HaPpY bIRtHdAy GrEySoN!!!!

Our nephew Greyson was born a year ago today! We had to post a blog to wish him a Happy Birthday and many more wishes in the years to come!
It was the hardest thing in the world to watch my baby brother and his wife go through such a stressful, complicated (but short)pregnancy and birth of their firstborn. Bob(please read with angelic voices ringing in the background!) is very special to me. He is not only my baby brother but someone that I admire, respect and have complete admiration for. When he married Stacy, I couldn't have been happier that she was a teacher and someone that I could share my stories with. Ron has always felt the same way too! We both love them and think the world of them. On the same token, when you say Uncle Bob and Aunt Stacy, our children's eyes light up in a very special way and they get excited to share a story about them!
When we found out they were expecting, we were thrilled and so excited for the two of them!! However, God had amazing plans for Greyson and how he would enter this world. As we prayed daily and waited anxiosly by the phone, it was nothing short of heartbreaking! It was the worst thing imaginable to watch them go through so much! We all just wanted to make it better, make it alright, take away the hurt but all we could do was to pray and be there if and when needed!!
But now, a year later, Greyson is here and full of life! What an amazing day today is!! We not only got to witness a miracle but get to be the aunt and uncle to this amazing little boy!! So Happy Birthday to you little Greyson!! You are so well loved!!!

Let's Hear It For The Broncos!!!!!!

Today started with a HUGE storm that no one really expected to be as bad as it ended up being. We had thunder, lightening and an amazing amount of rain. (Something we haven't seen for 59 days!) Ron and I woke up to Bailey (the dog-yellow lab-not small) and Jonathan in our bed shaking! But when Jonathan woke up enough, he couldn't get his jersey on fast enough to be a "big" kid and go out and play in the mud/rain/muck. He was soo very excited. However, the other team didn't show (We figured they had heard about our scrimmage and were scared!) so we scored a W without even playing!! The boys were heartbroken (Playing on bad fields is cool!)but we were ecstatic because we would be able to make it home in time to watch our Boise State team take on the Oregon Ducks! A big game, not only because we are big fans of the Broncos, but we have family members (since your team lost-hahaha- we won't say who)that continually tell us that the Ducks are THE team and the Ducks will BEAT us and the Ducks are the BEST, etc. etc. Well, the Ducks did NOT beat us, and they are not THE team and they are not the BEST!!! Granted they are down on their luck with quarterbacks but we won! The true facts are they were only ahead on the scoreboard ONE time the whole game. How is that for a WAC team taking on the PAC 10 team plus we were on the road in their house?!?!?!?!?! There were some nerve racking moments like when our Vinnie was hurt and not moving, or they scored three times in a row in the 4th quarter but the end result is that we WON! We did it! So, family, friends, all of you Duck lovers.......it is okay. We love you, understand you cheering for your team, but let us shine in the glory of our team!!! Oh yea, since I have no football pictures to show you, here are some celebration shots during the big game on TV..

Check out the Wildcat WOW's!!!

Our kids came home from school with Wildcat Wow's. We aren't exactly sure what these are but it must be very exciting because they both expected special prizes for their efforts. Apparently, if you are caught doing something above and beyond, the teacher will give you a Wildcat Wow. The bottom part goes into a drawing for a prize and the top part goes home for the parents. (Maybe for us to give them a prize!??!!) Anyways, the kids were very excited and we were very proud and it was nice that they both got one on the same day. To be honest, this helped in a small way remind me that the kids will be fine in another school. It has been so nice to see Elizabeth smile and be happy everyday and they both have made friends that live around our neighborhood. I like that and Ronie reminds me that it is also a very important part of school. (I can't comprehend that!! School is for learning! haha!) The whole situation has been better than we all could have imagined. Friends of ours, have been walking the kids home (Thanks Armbrusters!!! You are wonderful and we couldn't have asked for better friends!!!) and the kids have their homework done and can be involved in sports without the "rush here to get there" that they were being put through coming out to Kuna! Not to mention the fact that they can get a whole lot more sleep! I still miss them but can already see the advantages and we have only been in school for a month!

How about a little scrimmage on a Tuesday evening?

