Grandma & Grandpa Ryerse visit!

We had the best time having Grandma Sue, Grandpa Dan & Uncle Randy come visit us.  It was seriously like Christmas when they got here...we had been counting down for days!  We were all so excited to have them!  Friday was filled with graduation events, but Saturday and Sunday we got to see quite a bit around here!

Saturday, we started in Riverfront Park and did all of the fun things there - played on the world's largest Radio Flyer playground, went on the carosel, walked around the river and over the bridges.  It was fun to go with them, the kids loved being able to hold Grandma or Grandpa's hands or getting shoulder rides from Uncle Randy and just playing with them! 

Then we were off to Couer d'Alene.  We played at Moose Park, walked along the boardwalk, and drove through the city.  So beautiful, I can't get enough of that place!  Then we made a stop at Capone's for dinner - yum! 

 

After Couer d'Alene, we stopped in at Cabela's for some shooting gallery fun, and to look around and buy some treats.  Grandpa Dan has never been to Cabelas, so this was a first for him. 

 

Sunday, we went to church, came home and ate lunch, did naps, and then went out to Manito Park.  Not everything was in bloom yet, but there were still brilliant spots that were gorgeous!  Every time we go there, I'm always so impressed by how many hands and hours it must take to maintain that place.  We then went back home, ate some dinner, played Family Fued, and just played with the kids and talked. 

They left Monday morning around the same time Emma went to school. The kids were so sad to see them leave! Emma said less than a minute of them being gone "I miss Grandma & Grandpa already!"  Thanks Grandma, Grandpa & Randy for coming to be with us!  We love you!!!

Oh, happy graduation day!

Are you ready for a picture overload?  Because it's coming!  Graduation is such an exciting time, and that was no exception in our house.  We are so proud of Dave for getting to this point!  Even more excited about graduation, we were excited for Grandma & Grandpa Ryerse (and Uncle Randy) coming to visit us and be here for the special occasion!  The kids couldn't wait and waited on the deck what seemed like all day!  When they got here, they started screaming with joy they were so excited!  It was so good to see them in person and not over Skype for the first time in a while!

That night, Dave brought out this special surprise for me.  Some Wazzu flip flops, a dozen crimson roses in a red vase, a candle holder and a cute card.  He just told me how we did it together and there's no way he could've done it without me and how he's so proud of me for the kind of mom and wife I am.  It was super sweet!  What a stud!

We had to do a little decorating, of course!  You only graduate from grad school once (usually...he has a few friends who have multiple masters, the life-long students.  We're done for a while at least!).

The morning of graduation, Emma helped me decorate the car.  We drew the WSU logo on there, Emma wrote some messages to Daddy and drew some pictures.  We got some people honking at us on the road.  Like how I wrote MPHA instead of MHPA grad...ha ha!  I must have been tired!

We went out to lunch before graduation at Tomato Street...oh.my.yum!  So good!  Grandma, Grandpa & Randy loved it too!

 

Then we were off to the INB Performing Arts Center downtown for the commencement exercises.  We took a few minutes to take some photos before.  I totally forgot Cal & Lucy's dress clothes to change into after lunch!  Ahhh!  We had a little crimson tie for Cal and a white dress for Lucy, but we didn't have time to go get it so they were in this.  

We love our Cougar!  Way to go, love!

Dave and his cohorts getting ready to go. 

Washington State University Masters of Health Policy & Administration 2013 graduates!

I made some bows for the girls, they had the Wazzu logo inside a bottle cap.  They were a hit and lots made comments on how much they liked them. 

While we waited in line, we had a little entertainment...thank goodness for Grandma, Grandpa and Randy and Butch, who came by to visit!

Commencement was actually really great!  The speakers were amazing people and they had some great things to say.  One speaker had the graduates stand up who fell into certain categories (were international, first generation college student, parents, etc.).  Pretty soon everyone was standing up. I teared up a little when Dave stood up when they said parent (yes, I'm emotional anyways, but even more when preggo).  Not only has he been an exceptional student these past few years, he's been there for his kids and is so good to them and me.  I love him!  Elson Floyd, the University president spoke, as well as Dave's cohort Dana. They were both really great.  They also had a woodwind quintet, which was nice. 

Pretty soon, they got to go get their "diplomas" and be hooded.  They actually said our last name right, wow!  And this portion of the program didn't last too long, because it was just some doctorates, masters, nursing, and a few other degrees related to health professions. 

