The Ward Family: May 2010

Mother's Day, graduations, watermelons, work, tornadoes etc... we have been really busy lately. We are always very busy. The weekend with nothing to do always seems to come around at the perfect time.

Ryan has been traveling to Fort Worth the past two weeks. He is not scheduled to travel again until the week of my birthday (as usual). Ryan, I am just giving you a hard time. There is always a big audit that is always during my birthday. This year my birthday is on a Friday so he should make it home to help me celebrate the big 2-6. I plan on going to a wine bar in Stillwater and then out with some friends.

We spent Mother's Day Saturday in Perry with Ryan's family, and Sunday in Garber with my family. Our family's are blessed with many great mothers. From our own mothers, to grandmothers, mother-in-laws (Ryan and Brenda... you know you love each other LOL), to sisters & sister-in-laws who are mothers, to soon to be mothers.

This past weekend we went to Russell, Kansas to see Ryan's cousin Rachel Hilger graduate from high school. She is such a talented young lady, and will accomplish many great things. We wish her the best next year. This coming weekend we will be going to Wichita to see another one of his cousins graduate, Katherine Cederburg. Such a neat young lady she has become and we wish her the best of luck next year as she enters Wichita State and begins her adventure into Physical Therapy.

The past week or two Oklahoma has been POUNDED (literally) with tornadoes and hail. So far we have been fortunate enough to escape the worst of it. However, last week a wall cloud did form west of Garber, and a tornado did begin to come down. I was at work in Perry and Ryan was in FT. Worth, so we were further away from the storms. The boys were on the west side of the storm and called Mom and Ashley and told them to go to the cellar which is at our house. Thankfully the tornado lifted and passed over Garber. However there was quite a bit of large hail. It missed all of the boys farms, but hit our house in town. We have not noticed any major damage (although we have not climbed onto the roof yet) but Ryan's car did receive some hail damage. There are more storms scheduled to come through tomorrow and Wednesday. Guess that is all part of living in tornado alley!

I have tried at least five times to grow watermelons. My Grandpa Jack LOVES watermelon and I have tried since I was in middle school to grow some for him. I decided this year (again) to see if I could get some to grow in an empty flower bed in the back yard. All I want is one. That is all I have ever wanted (although I would not mind a bunch). I want to give my Grandpa the sweetest, juiciest melon of the patch. I was really close one year, then the neighbors cattle got out and trampled them. Lisa's dad (Hadacol) was helping me that year. I know we would have had a bunch of the best watermelons for Grandpa. Darn cows. Hopefully this year I will get at least one.

Below: Jake and Ryan are tilling up the flower bed so I can start planting. It had grass growing in it.

Below: Ryan caught me in the middle of planting what looks to be like cantaloupe. I planted a few mounds of cantaloupe also.

Below: Grow seeds grow! Please?!?!?!

Below: After the garden was done, Ryan tilled up the grass under two trees that we needed to replant some grass. I would like to add he did an excellent job.

Below: Tad REALLY wanted to go for a wagon ride. Poppa and Tad made several rounds around the yard.

Below: Tad loves his swing. Poppa and Tad had a great time that afternoon.

Below: Tad was entertaining Gigi and Poppa by the sand box.

Below: Tad thinks it is really funny to sneak up on people and scare them. Here he was going "shhhh" and tiptoeing. He was sneaking up on Grandma Brenda.

Below: Tad always gives Poppa kisses when they leave.

Below: He always gives Gigi kisses too!

Below: This is the face of ornery Tad. He was picking up these water pebbles and throwing them off the deck as fast as I could pick them up and throw them back in.

Below: And there it goes...

Below: Tad was riding horsey.

Below: Another sweet ornery face.

Below: Right before the keys went overboard.

Below: Tad and Rudi were having a star down. Tad really wants to pet her, but isn't quite sure yet.

Below: Tad may like Gigi's chocolate chip cookies more than he likes her chocolate cake.

Below: We went to the park with Alyssa. Here, Marianne is giving her a spin on the tire swing.

