Post by JR on Dec 20, 2011 22:37:17 GMT -6
Well it's almost over, yep the year 2011, been a to say the least unusual year as far as my household goes. 
Early part of the year lots of snow, then it seemed to never stop raining and then it was a scorcher of a summer with 100 degree temps in old Arkieland in early June!
We had lots of destruction and several lost lives to the wrath of nature in tornadoes and flooding all tragic losses. 
My garden was only sub-par, either it drowned or I couldn't put enough water on it but I've had worse and better, right now I have some fall crops still producing as the lowest temps in my area have been only the high 20's and my yard is soggy from lots of again rain.
My wife is getting closer to being a RN and starts back this January for her final 6 months and we've been able to get a few hours here and there on the scooters which is always a blast.
This summer while she was on summer break from school we got to go to Destin Florida on vacation! Swam in the ocean done some fishing and enjoyed having some fun.
But there have been some hard things for my family this year and I haven't mentioned it publicly but due to a personal tragic event this June I now have turned from grandpa Ryan to dad/grandpa Ryan as I have had two of my grandchildren ages 7 and 9 move to my household and at my age I'm raising kids full time again.
It's been a mixed emotion thing and at first it kind of blew me off my feet but as time moved on myself, my wife and my stepson Zachary who is now nearly 16 have adjusted and we come together as a complete family. They did live in Dallas and it's been quite an adjustment for them too as they have never experienced the small town country life I've always lived.
But sometimes a personal tragedy can come out well too and I have to tell you it's been a blast with them tiring at times because they keep me a hopping! Pee wee football, basketball, baseball, school events, games, cheer leading and HOMEWORK!!
Right now my 9 year old grandson is in pee wee basketball, practice two days a week, games on Saturday, and in the days between lots of homework, 4th graders have more homework than Zack and he's a sophomore! Add my 7 year old 2nd grader and it's a full time job let me tell you! I'll be the oldest re-educated man in Arkieland! ;D
I helped coach the pee wee football team just got through installing a new basketball goal and work with them both everyday as the 2nd grader will start pee wee sports next year! Have already been asked to help coach the baseball team and I can't keep up with all the kids names that I see around that holler hey Mr. Ryan!
But again the joys for sure outweigh the work.
Here they are right after they moved in and one of their first gardening lessons was shelling purple hull peas!
Here is a picture of all 3 of the kids at home including my stepson Zachary who has grown like a weed this year, he's almost 6ft tall!
We were at Bass Pro shops in Destin in this picture.
I'm also real proud of Zachary he's grown up a lot in this year, making good grades and passed his scooter test! I gave him the Bali 150 recently and he's already riding it when the weather permits.
Here is the two grandkids in another photo and BTW their names are Jonathan and Savannah, he is in his football uniform and she was in a cheer leading outfit as her class cheered in some of the games!
Until this year he had never put a foot on a football field but he learned quickly and their team was small like a lot of schools here and he started on offense and defense as a tight end also played some quarterback and was a natural at linebacker! I was very proud of him and they won 8 out of 10 games!
I also added another grandchild a baby girl in September from a daughter in Missouri. I now have 7 total.
Here is a picture of Jonathan at his football award banquet and as you can see he's got a nice full head of curly hair now.
Also here is my favorite picture so far for 2011;
Now as you can clearly see she gets her natural good looks from that handsome dude in the picture! ;D ;D
Yep it's been a year to remember almost over and Santa has got a lot of presents under the tree, he almost broke the bank doing it!
Lastly 2011 has been a fun year starting this forum and even though I still have a lot of things I want to get in it's been a blast helping and visiting with old friends and making new ones too and I sincerely appreciate all of you here and I hope your year has been blessed and you have a blessed year ahead!
Merry Christmas
JR
Early part of the year lots of snow, then it seemed to never stop raining and then it was a scorcher of a summer with 100 degree temps in old Arkieland in early June!
My garden was only sub-par, either it drowned or I couldn't put enough water on it but I've had worse and better, right now I have some fall crops still producing as the lowest temps in my area have been only the high 20's and my yard is soggy from lots of again rain.
My wife is getting closer to being a RN and starts back this January for her final 6 months and we've been able to get a few hours here and there on the scooters which is always a blast.
This summer while she was on summer break from school we got to go to Destin Florida on vacation! Swam in the ocean done some fishing and enjoyed having some fun.
But there have been some hard things for my family this year and I haven't mentioned it publicly but due to a personal tragic event this June I now have turned from grandpa Ryan to dad/grandpa Ryan as I have had two of my grandchildren ages 7 and 9 move to my household and at my age I'm raising kids full time again.
It's been a mixed emotion thing and at first it kind of blew me off my feet but as time moved on myself, my wife and my stepson Zachary who is now nearly 16 have adjusted and we come together as a complete family. They did live in Dallas and it's been quite an adjustment for them too as they have never experienced the small town country life I've always lived.
But sometimes a personal tragedy can come out well too and I have to tell you it's been a blast with them tiring at times because they keep me a hopping! Pee wee football, basketball, baseball, school events, games, cheer leading and HOMEWORK!!
Right now my 9 year old grandson is in pee wee basketball, practice two days a week, games on Saturday, and in the days between lots of homework, 4th graders have more homework than Zack and he's a sophomore! Add my 7 year old 2nd grader and it's a full time job let me tell you! I'll be the oldest re-educated man in Arkieland! ;D
I helped coach the pee wee football team just got through installing a new basketball goal and work with them both everyday as the 2nd grader will start pee wee sports next year! Have already been asked to help coach the baseball team and I can't keep up with all the kids names that I see around that holler hey Mr. Ryan!
Here they are right after they moved in and one of their first gardening lessons was shelling purple hull peas!
Here is a picture of all 3 of the kids at home including my stepson Zachary who has grown like a weed this year, he's almost 6ft tall!
We were at Bass Pro shops in Destin in this picture.
I'm also real proud of Zachary he's grown up a lot in this year, making good grades and passed his scooter test! I gave him the Bali 150 recently and he's already riding it when the weather permits.
Here is the two grandkids in another photo and BTW their names are Jonathan and Savannah, he is in his football uniform and she was in a cheer leading outfit as her class cheered in some of the games!
Until this year he had never put a foot on a football field but he learned quickly and their team was small like a lot of schools here and he started on offense and defense as a tight end also played some quarterback and was a natural at linebacker! I was very proud of him and they won 8 out of 10 games!
I also added another grandchild a baby girl in September from a daughter in Missouri. I now have 7 total.
Here is a picture of Jonathan at his football award banquet and as you can see he's got a nice full head of curly hair now.
Also here is my favorite picture so far for 2011;
Now as you can clearly see she gets her natural good looks from that handsome dude in the picture! ;D ;D
Yep it's been a year to remember almost over and Santa has got a lot of presents under the tree, he almost broke the bank doing it!
Lastly 2011 has been a fun year starting this forum and even though I still have a lot of things I want to get in it's been a blast helping and visiting with old friends and making new ones too and I sincerely appreciate all of you here and I hope your year has been blessed and you have a blessed year ahead!
Merry Christmas
JR
..BAD TO THE BONE..
