Extreme Blog Makeover

My blog got a rather over due facelift. I figure since it's spring I need to lighten up the place!

Only 4 more sleeps until I see my seestor, my brotha from anotha motha and my cutie patootie niece and nephews. I can't wait!

Also, the digital camera has finally been purchased!! Ain't it purdy?




I'm hoping to have belly pics up soon, well, as soon as I can figure out how to use the thing. I've never had such a nice camera before and it's a little intimdating to tell you the truth. My "oh-so-with-it-photographic-sister" will have to help me out.

Our weekend in Calgary was a blast and parting really was such sweet sorrow as we miss our friends dearly! I think baby Elle put on one of the best "first year olds eating their very first piece of cake for the first time" peformance I've ever seen. I'll have to let you know when her Mum puts up the video. I think I may have peed my pants a little from laughing so hard. She sure is cute and makes for some stiff competition! ;)

Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It's off to Utah I go!

All my bags aren't packed
and I'm not ready to go
but soon I'll be standin outside the Weekley door
I'll wake my hubby up to say goodbye
(cause I'll be leaving at the buttcrack of dawn)

Blake, Sissy and Grant better...

Kiss me and smile for me
Better be waiting at the door for me
and hold me like they'll never let me go
Cause I'm leavin in a car (not a jet plane)
and I do know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go...(only because the fifteen hour car ride isn't going to be what I would call oodles of fun and this will be the longest we've ever been separated)

You heard right folks, I'm heading out to the land of milk and honey in a couple of weeks to go visit this cute little family.



This has been the longest I have EVER gone without seeing my older sis Liz (almost 2 years) and I just can't stand it any longer. It saddens me to think that I have a new nephew that I haven't even met. Living far away really is the pits! I'll be making the 15 hour or so trek down by myself as well so that should be fun! Mike would love to come but alas, finals will be upon him, and there will be no time to spare. So it's just me, some great tunes and the open road. I've made the trek before and it really isn't too bad. I hope I get the chance to see some great friends of mine as well. I lived in P-Town (aka Provo, Utah) for almost three years and had a blast. I met some amazing friends and I know we'll be bosom buddies forever!

Here's how far I'll be driving (in case your curiosity is getting the best of you)



Before I make the long trek, Mike and I are heading down to Calgary next weekend to celebrate this little cutie patootie's 1st birthday. I can't believe she is already one. Man how times flies! (with the exception of being pregnant cuz time seems to be dragging)

As far as baby updates, my next doctor's appointment is on Monday so hopefully he'll be able to let me know when my next ultrasound will be. Mark my words: I will wait on that ultrasound table as long as it takes to discover the sex of this little bambino! ;) (unless I am escorted out by security guards of course but let's hope it doesn't have to come to that). We hope to buy a good digital camera soon (thanks to tax returns) so hopefully I'll have some pics up soon. Brace yourselves!! ;)

T.G.G.I.F - Thank Goodness Gracious It's Friday!

GUESS WHAT?????.........................................................nothing! Had to keep you in suspense didn't I? I wish I had some exciting great excuse as to why I haven't posted lately but alas, I don't. All I know is that it is Friday and it couldn't have come any slower. I'm not sure about anybody else but this week has dragged on and on and on for me. Only 2 and a half more hours to go and I'm a free woman...in more ways than one. I will be a "Wilderness Widow" this weekend as my oober adventurous hubby goes Winter camping with a buddy of his. Yes, it was not a typo, you read it correctly W-I-N-T-E-R-C-A-M-P-I-N-G! Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? Mike loves to challenge himself so his newest endeavour will be to go camping in the snow, without a tent, without a sleeping bag, without any food and most definitely without HIS WIFE! He is only going for one night so that eases my worries a little bit. It has just been sooo cold here lately and tonight it's supposed to go down to -20C...which for you Americans is -4F!!! I know he'll be okay cause he is one smart, strong, wildnerness saavy guy.
I really do admire that about him though, that he finds opportunities to challenge himself all the time. You know what, I think he's inspired me, maybe I'll challenge myself tonight as well? Ya! Mmmm...what shall I do? I know! I, Katie Allison Ryan, challenge myself not to eat the entire bag of lower fat Oreo's we currently have in our cupboard. Ooohh I like it and what a challenge it will be. The stories I'll have to tell. The near death experiences!! Death defying acts of courage!!! The perseverance it will take!!! hahaha yes it's true, Mike and I are VERY different in a lot of ways. That's what I love about our marriage though, is we bring different strengths/interests/hobbies to the table and get to share them with each other. Except for winter camping. The reason why I am not going this weekend is because in our marriage license there is a small clause that reads:

"I, Katie Ryan, take you Michael, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, but will never be obligated to go camping with you in the cold wet snow in minus 20 degree weather, Amen".

