Courtney and Camille helped Kyle move in and then we went down to the Harbor and had lunch at Fish Market. Then we went to Horton Plaza to go shopping.

Here is the living room in Kyle's dorm room.

Here is Kyle putting his things away in his new dorm room.

It is THEIR fault! Cold Stone Ice cream! Delicious!

Auntie Weezer, Kayley and Auntie Terry at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach.

Terry and her girls...Kayley and Camille in Laguna beach

Today we met Kayley for lunch at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach for lunch. It was a beautiful day but very hot and humid. Kayley leaves tonight for Boston to go to college. Camille, Kristy, Kayley and I went shopping after lunch and laughed and had a wonderful day.

Kellygirl is taking an afternoon nap on top of all of Keaton's clothes. She looks very comfortable!

Camille and Kayley were there to enjoy the day! Kyle was at a NROTC week at USD and wasn't able to be there except in spirit!

We had a wonderful Bon Voyage party for Camille, Kayley and Kyle to wish them well going back to their schools. We had Michael Spirito cater the food and it was delicious! The kids swam and everyone talked and caught up and ate.

Kyle moves into USD

Today was a hot, sticky and busy day moving Kyle into his dorm room. He is in a wonderful place at USD with two other guys who are on the football team. It is a two bedroom and two bath with a kitchen and living room. Kyle was so happy to be back at school! Two girls were in his dorm when we left. Camille and Courtney helped with the move in and then we shopped for the things he had forgotten. After we dropped the last items off, we drove down to the Harbor to the Fish Market for a late lunch/early dinner. It was yummy and we watched the boats sailing around the harbor and saw some seals and pelicans. After eating, we went to Horton Plaza and shopped for Camille so she could get gifts for her family and friends to take back to Paris.

August 30, 2009

We woke up and went to 9am Mass. Mike Ross was there and we hadn't seen him in such a long time. He has been living in Tel Aviv. After church, Kyle and I picked up Mimi and drove down to USD to get his books. We got to go to the Student Pavilion. It really is great! It is a market upstairs and a food court downstairs. Kyle's apt. looks nice and I hope he likes his roommates!

I wonder what Keaton is doing today and what she is thinking? Tomorrow she gets to see a therapist. I wonder what that will be like? It is so calm and relaxing when Keaton isn't here fighting with us every minute of the day. It is such a wonderful feeling to know she is safe!

It sure is quiet here...

I woke up today after a good nights sleep. Just knowing Keaton is in a safe place has been a blessing and feels like a brick has been lifted off our shoulders. I wonder what she must have thought when her eyes opened and saw the beautiful and calm surroundings at Bromley Brook School? I'm sure her anger at us quickly replaced any interest in her new surroundings. Keaton's phone keeps ringing and her friends are just finding out she has gone. Rain called to see where she was and asked if she was gone? I said, "Yes" I am sure the news has travelled like wildfire between the friends. Cell phones, Facebook and Myspace are hard to keep things quiet. We knew it would get out and I am hoping that the other kids will sit up and take notice that smoking, doing drugs, having sex, drinking and getting into trouble with the police and hanging out all night is only going to get them into trouble. If we can save our child from hurting herself and keep her safe then it will be well worth the anguish we are going through having our daughter removed from our lives. I hope she sees that we just want her safe and she was definitely was not choosing safe paths. I wish I could be a little fly on the wall...to see her face meeting new friends and coming to terms with WHY? she was sent away. Tim and I went on the parent website for Bromley Brook School and found it very interesting. I mad reservations at Manchester View for October 15,16,17 for parents weekend at Bromley Brook. I can't wait to see what Tim thinks about Bromley Brook.

The longest day of my life

August 28th, 2009 was the day my husband and I finally chose to have our daughter Keaton escorted away from our home to Manchester Center, VT. We chose Bromley Brook School which is in the southwestern section of Vermont in the Green Mountains. It is a theraputic boarding school for girls. Keaton has had a rough two years after blowing out both of her knees while dancing. She had to have complete reconstructive surgery on both knees. Her friend base changed and she has been spiraling out of control ever since. She is going to get better and our family will be united. I will not let her fall through the cracks. God please be with us as we begin our journey.

