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.

Sneak a Peak into Our Week

We are as busy ever school starting didn't change a thing. Thank goodness that swim is still on summer break for another week. We have had some crazy stuff this week.

Beware of a angle grinder

and always wear protective eye wear.

Dave had safety glass on while working on a motorcycle.

He did burn a hole into this shirt with the flying sparks.

Safety First!! is our motto for sure.

Rylee and Friends

Didn't have reservations for where they were going.

Took a risk and ended up in Cancun Mexico for a long weekend.

Food does look amazing

Look in the window

Reganne hard at work.

I was headed back from Hurricane after lunch.

Decided to surprise her and say hi.

I also snagged a drink & pretzel since I totally forgot about lunch.

Good Morning!!

Chocolate, Peanut Butter Smoothie

We haven't had this flavor in months.

It was yummy!!

Gone are masks.

They are now Droplet Guards for kids

What they won't try to get this whole COVID thing going again.

Though of the week

"You can't always control what goes on outside, But you can always control what goes on inside."  by Wayne Dyer

Love our Monday Motivational Email this week.

The weather is going to be crazy for the next week or that's what the weathermen say. I would love it to be a little cooler. We can always use the rain. The wind is another story. Hurricane Hilary is supposed to raise chaos on the West Coast.  Whenever they say prepare nothing happens. If it happens really quick flooding is possible. I am looking forward to things returning to normal a little bit more. Swim starts next week.

2023 - 2024 School Year

Newest Sophomore

Desert Hills High School

August 15, 2023

8:20 am

All the chaos that swirled around going to CT High School or Desert Hill came down to which one was willing to work with him and answer his questions. Desert Hills was able to offer him multiple pathway classes this year without having to repeat any. If Ryder continues with his classes plus 3 additional online classes this summer he will graduate at the end of his junior year. We are all on board and supporting him to reach his goals

Ryder tells me that he is going to keep me young. I just hope to keep up with him.