Christmas Tree Decorating 2009

A little perspective...

Ok-- so I think Benjamin's a little older here, because he has a lot of hair, and he didn't get any til he was two either.. but they are still cute!

{{Hot Cocoa}} Exciting? Um, read this face...

Benson always specifically requests to add the marshmallows...

Drinking the hot cocoa, the marshmallows always escape him... which is rather frustrating...

So he begs for a spoon (we brought this one all the way home from Yogurtland in Texas on our trip to visit the Moores!)

Happy, marshmallow-filled, boy!

Daddy, beginning the forever-long task of putting together our gi-normous tree. (Notice I say, Daddy" only--I do not participate in this part of our holiday traditions because, although our tree is beautiful and probably cost its original owners hundreds of dollars-- we got it at a yard sale-- it completely puts a damper on my holiday spirit because you have to click in and "fluff" each branch and they scratch my arms and frustrate me-- and lets face it, I'm a baby when it come to stuff like that-- So B picks up the slack for the Ryan team in this one.. Thanks, babe! :) ) I do help decorate, though :)

Benson "helping..."

Waiting on the popcorn to pop...

A very strong smile:

A very VERY strong smile:

Benson enjoying some homemade popcorn:

And Daddy still working on the tree...

And Benson "helping..." some more...

Doing the honors of placing baby Jesus in the manger...

And we're still working on the tree...

Angels are so last season...

And Benson helping.... (I really need one of those newfangled tree bag things-- this box has seen its day...)

Time for the lights (we broke up the four-hour process of putting UP the tree and the actual decorating OF the tree into two days, hence the costume changes:)

Here's a little perspecitive from Christmas 2008...

hanging the first ornament...


Benson LOVED getting to hang ornaments on the tree.. there was about a 1.5 foot square that had about 20 ornaments in it..


Oh benson....


Benjamin gave me this ornament last year to celebrate SugarLump Stationery's inagural Christams season-- It is perfect and so cute! I love it! Christmas is my busiest time-- that's why the Blog has been seriously outdated these past couple weeks :)



Our nine foot tree and three foot son

All done decorating!!

Daddy "photoshoot"

Benjamin and Benson were playing on the bed one night before we put him down and Benjamin snagged my camera for a little "photoshoot" :) Even though he's in his PJ's Benjamin was able to capture some REAL smiles instead of this fake Popeye smile thing he's been doing lately ;)

Happy Birthday to Gi Giiiiiiiiiiii

Friday, December 4th was GiGi's Birthday! We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Main Street Cafe in Lexington- It's a little bit of a hole-in-the wall, but they have this dish called "Souvlaki Dinner" that is outstanding! We all got it! Followed up by some Oreo Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Cake from Coldstone which is.... pretty much amazing. Happy Birthday, GiGi!!

And here's Benson's little rendition of "Happy Birthday..."

This Tiger's Ready for the ACC Championship Game!!!

I couldn't get the video on quite fast enough to capture the "C"
Is it bad that our child knows how to spell our team before he knows how to spell his name?
At least lots of the letters are the same!!! :)

And here's an out-take where he gets a little mixed up and launches in to his abc's... I like the fact that he's like, shouting the whole time- as if it were all part of the tiger's cheer!

Ryan Family Thanksgiving

Mr. Tom and Mrs. Lula are always great about celebrating holidays on days OTHER than the ACTUAL day- in order that all the couples can be with the other side of the family on the actual holiday. Having such flexible in-laws has been SUCH a blessing and allows us all to celebrate together without having to eat TWO thanksgiving meals in one day! :)
This year, we ended up celebrating on the Sunday after thanksgiving- Mrs. Lula cooked an absolute FEAST and we enjoyed being together and sharing our thankfulness for one another.


Pretty in Purple :)

Ok- the next series of pics was taken in about a 45 second span where we were just attempting to get all their eyes... I'm loving Hannah's expressions in these...





Close enough :)


So... we got the car stuck when we tried to back it down into the yard... Why? You ask, would we back the car into the yard? So we would have a place to set the camera for the self timer pics, of course! Anything for a picture!
Here are the boys {{happily}}towing the car...

This is my silly husband demonstrating how his mama loves "natural" pictures :) We were reminiscing of prom pics with me IN my prom dress, posed "naturally" (of course) IN a bush. Since that is something that you "naturally" do in a prom dress. We love you, Mrs. Lula! :)

I mean, how cute is this uncle with his nephews!?! They love their Uncle JO!

And a couple of fam. shots... Benjamin and I look like a two headed blue monster with our matching navy on :)

Thanksgiving 2009

This pretty much sums up this thanksgiving-- Benson on the "top bunk." He spent the entirety of two whole days asking to be put on the "top bunk" and his favorite person to ask was "Hunner" because he willingly obliged for two whole days. Hunter, you're a trooper!

Peaches and Benson in the (just fallen) "Gingerbread House"-- Maybe it's the color of the bedding at Grandmama Hunter's house-- but Benson wanted to make "gingerbread houses" any time we were in our room (did you know if you stand two pillows up and lean them together it makes a gingerbread house?! I wouldn't try to eat it, though! :) )

Aunt (Lash) Jemima.... idk...???

Benson and Papa had a great time playing monster trucks at the "Patrick Community Center" where we now celebrate our extended family thanksgiving meals!


All. Boy.


I think benson was done with pics at this point :)

Here we are looking PRET-TY in the early morning...
The clock says 3:40. That's a.m., folks.

Ash and Jess in line at Target- at approximately 4:25 a.m. It was COOOOLD!

oops!

When I went to upload some new pics, I realized had left this fam. pic off of the last Clemson post! Go Tigers! Beat GA. Tech tomorrow!!