DHHS Homecoming 2023

Food from In & Out, a quick nap, and a shower this boy is ready for his first date.

Let's get the show on the road.

Day date 

Ryder & his driver

Dave was tagging along to drive.

They were all headed to do ceramics.

Ryder's project

Why?

A group of swimmers can't be without their suits.

You never now when you will be around water.

He looks really sharp.

Technology is great!!

Facetime to watch the pickup.

Ryder & Chesney

Homecoming pictures

Doesn't this group look suspicious?

Can you tell they are swimmers?

These girls have muscles!!

Another couple shot.

Group + 2 (the drivers)

They had a lot of fun from dinner, pictures, dancing, ice cream, and swimming. They were home by 11:00. Ryder said they all had fun. However, he is not convinced that the school dances are all they are cracked up to be. 

I reminded him that Sadie's is coming in a couple of months. This is a girls choice and he doesn't have to do anything but have fun. IF he get's asked. 

We are all exhausted after a busy day. Time for bed!!

Stingrays Fall Fling - Sept 2023

We missed the inter squad meet in August. This is the first meet of 2023 Short Course Season. You can feel the excitement in the air as every swimmer was eager to show off their hard work. Ryder was no different. Everyone  is ready to get the show on the road and churn up the water.

Excitement + Chlorine = Fun!!!

There were 3 clubs participating with about 75 swimmer. There were a large portion of these kids it was their first ever meet. This group kept the officials busy. Watching the smiles on their faces after they finished each event was priceless. No DQ slip can take that away from them. The older kids also swam their best and had some good times. It is going to be an exciting season.

My driver!!

Love the evil eye that is continually pointed in my direct.

This look often means I'm starving!! Feed Me NOW!!

Thank goodness that In & Out is 5 minutes away.

Event #2    Boys 13 & O 200 Yard Free    6th Place    2:04.71

Event #6    Boys 11 & O 200 Yard Fly    5th Place    2:27.25

Event #13    Boys  13 & O 200 Yard Free Relay    3rd Place    1:47.75

Event #17    Mixed 500 Yard Free    3rd Place    5:39.74

Event #19    Mixed 13 & O 100 Yard Free    9th Place    56.32

Event #26    Mixed 11 & O 200 Yard Back    5th Place    2:20.87

Event #31    Boys 13 & O 200 Yard Medley Relay    3rd Place    1:52.89

Event #34    Mixed 11 & O 400 Yard IM    2nd Place    4:57.38**

**First place final time 4:57.37 holy smokes it was a nail biter event. Hunter & Ryder kept switching who was in the lead depending on what stroke they were one. The final came with a longer reach. Afterwards Hunter told me "Your son made me work really hard in that event. I am sure tired." 

Time for lunch and a quick nap before heading out for homecoming.

How Exactly Did This Happen?

Happy Birthday Ryder!!! He made it to 16 with a smile on his face and an empty stomach.  I am not sure who was more excited for this day to arrive myself or Ryder. He definitely is a normal teenage boy it's all about the food.

Lunch at Chick-fil-a

I don't think he even took a breath between bites.

Dinner at Don Pedro's

A must have is the fried ice cream.

Birthday Cookies

You would think he was stuffed to the brim.

You are never to full to enjoy Costco's Chocolate Chip Cookies

No candles but a quick rendition of Happy Birthday.

One more before bed.

He definitely has good taste these are my favorites as well.

Let me explain about the cookies instead of. cake. When I asked them what kind of cake they wanted. The last couple of years its been an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen at a steep price of $50. Everyone takes a piece and then it sits in the freeze getting burned until I throw it away.  I almost had one long enough for a bonus year. This year I asked what kind of treat would you like for your birthday? Ryder's promptly responded cookies.  Let's see what Reganne comes up with in a couple of weeks.

Side note...no driver's license yet. Waiting for the teachers to get to his name. The wait begins...

A Wheeler Wedding

Dacoda all grown up and getting married. How could we miss it? We couldn't of course and headed to Provo. It's a beautiful afternoon not too hot or cold for this time of year. The girls had to work so we were able to leave the dogs in capable hands.

Waiting for the ceremony to start.

Many family and friends showing their support.

Dave found his seat.

Soon he was holding Brady who snuggled down to take a nap.

Miss Ava loves to dance.

As soon as the music started her face lit up.

The new couple

Dacoda & Kenzie Wheeler

Spencer with his cute baby boy Brady.

