Holy teeth, Batman!

Reese's two bottom teeth have been loose for about two months.  The bottom right was hangin' on by a thread but she wouldn't let us touch it.  I was watching her eat her snack while playing with her tooth and I told her that sucker was comin' out tonight.  She didn't protest as much as usual and I think she realized it was time.  When daddy got home we got down to business.  Ryan told Reese, "I promise it doesn't even hurt, Reese. Just do it."  Nothing like a little sibling pressure to really get things going.

That first one came out no problem.  She was really excited!

 

 Then she chomped on the washcloth for a bit.

And then we got the other one out.  I realize this is gross--the blood on the washcloth, the photo below of the two little teeth pulled out, but hey, I want us all to remember every moment of this some day.

 

 And then there was the REALLY excited face.  Two teeth gone!  The tooth fairy has her work cut out for her.  Reese was so happy.

 Reese has always had a bigger gap between her two front teeth because her top teeth kind of swag out (picture drapes on a window).  The gap is huge with the bottom teeth both gone and the space on top.  

Our baby girl looks like such a big girl!

Remembering Gammie

We had Gammie's funeral and reception on Monday night it was such a nice ceremony.  There were SO many people that came out to support her, our family, and her legacy.  Sometimes I think I took for granted all the amazing things my Gammie did in her lifetime.  I just knew her as my fun grandma that loved me to pieces and didn't really think too much about the life she lived before she had kids and grandkids.  When my dad & Uncle Phil were talking about her it was pretty astounding to hear all that she accomplished in her 84 years.

I gave a little speech about my Gammie after my Uncle Phil spoke and I was so happy that I got up and said a few words.  I was REALLY nervous the days leading up to it because I knew there would be at least 500 people there and every time I read my speech out loud I started crying at the end.  When I got up there to talk I really felt a calm presence come over me.  I know that my Gammie was with me and she was helping me stay calm and get the words out without breaking down.  I think that she would have been proud of the eulogies that were delivered by me, my dad, & Uncle Phil.  The music was so beautiful and her pastor did such a fantastic job.  The reception was catered by Robert's Catering and the food was delicious.  I know that she would have loved it all and I hope she was looking down with a smile, knowing that we were celebrating her beautiful life to the fullest.

Here is my speech about Gammie:

For those of you that don’t know me I’m Lisa Whyte, Bill & Sharon’s daughter, and Audrey’s oldest grandchild.  I have been thinking about what I want to say and share with all of you about my Gammie.  I have so many memories with her that are priceless and she taught me so many pearls of wisdom throughout my 33 years.  She was such an amazing grandmother to me and my 13 cousins.  We loved going to her house and playing on the farm.  We were allowed to run around and get into all kinds of mischief.  We'd go across the way to ride the golf cart at Uncle Mike's house, which we crashed on more than one occasion, and somehow we never got in trouble. Gammie would ring the big ol' dinner bell when spaghetti dinner was ready and we'd all come running across the field.  

She loved traveling and she wanted to share the world with us.  Gammie & Papa would take the four oldest grandkids on vacations when we were little.  We'd load up in the motorhome and hit the road.  We went to the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, southern Arizona, & Carlsbad Caverns.  My papa was always driving, hoping we'd make good time, and Gammie would sit in the back with us and play Old Maid or Go Fish.  I remember having so much fun on those trips.   

Gammie was so thoughtful and generous in every way.  It usually showed up in the little things she did.  I thought it was amazing the way she would send a card to every single person in our family for every single holiday.  Without fail we would get cards for our birthdays, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, & Christmas.  She made every holiday so special.  In this day of electronic everything it was so nice to get the mail and see a hand written note to me, my husband, and each of our three children.  She taught me that it's those little gestures of love and kindness that really make a difference.  

My Gammie was so full of life and had such a zest for living. I think she truly taught me to be a YES person.  She was always up for a good party and said YES to everything.  Whether it be a baby shower, birthday party, or just a family dinner---you could always count on Gammie to show up with a smile.  I know in the last few years that was sometimes hard for her to do.  It wasn't easy for her to get around but she always made such an effort to be there and I was so grateful for her presence.  The last party she went to was on Feb. 9th at our Remax office.  It was my dad’s surprise 60th birthday party.  She was there dressed up in her red & gold jacket, makeup on, and looking great.  She had fun chatting with everyone and took some leftovers home for Bo.  It was a wonderful night and she had so much fun.

