Monday, December 30, 2013

Merry Christmas!

It's not too late, right? We just got back from our trip to New Jersey yesterday. We had a great time, but now all three of us have colds. Here's our Christmas card I never printed!



Our Christmas vacation started this year with making a trip to SA to see my grandparents and go to Sea World.



Then we hopped on a plane Christmas Eve and spent the rest of the week with Ryan's sisters and his parent in New Jersey.

 Rylee got to meet her 5 cousins for the first time, as well as her 2 aunts, 2 uncles, 3 great-aunts, 3 great-uncles, dozen or so cousins-once-removed, and tons of second cousins.
Cousins!

Second cousins! The youngest two on the Gouldy side of the family.

She opened lots of presents!


We did a little roller skating after my niece's skating lesson.

Ryan turned 30!

We had a Orozco family google hangout to talk with my brother who's in Mexico.

And we FaceTimed my Lanham family.
My dad, uncle, and aunt

Our flight home Sunday was at 6am, so we got to wake up at 3:45am. Rylee had started getting a runny nose the night before. Initially I thought it was teething, but about halfway through our connecting flight, I heard the congestion move to her chest. All three of us were worn out and tired when we got home, but Rylee wasn't quite ready for sleep. Ryan took her so I could nap. When I woke up, it was dead quiet.  I went out to the living room and found every toy rylee owns strewn about, and my two favorite people, snuggled up on the couch under the Christmas quilt my stepmom made me last year.
Doesn't your heart instantly melt with sweetness?

The best Christmas present is yet to come. My brother gets home from his mission a week from Wednesday, and then we fly to Orlando to see my family on the 20th! So excited! I can't even contain myself!

Look out ladies! My handsome little brother gets home in 8 days!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

30 Favorite Things

Ryan is 30 years old! How did that happen? He was 23 when we met! In honor of his birthday, I'm listing my 30 favorite things about him. They are in no particular order, writing them as they come.

1.) His laugh. If you've ever met Ryan, you know what I'm talking about. When we first met, I was a little startled by it, but I quickly couldn't help but smile and laugh along with him.

2.) He's draws and paints. I think it's awfully romantic for whatever reason to watch him sketch or paint. When I get to see the final product, I am always amazed at how beautiful it is. 


3.) He's a hard worker. Ryan spent last year at a job where he was miserable to support our family and allow me to stay at home with our new little baby. And for that, I'm eternally grateful.

4.) He's an architect. And it's kind of sexy. I'm always proud to answer when people ask what my husband does. He put A LOT of time and effort into his degree and is working hard now to get his license. 
Constructing a house for his design build studio.

5.) He knows how to make me laugh.  Even when I don't feel like laughing.

6.) He has stunning blue eyes. I always wanted my husband to have blue eyes and dark hair, and Ryan has both. And I got my blue eyed baby that I always dreamed about thanks to her daddy.

7.) He's outdoorsy. We both love hiking, camping, climbing, canoeing, etc. 


8.) He always makes sure that we go on dates. When we were "dating," he always had an idea for us to go do something fun instead of just "hanging out." Now, he still makes it a point to take me on dates, even if they're cheap and we have a baby in tow.

9.) He makes the bed. I never found this to be an important chore, but he almost always makes the bed on weekends(I'm still in bed when he leaves for work in the morning). It's slowly wearing off on me and I find myself making the bed on occasion.

10.) He likes watching random documentaries. He might think that I don't like this particular habit, but I really find it endearing. He's full of random tidbits of information from them too.

11.) He likes science fiction. I love it too, so we introduce each other to new books or shows.

12.) He doesn't mind spending ALL of his time with me. I'm reconciled to the fact that I'm an emotionally needy person. Because of that, I'm always wanting to spend every moment of our time TOGETHER, because I feel like I don't get to see him enough. When I whine and tell him this, he'll smile at me and ask what I would like to do together.

13.) Every morning we get the chance(mainly weekends or holidays), we cuddle up in bed and talk. Seriously, I think we could snuggle and be goofy together all day.

14.) He's one of the most inherently good people I know. He has the best heart and strives to do good and be a good person.


15.) He's incredibly sweet. I could go on and on with examples here, so take my word for it.

16.) He's patient. Especially with me and my chronic indecision, moodiness, and weirdness.

16.) He thinks I'm beautiful and says it often. He always makes me feel pretty, even when I'm looking a little worse for wear. 

17.) Not a day goes by that he doesn't say "I love you." He says it with meaning too, not just as a repetitive phrase or afterthought.

18.) I really like the way his butt looks in jeans. I won't elaborate any more on that.

19.) He's a handsome guy. And he makes pretty cute babies thus far.

20.) He has really broad shoulder from swimming. I'm fairly tall, and have alway struggled feeling "little" with my big hands, big feet, etc. Ryan's only about an inch taller than me, but the fact that he has such broad shoulders makes me feel a little smaller and more girly.

21.) He's fluent in Spanish. Since my mom's family is from Mexico, I always wanted to marry someone who spoke Spanish. Since Ryan spent two years in Mexico on a full time mission for our church, he learned. Not only that, but he has a deep love for the food, people and culture of Mexico.
Especially loves the food!

22.) He's a worthy priesthood holder and faithful member of our church. He spiritually uplifts me and has great amounts of faith, which is sometimes a principle I struggle with.

