Birthday Party






Ryan's two best buddies and their families came over to celebrate Ryan's 3rd birthday and boy was it loud! I think every single toy came out of the toy boxes too! He had a riot and then later they all sat on the couch for a movie together.

3rd Birthday!

So the opening of birthday cards and presents lasted for quite a few days. Some family shipped him boxes of presents to open on his birthday, then he opened some from Mommy & Daddy the next night, and then had a couple friends over on the weekend for a party. With birthdays lasting so many days, he is getting too used to this!





Fun time with friends over




MMM... milkshake.


Ryan had a vanilla milkshake for the first time yesterday (yes, we shelter our poor child). Okay, he's had chocolate ones before :-). You can see that he could not take his focus off that milkshake just for a picture. Anyway, we went to a game place called Dave & Buster's, had lunch, and then played some arcade games. He likes the classic kind that give out tickets! That means he can pick prizes! It was the best 2 hours spent on Saturday!

Sledding Video


This was on the small hill/burm on the cul-de-sac behind our house. It's great for young kids because it's small. Ryan was not too impressed with sliding off the sled and going sideways with snow flying in his face. Hmmm.... maybe next time.

My BFF!




One thing that makes Ryan most happy is playing with his best friend Jayden! They are about 9 months apart but play together like there was no difference in age at all (which won't matter later, but hey, at 3 years old that 9 months can be big!)


Little Bavaria

The few days after Christmas found us traveling up north. With a 2-night stop in Frankenmuth for a little fun and R&R. We stayed at the Bavarian Inn Lodge which had an indoor pool, game room (Ryan is now into arcade games BTW!), indoor putt-putt golf, etc. What a fun stop!



Line up that shot.

As you can tell, Ryan wasn't too excited about being put in a display. hee hee.

December 26th at Grandma Friend's House.

Seriously?! We get MORE presents?! All.....right!!!!

Let's build a station with my new Lincoln logs!

Christmas Night at Ryan's best friend Jayden's house!











Christmas Morning!

Presents are all opened. Watching the train go around...











Christmas Eve!

Here he is after a big Christmas Eve of church, playtime, snacking, spreading reindeer food, running aroud playing tambourine, music, and finally crashing...


Hey Mr. Tambourine Man!



Of course, the timeless Christmas tree shot.

Ryan and his cousins in Tennessee.




First Arcade Experience

This was in downtown Gatlinburg, TN.




Thanksgiving Day hike in the Smoky Mountains!
















Newport Aquarium in Kentucky
















Navigation 101

Our Thanksgiving week drive to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and then the Smoky Mtns in Tennessee, found Ryan learning to read a map and telling Mommy & Daddy where we had to go next.