Happy Halloween!

We hope you had a great Halloween- I know our little monkey did!

Click here to see all of our photos from today:

Halloween Slideshow!

P.S.- If you did not see my post about our friend Rob, please click HERE to read it!

Prayers, please!

www.yllescasfamily.blogspot.com

There are a core group of people that we keep in touch with from our Army days at Ft. Riley.  Once you go through something as challenging as Ryan did, a bond is created with those who have supported and loved you that can never be undone.  One couple that fits in the category for us are Rob and Dena Yllescas.

The link above will bring you to a new website that Dena is updating as much as possible... A few days ago, Rob was injured in Afghanistan and is currently fighting for his life at a hospital in Germany.  At this point his injuries are vast, including the loss of one leg just above the knee, and the other just below the knee.  Our hearts are aching for this family and what we know they are going through right now.

All I can ask of you is that you pray.  Specifically, pray for his mental recovery... we know what amazing things can be done at Walter Reed in regards to prosthetics but before that is the focus, we need ROB back.  Pray for his wonderful wife Dena, their two little girls, Rob's parents, and the rest of the family and friends that are suffering with this news.

Aside from the prayer, (I know this may seem simple) but pass on this website, visit it, and COMMENT on her entries!  I CANNOT explain how much it meant to me to hear from perfect strangers that they were praying for my husband.  You might feel odd signing the blog of someone you do not know, but I PROMISE you that she will appreciate it.  The Yllescas family needs to feel the whole world loving on them and praying for them.  PLEASE.  If you have your own blog, consider posting a link to his website (as well as my encouragement for comments!) 

Let's make them feel all of our support today, tomorrow and in months from now.  This is a long journey they are on...  it will be more than a year that Rob is doing rehab for his injuries, and it will be the rest of his life that he struggles with his 'new normal'.   Check in on them, and check in often.  I know it seems like a small thing, but I can tell you personally that it makes a difference.  If you don't quite know what to say, go with something simple- "Our family in Mesa, Arizona is keeping you in our thoughts".

Take care,

Nancy

A new family video

Ryan is giving a speech in Florida pretty soon, and they wanted to play a video before he speaks to share his story.  A video crew came to the house a couple of weeks ago to film, and this is the finished product.  Just wanted to share it with you!  Happy Halloween!

Big Girl!

Click HERE for a video of Jillian riding her rocking horse!

I am NOT a kitty cat!

So, over the weekend we went to another pumpkin patch (with Ryan this time) and Jillian got to ride on a pony and get her face painted.  I choose a kitty cat nose and whiskers for her, and when it was finished she promptly walked over to Daddy to show him and.... Nnooooo!!!!  (Wipe her freshly painted face on his pant leg).  Ha Ha!  Oh well.  I managed to (kinda) fix it with a wet wipe.  Ryan's pants on the other hand, are still being pre-treated.  We'll see!  ;)

Spoiled (almost) Rotten, and we know it!...

You know, in every situation there is a silver lining (so long as you're willing to look for it and accept it when it presents itself!)  And, if your lucky enough, a really crappy situation sometimes means even more silver linings.  

What I mean is this- when Ryan was injured, our world was flipped upside down.  At the time when things were the worst for all of us, I WISH, WISH, WISH we could have just taken a tiny peek at where we would be now.  Almost 3 years later and we're a happy, healthy, totally wonderful family of 3 who just so happens to enjoy back stage access to a Sesame Street Live performance! (Among tons of other fun things we've gotten to do!)

Here is me and Jillian posing with our friends the Spencers, (Heather, Sam, Ethan, Gabe and Joel) and ELMO!!!

Happy Family:
Elmo ("EeeeMooo?"), Mommy & Jillian:

Every Morning, the highs and the lows...

Each and every morning Ryan goes into Jillian's room to "rescue her" from her crib. He stands in the hallway, cracks open her door and plays peek-a-boo with her before going in. When she sees him she laughs/giggles and RUNS around her crib touching each corner as she goes. It's an interesting game they have created, but adorable none the less. I love that our little girls is greeted by her Daddy every morning. What a wonderful way to start your day.

That being said, after the initial peek-a-boo giggles, actually getting her out of her crib goes one of three ways:

#1- after tagging the corners she runs over to Daddy gives him a big hug and is quickly on her way into our room for some Mommy snuggles.
#2- after Daddy picks her up she wiggles out of his grip, hits the floor and runs into the kitchen. Then, she stands in front of the refrigerator and signs/says "Please cheese, please cheese" over and over 'til someone opens the door to give her some string cheese.
#3-Cranky Baby. This version also begins with the running around the crib but quickly changes to running AWAY from Daddy. No matter what side he goes on, she is on the other. Crying. She won't let him pick her up and if he manages to snag her, he's greeted by an arched back and tears. This version also usually ends with a run for the kitchen and smacking on the refrigerator. However, cranky baby does not want milk, or cheese (or anything that we seem to stock). Cranky baby wants to stand with the door open and point at all of our goods.

Here is cranky baby (happy now because she is standing with the door open) in the PJ's with her crazy morning hair:
But as you might imagine, cranky baby does not like it when you close the refrigerator door.

Hay Ride...

Today Jillian and I went out for some Fall fun with our MOMS club. I had this outfit in the closet and could not help but put it on for our hay ride- seemed perfect to me! Now, if I could just teach her to square dance!


Posing pretty:Mommy and Jillian pick a pumpkin:
Kickin' back on the hay ride:
Checking out a little pumpkin:
Jillian has learned how to say, "flower":
Smelling the flower together:
Smelling/tasting the flower:

October Already?!?