Below: This is one of my favorite pictures of Alyssa. That day the slides and swings were her favorite (although she would tell you it was EVERYTHING!)

Below: Alyssa wanted Ryan to ride on the tire swing with her. It was a little comical watching them both get on there. They had fun though.

Below: Each one of us took a turn going down the slide with her too!

Below: G-Baby (Grayson) posing for the camera.

Below: Grayson with his Mom. He is such a happy little guy. Hard to believe he is almost one!

Below: Grayson and his Daddy. If you look real closely, you can see the drool hitting Kelly's face. Funny stuff!

Below: Tad digging into Lisa's chocolate covered ice cream.

Below: Tad was giggling about something. I just love his laugh.

Below: For Mother's Day, Ryan and I gave each mother on my side of the family a "Four Generations" frame with the appropriate picture. Since Ben and Angie have not had Traverse yet, I had to draw them a picture.

Below: Tad and Grandma cheesing! Love that smile of his.

Below: Tad and I posing for the camera. Notice we are accidently both in our Ditch Witch gear. I think he should be the model for our children's clothing line. :)

Below: I love this picture of the Tad Man. This was seconds before he tackled me.

Below: Tad was so tired that he had to take a quick rest on the beach ball. That lasted about 0.05 seconds.

Below: The 4 wheeler bicycle is so much fun. I think it used to be one of our toys!

Hope each and every one of you are doing well.

This was in a spiritual e-mail I receive daily and thought I would share.

"Whenever I feel fear or worry, I thank the Lord for the feeling, then test the following six reasons until I understand the source: the future, my reputation, money, possessions, time, or health. After that, I submit the concern to Him."

I have to remind myself of this often.

Until next time.
Ju

Kelly and Erica decided they wanted to take Alyssa fishing so they headed down to Grandpa and Grandmama's house. Kirk had some fishing gear and knew of a pond nearby that had some fish in it, so off we went. We all had a great time. Alyssa's attention span lasted about 5 minutes trying to catch fish, and then off she went. She did not realize that it sometimes took awhile to catch fish. She still had a great time. The owner of the property had a big white dog that she buddied up with and chased all over the property.

The day was a lot of fun. I can't remember the last time I went fishing, and think we need to go more often. My childhood memories of fishing were at the Curran's pond in Hennessey. They had huge catfish and perch. Lisa and Mom would take us out there and we would fish for awhile, then get out the paddle boats. Before we left for the day we would feed the fish. At one end of the pond we threw pellet fish food onto the water. The fish were "trained" and would hear the pellets drop into the water and then a swarm of catfish would show up. It was amazing! There were so many of them... and they were huge! At least I remember them being huge. I may have just been little. :)

Below are some pictures of the fishing extravaganza.

Below: Ryan was teaching Alyssa how to reel the line back in.

Below: Alyssa going solo.

Below: Needed a little help from Mom.
Below: Kelly and Alyssa made many trips around the pond.
Below: Ryan lost his lure and was attempting to find it. Funny stuff.
Below: He just realized I was taking pictures of him.
Below: Kirk almost had one.
Below: This is Kelly's idea of fishing. LOL love it.
Below: Greg and Erica (and Kelly) fishing.
Below: Ryan is going after my lure now. He had to go in a little deeper for mine. He is a trooper.
Below: Looks like I am about to get a big one! Actually my line was just stuck on a stick.
Below: There really are fish in this pond... and Erica caught one!
Below: I caught one too! And no, that is not the bait on my line... I actually caught that fish. And then I put him in the water because I did not want him to die because we were having trouble getting the hook out. Kirk was on his way to help and the little booger broke my line and swam away. I was so mad... and felt bad because it still had the hook in its mouth.
Below: Grayson stayed home with Grandmama and was so happy to see his mama when we got back.
Below: Cutest little smile.
Below: I do not remember what Greek appetizer Ryan was making, but you are supposed to light it on fire. He is such a good cook. Cooking dinner is something we always do together and I love that time we spend together.