Just a wee pint!

These are pictures my brother sent me of them celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a morning pint of Guinness. You can see Colin is getting a head start with his partying ways!

I got out on the road bike and did around sixty miles the past couple of days. If the weather holds off this week, I hope to get in miles everyday except Tues and Friday. Tatum has singing lessons on Tues and I plan on driving down to SEMissouri to visit my Grandfather on Friday. Easter will be spent at my Mom's in SG.

Wyman

Dancin USA - Spring, where are you??

Tatum and I went to the Antonia Elementary Father-Daughter dance this past Friday evening. She was very excited to go and we had a very good time. After we got home, she said it was the best time she has had in her life. I only wish she will continue to think it is that cool to hang out with her Dad as she get older. I would assume their were a hundred girls grades k-6 that attended. The place was very crowded with most the Dads sitting around together talking and the daughters out on the dance floor with their friends. I, on the other hand, wanted to dance and have fun with my kid. I danced most of the night taking pictures and just trying to be the cool Dad. We ate cookies and punch and even had our picture taken just like when you were in high school. I ran into a couple of other parents that I went to high school with and they felt the same way.

About fifteen minutes before the dance was over, Tatum was ready to go. We got our things together and started to walk to the door when I heard Ice, Ice Baby playing on the sound system. Their was a lot of noise coming from inside and I noticed a circle had formed with Dads and daughters out doing their best impersonation of Vanilla Ice. I couldn't resist and walked back in and preceded to jump in the circle and show up all the father's in the place. I busted out the best dance moves those people had seen in years. The stopper was the full on break dancing with a back spin. The place went crazy with Dad's and students coming up and shaking my hand giving me props. All the kids were telling Tatum how awesome her Dad was. I just hope in ten years time when I bust out the back spin she will feel the same. I knew all those hours spent practicing when I was 12 would eventually pay off!

All the girls in the photos are some of Tatum's kindergarten friends. The girls all seem to come from really nice families and that is real important to me. I know how crucial it is for kids to have good friends. I truly feel that good friends that are good people shape how a kid turns out. Luckily my brother and I both had the best friends anyone could ever want their child to have. We were surrounded by kids that had the same dreams and goals as us. I hope my kids have the same.

I put in the picture of Reese as she is actually brushing her hair. It is very rare occasion to get her to do this. Now that I think about it, it is very rare that we ever get Reese to do anything that we want her to do. That child has a mind of her own and nothing will change it. It is obvious that she takes after her Mother in this regard.

Kirsten and the girls also went this week to watch High School Musical on Ice. This was a gift from my Mother to Reese for her 4th birthday. They had a really good time. While they were gone I got our taxes done and then met the Hovis brothers and Brandon Klaus down at Johnny's for some wings, shrimp and a few beverages. We of course then stopped by O'Malley's for a pint.

I got back on the bike this week three days. It felt good to have some regular training, but I have a long way to go. I am so out of shape and really want to be in good condition for the Tour of St Louis the last weekend in April. The weather cooperated for most of the week, but now this weekend it is raining and the temps are in the 30's. 70s on Wed and 30's by Sat. You gotta love the MO weather.

Spring, where are you?????

Please come fast.

More updates later.

Cheers.

Wyman

What have we been doing??

Sorry I have not put anything up in a while. Since my last post on New Years, not much has been going on. I have only been on the bike once since November, but I have stayed in decent shape with the basketball officiating. That ended in early Feb. and I have been laying on the couch since. I have put on 12lbs since the Gateway Cup and hope to lose that by the Tour of St. Louis at the end of April.

The girls both did gymnastics over the winter and are now doing dance and singing lessons at COCA in University City. Kirsten and I are both busy taking the girls over there two days a week.

As you can see, Reese had her 4th birthday this past weekend(March 2). She got way too much stuff as usual. We had family and close friends over for the occasion. Luckily it was 80 degrees and we could take it outside. Just two days later we got 10 inches of snow and were out two days of school. Gotta love the MO weather. We have had an excess amount of snow this year here in the STL area. We have missed 8 days of school because of it. We are now getting out the first week of June! All of the snow photos are since the New Year. They are predicting a little more this weekend.

I had a good season of officiating. Not many problems with fans, coaches or players. I did around 40 dates and have already got that many scheduled for next year. The extra dough is nice. This Friday I am headed up to Mizzou for the state basketball championships with some friends. We have been making the trek for about 7 years now. I think we all look forward to getting out of the house for a day or two just watching basketball and rehashing the good ole days. It is always a good time. I tell you about it when I get back.

Since we have had soooo much snow this winter, I have had time to really watch some good films. Of course having the new plasma and surround sound makes them that much more enjoyable to watch. I got to see the good old favs such as Schindler's List, Goonies, Indiana Jones, Dances With Wolves, Hoosiers, Memphis Belle, and Saving Private Ryan. I have also had to opportunity to see some really good new films. I really enjoyed Into The Wild and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Bob Ford. If you get a chance, please rent Into The Wild. It is well worth the $5 from Blockbuster. The soundtrack is awesome as well. Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam did the whole thing. I cannot understand how it did not win one Academy Award. I can't wait to read the book by Jon Krakauer. To me, what makes the film and book so interesting is that it is a true story.

Cycling has started back up for me, so I will start posting updates on all that as well. I did go ride with Todd Parker and Cody Nees this past Saturday. I lasted 32 miles and then had to call it quits. They stayed in great shape this winter and completely made me look bad. Todd even finished in 10th place at the Froze Toes Race two weeks ago in Columbia, Mo. He will be a Cat 3 in no time.

