Happy Birthday to our Ryan

Born on October 25th, 1995 at 8:55 P.M.....13 minutes from as I type this. 
16....OH Wow! We miss you sooooooooo much and wish we could be with you on this special and major Birthday, but just know that we are thinking of you and hoping you the best day. 

As a Mother, today is a very emotional day...happy and full of wonderful memories, but I take myself down memory lane each year, as with each of my children, and feel nothing but peace and love and am so thankful to have you...whether you are here or there, you are my son and I love you, no matter what.

Happy Birthday to you, Ryan!  I love you.  We love you.  We can't wait to see you again at Christmas.

Here is a Birthday wish for you:

Ryan in Video Production

Ryan shared a couple of youtube videos with us-ones he made at school, and I thought they were entertaining!  See for yourself:

Chase scene Video

Finger Guns Video

He enjoys making the videos, as shown mostly by how enthusiastic he was to share them with us.  He said the chase scene lacked the enthusiasm of the second one, but he is gaining experience and discovering what he likes and doesn't like, which is a very important part of highschool.

The Highlight of My Day

I had a lot of unusual highlights of my day, but this one really made it for me.  I'm going to share this because I am joyful that there are still teachers out there that will take the time to go out of their way and type an e-mail as expressive and kind as this one!  Amen to this teacher:-)

This was the e-mail I got in my inbox today regarding Ryan, sent from his language arts teacher:

I wanted to let you know I am behind in my grading due to losing a very close friend very unexpectedly

—however Ryan is doing very well.

I am allowing him to re-take the 1st test for Pigman and once I plug in about 5 assignments
his grade will significantly change upward.
I am seeing progress in his formal writing, especially in structured writing.
As you know, the disc he was using from me somehow was misplaced; but he has been given
additional time to re-do. He has quite a clever original story he just needs to add the lost graphics.
He is respectful in class and chose to sit in a front seat. While we were studying for our Roots 5-8 final,

Using a jeopardy like format--It was evident he had studied because he was asked consistently, when a student could “phone a friends for the answer.” It was clear he was excited and liked being the class leader. At these times I wish I could bring you in and watch at the moments
when your son is brilliant and is enjoying his learning. My goal to is to foster a love of words, reading and writing.

I will email you when I have updated, which will be no later than Sunday afternoon.

All the best,
(blocked out name of teacher for privacy, but her name was here)
LA Teacher and Reading Specialist

Happy 15th Birthday to Ryan

Chocolate Cheesecake homemade by me with love to Ryan for his birthday!  I am SOOO happy to have him here with us-finally!  He is a great boy and it is a blessing to have my whole family under one roof.  Happy Birthday, Ryan!  I can't believe how old you are getting:-)

Freshman FOOTBALL!

This is his practice jersey.  His game jersey is actually #18, so in the game pictures, even though it feels like "where's Waldo", you'll want to look for #18 when trying to spot Ryan on the field.

Freshman football has begun, and what a busy schedule Ryan has! He has practice every day after school, games begin next Wednesday and that is all on top of starting high school!  Ryan took the plunge with his hair and cut it off (in order to make his helmet fit better), so I had to take a picture of that.  Of course, Matthew followed suit (same day, same haircut-lol!). We are proud of Ryan and looking forward to his first real game.  Last Friday night they had a scrimmage game to kick off the season, and we got a glimpse of  what the games will be like.  Fun! We attended as a family, and really enjoyed watching him.  Ryan got a good tackle and the coaches really seem to like him, they just want him to learn the plays better.  He missed that opportunity by not attending the Summer football camps, but I'm confident he will pick them up!  He really goes after it in the game.  Go Ryan!
 August came home from watching all the football and grabbed the biggest, puffiest jacket he could find and put it on, pretending that he was a football player!  His bike helmet was his football helmet, and his siblings were fair game for the tackle.  Matthew was very content to watch a live football game, and can't wait for his real game next week. 
August also has his first game that same day and time, so here it begins that I must clone and divide myself, but such is life with a full house of kids.  I love it, though!

Some Grads in the House!

My oldest graduate. Now it is off to highschool!!

Ryan's idea of posing-at least we can see his eyes here!

Ryan and his girl that is a friend. Allegedly. By the way, she agrees that Ryan should show his face more!

Ryan, Cameron (up top) and another friend. Yes, there is a cup on Ryan's head. Cameron set it there and I snapped this photo right before he hit it off.

August and Alyssa were loving the unlimited Cynthia Golpe cupcakes and punch!

The Graduation scene. It was a nice ceremony. Ryan had written a response to a prompt that was given in his English class that could have been one of the graduation speeches-his teacher liked his and gave him the opportunity to share prior to the ceremony-but he declined. Darn, because I would have loved to have heard him read something to his graduating class.

Ryan and Grandma Kathie.

Ryan receiving his diploma.

I was frustrated that Ryan intentionally turned while walking past me so I could not snap this photo, and it looks like the guy across the way sympathized (see his face-that's how I felt when he did that!!). Teenagers.

August with Mrs. Axe. They called this night Author night, and the kids presented us with their books they had been working so hard on. They also each received a memory book. Each volunteer left with a vase and white flower as a thank you gift, and August brought one home for me and put in on my dresser next to my bed so I would be able to look at it. "Mom, your flower should go next to your bed so you can see it at night." He is so thoughtful and I love him SO much!

Mrs. Axe reading the back side of his book to the class, which was a piece "about the author" aka "August"

August with his best bud, Ryan.

With our little graduate.

Congratulations to August for graduating Kindergarten and Ryan for graduating middle school!!!!

I am so proud of both of you.

Ryan being very "Earthy"

With so many words, I thought you might enjoy a picture. But, this is my blog, and if I feel like being wordy, combined with no new pictures to show, then so be it. If you have issues with my blog, go get your own blog, then!!! My sister loves it when I say that:-)