We went to the ward christmas party where the kids met santa. it went well as you will see. Ryker is very strong in his stranger danger and it was past bedtime for rylie. all in all not a good combination. we tried. but we might wait a year or 2 before we meet santa again.
my mom had a nativity event that she was kind of in charge of. it was so wonderful. basically a ton of people from the ward and friends and family and anyone who wanted to brought nativities from different cultures and countries and they were set up to look at. in another room there were ones that were child friendly and little kids could pick up and play with. ryker could care less about the child room. he never wanted to go in or stay there at all. then in the chapel there were a ton of pictures of christ. so many beautiful paintings. some are common pictures, some personal paintings, just a little bit of everything. it was very beautiful. it was actually quite touching that this was rykers favorite room. he was always pulling me back to it and wanted to stay there. warms my heart that he loves christ so much already. there were many people that performed songs as background music. my dad alicia and i sang 2 songs as well. family favorites. we didnt know what to do with ryker and rylie so they came up with us and wiggled all through our songs. but were quiet. rylie was really only happy if we were swinging her around like a bell. so she was the entertainment while we were trying to sing something spiritual haha.
other than that we played a lot with grandad and grandma. the kids finally got over their colds. mostly life was pretty good. i got to catch up with my old friend kate. she is doing good and has a son that is 6 months old ish. he is a cutie. we discussed how much life changes after kids and now its weird and so different to hang out with old friends who dont have kids yet. just a very different lifestyle and very different priorities. its interesting to see and i can attest to that. life is crazy different after a baby. let alone the 2 i have.
which brings me to my next tid bit. we found out around thanksgiving that we are expecting baby number 3! we are super excited and a little nervous to be outnumbered by the kids. but its going to be great. i will keep updating on that as well. only 1 baby in there! but baby is so small now that there is not much to report. baby and mom are happy and healthy! lets see if i can keep up with my healthy eating and exercise. i lost 25 lbs over the summer only to gain it back with baby weight. haha. hopefully it will come off easily if i keep up my good habits. this pregnancy has been the best so far out of all 3. i have not been super sick like i usually was. i am a little nauseous especially in the morning, but other than that i am mostly okay. see lifestyle change for the better is a good thing.
on christmas eve we had alicia and brandon watch the kids as the rest of the family went to an escape room. it was so fun! we were locked in a room and a "psycho killer" was after us. we had an hour to escape. it involved a lot of teamwork and using things in weird ways. bones and chains and locks and safes. mom saved us with her mushroom clue. and we got out with 6 min to spare! we only had to ask for 1 clue, but it was more of a reminder of something we had already found so i dont think it counts. haha.
rylie has taken a couple steps on her own when practicing with grandma grandad and i, but hasnt gotten the courage to do it on her own yet. we did celebrate her first birthday in colorado. that will come in another post.
ryker has come such a long way in his language. he talks in phrases now which is a huge plus for us. only when he is really upset and already crying does he forget to use his words to tell us what is wrong.
justin was here in north dakota working while we were partying in colorado. he got a lot done but definitely missed family. we missed him to. we were so excited to get him back for christmas.
dad and rylie cuddling on the couch. rylie loves to twirl her hair when she is sleepy. so adorable
i think this was a ryker special? he focused in on her and everything
cant get enough daddy cuddles. whenever one is cuddling, the other needs to also. what are we going to do with 3 of these?!?!?!
in progress of the busy board we made ryker and rylie for christmas
ryker and grandad playing together
ryker trying to take a selfie with an old camera phone.
in the morning before grandad went to work they would play a little. this is everyone crawling up the stairs. still a favorite of rylies. she is quick, and she knows when you arnt looking to make a break for the stairs.
playing the piano with aunt licia
we decorated sugar cookies with my friend kate. we gave rylie one and she promptmly undecorated it by eating just the frosting and getting is all over herself. im not even mad. she is just so cute.
ryker loved santa
rylie loved him more
this is the happiest faces we ever got from these 2 all night.
ready for church!
love that smile! she sure loves grandma
he looks like such a big boy! he is a big boy! its crazy how much he has grown.
an old photo i found of my family all napping together. arnt they cute.
sometimes eating makes you so sleepy
shockingly my uncle mike didnt make ryker scream and cry. i was stunned. but they seem to be having fun together.
my mom was having ethan try on some sweaters for christmas but didnt want him to see, so she had him try them on backwards and put the hood on. result was a hilarious conversation and some weird fitting, but in the end they were good choices.
ethan and fallyn were wrestling on the floor. im so glad that as adults we still play as children.
so happy dad is back!
our little shepard
christmas eve devo.
with the whole fam
and the beautiful pianist.
our family of shepards for the nativity reinactment
joseph with some swag
ryker turned into a holiday christmas angel half way through
always a pretty angel
both angel and christmas cupid delvering the message to merry
our gorgeous inkeeper
great wisemen doing wise things ;)
the best joseph and mary we have ever had.
trying to fulfill prophecy and be with child
please let us in!!!
the new baby jesus!
alicia and brandon as our wisemen
letting baby jesus drink the mur was maybe not so wise. haha.
great job team. another succesful year
santa busy board gift and stockings waiting for kids in the morning!
deitrick christmas be ourselves before we woke up all the aunts and uncle.
great book!
thanks aunt tricia and uncle brandon! they love them!
justin getting all nostalgic over the ornament of the year.
lining up for christmas morning
we went to a nerf battle. it was an hour of nerf war and it was so fun!
my cousin katelynn got married the week after christmas. so happy for her! they are adorable.
so precious. i love her and hayden together.
at the ring ceremony
big boy eating breakfast
she misses her cousin lottie
our christmas card this year
this was back at halloween, but this is our family with all our costumes on. rylie and i as biker chicks and justin and ryker as lumberjack
family at thanksgiving
this is the photo we gave my parents to announce our pregnancy. it was hilarious. thanks rach for taking the photos while we were in utah. beez and carlee were real mad i lied to them. but i like what rachel said. she mentioned that i am free to announce my pregnancy however i want and its not considered lying. im using that. and that is what helps me sleep at night haha.
rylie dancing to grandma playing christmas songs
rylie walking on her own! it will come so soon!
singing happy birthday to auntie fae!
for some reason he thought it was the funniest thing to rub noses with grandad. it was hilarious to watch.
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