No Longer a Teenager

This sweet little boy is growing up way to fast. 

It seems it was just yesterday I was running around the house telling him to put some clothes on because he loved to be a naked boy.  Sorry Ryan.

Today at 1:30 a.m. this handsome young man turned 20 years old. 

Picture taken by Macy

How did I get old enough to have a son that is 20 years old and in college.   I love watching you grow into a wonderful, God loving, caring and hard working young man.  Some of my prayers for you everyday are for you to Grow in Grace, have Self Control, Courage, Kindness, Joy and  be Self Disciplined.

Thank you for being a wonderful son. I love you

and

Happy 20th Birthday. 

Mom

A wonderful Summer

Boy it has been a long time since I have written anything.  But here is a few things in pictures that I have been up to this summer.



Started making Vanilla in July

Moved Ryan into his new apt at college

Got to see Alyssas new apartment at college.

Sent Courtney off to High School.

Have made lots and lots of sweet tea.

Just enjoying the beauty of summer. 

Now the kids are all back at school and the house is way, way to quite.  I am anxious to get all my fall decorations out but I am making myself wait until September.  Hope you all have had a wonderful summer. 

Summer Blessings

Crystal    

Thank Goodness for Little Brothers

It is so hard some days having 2 kids away at college.  I worry about making sure they are safe or can we get to them if they need us right away.  Just a lot of little things.  Every day I pray that God takes these little worries from me and just put my heart and stomach at ease.  It is a daily struggle for me but I am really trying.  I guess maybe I am one of those mom's who has a hard time cutting the apron strings.  I just want to lock them in our house keep them safe and not let them go through all of lifes dailey struggles.  Obviously that is not realistic.  So a lot of praying has to be done on my part.  The other day Alyssa calls me in kind of a panic.

She said, "I left my lights on and my car won't start now". 

"Oh, Alyssa",  I said

She said," I have to get to the dance studio".

I said, "Well, call your brother and see if he can come jump start your car for you".

She said. "Yeah that is what I was going to do."

She had a friend take her to work so she was not to late.   Little brother to the rescue.

She called him and asked what he was doing?

 He said, "Studying".

 Yes, that is good to hear.  I was happy about that.   

She said, "Will you come to my house and jump start my car for me before the storm hits"? 

It was about to storm bad and they were under a tornado watch.  Being the good little brother he is he went right over got it started in just a couple of minutes.  All before it started to rain.  I am so thankful they are at college together.  It sure helps this mommy know they have each other to rely on when we are so far away.   

Letting your kids grow up is so hard.  I am not really crazy about.

Thanks Ryan for helping your big sister out.  You are such a blessing.

Blessings

Crystal

Now Poor Poor Ryan

Yesterday I received a phone call from my son.  I thought he was saying, "I just got in a wreck, I laid my phone down and it was stolen."  But he actually said, "Mom I am at the Rec. had my phone laying down and somebody stole it."  As you know Ryan is away at college.  The Rec. is the place he works out everyday because he loves to work out.  I guess he and his buddy a long with other people always leave there bags and phones on a table.  Well this time somebody decided to steal his phone.  Ugh.  What is it this week with people stealing my kids things.  Well I called and called and called even left a few nasty messages for the thief.  Finally I called our phone carrier and had his phone suspended.  So if they were planning to use the phone on my dime that won't be happening but of course if they just needed a new phone and put their Sim card in it, well I guess Happy Birthday to them.  Then Ryan told me on his phone which is all touch he had programed a special swipe so no one could get in his phone.  I guess that means unless the thief is lucky and figures out the swipe, the phone is no good to him.  Ryans expensive phone that we just bought him at Christmas will probably be in the bottom of a trash some where. 

I know, I know with both my kids it was just stuff that was stolen and I am so thankful both of them are ok.  GPS stolen ok can live with out, camera I guess she can live without but messing with mommas way of communicating with her son, NOT OK.  Ryan went to the phone store to see what a phone would cost to buy out right, way to expensive.  So he got on E-Bay last night and found a phone that he wanted and was very affordable.  He should have it Friday of Saturday.  In the mean time he has given me his room mates phone number if I should have to reach him. 

