#1

I know I hadn't posted any of the countdown pics over the weekend, but I had ONE MORE and hello, it's the last day of 2011!!  Can't believe it.

The Lord has continued to be so gracious to me, and so very patient.  This year He's taught me so much about him and His love for me through my daughter and my husband.  So much about myself and where He's trying to take me.  It's been truly wonderful.  I cannot imagine my life being lived any other way right at this minute.  I'm extremely grateful to be at home with my Emma every day, with a hard working hubby that is so giving to his job and to anyone that even mentions a need, whether they ask or not.  He does for others and leaves himself for last, which means he will go without sleep, food, money, time - whatever - to give of himself.  He's seriously the most genuine and sweetest man I've ever met.  He blesses me each day with the life he works hard for us to have.  He lets me be myself, and is so incredibly understanding when I'm so overly emotional I don't even know what to do with myself.  He loves me.  He knows me.  He knows me better than I know myself.

He's the best thing that ever did happen to this little girl (me;0).

SO, here is my #1:

There a little je ne sais quoi to this photo.  He just looks so brute;0  It embodies my hotty hubby, and him making all my dreams come true!

Here's to us, The Boyds.

He’s a giant and I’m a dodger

But at home we’re together

Building one team

A family together to live for the Lord

Thankful to Him for our lives restored

Smiling with a joyful gleam

..ahem (as tyler would say)...it's an attempt anyhow :)

My #1 - my hubby - my man ;0  My Tyler!

Happy New Year to all...and to all a goodnight ;0

#2

I had to pick this one because it embodies Emma and Isaiah's relationship.  If I could get a pic of them wrestling, I would have posted that ;0  BUT since you play referee when these two are together pics are not generally being snapped.  

Isaiah loves Emma.  Emma loves Isaiah too...but...Isaiah LOVES to hug and kiss her to show her affection.  Emma is not so much in to the invading her space game.  SO.  When he comes to hug and kiss sometimes she'll let him be quick and move about, but mostly she is trying to run away from him or trying to get out of his arms turns in to a wrestling match where biting comes in as defense!  She's knocked him over, they've rolled around, she's taken him out....it's crazy.  Glad my little girl knows how to defend herself ;0

So to me this picture says 'get away from me already' ;0  but lovingly so...and Isaiah just wanting to be near her.  

This pic was part of our park photo shoot.  To see them all again, click here.

#3

hehehehhehe...I had to pick this because, well, this is 'DI-AN'.  Seriously.  Hair back, sweats and flips every day of the year.  If it's cold, throw a hoodie over and we're good.  Totally not poking fun.  This was my attire when I worked - I NEVER got ready..but this is not about Me! ;0  She doesn't like pics and seriously I think this was one of the only ones we got this year.

She gets little Em all riled up.  Teaches her things all the time- she's got Emma saying: Tia, tu (and pointing), beep-beep, Tio; she has her doing 1-2-3 jump (Emma squats doesn't quite have the jumping down yet).  She looks for Tia throughout the day. She looks toward the door every time she hears a car honk, or the doorbell ring, to see if Tia is coming through the door.

Wordless Wednesday: Mama's helper

#4

fab at 40!  i love this pic - there's such a refreshing and happy look to her face here.  seriously i don't know what you're 'supposed to look like' at 40, but i'm grateful that we share the same genes and we look pretty similar so if I can look this good in 7 years, yeah me ;0

i also love the pic jsut because it represents (for me) 7 months of planning, ideas, effort...a few key peeps coming together adn some very special family putting family before fun and cancelling plans to attend becuase they knew how special that would be for ann!  I love that we were able to have her party ON her birthday too!

BONUS PIC:

this was like the only family portrait we came across as we were looking for pics of Ann growing up.  I love how there's a yellow ribbon bobby-pinned in my hair ;0  so fashion forward, i guess!  Anyway, the preciousness of family...and seeing my daddy holding me here...I think that's the only pic I've ever seen like that!

