Grayson Meets Great Grandpa CW

Great Grandpa CW was able to join us for Thanksgiving again this year and this time he was able to meet Grayson. While this isn't his first great grandchild, more like his eleventh I think, it is his first great grandchild from Ryan's mother's line of the family. He was very excited to meet and hold Grayson.

Grayson and Great Grandpa CW

Grayson Meets Pop

We are so excited that Pop got to come and visit from Colorado! I think Grayson and Pop were smitten with one another from the start.

We hope that Pop will visit us again really soon!

Grayson Meets Aunt Caitlyn and Uncle David

Today Grayson met long time friends of mine Caitlyn and David. Caitlyn and I have known each other for 9 years. I can't believe it has been that long, but it has! I actually was Caitlyn's Youth Minister when she was younger. Since she was only a couple years younger than me when I worked at the church, we became friends. Long after I worked at the church, Caitlyn and I have stayed in touch. She is a wonderful friend and I am excited for Grayson to grow up knowing her and her wonderful husband David. Since I have no brothers or sisters of my own, Caitlyn and David are as close as it gets. That is what makes them Aunt Caitlyn and Uncle David.

Aunt Caitlyn

Uncle David

Grayson Meets Nana Puddin

There is a very long story as to why my mother-in-law's nickname is Puddin, so I won't go into it. But, needless to say that after Grayson was born, she obviously became Nana Puddin. I am so glad she got to visit from Colorado and meet her grandson for the first time. It is her first grandson, so that made it extra special!

Grayson Meets Aunt Nee Nee and Grandpa Wilbur

Today we had a small get together at Nana and Papa's house. Grayson got to meet his Aunt Nee Nee and Great Grandpa Wilbur for the first time. What a special day! I love introducing Grayson to all of our family and friends!

Grayson and Aunt Nee Nee

Grayson and Great Grandpa Wilbur

Going Home

After a few days in the hospital, we are finally on our way home as a family of three. I can't believe they are actually letting us leave with a living, breathing little human. Here goes nothing!

Family of three

First car ride

We're home!

A Gender Reveal Party for Baby Alexander

 

 

BABY ALEXANDER IS A BOY!!!

We're Having a Baby!

Today Ryan and I found out that we're expecting our first child! While this something we had planned it all seems to be happening very quickly so it's both exciting and a little nerve-wracking! At this point I'm not even sure quite what to say. It seems like just yesterday Brian and I met for the first time at Macaroni Grill. It seems like just yesterday he got down on one knee and proposed. It seems like just yesterday we walked down the aisle and came out husband and wife. I guess time flies when you're having fun! Were so excited and I couldn't even begin to imagine sharing this journey with anyone else.

Merry (White) Christmas

This year for Christmas my grandmother joined us again which is always fun. This is the first Christmas we have held at our house so it felt little different than Christmases past. I've never not had a Christmas in my parents home since as long as I can remember. I chose to cook breakfast while Ryan focused on a late lunch for the family. My grandmother, parents, grandfather, Ryan, and I opened presents in the morning after breakfast and just as we were wrapping up it started to snow. It was awesome to have a white Christmas in our new home surrounded by family. Later on after a late lunch my aunt and uncle joined us to open even more presents. I guess I'm still a kid at heart and would rather get 1 million tiny little presence than one large thing. It makes the day last longer and the fun too. All in all it was a day filled with family, food, and fun. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful white Christmas!

Mom, Grandma, and Dad

Ryan, Me, and my Grandpa

Ryan, my Grandma, and me

Rychar

Mom and Dad

Chef Ryan

 

Our snow covered home

Thanksgiving 2012

This year, Ryan and I hosted our first Thanksgiving Dinner for our families. Everyone who lives in town was able to come. My parents were there as were Ryan's grandpa and Pat, his sister Laurel, my Aunt Mare and soon-to-be Uncle Bob and my grandpa. Ten in total! Quite an undertaking considering we make everything, and I do mean everything from scratch. Mom and Mare brought appetizers and Laurel brought a pumpkin pie, but Ryan and I made everything else. The menu included:

Pioneer Herb-Roasted Turkey with a Sage Gravy

Southern Style Cornbread Stuffing

Orange and Ginger Scented Cranberry Sauce

Sweet Potato Puff

French Cut Green Bean Casserole

Homemade Honey Wheat Rolls

 

Pumpkin Pie

Vanilla Cheesecake Pecan Pie

Pear and Sparkling Cider Cocktails

It was wondeful to have everyone join us in our new home. I see many more family Thanksgivings to be hosted in the Alexander house!

Ryan's 29th Birthday

Yesterday was Ryan's 29th birthday and we had such a fun day! We started out by visiting Taste of Dallas at Fair Park. We ate and drank and had a great time with my parents. We had things like banh mi, which is a Vietnamese sandwich, cinnamon roasted nuts, gelato, and grilled cheese with shredded pork. Everything we had was amazing, but I particularly liked the banh mi, as did Ryan. After a couple hours outside in the heat, we were ready to go home and freshen up.

My parents came over later that afternoon and we got to show them our new home. My Dad had been over a few times to help with a few repairs, so he had seen most of the house, but my Mom hadn't been over since we first looked at the house when it was on the market. We gave them the grand tour and then Ryan made some cocktails for everyone.