I pray the thieves enjoy the things they stole but with a little bit of a guilty feelings every time they pick them up.  Is it ok to pray for that?  Probably not, so I pray the thieves enjoy their new toys.  Better?

Man is it really only Wednesday?

Blessings

Crystal

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN

Today is my sweet Ryans 19th birthday.  We won't get to see him on his special day because he is away at college.  Him and his sister did come home for the weekend so we celebrated his birthday early.  He wanted steak for his birthday so dad took us all to Texas Roadhouse.  We don't go out much so this was a pretty special treat.  We had to wait an 1 hour and 45 minutes to be seated.  Wow!!  It was so fun to be all together as a family again so we did not mind the wait to much. At Texas Roadhouse they have barrells of peanuts to munch on while you wait and you just throw the shells on the ground.  Interesting huh?  With both the kids away at school it feels being together as a whole family is rare.  Here are a few pictures.

My sweet Ryan

Opening his card.  We gave him money.  What every college kid wants.

His big sister adores him.  Can you tell?

So does his little sister.

Ryan is my normal child.  Haha.  Love you girls!!



As you can tell we had a great time.  Thank you Lord for such a wonderful evening with the wonderful husband and children you gave me.  What more could a girl ask for. 

Happy Birthday my sweet RyRy. 

Children

Alyssa, my oldest daughter, was telling me a story about a young women where she attends college.  She said an apartment manager went to check the big trash can bin to see if the trash had come and he heard a bag moving.  At first he thought it to be a squirrel or something.  But thought again and decided to check the bag.  When he opened it he found a baby.  He called the police and it took a few days for them to figure out who the baby belong to.  When they did they learned the young lady is 24.  She had one baby she gave up for adoption.  Her 2nd baby she dropped off at a fire station.  And her third she put in the trash.  I am not sure what happens in a life to make a person resort to throwing away their baby.  She is intelligent enough to know what her options were with the first two. Of course the young women is in jail and as of right now her charge is attempted murder.  I am sure more charges will follow.  I just found this such a sad story.  I do not know what I would do with out my three.  I feel so blessed that God gave them to me.  Please pray for the women she is going to need all the prayers she can get.

Another kid story my son, Ryan, and his girlfriend went to rent a movie in their college town.  He said as they were picking their movie there was a women and man with a little boy.  I think my son said the boy was probably around the age of 5.  He said the women was calling the little boy all kinds of mean names that I will not repeat on my blog.  He did say the women and her boyfriend/husband did seem a little slow.  But I don't think Ryan knew how to handle the situation.  He was distraught over the names these people were calling their child.  What do you think is a good way to handle this kind of situation?  You know if this is going on in public think about what is going on in their home.    Should he have approached the women and told her it is inappropriate to talk to a child that way?  Should he have told the store manager to approach the couple?  Or call the police and let them approach them?  The police of course can not do anything about verbal abuse, I don't think, but at least it would have been on record.  This is a hard one for me. 

I remember having days I thought I was just going to pull my hair out when my kids were little.  Sometimes I still have those days at preschool.  But what a blessing those little ones are.  They all to soon grow up and go off to college.  Just keep remembering to breathe and pray.  They will be grown in a blink of an eye. 

Blessings

Crystal

Sports

Go ESU

Ryan #20

Court playing volleyball

Do your kids play sports?  Mine always have.  Ryan played basketball, football and ran track.  Alyssa played volleyball and took dance and Courtney as of  right now has played basketball and volleyball.  They all love doing "their sport".  I have so enjoyed watching all of them.  But, I have to be honest I get a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.  I am not sure of all the reasons why.  Some reasons I think I get that terrible feeling is I am nervous for them, I do not always feel the coaches see all that they should be seeing, I am afraid they could get hurt.  Those are just a few.  My husband has coached a lot of the sports the kids have played but of course when you get into school sports you have to let that go.  I was always so amazed at how he saw everything.  He saw bad attitudes and would talk to them about it.  He saw ball hogging (is that  word) and would remind them this is a team sport.  He saw cliques and also reminded them this is a team sport.  Since I am on my 3rd child I am noticing how things have changed a bit.  Girls are rougher, louder and little more selfish.  You put those girls with the girls who are quite, a little calmer, and team players and the quite ones get lost.  It does not mean they are less of a player they are just over looked.  So what do you think?  Are team sports worth the trouble?  I would just love to know other parents opinions.

