Rawlins, here we come!

The Rawlins, Wyoming population will grow to 9,265 in August!  That's right, folks, we're moving to Wyoming!    

After months and months of endless applications, interviews (for one company, he had 7 total interviews for the same position only to be told they decided not to fill that position...dang budget cuts!), and let downs for fellowships and jobs, we landed the job we feel right about!  Dave accepted a job to manage Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, a 25-bed critical care hospital in Rawlins, and 5 other small clinics in the surrounding area.

A few weeks ago, they brought Dave & I up to meet the staff and physicians, who Dave would be working with.  Everyone was really nice and I think Dave will have a great time associating with and working side by side with these people.  Then the VP drove us around the town on a tour (which didn't take long, but hey, it was bigger than I thought).  It was dry, but had a lot of charm.  And it was bigger than I thought.  They had 4 nice parks, a rec center, a brand new elementary school, a movie theatre, bowling alley, library, a couple of grocery stores and a few retail places.  The next day, they called Dave back and extended an offer, Dave bargained a little bit and got more responsibility added to his plate to get more of the pay he was looking for (he's going to work with Health Information and direct that as well), and he took the job.  So now we've been looking for houses to live in, we went back once to look at some places and are trying to figure out which ones to put offers on.  I'm so grateful this job came when it did and thankful for the prayers and fasting that went up in our behalf.  I think it will be a great experience for Dave & our entire family!

Update on the kids!

This summer has gone by so fast (doesn't it always), I can't believe it is almost August!  A little update on the kids and their worlds since it's been a while...

Lucy has been super feisty and strong-willed lately.  Oh my goodness!  That girl tells us what is on her mind and she doesn't want to budge when she's made up her mind.  Stubborn!  But very sweet at the same time.  How is that possible?  She is totally talking in complete sentences and is easy to understand.  She says some funny things and the way she talks is adorable!  She is also learning and knows her colors and is starting to learn some shapes and letters.  She has the cutest little run too and loves to bounce as she does this sidewinder run.  She got a hair trim recently because her hair was getting very mullety.  I love the curls though in the back, they're cute!

Cal is all boy, what can I say?  He loves sports, weapons (toy ones of course), video games, things with wheels and the great outdoors.  He really likes catching bugs.  Here he is with a grasshopper on his shoulder and one in his hand.  "Awww, this little guy likes me!" he always says when he catches bugs.  He is enjoying playing piano still (most days) and taking lessons with Grandma Di.  He is very nice most of the time, but can also be aggressive sometimes and likes to punch others to show how strong he is, he says.  Cal is so excited for baby brother and is looking forward to meeting him.  He loves giving him raspberries, talking to him and snuggling him. 

Emma is the best big sister ever!  She takes such good care of Lucy & Cal and is so helpful!  The kids often go to Emma when they need something and Emma is more than willing to help.  Lucy will go to Emma and she just carries her around and hugs her, it is super adorable!  Emma likes playing Barbies, designing clothes for them out of fabric.  She always makes sure they are being modest though, it's cute!  She likes building with things, taking baths and showers, doing activities and crafts, reading chapter books, and playing with her friends and siblings.    

I love these faces and am so glad I get to be their Mom, lucky me!  xoxo

Family, family & more family (and friends, too)!

Did I mention family?  We have had so much family time this summer, it's been awesome!  We love being so close to everyone (except Adam & Meghan and their little ones), and spending our hours with them and a bunch of our friends as well!

Jerry & Stacy were so nice to take the kids after we moved in so we could get things settled and situated.  Emma and Cal had a blast with Tayla, Kaison and Brody!  They have been so excited about seeing them and ask me often to sing songs to them about their cousins.

Sweet dreams, sweet girls!

We have also been able to spend lots of time with Amber.  She's a cutie and the kids love her!

Amy Lou was so excited to come down and I was so excited to see her for the first time since December!  It's so much fun that she's expecting also and that we're pregnant together!  She is due in October and is having a boy, so that will be so much fun to have our little guys be buddies!  She came down to hang out, and we went with her and Mark, Mayela & Amber to see Monsters University, which was cute, then out to Cafe Rio for dinner.  I love my siblings and their families!  

These girls are two peas in a pod!

Water Wednesday - we went to go hang out with the cousins all day!  

