Happiesssst of Birthdaysssss to Callahan!

We celebrated Cal's 10th birthday.  "I'm double digits," Cal kept saying.  Yeah, baby!

We woke up singing birthday songs to the kid.  He popped right out of bed and was ready.  Cal wanted a snake birthday.  He's been asking for a real snake lately, but I keep crushing his dreams, but we had fun with some fake snakes.  We made snake rice krispy treats for his class.  I hope they didn't get too grossed out.  ;)  It was fun and speedy to throw together.  I volunteered in his class as I do every other Wednesday and he was glad to see me.  I love how excited he still gets that I come and he still gives me hugs in front of his friends.

After school, Cal and his friend Logan and the kids played.  We played some games like "hide and go snake" where we had to take turns hiding and finding a plastic snake.  Then we made some snake paper plates.  The kids did a reptile trivia game and did pretty well.  We had some more activities but didn't get to them. And we looked at scrapbooks of all of his past birthdays.  Fun looking back!  Then, it was dinner time.  We had orange chicken for the main entree, one of Cal's favorites.  At dinner, we talked about the things we love about Cal.  Lucy said he is funny and he's always being nice to her and Covey.  Cov said he loves that he's nice and plays with him.  Daddy said he's learned to work really hard this year.  Emma said she loves that he sings in the shower.  I said I love how he has a positive outlook and is always smiling.  Then it was present time.  He got a new comforter for his room that was WSU, some boring clothes, some legos from G & G Ryerse, football blanket, an animation set from G & G Stoddard, and a gymnastics mat.  He was pretty excited and made sure to tell everyone several times thanks for the gifts.

We had to go to Young Women in Excellence for Emma.  Normally, we'd bag it, but felt we needed to go.  It was great and Cal was a sport about going.  Then we came home to sing to him and for cake.  Cal found this recipe he wanted to try.  Funfetti Cake Batter Cookie Dough Brownie Layer Cake.  Oh wow!  It was crazy rich and so much sugar and fat, but super tasty.  Everyone really loved it and gave it 5/5 stars.  Alright.  Then Cal tried out some of his new stuff for a bit.  He was all smiles. He slept on his gymnastics mat with his new blankets.  What a fantasssssstic boy!  The weekend after, we went to Get Air trampoline park, which was a blast for us all!

Nicknames? Callaham, Ham, Cal

What is your favorite color? Neon green
What is your favorite toy? Legos
What is your favorite tv show? The Flash, Harry Potter, football
What is your favorite movie? Avengers Infinity War
What is your favorite thing to wear? Slitheryn shirt
What is your favorite animal? Cat  
What is your favorite book? Harrry Potter
Who is your best friend? Logan, Leland
What is your favorite school subject? PE
What's your favorite thing to say? "yeet!"
What is your favorite snack? Pizza
What is your favorite fruit? Banana
What is your favorite vegetable? Cucumber
What is your favorite drink? Water
What is your favorite breakfast? Toaster pastry
What is your favorite lunch? Tomato soup and cheese sandwich
What is your favorite dinner? Orange chicken
What is your favorite game? Roblox, Chatter Matters
What is your favorite thing to play outside? Football
What is your favorite thing to play inside? Chess
What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
What do you sleep with at night? pillow blanket
What do you want to be when you grow up? Work at an animal shelter

Erin & Randy Tie The Knot. 10.19.18

After years of waiting for this, it is done!  As Dave's mom has said more than once "Hallelujiah!"  Randy finally got married, and to an amazing lady, too!  We first met Erin this past summer, and she's so outgoing and fun and kind and spiritual and more.  The two have been friends for almost three years and always hung out with a group.  Finally this past spring, Erin & Randy hooked up and boom...here they are all married!  We were SO excited about this!  It was always kind of a family joke that Uncle Randy would live in the basement forever.  But not so!  Cov was asked (well, he kind of asked...but Randy had no one else in mind) to be the Best Man.  He's always been Randy's little buddy.  So he asked "Can I be the special helper at your wedding?"  "You mean like the best man?" they replied.  "Yes, the best man!" So best man he was!

