and walk with it handing out candy canes but it was really nice to just watch the entire parade snuggled up with my little babe this year. It was very cold this year so I had about seven blankets, heat packs, hats, and gloves for my little nugget to stay warm. He absolutley loves Christmas lights!! He was mesmerized the entire parade and just sat on my lap watching all of the floats go by. Ry has been coaching freshmen basketball up at Highland again so was unable to make it to the parade. After the parade was over we went out to my parents for soup and hot chocolate.

 It has now become very difficult to get everyone together for family pictures, with Marcus working in another state, Mareesa being a busy teenager, my parents both super involved in work and church, and us with our busy lives, but luckily we got one one Sunday evening!

 Our little Coop is such a joy to have around, he brings such a happy spirit to our home and is continually making us laugh. He is growing WAY too fast and is such a smart little guy, he watches every move we make and reaches for everything we have in our hands. His newest thing is to grab our glass and suck on them, he loves the feel of glass, he thinks he's such a big boy already, which makes me a little nervous for the future. He doesn't really take a pacifier anymore unless Ry holds it in his mouth to make him go to sleep...something that I am not fond of.

Happy December!

 I know I give Cooper a lot more attention than I have been giving Ry so I decided to make a little Christmas surprise for Ry. I got the idea off of Pinterest, surprise surprise... they are little compliments or love notes, Christmas activities, and little surprises for each day, after a few hours of scrapbooking Ry's Christmas Countdown was complete and he LOVED it.

 I had a fabulous birthday this year, honestly it was the best one i've had since i've been married! Ry let me sleep in and he took care of Coop. We headed to go out to breakfast but decided against it when we saw the parking lot and decided on Starbucks. While we drank our drinks we wandered Fred Meyer and went to Hallmark to find our ornaments for this year and tried to find a "Baby's first Christmas" (which I have still yet to find one I love,) but we did find these cute little ornaments that are mugs with marshmellow mom, dad, and baby snowmen that says Mom, Dad, Son 2011. After our morning outing Ry had his girls practice, so I dropped him off and headed home to get ready for the day. I went to Ruby Tuesday with my Mom, Grandma and Cousin (Kirsten) for my birthday lunch, since Ry had his girls' practice.

The Festival of Trees always takes place on or around my birthday, so we picked Ry up and headed over there. Mareesa was dressed as an elf and my Dad was Santa, it was SO cute!!!

 My Mom and Santa...

Our first family Santa picture!

Coop LOVED Santa, and pulled on his beard...a lot!

 So precious!

 The only one I got with both of them looking at the camera.

 Coop loved looking at all the trees and tried to pull the ornaments off and probably would if I would have let him.

 After Festival of the trees Ry treated me to a shopping spree with my boys. While we were shopping Coop had a huge blowout and Ry wisked him away to change him while I continued shopping, another reason I love my birthday, I get to do anything I want and Ry does everything for me! I got two pairs of beautiful new boots, suede tan wedge boots and flat leather riding type boots. (I've had serious problems with purchasing too many boots this year, but let's be honest, is there such a thing?) I got a few other things and we went home to relax for a while before we headed to El Herradero for dinner and then it was out to my parents for more presents and tuxedo cake!

I've been wanting a thick gold band for a long time now and Ry surprised me with one, it was the perfect ending to my 26th birthday! Thanks Ry!