Blessings

Crystal

Spreading Their Wings

Two of my babies are at college now.  Alyssa is a Junior and Ryan is a freshman.  Our hearts are a little heavy, the house is way to quite and we are just not sure what to do with ourselves.  Courtney is really having a hard time. She tells her daddy she does not want to be an only child here.  She misses them both so much already.  We have done a lot of crying.  It is so hard to let them spread their wings when you have had them to care for and protect for 18 years.  They are wonderful children and we know they will make good decisions.  Here are a few pictures I took in Ryans dorm room.  He is lucky he does not have a room mate.  I still have to get pictures of Alyssa's house.  Her room mates were there and I did not want to bother anyone. 

View from his window

Another view from his window

No room mate so he has two closets.  Yea

Sink and extra desk.  Bathroom is right across the hall.

Our wonderful girls.  He is planning to bunk his bed and put his desk underneath but has to wait his turn.

Alyssa and Ryan.  My two college kids.

Courtney and Ryan.  Everyone thought she was a college girl.  She is in 8th grade.  Don't rush it.

Ryan and his girl friend Emily

Well that is it.  Maybe I will have pictures later of his completed room.  I sure miss Alyssa and Ryan.  Enjoy your little ones and all the noise and mess that comes with them.  They will soon be finding their own way in the world.

Blessings

Crystal

Fair Time

It is fair time in our neck of the woods.  I am sure it is in a lot of areas.  What an exciting busy time for kids. My kids were in 4-H for a while but lost interest.  Of course Alyssa and Ryan are to old now.  But we go to the parade, go to the fair grounds to look at all the animals, crafts and at least one day we enjoy the fattening, greasy fair food.  I love me some funnel cake.  There is a rodeo but we do not attend that.  We use to but one year we went a horse ran into the side of a fence they had up and died right there on the spot.  That was way to much for my little animal lover Courtney and she never wants to go there again.  We also have a car derby.  Ryan and his girl friend are taking Courtney Saturday night.  It is just a fun time.  Here are some pictures from the parade.

                                         Waiting for the parade to begin.

Ryan and Emily waiting in the hot sun.  It is so hot.

                                         Look at the loot (candy) they got.  Wow.

I hope you are able to attend your fair and look at all the talents kids have.  It is so fun to see all the hard work they put into their animals, crafts and foods.  My mouth is so watering for that fair food. 

Have a lovely weekend

Blessings

Crystal

College

My oldest daughter lives away at college.  She has a job there so she even stays in the summer.  Ugh.  Any way, she and her boyfriend found a church they really like in their college town. Yea.  She was telling me that a message touched her heart so that she started crying.  I reminded her it was not the preacher that touched her heart it was God.  She said the sermon just fit her life so well right now.  Don't you just love when that happens to you. I don't know if any of you know what college life is like for a young person these days but the stories she tells me.  Wow, they are unbelievable.  I am so proud of her for trying to stay on the right track when I know with all those bad influences around all the time it is not always easy.  Now I am getting ready to send my son off in just 3 1/2 weeks.  I hope and pray he is able to do the same as his sister.  I pray everyday for God to put his angels around them and direct them in the right direction.  Even at the ages of almost 21 and 18 you just want to put a bubble around them and protect them but I know that is not logical.  They have to learn to face the world and all that comes with it.  But I am one proud mama.