It just so worked out that they got married during our teachers convention, so the kids didn't have to miss school, so that was nice.  We headed down Wednesday and got there that night.  It was great to see everyone!  Thursday, we picked our pumpkins out of Grandma Sue's pumpkin patch, hung out with Grandma Di for a bit, helped decorate, ran errands with Sue, got everything set up and ready, got haircuts, went to the park with the cousins while the men all took Randy out to Dave and Busters for a little bachelor party.   It was a busy but great day!

On the big day, we woke up and got everyone ready, which is no easy task for a family of 7, lol!  We met Grandma Di at the Salt Lake temple and she took the kids of the interactive exhibits at the family history library.  We went in and oh, what a magnificent temple it is!  We waited in the waiting room and then got to go in the Celestial Room.  I always love going to weddings and it makes me remember why I love my Dave and the covenants we've made together.  I loved some things the sealer said.  He talked about all those who have supported Erin & Randy and said those inside the temple and out.  This was significant, because I don't think he knew, but the Lord does, that Erin had some family members who weren't able to attend.  He said that everyday, your marriage should have some celestial quality.  I loved this!  That made me think that there's at least one thing I can do each day to make our marriage a celestial quality.  Then he really emphasized the importance of teaching children about the family and using The Family: A Proclamation to the World as a guide and also the importance of the temple by setting the example of going to the temple often.  Those are some things we can do better as a couple with in showing our kids how important these things are.  This is why we are here!  It was a beautiful sealing and made me tear up a bit!  It was great to greet them at the end and that part made Dave tear up a bit, too, though he wouldn't tell you that.  Outside the temple, we waited and enjoyed the beautiful morning and took some pictures.  Sydnie was SOO tired and cried through it all!  As they came out, we all hooted and hollered, took a bunch of pictures and Cal wanted a selfie wtih Randy.  Cal, Covey, Kaison and then Brody and Lucy were so cute and took Erin's train and started holding it up as they were walking without anyone asking them.  So sweet!  We took more pictures, and then Stacy took some of our family.  Cov got to be in more pictures than anyone, being the best man.  It was sweet, but he kept saying the days leading up to the wedding "I'm so nervous!"  "What do I do?"  It was funny.  But he did just great and ate up being in that special role.  He'll always be Randy's little buddy.  When he does funny things or talks about Randy, or when I take pictures of them, I send it to Randy or post it on social media hoping that some cute girl would see it and melt because of how this little boy loves him looks up to him so much.  Maybe it helped?  ;)  After the pictures, we went to the location of the luncheon, which was an upscale assisted living center in Sugarhouse where Erin works.  We helped decorate and get all of the food set up.  It was a taco bar that was catered and it was tasty!  We got to visit with the family and try to keep the kids good.  Though we did get quite a few comments that day on how well behaved the kids were, I always like hearing that because I feel like a circus master most days!

The reception was at a quaint little church in Centerville, where Erin's parents live (she lives in Bountiful in a condo, where she and Randy will live now).  It was decorated SO cute!  We helped get things going and made sure everything was ready to go.  It was a great night and so many came out, we ran out of seating.  Erin is a very social one and they send out 800 invitations, wow!  I helped keep the kids out of trouble, talked to guests (hooray for family and we have some mutual friends).  They had a donut wall and chips and salsa and guac for eats, which was fun.  I took the kids out and we bought some things to decorate their car with, so that took a lot of the time.  Then we danced a lot, Cal stole the show with his back flips and the worm.  And then we watched them cut the cake.  They were nice, no smashing here.  Then we saw them off with sparklers.  The kids were pretty proud about their car they decorated and the ideas they put into it.  What a beautiful night!  We are glad to welcome "Sister Ryerse" to our crazy family now!  Love is the knot that ties us all together.

The day after the wedding, we met up with Mayela & Amber and friends, the Miller family, at Lagoon.  Only Emma and Cal have been and it was probably 8 years ago.  So it was time!  :)  They loved it!  We took Sydnie with us for a couple of hours and then Dan & Sue came and watched her the rest of the day, which was so sweet of them!  Cov was especially fearless and went on a lot of rides I didn't think he would.  Lucy liked most, but when she was scared, she let us know and was not happy we made her try a couple.  Cal and Emma couldn't get enough.  It was a blast!  They liked some of the Halloween things and not other Halloween parts.  Such great memories together with our family and friends and a great way to end this nice weekend!