Caden Rides Again

We loved our duplex. We were back off the road and had a nice big yard, and even though it wasn't completely fenced in it was back off the street and so I felt comfortable sending the boys out to play together. Of course I checked on them a lot when I couldn't be out with them, but still. The only thing that was a drawback about the situation is that while we had a concrete pad on which to park right in front of the garage, the whole rest of the driveway was gravel. This was not the most conducive to learning to ride a bike. But Caden did learn. Just with training wheels. And even when he outgrew the little bike and graduated to a bigger one he still had training wheels.

Since staying at my parents house we are now surrounded by nice, wide, fairlytrafficfree streets and so Caden has been putting in time riding around the block. He goes by himself and checks in each time he gets back around. I'd been noticing how little he is actually using the training wheels and so Friday evening we practiced how to start on a bike without sitting on it first. After a few times he had it down, so I coaxed him into taking off just one of the training wheels. After one time around the block he was ready and we took off the other one.

And he did it! He didn't fall once! He was soooo incredibly proud of himself, you should have seen him hugging everyone and jumping up and down. We got a picture of him, but of course it's not uploaded yet. I am so excited for him - it's the thing that everyone says you never forget, and now he's done it. We've been outside a lot since then getting more and more practice in.

Way to go, Caden!

Finally got the picture added!

In Which Ryan GRADUATES

Saturday was a momentous day for our family. We attended Ryan's graduation from Eastern Washington University with a BS in Geology. This has been a very long road for all of us, and while we're still staring two more years of school in the face for his Master's program, it was extremely gratifying to see this particular chapter of our lives come to a close.

We were not the only ones there to celebrate the big day. 2,500 students walked at the graduation for undergraduate degrees (There was a seperate ceremony for Master's students that afternoon). This was also reflected in the amount of traffic pouring into little Cheney, Washington. Cheney lies 6.5 miles from the freeway, 18 miles outside of Spokane. With still a mile to go to the Cheney freeway exit we hit a standstill. We eventually crawled into town and hustled to the stadium where the stands were filled and the graduates had already begun walking in. It all worked out in the end; we eventually found seats, and Ryan found his department and then Commencement began.

Everybody was very brief in their remarks, which was very much appreciated by all in attendance in the hot, hot sun. Among the caveats offered was one by a student who reminded them, "Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor before beer, you're in the clear." Super. The one exception to the brevity were the remarks from a Russian professer from Russia for some award. She apparently didn't get the memo. But then finally, FINALLY it was time for the main event.

I don't know how it works at other schools' graduations but at Eastern you write your name on a slip of paper and hand it to the professor announcing names. Among Ryan's graduating class we had Captain Jack Sparrow, Lakewood's Finest, and Ryan "Rocks" Carter. After the ceremony we met back up and had a quick lunch and then took a few pictures before all the boys piled into the car to head over to Lynnwood for Uncle Brent's high school graduation that night.

That last picture is because we ALL graduated. While Ryan is the one to actually earn the degree we ALL worked hard and made sacrifices in order for him to be able to do it. We are so very proud of Ryan. He is the very first University graduate from his immediate family, and that is a HUGE accomplishment. Congratulations Ry!

We have video of Ryan walking but the file is too big for blogger's maximum size and I don't know how to edit it. If you can tell me and it works, I'll send you a cookie PLUS I'll be able to post the video!

We're Going On A Bear Hunt

My parents have been called as Service Missionaries for our local mission. This means that they work in the Mission Office 35-40 hours a week. It's been very convenient for us since we're living with them, and with them gone most of the day we don't feel like we're in their way all the time.

Bonus for us, they can't go on vacation while they're serving. And since some of their time-share points were going to expire, in an extremely generous gesture they asked if we would like to go somewhere in their stead. So we looked around and looked around for something fairly close by this summer.

HA.

I forgot that you basically have to book these things a year in advance. Especially for summertime. But then, just as I was ready to quit searching - there it was. Time in Yellowstone. Not just time. CONSECUTIVE TIME. DAYS IN A ROW. MORE THAN ONE DAY. UNHEARD OF, I'M TELLING YOU.

So we're going to Yellowstone in July. This is so exciting! I'm thrilled for Ryan, since he's a Geology major. I'm thrilled for the kids, because I semi-remember going when I was young(er). AND, I'm thrilled for me because we are going to see Yellowstone WITHOUT HAVING TO CAMP. No bears in the food/tent/vehicle for us. I will have access to a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and, my personal favorite, a shower that I don't have to share with strangers.

For all you hard-core campers that think this sounds like a cop-out, pthwwwwtp! I don't care what you think. It is totally possible to enjoy nature without smelling like you are.

Plus there's a pool. ;)

My poor abandoned blog. I don't feel like posting anything, and yet I must. A lot has happened since the last post, case in point is Caden's 7th birthday party. But the computer is packed up and my parents' doesn't have the software to upload the pictures from our camera, and so I haven't blogged about it. This doesn't mean it wasn't awesome. Because it was. But you really need the pictures to appreciate it. Perhaps in August, when we have all our own stuff again.

Everything is in storage. The duplex is empty and CLEAN, and we will have our walk-through later this week. Melanie has moved to the Tri-cities, which is good for her and bad for me, and Ryan is closing in on the last week and a half of his bachelor's degree.

Life in a nutshell is busy, full, and stressful/fun depending on who you are.