Christmas *2010*

Seeing Santa for the fist time at East Shore High School.

Dave at the VMT Christmas party.


We spent Christmas in Canada. We left December 23rd, Ryker did really well on the flight, he didn't cry and had only one dirty diaper. But, of course we had to change right when people were boarding the plane. The bathroom is really small on those 737 jests, so we had to convert the trey's into a changing table.
During take off, I had Ryker suck on his soother while I occasionally tugged on his ears so they would pop.
We landed in Calgary at 10:30pm.
Ben (Dave's oldest brother) came and picked us up. I believe it was below freezing and once we steeped outside we couldn't feel our faces or hands. We arrived at Ben's house around 11:30pm and said our "Hi's" and went to bed. Our little guy would not sleep, he was up every hour crying. We tried everything and nothing worked so around 6:30am Dave got his car seat and we stuck him in there and we were able to sleep until 9:30am.
(Christmas Eve) Doug and Blanche came around 12pm to pick us up and head off to Edmonton to have Christmas at the Shipley's. Before we left we opened one of our presents from Ben's family and it was a wonderful new digital camera. Oh, we were so excited because we've been needing a new one. And we forgot to charge the camera we brought so it worked out great.
Ryker slept the whole 3 hour drive to Edmonton. We arrived at Richard and Ginamarie's (Dave's older brother)house to get Ryker's baby gift and to see the kids. Afterwords we headed to Heather's to have fondue and we spent the evening talking and wrapping presents.
(Christmas Day)Ryker had a better night sleep and he was up at 8am so we headed up stairs to have breakfast and then we all gathered around the Christmas tree to open presents. At noon my brother called and I was able to listen and talk to him for an hour. After we said our good-byes, we couldn't believe that the next time we will talk to him, it will be at the airport greeting him home. Crazy. At 4pm we headed to the church to have a turkey dinner with everyone(The Anderton Family, Richard and Ginamarie's Family, The Shipley's ,and Nana and Papa) including the missionaries. We had a wonderful time spending the evening with family that we don't see often. That evening we packed up from Heather's and headed to Cindy's to spend the night. Well that night I got sick from what might of been food poison. I was up all night and all day throwing up and visiting the restroom with diarrhea. I was so grateful that this happened when Dave was around to help out with Ryker. Well, that was basically Sunday.
On Monday we headed back to Calgary. What we did for the rest of the week:
-It was cold and snowy, so we did a lot of relaxing and visiting indoors.
-Dave had VMT meetings on Tuesday with his dad in the morning and afternoon.
-Heather and Dan and there 2 kids came down from Edmonton on Tuesday Night to spend more time with us.
-Wednesday we had another turkey dinner with family and friends.(Amy, Brady, Heather, Dan, Maddie, Landon, Doug, Blanche, Ben, Linda, Joshua, Kate, Decker, Max, Blanches' friend and her husband and their 3 kids and finally Dave, Ryker ,and I) It's what you call, blowing out of the seams, but the night was full of laughter and talking.
-Went to eat out with Ryan and Katya (Dave's cousin and wife) a couple of times. We went to Smugglers (a must hit when in Calgary. Steak soup. Yum) and the Cheesecake Cafe.
-Friday night we went on a double date with Heather and Dan to Moxies and of course we had there delicious white chocolate brownie.
-New year's eve we hung out with Doug and Blanche and watched the movie Salt and ate Chinese food.
-Ate homemade chocolates everyday. We were done with chocolate by the time it was time for us to head home. We only get it once a year and what the heck might as well enjoy them!

Ryker news...
-he started to blow bubbles with his mouth
-he started sleeping through the night on New year's Eve and has kept it up.

We arrived home January 1st at 7pm. It always fun to go to Canada ,but it is so nice to be home and into our own routine and beds. Nothing like a good night sleep.

Hanging out with Papa on Christmas morning.

Maddie loves you to death. She loves you so much she named her doll after you.


Our little Christmas gift.



2 months and 2 days old.


This is the view that we had while heading home. It was absolutely breath taking.