We also got to watch the kids when Jerry & Stacy went on Trek and Girls Camp.  That was fun but crazy!  We went on picnics, did a lot of activities at home to keep them busy.  And we went to the park and splash pad in North Salt Lake.  It was like having 3 sets of triplets!  It was kind of hard to keep track of them all and at one point, Brody escaped our sight.  We found him in the bathroom eating an apple he found from who knows where...ewww!  It's fun they all have a buddy their age, we love it!  And most of the time they get along great!

We have been enjoying playing in the great outdoors, when it isn't super hot anyways.  It's been a sweltering summer!  The kids especially love "Grandma's Park", helping to water flowers and the yard, looking for bugs and digging in the dirt, going to parks, and going on walks.

We've been able to celebrate some birthdays around here.  The first one was Grandpa Dan - he turned the big 60 this year.  For his gift, Dave & the kids and I wrote 60 reasons why we were glad he was born down on individual cards.  There were some pretty memorable and fun ones and I think he liked it and everyone had fun hearing them all.  "He tickles me!"  "He was the only one who could tame Sue Hatch"  "He's always working hard"  "He plays with us" and more.  He is a great father-in-law and we love him!  We had dinner and pies and played games to celebrate.

Then we celebrated Kaison's birthday...I can't believe that little guy is 5!  He had a Scooby Doo birthday, which was appropriate, since all of the kids love watching Scooby with Grandma Sue!  We played some fun games, made Mystery Machines with egg cartons, and had a fun Scooby Doo cake.

We also have been able to do some fun family reunions.  The first one was with the Wheelwrights, my mom's brothers and sister and their families.  We had dinner and played sports the first night, then went to a patriotic concert in Bountiful.  It was fun to see some of my cousins and aunts and uncles I haven't seen in years!

The next day, we had a pancake breakfast in the park, then we went on a hike up Mueller Park Canyon.  It was raining like crazy at first, but cleared out pretty well and was a nice hike.  Cal was running up the whole trail it seemed, and Lucy loved being carried in the back pack courtesy of Dave.  Emma went with Aunt Amy & Uncle Kolby shopping, which she enjoyed.

Then we went to Gilgal Gardens in Salt Lake.  It was very interesting to read all about the artist and how he came up with his sculptures and the way he reflected his faith through his art.  We got a picture with some who were still around at this time by the iconic Joseph Smith Sphinx statue.

Then it was off to Liberty Park for a barbecue, games, and fun in the fountains.  We had a great time, but it was a hot day and we were glad to go get Slurpees afterwards to cool off!  It was fun to see everyone and catch up.  Lots of missions and mission calls, weddings, and growing up going on!  And the kids had a blast with some of my cousins, who aren't so little now!  They are asking to go play at their houses, even 16 & 18 year-olds Bethanie and Rachel.  :)

We also had the Stoddard Family reunion with the Stoddard's, my Dad's brothers and sister and Grammie.  We went boating at Pineview Dam.  These guys are all so great, it was fun to be with them!  Almost everyone was able to make it, so it was cool!

Amy and I don't really have a pregnant shot together yet, so we did it.  Beach babes!

My Mom started "Grandma Di's Book Club" this summer in order to encourage the kids to have fun with reading.  Amber was kind of struggling with reading and enjoying it, so she though this would be a good way to keep everyone reading.  She has the kids keep track of what they read and then she gives them prizes and incentives to read so many pages.  She helped them all make book bags (Emma helped do most of hers), which turned out so fun!  Then, each Thursday, she has a theme day and they read books and do a bunch of activities and crafts and games and snacks that match that theme.

This was the Bear themed day.  We read fiction & non-fiction books about bears, played some bear games outside, played charades reflecting what we learned about bears, made pictures of bears, and made bear claw cookies.

We have also been going to the summer reading program at the Library this summer - the kids were able to learn about and do hands-on things about art, languages, animals, music, pioneers, and the environment.  They love its, it's been really cool!

Then we've been able to get together with lots of friends.  And not just the kids' friends.  I got to attend my 10 year high school reunion.  It was awesome seeing some of my great friends, many of whom I still keep in contact with, and some I haven't seen for years.  We loved reminiscing and catching up and just being together again.  It made me so grateful to have had good friends during my teenage years, who helped encourage me to make right choices.  They are all such amazing people!  I haven't been very diligent at taking pictures this summer, but I was able to snap one with Kristen & Camille.  We also got together with the Haurands and the Mortensens, some other friends I know from way back in elementary school and their families.  We had breakfast and played at the park with the kids.  I love my friends!

