Logan Ryan Ritchie - Boy #5 Arrives

June 14, 2007 - Heber City, UT
After much anticipation, and many uncomfortable nights ... our family was blessed with a healthy and safe delivery for both Angela and Logan. Angela was officially due on Tuesday June 12, she went to the doctor on Monday and her doctor recommended and scheduled Angela for an induced delivery for today, Thursday June 14.

We arrived at the Heber hospital shortly before 8:00 am. After all of the time getting checked in, checking vitals, changing, answering questions, signing docs, getting the room situated, etc. the nurse started the Pitosin (sp?) drip at approximately 9:45 am which resulted in having regular contractions by about noon, productive contractions by about 3:00 pm, the doctor present by 6:00 pm and the baby born at 6:05 pm.

This particular delivery was different than the rest on account of the facts that 1) it occurred in Heber versus Provo, 2) the time between arrival at hospital and delivery was 10 hours versus her average of 5-6 hours, 3) the pains of delivery were fully felt on this occasion due to her right-sided epidural (at least her right side was partially comfortable), and 4) it is the first without Grandma and Grandpa Edwards in town - and one of the few with Grandma and Grandpa Ritchie in town (both due to missions). But even with the several differences - the experience was phenomenal - as is always the case with a newborn.
For the record he was born at 6:05 pm, is 20" tall, and weighted in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. So far his brothers have appeared to be as attached as are his parents. Mom and Dad Ritchie came over early to watch the boys while we went to the hospital - and Garrett called at least every hour on the hour to know "Ishe out yet?" We were happy to finally be able to tell them that "Yes he is, come on down." The boys were equally interested in watching his first bath - from the hallway looking in to the nursery window. Some of the boys were also legitimately surprised that he was born naked - a fact we reminded them was common to most of us. It is not hard to see a familiar and easily recognizable "mold" that is similar between all of the boys. Angela and I have both said to each other at various times throughout the night, "I think he looks like Bryson ... no Garrett ... no Tanner ... no McKay ..." And while at least at first, it might be hard to peg him to any specific one of the boys - he has undeniable common characteristics to all of them - he is definitely a "Ritchie boy."

This last picture was taken just a few minutes before the boys, Grandma Carolyn and I left for home and left Angela and un-named boy #5 to rest "from their labors" - pun intended.

The Race Is On!

Garrett isn't yet 8 years old - he's one week shy. But what a lucky birthday he has - because where most boys will only have the chance to do 3 pinewood derby cars - Garrett can "almost" legally do four, with this one being just a little outside of legal.

This is our first year with two boys in the race. With a very busy work schedule and a baby due any day Angela and I were a bit concerned that we'd be able to find the time to help the boys with their cars, or that the baby might come early and effect the same. This new baby is obviously a pinewood derby fan because he held off coming so that his brothers could race to victory.
In Garrett's first year - with a nifty Cougar blue fancy engine race car, Garrett took third place in the Wolf Den of the combined race. Seen here are the four cousins that all competed: Spencer and Ritchie Heywood and Garrett and Bryson Ritchie (from left to right). Although it might appear that their awards were all the same ... don't fool yourself - Uncle Rob didn't spend nearly the time that Uncle Paul did (not to mention the $150 to buy the how to manuals, Dremel tool, axle hole drilling tools, super secret nifty weights, and super-de-duper fast tire stuff) so that his children could also be winners.
Bryson, Garrett and I found a website called Pinewood Pro that had a lot of cool stuff - not to mention some pre-cut wood blocks. Given our perceived time constraints I was a huge advocate of finding a great pre-cut block so that our efforts could be focused on sanding, weight placement, painting, decorating, tires, etc. - you know all of the "hard" stuff. Bryson refused to consider the option, believing it to be a form of cheating, with the cutting rebuke of "Dad, remember the scouts at the Klondike Derby who didn't build their cart and how they didn't learn anything? I don't want to be like those Scouts."

With that rebuke Bryson set to desigining his own car - he even won the award of "Greatest Dedication to BYU" by desigining and building his back-end weighted, extended and special lathed axle, low cut narrow BYU racer pictured below. This car was a speed demon and set a track speed record with each run - never taking anything but first - and eventually Bryson's BYU Racer won the overall Pack First Place Speed Award.

Given how pathetic his first two cars proved to be over the last two years, however well intended and dedicated to the task we tried to be, the juxtaposition of finishing his last car as the fastest and the best was sweet...Even Bryson enjoyed it. Why are these children so dang competitive?

If any of you want a copy of my Winning Secrets manual - I'll be happy to sell a copy for a nominal fee ... say $200 ... a little price to pay for the joy it will bring to the fathers ... oops, I mean the boys ... but only after I've finished all 15 pinewood derby cars over the next several years (5 boys * 3 cars each = 15 cars). The manual will be available 11 years from now - giving time for the unborn lad to win ... heck maybe I should increase the price anticipating inflation and all? But, if some of your kids are serious losers - and I don't perceive a threat of meeting you at nationals - then I might consider a small discount (say 5%) and an early release (so long as you sign a non-compete, non circumvention agreement).

