Hymas Family Site: 01 February 2009

Saturday, February 07, 2009

This post is about knowing that our Father in Heaven hears and answers prayers. Jason and I had been watching the weather for the drive back from Salt Lake City to Milwaukee. We planned on driving I-80, but the weather really was not cooperating. We planned to leave Wednesday, and we noticed on Tuesday night that the highway marquee said that I-80 was closed at Laramie, Wyoming. Exactly the way we needed to go, of course. So we started to freak out just a little, and the prayers began ascending. We continued to pack everything up, while taking frequent internet breaks to check the weather and road reports. Wednesday morning I took Jason to work for his last half-day, noticing the sign now said "I-80 closed at Rawlins, Wyoming, (even worse for us!). We decided that we would go ahead and get ready to go "just in case." Driving to pick him up later that morning we noticed that the sign had been turned off! We were awfully excited and hurried to get on the road ASAP. (Thanks, Lindsay, for helping us so much that morning - we could not have made it on the road so quickly without you!)

We began driving up through Park City, and were a little puzzled when the road was absolutely perfect in most spots. Sure, there were a few icy points, but nothing a boy from Idaho couldn't handle! I know I was praying often as we drove through those canyons, as was Jason. This became a personal testimony builder for me. Jason was praying for good roads while I was praying to be able to handle the roads we were given and that the other drivers would be good "icy-road" drivers. Yet Jason's prayer was granted -- the roads were literally dry as we were driving through Wyoming. And I-80, which was closed at Rawlins again, was reopened at about 4:00 pm, about fifteen minutes before we were to pass through. We were able to make it past Rawlins, past Laramie, all the way to Cheyenne our first day. We are thankful that our Heavenly Father listens to our prayers, and that He can even make the weather change for one little medical student and his family who really needed to make it home before the next rotation started.

We are so happy to be back in our home!

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take Four

Ryan was pretty much partied-out by the time we got back to Milwaukee. (Well, maybe it was just his parents...) Consequently, not much pomp surrounded giving the other few presents to Ryan, which we had left back home, but that's okay. We think he is really enjoying his new legos, judging by his cute little face!

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take Three, Part E

This was our birthday party for Ryan on his actual birthday, January 26th. We were back in Utah so we kept it just small. The most important tradition of the day was, of course, the BIRTHDAY CAKE!

"I'm ready!"

"This red icing is rather delectable!"

"But maybe I prefer chocolate!"

"Eating this cake is hard work!"

"NOW I am officially one!"

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take Three, Part D

Birthday cakes can be really sticky!

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take Three, Part C

You know, after making this cake for three first birthdays, it really has gotten easier!

Friday, February 06, 2009

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take Three, Part B

The story of Ryan's life:

"Okay, you can open my presents."

"Hey, wait! I wanted to see that!"

"That's mine! Bring it back!"

"Got it!"

Sisters. Hard to live with them, but definitely can't live without them!

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take Three, Part A

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take Two

This was our second party for Ryan, at my parent's house. Can you tell that he was just a little tired?!

Mommy holding down that hand that was determined to grab the flame!

What a good sharer!

Ummm...I think it's bath time, definitely followed by bed time!

Ryan's Birthday Party, Take One

Ryan was the lucky recipient of not one, not two, not three, but FOUR birthday parties! Wow, what a lucky little guy! The weekend before his birthday we were in Idaho, so we rotated from house to house from party to party. This was the party at Denise's house:

"Ryan, how old are you?"

Satisfied with the stack of presents in front of him

Enjoying his first cupcake

Draper Temple Openhouse

We had so much fun going to see the Draper temple open house! In our church, the temple is a sacred place of worship and instruction that, once dedicated, only members recommended by leaders of our church can enter. But before the dedication, the public is welcome to reverently walk through and see the beauty and peacefulness inside. So Lindsay arranged some tickets for us, and we met her and Nicole and the girls to go through the temple. I can not tell you how wonderful it was to see Chelsey's and Emily's faces as they were "allowed" inside the temple. My absolute favorite part was when we walked through the bride room and I told Chelsey that the room was where the brides got ready to be married, and this was the mirror they could check their beautiful dresses in, and how she then stopped and did a little curtsy and twirl while smiling at herself in the mirror....it was so sweet! What an awesome Mommy moment! This was a fun memory, one I hope I can always remember.

Mommy, Chelsey, and Ryan riding the bus up to the temple

Lindsay and Emily on the bus

Aunt Nicole and cousins Savannah and Madison on the bus ride

We missed you, Daddy!

Hogle Zoo

I took the kids to Hogle Zoo once while in Utah. The internet said the zoo opened at nine, so we were there about 9:15. I pulled into the parking lot and there were no other cars. You seriously could see the tumbleweeds rolling through the parking lot! After assuring myself that the sign said "OPEN" I got the kids out and went and got our tickets. (Another perk of the Milwaukee Zoo Pass - it gets you in free to zoos all over the United States!) After seeing several animal houses I realized that this is what the internet should have said:

Zoo hours: 9:00-4:00

Zookeeper cleaning times: 9:00-10:30

Argh. It seriously bugged me that so many of the cages were being cleaned right when we got there! About 10:30 we started actually seeing some animals, and other people began showing up as well. I think they knew not to come until then! But we had a really fun time. And my favorite part was showing the girls the lion water fountain that I have my picture by when I was little. I'll have to dig it out to compare!

By the lion drinking fountain - too bad the water was off for the season!

Sitting on the tiger statue after narrowing avoiding being sprayed by the real tiger

This little monkey was playing with that little monkey!

Fun with Aunt Lindsay

While living in Salt Lake City for the month of January during Jason's rotation at Primary Children's Hospital, I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. So we spent a lot of time playing with different friends and family members. This was one of our days we spent in Provo with Lindsay. We started the day at her apartment where my little girls were in heaven when Lindsay brought out her jewelry box, complete with lip gloss galore! We soon headed up to campus, where Lindsay took us to the Bean Museum, and where the girls successfully completed a fun little scavenger hunt. We stopped for the most famous hot dogs in Provo, J-Dawgs, for lunch. The girls rested a little while, watching "Little Mermaid" while Lindsay and I psyched ourselves out for the upcoming family vacation. (Meanwhile, poor Ryan was strapped into a five-point harness in his stroller and set in the bedroom for a forced nap. Oh, well, it was good for him!) We finished off the perfect afternoon by decorating sugar cookies. Thanks for the good times, Linds!