I’m still here, just very busy.  I switched up my computers and didn’t have my easy blogging add-on installed in firefox.  I installed it today, so maybe I’ll add a few more posts every now and again – no promises

So these videos are more for the doting grandparents than anyone, but they’re cute… so we’ll post them.    It’s taken a while for Ryder to warm up to each of these toys, but he’s really starting to enjoy them now:

This exersaucer was a Christmas gift from Grammy and Papa. We keep it in the kitchen, and he loves to play in it while we’re cooking or doing dishes. He’s kinda learned how to push a couple of the buttons with his arm/elbow, and knows how to turn himself around in it. Note the snow on Toby’s nose at the end…

We got the Jumperoo as a shower gift in CA. At first, he really didn’t like it… but slowly, he has started to understand how it works. I was folding laundry while he played, and he was carrying on such a fun conversation, I figured I should capture it. He still hasn’t quite figured out how to “really bounce” (on purpose anyway), but it seems to entertain him. He likes to plant one foot and kinda pirouette, which pulls his socks off… so fun!

So this morning, Ryder and I were up pretty early.  When I put him down for a nap, I decided to wake Ryan up, and begged him to go outside and play in the snow… Here’s what we ended up with:

What do you think?

Happy New Year from the Barr family to you and yours!

Since we’re traveling to California for Christmas this year, we started our celebration a little early.  Yesterday, with the sub-zero temperatures, we figured it was the perfect day to stay inside and spend some quality family time together.  Fortunately, because of our church’s Christmas show, “Let it Be Christmas: The Gospel According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Paul, George, and Ringo” on Saturday night, we attended services then, and didn’t have to brave the “frozen tundra” Sunday morning. 

After Ryder’s afternoon nap, we brought out all the gifts (that have to stay hidden so that certain furry family members don’t open them too early!) and snapped a few pictures of Ryder in front of the tree.  He was very excited to sit in his “big boy chair” (a Bumbo Baby Sitter), and play with the wrapping paper from the gifts Ryan and I gave each other.

So we’ve had time to relax… and now it’s time to get ready to head out.  We’ve had to change to an earlier flight with the hope of missing the impending snow storm… so it’s time for laundry, last minute errands, and packing.  Wish us luck!

When the condensation on the inside of your window freezes, you know it is cold outside.  It is noon right now, and we STILL have not gone above 0 today.  Right now, the temp is at -5 and the “real feel” is -27.  The wind chill here in Chicago is crazy cold today. 

If you live out here, stay inside.  No need to get out there and fight this cold!

We just returned from our first trip back to California since we moved to Illinois in July… It was exhausting, but we really enjoyed spending time with family and friends!

Ryder's First Airplane Ride

Ryder was an awesome traveler… he was great on the airplane, and even slept through the crazy trek across LAX during our 30-minute layover.  He enjoyed watching the “important safety video,” staring at the overhead reading lights, and “talking” to the people behind us.  All that activity was pretty tiring, so he slept most of the time, and even discovered how to suck his thumb.

The day before Thanksgiving, we made a whirlwind trip through three Gallo buildings, and the schools my parents teach in to introduce Ryder to all our friends.  Then we stayed in Modesto and had dinner with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law who’s carrying Ryder’s first cousin (due in May).

A Thanksgiving Day Bath

Thanksgiving day was very relaxing… Ryder got a bath in the sink, and we spent the day just kinda hanging out and enjoying the company of the Shafar family, and Ryan’s sisters and brother-in-law.  Dinner was wonderful, as always!

Unfortunately, Ryan ended up in Urgent Care on Friday (all the doctors’ offices were closed!) and was diagnosed with accute bronchitis.  Ryder and I also came down with pretty nasty coughs.  So the rest of the week, we laid pretty low.  The one exception to that was one last trip to Modesto so Ryder could meet my Great Aunt Bev.