To see the full birthday bash post, click here.

#5

OK so #5 is not a picture but a video! She LOVES music! she'll start to dance as soon as she hears it and she's very aware of the pace of the song and will sway her head or hips (depending on if she's sitting or standing) if it's slower.  Love that she loves and knows music!  Makes mama a happy girl...daddy not so much;0

Wahoo to our tiny little dancer!

#6

MY BEAUTY!!!!!!!! I say that to her every morning after we get dressed ;0  This is probably one of my favorite outfits thrown together with pieces of her wardrobe.  We got the memo earlier that day that for the party (Shirley's grad party), we needed to be dressed up!  At that stage Emma didn't really have anything fancy, but figured we couldn't go wrong with matching the theme/colors!!  here's the invite:

AND SHURL...so you don't say it's all about Emma (which really, that's what this blog is all about!) Here's a pic of the two of you together ;0

To see more about Shurl's grad experience ;0 Click here.

#7

This is what it could look like for my dad to hold my precious little girl!! (they're not identical but close enough!) Enough said.

Wordless Wednesday: Daddy's helper

#8

This picture is so beautiful to me because of my dear friend, Melis.  I could go on and on about her.  And I did!  When I posted the pic (if you'd like read/see more, click here).  She's just one of the first people I canNOT wait to see the second I get to heaven.

#9

This picture just says 'hey mister' to me ;0  Like she caught me doing something I shouldn't have been doing or something.  Just love this little face!

#10

i wanted to pick a photo of Nelly that represented her time here with us, and thought this was a fun one with her wearing the Giant's hat ;0

Nelly having her final vows in Modesto allowed for some family reunion and bonding time.  I hadn't seen her in 13 years!!  We've kept in touch on and off via email, but since her visit, we've become regular email buddies and Tyler and I are helping her with a website for the Religiosas de la Cruz  (which is currently on hold until March, when Tyler has 'breathing time';0).  


To see more of that full post, click here.

#11

LITA!  My grandma cracks me up.  She has these excercises and stretches taht she does - and she loves to show them off...this is her in the midst of showing;0  

This little woman has such a zest for life.  She's recovered from her stroke, but is enjoying all the extra attention that has come since with someone staying with her every night ;0  Emma LOVES Lita!  Lita has this little song she sings to Emma and the second Em hears her start, she's dancing away!  And they make little yelling sounds to one another back and forth - I really need to get it on video and share...and add to Emma's little collection of memories!  

Wednesday - #12

Happy Birthday, Tere!

In honor of my mom's bday today, thought I'd choose this pic for today!  This is the picture seen round the world ;0  For Mother's day, we had purses made for grandmas that were mosaics made up of Emma pics! We made these right before our photo drive crashed, so it was bittersweet - the only place many of these pics will ever be seen.  My mom carried this purse around everywhere and everyone complimented her on it asking where she got it from! (they make them everywhere now, but we got ours through costco;0)  I love making special gifts that are not the norm.

Hope you're having a great day, Tere! ;0

#13

Daddy's little precious in her Giants/baseball gear!  Tyler's hat, my kleats, tyler's glove...such a sweetie!  There were a ton of fun pics that day - her 9 month shoot ;0  click here to see the rest!

#14

I couldn't pick just one!  It's the Disney kids from Isaiah's 1st birthday party.

Precious little Tink

The three littles all together

and Keenan - seriously, love this face!

Such a fun party for all the kids!  Click here to see full post.

#15

This has got to be my FAVE picture of Jayce!  It was taken the day we were taking pics of Isaiah for his birthday invitation.  I love those little hats (they're what my dad wore) and I just want to squeeze his little cheeks!!  

#17, #16

For this post I had to put two together because they're both special to me ;)  (and from the same evening).