Tanner's b-day party

Tanner celebrated turning 6 at the Kamas Pool with a few friends. Luckily Uncle Ryan came to help with the party. So between Paul and Ryan in the pool and myself watching from the side (I was not about to get to water at 7 months pregnant) everything went smoothly.

The slide was the hit of the party. Even Mckay loved going down it - alone! Ryan was at the bottom to save him from the fall. Its amazing what younger kids love because everyone else is doing it. Mckay watches his brothers and want to do exactly what they do.

Here are our birthday party goers! Tanner just said a funny thing tonight as I was tucking him in bed.

Mom: I can't believe you are almost 6 years old!

Tanner: I can, I mean I really look like I'm 7 anyways because I'm such a big boy.

(This comment comes after Tanner played soccer yesterday for the first time this season had scored 2 goals in the first 2 minutes of the game. He looksso much bigger than the rest of the kids. Paul had to finally tell Tanner to give the other kids a chance to kick the ball. . . go Tanner!

Riding Bikes

Bikes have been the excitement at our house lately. Tanner just got a new one for his birthday (his Daddy let him have it early) and Bryson just bought a new bike yesterday. The three boys have been on many bike rides together and have done some exploring above our house. In fact, Bryson woke up at 5:30 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep because he was so excited to ride his new bike.

Paul and I didn't want to be left out of all the fun, so after years of going back and forth on whether or not we should get a bike trailer/ jogging stroller, be made the plunge. If any of you are in the market, we found a great deal at Costco. This stroller was only $150 and converts in just a minute to a bike trailer. It fits two kids and has all the bells and whistles we wanted.

Paul decided to take us on a fun bike trail by Park City (Karen ran her marathon there) and go on a bike ride. We had so much fun! The boys had a blast! Paul got to pull McKay and I was surprised that I could even keep up in my condition. Needless to say, I wasn't able to sit again for days after the ride, but it was worth it. Garrett told us "thank you" about 100 times that day. I love getting out and doing stuff like that with the boys, now if I could just like camping. . .

St. Patty's Day

It use to be, when I was in school, St. Patrick's Day meant you wore a green shirt. Or if you were daring, you may try to hide your green somewhere so if someone pinched you, you could pinch them back.
Well, at least for my boys, March 17th is green day and which ever class can wear the most green gets some sort of prize. Of course that means a CONTEST and therefore, it is taken very seriously at our house. Bryson got into it the most this year. With multiple shirts, underwear, hats, and a tie in green, I think we counted 9 items in green. Needless to say, his class won. This child does not lack confidence. I took the boys to school that morning and I wondered if Bryson would be a little nervous to get out of the car in his stunning outfit. But just the opposite. He was very proud of his new look and strutted out onto the playgrould excited to show his new stuff.

Mommy, "I'm ready to go!"

I have found that as a mother I have eaten my words many times. Before I had children (and even when I had only one or two boys) I would say "I'd never let my child go out in public like that!" But now with 4 boys and one on the way, I have really relaxed on this issue.
The other day. I was busily getting things done around the house while all the boys were at school except for McKay. I told him to hurry and get ready because we were going to go the store in just a minute. He was already dressed, but needed to get his shoes on still.
He went back to his room for a few minutes and then came out wearing something completely different. McKay was so proud of himself and said, "Mommy, I'm ready to go!" He was wearing pajama shorts, which he refers to as his basketball shorts, an undershirt, and his lovely red Santa socks. Oh, and look and those adorable Thomas the train shoes put on the wrong feet. The shoes are yet another item that I have had to eat my words on. I have always been completely against character clothing and shoes.
Well, all I can say is that it must be true about what they say about the younger siblings in the family. They get away with things (and get things) that their older siblings never could. The funny thing is, I think McKay looks rather cute in his outfit.

Le Fiesta in Mexico!

Our friends, Jason and Lindsey Danley invited us to go with them to Rocky Point, Mexico with them about a month ago. It was so fun to get out of the cold weather and enjoy a couple days of sun while staying at a resort that was right on the beach! The boys loved every minute of it (even the grocery shopping and seeing all of the different kinds of candy).

The boys were wore out at the end of each day. Tanner fell asleep while we were at the Blue Dolphin Resturant (famous for their International Cousin) no this is not a typo on my part, this is what their big sign said in front of the store that was all lit up. I wish I had taken a picture of it.

Playing in the pool was the favorite past-time. All of the Mexican workers thought we were crazy swimming in such cold water. They were all in sweatshirts or coats, but compared to below zero degree weather in Heber, we were roasting!

Catching some waves in the ocean. Garrett and Tanner also had fun catching hermit crabs and then warming them up in the hot tub. They couldn't figure out why the hermit crabs kept dying on them. Bryson's favorite past-time, of course, was playing football on the beach. Does this surprise you? This boy eats, drinks, and sleeps football.