My Son Kyle
My mind is flooded with so many stories and memories of Kyle.
As a baby, he was just so happy, giggling and smiling all the time. And those beautiful eyes and curls were amazing. When he started walking, he was content following his “sissy” around. We did a lot of camping and he loved riding his little three wheel bike that didn’t have pedals, only used his feet to make it go. He would spend hours on it with his little buddy Austin. At home, there was an empty lot next to our house at the time, and he would ride it in the dirt pile. We would laugh because he would always put goldfish crackers in the little trunk. He also spent a lot of time in that lot playing with his tonka trucks.
When he was 2 l/2 “Santa” brought him a red Porsche for Christmas. That summer when he turned three, he drove it constantly around our cul de sac. He would park it in the driveway and wash and wax it all the time (back when the battery cars were metal vs. plastic) He spent hours in that little car.
When he was four and Lindsay was seven, we took them on their first trip to Disneyland. He was a trooper, just the right height to be able to go on all the big rides and boy did he love them all.
After that trip, it was back to camping which has left our family with so many fond memories. Priest Lake was our favorite spot to go and we did a lot of boating, swimming, campfires at night. Kyle always had friends around. Even as a little guy, he would go up to someone and ask “will you be my friend?” and before we knew it, we would end up with a group of little boys at our campfire.
When he was seven, we took the kids to DisneyWorld along with our good friends and their three kids. That trip was amazing for us and all the kids. We had so much fun at all the parks. I think one of the highlights at that time for Kyle was when he saw “Leonardo and Raphael” teenage mutant ninja turtles. He was so excited and just went running to them to get his picture taken. Kyle had a collection of the teenage mutant ninja turtles at home that he played with constantly.
At home he loved playing Nintendo, and would spend a lot of time doing so with his buddies. He always was surrounded with friends, either at our house or at their homes. He never wanted to leave anyone out and if someone didn’t have a friend, he made sure he became one for them.
Kyle was always a “hugger”. I remember when he started playing t-ball and during practice or a game, he would just all of a sudden come over out of the blue and give me a hug. He played soccer, basketball, and baseball and we spent hours at practices and games. He loved being a part of a team. Eventually, he focused on baseball and clearly was where he did the best as a pitcher and first baseman.
He loved going to the Mariners games. We had a couple birthday parties for him there and let him take a group of boys, and that was back when you could bring your own food. We would take a cooler in full of sandwiches, pop, snacks, and a decorated chocolate chip birthday cookie. This was back in the Kingdome days and we would be way towards the top in the bleachers. All the boys had their mitts on hoping to catch a ball!!
When Kyle was nine, we announced to him that I was pregnant. He was so excited as he always said “I want lots of brothers and sisters.” Deep down, he was hoping for a brother as he had a sister. But, when his little sister was born, he was thrilled. He packed her around and held her constantly. I remember him being in cub scouts at the time and the parents went to some of the meetings too. He was more focused on holding his little sister than any of the activities surrounding him and the parents always commented on that. Then, when it was his turn at elementary school, he wanted to take his baby sister to show and tell…so he did!! He was hoping that we would have another baby so he could also have a little brother, but told him no guarantees on that!
During middle school, he was also involved in band playing the trumpet. He loved his band teacher Mr. Ray. Those were also some fun years as we loved going to the concerts and Kyle always wanted us to chaperone on the band trips so I figured if he wanted us to go, we should, which was a lot of fun.
He never was or at least acted embarrassed of us. Even in high school, I can remember walking down the mall with him and his arm around my shoulder. That is one remarkable thing that I love about him, he could be himself and not worry about what others thought of him. He could be totally goofy and not care.
One of the other funny things is that he would always throw me over his shoulders and run up and down the hall with me, we would both be laughing so hard!
I remember when he needed to get glasses in high school. I took him to the optical department and he told the optician he wanted glasses like “Weezer”. The optician said what? Kyle told him it is a group called Weezer and he wants the black glasses like that. Again the optician said “Weezers”, never heard of them. Kyle kept saying not Weezers, Weezer. He explained what the glasses looked like, and the optician came out with a pair of black framed glasses and that’s what he immediately picked. We laughed about that story all the time and just did so very recently.
Kyle became very focused on computers during his high school years. He was fascinated and loved gaming. He took computer classes in high school and clearly that is what he loved. He kept saying that “someday I am going to work at Microsoft” repeatedly said that. Well, a couple years out of high school, he applied for a position with a contractor company there. I believe he was told about the company from one of his “gaming” friends. I remember the day he interviewed. He came home telling me “I don’t think I will get the job” and that he didn’t know a lot of the answers but did tell them that he was willing to learn anything and knew he could. Not long after he told me that, he got a phone call and was offered a job! He was so excited, we were hugging each other and jumping up and down in the kitchen. I will never forget that day. His dream had come true.
Kyle came and told his dad and I that he wanted to marry Nicole. He picked out a ring and hid it over at our house. I don’t know how he kept it a secret from her for so long as Kyle was never good about surprises. He would just get too excited and give things ahead of time when it came to gifts. His plan was to take her to DisneyWorld in April 2008 and propose there. He wanted his family to be on this trip also, so Lindsay and Rudy, Dan and myself, and Katelyn came along. It was nice that he wanted to include all of us on this special occasion. We had a blast there and for Nicole especially, as it was her first trip to DisneyWorld, and then returned home engaged!
They married in August 2009 and Peyton was born in August 2010. I remember the day he and Nicole came over to tell us and he had Lindsay and Rudy come too. It was just before Christmas and he had a package that he wanted me to open early. It wasn’t unusual because like I said, he gets excited and can’t wait to give a present. Anyway, I opened it up and it was a baby santa outfit! We were all so excited. Kyle just seemed to take on being a dad with such ease. He was a great daddy and loved Petyon so very much. He talked about how he couldn’t wait to take him to baseball games and football games, teaching him to play baseball, taking him to DisneyWorld, all kinds of dreams for his son.
Kyle’s favorite holidays are most definitely Christmas and 4th of July. We have always celebrated Christmas Eve at our house and it is fun to have the kids and their spouses here for the night.
When he bought his home, he and Nicole were happy to find fireworks have not been banned there so they could have 4th of July parties. They had one last summer and had said that starting the summer of 2012, it was going to be a lot bigger with lots of friends, family, and fireworks. He always loved the 4th of July throughout the years.
Last September of 2011, his dad and I were invited to go on a trip to Hawaii with friends. We weren’t going to go as we really didn’t feel it was right to leave Katelyn home with her second year of high school starting that week and homecoming coming up the day after we would be returning home. Kyle insisted that we go and that she was welcome to stay with he and Nicole. He made sure she was to school on time, took her to hang out with her friends, assisting for anything she needed, allowing us to enjoy a two week vacation.
Kyle genuinely loved his family and friends and would do anything for them.
Kyle, thank you for all the memories, your laughter, that big smile, the love, the bear hugs, and for a wonderful grandson. I miss our daily chats and I miss you so very much. I am so very proud of you and your accomplishments.
I love you,
Mom