This week started out with a football scrimmage against the Optimist "Joe's" football team. When I grew up, it was GI Joe's and it is so very hard for me to call it anything but that! We played on the West Middle School football field and the kids really did an awesome job. The nice thing was that the coaches took the time to redo plays that were not ran correctly and I think the kids will benefit from that extra practice. Jonathan continues to LOVE football (Even though I was secretly hoping that he wouldn't want to play again and we could go back to just watching college ball!)and even though he isn't the fastest one on the field he always gets the tackle. Jonathan plays right tackle and if we haven't had a chance to tell you, he would really rather play defense than offense but our child will do anything someone tells him to do so he will NEVER tell coach his dream. Anyways, after the scrimmage, Jonathan was very quiet in the back seat. Ronie asked him what he was thinking about and he said, "You know, a guard position is really an unglorified job." I asked him what he meant by that and he goes on to explain his thoughts. "If I do my job and let our offense finish the play, the quarterback and the runners get all of the glory, even though without me, they wouldn't have ever gotten through or the opportunity to catch the ball. However, if I miss my guy and it stops the play, then and only then am I the one that gets noticed (actually in trouble) and has to run to the fence." All Ron and I could do was smile at our little philosopher in the back. I swear that boy is always thinking about something and you know to add on that deep thought, he is exactly correct. So moral of the story, cheer on those unsung heroes playing the game! They are the ones that are doing the little extra work to make the play spectacular!!!

OuR lItLe ElIzAbEtH

Ronie took Jonathan to football tonight so that Liz and I could finish her homework and spend some girl time together. I have been listening to the Mama Mia soundtrack on the way to work lately. (If you haven't heard it, I highly recommend it!) Anyways, there is a song about a little girl that is going off to school and the Mom is sad about how quickly her little one is growing up. I think I shed a few tears everytime that song comes on because my little Elizabeth is growing up so very fast too! Let me quote some of the song.
"I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl
Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time."
So after Elizabeth's homework, I thought we better have a sit down chat and have her answer a few questions before she grows up and I never have them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed asking them. There were a few when we couldn't stop laughing! These are what perfect moments are made of! Here they are, straight from her mouth as I asked them:
Name: Elizabeth Ann Ryan ("But you can call me Lizzy or Lil' Bit)
Age: I am 7. (Giggle, giggle "Mom, you should know that!!)
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Animal: A dolphin (giggle, giggle again!)
Favorite Number: 7
Favorite Letter: "Hey, maybe L for Lizzy!"
Favorite TV Show: Drake and Josh (I was wrong on that one, I would have said Hannah Montana)
Favorite Movie: Princess Diaries
Favorite Toy: Computer (Does she have one of these? This leads me to understand why our computer isn't working so well these days! haha!)
Favorite Ice Cream: "I can't have icecream but icecream is GOOD!!!
Favorite Sport: "Is piano a sport?"
Favorite Breakfast: Grandma Terry's waffles with strawberries and whip cream!
Favorite Dinner: Mac n cheese (Now that is an easy girl to please!!!)
Favorite Dinner Restaurant: TGI Fridays
Favorite Snack: Skittles
Favorite Thing To Do Inside: Play the piano
Favorite Thing To Do Outside: Jump on the trampoline or swim with my cousins.
Favorite Song: Full Circle or Fly on the Wall
What do you want to be when you grow up? Teacher (Mom sheds a happy tear! Oh no, she will be poor, now it turns to a little sad tear!)
What do you want to drive when you turn 16? A VW Bug (Her dad sheds a tear!)
If you could change your name, what would it be? Miranda
If you could buy anything you want, what would you buy? A laptop (A big step from a mac n cheese girl!)
Favorite Vacation: Beach trips or visits to Uncle Bob and Aunt Stacy!

She is truly amazing and brings so much to our family! We love you Elizabeth Ann Ryan!

Back to the football field........

Today we headed back to the football field for game #2! Our boys did well and played with heart one more time. It was easy to see they are becoming a team and starting to work with each other and it was fun to watch Jonathan enjoy himself with his friends. Jonathan also got to play both on offense and defense and special teams so he is going to be a tuckered out little man tonight! We have no complaints about Jonathan's time out on the field. He made some great blocks and was so excited to get to play with the "glorified" defense. He has wanted to play on defense since he started. When we were leaving, he shared with his Dad that the kid he was blocking kept trying to sweep him by using his legs and to quote Jonathan "That is silly Dad, I know how to stop that because of Judo. I just laid right down on him!" What a smart boy!! We were also surprised by Sensei Val and the Brisbin clan coming to watch with us! They even brought their two new little friends and Liz fell in love! (We know she would love a little dog but we are positive Bailey will think it is a squirrel and that would not make for a pleasant family moment! So for now, she will have to just play with the Brisbin's.) Plus the family troopers came, Mom, Grandma Great, Aunt Nana, Tammy, Teila and Aly. We are continually reminded of how blessed we are to have such a great group of friends and family to support us! Thanks for putting us into your busy schedules.
Oh...the score.... No the Bulldogs didn't win but you can bet that they will give it 100% next week so feel free to come cheer them on!

I Miss Ronie Already!

