Married to a Grandpa!!!

Opening his gifts....

No, not literally!! We have celebrated John's 24th birthday! Hooray for him! He really isn't that much older than me...perhaps about a month and a few days, but until that birthday rolls around for me I am going to call him "Gramps." We had a lovely dinner for him here at the house, and he opened his presents. I bought him a MP3 player. If you don't know it, he is a bit of an electronics nerd. He loves to put things together or figure out how things work. So he spent a great deal of time playing with the thing. (adding music, photos, and other stuff)

Showing off the MP3 Player

I love that he has the patients for my mockery. He really is a special person. John doesn't make fun of me for all of my ridiculousness (not often), or get angry with me when I worry too much. I feel as though he is a gift everyday. So, I am thankful that we get to enjoy another year of his life together.

Thank you Shonda Rhimes!

I was getting worried. It is hard for me to find a t.v. show that I actually enjoy enough to watch on a regular basis. Most shows are just too far fetched and characters end up being rather annoying. I don't watch many dramas for this reason. John and I watch "Scrubs" (they don't try to be realistic, plus zach braff is just hilarious), and we are starting to get into watching "Lost." (although it is an interesting story line i am having a hard time liking it)

Which brings me to my love of "Grey's Anatomy". At first it was an interesting show. They don't really focus on the medical side, but rather the relationships between the characters. They also show how their interactions shape each other and the hospital (seattle grace) as a whole. When the medical side does come through it is more or less the reality of it. The doctors don't regularly run about finding miracle cures to the most unstudied of diseases. (like the ever annoying "house")

Lately, however, I have been at a loss. The sudden firing of a lesbian character is not the only reason. Izzy (the once-upon-a-time model turned physician) is sleeping with the ghost of a dead fiance! I absolutely hate this story. Not that I don't find Denny Duquette (jeffrey dean morgan) ruggedly sexy! Seriously. Come now people. How could a physician seriously walk around the hospital having flirtatious conversations with the air and nobody notice. Yes, her circle of friends do notice, but others??? How could they not. The likely hood that nobody would report her actions, with the well being of patients in mind....

That is why I was so relieved that in the last episode Izzy finally asked the ghost to go. If he does return in following episodes I will probably stop watching. It makes me sad, but I am sick of the whole thing. So, thank you Shonda Rhimes for putting a wonderful show back to its former glory! (let's not even get started on the sexual antics in "private practice")

Crayola Tadoodles

As I previously mentioned, Ry got a marker set for Christmas. It is not a typical set of markers. They are rounded to fit the shape of little hands better. This is supposed to give a toddler better control. All of the markers have a cute name (roary red, achoo blue...you get the idea) and look like a cute animal (a chick, an owl). The actual marker tip is on the little animal's head. The base for the markers makes noise, sings, and is a bit annoying. This, however, is Ry's favorite part. She gets rather distracted by it.

She still has trouble putting the marker to paper. You have to flip the marker, hold it in your palm, then color. Ry just puts it in her hand and goes at it. The result....a rather colorful palm, floors, and walls. How do the floors and walls get marked on if the paper doesn't you ask?? As Ry's hands get more and more colorful, she uses them to stand, uses the walls for support, and voila! I have to follow her everywhere with a wet cloth. Luckily these are made for children and are completely washable. I seriously wonder at the motives of my sister-in-law?? Subliminal message to let me know that she really despises me?? Perhaps.

Snowy Safford

Ry...all bundled up

I was looking through our photos and realized that I forgot to mention a spectacular event! The day after Christmas it snowed! Not just on Mount Graham, but in town....at my house! Craziness, I know!

1) Ry and Momma 2) Ry sitting near some collecting snow (it isn't salt...i promise)

We bundled Ryenn up, and took her to the back yard for her first snow adventure. She had so much fun. While we were playing the snow wasn't sticking to the ground yet. (the pictures are lame...in that you can't really see the snow falling)

John and Ry picking a grapefruit

It is really crazy because we have a very successful grapefruit tree in our backyard. It shouldn't grow in a climate where it is cold enough to snow. When we decided to bring Ry in because of the cold she was so angry that she had a fit in the middle of the kitchen. (my daughter is a brat...seriously)

Ry in the middle of a fit!!

The Holidays

Yes, I am aware that you have been waiting to see just how exciting the holidays were here at the Nunley home, and I have been ignoring my duties to you. Here I am to amaze you!!

1) Ry watching dad start the fire 2) Santa Cy and Ry saying "Merry X-Mas to eachother 3) Ry opening a gift

Christmas for me is not just Christmas, a day for opening presents and being with family, but also my mother's birthday. I realize that with having so many siblings she was regularly swiped of a birthday celebration. So Christmas morning I made cinnamon rolls, cookies, coffee, and hot cocoa. We opened gifts, made a mess, and enjoyed time with my family. This was Cyrus' very first Christmas and I hope he enjoyed it. (as much as a 9 month old can) We visited at my Grandmother for about an hour soon after.

1) the litte white speck is Ry trying to sneak a present 2) Santa Cy 3) Pancho

After semi-cleaning the living room, we went to John's parents and opened gifts and had lunch. It was a nice visit. The kids were less excited with gifts of mine because I only buy them toys for their birthdays. I am always the practical aunt that purchases the gift of clothing. Ryenn got the messiest toy from Ron and Brigette. The color wonder horrible marker set. (funny stories and pictures to come...i am sure)

1) Sunny and Gaspar helping Cy with his gifts 2) John and his new t-shirt

I lovingly prepared enchiladas, rice, and beans for a birthday dinner for my mom. The food was great. I tried to make her a cake as well, but I am not a baker by any means. It was disastrous.
How can you ruin a cake from a box do you ask. (if you are me it is not that difficult) First, I didn't wait the appropriate length of time to try removing the cake from the pans. It fell apart! Grrr. Then, I re-assembled the cake only to find that my cake dome was not large enough to fit the cake. It smashed one whole side. I was very frustrated, but was able to let some of it go when i tasted my masterpiece. (delicious)

Grandma Ida reading to Ry

New Year's was a bit of a different story. We enlisted the aid of Grandma Lisa and went off to spend an evening with adults (and their children) at John's boss' home. We played board games with Ron and Brigette, Kale and Julie, and Josh and Dusty. We had a blast. I hope that your holidays were filled with many blessings, and wonderful memories with your loved ones.