Champs!!!

I know this isn't the clearest pic but here is Ry's Boys' and Girls' Club Basketball team! We love all these boys and Ryan had a blast being a part of this team, such a great outlet and a fun way for him to be involved in sports again. They just finished there season and did great finishing their last game with a score of 95-54 (or something like that). Anyway, just thought I would put their cute team pic on here, even though I know they'll be ticked off with me if they happen to see it. According to them I was supposed to take their pic before the sweat. Sorry guys, better than no team pic at all though right?

From left: Joseph, Pewter, Scottie-2-hottie, Coach, Riley, Anthony and Josh,

next row: Reed, Nick, Ryan, and last but not least Cody Ray!!!

Team huddle; which Lys and Bella made sure to always be a part of, strange actually that we don't see them in there!I

They were seriously doing spirit fingers in this huddle I promise Ry told me it was hang loose but I know what I saw and those were spirit fingers inside this huddle.

Promotion!!!!!

Ryan was suprised last month after doing a routine ride-along for a day with his boss Luke (whom our whole family completely adores) that Luke was going to be moving onto another company. For Ry and the rest of the crew this was sad news as Luke truly has been such a great boss; and has been so instrumental in ensuring Ryan's success with the company. So as we were very sad and disappointed to lose Luke, Ryan had had conversations with another boss previously that he was the top of the list for promotable guys in the region. This conversation had only taken place a short time before we found out about Luke leaving and we thought maybe a promo to Luke's spot was possible but maybe sooner than management had been thinking.

Well shortly after Luke's anouncement he got a call from his other boss and..........long story short, after flying the two of us to Sacramento to talk about it, he received the offer to become the Manager for the State of Oregon for his company!!!!!!!!! All his hard work has really paid off and I can't be more proud of my man and all that he has accomplished in a very short time!

I am so grateful for Federated and the company as a whole it has been such a blessing in our lives. I'm thankful they are entrusting him with this new position and can' t wait to see him rise to the challenge. He is sooooo excited to have his own team and see them kick some A!

Ryan, me, and Lukeeeee in Arizona together last year!
Ry and his boss Wendy!

You did it honey :) WAY TO GO!!!!!!

She's 4 Now!!!

January 10, 2005 Our sweet baby girl Alyssa was welcomed into the world!!!
Then she turned 1 :)
Then she turned 2 and played soccer with Dad!
Then she turned 3 and went crazy!!!

And Now She's 4. I can't really believe it, everyone tells you enjoy every moment because it goes fast and well, there right about that. (Ry and I made this cake together. It was a lot of fun)

We have wonderful friends who opened up there home/pool to host a pool party for Lys's B-day!

This was interesting all the sudden I turned around and Ryan was pulling everyone in the pool while they held onto a water noodle!!! It was pretty stinkin funny!

Look out below!

Daddy and the Birthday girl havin a ball, these two are so cute together!

There she is my big girl, happy Birthday Lys! We love you and have cherished every second with you. You are a blessing to our family and you are a beautiful girl inside and out.

The Haircut.

It's been 4 years and I have not touched this child's hair, not even a trim.
We mentioned the idea when her hair really took off growing that maybe she could grow it long one day and donate to kids who are sick and have no hair, as soon as we mentioned it she was all about it. This has been a long time coming though I think we mentioned it to her when she was 2 and 1/2 maybe 3. We knew the time was coming as it was getting really long, (down to her bum when it was wet) so we asked if she wanted to do it around her birthday and she liked that idea! So the day before her B-day after pre-school the whole fam went over to Great Clips who does Locks of Love cuts for free and finally went through with it.

I was getting really attached to this beautiful hair. Sweet girl, she was so calm.
Here is the point that I really lost it and started bawling. Since I've never cut it that was her actual baby hair she was born with, thanks a lot to whichever friend of mine made that point. I don't usually think that deep but when that was pointed out to me it made me cry that much harder.

As I'm wiping tears away (husband next to me consoling me) Alyssa still remains calm as a cucumber and says "Mom, Everything's gonna be okay", "Mom, are you okay" , Mom, don't cry it's okay" "Okay mom it's gonna be alright". I eventually pulled my hormonal self together.... how embarrasing.
We are soooooo proud of this kid and the kind heart she's developed for others. Way to go Alyssa and we loooove her new look.