Blessings

Crystal

Ryans Summer Job

This is my son after a hard day on the job.  He has a wonderful summer job.  He makes good money but it is not an easy job.  He drills oil wells, does geo loops heating and cooling, water wells and gas wells.  There have been boys quit because they can not take it.  They work out in the heat all day.  He usually goes in at 4 or 5 in the morning and gets home any where from 6 to 8:30 at night.  When Ryan started this summer job 3 years ago we wondered if he could take it.  This was really going to tell us something about his personality.  Three years later he is the one that all the full time guys want to work with because he is not lazy.  It makes me so proud.  He will be the man of the house one day and I am so happy to know that he is a hard worker.  Just one of many qualities I feel a husband and dad need to have.  Do you require your teenagers to work?  If not what do they do all summer?  I feel we are teaching him responsibility.  What are your thoughts?  Are we mean parents?

Blessings

Crystal 

Ryan's Graduation

Ryan's Graduation

 Alyssa, Mike, Ryan, Me and Courtney

 

Ryan and 85 year old Great Grandpa

Doesn't he look great I sure hope I have that gene.

 

Ryan and Emily his girl friend

We had a great day inspite of the rain.  We had a lot of family and friends stop, eat and wish Ryan well.  It was absolutely wonderful.  Congratulations my son.  I am so proud of you. On to Emporia State.

Crystal

Graduation and Baccalaureate

Oh man have we been so busy.  We are trying to get everything ready for Ryan's graduation.  Lots of things to do around the house. Friends and family are coming to eat before his graduation. The menu we have planned is BBQ sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, chips, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, cheesecake, gummy worms, sour patch kids, pop, water and tea.  All of his favorite things.  I am so proud of him.  He started his summer job today.  He wanted to get started saving money for college in the fall and said he did not have anything better to do, so he works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  He has Friday off because he has graduation practice.   He had Baccalaureate last night.  It was put on by some of the Seniors and Pastors from some of the churches in the area.  It was absolutely wonderful.  The speeches given, songs sung and just the joy of thanking God for getting all of us through the school  years.  We blessed and prayed over the Seniors.  The only thing sad about it was there were only about 20 kids there.  He has approximately 167 kids in his class.  It makes me sad that parents and kids do not attend such a wonderful and important event.  I will post picture of Graduation next week.  Back to cleaning and getting things ready

Blessings

Crystal     

Scholarships

Ryan received an invitation to attend his high school scholarship night and he received 2 scholarships. Yea, we were all so excited. That helps so much when you have two attending college. Way to go Ryan!!!!

Prom 2010

Ryan had prom this weekend. This is him and Emily his girl friend walking into prom.

Prom of course is huge in our little town. There is a big walk in where the town comes and sees all the kids go into Prom. It is pretty wonderful the way people come together to set it all up. It is the Junior class that is responsible for prom and walk in. It is such a big and wonderful thing.

Don't they look great

The kids meet on the town square for pictures

So pretty and so handsome

They attended after prom, after the prom of course, and Ryan won a Tom Tom, gift certificate and money. They always have pretty good gifts to give out and fun games to play. Emily does not attend the school so she was not eligible to win. This weekend it is Emily's school prom so they get to do it again. My baby boy is almost done with his senior year. Wow I can not believe it.

Crystal

Ryan and college

Well Ryan is all enrolled at Emporia State. We went to this thing they call SWARM. They helped him pick his classes and explained exactly what he would need to graduate. They separate the kids and the parents. They say this is the first step to letting the kids figure things out on their own and to prove to the parents they really can do it. With the parents they talk about the cost of everything, when things need to be turned in etc. They also show a little movie clip about kids going off to school. It was so hard for me not to cry in front of all those people in the room. My lip was quivering and everything. You would think after being through this with Alyssa it would be a little easier for me. That is not the case at all. Now we have approximately 4 months to prepare things and myself. I pray that is long enough.

Blessings

Crystal

Happy 18th Birthday Ryan

Happy 18th Birthday Ryan

We were so happy you had arrived:)

Little stinker but sweet

So cute

What a handsome, smart, loving, young man you are.

We love you. Have a wonderful day.