She was such a strong woman with a spirit that couldn't be crushed.  The night before she passed away I was at hospice with her and my mom and we will treasure those last moments we got to spend with her.  She was totally coherent and we were having a conversation with her.  She was asking me to scratch her back and said she wanted the nurses to give her a bath.  She asked for her reading glasses so she could watch TV. She probably wanted to see if Dancing with the Stars was on.  We thought she was on her way to comeback again like she had done so many times before.  But this time was different.  She was ready to go home and be with my Papa.  Selfishly I want her back because I miss her so much and it's not the same without her, but I know that she's in heaven and she's the life of the party up there.  My sweet Gammie, I love you so much and I will miss you all of my days.  

Audrey June Stall Ryan

My sweet, sweet Gammie passed away on Tuesday and it's been a tough week for us all.  I was with her most of the day on Monday at the hospital and then at hospice that night after they moved her over.  I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with her that last night.  She was talking to me and asking me questions.  I got to tell her how much I love her and she said back, "I love you too". 

She was such an amazing woman.  My mom wrote her obituary below.  I hope I can lead a life half as great as hers.  She was one of a kind and we will miss her so much, but I am so happy knowing that she's in heaven with my Papa.  I bet she's laughing away and having way too much fun.  That's just her style.
 

Audrey June Stall Ryan, a Chandler native and member of a prominent pioneer family, died peacefully on February 21, 2012, nineteen years to the day after losing her husband of 43 years, Robert David Ryan.  Audrey was born to Adah Ware Stall and John Franklin Stall on May 28, 1927 in the old Le Seuer home in Mesa, which at the time, was used for delivering babies.  The Le Seuer home was the site on which the Southside District Hospital would eventually be built.  She joined big brother, Klyle, and they lived on the family farm, 160 acres of land on the northwest corner of Cooper and Germann Roads in Chandler.  With the Great Depression of 1929, the family found themselves impoverished and couldn't pay the back taxes.  The family farm, which Audrey's grandfather, David Washington Stall had homesteaded since 1910, was lost because they could not pay the $400 tax bill to save the land.

Audrey's father then went to work for the Robinson family, who ran the San Marcos Hotel, and the Stalls lived on the Robinson farm on the corner of Pecos and McQueen Roads.  Audrey attended Cleveland Elementary School and Chandler High School, which accommodated 7th through 12th grades, graduating from high school in 1945.  When she was 15, while attending high school, she worked for Joe and Alice Woods at the Rowena movie theater on Boston Street.  In 1944 the Woods built a new theater, The Parkway, and Audrey continued to work for them.  The restaurant, El Zocalo, is now in that location and if you're having dinner on the patio, you are sitting on the site of the old theater!

During her high school years, Audrey was a cheerleader and was very active in any civic and extra-curricular activity
that came her way, a tradition that she continued throughout her entire life.  During this time, the Stall family lived in a small house on Buffalo Street across from the San Marcos.  The home no longer stands and it has been replaced by condominiums.  Years earlier, her dad, Pop Stall, worked as a trim carpenter during the construction and finish work of the San Marcos Hotel.

Upon graduation from high school, Audrey attended nursing school in Tucson at St. Mary's Hospital.  After becoming a surgical nurse, she came back home and worked for Southside District Hospital in Mesa, on the same piece of land where she was born 21 years earlier.  Robert David Ryan came into her life in the Fall of 1948.  He invited Audrey to a dance at the San Marcos Hotel on October 4th and they danced all night, after which they both went home and told their moms, "This is the one!"  Bob proposed on February 14, 1949 and they were married two months later on Easter Sunday, April 17th.  They settled into their new home and new life just south of Chandler, while operating their cotton farm and raising four very active boys.  Audrey gave so much of her time, talent, and love to the community, with a special fondness in her heart for PEO, Chandler Service Club, Boy Scouts of America, Chandler Public Library, Chandler Regional Hospital, the Chandler Historical Society, and Chandler United Methodist Church.

