Ryan here. I just hacked in into Andrea's blog to wish her a happy 17th wedding anniversary and to tell the world (or at least the three people following her) how much I love her and how fortunate I am to share my life with her. Unfortunately for her I am a man of few words, but here is what I've got.

Andrea,

I love you and I don't tell you that enough. You are a loving and patient wife, a caring and patient mother, and I am the luckiest man in the world to have shared the last 17 years with you. We have had our ups and downs and not all of our dreams have come true, but we have lived an adventure together that I would not trade for the world. I am grateful to God that I have you to come home to every night and for all that he has brought us through together. When life is distracting us and I forget to tell you, remember that I love you more than I let on sometimes.

Happy Anniversary,
Ryan

Mmmm...

I know it's been awhile. Life's been crazy! Anyway, I thought I would show you my pizza. It turned out so awesome! I was watching one of my favorite shows, Diner's Drive-in's and Dive's on Food Network, and the gal was making the dough for this amazing looking pizza. When the host asked her what kind of flour she was using she said High Gluten Flour. Hmmm..... Maybe this is the "key" ingredient that my pizza has been missing. I just can't get the dough right. So I tried the High Gluten Flour. WOW! It was so stretchy and tasted great! Very easy to work with. I even rolled up some cheese sticks in the crust. So a couple of days later I tried homemade Bagel Dogs. They were great too! Next on my list is breadsticks! Can't wait!

Silver Lake

We had a great day at Silver Lake today. It was the "All Church Campout". We just went up for the day for the potluck and lake festivities. Ryan was the official Blob man. Everyone wanted him to be the guy to propel them off the end of the tube, a.k.a Blob.

Just a few friends.



In this video, Nathan get's blobbed first by David. Then David crawls to the end and gets blobbed by Ryan. I wish I had a closeup of Ryan in the life jacket. If you ever saw Tommy Boy then it's the "Fat man in a little coat" scene. Very funny!
Now that we're home Ryan is paying the price for his fun. He's having a hard time moving around and his back hurts. Poor guy!

I thought you might like a video I took of our greenhouse. The wind took it for a ride. Guess we're not in Kansas anymore Toto!

Parade

For the past few years we've been invited to share the 4th of July festivities at Sun-Up Bay Resort in Idaho. They always have a parade with all the neighbors and friends on the 3rd of July followed by fireworks. This year David and Nathan were asked to be apart of the parade. David was reluctant. But when a friend asked him too, (she's on the left in the picture) he said yes. I know it's blurry but you can almost see his smirk. The top picture (that I can't seem to move!) is Nathan "Hooky bobbin' it" (as Ryan called it) on the back of the fire engine.

Kite Video

So here's the video of us flying kites today. Ryan put some great finishing touches to it. Enjoy!

Go

Nathan strapped the stunt kite to his back and pretended to be a superhero. It was great!


So here's a shot of David. He tied his kite to the pole and let it fly by itself. Too much work doing it on his own!

Strawberries

Just thought you'd like to see the berries!

Finally!

Well, there it is. Ain't it a beauty! My first cucumber! I bought the plants that would yeild small cuc's so I could pickle them. I'm so proud!

Ahhh, Mother's Day

Aren't they pretty? Ryan sent them to my work today with a card saying "Happy Mother's Day from your three boys". I never get flowers so it was nice. Well, ok I shouldn't say 'never'. He did bring home some daffodils a few months ago mumbling something about it being a fundraiser of something. They were pretty too.

This Mother's day is bittersweet for me. It happens to be my dad's birthday too. I miss him alot. I remeber my grandma inviting us over for a celebration dinner and cake. She thought she'd save a few penny's and buy a dual cake. Poor dad would have to blow out candles on a cake that said, 'Happy Birthday Larry~ Happy Mother's day' and it had flowers and roses all over it! He hated it! I can laugh now but man, no guy wants flowers all over his cake. Ok, no guys I know!

I laugh with Ryan every now and then thinking about how dad would probably be trying to help us redo the basement. He wouldn't be able to help but he could give great advice on how to use the tools. An armchair quarterback. I wonder what he would think about our house. Our boys. He died when David was 4 and Nathan was 2. He would be looking eye to eye with David now. No more rides on the riding lawn mower for David. Now we would send him to cut Grandpa's lawn. And Nathan barely remembers.

I know God spared my dad from alot of pain that was coming his way. But I wish he was still here to ask advice from. To laugh with. To hug.

I know I got serious here. Thanks for letting me ramble on. I just want to say one thing more. Don't take for granted the family you have. Good or bad they are what God has given. Cherish them. One day they may be taken away suddenly just like my dad. A phone call early in the morning with no warning. Poof. You can't go back and change what's happened you only have from today on. So do what God comanded and love each other. Thank for listening. : )

Happy Easter!!

