Finally, Another Male in the Ridgway Family!

No, I am NOT pregnant!  However, for Christmas the girls got a puppy and he is a male.  We have named him Finley Coconut Ridgway and he is a bundle of fluff and fun!  He is a Havanese, which is a non-shedding, non-smelling, good with children dog.  They are much like a Maltese.  Marcus and I drove half way to Palm Springs to pick him up from the breeder.  Marcus LOVES dogs and has wanted one for some time, but I am the sceptic.  I do have to say though, that he is darling and so well behaved so far so he is stealing my heart more and more.

Christmas was wonderful, bitter-sweet, but fabulous.  The girls excitement was contagious.  I missed Eden horribly the weeks leading up to Christmas, but I did well for the most part last week.  I just remember last year at this time thinking about how she was going to react to Christmas at almost 10 months old.  I had her stocking purchased and a dress to match her sissies.  We did spend time at her grave the week before Christmas singing her songs and telling her all about our festivities.  That seemed to ease my heart.

We did not get the girls too much this year outside of the puppy.  He stole the show on Christmas morning, for good reason!  Marcus and I received a most unexpected and amazing gift from or parents.  The two couples combined forces to purchase the headstone for Eden!  Needless to say, we were very overwhelmed.  All we have to do now is pick out what we like and fill with what we want it to say.  Our goal now is to have it complete and ready to unveil by her birthday.  We had a wonderful week spending time with family and friends and trying to focus on the birth of our Savior, for He has given us so much this year!

The girls tree in the great room.  Emerson was so tired, but Ainsley is always ready for a photo-

 op!

I love our "fancy" tree and I think Marcus does a fabulous job on it.  He really does the entire thing himself, he even goes shopping for the supplies on his own!

All decked out in the Christmas dresses.

Enjoying the Christmas lights at the Mesa LDS Temple.

Ainsley is so thrilled, but Emerson is a bit shocked!  She kept saying, "A real, live puppy!"

Look at Emerson's face.  Priceless.

He was passed back and forth like a hot potato!

What a cute little fluff ball with tons of energy.

Still hugging and holding him.  Yes, they were fighting over him within 5 minutes.

A dream come true for any child!

It would be a shame to let his feet actually touch the ground!

"But mom, I think he coldy, coldy."

Finally a moment to rest in my new bed.

Now that is one tired little puppy!

We wish all of you a very happy, healthy and safe New Year.

Have You Been to Heaven?

I wanted to share a conversation that Ainsley and I had on Wednesday.

Dad:  Everyone in our house is sick!

Mom:  Not everyone, I am fine.

Ainsley:  Not Eden (pointing up toward the sky), she's not sick anymore.

Mom:  No, Eden will never get a cold in heaven.  She will be healthy forever now.

Ainsley:  Mom, what is heaven like?

Mom:  Well, it is very pretty with lots of flowers, trees, butterflies and happy people.

Ainsley:  Have you ever been there?

Mom:  Not that I can remember, but at our church we believe that we lived in heaven with God and Jesus before we were born.  We can not remember though because when we come out of our mommy's tummy we forget.

Ainsley:  Can I look at pictures of heaven on the computer?

Mom:  I don't think anyone has pictures from heaven.

Ainsley:  I have an idea!  We could send Eden a camera in heaven, she could take some pictures and then send the camera back to us.  That's how we could see heaven!

Mom:  Wouldn't that be wonderful if we could do that!

I love my Ainsley for her logical thinking and simple faith.  Oh, to be a child again!

The Life of a Princess

The life of a princess is not easy I am sure, but my girls do it oh so well!

They absolutely LOVE to play dress up and strut around in their princess attire all day, every day.  It is all I can do to convince them that we don't wear our princess dresses to church.  In their mind no outfit is complete with out shoes, purse and of course, the crown!

Last week at their gymnastics class they were exceptionally good so I told them they could choose what we would have for lunch.  They decided on my homemade buttermilk pancakes and this time Ainsley wanted to try them green.  I have never put food coloring in my pancakes and they thought it was so cool.  In fact Ainsley even told me that I was "awesome!"  So, for lunch one day last week we had green pancakes and chocolate milk.  A real treat for both me and the girls.

A true princess!

She loves the camera!

Ready for the ball.

Lip smackin' good!

It really was a tasty lunch if I do say so myself.

A few days ago we had our family pictures taken.  Every few minutes Ainsley would ask the photographer, who is a family friend, if he would take only her picture.  She had about 3 of her own photo shoots and she posed like a true professional the entire time.  I do not know where she learned this, but she LOVES the camera.  In fact, just yesterday she told me that getting family pictures was so fun she wants to do it again real soon.  "But this time," she said "can he take lots more pictures of just me and not the rest of you?"

We seem to be talking more and more as a family about Eden.  It must be that we are all missing her terribly during Christmas time.  On Wednesday night, right after saying "amen" from our family prayer Ainsley yelled "I just heard Eden's voice?"  Marcus and I were a little puzzled, but asked her what she said, "She said, Ainsley I love you."  Ainsley is one special little girl and I do not doubt that she hears Eden whisper to her from time to time.  

We miss you and love you little Eden and hope you stay close during Christmas!

Tis the Season

As the Holiday season goes, I would feel ungrateful if I did not write down a few of my blessings.  I really do feel so blessed and despite the challenge we faced this year, I am grateful for so many things.

1.  I married my best friend and literally the "man of my dreams!"  Our story is one for the ages and I tell people all the time that marrying Marcus is a dream come true for me.  I love him now more than ever and I am so thankful that the Lord blessed us with a strong relationship to not only weather, but to become closer during our trials.

2.  I love my girls and I am humbled each day to be their mother.  Ainsley definitely keeps me on my toes and although it is difficult to parent her at times because she is so intelligent, I believe she makes me a better person.  Her smile melts my heart and her laughter is contagious.  Emerson is a ray of sunshine in our home and no matter what mood I am in, she ALWAYS lifts my spirits.  She is always up for some fun and will dance to any music, even hymns in church.  When you've got rhythm you have to shake it, I guess.  She loves life and keeps the rest of us from being too high strung.  Eden, although with us on earth for only a short time taught us to cherish our "little moments."  She reminds me every day that I am part of an eternal family and that the Lord really is mindful of me.  She was an example of strength that far reaches any I have known.

3.  I LOVE my parents.  They have done more for me over the years than I deserve.  I can say without hesitation that I was blessed with excellent parents who taught me through word and example and who have never faltered in their support or love for me.  I hope to be the mom to my children that my mother was to me.

4.  I feel privileged to have good friends.  I have never been one to have really close friends, but as I get older and wiser, I realize that my friends are essential to my happiness and they are closer to me than I previously admitted.

Of course, my list could go on forever, but I want you all to know that although I have good and bad days, I still have a thankful heart.  I know I am blessed and I know that Christ loves me.  Life isn't easy, we all know that, but my challenges seem lighter when I strive to be positive.

We worked all weekend to put up the Christmas decorations.  Really, I can not take any credit because all I do is clean, Marcus puts everything up and arranges it BEAUTIFULLY.  We really love to go all out at Christmas and he sure has an eye for decorating.  IT was so nice having him home for one extra day as well.

Emerson has a couple of new sayings.  She loves to say "that's pathetic!"  If I drop something or don't match her clothes just right (she is a fashionista!) then I hear it, "that's pathetic mommy!"  We also do not have hair do's in our house because according to Emmy, the are "hair dudes!"  Gotta  love them.