Ryan’s 11th Birthday Today

By Linda Anderson, Ryan’s grandmother.  Ryan passed away with his family in a plane crash on July 7, 2011.

Left, Ryan on the day he was born.

March 2, 2001, found the Houghton family of three heading to the birthing center in Santa Cruz to welcome Ryan David.  I remember I was driving from Sacramento and it was 4:30 am and I was hoping I would get there before he made his entry to this world.  Well, he arrived just moments before me (think I was parking the car).  When I entered the room everyone was beaming and Luke was chattering nonstop about his new brother.  Our little man with his green eyes brought joy to our hearts that day and everyday of his life thereafter.  

Left, Ryan as Michael Jackson.

In his 10 1/2 years he shared so much, I especially loved the cuddling hugs and sweet I love you messages he always offerred.  The many nights we layed in bed me telling him and Luke stories that usually were made up as I went along, and an occassional laugh from them if I dozed off.  He was a practical joker and loved playing pranks or tricks and his laughter and sparkle in his eyes always made these moments memorable.  He was great at Knock Knock jokes, or some that he just made up, he loved sneaking up and startling me.

I remember when I showed him how to make fried cheese and DeDe thought that was not so healthy, and his reply was “we cooked the fats out of it”!  They loved cooking and baking and I loved sharing the time with them!  Ryan loved his big brother and shared well with him, oh yeah they had their moments but hands down they were always there for each other.  He travelled to many foreign lands and played with children there, whether it was soccer or tag they mixed well.  He always stood out with that very blonde hair, those sparkling eyes and that joyful laugh.  I am so thankful that I was there when he proudly received his white belt in Kung Fu, he moved so smooth and sure of every move.

Left.  Ryan buried in the sand with Luke and the family.

He loved the beach and the Boardwalk, and we shared many hours there playing and riding the rides, then we would go look at our pictures which were always funny!  He thought it was really funny when someone (not him) got drenched on the log ride. We shared squid and especially enjoyed the “fried spiders” and Ryan loved clam chowder in a bread bowl.  The Christmas that Ryan won the Disney Million Dream at Disneyland was a once in a lifetime experience that he shared with not only he parents and Luke, but his Uncle Mitch, Aunt Cheri, cousins Grant and Bailey and Nana. He was the Honary Grand Marshall of the parade and the entire family led the parade in Walt Disney’s old fire truck.  I still see the kids standing in front of a mirror in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse as they talked with and joked with Mickey. We spent one night there and could not believe how many televisions there were, even one in the bathroom mirror.  Ryan was blessed with a life full of excitement and travels, and he was a very appreciative and thankful boy.  He was a good friend and loved sharing his time and toys with his many close buddies.

His most recent accomplishment was getting certified as a scuba diver in Bonaire just weeks before the plane accident.  Yes, the love and precious moments shared with you our Ryan will provide me with the strength and courage I need to continue with my life living much of it in the memories of the special times we shared.  Thank you my wonderful young grandson, I am so very proud of you and who you have been in this wonderful world.  I will always celebrate March 2nd with you and share with you in my memories of birthdays shared until we again are together one day!  I know your day will be celebrated with many family and friends in heaven, and hope you know you are being remembered by many here.  Hugs and Love forever, Nana

This entry was posted in David Houghton Family, Ryan. Bookmark the permalink.

13 Responses to Ryan’s 11th Birthday Today

  1. Nan Thurgate says:

    Happy birthday Ryan! I love you and miss you sooo much.

  2. Kim Stacey says:

    Just out of curiosity, I looked up the origin of Ryan’s name, and it is an Irish word for “King.” Not only that, it seems your Ryan was, indeed, a beloved king as his middle name is David. The King of Hearts.

    The loved you have for him is so deeply evident in your post – thank you for being so willing to share your deepest feelings, and fond memories with us. Today, as every day, I will hold your family close in my thoughts.

  3. Lucia Orlando says:

    Ryan definitely inherited his sense of humor from his parents. I remember visiting the hospital the day he was born, DeDe looked radiant and David was beaming with love for both DeDe and Ryan. David coached DeDe through delivering Ryan naturally and he was so proud of her. Later DeDe asked David to get a pair of scissors so she could remove the tags from an outfit Ryan had just received. The nurses asked David why he needed scissors (to make sure he wasn’t going to remove a wristband). David answered honestly about the tags, but then without missing a beat told the nurse Actually, we were really disappointed we didn’t get a girl. The nurse laughed and gave him the scissors anyway. DeDe thought that was a great story too. DeDe and I were reminiscing at our Father’s day BBQ in June about our boys turning double digits. She mentioned that particular story was Ryan’s absolute favorite and he’d retold it many times himself. Ryan was such a fun, creative little guy. I really miss him.

  4. Michele Lamelin says:

    Linda, thank you for sharing your memories. From everything I’ve heard and read about Ryan, he is indeed the King of Hearts. I wish we would have had the chance to know him, too. What a special boy… no surprise there though… he’s part of a very special family. Holding you in warmth, love and caring. Michele

  5. Melody Appleton says:

    Thank you for sharing everyone. What a wonderful young man Ryan was! It makes me smile to read your stories about him, and makes me incredibly sad, too. My thoughts are with everyone who loved and is missing Ryan today and everyday. Melody

  6. Nan Thurgate says:

    Eleven years ago today I had the great honor of witnessing the birth of Ryan. DeDe and David wanted Luke (who was a little more than 21/2) to be at the birth, and my job was to be with and take care of him. At the time of the birth, Luke was fascinated (a little scientist even then) and didn’t need me. So David handed me the camera and asked me to take pictures. In fact I took the picture at the top of the page. I have a similar, much treasured picture in my home with me standing next to them. DeDe and David were such loving parents and I had taken a class with them and Luke at Sutter for siblings who would be attending the birth. They had prepared him so well, his first comment was ,with a disappointed voice, “I thought there would be more blood.”

