Ryan's Has Chicks!

Because we don't have enough mouths to feed at our house.............. we purchased 24 chicks!  

Ryan is in FFA (Future Farmers of America) and needed to have a project.  So, the chicks are "the project".  We bought 24 because that seemed like a nice even number and I was SURE that not all would survive!!!  We haven't lost a single stinkin' chick people.  Since they are all girl chickens, we should have lots and lots and lots of eggs!  So start saving your cartons friends.  

I have been lovingly teasing Ryan about his chicks.  I say, "Ryan, your chicks are cute!......... Ryan, the chicks love you!.......... Ryan, you sure have lots of chicks!".  He thinks I'm a nerd!  He thinks it's not funny.

But I do!!!!!

Youth Turkey Season

Ryan and the hubs went out in the woods on the first morning of turkey youth season.  

This is what they came home with......

A 22 pounder! 

As far as dead turkeys go, it was a beauty!  

I was proud of my men.

Proud that they do this together.

Proud that they WANT to do this together.

Taking photographs of their plunder is a little tradition.  

You know, so our future generations do not doubt the manliness of their heritage.

In 40 years we will have robots shoot our game for us.  So, this is proof that we did it the old fashioned way.  

You know, with scopes, high powered shotguns, replica turkeys, etc..  Roughin' it, of course!

Good job Rhino!

Good job Dad!

Good job Mr. Dead Turkey!

My Ryan Christopher

I love you because.........

You only like vanilla ice cream.

You can pitch from the stretch or the wind-up.

You are kind to everyone, even when it isn't popular.

You make omelets and Mexican bean dip.

You randomly hug me.

You drive me home from baseball practice.

You fill my tank at the gas station so I don't have to get out.

You were my first.

Memorizing tv commercials and movie lines is your hidden talent.

You and I listen to the same music.

You will pick up ANY creature.  Including mice, snakes, spiders, and lizards!  (You even picked up a snapping turtle once.  Momma didn't love that!)

You are good at anything that involves a ball.

You haven't had anything lower than an A- on your grade card in years!

You will always be my Rhino the Dino!  You will always be my baby (Even if you don't want me to shout that from the bleachers of your sporting events.)

Permit Driver

I prolonged it long enough.  Ryan turned 15 on January 22nd.  Now it's the third week of February and I just now took him to get his permit.  

Me: "Ryan, it's snowing, can't take you to get your permit today".

Me: "Ryan, it's not a good day, I'm really busy (doing laundry and washing my hair and scrimming through catalogs)".

Me: "Well I would have taken you tonight but you have a basketball game".

I finally ran out of excuses.
I bit the bullet and took my eldest child, my baby, to take "the test".
"The test" that says, you're not a baby anymore.
"The test" that says, you're soon not going to need momma so much.
"The test" that says, you're about to fly the coop, leave me with no ball games, marry some girl that I will have to share you with, and have five babies.   All the while, I'm getting old and wrinkled and achy and tired and CRANKY!

When Dad took you and Grandpa Larry on a fishing trip to Canada several years ago, we got this photo ID of you.  (Just in case a Canadian thought you would make good fish bait)  Dad would have proof that you belonged to him.  Anywhoo, you pulled this out of your Winchester black leather wallet today, then replaced it with the current one.  The one that says you aren't 5'02" and 85 lbs.  The one that says you now tower over your momma and you shave and you talk in a deep voice and you have a girlfriend.
The signature on the old one reminds me of millions of school papers that you brought home in your dinosaur backpack.  The signature proves to me that you really were small enough for me to wrap in my arms and snuggle (and you weren't too cool to do so).

When you handed me the pink slip of paper that said you passed, my heart fluttered.
Then you said...........

Ryan: "Can I drive back to school now"?
Me:   "Ummm... no, we have to go to the license bureau first".

after going to the license bureau


Ryan: "Can I drive now"?
Me: "Uhhhh, let me think.  (then he grabs the keys from my hands and gets in the drivers seat.)

The whole time he drives my jaw is clenched and my butt cheeks are squeezed together (I know, too much information).  Then I start shouting out orders.  It's instinct.

"Stay between the lines", "Go faster", "Go slower", "Adjust your mirrors", "Both hands on the wheel",

You know...... all those things that I don't do myself!!!

So now it's official.  He is permitted to drive on paved roads.  He is permitted to control a one ton machine that reaches speeds of 100+.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!!!!!  (AND HIM....... AND WHOEVER MIGHT BE SHARING THE ROAD WITH HIM...... OR RIDING WITH HIM!!!!!!

Homecoming 2010

Ryan, you sure are growing up.  

That's what I think when I see these pictures.  

I remember when you were a little tyke.  When you loved dinosaurs and knew everyone of them by name.  I remember having to stop 50 ft. from a stop light.  Then go VERY slowly.  Or stop, then ease forward 1 ft., then stop again.  All this, because you cried when the car stopped for longer than 5 seconds.  Since you were my first child (and I am a worry wart) I thought that I was a terrible mother if you ever cried.  This may explain some things about you now.  Just saying!!

You have know Maggie since you were in Pre-school.  (it's true, I have proof.  Wink ;)  It's sweet seeing you guys together.  

It was an Italian theme.  All the moms pitched in to help (and thank goodness they did).

We served......

Toasted Ravioli and Mozzerrela Sticks for the starter

Salad and Garlic Bread 

Meat Lasagne and Cordon Blu Pasta 

Cheesy Potatoes 

Then a wonderful chocolate dish and Texas Sheet Cake for dessert

Pinning on the corsages was quite a feat.    More people attempted than I have photographs for.

Dawn Dupy, Rick and I all tried.  Nope?  We were beginning to wonder if it was going to happen.  Then alas, Nancy, saved the day!!!!  She's handy that way!!!  I'm sure that Ryan felt like a pin cushion.

Then for the next hour, we tortured them with photos.  Photos, photos and more photos!!!!!!  By the time we were done, they were seeing spots.  They had permanant red-eye.  They were rolling their eyes and whispering mean things about us to each other.  

Sorry the lighting is terrible.  It was dark.  

This is the whole gang.  

Ladies..........

and Gentleman.