23.) He's the best daddy in the entire  world. I love watching him and Rylee interact. Whether it's playing, reading, or sleeping, it just makes me all warm and fuzzy to see them together. Maybe it's because I get to see glimpses of Ryan in Rylee. Or maybe it just reminds me of how intensely I love the two of them.


24.) He loves to read. We like a lot of the same books, and can talk about crazy plot twists or devious characters.

25.) He's manly enough to wear Rylee in the Ergo carrier. 

26.) He always takes "adventures" with me. Whether it's going on a road trip, wandering around a street festival, exploring a new city, or just trying to find a new store, Ryan always calls it "going on an adventure" and we always have fun in the process.

27.) He can make me be so goofy with him. It's embarrassing some of the things we do and say when we're with each other, but we always make each other laugh.
Getting "tattooes" on our honeymoon.

28.) He brings so much joy and happiness into my life. 

29.) He gives the best pep talks. The first three years of our marriage, I was finishing college, and he was there for every late night and panic mode before big tests or projects. Later, he helped me through my first job as a nurse, my first pregnancy, and more late nights, this time with a crying newborn. I can't tell you how many times he has calmly reassured me and told me things would be alright.

30.) He is the best husband in the entire world. I feel most complete and happy with him at my side. He is fully supported and devoted to me and our little baby. He makes my life whole.


Happy Birthday darling husband! Rylee and I love you! Feel free to post your favorite thing about Ryan in the comment section.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Christmas in Burlap

All of our Christmas decorations are in my in-laws attic, and since we will be in New Jersey for Christmas, I couldn't exert the effort to make a four hour drive to go get them. I went to my aunt's house last weekend and her house is so merry and festive! I felt like such a grinch! I knew I had to get on Pinterest and fast. Two yards of burlap and a walk to collect sticks, our apartment is slightly more festive.

On another note, anyone else find it impossible to have a Family Home Evenin or scripture study go according to plan? This was in the middle of our's this week.

Rylee was alternating between banging a metal bowl on Ryan's face and the coffee table while Blanca was licking his ear and Ryan was laughing.

Blanca is so good. She lets Rylee do whatever to her, including using her as a couch/pillow.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Arkansas 2013

The weekend after Thanksgiving we got to go back up to Arkansas for my friend's wedding!

With my two besties from college!


I might be biased, but she looks like a little doll!
After getting back to Fayetteville and having some Damgoode Pie pizza for dinner, I got some long awaited Andy's pumpkin pie frozen custard.
Mmmm good!
We stayed with our good friends Jon and Kara and their three boys. Kara and I are plotting the marriage of our children. We'll see which one she picks. Her and Spencer got a long great!


Our friends, Tyler and Deborah gave us a tour of the new architecture building.
Up on the new rooftop terrace.

Ryan is so scared of heights. Deborah offered him a dollar to press himself up
against the glass and he couldn't do it!


We love these guys! Their 5 year old took this picture. Pretty skilled!




They didn't want to take a "manly" picture.


Maybe Rylee will be an architect like Daddy!

After looking at the new architecture building, we went hunting for our names. Both classes of 2011 and 2012 are over by the greek theater.


 




Then I got carried away taking pictures of Rylee. There are lots more of her on her blog. But these are two of my favorites.


I love the front of Old Main and the way the leaves were scattered over the years.

We didn't have anyone to take our picture in front of Old Main, so we took turns holding Rylee.


Who knows, maybe one day we'll stand in front of Old Main with one of our graduates! 



Our trip went by really fast and I already miss our friends! Till next time Fayetteville!





Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Homelessness Over!

Yay we signed a lease yesterday! And we get to move in to our new apartment on Friday!  Pictures to come later when all my boxes are unpacked and things are organized. So maybe in a few months!

But here's a cute picture of Rylee and Ryan.


Thursday, October 31, 2013

Halloween 2013

Halloween is a BIG deal around our house. It's Ryan's favorite holiday and we always decorate the house, carve pumpkins, watch Hocus Pocus, go to a Halloween party, and have a "spooky" meal. This year, since we're in between apartments and our stuff is in storage, we hardly did anything! But we did dress up and we took the baby trick-or-treating for the first time.

Rylee was a baby owl. Ryan's mom made the wings and the ruffles. I made the leggings and I bought the hat off Amazon.


All my time has gone into apartment hunting, so I put off mine and Ryan's costumes to this afternoon. I was going to go to Hobby Lobby, but I didn't have a car today. So instead, I went and foraged for our costumes in my aunt's front yard.

Can you guess what we are?

Ryan and I are trees holding our owlet. "Owl in a tree."



My aunt's street was crazy tonight! I have never seen so many trick-or-treaters! There were golf carts and hay rides, minions and princesses galore. We joined in on the chaos, hoping no one would think twice about giving a small baby candy. Some people asked me what candy the baby would prefer(like I would give my 7 month old candy). I of course always answered chocolate. After a couple houses, I felt too bad to continue. We were after all literally stealing "candy from a baby!" I just really wanted to show off Rylee's costume.

The loot. My cousin James got a ton!

Our little trick-or-treater all worn out.

Barring any disaster next year, the Campbells will have amazing costumes!

Now to hit up after Halloween candy sales.  Happy Halloween y'all!