2004
January – December

Ryan, Shea & Jake drawing…
(one of their favorite activities)



Shea’s 2nd Birthday Party…
(Shea turned 2 on March 29th, but his birthday party was April 4th)

Terry had a party for Shea on his actual birthday…
Jake and his Kindergarten Connection class made Shea a very special birthday hat.
He wore it proudly!!!

Jake and Shea playing with the party decorations.

Cake time!

Yummy!

Shea in his new “Shack”…

Ryan & Shea

Ryan loves “Shea’s Shack too…

Jake’s Pre-K Class Picture (5 years old)

Easter, April 11th…

The boys dying Easter eggs…

Shea during the Easter egg hunt at Aunt Joan & Uncle Tony’s house…

Jake & Ryan swimming in Aunt Joan & Uncle Tony’s pool…

”Jumping Jake!”

Disneyland, April 25th

Shea & Ryan

Jill & Ryan on “It’s a Small World”

May…

The birthday boy Chad in his new car that his cousins (Jake, Ryan & Shea) gave him for his 1st birthday!

Shea & Ryan in Aunt Mary & Uncle Ron’s pond…



The boys watching TV…

June…
Ryan’s visit to CHOC (June 8-9) for a Cardiac Cath and a stent placed in his left Pulmonary Artery…

6:30 AM – Just getting to CHOC Short Stay

Here is the Cath Lab where Ryan’s procedure is about to take place...

Ryan being put to sleep for the procedure after the IV attempt didn’t work...

It’s finally over…

Aunt Julie came to visit

Ryan with his Daddy…

…and his Mommy

July & August…Summertime!

Shea

The boys playing basketball

Shea excited about his new pool!

Jake…

Ryan & Jake hanging out with their cousin Brandon

Shea being goofy!!!

Haning out in the pool

Jake woke up in a great mood on his birthday, August 14th, ready to open presents!

Miniature Golf for Jake’s birthday… Daddy helping the boys!

Jake wanted a carrot cake on his real birthday

We had a Sponge Bob Birthday Party for Jake’s 6th and Ryan’s 4th birthdays…

The boys buddy Duncan hanging out with them…

Chad & Shea were being the “gardeners”…

Ryan blowing out his candles on his real birthday, August 23rd.

Ryan hugging his best buddy Shea

September…

One of my oldest and dearest friends, Lorrie, came to California with her family for a visit…

Jake’s Kindergarten Picture (6 years old)

Ryan at 4 years old

Shea at 2 ½ years old

Ryan & Shea

Jake’s first day of Kindergarten...

6 years old, 40 pounds & 43.5 inches tall…

Shea loves to put on a hat and boots and pretend to be our gardener…
thank goodness OUR REAL gardener weras clothes!...
Shea was playing in the sandbox area pretending to be the “Naked Gardener” he said-lol

We went to the river with Mary, Ron, Meyghan & Chad…
Shea & Ryan loved pretending to fish…

…and play in the river…

Here are the boys in front of the Hotel where we stayed
(The Blue Water Resort & Casino)

Ryan ready for a boat ride…

Ryan & Shea our for a walk…

View from our hotel…

October… Halloween

Ryan, Shea & Sammy with Terry on an outing to Cypress Library for some stories and crafts…
they LOVE going to the Library every Wednesday!

The daycare kids with Terry at Knott’s Berry Farm…having a ball!
Sammy, Shea, Dylan & Ryan

Ryan, Sammy & Shea dressed up for Halloween at Terry’s house…

Shea the Tiger, Ryan the T-Rex, Chad the Honeypot, & Meyghan the beaten up cheerleader…lol

Ryan, Shea & Jake (the Skeleton)

Jake, the skeleton, won the prize for scariest costume for his Kindergarten class!
He also won the raffle to bring home the class pumkin that day…
He had one of the best days of his life that day (he said)-lol

November - December…

Trying to get a good shot of all three boys together for our annual Christmas card…

still trying…

and still trying…

Ryan posing…

Finally – a great shot!

Christmas Morning... Jake and Ryan playing Gameboy!

Shea got a "working guy" bench & tools…
he couldn't have been more excited!

Christmas Day at Grandpa Harper's House

Cathy & Jim

Christmas Letter

Happy Holidays!

As another holiday season approaches, we joyfully reflect back on the year that has passed, remembering how truly blessed we are to have such wonderful family and friends. We thank God for all of the gifts He has given us. This year has been filled with happiness, as well as sorrow and many opportunities for growth.

Shea turned 2 on March 29th. He is our little blonde haired, blue-eyed spitfire always in search of adventure. One of his favorite activities is chasing his brothers around trying to do everything they do. He can be very sneaky, often disappearing only to be found with a smirk on his face and trouble at his feet. He loves dressing up and pretending to be the gardener or a “working guy” (construction). He’s even been caught trying to sleep with his plastic hammer at his side. Shea also likes to ride his bike, play with trains and watch movies. He is always smiling and is a very happy soul bringing constant joy to all of us.

Ryan who turned 4 on August 23rd is a very charming and witty boy. He loves sports, riding his bike, drawing and playing trains as well as using his imagination. Ryan has developed a thirst for knowledge and constantly pushes himself. He is very giving, often letting his brothers have their own way instead of insisting on his own. He loves showering Shea with hugs and kisses and he idolizes his big brother Jake. Once again, Ryan’s special heart has kept us on our toes, medically speaking. In June, he went back to CHOC for a couple of days where he had a cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and a stent placed in his left pulmonary artery. The procedure was successful and Ryan is doing well now.

Jake turned 6 on August 14th and started Kindergarten in September. He loves going to school and especially learning to read. Jake is very smart and excels in anything he tries to do. He has a great imagination, loves computer games, gameboy, riding his bike and running around with his brothers. Jake has always been shy. When he started school we realized that there was much more to his being shy than we originally thought. He’s got a great attitude and is working hard at overcoming his fears.

On June 27th my brother Tom passed away. Although he was very sick with cancer for the past few years and we knew his health was failing, we were all very saddened that Tom wasn't able to turn his life around before he left us. Tom's ashes were scattered privately in various places that he loved. We know he is with my Mom now and finally free from his pain and suffering.

We are enjoying life and are thankful for the blessings we have been given. In May, Jim and I went on another cruise to Mexico, this time with 8 other adult members of our family… it was a blast! We are planning on “cruising” as an annual vacation and have already booked the second annual cruise for April 2005. In late summer we took the boys to the River with my sister Mary and her family. Our hotel had an indoor water park and the boys were in heaven. They had a great time in the pool, playing with their cousins, going for boat rides and most of all “sleeping” together in the hotel. We hope to do it again next summer. Please visit our webpage to view photos of the boys and updates on Ryan… http://www.RyansHeart.com

As the year ends, we realize how blessed we are to have so many wonderful people and opportunities in our lives. May the New Year bring abundance of peace, love, health and happiness. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season.

Jim, Cathy, Jake, Ryan & Shea Smith