The Wyman's

We had a lot of fun decorating our new house for Christmas for the first time. We got these sweet stockings from our friend Pat while we were in Wibaux. Ryker's is a cars one so, of course he loved it. Thanks Pat!

We went with a little tree again this year, but it was a live tree so someday when it is HUGE, we will cut it down for and use it again. I'm still a little nervous about it falling on someone since I'm often the only one supervising and I do need to shower every once in a while and then there are always those days when I'm just not paying very good attention:)

Kya was pretty pleased with her decorating.

Kya found Peeka! I've noticed she has her pacifier in her mouth a lot in these Peeka pictures. It's because they were always taken in the morning and she only uses it at night. I'm happy to say though that she has been pacifier free for over 2 months now and it was much easier than I thought it was going to be, just like with Ryker. I was dreading it so I let her keep it through our trip to Montana (figured I'd need to plug her squaking on the plane). Then Seth went crabbing and I didn't want to be up all night by myself, then she had a cold.......yada, yada, yada. I finally bucked up after I decided there would never be an ideal time. It was as entertaining as with Ryker. I did the same thing by cutting the end off it. She decided that it was broken, but it was hysterical watching her mess with it, putting it in and out of her mouth and me telling her it was broken. I talked her into throwing it in the garbage, just like we did with Ryker, but just as he did, when we went to leave the room, she wanted it back. She dug it out of the garbage and I washed it off, but eventually she gave it to me and went to bed. I was also worried about her because she had to go to daycare where there were other kids with pacifiers. I didn't want her taking theirs and putting it in her mouth. Ryker was home with Seth so he never had the temptation. Anyway, it's gone and now we can always see that beautiful little grin!

Ta da!

Yep, here goes tree #2. This one is fake, but that's okay because we have the smell of pine downstairs! When we were planning/building our house, I could envision the Christmas trees and decorations. We're not quite there yet, only because what I want to do will cost a little more than I want to pay for right now, but some day. Does anyone have a classic train set they'd like to sell me for cheap? I used to go to my friend Kerry's house and marvel at their Christmas tree because it was perfect with a locomotive running around the base of the tree. Her dad would do it all and they would just watch. She would come to my house and marvel at our tree because it was all hand made ornaments and decorated by us kids. She loved that we got to help. I want the best of both worlds. I want a perfect tree that no one touches but me on the main floor and the family tree upstairs. Is that completely rude? I have to compromise on a lot of things these days with my helpers and I want my perfect tree!

A little dinner after a hard day of decorating.

I decided to stop leaving my rings on the counter when I saw Ryker wearing them one day.

I made a salmon stocking for a party we were having so Ryker decided he wanted to make one to take to daycare for a snack. He chose the dog cookie cutter. I don't think we'll ever be able to form them into plain salmon balls again. He was way too impressed with his salmon dog.

Baking cookies for our Christmas party. I'm so glad we finally have counter space so Ryker can get up and help without Kya getting into all the stuff.

Kya, not so happy. She threw a bit of a fit that he was out of her reach.

But eventually moved on to playing in the cupboard and eating her apple.

My family had planned on coming after Christmas, around New Year's, but ended up coming before Christmas to attend my Uncle Doug's memorial. Grandma showed up first and they got started making Christmas gifts.

A few days later Brian, Kara, Ty, and Nikki rolled in in the middle of the night. I hope just because they got in late, they didn't think they were going to sleep in! Actually, Ty was the last to get up (even though it was still really early and he drove the whole way) and when Ryker saw him emerge from the bedroom, he jumped up, sprinted toward him yelling "Uuuuuuncle Tyyyyyyy" and gave him a big hug. Ty was retelling the story the next day and basically said "I'm not gonna lie, I did not want to get up, but when I saw how excited that kid was, it made it all worth it." Very interesting, because I remember waking him up for fishing around 4 am every day when he was 18 and I always had a big grin on my face, sometimes Kara and I sang him a beautiful duet, tickled his little toes or called him cute little names and he was never excited to see me in the morning. I guess Ryker just has a way with people.

Uncle Brian wasted no time getting the Nerf guns loaded and a hideout built.

Of course everyone came bearing gifts so we had an early Christmas.

This one should have been opened last because it was hard to concentrate on the others after this one. Good work Grandma.

Kara sporting the lovely apron Ryker made her. That was a hint to get in the kitchen and bake us some cookies!

Brian and Ty with their Reindeer beer from Ryker. That kid loves googly eyes!

Getting after it.

Jana, Marguerite, and Wes came for the service too and stayed in our apartment. It is so nice to finally have room for guests! Cosmos, back off buddy. No one is carrying any bacon.

These pictures are a little out of order but they got this easel for Christmas.

If one has their shirt off for some reason, the other thinks theirs needs to come off....every time.

That crazy Peeka.

Giving Kya a ride in her new racecar chair.

Showing Grandma all their cool stuff.

Making the couch up for our guest arriving in the middle of the night.

Kya is becoming the ham lately while Ryker's new trick is to run or hide and escape the camera.

They got this sweet microphone that we left in Wibaux over Thanksgiving. It makes all kinds of noise and luckily Grandma was kind enough to pack it in her suitcase and get it back to us. Whew! Don't know what we would have done without this noisy thing. Thanks so much Grandma. We'll be sure to pack the cowbell and tamborine next time we visit you! Actually, it isn't that bad and they really enjoy it so what the heck.

Ty was really into this new book Nikki had told him about. I bet he learned how to share this Christmas from old Billy Buzzle. Nikki, on the other hand is getting the directions down so she can smoke him in a game of Cootie.

Brian assembling Kya's shopping cart. Ty still reading. He seems pretty into it. I wonder if he'll read the whole series and be as into it as he was with Harry Potter?

Onto the easel. Good thing these guys were here since Seth was gone and these kids need everything assembled RIGHT NOW! It would have taken me forever.

Oh good, the boss has arrived to supervise:) Good teamwork boys!

Bubbles!

Anyone for Pictionary?

Good thing Grandma stuck around for a couple days after everyone left because Ryker was pretty happy with the house full of guests and it was a big disappointment when everyone had to leave. At least he still had Grandma to ease out of the fun filled weekend and back to just Kya and I.