I was downstairs Easter morning (we decided to go to evening service) when I hear Nathan upstairs yelling for me. And yelling, and yelling! I gripe and complain all the way up the stairs only to find bunch of blood droplets. I followed the trail of blood around the corner to the bathroom where I find Nathan leaning over the sink and washing his thumb. There's blood everywhere and he keeps saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!". Come to find out he was trying to put a hole in a guitar pick (for a cool necklace...). He was using his new 4 inch blade he got at the gun show. He had the knife pointed up and he held the pick between his thumbs and pressed it down onto the knife to create the hole. Well, he got a hole alright! The blade ran alongside his nail almost to his knuckle and went clear through. So I patched him up as best as I could and we were off to Urgent Care. Three hours later we left with 5 stitches. Yikes! He even has a stitch through his nail! Ewww. So here's a few pictures for you.

Spring Break

I thought you'd like to see what we've been up to this Spring Break. We decided to redo the basement. Tear out all the paneling, ceiling, update wiring, new lights, put up drywall and make the rec-room a bedroom with walk-in closet. After this side is done we'll move on to the other side. So enjoy some pictures and I'll keep adding ones as we go. ; )

The guys decided to write some fun stuff on the foam insulation. I figured it was ok because no one else would see it. This was supposed to say "Chuck Norris was here" But after Ryan put up the wall it now says, "Huck Norris was here".
I took us 2 days to put up dry wall! Ugh! I love the lights! To the left is the stairs, dugh! And the right is the new closet.We had to leave the weird cut out in the wall because of the supports holding up the upstairs fireplace.

My Turn

1.My uncle once: Lent me the money to buy a car and charged me 1% interest. I'll never forget how grateful I was.



2.Never in my life: Did I imagine I'd be where I am doing what I'm doing. But I'm glad I'm here!



3.When I was five: I went to Disneyland. I don't remember much. And I've never been back.



4.I will never forget: My Dad.



5.I once met: Lincoln Brewster and sang with him on stage!



6.There’s this girl I know who: has the life I thought I always wanted. But I don't envy her at all anymore. In fact, I'm glad God spared me from it.



7.Once, at a bar: I drank a pop and sang Karaoke



8.By noon, I’m usually: getting lots of waves and smiles as the kids pile into the lunchroom.



9.Last night: was monday night.



10.If I only had: _____(fill in the blank) Is a line that people use way too much



11.Next time I go to church: I won't feel like I did last Sunday! Ask me about the herbs I took called "Happy Camper".



12.What worries me most: Losing Ryan... or my kids.



13.When I turn my head left, I see: a dirty kitchen counter with a bike helmet on it. Oh, and Daffodils



14.When I turn my head right, I see: Out my window and the trash waiting for tomorrows pickup.



15.You know I’m lying when: I try not too.



16.What I miss most about the eighties: My Youth!



17.If I was a character in Shakespeare, I’d be: unable to understand myself.



18.By this time next year: I will be thinner.



19.A better name for me would be: Smiley



20.I have a hard time understanding: why people take life so seriously.



21.If I ever go back to school, I’ll: be out of my mind!



22.You know I like you if: I give you the time of day. Right now it's 5:15. Hee Hee!



23.If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be: God. Then Ryan.



24.Take my advice, never: get into debt! Save up and pay cash.



25.My ideal breakfast is: One that I don't have to make.



26.If you visit my hometown, I suggest: you let me know where it is. I've had too many.



27.Why won’t people: stop trying to look perfect?



28.If you spend the night at my house: then bring some popcorn because we'll watch a movie!



29.I’d stop my wedding for: the Rapture. So then God stopped it not me!



30.The world could do without: Sin (Nothing like a Sunday School answer, eh?)



31.I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Actually eat one like my sister did!



32.My favorite blonde is: my future grand-daughter. Yep, I said it!



33.Paper clips are more useful than: a staple. You can take them out without ripping the paper.



34.If I do anything well, it’s: Sing



35.And by the way: I'm hungry!

Life..

I wanted you to see what Nathan's shoes looked like after an "innocent" bike ride to the park. "Sorry mom! The mud just sucked my shoes in!" Yeah, right! Anyway, I went to upload this picture when low and behold I find some pictures that David had taken on my camera. Not just one, but 6! So when he's home supposedly doing his homework.....he's not actually doing it. I'm sharing a few shots of what a 13 year old boy does with no one home and a camera. Enjoy!

I actually like this next one. Very artistic!

All in a Days Work...

