Happy Birthday Ruston!!

We are excited to celebrate another birthday and even better our first one with Ruston.  He is turning the ripe old age of 23.  First off was dinner our with the family at Red Fort for some Indian Food.  Everyone is stuffed and there is still ice cream cake waiting at home.

Rylee did good.

Trying to decide whether

we sing or just blow out the candles.

We did sing

Make a wish?

Grab a slice!!

We are so glad he is becoming a part of our family in October.  We look forward to many more birthdays and celebrations with him.

The Dreaded Sickness

 It was bound to happen with Omicron raging around us.  We had dodged for so long until Reganne came home from Sconic in the middle of Christmas break that the day crew was all out with the nastiness.  The night crew was going to be working overtime.

7 days later, second day of school, and the start of a new quarter guess who isn't feeling very well.  Trying to convince her to go to bed isn't usually hard but not today.  She had things to do and places to be.  Friday she wakes up worse than the night before.  I pull the Mom card!!! She is staying home from work & school.

Sconic is requiring a test to return so off we head to Tech Ridge along with a hundred our closest fellow citizens.

20 ahead of us and 30 behind.

Cars need to move up and close

the space between.

It's official we are closer to the front of the line

than the end of the line.

Get ready to be swabbed!!

As we drive towards home anxiously waiting the results.  There is no way she has got it.  I keep telling myself it's just allergies.  DING!!!  and the results are POSITIVE!!!!

Now what I have been sitting in the car for over an hour with her no mask or fresh air.  Dave is sure he has it as well.  He heads off to be tested on Saturday afternoon.  NEGATIVE!!!  I still have no symptoms.  Ryder calls from school on Monday with symptoms.  Dave stayed home for the day so he and Ryder headed out to get tested again.  SURPRISE!!! Tech Ridge is closed to running out of tests.  After a 3 hour wait they finally get him tested and NEGATIVE!!

To borrow from my previous phrase WHAT THE???  One testing positive, 2 having allergy symptoms, and 2 symptom free.

We will survive this I am sure.

2022 Final Countdown Meet

We are off to Cedar City to the Final Countdown Meet or more commonly called Last Chance Meet to qualify for State.  I wasn't really eager to drive both days Saturday was the day for his events.  The kids were all anxious to see if they could pull it off.  I came along to help out with the officiating.  Dave came along as the driver and moral support for Ryder.

Warm ups

They are off!!

The nerves were a little high with no new qualifying times.

They even offered one more chance for $5 per event.

Ryder was done he was good with what he got.

Event 13    Mixed 10 & O 100 Yard Free    59.13    2nd Place

Event 17    Mixed 20 & O 100 Yard Breast    1:16.65    2nd Place

Event 25    Mixed 500 Yard Free    6:09.14    2nd Place

Lunch was a must before leaving town and heading home.  Ryder requested Hermes Drive Inn for a hamburger and fries.  It is now time to rest up for the state championship in 2 weeks.

 

Random Snap Shots - January 8th

Double Yoke equals a lucky day?

Haven't seen one of these since we used to get out eggs from Bromley's Egg Farm

when I was kid.

Ryder just thought it was weird.  He hates the yoke.

He is definitely a weird kid.

Rylee & Ruston headed out on a road trip to Oregon with a group of his friends.  I asked her to send me some pictures.

Cool Nova Ad

Thrifting in Oregon

It that snow all around them.

They had a great trip and we got to enjoy it in pictures without the cold & wet.  

Smell the Chlorine

I haven't smelled Chlorine for about 3 weeks.  I didn't realize how much I missed it.  Oops better be careful or I will turn into one of those swim parents.  High school swim is in full swing with meets every weekend.  This weekend I got the phone call that they were in need of USA Officials to help out at the weekend meet at the WCCC.

Kids getting ready

Schools cheering

Parents being the barrier

I learned a few new things at this meet.  For every high school official there has to be another USA Official.  We can't make calls only observe and watch the swimmers.  Even better this meet was over by 11:00.  

It is going to be a busy spring with many swim meets coming to town.  I am excited to learn and watch other officials at work.  Hopefully, learn new skills to help out our club.

Happy New Year!!!

Yeah!! We have had some weather finally and it was a little snow.  It was great to see even with the sunshine shining through.

There is a little snow + sunshine

Hopefully, this means there will be more coming this way.

Snacks & Treats

To get us through the night.

We made it too midnight but not much longer.  We had a great night hanging with Blake & Julie.  Everyone else had plans of their own.  It's weird having teenagers they make their own plans and not want to hanging around the parents.  Maybe someday they will find their way back to us and having fun hanging out.

Bring on 2022!!!! 

 

Snap Shots of Christmas 2021

Many words not needed but fun pictures to share.

Rylee & Rustons

Gingerbread House project

Thanks Lynn!!

I have been looking for a new one.  Learned a new kitchen hack that requires

one for the kitchen sink.  Holds all your stray forks & spoons lying around in the sink.

Had to throw another one in.

Love the smiles and even the scrunching in together.

Piper wanting to go for a ride.

She forgot that she rides in the back.

Not on the hood.

Ryder, Piper, and Dexter

Stretching their legs on a Sunday afternoon.

Waiting for dinner?

Texas Roadhouse call ahead isn't what it used to be.

People have been waiting for over an hour.

Time to choose someplace else.

The family voted to go out to give me a break from Christmas meals.

What the?

Who loves a great surprise?  Rylee is not one for surprises that she doesn't already know about.  Ruston & Ryder had a plan to make Christmas Day special for Rylee.  They soon roped me into helping them with the wrapping.

Everything is wrapped and ready to go.  Christmas Morning arrives and Rylee is surprised to see such a big present beside the tree for her.   What the? 