Can I vent about the day? Oh my goodness! I have been trying to be a good Mom,relax and be strong because Ronie left for Montana today but the day has been nothing but easy! Actually work went good today (I had to be a little mean and I hate that but the kids did great and I so enjoy them when they work hard and get excited about learning!) but I stayed late so we were already rushed getting dinner before football. However, in a desperate attempt to eat before 8:30 and then put the kids straight to bed, we cheated and went to McDonalds. I must say that was a perfect idea because Tuesday is 1/2 off night on Happy Meals so to feed us all, it was around $5.00. (A wonderful student had already brought me homemade snickerdoodles so the "eating right" thing was already blown for the day! Those were wonderful by the way! Thanks Ris and Kenzie!!!)
So off to football we go. This might be a good time to say how I was bragging to my mom just this morning about how I am actually enjoying football because Liz has been bringing her scooter and we get to watch her play and watch Jonathan practice, so it has been a nice family event. (The football parents don't really talk to Ronie and I~we aren't in the 3 year club, so it has really just been just us.) Well, tonight Ms. Elizabeth decided football wasn't the thing for her. (Did I tell you I was just telling my Mom how wonderful it has been?!?!?!) and she was mad that no one was there, she didn't want to be there, etc. etc. etc. You know how kids like to just hang on their parents and whine closer into their ear? Well that is what she was doing with her scooter in her hands and she was picking it up and dropping it to make her point known to the world her dislike for what was happening and horrible her mom was for bringing her to a playground to play. UGH! I should also mention that her scooter is well loved and the cushioned handlebars have fallen off so it is just tattered metal that she hangs on to. The scooter ended up dropping and falling on my toe. OUCH!! I looked down and there was a little blood and when she saw that she finally felt bad and started to cry. Okay, teachable moment about making the best of a bad situation. After 2-3 minutes of what I thought was nothing short of a fabulous parenting speech, I looked down and my brown flip flop was now completely filled with red blood. All I could think of is we have to get home, we have to get this cleaned up, this is a mess! Elizabeth saw my foot and then the REAL crying started happening in front of these very cool football moms that make no mistakes, their children make no mistakes, their hair is perfect, they have the "in" clothes, and the list goes on and on. I pick up Elizabeth with one arm, left all of my papers that I had on my lap (trying to do my job of making sure my students feel successful and their work is of great importance) and walk to the car to drive home and see what in the world was going on. So my toe hurts, Ronie is gone, I have to go to another training tomorrow so there will be a sub tomorrow in my room, my kids are not done with their homework and I am exhausted! I miss Ronie! It is hard getting through a day without your best friend! Especially when you need someone to look at a sore toe!!!

Losing is a little easier, when there is a fun tunnel at the end of a hard game!

Jonathan had his first official football game on Saturday. I am not wanting to sound like one of those crazy "team mommies" but I do feel I have to voice my concern. We played a team from Middleton and let's just say that it kindof looked like David and Goliath out there! I am pretty sure there was some cheating going on with the weight limit but hey, who am I to complain? Along with the weight concerns, their players towering over ours, it made it a hard situation for our boys! Plus, I must say their coach was a little out of line and maybe taking the game a little too seriously. But, the Bulldogs (that is us) did great and they showed a lot of heart and hung in there until the very end! The score ended up being 20-8 but we were proud of them and think they did great no matter what the scoreboard was showing at the end of the game.
On the flip side, some of Jonathan's friends from Judo showed up to watch him play and that meant the world to him and to us. It really shows the relationships we have built over the past 2 years in Judo and the support our children have. How I have missed them now that we have football every night and are not in our routine. Jonathan was elated and we couldn't have asked for a better surprise! Thanks Tina and Boys! Plus lots of our family came so Jonathan had quite the cheering section. We felt very honored that you all would spend the afternoon with us in the hot sun watching our little man hit the field! Please come again and if you didn't make it this time, we would love to have you!!!

A Time To Dance, or not....we will have to see!

Elizabeth's dance classes started again. Trying to get her across town, in her dance clothes and to class on time is going to be a challenge but she wanted to so here we go. She is still in a combo that is 1/2 tap and 1/2 ballet, so it was nice that we didn't have to make the choice of which class she really wants to be in. However, when the girls came out from class they were very upset! Now that they are older, they have to wear their hair in buns, pull back their bangs and not wear skirts anymore! This apparently is tragic in the life of a 7 year old girl (actually to all of them because they were all clearly upset when they came out and they love their teacher) and she was ready to quit the minute we got in the car. Her words were...."Are they trying to say that girls that have bangs are not beautiful? Does that mean that I am wrong because I have bangs? Mom, I think that is prejudice and I can't dance for people like that!" How in the world does my little girl even know what the word prejudice is?!?!?! Anyways, we shall see what happens. She has been told she will have stay in dance until December because we have signed a contract and that is a commitment (blah, blah, blah... you know the parenting spiel about not going back on your word and people are counting on you, etc.) but our dancing career may be soon over! Hum...what will we do with all of our time?!??!!?