BIRTHDAY GIRL

                           Thirty-four years ago, this sweet beautiful little girl was born to me.                                                                              
               
                                     She has brought so much joy and happiness to my life.

                                                           Born in Boulder, Colorado
                         

                                                Raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico

                             

                                                        We survived the teenage years!!!

                                                       High School Graduation

                                           Desert Academy - Santa Fe, New Mexico
                                                     

College Days - Hawaii Pacific University - with roommate Lindsay.  That was a tough start.  We flew
to Hawaii at the end of August 2001.  I went to all the parent orientations, set her up in her dorm room, enjoyed the sand and sun and then flew back to Santa Fe.  Eight days later, 9/11 happened.  I had a panicked child on an island in the middle of the Pacific and no way to get to her or get her off the island.  As you may remember, all flights were canceled for days after that tragedy.  We made it through, along with countless other parents and kids. She would end up graduating from Hawaii Pacific University and staying in Hawaii for nearly ten years - with many visits from Mom & Papa.

                  She met her husband Jason in Hawaii.  A musician and IT whiz  - we love him!

                            Together - they gave us the ultimate gift - our grandson.

                                                           The Payoff!!

So Happy Birthday my sweet, loving daughter!!!   Today she is spending her birthday helping to host a baby shower for a friend.

Happy Halloween!!!

I took my Grandson Landon to the Pumpkin Fest this year.  First he had to paint his pumpkin at home.  (He also painted the outdoor cushions and the dog)

The animals had to be fed......................

A woman standing next to me said "He is just pure joy."  My feelings exactly, as he is the absolute light of my life and brings me pure joy like I've never felt before.

Happy Mothers Day

It seems like only yesterday that my daughter was just a child.....


Now all grown up with a baby of her own.....and I feel so fortunate to spend today celebrating Mother's Day with both of them.
Happy Mother's Day to all!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Head Over Heels!!!

Our Grandson Landon Josiah was born on March 13, 2012. Jim and I are Head Over Heels in love with this little one. I arrived in Texas at the beginning of March, helped Jasmine's friend Mara with the baby shower on March 3rd and 10 days later little Landon decided to make his entrance into the world. A week early. After that is all a blur. I was able to stay in Texas for a month to help out before I headed back to Georgia.

Jim flew out after he was born and we soaked up as much of this little one as we possibly could. Jim's new favorite pastime is to hold him for hours - as he watches golf on television. Works for everyone! There is nothing quite like holding a sleeping newborn. Melts your heart a bit.

Jasmine is doing fine after a very long labor of 36 hours! I was lucky enough to be in the delivery room when he was born.

She and Jason are thrilled with their new little one as are Talon and Savanah to have a baby brother.

I must have taken a couple thousand photos while I was there, but can only share a few because I'm using Jim's laptop - a PC no less (I'm a complete MAC addict) - and it takes me forever to post a blog entry.

Cheers!

Ry

Photos: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Merry Christmas!!

With temperatures in the 70's all this week, it has been a little hard to get into the Christmas mode. Not really any point in decorating or baking as I've been here at the beach all on my lonesome for the last few weeks. I'll fly out on Friday to meet up with Jim and we will be spending this Christmas in Chicago with Jim's brother and his family. It has been far too long since we have seen them so we are looking forward to catching up. At any rate, I'll have to content myself with pictures from last year.

Our favorite place to spend Christmas, Bar None, is San Antonio, Texas. Last year was extra special because it was our first Christmas with our new grandchildren, Savannah & Talon.



I made a Prime Rib dinner on Christmas Eve, we opened presents and then went down to the River Walk to show the kids the tree at the Alamo and the lights along the river.
They are such great kids and we love them dearly. Little Heart Stealers!




While we really, really miss them this year, we are happy to announce that next Christmas we have even more cause for Christmas Joy as we will be celebrating with Talon, Savannah...........................................................................
our daughter Jasmine, son-in-law Jason and their new baby boy who is due in March!!! WE ARE OVER THE MOON HAPPY!!!!!
I hope everyone has a beautiful Christmas

Cheers!

Ry

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

SWEET SAVANAH

I feel as if I've been holding my breath for the last couple of months.

Our youngest daughter, her sweetheart and his two adorable children decided to relocate from Honolulu, Hawaii to Austin, Texas. We are thrilled to have her back on the mainland after almost 10 years away, but we were a little anxious about a major move in this economic climate. Both Jason and Jessie Jasmine gave up great jobs in Hawaii to relocate. Great jobs and health insurance! Jasmine has a childhood illness that requires regular EKG's and numerous other tests to monitor her heart. She also has to take antibiotic and B-12 injections every 30 days. My worries have been for naught. Both are talented in their respective fields. They hit the ground running and landed jobs right away. Jasmine is working as a therapist in a clinic for children with autism and will also be pursuing her Masters and then her PhD. Jason, a Musician, IT and Sound Engineer has fit right in with the Austin music scene. An added bonus is that we now have grandchildren! Thirteen year old Talon and nine year old Savanah have stolen our hearts.

Last weekend was Savanah's 9th birthday. We packed a picnic lunch and spent the afternoon at Barton Springs.
I baked a three layer vanilla cake, with and apricot glaze and cream cheese frosting.
The kids spent all afternoon swimming in the natural spring pool. The adults relaxed in the warm sun and sipped wine. Savanah said it was her best birthday ever.The other day she looked up at me, smiled and said "You are my new Grandmother". I replied "Yes, I am". She seemed to think about that for a moment and then said "But you don't look like a Grandmother". Have I mentioned how smitten I am with this child?!

Photography By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards

TRAVELING SHOES.... PRETTY HORSES

I've been absent from my blog for a while. Got a little lost in transition. Winter was on it's way and it was time for me to head North and spend time with my family before the snow started to fly. Time to celebrate another trip around the sun for my Mom, catch up with my brother and my Dad.My youngest brother Brett, is a Petroleum Engineer by day and a cowboy, well, all the time. Born in Texas, he came of age in Montana, graduated from high school there and attended the University of Montana in Missoula. I have five brothers and all of them have horses. "When was the last time you sat a horse?" Brett asked. "Well let's see...........I think the last time I was on a horse was in Tucson a few years back." He put me on his tamest horse - the one he lets his girls ride.
Brett out on the range........................................

Daughters - Lakyn Jasmine and Kaydence.
Horses were always around when we were growing up. My parents with my sister and me on our first ponies in Colorado.
My brother Richard at the ranch. Our teenage neighbor took this photo.
My sister with the same horse.
My Grandmother, as a child riding bareback with one of her brothers. The kids on the slide are her other brothers and sister.

The horses were curious as to which ones would be saddled up.


The cow dog is a recent arrival. They stopped at a welding shop in Chama, New Mexico on their way to Colorado a couple of months ago. She had been hanging around this shop for a couple of weeks. Homeless - poor little thing. She jumped in the truck and is now the happiest of cow dogs. They named her Chama.
They also have Bull Mastiffs - sweet dogs - but huge!
And a few cats...............................
We went over to The Flying W Ranch where they have their own faithful cow dog.

We talked four year old Lakyn into riding the mechanical bull.
They put it on the slowest speed - perfect for little cowgirls.
The all important boot. I loved my brother's orange boots...........................And Kadence's pink ones..........
On my way back South, I met up with my good friend Susie near the Four Sixes Ranch where they run hundreds and hundreds of pretty horses.
Now - back to the city........................................