It's October

The fall season is finally upon us.  The heat is starting to subside with cooler mornings and warmer afternoon.  Usually there is the dilemma of using the heater in the morning and the AC in the afternoon.  My choice is opening the doors and letting the fresh air inside.  The kids are freezing and Dave is hot.  I love cuddling up with a blanket when I am cold.  It's also time to get the decorations out and enjoy all things creepy & bloody.  I am the family wimp that likes the cute pumpkins and falls smells.

Dave discovered one of the local car washes were doing a fundraiser with a Haunted Car Wash on Friday & Saturday nights the whole month.  I sat in back so Ryder could experience the whole thing.

Creepy & Smoky

at the entrance.  Enter if you dare.

Dang!!!

Where did he come from?

He's back!!!

Ryder wasn't to sure

what would pop up next.

Hello or Goodbye??

It was up to us.  She wouldn't move.

We survived and even had a few laughs.  I can do spooky if I know they can't touch me.  Thank goodness for leather seats.  I was worried that Ryder might lose it.  On the way home he declared that next week it was Rylee & Reganne's turn to go.  It was a fun way to start holiday season out. 

Rylee & Ben

Rylee surprised Ben for his birthday with a helicopter ride

over Zions.

It was a fun weekend full of activities both birthday & Halloween.  Let's keep the fun coming and enjoy!! We are starting to spike again with the virus but nobody wants to stay inside.  This might save us here in Southern Utah.

Happy 16th Birthday

It is time to celebrate another birthday at our house.  This is one of the big ones!!!  Reganne has turned 16!!!  Who would have thought that we would still be in the midst of the pandemic.  We need to make this day special for her not only did it fall on Sunday this year but on General Conference weekend.  Birthday dinner on Saturday at Pasta Factory.  The food was yummy with a birthday slice of cheesecake.  We just had to convince her to try it.  She did give it a try and decided it was good enough to finish.

All she wanted to do for her birthday was sleep in.  She did get her wish.

Birthday presents are 

the best.

New flat iron, fish tank, and beautiful earrings.

She was definitely spoilted.

Birthday cake or ice cream?

How about both but it needed

to unthaw a little.

Maybe the candles will help it along.

Make a wish

Birthday Dinner

Chicken w/ Rice

This is her favorite Sunday dinner.

We hope that she had a great weekend with no chores, picking out the meals, and getting presents for being awesome.  She is looking forward to getting her drivers license and being able to drive wherever she wants to go.   

She amazes me every day with her tender and compassionate heart.  She always wants to make everyone around her happy.  She is definitely the peacemaker in our family.  She still loves all things BTS but is slowly branching out and trying out new music.  We love her so much and glad that she is ours forever.  I am excited to see what her future holds for her.

2020 CSC Pumpkin Invite

The last swim meet was successful and all the kids were invited to the Cedar City Pumpkin Invite.  The kids love this meet because they can win pumpkins for first place in each heat.  Ryder was eager to get it started and see if he could win one.  The meet rules were a little stricter due to being on the college campus.  No sitting on deck unless you are wearing a mask.  No sitting outside the pool area this was reserved for the swimmers.  The swimmers were required to where their masks at all times unless they were in the water.  They were provided a bag to keep their masks in while they are in the water.

The weather was great for sitting outside with the other parents and teams.  Warm ups started and the kids were ready to get started.  The younger kids were playing Covid Tag and the Doctor has to give you a vaccine.  Once everyone had the vaccine they changed directions and played zombie tag.  You never now much your kids are listening to you until you watch them play.

Everyone setting up.

Finding a shady spot

Ryder having fun with the team.

It's not cool to sit with your parents.

The kids were definitely ready

to swim.

Starting blocks

He is ready for his events

and eager to cut time off.

He did it!!!

A First Place in the 50 Freestyle.

He cut time off all his events and all smiles when he got to pick his pumpkin.  We were ready to head home but he needed to stay for a team picture of all the pumpkins.  We are proud of his success and hard work.  The next meet is on Halloween weekend which he will do the 500 & Mile once again.

Mixed (13 & Over) 200 Free, 8th Place, 2:26.64 (2:35.91)

Mixed (11 & Over) 200 Breast, 3rd  Place, 3:06.85 (3:11.88)

Mixed (Open) 50 Free, 13th Place, 29:34 (31:36) First Place in his heat.