In spite of all that she accomplished in her life, she still had time for, and cherished, her family.  Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who called her Gammie, were blessed to have her in their lives.  As Eddie Basha put it, "Audrey was the crown jewel of Chandler."

Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Klyle, her husband Bob, and her son, Robert David Ryan, Jr. Surviving her are William Charles (Sharon), Philip Rodney (Lori), Michael Scott (Dianne), and Penny Brooks, grandchildren Lisa Whyte, David Ryan, Jared Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Jacoba Cook, Jeffrey Ryan, Sarah Ryan, Hallie Ryan, Adrianne Burton, Audra Ryan, Matthew Nissen, Dillon Ryan, Jacob Ryan, and Austin Ryan. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Audrey's life is planned for Monday, February 27th at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue.  Visitation will be at 5:00 p.m., service at 6:00, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Chandler Historical Society, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler, AZ 85225/P. O. Box 926, Chandler, AZ 85244 or Chandler United Methodist Church, 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler, AZ 85249.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2012/02/23/20120223chandler-audrey-ryan-dies.html

Ice Skating

The girls had a field trip to Polar Ice with their class the other day.  It was a really cute outing.  I was so grateful that Mimi kept Ryder because it was so challenging trying to skate with two 5-year-olds and I can't imagine if I had that crazy kid with us too.  The girls had so much fun with their preschool friends and it was great to see kids that were in other classes since they combined all the PreK.

 There was a good amount of falling going on.  They learned quickly to fall forward so they didn't hurt their bum every time it hit the ice.

 Sitting in the hockey boxes.

 They were over the ice skating pretty quickly and decided it would be more fun to sit in the bleachers and watch the moms skate around.  Nicci, Karen, & I got our money's worth out of it :)

Valentine's Day

We had a really fun Valentine's Day this year.  The girls have started doing lunch bunch at school on Tuesdays.  They love packing a lunch and going a bit early to see their friends.  Their friend, Barrett, is always there and the 3 of them have been having a blast together.  They were told to dress up on Valentine's Day and the girls chose these outfits.

They were so excited to share their Valentines with their classmates.  I saw so many cute Valentines ideas on Pinterest but I couldn't pull it together in time so we just wrote out some cute store bought ones. They came home with bags full of candy that I ended up throwing out.  I felt bad about it but it causes way too many problems when we have all that sweet stuff lying around.

Cory and I were lucky enough to get Grandma & Grandpa to watch the kids and we went out for sushi that night with our friends, Lori & Sean.  I have officially decided that Mikado has the best sushi in Chandler and the prices can't be beat.  We ordered a huge boat of sushi and it was delicious.  It was a great day filled with lots of love.

Cory's birthday weekend

Cory turned 38 this past weekend and we have been celebrating all week.  This should probably be divided up into three different posts because so much went on but I'm lumping it all into one.  We had such a fun weekend with our friends in town--Brian, Claire, & their boys, Devin & Curtis.  They flew in around 1pm on Friday and the fun started that night with dinner and drinks at San Tan Brewery.  That place has become our little Cheers bar where we always run into people we know.  We had waaaay too much fun that night!

Saturday was a bit more tame.  We hung out at home and the kids played and played and played.  We couldn't get over how awesome it was to just spend time with our friends, enjoying the gorgeous weather while our 5 kids played together so nicely.  We made a scrumptious dinner of chicken & beef fajitas and then called it a night since the guys were golfing early in the morning and Claire & I were taking the kids to the zoo.

We got to the zoo pretty early and beat most of the weekend crowd.  Devin & Curtis are animal lovers and Reese & Ryan were so excited to show them around and tell them where all their favorite animals live.  I had to include this photo below because Ryan insisted on dressing like Devin.  We scoured the closets and dressers for a red shirt, plaid shorts, and a black baseball cap.  She was so happy that we found a close match to his outfit :)

 After a nice afternoon of naps we had all the family over for pizza, cupcakes, and ice cream. 