David Ryerse, Master of Health Policy & Administration

Emma says "Nice job, Daddy!"

We then met Dave outside.  Here he is with his proud parents.  He's the first one in his family to go on to get a Master's degree. 

Here he is with some of the great people he went to school with and worked with almost daily.  I know he will miss seeing them so much.  We also need to give a shout out to Dave's friends Jeff & Josh, who both graduated in previous semesters.  Dave had met some incredible, life-long friends at WSU and has had such a positive experience here. 

Butch is back!

Phew!  He is DONE!  No more papers, no more exams, no more graduate projects due!  Although, he keeps waking up feeling like he has something due since then.  He he!  Poor guy!  Hopefully it will set in for real someday. 

Back at home, we had a party to celebrate!  Dave's family and a few close friends came over to enjoy the night with us.  We had Pizza Rita pizza with pasta & green salad, berry cheesecake jello salad, and Italian sodas.

The kids all had fun outside playing, jumping on the tramp, blowing graduation bubbles.  Cal & Easton had a blast playing soccer together. 

 

Let's get this party started!

The Halleys and the Bennetts...we are so grateful to have good, supportive friends!  We had some games planned, but just had a great night visiting all night.  Then the guys went to see Iron Man 3, which came out that night.

I was going to make a cake, but I figured I might not get time this weekend.  So Costco did a pretty nice job though! 

I told Dave to pick out some graduation presents, because I had no idea as to what to get him.  He picked this sweet wallet out, along with some other fun things.  Hopefully there will be some green in there soon and this degree pays off...ha ha!  :)

Seriously though, Dave's commitment to his education and to our family impresses me.  It hasn't been always easy for anyone, but he's pushed through and done the best possible job he could do.  He never settled for mediocre, but always strived for excellence.  And I think it has payed off.  He has received lots of awards and accolades from his cohorts and professors and everyone.  I love you, hon, and am so proud of who you are and who I see you becoming!  Go Coug!!!

Family, finals and frolics

Things have been crazy around here lately...Dave finishing up finals and school, and we've actually had lots of time to do things as a family, which has been so much fun!

 

First, here are a few random pictures of our fam and what each has been doing lately. 

 

Lucy has been getting very independent and can be very fiesty at times.  I guess it's a good thing, right?  Her favorite things to do are to raid my underwear drawer (see white girl do-rag below) and play with brother and sister.  She's getting rather good at talking and usually speaks pretty clearly so we can understand her and will put together short sentances.  My favorite is when she wakes up in the morning and says "It's a sunny day!"  I love it! 

                                                      

 

One day, we did silly string in the backyard.  Lucy was not amused, as you can tell!  Poor girl was terrified of the stuff!

 

Super cute Weber State girl!

 

Cal's been loving going outside with the warmer weather!  He's been so great at listening and helping out lately, what a sweet boy!  This day, he decided to play in the dirt outside and marked himself and told me "I'm Grandma Sue's mascot!"  I got a chuckle out of that one.  His favorite time of day?  When Emma comes home from school!  He also loves preschool and has been having a blast with his little buddies there.   

 

"I'm looking at you!" Cal said in this disguise. 

 

Preschool fun 

 

Emma has been working hard in school.  We had her parent teacher conference and she is doing great in everything.  Go Em!  She loves to play with friends after school and art projects.  She recently made her first thing on the sewing machine - a bean bag, which she did a great job on.  She had her first grade program at school, her favorite song was chicken rap (bawk bawk - what are they teaching kids in the schools these days).  Emma has been quite popular lately.  She's been to 4 (and invited to a few she couldn't attend) birthday parties in the past 6 weeks.  And, she got her first boquet of flowers from a boy at school.  Now, when I go volunteer in Emma's class, Aric blushes when he sees me.  Ha ha!  How did she grow up so fast?  She's into doing her own hair and won't let me touch it most days.  Or if I do, she'll pull it out and do it herself.  Funny girl.  She hates practicing piano and seems to think it's the worst thing that ever happened to her and that "none of her friends have to practice!".  But she does so well, so we will keep with it! 

Emma's music program.  She has so many cute little friends at school and they all did a great job with the program!