Next it was on to Joe's Crab Shack so Ryan could have one of his favorite meals, the BBQ Crab Steam Pot. My Dad had a seafood platter, my mom had a salad, and I had a delicious shrimp trio plate. All of the food was good and the atmosphere wasn't even too bad.

After dinner, it was back to the house where we flipped on the Ranger's game upstairs in the media room and chilled out in the recliners. Then, homemade key lime pie and presents.

I think Ryan got everything he wanted for his birthday and the celebration isn't over yet. Tonight we are heading to Stonebriar Country Club for dinner with Ryan's sister. Can't wait!

Sweet Girl

Our little girl Cordelia went deaf two days ago and it seems as if she is entering the last phase of her life. She is still such a sweetheart, even though I am sure she is scared and perhaps in some pain. She hasn't wanted to come out of her cage for two days, but tonight, I eventually coaxed her onto my lap. My rule is that if she doesn't want to come out, she doesn't have to, but I'm so glad she did. She sat on my lap for what must have been 30 minutes. She groomed my hands almost the entire time. She even fell asleep for a few minutes. Although it was extremely sweet, it was also heartbreaking, as girl rats only ever sit still if they are sick or dying. Hopefully she will come back from this, but if not, we will miss her so much.

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Cordelia when we had just brought her home. She was so small!

Lucky In Love

This past weekend Ryan, my dad, my grandmother and I all hopped on a plane and headed to my cousin's wedding in Kansas. The actual wedding was on Sunday afternoon, but we flew in on Saturday morning so that we could attend the rehearsal dinner.

The rehearsal dinner was held at Bucca di Beppo in Overland Park, Kansas. It was a lovely downtown spot which I have been told is even more lovely when it is lit up at Christmas time. My cousin Hannah and her fiance Matt had invited around 70 people to the rehearsal dinner. This was the largest rehearsal dinner that I had ever been to. Ryan and my rehearsal dinner was only around 20 people and just focused on the wedding party. This dinner however encompassed tons of family who were in town and the large wedding party.

Ryan, my dad, and I sat with my cousin Emily and her boyfriend Ryan. Yes, two Ryans and my dad named Brian, that never gets confusing especially in a loud and crowded restaurant. Anyway, Bucca di Beppo served us all family style, which actually worked out really well. It meant that we never had to wait too long for food and that everyone got to try a bunch of different things. The food there is amazing and the wine our small group ordered was tasty as well. It was good getting to catch up with Emily and her boyfriend Ryan as I hadn't seen them since our wedding about 2.5 years ago. It was also good to see my cousins Hannah and Sarah, whom I hadn't seen in 20 years! Crazy how time flies!

Sunday morning, we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel. We had a couple of hours to kill before we needed to get ready for the wedding, so my dad, Ryan and I headed out to the Nicklaus Gold Club at LionsGate to have a couple of drinks. It was a beautiful little club, a member of the ClubCorp family, and the staff was really welcoming. We still had a few minutes to spare once we were done with our drinks, so we ran a few errands and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding.

The wedding started at 4pm on Sunday and while we were initially worried about rain that was in the forecast, the day couldn't have turned out prettier! The wedding was held at a newly constructed banquet hall that was designed to look like a big, red barn on the outside. It was called the Ironwoods Lodge and was in Leawood, Kansas. Since family got to sit in the front row, I got some great pictures as Hannah and Matt were married.

Hannah Elizabeth Graves & Matthew Thomas Allen

Here comes the bride

My uncle giving Hannah's hand in marriage to Matt

The bridesmaids

The bridesmaid's bouquets

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Allen

After the outdoor ceremony, we headed inside for the reception. It started with a wonderful catered dinner soon followed by all of the traditional wedding things. There were toasts, a cake cutting, a bouquet toss, the garter ceremony and dances galore. One of the best things was that the groomsmen and fathers had choreographed a surprise dance routine for Hannah, the mother of the groom, and the mother of the bride. They did the 'Call Me, Maybe' video dance that was made famous recently by the Harvard Baseball team. It was pretty funny!

After all of the whirlwind of wedding activities, we helped the parents of the bride and groom pack up as Hannah and Matt drove off to their Honeymoon. It was a surprise for Hannah, because little did she know that they were headed to Bora Bora! I was pretty jealous, not gonna lie. Welcome to the family Matt and best wishes for a wonderful life together as husband and wife!

Their cupcake wedding cake

First dance as husband and wife

My father and uncle with my grandmother 

My cousin Emily and her boyfriend Ryan

Me and Ry - LOVE!

Windsor's Supper Club

Tonight Ryan and I went to visit our grandfathers at their home, Windsor Senior Living. They had a supper club complete with dinner, live music and dancing. Both of our grandfathers live at the same place, so it is very nice to be able to go and see them both. We had an excellent time!

Me and my grandpa

Ryan and his mother, grandpa and sister

Me and Ryan

Tower Dallas Family Dinner

Last night Ryan and I took my grandma, who is in town from Arizona, to Tower Club Dallas. My parents joined us as well to celebrate their 30 wedding anniversary. We had such an excellent time! Ryan reserved a private room for us with huge windows that overlooked Downtown Dallas from our table on the 48th floor of Thanksgiving Tower.

We started with some excellent appetizers and drinks and quickly moved on to dinner and desert. The view and food were both spectacular! Also, as the night was coming to an end, we looked off into the distance and got to see a fireworks show. It was a very special night for our family and I wish my grandma lived closer so that we could have nights like that one more often.

Cheers!