Wade's Baptism

This can't possibly be true can it?  Wade is old enough to get baptized?!  I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that I have an 8 year old--time has flown so fast! His baptism day was a great one.

 

He was baptized with a little girl in our ward, named Kate Glass, that we have known since before the two of them were 2 years old. 

Matt did a great job baptizing and confirming Wade a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We felt so blessed to have so much family come into town to celebrate this special day.

Ampa gave a really nice talk on the Holy Ghost.

And lots of Wade's friends came to support him....

Following the baptism, we went home for a yummy lunch, chatted with friends and family and enjoyed the wonderful day.

That evening went went to the Mesa Temple to see the grounds decorated with Christmas lights.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.  I'm so proud of Wade and the decisions he has already made.

Rylee's 2

I cannot believe my baby doll is 2 years old!  It seems like only yesterday that she was born and now she is already 2!  She is SO much fun!  All girl, yet strong and independent enough to keep up with the boys.

Everyone was in town for Thanksgiving and Wade's baptism so we celebrated Rylee's birthday a week early at the one and only "Peter Piper Pizza."

We also celebrated the other December bday's: Ampa, Granny C and Uncle Ben.

Of course lots of the night was spent on rides and playing games:

Excitedly eating cupcakes and singing "Happy Birthday": 

And opening presents!!!:

This little girl is so much fun, sass, opinion and love all wrapped into one.  I still can't believe she is mine!  She brings so much life to our family and everyone just adores her.

At 2, Rylee loves clothes, shoes, skirts, dressing up, back packs, dancing, swinging, candy, chocolate milk, Wade, Aunt Jess, pushing strollers, "Dora", and bossing everyone around :).

We love our little red head and look forward to another fun year!

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving is such a grand holiday!  What's not to love about eating A LOT?!  This year we were with my fam at Jess' house.  Ben and I assumed our normal positions as head chef's while Jess did the rest.  She was an amazing host and did an incredible job with the decor:

She also went all out with the kiddos and made these hats and had little projects for them to do while waiting for the feast.  SO CUTE!!

I added a little to the craftiness with a new tradition...a "Give Thanks" jar where we write what we are thankful for each year and put it into the jar.  We will read this year's entires next year.

What am I most thankful for?  My family, of course!  3 generations of Rasmussen's right here:

No Thanksgiving is complete without Pumpkin Pie and this guy has learned from the best and did not disappoint this year!  Perfect finale!

While the Boys Are Away...

Matt and, his sister, Marie have created a fun tradition that both the kids and them look forward to every year...meeting in Flagstaff and watching SUU play NAU in football! Marie brings her whole family, but Matt has made it a boy's trip and this year Trent even got to go which left Rylee and I alone for a weekend for the first time!

I wanted to make our one-on-one time really special, but knew it would be difficult considering she is not even 2 yet. A couple of my friend's have daughter's that are pretty serious little ballerina's and host a "Nutcracker Tea Party" this time each year. I decided that something like that would be perfect for Rylee and I!

It was so cute! The "tea party" took place at a local golf course and they had tons of yummy finger foods, tables decorated and ballerina's dressed in their "Nutcracker" costumes to meet and take picture with!

After eating, the ballerina's danced and then they read the story of the "Nutcracker." Rylee did awesome at the beginning, loved eating and then "dancing" on the stage
before the ballerina's performed, but lost interest after that. I was pretty impressed with how long she lasted though and cannot wait for next year when she is older and will most definitely be even more in to it!

The boys reported back with 2 huge thumbs up!

The football game was awesome (SUU won in a nail biter!), they got to swim, eat out and Matt even took Jocelyn and Spencer to a midnight showing of "Breaking Dawn."

Fun was had by all and I know this was the first of many special times with just Rylee and I.

Dodgeball 2011

Wade's Elementary school offers a Dodgeball Tournament each year.  Wade and his friends look forward to it and love to compete in it!

Such competitve boys, they love to win.....

This year wasn't their year, though, and they were out the second round, good thing there is always next year :).