The Great College Road Trip - UPDATE

Just left Clemson.  Liked the campus.  Liked the tour.  Not enough information on academics, however the Brooks School of Performing Arts is really cool!  No merchandise ... didn't want to make a premature purchase.  Boys are way different than girls.  I think we have two items from every school each of the girls visited along with baseball hats for Dad and soccer t-shirts for Patch!  Probably should think about a yard sale.  Stay tuned ...

The Great College Road Trip

Monday morning, o'dark thirty, Patrick and Brian head south for the great college road trip.  No girls allowed.  Why, because clothes are optional on the great college road trip.  Goals: get a feel for schools you may be interested in; find the best southern barbeque.  In fact, since I was not invited on this trip, I could easily have the order of the goals mixed.

Monday afternoon, arrive in Charleston.  Surprise Ryan.  She screams.  Leaves the dining hall and heads to lunch with her father and her brother.  Ryan provides Patch some advise while looking at colleges and the boys are off.  Headed to Columbia and the University of South Carolina.  Neither of the girls were allowed to even look at this school (think mascot), but should the same be true for Patch?  Double standards are everywhere, we may as well embrace them.  Patch likes the school and leaves with new attire -what's not to like!  I received a picture of said attire, but was given strict instructions not to post the picture on the blog.  Boys are so different than girls!

Find some barbeque for lunch and head west to Clemson.  I get a text in the afternoon that they have arrived and are "milling" around the campus.  So far so good.  Tour tomorrow at o'dark thirty.  These are the schools selected for the great college road trip.  Stay tuned for more adventures from the boys!

Ryan is 19!

Today is Ryan's day.  Finally!  Patrick had his day and Meghan had her day. And, now, it's Ryan's turn.

I know it sounds cliche, but it really does seem like yesterday, Ryan, that you entered the world as quiet as a church mouse!  The nurses and the doctor kept trying to make you cry and I was so upset asking them to leave you alone!  You haven't changed since you were born.  You have always had a quiet, reserved nature.  That doesn't mean you weren't a typical child and a typical teenager - you definitely had your moments.  But, for the most part, you were the one to stand back and observe, take things in stride.  From an early age, you knew what was worth getting upset about and when it was best to let it go.  I think God made you this way because he knew you would need that quiet strength to get you through some really tough times.  And, that strength that served you so well when you were little, has also served you well into your young adult life.  If you let it, it will serve you well in your future.

Ryan, your future is full of opportunities. The greatest success is being able to recognize these opportunities and be willing to take advantage of them.  The story that is your life is well underway.  Be to sure to write each chapter well and to fully develop your characters!

We love you, our little jumping frog, Yibbit!  My little girl is a young woman, but these are the faces that stay in my mind every day! 

It's been a while since ...

I blogged about the cutest little boy ever!  Ezio brings such joy to our lives.  He has started talking and it's hilarious.  He calls Brian, "B" so everything is "hey, B", "ready, B".  It's so cute.  And, of course, his favorite, RyRy.  He asks for her everytime he's at the house.  I hate having to tell him she's at school.  Often, while he and Luna are over, we'll Skype the girls.  Ezio loves seeing himself on the computer screen and makes the funniest faces.  His latest fascination is with magnets.  He's figured out that they stick together if you put them the right way.  And, that they "hide" between the doors on the refrigerator.  He loves to "hide" them and get you to help him find them.  His great-grandfather thinks he's a genious and says he is learning about magnetic fields.  I'm not sure about that, Dad.  I think he just thinks its fun to play with them.   At any rate, isn't he adorable!

Following in my footsteps?

My sweet baby girl has started a blog!  Ryan started her blog, Catch Me if You Can this week.  She was born to write, just like she was born to sing!  I know the music comes from Brian, so I am going to take credit for this one! I like to believe that my background has something to do with her inate ability, or at least with assisting her in cultivating her craft! 

Ryan, just like reading can take you to places you've never been; writing can create places you want to go! Let the words flow, you have a gift.  I believe in you.  Believe in yourself and let the journey begin!