Keaton was picked up by Wes and Claire. Wes is a 27 year old, strapping 6'3" body builder and Claire is a 23 year old college student. Wes was the enforcer and Claire was calm but firm. Keaton was sound asleep and was totally taken by surprise. Tim and I walked into her room and I gently woke her up, and took her phone. I said, "Keaton, I want you to kjnow I love you very much. There have been things going on lately that I have been very worried about. We have chosen to put you in a program and send you to a beautiful school. It is non-negotiable!." She looked up at me and said, "You have got to be fucking kiding me? FUCK YOU!" Then Tim said,
"Keaton, I love you very much!" and she said, "FUCK YOU TOO!" Claire and Wes told us to go out of the room and they got her ready. I kept hearing her say, "You're ruining my life! I want to talk to my parents!" When she was ready and they were walking her out of the bedroom, Keaton took off running and Wes grabbed her. She yelled, "Let go of me you're hurting me!" and then she kicked Wes in the shin. Claire told her to calm down and Wes said, "If you don't calm down, we will handcuff you." Keaton continued to say, "I want to talk to my parents!" Wes told her she had to get into the car first. She finally went...and Wes came back in to get her things and said,
"Keaton would really like to talk to both of you, but I think it would just get her agitated all over again." We knew in our hearts it wouldn't accomplish anything and she would try to manipulate the situation by crying and telling us she would never do it again. We did not go out to the car. They all left our home at 3:15 am. Wes texted us at 4:50 and told us they were through security and sitting at the gate. At 6 am they were on the plane and Keaton slept most of the way to Chicago. Their flight to Albany was delayed 3 hours due to rain between Chicago and Albany. They finally arrived in Albany at 8:30 pm and drove to Manchester, Vt. to Bromley Brook School. They arrived at 10pm. A therapist named Loree called me to tell us Keaton had arrived and was doing well. She had been introduced to her mentor and her roommate Hailey. Loree went to her new room and said, "I think I should call your parents and let them know you are safe. What are their names and phone number? Do you want me to tell them anything?" Keaton told her to tell us she is very mad at us.

Loree asked Keaton how she felt about polo shirts and khaki's and Keaton made a face. The mentor and roommate laughed and said, "We love the new girls!" Keaton said, "My dad has always tried to get me to wear those shirts!" Loree left us with a good feeling that even though Keaton is very angry...she still hasn't lost her sense of humor. When Tim and I finally got to bed, it was a relief!

Terry and Betty Ryan. We have been friends for 29 years.
Betty and her husband Michael went on our first date with
us November 10, 1980 in Dallas, Texas.

Last year, The Blue Pelican burned to the ground the week we were visiting Torch Lake.
It was one of our favorite restaurants and is now "The Blue Pelican Inn" and is located in Central Lake.
They are adding beautiful rooms to stay in upstairs. We look orward to seeing them finished.

Riley, Camille, and Jack in Traverse City during the Film Festival

Riley, Keaton, Clare and Jack relaxing at Torch Lake

Here is the Riley/Kettner Clan at Torch Lake, July 2009

Camille's first sunset in Carlsbad

Camille wanted to go to the beach tonight to see the sunset. We went to Rubio's and took fish tacos to the beach to sit and watch the sunset. As we sat down, the seagulls (sea rats) flew right next to us hoping for a piece of fish taco. We ate every taco and loved them! We didn't give them one piece! Camille had fun chasing them all away!

There were surfers in the waves. Couples walking along the sand and children playing in the surf and sand. As the sun began to set, the colors became more intense. Angie and Annagrace joined us and enjoyed playing in the sand and watching the sun slowly set on the horizon. Just as the sun was finally touching the horizon, a sailboat sailed right into the sun and made for a beautiful picture. We want to go back again and next time take dinner. Maybe Camille will make us quiche? I can't wait for the sunsets on Torch Lake!

A "God Wink"

This morning, I walked 4 miles with my sweet friends, Katie, Kathy, Nancy and Diana. I arrived home around 9 am and my husband Tim called. Our son Kyle and our French exchange student Camille, were in a crash going north on I-5 around Avery Pkwy. The kids were in the HOV lane and someone illegally crossed over the double yellow line and hit them. All of the airbags went off, but Kyle managed to keep the car from going down the embankment and rolling. They took Kyle to the hospital for observation. The CHP cited the other driver and both cars had to be towed away. Kyle was later discharged.

I sat down with the phone...still in my hand...long after my husband had hung up promising to call back and update me about Kyle. I sat with my eyes closed and thanked God for keeping the kids under His wings and safe. A God wink! This was a BIG wink! Usually, there are many "God winks in a day...some you don't even notice. It could have been a day our entire lives changed forever...but God blessed us with the wink to let us know He is there with us.

The Life of Riley

Rees or Riley? Sing or Kettner? We love them all!

Family defines us...loves us...supports us...laughs with us...and cries with us! The "Life of Riley" can mean many things, an easygoing life...one filled with many blessings. Or it could be a chronicle of our lives. That is what I hope to do with this blog. I hope to fill it with many stories, pictures, travels, good times and once again, God's many blessings in our families lives.

Welcome to the "Life of Riley"