First, my girls.  We just had lunch together a few weeks back and just realized that Kimmy (left) has been the most consistent person and friend in my life for the past 14-15 years.  She and I met through JAMZ and of course had that in common, but we had our Chevy's Margarita nights after crazy days at work, I was a bridesmaid in her wedding and she's organized my showers (woulda been a bridesmaid had Tyler and I not done it solo;0).  She was there the day of my dad's funeral.  She's invited me to her home on holidays when I was alone.  She texts me just because and get this, we actually have PHONE conversations (who talks on the phone anymore?!:0).  Love this girl.

On my right is Ging.  She is just amazing to me.  She came in to my life about 6 years ago, we met through Kimmy as she was her maid of honor and I was a bridesmaid.  She and I hit it off immediately with our crazy 'other' side (we appear calm and propper most of the time;0).  When I was hit with news of divorce, she was the only person in my world that I knew had walked that road before me, and I clung on to her so tightly.  I left work for breaks or lunch and went to her house for encouragement and just a friend to lean on. She's held my hand through some of my life, and I enjoy nothing more than to be returning the favor as I get to hold hers during some rough seas in her current life.  I get the honor of being a part of her Bible study group on Tuesday mornings...and just love doing life with her!  She's probably the person I 'talk' to the most on a weekly basis.  and by talk I mean text (she not much of a phone talker;0).  I can be brutally honest with her about me, my life and just everything; as she is with me.

This pic was taken at my 33rd bday party that Ginger and Tyler planned for me!!  I told her I wanted a cocktail party and she ran with it planning every last detail. I LOVE YOU girl!!

AND...my #16

The most amazing man I've ever met!  He's made all my dreams come true in just 5 short years.  Even dreams I didn't realize I had (God hadn't placed them in my heart before;0)...and I know there are many more unrealized dreams to come for him to make happen.  We don't get to take pictures together much anymore...I really think this is like 1 of 3 or so taken of us this year.  Tyler - you are my angel!  I LOVE YOU!!

See full birthday post here.

Wordless Wednesday

#18

The next is, well really, the whole 6 month photo shoot ;0  there are a few pics there that just make me smile with our cutie!!  But here is one that just oozes a crack up from Emma

she really is such a happy little girl!  Even when she's not feeling the best.  Makes you giggle right along with her.  Love it!!

See the full post here.

10 Relationship Tips for the Holidays

got this in an email recently, and thought I would share!

10 Relationship Tips for the Holidays
by Pam Farrel

C – Center your heart on the deeper meaning of the holidays. This will help everyone become easier to get along with because the heart of the holiday will remain intact.
H – Hear what your friends and family are voicing as their stress, and listen carefully to them—a gift that will lower their stress.
R – Reach out as a family to help others in order to keep the proper perspective on what is really important in life.
I – Invest in memories, not material goods. Make time for family baking, tree decorating, or board games.
S – Speak your love in words. The best gift you can give is for a person to hear their value and worth from your lips.
T – Take time for romance. The greatest gift you can give your children is a happy marriage.
M – Make time to reach out to extended family. Visit or call grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
A – Assume nothing; ask those who are celebrating with you what their expectations are, and communicate the plan clearly so people feel informed.
S – Stay flexible. Don’t be a Christmas boss, ordering family around. Instead slow the pace, gather consensus, and give options so that you create an environment of connecting and sharing.

Excerpted from Simplify Your Holidays © 2008 Marcia Ramsland. Published in Nashville, Tennessee by Thomas Nelson. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

#19

This photo was taken in November of 2010, however I didn't post until February :)

This picture is funny to me because of the fun background story in getting it!  SO, we were doing family pics and the kids said, "Lets take a cousin picture!" so they were getting all organized (in the rain, but that's another story;0) and posing.  Kevin started snapping away.

I was looking at them thinking, "Oh, it's too bad not all the colors can be represented."

