The Christmas Season

We had a great Christmas season this year.   It began for me early because I joined a choir this last September.  December 1st though the 14th the choir sang 9 different times.  Most of the performances were for nursing homes or Relief Societies.  We ended our season with a big concert that all our families could come to.  Shawn, Riley, Makenzie and her husband Ross came. I think Shawn was surprised how good the choir was and enjoyed himself.  I have missed being in a choir sense high school, I am grateful for the chance to do choir again and have a loving husband's support.
I love the stage Riley is in.  He is getting the holidays more and more.  I love all the little saying he is saying during this past month.  He got what the Christmas tree was and what the manger scene was.  He would say happy birthday Jesus all the time.  I would ask what Santa said and he would say "ho ho ho".  Shawn and I  got to see the Christmas season through Riley's eyes which was special.
The Christmas week was so fun.  Christmas Eve,  Shawn and Riley were on the tail ends of having cold, I got a cold on Saturday night, so we just took it easy in the morning.  Then went out for lunch- a new tradition.  That night we went over to Grandpa and Grandma Bartlett's house.  We had a yummy dinner and then did our annual Christmas program, were we read the nativity story and sing hymns.  Then we got to do some fun songs and Santa came!!!!  This year Santa thought he was still in Taiwan and was speaking their language.  All the kids were trying to tell him that we were in America and spoke English. It was so funny.  Santa give us all pajamas for Christmas and then read a poem from Grandpa Bartlett.  The poem is the best part of the night for me personally. After we said goodbye to Santa, Grandma had made sugar cookies for the kids to decorate for Santa.  (I hope this becomes a tradition) Riley just liked squishing the icing in his hands.  He was a mess by the end.  We then said our goodbyes and went over to Papa and Oma Hehl's house.  Ashley had asked if all the kids could sleep over and wake up together for Christmas for old time sake.  So that what we did.
Christmas Day, we woke up and instead of the kids waking up the parents.  My dad came down at 8:10 and woke up the kids.  It was funny.   Every year my Dad hides the stocking for us to find (love this tradition) Riley was still sleeping but Shawn and I went up to find our stockings.  The stockings were in weird places this year, like in the vacuum, in a game box and others.  Good job Dad!!!  Riley woke up a little while later and Papa help him find his stocking.  After we were all done we had to get ready and go down to my uncle and aunt's house for our first Christmas at their house.     We got there and began opening presents about half way through the kids had disappeared to their rooms to play with their toys and the adults were hungry so we broke for breakfast. All the traditional stuff.  I love it.  After breakfast we did the rest of the presents.  The rest of the day was spent playing with the new things we got, playing games, and best of all talking to my brother Adam who is on a mission. I loved talking to him and being able to hear his voice.  After the almost a 2 hour conversation that we had with him.  We had a wonderful dinner. It was a great Christmas!!!
The nest couple of days our family just took it easy.  Shawn had Wednesday and Thursday off but because I  was getting the worse of my cold we just stayed in and watched movies and played as a family.
New Years Eve, we didn't do anything in the day but that night went up to my best friend Makenzie's house. We played our new game Janga and Blurt until 12 and then talked for another 2 hours.  No we didn't let Riley stay up till 12 but it was past his bed time when we put him down.  We had a great time.  The next day we went back up to Makenzie's house and Ross her husband cut Shawn and Riley hair. Then we went to Charlies house and had a wonderful dinner with some of the Bartlett family.
It has been a great holiday for our family.  It been hard to get back to normal life but we are so excited for the coming year
Love Amanda and Family

Its Been a Year I Need to Update!!!