Ryan begged my to make homemade eggrolls tonight. They turned out so nice I thought I'd take a picture and share with everybody. See? I can cook!

Update

Here's what's new at our house. I was loading pictures for the blog when this picture downloaded off of David's pictures. He thought it was funny. So did I. So, here it is for your enjoyment! He calls it "Nuns with Guns" Really?!

This is the contents of a bag of food we won at the Rosauers Grand Re-Opening event. David stepped on the right numbers on the floor and we won! WooHoo!

This is a picture of the massive amount of food we had at our house for the Super Bowl Party. This only shows 1 of 2 counter tops full of food. Even the computer printer has cookies on it! That's our friend Matt in the picture.

My new plants! One row of Walla Walla sweets on the far left and some Coleus plants for houseplants/outdoor borders.

The very large leaves are Cucumbers and the far back ones are Tomatoes.

More Cucumber's. Aren't they cute?!

Bugged!

I needed a new pair of jeans the other day so I went to my favorite place, Fashion Bug. I know exactly what size and what style and walked right in expecting to grab and go. Uh, no. They no longer carry my usual tent and awning size. It seems I'm now a size 6. Yes, 6! Wow! I lost a lot more weight than I thought. It must have been a magical thing that happened when I walked through the doors. Anyway, I was looking all over for the conversion chart telling what size you used to be and the corresponding size now. The clerk told me that they don't have one and that the only way to get a correct fitting was to be measured. HA! I laughed thinking to myself, there's no way I'm getting sized at the Bug! I'm not that secure with my size to want someone else groping around my waist trying to figure out my size! Hello?!! So, I just did it the old fashioned way. Kept trying on different sizes until one fit. Oh but wait! They don't sell the jeans in Petite, Average and Tall anymore either! You have to by them by body type now. Yikes! Come to find out I'm a Wilshire. Curvy with hips and a small waist. I got a booty, ok? I guess now it has a name. Go figure! Talk about frustrating! So my ten minute trip turned into a 45 minute fiasco of trips back and forth to the dressing room. I ended up with 1 pair of jeans. That's all the strength I had. I need more but I need to save up my strength for another time. Thank goodness the guys didn't go with me. I'd have to peel them off the floor and wipe the drool off their mouths from sleeping so long!

I did It!

After much looking around to no avail, I finally got so frustrated and made my own makeup brush holder. I found a fellow blogger who gave all the dimensions needed and started from there. I think it turned out great!

This is the web blog that had the directions if your interested.

http://scpbanks.blogspot.com/2007/12/make-up-brush-roll-how-to-make-one-ive.html

I finally got my sewing machine to work right too. Ugh! I haven't gotten it to work right in a lONG time. I think it might be user error. Hee Hee!

Sorry...

I know it's been awhile. Life seems to be spinning off it's axis lately. I'm feeling very overwhelmed at the moment with all the homework the guys have. I just don't get it. Over half the stuff they come home with they'll never use again! Of course, I don't tell them this but, come on! They sit for hours doing the stupid stuff. And with Nathan's learning disability it takes twice as long! Come on Spring Break!!!! Then we learned we have to make up 3 days of the 5 snow days we had. Calgon, take me away!

So all this is to say sorry. Sorry I haven't written, called or even talked to anyone lately. I haven't even had time for myself. I need a vacation really bad. Somewhere warm with no responsibilities. And definately NO homework!!

Tagged

Well, it seems I've been tagged by Delena to do some resolutions. I don't make a list anymore. There's things I'd like to get done this year but they're not resolutions. For me it's like setting myself up to fail. I have enough depression issues as it is, I don't need more reasons.

But if you must know~

1. I'd like to finish some projects around the house. I'm not telling which ones, but I know if something gets done then all is well for #1.

2. I'd like to get rid of all the snow that is in my yard!

3. Have a garden and grow something I can eat. Heck I'd even take a flower at this point!

4. Not be sick so much this year. Oh, too late. I already have 1 strike against me. I'm currently battling a sore throat!

5. To have more dates with my husband. Seems like we never go out anymore.

6. Spend more quality time with the boys. Laughing is always high on my list. Not this list of course, but my life's list. You know what I mean!

7. Lead more worship when given the chance.

8. Take a vacation. Anywhere. Ok, not just anywhere. I'd really rather not go to the Arctic. Or sleep in a tent in the pouring rain. Or places with bugs. Eeks! You know, somewhere with sand and warmth. Somewhere expensive where people wait on you and bring you things with umbrellas in them. Yeah right, you can scratch this one off the list. It aint happenin'.


Well I guess that's it. Just a few wondering thoughts. If you had all day I could tell you more but I'm not gonna!~