Christmas 2011 at Gram's

Ryan opening gifts...he's talking...really :o)

Think Ransom is happy with his gift...intense thought...

Megan, Jalaina and Jocelyn enjoying Grandma's chocolate pie - YUM!

Deirdre and Caitlin and pie!!
Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Wrestling continued and more...

Ryan had another match last night...and he won!! Pinned his man after quite the "fight"...at least it was quite the fight for me...I didn't realize until it was over that I was gritting my teeth and "helping" him from the bleachers!!
Best part was Ryan's dad and brother came to support him! Thanks Andy and Ransom!!

After Ryan wrestled, I had the good fortune to see the new Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn, Part 1!! My good friend Ami was able to wrangle a ticket for me to an exclusive 8:00 pm showing - yep, 4 hours before the rest of the Twilight fans were able to see it!! And it was GOOD! Best one so far!! And of course it leaves you wanting to see Part 2 - too bad that won't be until November 2012...I'm waiting...

Wrestling

I know this is a lousy picture but I had trouble managing 2 cameras at one time. After Ryan's first competition yesterday, I went to my parent's house and showed them the video. (I stopped the video and took this picture.) It was really fun to see Mom cheering for Ryan and hearing some of the same things she used to say at my brother's (Joel's & Jay's) matches years ago. Anyway, this picture sums up the day for Ryan - he had 4 matches and 4 wins - one of them he pinned in 35 seconds! And the Cy-Woods Varsity Team took home 1st place! GO WILDCATS!! GO RYAN!!

Ryan's Baby...

As part of Ryan's Child Development class he has to take care of a "baby". Yes, this baby cries, needs to be fed, needs it's diaper changed, needs to be burped and rocked and cries some more...needless to say, it's been interesting and he's only had it home for 3 1/2 hours. No one but Ryan can care for it...excuse me, him - the baby's name is Tim. Hope it sleeps thru the night though we've already been warned it probably won't!

At the risk of sounding...chauvinist? (that may be a little harsh)...Ryan was able to figure out how to care for the baby while playing on the computer and playing his video games.

Think it cried a few times? And that was before we all went to bed.
Update: I woke up at 2:53 to a baby crying intensely. Little Timmy was in the room with Ryan but Ryan was fast a sleep. I woke him up but it may have been too late - Timmy didn't go back to bed until 3:45. Needless to say we're all a little tired this morning. And just a little happy that Timmy goes "home" today!
Oh, something else Ryan figured out... if he leaves the baby's pants off, even if it was chilly this morning, it's easier to change the diaper. Hope there isn't a temperature sensor on that baby!!
And finally, poor little Francis became worried every time the baby cried. She kept trying to see what was wrong with it. And at 2:53 this morning she was sitting across the room staring at the doorway - wonder how long Little Timmy had been crying???
Almost forgot...so as we were getting ready to leave this morning Ryan asked me to look at the log book (he had to keep track of every time the baby cried and what Ryan did to get him to stop). On the very last page What have you learned from this experience? - "I NEVER want to have kids" - he said he wrote it at 3 in morning while the baby was crying. Somehow I'm sure that will change in a few short years.

Hovater Family Reunion - 2011

Ryan holding sweet Lily!

Luke & Jon playing with Ryan - fun stuff, a pebble shower!

The whole family - minus a few who were in Austin, a few living in Colorado, 2 living in Russia and of course, the 2 living in Virginia Beach - we missed you!!

And it all began with these 3: Robert Hovater,
Martha Carol Hovater Bell & Nina Hovater Barber

Ryan the Wrestler

We're pretty pumped about Ryan's participation on the wrestling team...looking forward to the first match in a couple of weeks!

Sad but good times...

On Friday my good friend, Annette, from work, retired...I'm already missing the laughs!!
Then on Saturday I flew to Raleigh, NC so I could attend the memorial service for Preston's dad that was held on Sunday. Many people attended - he was obviously a well liked and respected man. There were tears at the service but there were many good moments spent with family.

Annette at her desk with her retirement "goods" - plant, balloon, candy, etc. This shot is from my desk - yep I saw that smiling face everyday - well most days - the days I wasn't irritating her anyway.

Annette and her husband, Mike, with her 5 year service award - best wishes on your retirement!

Josh, Rhiannon, Tracy and Preston at the sight of the memorial service.

Josh, Rhiannon, Kathy, Preston and Tracy at Kathy's beautiful home.

Tracy and her "poochers" watching TV in the hotel room - Preston too!!