More updates later.

Wyman

More photos from this winter.

Just a few more photos from this winter. Don't worry, I didn't keep the fu man chu. Kirsten would have thrown a fit. I did however wear a beard for a month or so.

Reese's 4th Birthday!

All of these are from Reese's 4th Birthday Party.
My Mother made the Horse cake and as usual did a great job. Reese wanted a cowgirl party, so that is what she got. Notice the pink boots and hat. The kids at the party were Hannah Drury, Tatum, Reese and Kaylee and Evan Hogan.

It's been a while!! Sorry!!

Sorry it has taken so long for me to get some stuff up on the blog! These are photos from a snow in early January, Tatum finishing up her gymnastic's class, watching cousin Colin for the Super Bowl and Tatum at her Valentine's Day Party at Antonia Elementary. I will write more in above post.

Cheers,

Wyman

New Years Eve 2007 - Numer Zwei

Here are a couple of more from New Years Eve. After the party at the Lemp Hall ended, we took it across the street to the world famous O'Malley's Irish Pub. As you can tell the pints of Guinness were proper. This pub is the best kept secret in St. Louis. A wee pint of Guinness only runs $4. I just wish I didn't have to burn my clothes everytime I go there. As you can see from the photos, the smoke makes visibility about 2 feet!!!

New Years Eve 2007

Kirsten and Michelle Fouts dancing at the Lemp Hall.
The DeSoto clan. Michelle Fouts, Kevin Hovis, Nickie Smith and Me.



Kirsten's friends from work and bunko. They are Pete and Urlene and Amanda and Chris.

We decided to go to the Lemp Hall again this year for New Years Eve. We went with some friends of Kirsten's from work and Bunko as well has some friends of mine from DeSoto. Luckily we had the kids of one of Kirsten's co workers to come and watch our girls so we could go out. We met everyone at the Hall for dinner, drinks and a band. After the Hall closed we took our party to the world famous O'Malleys. We had planned on taking a cab home after it closed down, but no cabs could be found. Luckily Hovis took us home and everyone made it home safely. Here are some shots from the party.





Wyman

Even more Christmas photos!

Reese Wyman and Clayton Drury


Christmas Eve at Grandma Rapp's house.


Christmas Day at our house.

More Christmas photos

Christmas 2007

The girls making a breakfast caserole.
Looking at all the pictures taken throughout the years

First cousins Colin, Tatum and Reese.

Sorry for not getting much posted over the break, but it has been really hectic.

It all started for us at my Mother's on the 23rd of December. My grandfather,step-grandmother, my brother and his family along with my brood all met for Christmas the day before the day before Christmas. It was nice to spend time with my family and look back over all the photos my mother has taken throughout the years. Those of you that know my Mom, know how many photos she takes. I believe we went through 30 or so books. It was great to show my girls all the places we have been and the people we have met. Looking through the pictures brought back some great memories. While it was a pain in the ass when she was taking all the pictures, it is sure worth it now. Thanks Mom.

As usual we all made out like bandits. My Mom came through and got me the Garmin 305 Forerunner. All you cyclists and runners out there know what that is!!! Nothing like having a wristwatch that has a gps system, heart rate monitor and cadence. It can then be connected to my lap top and will show where I have been and how fast all on a graph. Sounds cool to me!! The girls got a ton of stuff, none better than the guitars.

Then on Christmas Eve we all went to my Grandma Rapp's house. This has been a tradition my whole life. While the house is small, it is something I look forward to every year. We had good time and hopefully this is something that can continue for years to come.

After getting home late Christmas Eve we had to get all the stuf ready for Santa. The girls made cookies for Santa and some sort of food for his reindeer. We put it all out of them and then went to bed. The girls had been pretty good this year, so Santa brought plenty for both girls. Luckily Santa officiated some basketball over the break, so he had plenty of cashola to pay for some nice things.

After opening the gifts we then had to get things ready for Kirsten's family. We had her brothers and her parents along with my Mom over for Christmas dinner. Kirsten prepared a fantastic meal and we ate like kings. The girls got even more goodies and then were sad that Christmas had come to a close. For me it was only the beginning.

As I stated previously, I had to officiate basketball over the break. I went to Park Hills for 8 games this year. My Mother graciously came up for two days to watch the girls and my sister in law, Liz watched them the other two days. Kirsten was off New Years Eve and was able to watch them. Luckily I was able to share a ride with fellow ref Ryan Eaton for four of the days. It makes the drive down to Park Hills much more enjoyable and cheaper! I had good games until Saturday when Ryan and I had the game from Hell. We had a boy's game that went into overtime and then almost got out of hand on a call I made with 15 seconds to go in the game. It went against the home team and then the player lost his cool and got a techincal foul. We had fans trying to beat us up after the game and had to be escorted out of the place!! The AD informed me it was three schoolboard members trying to kick our ass!! What else would you expect from schoolboard members in Flat River, Mo? In any case, we were getting observed by a state official at the game and he said all the calls were correct and we handled it great. We got all good marks and are now eligible for state games. I felt like I made the call correct, but felt like I was not supported by the administration. I doubt if I get invited back to ref next year, but really don't care as I would rather spend time with my girls. The last day went ok, but was ready for a short break before getting back to school and reffing. January is very busy for me with 16 days of officiating. Luckily I only have 5 dates in February and then done. While the money was nice over the break, it was not much of a break for me. I would leave at 10 in the morning and then get back around 4 or 5 every night. I am going back to work tomorrow and don't really fell like I had any time off at all.

Here are some pictures from Christmas.

Take care.

Bryan