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Monday, December 24, 2012

3.5 years

We were so excited
when we received
a note home
from Ms. Brooke
telling us
that we would be celebrating
Trent's half birthday!
We picked out
very special treats....yummy!!
All the kiddos
wanted their pictures taken!

Trent wanted us all
to be with him
on his special day!


Before the celebration,
they had to 
finish their gingerbread men,
Then he got to do
show and tell.
Guess what he took....
yes, a tractor,
and the kids loved it!
We sang happy
half-birthday!
All morning Seanie walked around saying
"Kake, kake, kake",
he had his gone
before most of the big kids!
We also got to
help with an 
arts and crafts activity,
I think Daddy
misses his teaching days! :)


Time for music,
Seanie made himself
right at home,
dancing with the big kids.
Notice how Shelby is in
lots of pics....
well, Trent asked for her to be.....
wink, wink!
Happy half birthday
Bubba!
We had a blast at your party
and can't believe we will 
be celebrating the 
big #4 day
with you soon!
love, the rockinryans

Friday, December 21, 2012

Zee-Zee

Zee-Zee will be celebrating
his 
1st Birthday
next week!
The funny thing is,
he was meant to belong
to Trent.
But, at just 9 months old
on Christmas morning
last year,
Baby reached over
and pulled Zee-Zee
out of Trent's stocking.
Trent said,
"That's OK, he can have him".
That's how the love story
between
a boy
and his
giraffe began.
I started calling him
"Gi-Gi the Giraffe",
but when Baby
tried to say that,
it sounded more like
"Zee-Zee",
I like that better anyway!
They are inseparable
and both silly,
mischief makers.
Everyone loves Zee-Zee!
(Even though he has recently
been used as a weapon,
and received 
time-outs 
of his own!)
He has been
pretty much
everyplace,
has had many baths,
and has his own
little personality!
Thank goodness
for Zee-Zee!
love, the rockinryans

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

more thankful....

We really drug out
Thanksgiving this year,
but that was great,
more time to eat great food!
Spend time with loved ones.
Share what we were thankful for,
from A to Z.
Dessert, team-work style!
Enjoy playing outside...
in December!
(Hudson thinks he is a small child....)
Admire beautiful creations!
Wrestle, play and run
allllll day long!
And care for our
loved ones....

or,
get bored
and put things
on
ceiling fans....


Poor Seanie didn't know
if he should laugh or cry.
Don't worry,
no giraffes were injured 
during experimentation time!
love, rockinryans

Saturday, December 8, 2012

thanksGIVING!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving. 
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, 
and bless His name."
Psalm 100:4
On Thanksgiving day
our family was able
to volunteer together
in serving over 350 
a wonderful meal.
Over 30 meals were delivered to 
the home-bound
and over 300 bags of food
were sent home
with those in need.
This was
one of our
most favorite
days
we have had 
as a family.
If you ask
Big Guy
what he did
for Thanksgiving,
he would say 
"I helped people get their seats
and drinks".
It warms my heart
to hear him say this
with pride.
It is so hard
to know how to teach
our children
that the world
doesn't revolve around them.
To provide for them
all their wants and needs
while preventing
greediness and possessiveness
to enter in.
That
"Everything has come from You
and
everything belongs to You."
1 Chronicles 29:16
While I do know that
we can't force
a child to be selfless,
we can lead by example.
To show
what it means to give with an open heart,
to share,
to serve.
While it isn't always easy
to follow this path,
we are seeing
the giving spirit
shine in our 3 year old.
Recent examples 
that bring tears to my eyes
are small but mighty
to a mom.
We recently had a very
special house guest
whom said she needed
to go work on her computer
after supper.
Big Guy pipped up,
"We have a computer,
you can use ours!"
He also made sure she had
a bag of special mints
to take with her to work
that day.
This evening
while waiting
to see a 
Live Nativity scene,
he offered his chair
to his Grandfather.
Those things can not be taught,
especially to a 3 year old.
He is a true believer,
strong in his faith
who probably 
can teach us better
than us him.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect
the Lord's glory,
are being transformed into His
likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit".
2 Corinthians 3:18
We are so thankful
that we are not alone.
That He knows
the plans in store for us.
And that,
at this time
we feel that
we are on that correct path.

SO Thank FULL
for the giving hearts
I am surrounded by.
We recently heard 
of a great Thanksgiving idea
that we are going to be undertaking
over the next year.
Start a jar in your home.
When something occurs in your life
that you are thankful for,
write it down
and put it in your jar.
On Thanksgiving day,
read them over
and reminisce over all that was good!
Good luck!
love, the rockinryans

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Thanksgiving!

Being silly...
eating...
fun crafts...
cutie-pies....
silly wrestling...
flying!
sharing...
quality time together.
happy Thanksgiving!
love, the rockinryans

Friday, November 23, 2012

Hello Hudson!

We were 
very much missing
that extra spirit
in our home.
The "welcome home",
the
sit on your feet to warm them
the
playful silliness
only a pet can provide.
So, we decided to start 
our search.
From experience we know
nothing beats
an animal
that has been rescued.
So, there was no question
how we would find 
our new family member.
My only request, 
"No Border Collies".
AHEM......

After searching
rescue sights
and visiting the
Human Society
for 4 days,
this guy
won us over.
Our family
was back and forth
between him and 
a sweet little boxer.
When we first visited,
Hudson only wanted to play ball.
(This is what I worried about
with a BC,
task oriented.)
He would not even
let us touch him.
But after taking him out of the
"Jail",
his true personality
has been
just what we were looking for.
Yes,
he has lots of energy
and likes to play ball....
but
he tries to sit on our laps,
get in our beds,
gives lots of kisses
and loves the boys.

He makes us laugh.
He discovered the pool 
very quickly,
running across the winter cover
he would sink into the water
and splash, 
then run around the yard
like a mad man!
Since we can't let him
do that (even though it was fun to watch!)
we got him
a little "winter pool",
as you can tell,
he loves water!
We can't wait to see him enjoy
the pool and lake with us.


The best part about
adopting a 1 year old?
He was potty trained,
knew sit,
is leash trained 
actually so well,
he has already proved to be
a great running partner.
He has chewed on only
one "important" item
even though the humane society
warned us he chewed up
all blankets.
Poor guy,
after being locked up that long,
I would chew up blankets too!

And, even though
he still plays like a puppy,
he does get lazy too
and likes his sleep.

The boys were used to a dog
that basically ignored them.
So, getting used to one that jumps,
licks and plays more
has been an adjustment.
But, Big Guy
is slowly getting 
to know Hudson,
and vise versa.
I read that the life expectancy
for BC's is 12-17 years.
So, I am hoping for a 
long lasting good buddy
for my boys.

It has just barely been a week,
But, 
so far, 
so good!
Welcome to the family Hudson!
love, the rockinryans