Happy Birthday!

It was another Happy Birthday for Ry! Hard to believe 17 years have come and gone. The birthdays/getting older needs to stop. I wish I could command a freeze frame on life sometimes. I remember saying this when the kids were growing up...just FREEZE FRAME....right where we are. I really wish it was possible. Here's a quote that resembles my thoughts lately: "The future has a way of arriving announced!" Yes it does, and way too quickly!

We went from this....

to this...in what feels like just a matter of minutes(not years).

Ryan has always had a bit of a fear for (helium)balloons - we have many stories, but as he's gotten older he's better able to control his reactions in dealing with situations(mostly parties) that involve confronting his nemesis(the most common party accessory - the balloon). So, the last few years he's asked me to pick up a bunch of helium balloons for his birthday. It's his way of coping, so I oblige and become the best party planner for his special day. This year I took a picture and sent it to him to let him know the planning was in motion...

And his birthday pose with his favorite(or not quite yet) party accessory.

He decided he was going to put them around his room for the night....needless to say, he didn't sleep very well that night - haha!

I asked Ryan if he wanted anything special for his birthday. He said, "yes, can you make banana bread so I can smell it when I come home?" Of course I can...

We also went out to dinner for Ryan's favorite meal - steak/potatoes - and came home to have a Happy Birthday Celebration!

17 fun facts about our Birthday Boy!

1. Still very sweet and sensitive, with a touch of sass

2. Loves bacon

3. Not a fan of mom's attempt at healthy eating

4. First question of the day(everyday) - "??What's for dinner??"

5. "He's a great posse member for Red Dead 2" - Cody

6. "He's a true Japanese chef" - Kaitlyn

7. "He's traveled to 3 different states to watch 21 Pilot's concerts with us" - Andy

8. He's sought after by the ffa teachers, because they know who his dad is and because he's good at the meat judging competitions

9. He's Josh's favorite

10. Favorite show as a toddler was Blues Clues

11. Favorite pizza flavor is Ham

12. Favorite Music - 21 Pilots

13. Kaitlyn's nicknames for Ryan are Worm, q-tip, Kyle, Rayman, and "Dumb-Nut" - all private jokes between the two of them

14. Is super great at memorizing

15. The best shark tooth finder. The boy can find a needle in a haystack...sharp eyes!

16. Started a band - simple dreamers

17. Does not like hot dogs(he got sick after eating them one time, so they are not a favorite)

Happy Happy Birthday to our Ry! We love you forever!!

Athens

When Kailtyn was here this summer she wanted to take some pictures in Athens, so she captured a few shots around town and on campus that showcase some of Athens beauty.

Legend has it that if you step through the Arch on campus before graduating, you may never graduate. Casey likes to demonstrate this via his pictures...

As you can imagine, it's always a huge photo op for visitors, students, and graduates - Most of the time you have to wait your turn for a photo with the Arch.

We love Athens and all it has to offer - especially the good eats! I had a friend tell me about a place that has homemade Popsicles, so we stopped by for dessert after our delicious dinner!

We loved our Tour de Athens. It was a fun and delicious evening out on the town!

And yes, we ate more than one Popsicle - they're that good!!

Last Weekend of Summer Break

Andy, Janelle and Josh(Seth had went with a friend to Tennessee for the weekend) came to relax and enjoy some last minute down time before the grind of the school year began. We swam, had smores, enjoyed some good eats in Athens, and partied till the sun went down😀

I'm not really ready to say goodbye to the easy breezy schedule that comes with summer, but nonetheless it's that time of year. So, here we go - ready or not - let the school-year/work begin. Until next year!