That comment came from the fact that each family was wearing one color with the black/grey from my mom's scarf.  Souza: turquoise, Alvarez: blue, Boyd: purple (and no, we didn't chose, the others chose their colors and that's what we got!).  I'm so used to be the only one without kids - Shirley the oldest has just turned 26 - so it was kind of making me sad.  Then I said out loud, "Hey - I have a baby now!  You guys forgot Emma was a cousin!!"  I was excited and sad (they forgot about her) all at once.  I guess I said it kinda funny because everyone laughed at me.  So I have to giggle at myself when I think about it.

Now that I write that out, it may not be so funny to anyone else, or anyone that wasn't there :)  But now you know!

You can see the rest of the family pics here.

Counting Down...#20

For this lovely last month of the year, I have decided to count down my most favorite pics posted (here on our blog) for the year!

REMINDER: I am a 'memory junkie!'...love looking back, so bringing y'all along with me!!!

DISCLAIMER: I'm sure the majority of the photos will be of Ms Em, but I will try to spread the wealth...no promises tho ;0

I will TRY to be short and sweet with wording; I know some of ya scroll to pics anyway! ;0

ENJOY!!

this was Emma just playing with her jungle gym in January, so she was about 5 months old.  I just love her expression!  We keep hearing from everyone comment on how expressive she is.  Of course, we don't know any different!  We just know how absolutely adorable we think our little precious girl is :)  So this was in the early days of expression...FUN!

You can see the other pics from this post here.

Wordless Wednesday

A note from Beth Moore

I just got this email and it was a great reminder for me in something the Lord has continued to (have to) say to me this past year and a half 'quit trying to do so much!'.

As always, I know if it was music to my ears, it will ring true for someone else as well...so click here to read: A Great Thanksgiving Behind Us and Our Last Living Proof Live of 2011 ahead!

Brief and Beautiful Airport Reunion

Last night, we jetted off to SFO to have a quick hello with our family we haven't seen in nearly two years...

I don't want to interrupt the photos with too many words ;0  

Some of you are anxious to see them (although you'd rather hug them for yourselves;0)...

getting some energy out between the super long flight and the upcoming long drive!

Thomas - you are a part of the photo (on the phone;0)

So grateful the Lord had them fly in so close that we could spend 45 minutes with them before they continued their journey.  Everyone looked great!  And it was so sweet to see all of their smiling faces and have such tight long hugs with each of them.  We love you Oconnors and are praying for more time together (in indy;0).

Halloween

Halloween was fun this year!  Last year, Emma was nearly 3 months, and the Giants were in the World Series, so we didn't pay attention to the day much ;0  

This year, we had picked up a cutie of a costume by like the end of August, were excited when we heard about New Life's Harvest Carnival and were looking forward to sharing the day and experiences with little Em!

To kick it off, we attended the carnival.  

Isaiah didn't recognize Emma when he saw her!

....but then, we took Em's hood off, he recognized her and off they went to play some games!!

We attempted to take some pics, but man, so difficult lately!

The carnival being Friday, we had another day of fun dress-up to enjoy!

We got Em this little felt candy bag that she loves carrying around the house like a purse:)

...and...um, she likes it as a hat too ;0

We started out the day by heading to Ripon, since Tyler had the day off, and visited with the great-grands!  Emma bounced out of the car and was ready to go!

Then, after dinner, we headed out to a few houses around our neighborhood.

We hopped in the wagon and off we went!

My mom, Crystal and I were chatting away, and the boys were ahead pulling the wagon, so we hadn't noticed the kids had gotten in to their candy!

they each bit right in to a piece (since they know nothing about unwrapping first!)...I love how they just knew it was yummy candy without being told!

Since they didn't really know what was goign on, and it was getting dark, we decided to head home and give out the candy we'd bought.  

I think Emma enjoyed givign out candy much more than going around collecting!

Then Jayce, Ann & Jess showed up!

...and another attempt at getting a pic of the 3...

...cuties!! :)  Distracted, but still cute!

So, less than a month later (yay, time is getting shorter between real time and post time!) here is how we spent our Halloween :)  I promise to post Thanksgiving much quicker ;0