My little fire fighters

We've been out riding bikes and playing in the back yard as much as we can.  Cal loves doing tricks on his bikes and will do 360's on them.  He's pretty fearless.  Lucy just likes pushing her bikes around.  And Emma is still working on her bike without training wheels.  We also painted Cal's big wheel dark blue (his favorite color), so he wouldn't be rolling around on pink & purple anymore!  :)

We had a dirt devil back behind our house in the "sand dunes" recently.  It was pretty crazy to see it!  The kids were all quite impressed!

And after months of high stress never seeing him and changes of topics for his graduate project, Dave did it!  He defended his graduate project with flying colors!  :)  Yay babe!  He was also selected out of his cohorts to represent WSU at the Washington State Health Care Executives forum, along with some students from UW and EWU.  His professors and others in attendance pointed out how much better Dave did presentation-wise and how the cirriculum is better and the students are better ready to face the real world from Wazzu.  It was an honor though for him to be selected for this.  We are so proud of him!  It's been  relief to have him done!  He's worked so hard and we're grateful for his diligence.

We went to Frank's Diner the night he finished up his defense to celebrate.  We got to eat in an old train car.  It was a cute little place.  And we all had breakfast for dinner, even better!  Then we watched James Bond Skyfall, which was the first movie we've watched together in a long time!  Seriously, the TV has not even been on around here in months.  The movie was very good though.  And we all feel so relieved to be able to breathe little bit now.  Though Dave still feels like something is due and he has dreams (or nightmares) about homework and his project.  Ha ha!

When Dave isn't applying for jobs, or working on final projects or presentation, or helping out around the house, he's out zapping bugs.  Lol!  We got this bug zapper.  It's his new favorite toy.  We tried for several days to kill this ginormous fly, but it was so fast and invincible it took several days to get it.  The kids were quite amused, we thought for sure it died but it got up off the bug zapper (which will fry a spider or smaller flies instantly) and kept flying around.  It was pretty funny.  But it's been good to see Dave play with the kids more, since he hasn't had much time for that this semester (or all of grad school).  They are always laughing when they play with Daddy, and I like to just sit back and listen and watch and it makes me smile. 

I guess I'd better post one prego shot of me (the only one I've taken lately of me at all).  Here I am at about 23 weeks.  "You gotta love it, baby!"

We've able to spend some time together as a family again and just enjoy each other.  One night, we went to a tail gaiting party and then over to the Gonzaga vs. Wazzu baseball game.  It was chilly, but we had a good time anyways singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and cheering for the Cougs!

One weekend, we went to the Crimson & Grey spring football game.  It's a pretty big deal!  We got autographs from players, scored some free stuff, played on the Bouncy Houses, met Butch, the mascot, enjoyed some cotton candy and  fun football game. Go Cougs!

 

We went bowling for a family activity Dave's school was doing.  We haven't been for a while, so it was fun to get out and bowl with the kids.  Emma won, she got higher scores than all of us!  And Cal got excited whether he knocked down 1 or 10 pins.  I think that's how we should all be.  We're not in a competition with anyone else, just going for personal best.  Somedays, we have strike days and feel like we've done all we can, other days its a 1 pin day.  But as long as we do our best, it doesn't matter!  

Since we may be leaving town here soon, we've been trying to cram in all of the things we haven't done yet that we've wanted to.  We went to the Donut Parade and tried the maple bacon (and more!) donuts.  Pretty tasty!  And then we went over to Cal's Books ("There's mine book store!" Cal always says as we drive by) and let the kids pick out book. 

One Sunday afternoon, we drove to Kettle Falls.  It was such a pretty drive.  I love all of the pine trees!  We skipped rocks, walked along the shore, and visited a park around the area.  This part of the country is so beautiful.  I've traveled all over the country (thanks, Dad!) and this is some of the best out there!

 

So what's next for this here family?  I wish I knew.  We've had no luck securing a job yet, but are so close and are in the running for three, two on the west side of Washington and one in Utah.  So we're waiting to see where we'll end up, applying for more jobs, and packing our stuff up in the meantime.  We love it here so much, but every job Dave has applied for has turned us down.  So it looks like we're going somewhere else, and that must be the way its supposed to be.  Which makes me sad, but Someone else has better plans for us. And He knows best.  So we'll trust in that and we're hoping and praying something falls into place soon here.  Sometimes it's hard to play the waiting game and be in the uncertain.  But I know something will work out.  :)