Bribery!!!

Muddy Buddies

I am not above bribery with my teenagers.  This weeks chocolaty goodness worked on one and not the others.  Rylee was busy studying and Reganne was busy napping.  Ryder devoured half of the pan before dark.

I am need to step up my game if I want to bring them home.

 

NICU Reunion 2020 Style

Decorate your cars and come and celebrate with us.  Ryder was all for it if we could take the Nova.  Dave came up with the idea to paint the windows which Ryder wasn't to sure about.  Please don't embarrass me!!!

Please let me drive?

I believe we are ready to party.

Class of 2007

These paints are cool.

Drive Thru Parade

Hospital parking lot.

NICU Staff

The one in the middle was one 

of Ryder's day nurses.

I totally agree

More staff

Another member of Ryder's team.

She worked with us to get him to eat.

Treats!!

Yummy from Zeppes.

It was a fun morning with not many cars yet.  They worked really hard just like every other year to celebrate their graduates.  We are so thankful to them for their hard work and dedication each day to help their tiny patients thrive & grow up.

Later reports that were a lot of graduates that showed up.  We won an Honorable Mention Award for having a cool car and a cool graduate.

Who Is A Teenager??

 That would be this boy!!!  He has been waiting ever so patiently (NOT) for this day to arrive.  He had the whole day planned and was definitely ready to be a teenager.

It's official

he is a teenager!!!

I was ready to take him to lunch.  Instead he had his friends over for more games and craziness. None were eager to eat instead they couldn't be bothered.  I was interrupting their fun.  We need to go to the swim meet .  He also had been waiting not so patiently for his main gift a cell phone with actual service.  No more begging and pleading to use mine.

He also wanted something else...

A Salt Lamp

it even changed colors just like everything else

in his room.

We had dinner at Olive Garden followed by a yummy chocolate pie from Crowshaws.  He loved all the attention and is eagerly awaiting a shopping trip with Rylee & Ben for some new clothes.  I would love to turn the clock back but I have learned over the past 6 months that it's impossible.  I need to accept the years are swiftly moving by.  It's only the days that seem to drag right now.  We are excited to watch him grow and learn.  The sky is the limit for this boy.

Fall Fling Swim Meet

It's time for another swim meet the Fall Fling.  We must have been successful at the squad meet in August that the WCCC is willing to give us a chance now.  All the rules are still in play  with masks being the main requirement.  Check in was early so everyone could sign in and answer all the questions.  The kids headed to the pool for warm ups.  I headed outside to were the officials meet to enjoy the fresh air with no mask until the meet started.  

The kids waiting patiently.

Sand Volleyball

The kids had to be outside while waiting 

for their events.  I am not sure

but sand & water may not be a good mix.

Stream Line

This picture looked cool.

His stream line has come a long way since 

last short course.

The 500 Freestyle

There was a slight disagreement about form

and which was best.

Coach Dani asked him to try his way on this event.

He wasn't as successful as he had hoped it would be.  The mile tomorrow he will do it her way.

Saturday morning check in @ 7:00 am.  Once again sign in, answer the questions, and wait until the whistle blows.

Sign Ins

Quiet and silent pool

Time for the Mile

39 laps out of 63

Team mates counting for each other.

Cheering section!!!

It was a great meet with Cedar City Swim Club participating.  Ryder did very well except for one minor set back.  The boys lost count and he ended up swimming an extra hundred.  He will definitely be trying this event again to improve his time.

Events:

Mixed (Open) 200 Breast 36th Place, 3:23.75

Mixed (Open) 500 Freestyle, 35th Place, 6:45.53

Mixed (Open) 1650 Freestyle, 2nd Place, 24:03.40 (extra 100)

Mixed (Open) 200 Back, 30th Place, 2:46.80

Mixed (12 & Under) 50 Back, 4th Place, 36:72

He worked hard and was very tired by the end.  He still had energy to celebrate his birthday.

The Open events are for all ages 18 to 7 all competing together.  It is a great challenge for the younger swimmers to see how they are doing in comparison.  The next meet is in 2 weeks in Cedar City.