Christmas Fun!

We can't believe the Christmas season is already behind us again. We always get so excited and have so much fun and then it's over as quickly as it started! This year we got to spend a couple of days with both our families and it was just wonderful to see everybody. Christmas Eve Day we had a brunch with Ryan's family and followed that up with dinner at my grandparents' house in Ahwatukee. There was a lot of driving but it was all worth it. Christmas morning was awesome with great gifts and good food. It's always nice when Santa stops by.

We got home on Sunday where Ryan and I got to have our own Christmas. There were a couple of presents under the tree for Cooper, but let's be honest, mostly it was all about us! After spending four days opening tons of new toys for Cooper, he proceeded to spend all of Sunday evening... playing with old toys that he hadn't played with in months... We kept trying to get his new stuff out but it was hilarious watching him play with his old toys as if they didn't exist until that night! By the next day though, he had all his new blocks and other toys strewn about. Ryan and I got a bunch of vacuums for Christmas, three to be exact! We couldn't tell if our family thought our house was REALLY messy or if they just thought we needed a better vacuum (it's the latter of the two, I'm sure of it). The other night, Ryan got one of them out and used it in the kitchen; you'd have thought we got a new video game or something. He was saying, 'Cool! It's just a battery! Look at all the hair it sucked up from Charlie!' I think he used it three more times that night. It seems odd to be excited about vacuums, but I really am! It's the little things in life right?!?!

On to the next month and a new year! Hope everyone had a great holiday season!

~Ahna

Tree Hunt 2009!

Last weekend, we went up to Utah for a tree hunting trip. I've had the experience of cutting down a Christmas tree with my family every year and it is always so fun. We got up really early Saturday morning and headed to Cedar City, UT and the Dixie National Forest. For whatever reason, we never think Utah will have snow on the ground in December so we typically end up unprepared... this year was no different. We were in snow up to our mid-calf for most of the morning. At least this year, we wore knee length socks!

Despite a tiny bit of hypothermia we found a great tree and got it back home safely. We were talking about how fun it will be in a few years when we can make a whole day of it. Cooper really liked the snow but wanted to keep putting his hands in it and then every time he touched it, he would start to whine because his hands were too cold! It's so funny, all the things they have to learn on their own.

PS, Cooper ate with a shovel the other day. We couldn't take it away, we were laughing too hard... but we did get some fun pictures!!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year, my family came up to Vegas for Thanksgiving. Ryan was so excited to cook the dinner this year, he started planning weeks in advance. He cooked everything and I was his prep cook! It was lots of fun.

The weekend started out pretty touch-and-go as Cooper was winding down a fever he had been fighting for a few days. On Tuesday, I called the doctor and left him a message letting him know about Cooper's fever. You see, a few months ago, I told the doctor that their 'non emergency medical help line' was neither A) non-emergency nor B) medical help. When you call in with your symptoms, they make you feel like it's a medical emergency and make an appointment right away, only for the doctor to tell you to give your child Motrin or Tylenol and be on your way. It tends to be waste of a few hours. The doctor laughed and told me to just call him and he would call me back within the business day. Well, IT WAS A THANKGSIVING MIRACLE!!! The doctor actually called back on Tuesday afternoon. He said I should bring Cooper in just in case because we were going into the long weekend and it sounded like he had some sort of throat thing. Cooper is really good when he's not feeling well, just a bit more easily aggravated. IE, if you don't hold him as long as he wants to be held, he will immediately scream. This is not to be confused with his other screaming, the one he does when he's not getting his way. It's a hard life, being 1-1/2.

On Thursday, everyone was eating by noon, napping by one, and taking a walk by two. We had our dessert at four-ish and then proceeded to play a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit... for FIVE HOURS. I mean really. It was a wonderful day and was only the beginning of the weekend! On Friday, we took the family out to Red Rock and did some hiking and then made our traditional Christmas cookies that afternoon. We got to see two GREAT Christmas-y things. There was a tree lighting on Friday night... and a whole bunch of Christmas lights on Sunday night! Cooper was in awe of all the lights, and now says 'reindeer', 'snowman', and 'light', which sound more like 'rayeer', 'momah', and 'ligghhh'.

It still amazes me that the little things Cooper does make us both laugh so much. Nobody tells you how hard parenting is and even if they tried, most people wouldn't really understand it; but the one time your child gives you that perfect look, it makes all of it worth it. I'm not gonna lie, sometimes that look won't come for 9 or 10 months, but when it does... it's definitely the best thing in the world. He did that for us all weekend long, smiling and laughing... and then this.

It was a wonderful start to our holiday season and we are really excited!

The Four Of Us

About Us...

We are Ahna, Ryan, Cooper, and Olivia. We try to always be looking for the next adventure, and when we find one, we share the stories here. Our family is spread all over the place, so this is how we keep everyone updated.

Christmas Fun!

Tree Hunt 2009!

Thanksgiving 2009

The Four Of Us

About Us...

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