Want to go another year?

When Ryan and I were married, our dear friends Kay and Ed told us that every year, on their anniversary, they ask each other a question. "Want to go another year?" This is our third year asking each other the same question, and we both answered with a big smile and a playful, "Yeah, I guess so..."

3 years ago today (well, actually tomorrow, I guess).






wedding photography by Amy and Maurice at the theorie.

Our honeymoon in St. Kitts.





We've packed quite a bit into these last three years!

A move to Houston...



...and back to California brought us our beautiful Daly girl.



Then back to Houston...



...and back to California blessed us with our gorgeous Reese!



And now, taking over in New Zealand.





We are having such a blast on our new adventure, and we're so blessed to have the love and support of our family and friends. There is truly no way we would have made it through the saga that has been these past three years without you.

Looking forward to asking each other the question many, many more times...

Daly's 2nd Birthday!

We had so much fun celebrating Daly's 2nd Birthday! And although we missed everyone at home terribly, we were blessed to be surrounded by lots of love, laughter and friendship on her big day.

Daly found her cake right away...



...and needed to taste test before the party started!



Our dining room, decorated with Daly's favorite color, orange, and a little girly pink. This is the Happy Birthday banner my mom sent!



Heather visited us for the week (she and Daly share the same birthday!) She worked hard on the favors, little chocolates in fishy shapes, 2's, and she even spelled out D-A-L-Y!



Ryan barbecuing...the food was delicious!





Reese napped through most of the party.



Daly listening to everyone sing Happy Birthday. She had the biggest smile on her face and even tried to mouth the words.



The birthday girl "blew out" her candle (with a little help from Dad.)



Opening presents. She got so many cool things, both from home and from her new friends here in New Zealand. Daly signs a BIG "Thank You!" to everyone for the thoughtful gifts!







Reesie got in on the fun too.

Reese's First Tooth!

It's taken me forever to capture Reese's first little tooth on film!





That is one major difference we've noticed between Reese and Daly as babies. Daly was always SO quick to smile...at anyone, at any camera. Reese, on the other hand, is not so forthcoming with new faces or a big camera lens. She has to check you out first, you really have to earn those big beautiful dimples. It's funny though, Reese laughs way more often than Daly ever did. It's so much fun talking about how different these two little girls are. So neat to see pictures side by side of when they have been at about the same stage.



I love how Reese only got the one tooth to start with, and Daly got both the bottom ones at the same time.

6 months old!

Our Reese is almost 7 months old now...here are some of her 6 month pictures. Remember the green jacket we put Daly in every month? It's made it to New Zealand and onto Reese. We have had so many different opinions on whether the girls look alike, who looks more like Ryan, and who looks like me.

We took Reese's pictures at Himatangi Beach.



Daly's 6 month pictures were taken in Houston, out by our pool.



I think they look like Reese and Daly...our perfectly gorgeous girls...

Fall...

has officially fallen. It's a little cooler, a little more damp...but all this has given me the time to cuddle up inside and organize pictures and videos! I will be posting again soon...and be on the lookout for our 'retrospection collection'...I found so many events that I never had the chance to post, but are way too much fun to keep hidden.

Quick update...the Jets have lost their first two games of the season, and unfortunately, were not even close. It's been a bit disheartening for Ryan, but he's been working over the last two weeks to get a couple players who should come in and make a positive impact on the team. Everyone here has been amazingly supportive of him, even through the losses, which is refreshing. I was talking to someone here the other day and telling them that in the States, after two 30 point losses, a coach might be looking over his shoulder for who was going to take his job. It's totally different here. Everyone believes in what Ryan can do, and they have been really impressed by his passion to make his players, and this organization, winners again. We are so proud of him!

Don't forget about Skype! If you already have it, sign on when you're around your computer and send us a message! If not, or if Skype isn't your thing...we got a (626) phone number so you can call us 'locally'. It comes through our computer, so you don't have to worry about the time change, if we're not here or in bed, you can just leave a message. Leave a comment or send me an email if you'd like the number...we'd love to hear from you!

Can't leave you without a picture. This is during Daly and Reese's first bath together!

Driving on the Beach

Dave and Rachel took us to Himatangi Beach for a drive and fish and chips.



It was pretty awesome getting to drive on the beach!



Daly had so much fun playing in the waves and searching for shells.



'Look what I found!'



Bluffs overlooking the water made a beautiful backdrop.



The girls hiding together at the bottom of one of the dunes.



Kyra helping Daly crawl back up!



Delicious fish and chips on the beach.

The lost meemee...

Daly came up to Ryan and me this morning yelling "Meemee! Meemee!" (her word for her binkie) and pulling at her pajamas. This girl does some funny stuff, but this has got to be the one of the funniest things I have ever seen her do...

Nap Time

So a while back, we went over to our friends Nolan, Bex and Elijah's house for dinner. After playing in the backyard and a delicious meal...Daly must've been really tired. She went over to the diaper bag, grabbed her binkie and blankie, and cuddled up. This is the spot she picked for an afternoon nap...



I guess she decided Dave's legs must be the most comfortable spot in the room.