Things around this Ryerse household has been a whirlwind! It's been full of ups and downs and lots of changes. But I love this time of year, late Spring into early Summer...Sprummer! And we've had lots of great things going on. We made the decision just a few weeks ago to make the move to Utah in mid-June. So that's what we did. It was the direction we felt our family should go in. Dave finished up grad school, Emma finished up first grade (minus the last two days), and we packed up and moved to UT. Dave's parents are gracious enough to let us stay with them until we figure out for sure where we will be working. So we're now living in their two-bedroom, separate entrance, separate kitchen and everything basement apartment. We have been here just a week now, but let's go back to what we did before we left the last little while!
We were able to do many fun things with friends and our own little family. One night, we did our own drive-in movie. We invited some friends over, gave everyone a box and some art supplies and all of the kids got to make their own car. Then we opened up our own concession stand. All of the kids had play money and got to buy drinks, popcorn and candy with it. I don't know if I or the kids have more fun! :)
Cal went on his first Fathers and Sons camp out with Daddy. He had the best time and couldn't stop talking about it, and still brings it up! Luckily, he only got hurt once (some scratches from falling) and came back in one piece! While they were gone, we had a girls night at our place with some friends. We had a beverage tasting party where everyone brought non-alcoholic drinks, and we had rating sheets and picked out the best drink around. I think some watermelon drink one, but I didn't take any pictures. So many times I just forget! :/ The kids played and we painted nails, and the moms stayed up talking all night - Peperli, Leah, and Teresa came. My friends are incredible and it's fun to learn more about them each time I'm with them, I'm inspired by them!
One of the best things we did this sprummer was fight! Ha ha! We had a pillow fight, which we do often, but one night it was soooo much fun and I laughed so hard my face and tummy hurt. Dave was teasing me that I had some aggression I needed to get out (this not knowing where we are going and what we are doing and having a baby on the way thing has been stressful and I've kind of been a pill lately) and we were duking it out big time! It was hilarious! Then we had a food fight one night. This idea originated last winter when the kids kept trying to do a food fight in the house during dinner. I promised them if they were good and didn't throw any food, when the weather got nice we would have a food fight outside. So that's what we did. Our cute neighbors, Mia & Ayanna and friend Bella came to join us. We had beans, peas, grapes, bananas, spinach, and spaghetti to fight with. It was a riot (and a mess) but we enjoyed that one thoroughly and hope to do it again in the future! Lucy was the only one who didn't like it...just like our silly string match we had a few months ago. She was hiding behind a bush, and when Cal put some pasta on her, she freaked out!
Before shot
After - time to throw these kids in the bath!
Ever wonder what this man does now that he's done with school? This, sleeping in skirts! Just teasing, hon! One Sunday afternoon, he was taking a nap, and the kids put this grass hula skirt on him and thought it was so funny! No, but really he's been applying for jobs like crazy and interviewing! And getting things packed up and ready to move with me. And still working hard like always!
Memorial Day weekend was nice! We did a lot of R & R, drove to some cemeteries in the area, wrote some letters and drew pics for some family who has served in the armed forces, had a BBQ with our ward, and finished it off with a Luau at home (a tradition my mom started for this holiday) with a Hawaiian dinner and games. At one cemetary, there was an impressive display of flags all over. It brought me chills and made me feel so grateful for all those who have served and also made me think of my own ancestors who sacrificed so much for their country, religion, and families.
We've been having fun with decorating cakes lately. I was asked to teach the cute Young Women in my ward some basics of cake decorating (not like I'm good...I have no idea why they asked me!). They are so adorable and loud and some really had a nack for it!
Then I saved some leftover frosting and made a cake for Emma to practice. She was getting pretty good at learning how to do borders and some flowers and other basic things.
And then I was asked to make a cake for wedding, which was totally intimidating because I am such an amateur, and never done any wedding cakes in my life! It was fun to do though for a cute couple from our church. It was super simple...it was a lemon pound cake with buttercream frosting...mmmm. I just decorated it with the flowers she gave me and some ribbon I found so it was. So happy for Mr. & Mrs. Hess!
I was also able to make one last trip to the beautiful Spokane temple. It is such a place of peace and has brought me so much solace over the past two years while we've lived in Spokane. We were blessed to live in an area where the temple was only about 30 minutes away!