See, so he knew about this from the get go! I haven't pulled any wool over his eyes! ;)

Anywho, I wish you all a happy and WARM weekend!...I'll keep you posted on how my challenge went!

A preview of what Mike will be doing:

Insert Mike here....



....but minus the tent!

The Results are In! We're having a.....

.....very stubborn baby who does not wish to disclose his or her identity at this time. I was soo excited and could hardly sleep a wink last night. I tossed, turned, tossed some more, tried reading, tried sleeping at the other end of the bed, but to no avail nothing worked. Finally around 6:45am it was time to get up. The time couldn't have passed any slower. I pictured myself finding out the news and then running to the store to buy his/her very first gender specific outfit. No more white, green or yellow! I had hope as well because while I was at my dentist last week, he informed me that his ultrasound technician was doing her very own study and so far it was right 80% of the time. If the babies hands were by its head it was a girl, if the heads were down by its side...boy. Well when Mike and I looked at our baby on the big screen, one hand was up, one hand was down and its legs were crossed! For the love! I mean, I am definitely one to play practical jokes, and now I feel like I am getting my just desserts. Oh well...guess we'll just have to wait until the next one to find out. Here's the pic we got. You can see the one arm up and one arm down for yourself. I have a doctor's appointment next Monday so hopefully from the pics, he'll be able to tell me all is well.

The Better Half has been Tagged!

In honour of Valentine's Day and because I want Kyrsten to know that I love her and read her blog ALL THE TIME, and because I was tagged, I decided to fill you in on my better half..aka My Hunkalicious Hubby! (I think I just created a new word)


1. Were you High School Sweethearts? That would be a negative...unless I was still in high school at the tender age of 26!!

2. How did you meet? I first noticed him at a huge rock concert put on by "Less Accountable" but he was with a girl, and I was in a relationship. Ran into him a few more times due to mutual friends. When my relationship ended, I pretty much had his friend make him ask me out! Who says girls can't make the first move!

3. What did you do on your first date? We got kicked out of two different restaurants because we were the last people and then we sat in his driveway and talked for over 3 hours about EVERTHING! and I mean EVERYTHING. Definitely had never been on a first date like that before.

4. Was he your first love? No, but True Love DEFINITELY!

5. Were you his first love? No. I can't even keep track of all his girlfriends/crushes. I think we tried to count once but to no avail, we lost count.

6. How long did you date? 7 whole months.

7. Did you break up at all? Nada



8. Who said I love you first? He did and my response was "Mmmmmm, I'm not ready to say that yet, but Thanks!"

9. Who proposed and how? He did, on my birthday. Really it was the only way he could get away with it without me catching on. It was a whole day AMAZING event. I'll have to tell you sometime. Great story! Basically, scavenger hunt, time at the spa, blindfolded and dinner under a canopy in the woods.

10. Who drives when you are together? He does. I always offer because I feel bad that he is always the driver but he insists.

11.Who's smarter? I would have to say we're about equal. Although with my pregnancy brain, he's definitely in the run!

12. Worst temper? Hands down me.

13. Who watches more TV? I do. He does homework all night every night so other than keeping our dog company, it's what i do.

14. Who's funnier? I think I am, although when he is in a goofy mood, I may have peed my pants from laughing on the odd occasion.

15. Who takes longer to get ready? Three words...I'm a woman!

16. More stubborn? Good question. We both can be pretty stubborn but on the stubborn scale I would probably have the higher number.

17. Who is more adventureous? MIKE by a long shot! Do you think I ever in my right mind would go camping in the winter? Do a survival trip to see how long I can last in the wilderness? Mmm.. nope. but mike did and does and LOVES IT!



18. How long have you been married? 2 years, 2 months and 12 twelve days.

19. Who cooks? Call me Rachel Ray!..ok not really but I love to cook. He wanted to try it for a week not that long ago and enjoyed it, but, well, let's just say it didn't last the whole week.

20. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? That's Katie territory!

21. Who has more friends? I think I do but i've also lived in a lot more places than he has.

I tag whoever wants to divulge about their hubby.

Rest In Peace Dave I!

