Tuesday, December 18, 2007

~a merry unbosoming discourse~2007


Close upon the receipt of this Christmas letter, the heavens conspired to shower heart health on your letter courier, and more remotely, the good breeding of your ancestors coalesced to advance to you an adroit literacy. May the auspicious meeting of contemporary good fortune combined with ancestral foresight serve you well as the Smith family wishes you well!
This year saw Joy turn the corner on her affection for Kalamata olives. Her palate, in contrast to her volatile physicality, is aging. A year’s sabbatical from child-birthing rejuvenated Joy, and she’s been unflappable when I bemoan the toil and grief inflicted on old men without sons.
Hayden’s (on left of Christmas pic) self-concept charts well on most grids, and she’s no slouch when it comes to wingspan. At 24 months old Hayden has unfettered access to any object less than 48 inches high. Regrettably, she possesses unequal parts of grace and grit. Despite a steady diet and semi-regular check-ups, I’m able to box her out for rebounds with embarrassing consistency. Luckily, she compensates for athletic deficiency with optimism, poise, je ne sais quoi, and a love for dogs, geese, milk, books, coloring, play-dough, chocolate, french-fries, grandma, grandpa, she-she, Ta-Ta, PBS television, lively music, cameras, pens, shopping, the park, gum, and the theme song from The Office.
As the fog of babyhood lifts and Talor (on right of Christmas pic) awakes to greater custody of her personality, we are finding a jolly companion for Hayden. Talor is the next best-thing to a little brother for Hayden. While Talor consents to pink-patterned garb and dolly rustling, she prattles her own distinct babble and registers a vitality and athleticism distinct from her big sister. However, goats and ostriches have become non-examples for demonstrations about edibility. Among the less edible objects Talor has attempted to ingest are magazines, newspapers, shoes, two-pronged outlet covers, batteries, crayons, magnets, Q-tips, the tub drain plug, cell phones, photographs, belt buckles, ear phones, the cable wire, the cord for the carbon-monoxide sensor, napkins, and, of course, her own stool!
And I am gratefully captive to and captivated by these three ladies. May the joy of our Savior’s birth, Christ Jesus, reassure you this season!
Best wishes this season,Ryan Joy Hayden Talor

Tuesday, October 16, 2007


Planting our garden.





Monday, October 15, 2007

Easter 2007!





Diaper Babies

Sleepy Talor
The Girls
Fun with the Prince kids! Feed me Tom!




Sunday, August 19, 2007

This is what we have been doing since March 25, 2007





Hayden's first visit to McDonalds! She LOVED it!
Hayden feeding baby Talor.
Winter hikes at the Dunes.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Valentine's Day Love

A bite.
A kiss.
All better.
Super cute sweaters from Grandma Smith.
Hayden was a bit uncomfortable with the "Bubble Beard" thing.
Mom's helper;-)
Book worms.
Getting ready to see Dr. Leitzel and shots!
After the shots...Hayden LOVES French Fries. She prefers salt over sweets any day.
Performing a Sunday afternoon concert on Grandma's piano.

Is it just us, or do most of you parents get a kick out of stuffing your kids shirt full of blankets and watching them walk around. It's not torture, she LOVES it!
Hayden in Aunt Alicia's shirt.
Talor and Emma.
Pretty little bug.


Saturday, February 24, 2007

Talor's New Room!

Yes, we had a ribbon cutting ceremony.
I was able to find the bedding and rug online at Pottery Barn Kids and the little chair on eBay. Both were priced very well:-)





Thanks Grandpa Jim for your MANY hours of hard work. Talor LOVES her room!

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Still here!

Life has been really busy lately, and that explains the lack of posts.
One important announcement......We (Grandpa Jim) finished Talor's room!!! I will post pictures soon.
Talor (aka Little Pork Chop) weighed in yesterday at 15lbs. & 1oz. and 25in. long.
Hayden is also officially walking!!! Yahoo!!!

I have been tagged by Alicia.
A- Available or married? Married, and love it/him.
B- Best Friend? Kary Boll.
C- Cake or Pie? Pie.
D- Drink of Choice? Lemonade.
E- Essential Item? Tooth brush.
F- Favorite Color? Blue.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Worms.
H- Hometown? St. Paul, MN.
I- Indulgence? Clothes from BR
J- January or February? February. Warmer. Right?
K- Kids & names? Hayden & Talor - both girls.
L- Life is incomplete without? Loved ones.
M- Marriage Date? July 26th 2003
N- Number of Siblings? 3 -Nathan, Jenny, and my sis-in law Alicia.
O- Oranges or apples? Oranges.
P- Phobias/Fears? Heights, riding in an elevator or even being on or past the 10th floor of a building, suffocation, the ocean. / Getting old too fast, extreme effects of global warming, getting pregnant in 2007.
Q- Favorite Quote? "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)
R- Reason to Smile? My kids.
S- Season? Fall
T- Tag three people! Ryan, Jenn, and Steve.
U- Unknown fact about me: I love playing Texas Hold'em. On a more interesting note, my car and I were once surrounded by 4 cop cars....while being threatened to be hauled off to Juvenal hall.
W- Worst habit? Drinking juice over water.
Y- Your favorite food? Chicken strips.
Z- Zodiac? Sagittarius.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Off to a good start

Frog Girl (aka Hayden)


Grandpa, can I have a pony when I grow up???

Daddy and Tay-Tay
Jim and Sherry were kind enough to get Ryan and I a room at the Wyndham Chicago while they watched the girls overnight. Thanks Jim and Sherry!!!
Our "Clown Fish"