Rylan's 11th Birthday

Presley and I hung balloons the night before.  She had picked out these illuminating balloons, and I was worried the light would wake Ry up (he likes it dark and cold in his room), but he slept right through. 

 Harper was an early riser this morning so she woke him up with me. 

She shook him and said, "wake up birthday boy."

The first look at my 11 year old!

Before school. 

It's the week leading up to Family Fun Night at the school, and today was Tie-Dye Day (Harper is wearing one of Presley's old shirts).

I brought goodie bags to his class today. 

Our school district is trying a no-treats policy, but Ry's teacher told us that she didn't care if we brought goodies in for birthdays. 

I told Ry that, but he was very concerned about what we could bring because some kids have allergies. 

He decided on goodie bags with a little maze puzzle, a slinging-sticky hand, and organic apple juice. 

Everyone is singing happy birthday to him. 

 I asked Ry if he wanted a picture with his friends, and he said, "Friends, come take a picture with me."  And the whole class stood up to surround him.  

He didn't yell it out or ask for everyone to come over. 

He practiced his recorder after school today. 

He wanted a white cake with chocolate frosting and yellow writing this year. 

He's been into survival type things lately so I added some explore/adventure wooden pieces to place in the cake to dress it up a little bit.  He loved those. 

He asked for a water filter, knives, and a survival back pack for his birthday. 

When I was giving my mom ideas, I told her that he's only been as far as the retention pond and around the block on his bike.  

I'm not entirely sure how much of an explorer he is, but let's hope he doesn't show up on a future episode of Naked and Afraid!

Hope all your dreams come true always Ry-Bear!

Rylan's 11th Interview

What is your favorite color?  Green

What is your favorite sport?  Soccer

What is your favorite food? Ginger Pasta

What is your favorite book?  Spy School (series)

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "Well one thing I know I want to be is single.  And then I'll try to be a mechanic.  A single mechanic, that sounds good."

What is your favorite part of school?  P.E. and Reading

What are you scared of?  The movie trailer, Life. (He watched this on his iPad a few nights ago and he's had a hard time getting it out of his mind.)

Where would you like to visit?  China

What do you like to do with Logan?  Play soccer tennis

What do you like to do with Presley?  Hang out

What do you like to do with Harper?  Play Harry Potter with our wands

What do you love about mom and dad?  They are nice and kind.

What a favorite memory of being 10?  Going to Hawaii and swimming with the dolphins

What are you looking forward to for your 11th year?  I'm hoping we go to Disneyland

What makes you happy?  "Being with you mom."

What do you love about your family?  "I love that my family is so generous."

Valentine's Day

The kids worked on their Valentines right up to the last minute. 

I thought they turned out so cute. 

Harper's were unicorn themed and she put in a bracelet and unicorn fan. 

Ry used kitty squishes this year.  He's a big fan of those toys.  

And the teachers received cactus plants with the tag, "Valentine, I'm stuck on you". 

Presley, Harper, and Ry before school.

Logan had left early that morning. 

My Dove candy saying was pretty spot on for me. 

Rylan signed me up to bring Mochi to his party.  

They have to stay cold so I showed up right as his party was starting so they wouldn't melt. 

I had kind of wished he just signed me up for plates or napkins, but once I was there at his party, I was thinking how this would be his last school Valentine's party and I ended up happy that I did go. 

Ry with the envelope he made at school. 

Two of his classmates

Since I was at already at the school I stopped into Harper's class. 

She didn't know I was coming and was very happy to see me. 

Second grade parties are a bit chaotic.

She wanted pictures with lots of her friends. 

Presley had a basketball game after school today against Moses Lake. 

They didn't win, but she played well against a much bigger player. 

We came home and had heart shaped Papa Murphy's pizza. 

Amy sent us Superhero Nelson's valentines. 

And Miryn sent us Frozen valentines. 

Cheers to a fun Valentines Day!

Missoula Children's Theatre

Harper really wanted to do Children's Theatre again this year. 

The kinders, first graders and second graders are never really considered for the bigger roles. 

She had a few lines and a dance and a song to perform. 

But it was a cute performance, and she had fun being a robber in their adaptation of 

"The Snow Queen". 

I think this was the final scene. 

Presley wanted to bring her flowers. 

Presley and I went to watch her matinee performance. 

And Dave and Ry went to her evening performance.

(Ry was coming from a basketball game)

Ry and his classmate. 

And then on the following Tuesday her teacher let the entire class watch it. 

Harper and her friend were both robbers. 

Missoula Children's Theatre 2018

Cast Photo

"The Snow Queen"

One of the reasons its hard for us to commit to the Missoula experience is because its the same week-end as the Father/Daughter Dance in the Tri-Cities.

This year Miryn went with her daddy!

Nate and Miryn

Grandma and Miryn

Steve Talbot Tournament and Sound Surgical Sales Meeting

Rylan's first AAU tournament of the season was the local Steve Talbot Tournament. 

His team was only formed at the start of the year so they're really new to playing with each other. 

They lost their first game, won their second in overtime, lost their third, and won their final game. 

It wasn't a good enough record to get them in the championship round. 

But it was a full week-end of basketball, getting to know new players and parents, and volunteering. 

Ry's first game was on Friday night. 

He asked Logan if he could use his old Panther bag, and Logan said yes. 

My kid...warming up in his jacket because he's always cold. 

Driving in with that dominant left hand.

We were missing 2 players the whole week-end and on Sunday one of the players was late to the game. 

So these 5 played the whole first half!

They won that game, but it's tough to play without your full team. 

Meanwhile in San Diego, Dave was attending his company's National Sales Meeting

(it always falls on the same week-end as the Steve Talbot tourney)

The keynote speaker was Archie Manning (Peyton Manning's dad). 

He has some of the company's hardware in his back. 

Dave "kind of" rushed the stage to get a picture with him and he really enjoyed his speech. 

I love that he texted me "OMG"...I think he may have been "fan-girling" a little bit!

Week-end made for Dave...

Until the next night at the awards ceremony where Dave won the 

National Sales Representative of the Year

He thought he may be considered for some regional awards, but winning the big one was a complete surprise. 

Wenatchee is a small territory comparably to some of the other major markets. 

He grossed 9.4 million for his company in 2017.

 Up on stage receiving his award and being congratulated by the owners and CEO.