We were looking for a rainbow all Spring and finally spotted one right outside our front window. You can't see it very well. But the kids were so excited and had to take some pictures!
We finally started watching a few TV shows again...the kids and Dave love Wipe Out & America's Got Talent started up again. We seriously haven't had the TV on very much at all lately, except for the occasional movie night. Which is a good thing. But these shows are our family's favorites. We had a snack before Wipe Out, and I dyed some ranch dip blue for water and gave the kids some veggies to make their own obstacle courses.
Emma has been wrapping up school. She had a field trip to the library and then the park. Daddy went with her class to this one and they had a great time!
We went to Emma's school Author festival, where in Emma's class, the kids took turns reading original compositions. It was fun. Then there was a picnic and play time outside. I also volunteered my last day there, which was bitter sweet. The kids are so cute and it was so fun to see how they've improved with reading and everything this year! Emma has had a great teacher, Mrs. Olson and has learned so much from her this year.
Emma's last day of school!
My friends Peperli and Kaytie threw a baby shower for me too. I was hesitant, since this is my fourth, but Peper said it's always fun to get some new things. So the theme was a "Whole New Bawl Game". So darn cute! There were hot dogs, Baby Ruth's, Cracker Jacks, yummy apple pie dippers, and soda. And Peper made some adorable decorations too. She is so talented! So many of our friends and ward came out, it was open house style and so much fun to talk to them all. We just chatted and they made me an advice/name ideas book, which was so great.
Cal had his last day of preschool. We did a water party at the Splash pad with his buds! The boys were hilarious, showing off their muscles! They got little memory books with pictures in them from their memories over the past year. Cal has had a great year with our neighborhood preschool and loves his little friends. He is going to miss them all!
We did a little party for Emma with some of her school friends. We went to the park and played, then took the kids to Shakey's pizza for some pizza, to sign books to exchange addresses and phone numbers, and played games in the arcade.
We are truly going to miss Spokane so much! It's been so good to us! I've loved the climate, the less dry air, it's a big enough city where it has everything, but it feels slower paced, it's family friendly, so many outdoor things to do, and the people, especially the people!
We had a final BBQ with the Bennetts and the Halleys a few days before we left. We ate some yummy chicken and sides and talked and joked. We've had some good times! Poppy did some balloon animals and other creations for the kids and they all played in the backyard. Then the adults had some fun taking some pictures, since we don't have many pics of the adults together. I think we had too much fun!
The few days leading up to our move, we had so many sweet visits, and so much help! The Young Men and some men from our ward came to help move all of our stuff out to the truck, and the sweet sisters from the Relief Society came to help clean the last day we were in Spokane. Our ward has been incredible and we've been so blessed to know each person. Our neighbours and ward members and friends came, bringing gifts, stuff for the baby, and treats for the road. They all brought tears to my eyes and I'm so grateful for the associations I've had here, and luckily with technology I'll be able to keep in contact with them! It was especially hard saying goodbye to the Bennett's, our best buds just around the corner. We've gotten so close over the last two years. We went to Kay's Teriyaki (so good!) for dinner and then they came over later and we talked in our empty place. They also brought some CD's for the road, the Muppetts and the Piano Guys. It was perfect! Donna, our next door neighbor and her kids and also Bob & Marie across the street, and Gail, our next door neighbor will also be missed like crazy. Thanks for the memories, Spokane! We love you!
The night before moving, we had to get some last minute things done and then Dave and I really didn't sleep well. So we probably got about 3 hours of sleep. We woke up at 3:30, and got out the door by 4:15 a.m. (yawn!). Dave drove the moving truck and I drove our car. The kids thought the moving truck was the best thing ever! My mom sent a package in the mail with treats and fun activities wrapped up, so the kids got to open one thing each hour. They were so excited about that and were actually all really good in the car! Thanks, Mom! We loved it! There were sticker books, and puppets, and all kinds of great things in there to keep them entertained. I was so sleepy on the other hand and had a hard time staying awake! I know I had help to do the 14 hour drive (including a stretch for 6 hours), and was carried by angels when I couldn't do it alone. I am thankful for the prayers that went up on our behalf to have safe travels.
Then, when we made it to Utah, we were welcomed by family and their help in getting us moved in. We are so blessed to have the best family ever, they are all so loving and supportive and step in to help whenever they can; moving things in, doing dinner, watching the kids, helping to organize and get settled!
