What's On My Happy List?

Uncle Ryan
who I now call Mr. Butler! as he found himself doing all sorts of things for us on his latest trip here. Too bad he can't be home more often as we clearly could use an extra set of hands around here. His visits come few and far between as he is usually overseas with work. We maybe see him once or twice a year, so when he comes it's a real treat for my girls. They all adore him... well, maybe not Kate, quite yet. She took one look at him when he arrived here from the airport and screamed bloody murder! We understood.
Wouldn't this scare you?

Not only does he like to take pictures of himself, as in the pic above, but he was called on several times to be the designated photographer... for such things as birthday jaunt pics and BYU photo shoots. Poor guy! He bleeds red and not only did he endure taking the little girls for an outing decked out in their BYU but then came home and helped me hang the "Y" flag from the house. gasp! What true Utah fan would do that? That has to be an honor code violation. Oh wait..there is no honor code there. :0 HA! It must have been the less than pleasant mental image of me dragging the ladder from the garage and my big fat butt dangling from the rafters trying to hang the thing that persuaded him to help me. Either that or he's just a nice guy. I almost got all this action on camera but he said he had his limits.

He saved the day several times with Kyleigh. Chauffeuring her from school to tennis when hubby and I were away up North for the day seeing my brother Brad get pinned an Air Force Colonel (way to go Brad!) and then again when I was stuck at the store and found myself majorly inconvenienced by the actions of a disorganized tennis coach. Don't think the three of us will ever forget that fiasco with both Ryan and I separately driving around the city trying to figure out where K's match was supposed to be! Kyleigh with him and her racket and tennis shoes with me. Not the most ideal situation. He is most positive his chauffeuring around town in a mini van limited his dating possibilities while here. I don't blame him. Furthermore, he not only played tennis with Kyleigh but assisted in the shopping spree for her tennis outfits with daddy and grandma.

On another night, he helped Kyleigh with an "egg" science experiment for her Biology class. Which included running to the store to buy needed materials to make their contraption so her egg would not "break" when dropped off from the roof of the junior high. (Hers was one of only 8 out of 24 that didn't break) While they were working on that I was feverishly editing her Honors English paper while dad was up with the baby who was not cooperating on said bedtime.

Just a few other things why he was on our "happy list"....

*He made a great Scooby Doo Wii partner for Brie...

*He took the girls miniature golfing. He doesn't let a trip go by now without fitting that activity in as its their favorite thing to do with him. If they get a hole in one (or not)..Wendy's Frosties are a given afterwards.

*They also love going to the Training Table Restaurant with him where they order their food over the phone...the "I love you's" he says to random people on the other end of the line after said ordering is one of Hannah's favorite things about her weird (her words) uncle. He took the four older girls there one of the Saturday night's he was here when Jaren and I had a spontaneous trip to Midway for dinner at Zermatt's Schneitters with friends.

*He left one of his laptops here so the older girls could use it for homework purposes.

*He bought me a "Paris" CD loaded with French music for my birthday.

*Attempts at cable fixing throughout the home...

*The gifts and trinkets he brings back from his visits and stays around the world. The latest being the coolest kaleidoscope and history book from Lebanon.

*He left portable i-pod speakers for our car and home use

*Whenever he's here its guaranteed we will have our sushi California Rolls, along with baguette bread topped with olive oil, European cheese and prosciutto. YUM!

He's now left again and its back to "Where in the World is Uncle Ryan?" He's a traveling fool. We will miss him, his help, his sense of humor and zest for life. We think every family should have an "Uncle Ryan"!