New Year's Day (whaddu do?!?!?) / THings I enjoy about being pregnant!

So Really..... what are your traditions on New Year's Day???? I really do want to know, anyone who knows me knows that I am not so creative but love to use other's great ideas (which I usually give full credit to the creator of the idea, promise!!!).

So New Year's Eve was spent with Ry @ home with the ladies and me chapperoning the youth dance. I waited till last min. as usual to find a sitter which is why my sweet hubby didn't come with me. Sorry about that honey, I still feel bad about that. Anywho, I didn't get home till about 1:00am so needless to say (and being pg) I was a little tired the next day.

New Year's Day Ry worked on the attic project and I worked some around the house and hung out with the kiddos. That evening feeling still tired Ry decided we should go out to dinner!!!!! YES!!! I was off the hook for the night. So we went to a local pizza joint and when we pulled up I noticed on the sign it was"family kerioke night" Oh boy oh boy oh boy...... I instantly knew this was going to be a good time and it was. So all in all it was a nice New Year's Eve and Day. I hope your's was well and that you all have a terrific New Year!!!
Wondering what I was doing trying to sing Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl". They didn't have much selection so I thought I'd give it a try and it was way too fast for this chick. So I sang a little Lauren Hill and redeemed myself, on the way out the door a lady eating her pizza said your mommy has a good voice to one of the girls! Thanks lady I owe you one.

Ryan and his backup singers! Not gonna brag but he may be in the wrong line of work. Dang my husband can sing.

The girls sang together with Ry "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and did a fine job!

Here's Izzie singing Jingle Bells, rockin the mic! I was just there to keep her from swalloing it, and yes for some reason Jeapordy was playing on the TV behind her, no idea why?!?!?!

I love zits! These are always delightful little visitors that I so look forward to when I'm pg.

Our Christmas Miracle!!!!

This Christmas was really great! We had a ton of fun with the girls watching the sweet, excited, surprised expressions on Christmas morning, caroling and dropping off goodies to friends on Christmas Eve, teaching them more about Christ's birth, sending and receiving the Christmas cards and putting them up for display, playing in the snow, attending Christmas parties, going to Grammy Judy's for Christmas and just being together! I love my family and feel very blessed.

For the Miracle part......we found out we are pregnant and due in August and are very excited! For me and my sweet family that was the very best Christmas present of all. Alyssa is already asking me daily "Mom, what does the baby look like today?"......maybe I shouldn't have told her quite so early but its fun to have the girls involved!

Beller opeing her gift from Lys on Christmas Eve (princess flashlight)
Alyss opening her sweet purse from Booboo

The girls is their awesome princess jammies from the Fife's! They looooove these, thanks guys!

Alyss in one of her Christmas sweater's (really mom a Christmas sweater?.......)

Christmas morning in the new dress ups!

Bella on her prize possesion and is it just me or does Alyss look like part of that box?

Daddy and his girls getting ready to play in the snow!

Christmas dresses!
Settling down for a long winter's nap!

This is how Ryan found them snuggled up together in Lys's bed on Christmas night, how sweet are they!

Takin one for the Loftin Team :)

This picture is a little blurry, my apologies. For our ward Christmas party last weekend there was a talent portion. There was a sign up sheet that floated around one Sunday and I of course signed us up to sing and dance! I continually told my family all week "ok guys we've gotta get somethin together for the Christmas party but nothing......... So it came down to Ryan asking Alyss that morning if she would like to sing at the talent show and she said "yeah dad, sure!!" She practiced up on I am a Child of God and when it was her turn (Ry had coached her with her intro before hand), she bravely went up in front of a packed gym full of people chowin down on their dinner and said this "Hi Everyone, I'm Alyssa.........Merry Christmas!" and then she sang the sweetest 1st vs. of I am a Child of God I have ever heard.

Way to take one for the team sweetie, you did a beatiful job and made mommy cry happy tears!

Bella did try to make a grab for the microphone and not knowing what she had prepared Ry snatched it from her. But she stated that she wanted to sing too. Later on this week we were driving home from somewhere and Alyssa said, (totally out of the blue).....Dad, Heavenly Father is going to put you in time out for not letting Bella sing.