I know that it's been almost a year since I have put anything on my blog.  So I am going to try to remember what happened in the last year.:)
Shawn
-Shawn has had a few jobs this year because most of them were temporary.  I hate those type of jobs but it works with our schedule and when you don't have a job you just go with anything.  In the last year Shawn has worked for Target for the Christmas rush. Vivint, for the summer rush and now he is working for McDonald's and a temp. agency.  Shawn is working so hard for our family so we can have our needs met.  I am soooo grateful for him.  
-Shawn loves being a dad. The night time routine is Daddy and Riley time.  He gets Riley ready for bed by ticking him and talking about the day with him.  Shawn when reads to Riley right before bed.  Riley loves Daddy time.  Riley giggles and runs to Shawn when it is time to go to bed.  I know that it is a special time for both of them.
Amanda
-This last year has been a wirl-wind.  I have enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom so much and watching Riley grow up.  Some days are harder then others but I know that the home is where I need to be.
-I have been working out with two girlfriends.  I love the company and the great work out.  We all have boys around the same age so Riley loves going and playing with his cute friends.
-I have joined an all ladies choir.  I haven't sung in a choir since high school so I love that I am getting back to doing something I really enjoy.
Riley
-Holy cow, Riley has grown up.  He is two now and I can't believe it.
-Riley knows all his letters and he can count from 1-11.  In the morning, Riley goes straight for some sort of toy that has to do with letters or numbers and starts playing. He loves it. I thought this was normal for him to know but as Riley has shown people, (which he is very happy to do)and people are amazed.  I'm finding out that Riley is very smart.
-Riley favorite shows are Super Why and Sesame Street (which he calls Elmo).  If it's not on live TV he gives me the Wii remote to put them on.  He will sit still through them about 50% of the time.
-Riley is getting three word sentences down and is actually answering questions rather than repeating the last word of your sentence.
Family
We moved!!! We moved about a month ago.  My sister Ashley had this wonderful apartment that I was jealous of and she knew it.  In July we were actively looking for a new place to live.  One day Ashley called me and said that one of the apartments around her that was the exact same layout that she had was up for rent.  I jumped at the opportunity to rent the apartment and in 24 hours we had the apartment. We love living by Ashley and Bryson and having dinner with them almost every week.    
This are some pictures form the last six months.

Riley Falling Asleep in Funny Places

 This is the first time Riley fell asleep during lunch.  My parents have these kind of photos of us and its so funny to get the same kind of photos of my own.  Love it

A couple of days later- funny again

This was today I was doing something on the computer and turned around to check on Riley and this is what I found so funny!!!

Update on Riley

Last night for relief society we talked about blogging and the presenter said that one of the reasons that she blogs is to write down what her kids do funny so... I am going to start writing down things that Riley does so I can look back and remember.
Riley has progressed so much in the last month and a half.  We have him enrolled in Kids on the Move. They are helping him catch on in some areas.  In the month and a half that we have been working with him, he has began getting into sitting position by himself, getting on his feet and cruising along the couch.  He is saying dada and moma. The funny thing is, is that he was first saying dada and for a long time we couldn't get him to say moma but once he started saying moma we couldn't get him to say dada.  So when Shawn would prompt him to say dada he would say mama instead.  ( Shawn thinks I have croupted  our son):)  The biggest thing Riley has done this week is starting to wave.  It is so adorable!!

Its Riley first birthday today. I can't believe its been a whole year. As I look back on the year I am amazed that we made it through but also that it went so fast. I feel so lucky that I am Riley's mom. I always known I wanted to be a mom but I love the experience I have had being Riley's mom. Life has changed so much over the year, and its changing all the time still.

I have made a list of funny little things that Riley does or his little quorks.

1. Sense birth he has always crossed his ankles.(so cute)

2.He loves shoes, he chews on shoes even if they are on your feet

3. He always smiles and giggles when I get him up from his naps.

4. His favorite toy is a soda box, string and folders

5. He know when he is somewhere he is not suppose to be because he giggles at you and then tries to get away

6. he uses mom as his personal jungle gym

7. He loves books...to chew on

8. He loves riding in the car

9. He has a special smile and giggle when he sees Grandpa Hehl

10. He is a very good baby...I think I got spoiled

These are pictures from the last year I can't believe how much he has changed.

First Picture that was sent to everyone

One of the first days home

October conference weekend 2010

I loved what he would do with he hands

Oct. 30 the day Riley fell off the table and had to spend the night in the hospital

cute faces

December

Playing with daddy's mouth

Learning how to crawl

He loves bath time

Ashley's wedding day

I love my ONE YEAR OLD!!!!

Three Year Anniversary

I can't believe it but Shawn and I have been married 3 years today!!! I can't believe that it has been that long. I am so grateful for him and all he does for our family. We were looking at our wedding album and telling each other how young we looked on our wedding day. Shawn is a great husband but he has hit it out of the park with being a dad!!!! As Riley has grown this year I can't express the happiness I feel when I see Shawn and Riley share a small little moment together. I can't wait to grow even more as Shawn and I share eternity together. I love you Shawn!!!

Riley starting to crawl

Its been a long time since I have blog. But I thought this is something to blog about. Riley is starting to figure out how

to crawl. It is so cute how he is trying to figure it out.

He on his stomach... ( I love the face he gives me.)

Stretches his arms out

and gets on his KNEES!!!

He only stays there a second and then goes back to his stomach. Its fun seeing him figure it. I love it!