Rylan is 12!

February 26th

Rylan's 12th birthday! 

Ry did not feel too good this morning.  

He didn't eat much of his breakfast, but said he wanted to try to make it through the day. 

But he called at 10:00 AM asking me to come pick him up.

His math teacher told him he looked like he was going to pass out and to head to the nurses' office. 

I picked him up, took him home, and he fell asleep on the couch for a while. 

We gave him some sprite, chicken noodle soup and saltines and he perked up a little bit. 

He watched Spider-verse with Dave. 

He was able to do a little celebrating by the afternoon. 

Him and Harper hoverboard'ed a little bit. 

We had to wait for Logan and Presley to get home from practices. 

Instead of going out to dinner, Dave went and picked up Olive Garden. 

He has anxiously awaited his birthday present. 

He knew he'd be getting a phone, just like Logan and Presley did on their 12th birthdays. 

We had cake and ice cream as his phone was charging.

Rylan thought the cake decoration was "Apple of my Eye" and Harper guessed "Eye of the Tiger".

But it's supposed to be Apple I Phone.

And I blocked out the number on the bottom.

I texted Dave earlier this week to ask him to give me Rylan's new phone number so I could have the baker write it on his cake as a reveal, and he gave me Presley's phone number. 

So Rylan's cake had Presley's phone number on it!  Ugh!

His first phone call was from Dad!

And his first text was from Papa.

His second call was from Miryn, Samee, and Nate. 

She was really excited to talk with Ry. 

And then Amy called him on his phone too. 

And he said he received happy birthday texts from lots of our family too. 

We Love You Rylan!

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Rylan's 12th Birthday Interview

What is your favorite color?  Gold

What is your favorite sport?  Basketball

What is your favorite food?  Ginger Pasta

What is your favorite book?  Renegades

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Star Basketball Player or a Star Soccer Player or I'd like to own a grocery store. 

What is your favorite part of school?  Band because I like working with people and making cool songs. 

What are you scared of?  Snakes and spiders and going to sleep and never waking up.

Where would you like to visit?  Disney-WORLD

What do you like to do with Logan?  I like playing the "slug" and "griever" game.

What do you like to do with Presley?  I like watching YouTube videos with her.

What do you like to do with Harper?  I like making up games with her and playing. 

What do you love about mom and dad?  They let me do stuff I like and encourage me to do them. 

What do you think mom and dad love about you?  My good grades, how I am a great friend, and how I work hard. 

What is your favorite memory of being 11?  Going to Disneyland and spending time with Miryn and Samee and Amy and my whole family. 

What are you looking forward to in your 12th year?  Going someplace new.

What makes you happy?  Being around my family and spending time with them. 

What do you love about your family?  I love how supportive they are and how they help me out in tough times. 

I asked the kids to type a message to Rylan:

Logan:  I just love you so, so much.  I like when you wake me up nicely, not aggressively.

Presley:  Dear Ry-Bear, ever since you have been born I have felt that you were by my side through thick and thin, even though I get mad at you sometimes.  Since you are turning 12 I want to tell you to always have a good attitude and be your carefree self.  Also please be less of a moody teen, mom and dad need a break after Logan and I.  I love you soooo much and hope that being 12 will bring lots of good memories and joy.  Love you so much, Presley <3.

Harper (I typed for her):  "Love you Rylan and I hope you have the best birthday.  You're the best brother.  I like spending time with you and playing games with you.  You're a great big brother.  Mom, I bet if you asked all of us, we'd all say Rylan is the best brother"

Basketball Pictures (2018-2019)

Logan, Junior Year

Presley, Freshman Year

Rylan, 6th Grade

Harper, 3rd grade

End of the Basketball Season

All four kids are officially done with basketball for the year!

We started with Harper in rec league in October, and ended with Logan on Varsity one win away from going to the State tournament!

It was a great season for all of them. 

Harper had a birthday party to go to today. 

Dave picked her up from there and off they went to Ellensburg. 

Peeps, blankets, and headphones make the travel easier. 

Logan's team traveled to Ellensburg to play Mt. Rainier. 

He played a few minutes in the first half and had 2 points. 

In between Ry's games we ran to dinner so I didn't listen to much of Logan's game. 

But I was receiving some really fun texts!

At one point, Logan had 10 of the 12 points in the final quarter. 

I texted this to Logan (before I even knew he got player of the game)  but he didn't respond to me :(

Dave texted this picture to me and let me know that Harper can no longer stand in front of mom. 

Our last AAU game wrapped up with Rylan playing in a local tournament. 

He had games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 

They ended up winning one and losing 3 this weekend. 

One of Harper's classmates has a new baby sister and we found them at the first game. 

Harper was here too, but she had already ran off for a playdate. 

(Ry snagged a cupcake for Logan too)

And on Monday evening we had a nice AAU dinner party. 

I told Rylan I needed a picture with his coach so in a few years we can do a comparison of Ry taller than his coach. :)

Like we did with Logan's goalkeeper coach. 

Lea's Day-Lea's, Week 8 (2019)

Day 50, Tuesday, February 19th

Using a broom to hit the icicles down. 

Day 51, Wednesday, February 20th

FIFTEEN AND A HALF!

1/2 of a cupcake for a treat tonight. 

Day 52, Thursday, February 21st

Our furnace stopped working last night. 

It was 64 degrees when the repairman was able to get out here. 

He put on our emergency heat as we wait for a part to arrive. 

(it is under warranty...yay!)

Day 53, Friday, February 22nd

Ry just can't seem to get over this sickness. 

Day 54, Saturday, February 23rd

NINE AND A HALF today!

We went to a breakfast fundraiser for the Wenatchee High School newspaper so Harper started with a 1/2 of a pancake.

Dave, Harper, Amy and Grandma went to watch Logan in a playoff game vs. Mt. Rainier today in Ellensburg. 

The lost by 20, but Logan had a great last game of the season!

Day 55, Sunday, February 24th

Rylan's last game of the AAU season ended today too. 

(Harper had already scurried off to a playdate when we took this).

Day 56, Monday, February 25th

AAU team dinner tonight. 

This is Ry's AAU coach this year. 

Ry had a great year of basketball and we are very thankful for the coaching he received. 

We already can't wait for next year !

Valentines Day

Middle School Teachers know a thing or two about Valentines Day. 

Harper wrote a valentine to many of her former teachers, aides, and even the custodian!

Valentine messages in their lunches today. 

Before school today. 

Ry got her flashing us the I Love You sign today. 

I just had one party to go to today. 

Harper had to make a Valentine box out of a large coffee can. 

She made a unicorn.  

3rd graders are very creative!

At the Valentines party with the other 3rd graders. 

Presley wrote us each a Valentine in French at school today.

 We bought Papa Murphy's heart pizzas for tonight. 

(Logan went out to dinner with his friend)

And I tried my "You've got a 'pizza' my heart" line, which nobody laughed at. 

And a couple days later I received this picture and text of the valentine that Rylan wrote to his friend. 

"Remember a simple act of caring creates an endless ripple that comes back to you"

So sweet!  

And as I was thinking about what a wonderful and thoughtful son we have, I remembered to earlier this week when he told me, while giggling, that his band friends call the trombone players, "Trom-boners".