We got to see some of our old South Ogden neighbours as well.  We have had some great times in the past and look forward to many more.  It's fun to see all of our friend's families growing!

We were also able to see our best friends, the Millers, who now live in Idaho, a couple of days as well.  The kids picked right back up and played like they had never been seperated.  Emma and Tavin were classic like always, Cal & Alec loved giggling and making trouble together and Lucy couldn't hug Kaleb enough.  We also got to meet Declan, their cute new little baby boy.  And we got to go to his baby blessing the next day.  It was neat to be there for that.  There were 4 baby blessings that day, and all 4 were boys!  I guess it's the year of the boy!

We love our family, they are so good to us!  And our friends!  Thank you to all of you for your support and friendship and love.  It hasn't been an easy summer for us, but you've all been so great and we love you all!

What America is...

We were recently able to celebrate America's birthday on the 4th of July, and what a celebration we had!  This country, the US of A means so much to me! 

America means food.  Food aplenty.  I've always been so grateful to never have had to go hungry and especially now as a mother, I think of all of those parents who have to struggle to find any food for their children and feel so thankful I've never had to tell my kids we have nothing to eat. 

Star spangled waffles.  I love festive food!

America means family.  Isn't that one of the big reasons America was founded and made great, so families could flourish?  And isn't it strong families that make America great?  I truly believe that strong homes make for a strong America.

Went to the Eaglewood Car Show and the Fireworks on the 3rd.  We enjoyed being with family, playing with balls and bubbles, rolling in the grass, eating peanut butter and marshmallow popcorn, playing glow stick bowling, and of course, watching the fireworks!

America means freedom. This is the basic principle our country is founded on. Freedom in so many ways and forms, what a blessing from God! America is a miracle. A few years ago I read 1776 by David McCollough. So many miracles were involved in gaining independence from England. And I know it was so we could have the basic freedoms we enjoy, and for me, one of the major ones is freedom of religion.  

We went to the Centerville Parade on the 4th, and then up to Ogden to have a picnic with the Stoddards.  The kids were so happy to see Morgan and Kyle, who moved to St. George about a year ago.  We had some yummy food and played on the playground. 

America means courage. I'm thankful for those brave forefathers and their vision and for all who have fought to get and keep America free from the beginning. I'm grateful to have family and friends and for those all over who have assisted in that; through politics, serving in the military, or being active voices or volunteers in the communities where they live. Thank you for your sacrifices!

America means happiness. I'm thankful for the happiness and the joy I feel to be able to be a citizen of the greatest country on earth. Anytime I hear a patriotic song, tears come to my eyes as I think of the happy, beautiful life I enjoy from living here.


We had a BBQ and then attended the Davis High fireworks on the 4th, the best firework show around!  We had a great time with the Ryerse clan.  It is getting crazy with so many kids around, but we corraled them around our circle of chairs for a while while the adults played games.  The fireworks, which are set to music, were amazing!

America means opportunity.  Opportunities abound here, and we just need to take advantage of opportunities, be grateful for them, and work hard to make the opportunity amount to something.   

My sweet sister-in-law Shirley is always taking pictures of others but never likes us to take pictures of her so she is pulling a face, ha ha!  Shirley is from Canada but lives here now.  Usually she and Jeff have Canadian flag camp chairs they brings to fireworks, but they recently broke.  So that's always been a big joke! 

My father-in-law Dan.  He's a great man who has taken advantages of the opportunities he's been given and worked hard his entire life.  That's the spirit!

America means hope. Hope in a better future day for posterity. This has always been a vision of many, including mine. 

"My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth." -Abraham Lincoln 

 

"Because of what America is and what America has done, a firmer courage, a higher hope, inspires the heart of all humanity." - Calvin Coolidge

America means God. We are still one nation under God, and though some seem to argue this, it's been this way from the beginning and as far as I'm concerned will be that way forever.   May "In God We Trust" ever be our motto!  

A whirlwind...finishing up school, summer is here and moving!

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!

We've also been trying to go places and see things in Spokane, since we haven't had any luck with the job search in the area.  One night, Dave & I went on a date to the Milk Bottle, which is on the movie Benny & Joon, which I've never seen but now want to.  It's a landmark here and it was fun to relax with my man!  And the food was super tasty!

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!