Upon arriving home from work yesterday I was hit with two major blows. First, that one of my sister's best friends brother died. It is so sad and he was her only sibling. They were very close and I know this time has got to be very hard for her. Liz is actually on her way home as we speak so she can go and be with her friend. It was so sudden and he was so young (I believe 31). I guess you just never know. Secondly, that my Dad received some scary news but that after he undergoes a pretty major surgery, he'll be okay. If he isn't worried, than I shouldn't be either. It was such a wake up call for me. One, that has hard as it is for me to come to grips with, my parents really aren't getting any younger. Don't get me wrong, they still have PLENTY of years ahead of them, it's just scary when you get reality checks like I did yesterday. Secondly, that I am so grateful for the gospel and to have the knowledge that I do. That this life isn't the end and that there is hope. I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose a close family member or friend and think that that was it, that I'd never see them again. Instead, we can celebrate their life, miss not having them around, but know we will see them again. It's given me a new motivation, to be a little better and try a little harder because again, in the end...you just never know.

17 Weeks down, 23 to Go!

Well things are moving along quite nicely. We have our very first ultrasound next week so hopeully "the palm" (that's his/her size now) will be a good little palm and let us see if it is a palmude or a palmette! I know I have to post a picture but our darn camera is brokedidid and the cell phone just doesn't do my belly justice. I wouldn't want to have to post a disclaimer at the bottom of my picture saying "objects in this picture are larger than they appear!" I'm getting some energy back so that's always a good thing. To commemorate it being my seventeenth week, I thought I would see what interesting things the number seventeen has accomplished in the world. Here goes:

1. It was used in a famous 80's song that I used to LOVE back in the day. My sister Liz used to have the tape. Name this tune:
"Well he was just SEVENTEEN,
and you know what I mean
and the way he loooked was way beyond compare.

I'll never dance with another
Woooooo
When I _______ ________ _________ _________!

(Liz if you don't get this, I don't think we can be sisters anymore)

2. Now who didn't love this magazine when they were a teenager. It was a step up from the teenie bob magazines but not as crude as Cosmo.


3. 17th Ave was one of my favourite streets to visit when I lived in Calgary. It's filled with great boutiques and amazing restaurants. It was on this street that I had my very first taste of Nepalese cuisine. Delish!

4. Being from Canuckada (aka Canada) means that I'm supposed to have an inbred love for hockey right??? Well I don't really, except during playoffs...but for those of you who are fans, last week was week 17 in the NHL and here are the team rankings Looks like the Sharks and Bruins are still in the lead.

5. In the 17th episode of the last season on one of my guilty pleasures, the Hills, here is what happened: Still annoyed with Audrina's accusations about hooking up with Justin, Lauren asks Lo for advice. Lo tells Lauren that if Audrina had to question her so many times, it's clear that Audrina does not trust her. Since Lauren sees trust as a top priority in relationships, she says the only way she will forgive Audrina is if she sincerely apologizes. I'm not shallow, I promise ;)

6. And last but not least - some words that rhyme with seventeen. Caffeine, between, blue jean, canteen, and obscene.

Happy Monday!

H.A. Day

As I was driving home from having dropped off Mike at work today, I became overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude for my better half. He's been so great since I've been pregnant (ok, just realized that sounded bad, he's ALWAYS been great). Giving me foot massages, going to the store to get food "the baby" is craving, etc. I thought that I needed to do something nice for him so when I got home, I called him on his cell and shouted "HAPPY HUSBAND APPRECIATION DAY!!!" He laughed and then I proceeded to ask him if he could have anything for dinner what would that be. He decided on vegetable lasagna and for dessert, a homemade apple pie. My response "As you wish" (name that movie). Sure I could have gone and bought him a present, etc but let's face it, we all know that a way to man's heart is through his stomach!! I hopped on my mostest favoritest recipe site and found two great recipes. Thus began my afternoon of gratefully slaving away in the kitchen.
I ended up making a ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNA



and


HOMEMADE CARAMEL APPLE PIE



They both turned out great and I highly recommend the recipes. I did my first ever lattice pie crust as well. It looked so pretty. Sorry if the pictures aren't the best. Our digital camera is broken so I had to use my cell phone camera.

Anywho, the night could basically be summed up by:

One Vegetable Lasagna $20

One Homemade Apple Pie $10

Expression on hubby's face after eating all the yummy food...



PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!

Pregnancy Joke of the Week

Happy Friday!

A woman, pregnant with her first child, was paying a visit to her obstetrician's office. When the exam was over, she shyly began, "My husband wants me to ask you if its still okay..."

"I know, I know." the doctor said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "I get asked that all the time. Sex is fine until late in the pregnancy."