Strike a pose!!

Where do I start?

Just start everyone said.

Rip it open!!!

What the?

Again, What the?

Why are these in my present?

Surprise Raggedy Ann & Andy!!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

She did find the good presents

underneath.

Our two special visitors found their way back downstairs to their shelf.

Who knows when they will show up again. 

We then can all hear again WHAT THE?

Waters Family Update 2021

Ruston, Rylee, Ryder, Grandma JeanAnn,

Reganne, Dave, and Lori

Once again I didn't get the Christmas Cards or Letter done and sent out.  I definitely need to stop procrastinating.  Maybe this will be the year.  

Dave is working at Intermountain Healthcare as the Assistant Manager of the EVS Department.  He is keeping busy with a few remodeling projects around the house.  We teach the 14 year olds in Sunday School.

I am still working at SkyWest Airlines and amazed it will be 22 years this year.  My main job however, is being Ryder's Uber Driver every day after school for swim, work, or friends.  I love teaching the 14 year olds in Sunday School.  The lessons have been hard but the kids are great and so willing to share their adventures with us.

Rylee is 19 years old and working hard at Above View Jet Center & Dixie Pediatric Dental.  She is working towards her pilots license.  We have welcomed her boyfriend Ruston into the family.  He is a great addition and treats Rylee so well.  Who knows maybe an announcement soon on future plans.

Reganne is 17 years old and a Junior at Desert Hills High.  She is working so hard at school and her grades show it.  She is also working at Sconic Drive Inn making many friends and working as many hours as she wants.  Maybe even a few more.  

Ryder is 14 years old and an 8th Grader at Desert Hills Middle School.  He is doing great in school he loves math, speech & debate, and is even trying the theater class.  He is still swimming and reaching his goals.  He has qualified for the JO's Swim Meet in March in two events.  He surprised us all by getting a job at Culver's soon after his birthday.  They have been really good to him working with his swim schedule.  He is one busy boy which is the best for him.

I am working hard to get this up to date and keep that way.

 

Merry Christmas

Second time around maybe the charm.  Some how this post disappeared.  Let's try again.....

 

It looks like Christmas arrived.

The kids are bursting with excitement.

First awake and promptly fell back asleep.

The sisters were taking way to long.

Oldest to Youngest

or Youngest to Oldest.

Dave & I started followed by Ruston.

Reganne's turn

Receiving instructions from Ryder on his gift.

BTS Memorbilia.

Finally!!

He waited ever so patiently.

Being the youngest is not always the best place.

Christmas Breakfast

Everyone digging in.

It was devoured

In minutes

Cade & Destiny

where able to join us.

Time to prepare the ham.

Dave & Ryder are anxious to try smoking it.

Love their gloves.

Didn't we just eat?

Time for lunch

The ham turned out amazing.  The mac & cheese still a little dry.

Everyone was stuffed

There is always room for dessert.

Why did it feel like all we did was eat?  That is because that is what we did.  I hope everyone ate enough since I didn't have many leftovers.  It was a great day spending time together as a family.  We were really lucky that Grandma JeanAnn was able to be with us.  Everyone loves trying to spoil her and some times she even lets them.  The kids are now anxious to spend time with their friends, sleep in, and relax from a busy quarter of school.

Christmas Eve

We have all been waiting for some downtime with a little Christmas shopping thrown in.We are head to Las Vegas for our annual Christmas Eve shopping & lunch.

Our sleigh is the hummer.

Everyone trying to find a seat.

Ruston is driving with Rylee upfront.

Dave & I are in the very back sitting on one tiny seat.

Lunch @ Cheesecake Factory

No reservations this year for large parties.  Only on a first come first serve basis.

We didn't want to eat at Midnight so Noon it was.

Thank goodness we were all hungry.

Ryder was eager

to try everyone's food if they were to full to finish.

Gallaria Mall

Larger crowds but still lines to enter the store.

 was in the dog house for not getting to Reganne fast enough to shop in the Toyko store.

Everyone was successful in finding exactly what they wanted for Christmas.  Let's hope the enthusiasm hold tomorrow when there aren't many surprises under the tree.

One more stop before calling it a night.  The Visitor's Center which still had a few people moving around.  We were able to find a Sister Missionary willing to take us around to the exhibits.

Family Photo 

Plus Grandma JeanAnn

Minus Reganne who begged off tonight to relax.

We had a great day spending time together as a family.  That is what makes this holiday so special spending time together forced or otherwise.  Remembering the birth of our Savior and how grateful we should always be.  

Christmas Vacation Begins....

Weird this year that vacation starts on Wednesday and not Monday?  I should have checked my calendar before starting out the week.  Here we are ready to to go buckle up it's on. 

I have always assumed that having teenagers would make daily life easier.  How quickly my assumptions have changed when I got the phone call.  MOM!!! the oven is on fire!!!  Ryder turned on the oven to make a chicken bake.  They don't taste the same making them in the microwave.  First question are you ok? Second question are you there alone?  Yes and no!!! Turn off the oven and keep the door closed.  Ryder & Ruston poured water on it while Rylee looked for the fire extinguisher.  All survived including my oven.

Dang!! it's dirty

I really need to clean this.

Fire caused by the overflow from Reganne's skillet cookie 

she made for dinner.

On the other hand maybe I should teach him how to clean it instead

Rylee & Ruston's

first Costco shopping trip.

Rylee looking for yummy treats and me on Face Time trying to give directions.

Christmas Gift

Unicorn

When I asked why?  Just like me it's the only and only in our group.

We have survived the first 2 days of break it it now time to have some fun.  Hopefully, enjoy some holiday spirit during another pandemic holiday season.