all about ry

it doesn't seem like ryan gets much facetime on the blog, so this post is all about him!

ryan has been traveling a lot for work.

we're sick of it.

but it's actually not that bad.

sometimes we see each other.

like when we're both passing through the same city.

like last week.

we had one hour in the salt lake city airport.

and we spent that hour together.

eating café rio!

ryan was flying home to buffalo, and I was flying into slc for a fun sisters (and parents) weekend.

and we did have a babysitter for the girls.

in case you were concerned.

we celebrated father's day with many gifts from the hearts of our girls.

painted rocks

handwritten coupons

a photo collage

original poetry

and of course our traditional card.

we always try to find a funny card that plays music,

or says something funny when you open it.

we always crack ourselves up!

i'm not sure we've ever topped the card with

larry, the cable guy.

"get 'er done!"

we also spent 2 sneezy afternoons cleaning out the dirty, dusty garage.

when it was all clean,

we found an empty little space

that would be perfect

for a mini fridge!

the girls and I loaded it up with ryan's favorites...

diet coke (of course)

bottled water

peanut m&ms

reese's pb cups

snickers bars

and even a milky way.

we are all (sneakily) enjoying it!

last night ryan and several others were honored for the patents they had filed throughout 2012.

ryan had 4 patents go through this year.

i think that brings his total to 7 U.S. patents! 

i might be wrong.

the photo above is of ryan and his boss/mentor, Akshay.

we are so sad that Akshay has taken another position within the company and will no longer be ryan's boss.

he is a wonderful and kind man, who has mentored and championed ryan over the past 3 years.

i told ryan to tell akshay

"you are betraying us by taking another job!"

"please don't go!"

he didn't.

akshay was presented with an award from the buffalo site last evening.

he was emotional as he accepted it.

i knew i liked him!

then while talking afterwards, he shared a story with ryan and i.

his daughter was given an amazing scholarship to Rutgers.

she wasn't sure she wanted to attend Rutgers.

the other school she was looking at would cost him $60,000/year.

after hearing the pitch from Rutgers and the other school, she decided to go with Rutgers.

on their way home, akshay saw the premium outlet mall in the near distance.

he pulled in.

they went to tory burch.

the daughter couldn't decide between two pairs of sandals.

akshay,

feeling joy and happiness,

at not having to pay a quarter of a million dollars for his daughters schooling,

said...

"get them both!"

that's when i knew i loved this guy!