The Rawlins Family

Spencer, Brady, Jacy, and Ava

Ava loves sun glasses

Cutting the cake

Dave & Ryder

Ryder is catching up to Dave.

Dang!! 

They look good all dressed up.

Ryder, Dave, Blake, and Spencer

It was a beautiful wedding. Everyone had a great time celebrating this cute couple. We wish them a whole lot of success and happiness.

2023 Constitution Week

The Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox declared that the month of September would now be know as Constitution Month. United We Pledge listed many events to celebrate. I invited Grandma JeanAnn to come down and participate with me.

List of events.

Rylee & Grandma

It was Rylee's day off so she was excited to have some

alone time with her.

9/11 Remembrance

aka as Day of Service, Patriots Day

Field of Heros

Guest Speaker

He was a survivor at the World Trade Towers.

He was amazing and so inspiring.

First Responders

Instead of a moment of silence they rang bells.

Flag Retirement Service

over looking the Field of Heros

The local Boy Scouts demonstrating

the solemn ceremony of retiring old, worn out flags.

It is a very emotional ceremony.

The ashes will be

buried at Tonaquint Cemetery

The speaker at this mornings tribute spoke again.

It was an amazing service.

Every day I wonder have I taught manners and being a gentleman

to this crazy boy of ours.

Watching him taking care of grandma as she walked along the uneven walkway.

Warmed this mom's heart.

Ryder was our driver for the night

which included a bribery of ice cream afterwards.

It was a great day full of good things to participate in and learn from. I am so glad that grandma was able to come down and participate with me. I'm also glad that I was able to share this with Ryder. Hopefully, he will develop a love for our country and all that it stands for. Not to buy into the craziness going on all around us.

Is It Really September

Not sure how we got to September already yet here we are. This week has been like many others crazy busy. There is an added bonus of Labor Day. This gave us all an extra day to relax or get extra projects done around the house. 

The official reply

for Homecoming 2023

Ryder loves to plan everything out. He is not one to let others plan for him.

This is going to be a learning moment going with a group and letting the other boys take part in the planning.

New suit?

He really hates this jacket. It's black & boxey.

Whoa!!

He looks to grown up in this suit.

He loves the color and alterations are included.

Who knew? Not me but negotiated with Ryder he buys the suit and I pay for the alterations.

Score one for mom.

Hall linen closet.

Anyone have a 20 year old project that is always at the bottom of your list?

This is one of mine. While the kids were little  I told myself it would wait.

Wait it did!!

I found crib, twin, double, and queen size sheets hidden deep in the dark corners.

Another load is almost ready for DI.

Personalized pillow cases

from Grandma JeanAnn

Do I donate them?

Tik Tok Recipe

Shared with me by Reganne.

Cheesy One Pot Pasta

Pretty good, thumbs up to repeat.

Well we are all exhausted and didn't even make it to the lake. September doesn't look like it will be any slower than August. Let's hope we find time to have some fun.

Family Adventure Time

Have you ever seen the large clear garages? Think Fisher Price Car Garages. We went a little further and explored Carvana as an option to help Reganne replace her car.  Her poor PT Cruiser just isn't trust worthy any more. Ruston has replaced almost all internal working and it continues to over heat, make strange noises, or just spill mystery liquids all over the road. The time has come for something better.

Reganne & Dave with a whole lot of input from Ryder found the one that fit the criteria. Downside it's in Peoria, Arizona a 6 hour drive. We pile into the Monte Carlo and drove off into the sunset towards Peoria.

Is that Lake Mead?

Sign said Hoover Dam

Not seeing much with the concrete barriers.

It was good for a laugh that we couldn't see a thing.

Potty Stop

That looks like the one

She has her coin to start the celebration.

Lights, Camera, ACTION!!

Finally!!

Able to touch, smell, and examine

She has the keys

The boys 

As expected checking under the hood.

The experience is one of a kind.

The boys took the car for a quick test drive.

Hopefully, they come back. I don't have

the car keys.

Hit the road from home.

The only thing worse than a backside driver?

Is getting a phone call from the car ahead of us telling us what we

are doing wrong.

How about you pay attention to your car.

She is really doing this adult thing.

We had a great drive home with treats, K-Pop music, and a whole lot of laughing.

It's scary watching your kids start moving towards adulthood. Learning to be support only instead of the enforcer. We made it home all four of us and no bed bugs from the awful hotel we stayed in for one night only. The heat was brutal at 112 degrees at 9:00 a.m. We will not be moving here anytime soon.