    Ryan came into the world a beautiful baby and grew into a loving, sweet, creative, caring child. When he came out David turned to DeDe and said, “Ryan is here” instead of it’s a boy. DeDe hadn’t found out the sex ahead of time, and they decided that he would inform her of the sex by saying the name.

    DeDe shocked the doctor by asking when they could get the birth certificate. She asked why the hurry, and DeDe replied that they were going to Mexico in two weeks. Nothing ever slowed her down.

    David and DeDe put a sign on the hospital door asking visitors to say Hi to Luke and give him as much attention as the new baby Ryan. They were such loving parents, sensitive to the needs of their children.

    It was a special day I will never forget and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. This week leading up to Ryan’s birthday has been hard. I miss them all so much. DeDe was my best friend. I’ve known her since before she married David.

  7. Linda Anderson says:

    Today is a new day, the sun is shinning and I am sitting here reading the comments on this site, enjoying the sharings of the many that loved this family so much and shared so much in their day to day lives. Thank you to all that still come to this blog and a special thanks to those that post letting us know you have been here. For me this has been a sort of lifeline that in writing and sharing is a special love tool that keeps me close to them all. Ryan will always be 10 1/2 (can’t forget the 1/2 as that really made a difference at 10!) My life long history is 10 years which seems way to short, however the memories I have will keep me sharing for the rest of my life. People say “I don’t know how you do it”, well it is all about love and I KNOW how much they all loved me and sharing times with me. This is the gift they left us all with, it is just up to us how we embrace it. Thank you Ryan for giving me so much, you with your Mom, Dad and Luke still touch me every day and I know you will be here for me in this special way forever. Again blessing to all who read this and thank you. Lovingly, Nana Linda

  8. Nan Thurgate says:

    Dear Linda, You are an inspiration. I don’t know were you get your strength, but I now know where DeDe go her courageous, optimistic, and caring spirit. Like the Houghtons, you are special.

  9. David Elias says:

    Ryan shared his birthday with me and my wife Rebecca’s wedding anniversary and also with David’s (Houghton) dear friend David Henley’s birthday. It has always been difficult to to keep all of us Dave’s straight. Despite the David confusion, David, David, and Rebecca will always remember Ryan on our special day.

  10. Shannon McCord says:

    Thanks for sharing your stories and pictures of Ryan. He was so clearly loved and accepted for who he was. One time I took Ryan and my son Riley to an old-fashioned car show. Ryan enjoyed the show but he was really looking forward to going to Marini’s on the wharf afterwards. He had $10 burning a hole in his pocket. I suggested that he did not need to spend the whole $10 on candy but he assured me he was going to share with Riley. It took the boys at least 30 minutes to settle on their purchases. Ryan’s favorite that day was the little gummy coke bottles. They pretended to sip them as they ate them. He was a very generous boy!

  11. Annie Brinan Purinton says:

    Oh Linda, your memories and stories of Ryan make me feel like I know him. I wanted to read more and more. Please keep sharing these with all of us. They are so special and help us to keep DeDe, David, Ryan and Luke close to our hearts and minds. I think about them all every day and have a picture of them up in my living room. They represented such a loving family who knew how to enjoy life and spread that joy and love to so many others. Happy Belated Birthday Ryan!! Love to you, your family and the Houghton family. What a wonderful gift we were all given in having your loved ones in our lives.

    My thought and prayers are always with you.
    Love,
    Annie

  12. Sudha says:

    Thinking of everone with love. I still miss them SO much. I made a Shadow Box that I hung on the wall in the kitchen/ dining room. I also have a picture o Luke’s last birthday next to it. I watch kids stop and look at both and am glad that they are being remembered, but there are still days when i walk by them and can’t help but stop and cry. Then i light a candle and try to remember that they would not want tears. I misS their laughter, joy, and magic. I am trying to honor them by being happy, giving, adventurous, careing and will never forget their laughter

  13. Linda Anderson says:

    I am so happy to see the messages that are being left in honor and rememberance of David, DeDe, Luke and Ryan. With every word that is thought, spoken, written or shared in other ways they remain connected with us and their lives still comfort and share their love with us. What a wonderful gift (s) they gave us, left us with and how blessed we all are and will continue to be based upon our lives shared with them in so many experiences. This year of special days that have been celebrated over the years will now be celebrated through memories, and there will always be a sadness that this is all we have. We will always miss them and wonder what life would have been like had there not been the tragic accident that took them all from us. I just keep reminding myself that as much as I wish I could change things and bring them back, I don’t have that power and it is not I who control others lives or what happens in life and the hereafter, but I CAN and will always continue to love with a full heart, remember with a mind full of memories and love, and a hope and faith in knowing that we will all be together again one day. Thank you and please keep writing and sharing! With love to all!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>