On Monday, we headed to the airport extra early (better safe than sorry) and had a relaxing time in the Red Carpet Club before going to our departure gate.  But it was then that we realized that our flight had been delayed more than two hours… we were definitely not going to make our 30-minute layover in LA!  So our flight had to be switched, and because of that our bags didn’t make it home until the following day… grrr!  When we landed in Chicago, we were greeted by 4 inches of snow and ice caked in the car.  Luckily we had an ice scraper already!  We’ll keep that experience in mind when we head out to CA again for Christmas… when we come back home, we may be in for a “treat!”

Playtime is SO much FUN!

Can’t wait to see everyone again in a couple of weeks!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…”  Jeremiah 29:11

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last three years, it’s that God’s plans are not our own.  So all we can do is buckle our seatbelts, hang on tight, and follow where He leads.

This year, God led us to Chicagoland.  Ryan was accepted into the MBA program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business, so In July, we packed up all our earthly belongings and moved east.  After a three-day drive with my mom & dad and our two dogs, we arrived in Aurora, Illinois (a small suburb about an hour from downtown Chicago).  We’re finally feeling a little more settled (thanks to the help of our parents!) and are beginning to explore all this “village” and the surrounding areas have to offer.  The dogs are really enjoying the size of their new backyard… but we’ll see how long that lasts once the snow starts piling up!

Ryan is almost finished with his first quarter, and has enjoyed the process thus far.  While he’s still connected to Gallo’s International Forecasting team through weekly phone meetings, he is also working in the regional sales office near our home.

I sold my Stroller Strides franchise and ended my short stint as a teacher at the Sylvan Learning Center, and have become thoroughly entrenched in my new career as a stay-at-home mommy (more on that later!).

The Lord also led us to a new home church.  After attending a couple of other churches, we decided to call Community Christian Church our home.  We wasted no time getting plugged in… Ryan is playing drums with the band, we’re involved in a small group Bible study, and soon I’ll become a teacher in the Kids’ City children’s ministry, and audition for the worship team.

This year wasn’t all about work though.  God led us on some fun outings as well.  In May, Ryan’s sister Heather and her then-fiancé Jacob joined us for a relaxing week at an all-inclusive resort in Cabo.  We toured a glass factory, went shopping, played cards, lounged by the pool, and ate… a LOT!  Then in June, we got to celebrate with Heather and Jake as they said “I do” in Seattle.

And finally, our Faith ful Father led us into parenthood! Ryder Harrison Barr was born at 10:03pm on Friday, September 12th, which also happens to be his Great-Grandpa Barr’s birthday!  He weighed 8lbs, 3oz. and was 19 ½ inches long.  He was welcomed by Grandma and Grandpa Barr, and Grammy and Poppa Jackson who were able to be here to celebrate his life.  After experiencing three heartbreaking losses, we truly understand what a miracle children are, and feel incredibly blessed to have this sweet boy here with us.  We’re also grateful that he was born so healthy… Between a stressful move (at 32 weeks pregnant), and Mommy contracting West Nile Virus (at 33 weeks pregnant), the odds were against him.  But God is good all the time, and He carried Ryder through it all.

So as we prepare for wherever the Lord may lead us in 2009, we wish each of you the peace and joy that only He can bring.

All our love,
Ryan, Megan, and Ryder Barr…
and Nikki & Toby too!

In case you’ve already thrown your envelope away, our new address is
528 Ryegrass Court, Aurora, IL 60504.
And you can keep up with what’s happening with our family on our website: www.ryanbarr.com

Barack Obama is the projected President Elect.  I believe that this is a tragic mistake for our country in terms of our ideological movement.

On the other hand, I hope that Senator Obama’s projected win goes far heal racial tensions across the nation.  This is a great moment in our nations history to not only “say” that racial walls are gone, but to show as a country that all men and women are created equal.  I am proud to that I live in a country that can see beyond race and gender.

Senator Obama faces a challenge that rivals some of the greatest challenges in the United States history.  I hope that Senator Obama truly works towards positive change.  Ideologically I believe that many of his policies and campaign rhetoric are not the right direction for our country.  Hopefully those policies will be worked out and thoroughly hashed through before being placed into law.

Again, congratulations to Senator, and future President, Barack Obama.  I will pray for your leadership of our country.

Everyone, please vote today.  Exercise your constitutional rights and VOTE.