Dear Ryan,

In two days, you'll finish second grade. SECOND GRADE! It seems like only yesterday you were this tiny little guy that would just lay there and smile up at us. I miss those days, but I wouldn't trade them for today for anything.

~~

You've had a wonderful first year here in our new town. The move was probably the hardest on you as you had so many good friends in Portland. Every once in a while, you tell us that

you wished you lived there again. But, by the next breath, you've usually changed your mind to tell us that you'd rather live here. You've been such a trooper...new friends, new school, new meeting, new everything.

(all photos taken by Ryan this past weekend at P-40 Flying Tiger Days)

~~

You have changed so much over this past year. At your new school, they take school pictures of the kids at the beginning of the year and again at the end. You look so young in your first picture, with three teeth missing and short hair. The photo they took last month...you look so grownup!

You did a great job this year in school. You made new friends right away and jumped right into the school work without missing a beat. You did well in your Gifted and Talented class. Your GATE teacher told me that you have a knack for public speaking (I didn't tell her that you haven't stopped talking since you turned two...you've had LOTS of practice).

You're a very lucky boy for many reasons. You are surrounded by extended family that love you very much and share your interests. They are all so willing to spend time with you.
This past weekend, you spent the day with Uncle Max at the Warhawk for P-40 Flying Tiger Days. When I came to pick you up, all of the employees and fellow volunteers came up to tell you good-bye. You went up to John (the owner), stuck out your hand and told him thanks for letting you volunteer. That did this momma's heart good. Last night, Hop came by for a few hours and you played catch with him. You've got an arm that rivals many kids older than you. It was sweet when you told us that you'd picked the Nerf football because you didn't want to hurt Hop. This next weekend, you'll spend the weekend with all of your cousins, most of your uncles, your daddy and your grandpa on Daddy's side of the family. You'll come home stinky, sweaty, all sugared-up, but oh-so-happy.
What a lucky boy you are!

These past few months, you've been a bit of a pill. You get in trouble and then immediately feel bad for whatever you did. Yes, it takes you a few times to learn your lesson. But your heart is so soft. You'll pick on your sister (I think that brothers are supposed to), but you're the first one there when she gets hurt. When she gets in trouble, you go to her and comfort her. Then, you often reinforce what me or Daddy had told her. She looks up to you so much.
I'm so glad that she has you. I'm so glad that we have you.
Our lives would be incomplete without that smile you try to hide from us.

(Ryan's view of the plane from his seat on the tug. They are pulling the plane to where they want it)

Ryan, as we move into summer, I know we'll have our battles. I'll limit your time on the DS and you'll try to argue for more time. You'll pick on your sister. Your onery streak will jump out occasionally (please, only occassionally!). We'll have our moments when we'll need our space from each other. But I'm looking so forward to spending more time with you without school. Time outside working in the yard, kicking the soccer ball, playing tennis, at the playground, at Hop and Nana's house working in the garden. Time inside reading, working on projects, doing chores, and playing games.
~~
Thanks for being the wonderful boy that you are.

Love~~Mom

I'm going on a long trip!

Yep...I used to wear those pants.

Not too long ago, too.

60 pounds ago.

I can't tell you how much I DON'T want to wear those ever again.

~~~

When I was removing (not losing...you usually want to find something you've lost) the extra weight from my body, I walked 2-4 miles six days a week. Once the weight was off, I was able to cut it back a little. Since we've moved here, it's been a bit hit-and-miss with my exercising. The area where we live doesn't have many sidewalks or bike lanes, so it's not as safe as Beaverton was. Of course, in Beaverton I had a little incident with a car full of unruley teenage boys, an egg moving 40 miles an hour and the police. But that's a different story.

My Leslie Sansone DVDs get a bit boring after a while.

~~~

I've fallen in love with my bike!

I didn't want to walk in place in the family room the other day, so I put Emma on the back of my bike and we went 'round and 'round the subdivision. Each lap is .7 mile, so 6 times around is 4.2 miles. It felt so nice to be moving fast, to have the wind blowing on me to dry the sweat, to feel the burn in my thighs, and to know that my legs were gonna wobble when I got off the bike. The best part was the constant chatter of conversation from behind me. I learned that, to make gas, you put lots of grass in a bucket and leave it for a while. Pretty soon it'll be gas. I learned that Emma only likes to hold worms if she has her gardening gloves on.

And I was reassured that she'd continue to look forward for me if I needed to turn and look back while we were riding.

~~~

My goal, for however long it takes me, is to bike from Boise to Portland. I was able to get in 50 miles in May, which means I just crossed over into Oregon. I'll track my progress on the sidebar...not really for any other reason than it keeps me honest and gives me a place to record my miles. I love coming into the office just after finishing my ride, kicking Bob off of the computer for a minute, and updating my miles.

~~~

For any of those out there that care to join me...please do.

I'd love the company.

~~~On a sidenote~~~

I've found something to ponder as I ride.

Why is it that my bum has plenty of natural padding but it doesn't seem

to help at all when I'm sitting on that seat!

Next purchase...gel seat cushion.