 We all helped him blow out his candles.

It was such a great weekend with family and friends and I know that Cory had so much fun.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.  Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband.  I hope your 38th was one of the best yet!  We love you SO much!

Another haircut

Ryder boy got another haircut and he did SO much better this time.  His first haircut back in December was full of tears and he had to sit on my lap just to trim a few hairs.  This time around he was a champ, sitting in the chair all by himself (the little sucker they gave him worked wonders).


The girls both got a trim as well and their hair looks really good.  They have such thick wavy hair and the hairdressers suggested giving them long layers to take out the weight.  They all looked so cute when were finished.  We were too busy picking out our treats at the end that I forgot to snap a photo of the girls and all three together.  Oh well.  There will be many more haircuts to come.

Night time routines

We have a pretty set routine at night that we try really hard to stick to.  Since the girls don't nap we start getting ready for bed around 6:30-7:00.  This is easy to do in the winter when it's dark at 5pm.  As longer days approach we get a bit derailed but we still shoot for bedtime in the 7 o'clock hour.  We love reading a few books before bed and the girls always ask for ice cold water.  Recently we started reading daily devotions from a book called Sticky Situations.  It's presents situations that kids may get into and then gives them options of what they should do in the Sticky Situations.  The girls are a tad young but they really do 'get it'.  It's been fun for us to read them together and then read the bible verse that corresponds.  

Our other favorite night time routine is playing with Big Tiger.  It's the funniest thing ever.  Cory animates the tiger and makes him pounce on the bed.  The kids all scream at the top of their lungs and hide under the covers.  They're scared but they want more. "MORE, Daddy, MORE!" I wish I had a photo of the kids screaming and laughing but I was too busy hiding under the covers with them.  He really knows how to animate that stuffed tiger.

Is it that time already?

I registered the girls for Kindergarten yesterday.  I filled out what seemed like a lot of forms, but maybe it was just that I was doing everything times two.  It's surreal and I can't believe in just 5 short months they will be going to school all day, from 8:30-3:00 each day.  I'm excited for them because I know they're so ready, but a little sad too, because they're my babies and I love having them home with me each day.  We have really enjoyed our lazy mornings at home this year.  It's been so great to go to school at 12:30 and have quiet time with Ryder in the afternoon.  I'm really going to miss that when we're cracking the whip every morning, trying to get out the door by 8:15.  I'm also really going to miss the Christian foundation they're getting at Risen Savior.  They come home singing the cutest bible songs and they are learning things about Jesus every day.  I feel like they are enriched in so many ways.  It will surely be missed when we're at public school next year.

Torturing my husband

Cory always lets me pick the movies when we go out.  He's SO sweet like that.  He'll go see romantic comedies without complaining and is always up for anything as long as we can be out together, just the two of us.  I've been really excited to see this movie.

Cory was up for it since it got really great reviews, even though he really wanted to see some other movie with Liam Neeson lost in the Alaska wilderness.  I thought The Descendants was great.  It was funny and sad, and the acting was really good.  I could tell about halfway through that we were losing Cory.  He was bored out of his gourd.  I shoulda saved this one for my mom and me and taken him to the wilderness movie.  I promised him last night that he could pick the next 3 movies.  That will probably be for the next year because we seem to get to the movies only about once every few months.  We had a nice dinner at BJ's after and then picked up the kiddos at Grandma & Grandpa's house around 8:00. It was so fun to go out for an early date night and be home to put all the kids to bed.

Big boy bed

I have some pretty amazing friends.  My sweet friend, Nicci, gave us this adorable bedding for Ryder's big boy room and we've had it stored away for months.  

It was finally time to break down the crib and put up the bed.  I bought the mattress on Monday and Cory got it all set up last night.  I had a fit of insomnia from 12-2 last night and decided it would be a great time to make up the bed since Ryder was in our bed.  When the kids woke up it was all made up and everyone was so excited.  They couldn't wait to hop on the bed and test it out.

 It really completes the room and makes it look like the total surfer bedroom, perfect for Ryder boy.  Now we have to see how tonight goes with actually sleeping in the bed.  Fingers crossed!