Friday, January 31, 2014

7 Quick Takes: January edition


I don't know if you have noticed, but the east coast has had quite a bit of snow lately, as well as some extremely frigid temperatures.  And, we are getting more!  Don't tell anybody, but I am a big fan of snow and snow days.  I love that something outside of the normal is happening and it gives my kids just a little something different.  We can't really go out, we have to stay in, and many times it's the excitement that gets us through the day.  Granted, we have had some days that weren't exactly snow days, but, really, the little kid inside me is super happy still.  And, if anyone asks where January went, I still say it's lost in the snowstorms.

In the midst of all the snow days, we had some sick kids.  Patrick went down first with his I-only-throw-up-when-I-have-strep symptoms, and the next week, my William went down.  
At the doctor's visit, I had this nagging feeling that I should get James tested too.  And what do you know.  Strep number 3.  All I could think of was the drinks that these boys "share" with me all the time, with or without my knowledge.  Yeah, I went on antibiotics too.  It's so odd how everyone's symptoms are so different.

My Emma is a voracious reader.  She reads and reads and it usually takes about 4 calls to get her to answer you, even if you are in the same room.  She called to me and said (or I thought she said), "Mommy, what's a twerk?"  ACK!  Very calmly, I asked her to bring the book over ("what is this book called, Emma?  What are you asking?") so I could see it.  The audible sigh of relief could have been heard around the block when I realized the word was "twerp."

Seriously considered doing a "how to" post, but my end result isn't really what I was hoping.  I have been peeling, breaking, cutting and melting crayons to go with the valentines for school.  But, not just any shapes, oh no.  I used round, which is nice, but then I decided to go fancier: Lego guy shapes.



James is talking so much lately, and I love the way he is so clear with what he wants, and wants to tell me.  He is all about the sizes of things.  He will bring me his water cup and ask me to "make it bigger."  Or he will look for the "small Batman."  Not to mention the fact that he will only wear his Superhero shirts: Batman or Superman, and, this mommy has perfected the slight of hand to be sure they will get washed!

I have joined the FitBit mania!  One of my workout buddies offered me their old one and I was so excited to see how many time I really climb my stairs and chase after my little guy.  Some days, I am totally floored with the number of steps.
  
Remember all those beautiful family photos that we had done?  We won two 8x10 photos, and now I get to second guess myself and try to find frames, mats, where to hang......maybe I'll hang something up by summer?  I have a hard time making decisions, and hanging things is not my forte.  Is there anyone out there that wants to come help me??  

  
For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Pinewood Derby 2014 (continued)

This year, William was very excited to have a car that he could help design and race all on his own.  He was able to race in the Siblings division of our races (Love that our pack includes everyone!) and he did REALLY well!  They always begin with the Star Spangled Banner, and the boys all salute.




ARE YOU READY TO RACE?!?!?




I won't bore you with all the races, but I wanted to show you his first race, and his reaction which was priceless.  He actually won Second Place!







Patrick's Last Pinewood Derby

Patrick has been a Cub Scout for 5 years.  This Pinewood Derby is his last, and it went by too quickly.

Superman car.
I think they are just missing one boy from their den.  Great group!




Patrick only won 1 race out of 4, so he didn't make it far, but I know he had a wonderful time.  It didn't really hit me until the Cubmaster talked about they boys who had been there since Tigers.  I am very proud of my boy, and I can't believe how old he is.  

Oh, my heart.

At bedtime I was calling and calling the little guys to come brush their teeth.  I was getting frustrated until I saw them run around the corner, with a book between them.  My heart absolutely melted, and after they brushed, I made sure to grab the camera so they could finish.




The book is called "Who is Coming to our House?" an adorable children's board book.  The part they do together is "Who is coming to our house?" and James' line is "Someone, someone, says mouse." I love love love that William is reading, reading to James, and so happy about it!  My heart is so full!!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real: Christmas Vacation Fun

round button chicken

{Pretty}


I don't think there is anything prettier than the quietness, softness, and pure-ness of falling snow.

{Happy}




Everyone needs a little superhero in their life.....or two.  

{Funny}

 Say "cheese."  Or not.
Daddy, the fun parent, started a glow stick party at about bedtime.  Who can say no to all that fun?  Even Mommy had to join in the fun.  We turned off all the lights, played some Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, and "Roar!"-ed!  

{Real}

 There are some things you forget to do when you have 3 boys, and tea parties are one of them.  James spent some time at his cousin's house and was in Heaven.  
This is the cake I made for Jenn's husband.  I was so pleased that she trusted me to help her celebrate his big birthday, and make his cake.  It was quite a cake, and super rich.  It didn't turn out as pretty as I was hoping, but for a first attempt I think it went quite well.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year!

As today is the first day of the new year, I wanted to look back and just give a few things that happened in 2013 that wanted to be sure to remember.


  1. You can never have too many pairs of underwear.........on.
  2. Our new home was blessed, 2 times!
  3. James learned a few new tricks
  4. We watched an historical moment on television: the election of our new Pope!
  5. Mom Reynolds had her first open-heart surgery, with a very complicated recovery
  6. Emma received 2 sacraments!
  7. The 17-year cycle of the cicadas hit our area, and we got to enjoy it at Dad Reynolds' house. 
  8. My Dad turned 70, and we were spoiled with all the Gregory family time this summer!  
  9. Our neighborhood had some scary happenings, but the kids are happy to see that the house is almost finished.  But some of our children still have fears of our house going down, and will end up in our room when those nightmares hit.
  10. 3 of my children leave the house and go to school now! 
  11. Mom Reynolds had her SECOND open-heart surgery and it was successful! 
  12. Our family took an amazing trip to Disneyworld!
  13. Reynolds grandchild number 19 arrived and became a child of God!
  14. My sister Jennifer had successful open-heart surgery and her recovery is going really well.
  15. Our family had an amazing photo shoot, which helped me get my Christmas cards out very quickly.  I was one of those "early bird" card senders.
  16. We hosted a lot of events this year, including Gregory Thanksgiving, with 6 of the 7 kids in town, and a Reynolds Christmas celebration at our home.  Both events had about 32 people, and each one had a seat.  At a table.  I have photo proof from at least one of them.  *insert grimace here*
Blessings to you and yours on a wonderful New Year!
I was trying to decide what I wanted to do for this blog in the new year, maybe more writing, and less pictures, less whining....you get the idea.  I am partial to lots of photos because sometimes those pictures can say everything much better than I can, and I sometimes get self-conscious about writing since I am not sure I do it as well as I could (being a mom has diminished many of my brain cells, including the ones that help me put my thoughts in order).

And then it happened.

My camera/memory card has decided not to cooperate.  I have LOST some of my photos.  My PHOTOS!  Do you realize what that means?!?!  I am SO upset.  Devastated.  Disappointed.  Frustrated.  AUGH!  

And, there goes my resolution to change my blog.  I am way to attached to those photos.  I lost all photos from Christmas morning, and during the day I am missing more than half.  Hence the single photo from Christmas day.  I wrote to my camera company and hoped that they would tell me that my camera was old and that I would have to get a new one, or something, but no such luck.  They think it's the memory card.  They want me to "format" it - and lose all photos that are already on there - and use it again.  Um, no.  If there is ANY chance that I can get my photos back, I would be thrilled, and will NOT be using that piece of junk again.  (Any of you readers have an idea that may help me get them back?)  

So, while I would love to say that I can change the way I blog, I am not sure that will happen yet.  I will change my memory card first.