Ryan Evert -a.k.a Dad, Daddy, Punkin
Ryan and I met in 2000 at college and have been married for the last 15 years. It is long past our time together where we feel like we have just always been together and don’t remember much different. I wrote a little bit about us under ‘Terry People’. I guess I will start by explaining the nickname-Punkin. Shortly after we were married we were talking about how some people have silly nick names for each other-and making fun of them. We would tease each other by trying to come up with the most ridiculous names we could, like shnookums, or snookypoo. Somewhere along the line one of us used Punkin and one day we realized that it had stuck and become a common term of endearment for each other. That is how we became one of those nerdy couples with a ridiculous name for each other. We say it often enough that our kids point it out, we try not to use it in public but it occasionally happens. Ryan is a good person. If I had to sum him up in one sentence that would be my choice. At the risk of being sappy, I couldn’t have picked a better match for me. He is a great dad. He enjoys his kids and likes to be with them. He is a teaser which is sometimes annoying to his girls but they know he loves them and most of the time they love his teasing too. I have heard both of them come up to him many times and request to play and joke around with him. Matthew and him have a very well established rapport in the teasing department. Ryan is a very relaxed and happy person (although I have noticed the laid back part of him decreases slightly with each decade of age he adds). He does get stressed out about things sometimes, it took me a while to figure out when he was stressed when we were first married. Probably because it didn’t really happen until a good five years in. I don’t remember what he was stressed about I just remember telling him that I thought he was stressed and he stopped to think about it and realized I was right and was just as surprised as I was. His naturally happy stress free nature doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about things or take them seriously, he is just purposeful and driven to accomplish things he wants and takes the path to get there in stride most of the time. He contemplates and makes a decision on something and then once he has decided he moves forward with it. He is also extremely logical and rational (engineer side of him) which can be annoying as you know what, but for the most part is very beneficial to him and our family. He makes a spread sheet for everything. He tends to think he is right all the time, and more often then I like to admit he is, but not enough that he should just assume it. 🙂 He is one of, if not the most honest people I know. He is very good at communicating with people and discussing different views while still standing his ground and not compromising his morals or beliefs. He is very clear on what his beliefs are and doesn’t care if he is the odd man out because of them, and doesn’t make others feel weird or judged if they have different values or beliefs. He also self analyzes and works on improving himself as a husband, dad, and person. Some of his other admirable traits or hobbies are he is quick to laugh and has a cute giggle. He has an uncanny sometimes maddening sense of direction. He is reliable when it counts (as long as it isn’t something he has to remember to bring;) ) He is supportive and encouraging and likes to have fun. He likes to cook and is good at it. He makes time for all his kids and me and his hobbies. He loves watching sports or playing basketball, golf or ping pong. He is a lover of strategy games. He can quote all episodes of Seinfeld. He is a good friend and is a pretty good handy man when he wants to be. Like I said, he is a good person. I love him.