"No, that's not it at all," Brenda confessed. "He wants to know if I can still mow the lawn."

This weekend should be fun. We get to go to Mike's Winter work party on Saturday. Because there are approx 1200 people who work for his company, they don't have a Christmas party, they have a party in January. It sounds like it's going to be a good time. Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to wear. I'm in the "I promise I'm not fat, just pregnant" stage. All of my normal clothes are starting to get a wee bit tight but yet I just don't want to wear maternity clothes because I feel like I'm to "large and in charge" when I wear them. Do you think a formal moo moo and crocs would be acceptable to wear??? I could be-dazzle the shoes?? ;) (so tempting).

S to the L to the A-C-K-E-R!!!

Well I guess it's about time I fill you in on my "Spill the Beans Christmas Adventures". Mike and I had a fantabulous time in good ol'Ontario. Our trip was too short and parting really was such sweet sorrow, but as the saying goes "all good things must come to an end" (ok, sorry, that was kind of depressing). We started out the first portion of our trip with Mike's fam in Burlington (suburb of Toronto). We ended up wearing out homemade t shirts to the aiport so we could just take off our sweaters when we got to Mike's parents house and tell of our great news. When we arrived at their house not every family member was home so we decided that we had to wait until everyone was together (not an easy task try to round up 2 parents and 6 siblings between the ages of 28-16). We were so impatient and kept giving each other little looks throughout the day trying to contain our excitement. Finally around dinnertime, everyone was finally together (even if it was for only 10 mins or so). So Mike and I proceeded to take off our sweaters and see who would notice first. Mike's brother Tyler was the first to notice and he says "cool shirt, bun in the oven". I found this rather humorous because he obviously didn't catch on and really, what shirt with an oven range displayed on the front is really that "cool". So I had to do a "yes...and...." then the eruption began. They screamed, cried, ran at us all at once to have a huge family hug. Mike and I of course being smooshed in the middle. It was great though and we definitely soaked up the attention. Their reaction was priceless but ya can't blame them with Mike being the only child who is married and this being the 1st grandchitlin.
Now onto the Osmer clan. This reaction was quite different. Same kind of scenario...wore our shirts to the house, waited till all the familia was gathered, took off our sweaters and my mother's response "oh, is that one of those shirts that changes colours?" Of course my so-on-the-ball sister in law Katie got it right away, but she didn't want to spoil it for everyone else, so patiently she waited until their wheels started to turn as well. Time passed and still nobody got it so I had to say to my Mom:
"No Mom, it is not one of those shirts....what is on my shirt?
"an oven"
"and what is in the oven?"
"a bun"
"yes...and.... (commence crickets chirpring)
"OH, Bun in the Oven!!!" and then of course the excitement erupted. Hugs we're given all around and shouts of Congratulations.
We had soooo much fun telling them. It was well worth the two and a half month wait and all the lies, well let's call them fibs, I had to tell my parents!! ;)
Mike's shirt was kind of the after-shock-comic-relief. Everyone got a good kick out of that one.
The rest of our trip was great. Games were played, childhood memories were recalled, amazing food was pigged out on but there was one more thing that did make it an oh so eventful trip...............WICKED!!!!
Oh my goodnes..I LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT! It was everything I had hoped for and then some! I was in heaven and sang along pretty much the entire time! Let's just say I have been singing the songs for the past 17 days since I have been home. I CANNOT get them out of my head. My Mom actually ended up buying my brother Isaac and his wife Katie tickets as well so we went out to dinner to good ol' Mexican Village before the show (if you're ever in Detroit, it's a hole but a must see/eat). I'm so glad we got to go with them, it made it all that much more fun.
Anywho, there is a small update for ya. Sorry for keeping you in suspense.
ps - the "fist" (Mike and I keep changing the name of our baby by what our book compares its size to, hence the fist. First it was the raisin, then prune, then peach and now fist. I'm glad we're out of the produce section) is now 14 weeks old and doing well. My belly is starting to grow and of course "the girls" are well on their way. I'm a little nervous as I have a little less than 6 months left. Dolly Parton might have some stiff competition! ;) jk We've scheduled our first ultrasound for Feb 17th and hopefully they'll be able to tell us whether or not "the fist" is a boy or girl. We're not waiting. I'm not that patient. It's amazing to me how disappointed people are when you tell them you're finding out. I can't help it...I just need to know to plan, etc. Call me a party popper but maybe we'll wait with one of our others. Actually who am I kidding, I probably won't be able to do it then either. ;) Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue.