Fuzzy Memories

At least there were no serious injuries, right?

2012-01-19T13:48:00.000-05:00

For those of you (bless your dear little hearts!) who have been reading my blog or know me, you are aware of the ups and downs I had in the past year. (And, for those of you who have no idea, you should be so grateful that you have been spared my whining.) I feel like I missed a year, and missed out on doing so many things with the kids. One of the activities that Tommy is very involved in is the scouts, and in particular the pack and den meetings. He even used to take William with him. The trouble is that he is a very active little boy, and I know that he often caused some trouble. Even though I knew this, it was still hard to hear a story from someone recently about a pack meeting. I met a new person, and when I was introducing the kids to them, the comment was made about William that just hasn't sat well with me. "Oh, I know William. He came to a pack meeting and was tackling everybody. The Cubmaster had to finally tell Tommy to come over and get his 'hellion' because he kept jumping on everyone. I remember William."

Now, I realize that it doesn't sound too bad, just that I have a naughty and active kid, but it was a very hard year, and Tommy was bringing him to the meetings to help me (keep my sanity). I know it shouldn't bother me, but calling my kid a "hellion" in front of everyone, and THAT is what is remembered about him just irked me. I know that my kids aren't always well-behaved, and with everything that happened (and I realize that this person didn't know all of that) it pulls at all the guilty feelings that I had and continue to have when I am not doing a good job as a mom.

My kids ARE kids, and I know they are busy and sometimes naughty and wear things that I am not proud of (oh, Emma, where did you find that shirt?), but I just wish sometimes that mommy guilt would shove itself in a corner and grow cobwebs for at least a week. Or something. And, the next time I feel the need to do something similar, I will remember these feelings.

New Year, Same Mumbles

2012-01-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

I always know better than to make New Year's resolutions, but I always have a small thought in the back of my mind that I *might* do some changes. Eat healthier, get to bed earlier, etc. Who am I kidding.

It only took a week, but Christmas is finally packed away. James was not a big fan of me putting him down this week, so it was quite slow-going. I think the tree going down is going to be the hardest on William. He is really going to miss the Christmas season, but most especially the music. He keeps playing "Here Comes Santa Claus" and I don't have the heart to tell him to turn it off. I mean, seriously? Do you want to tell that sweet boy that the Christmas season is over? When our neighbors started taking down their blow-ups in their yards, he got all upset and was ready to go knock on their doors and ask them why they don't like them anymore. It was so cute.

This will probably need a longer post, but I am in need of getting a chore chart of some kind for the kids. I think it needs a combination of me letting go of control, but also giving them the responsibility around the house so I am not feeling so overwhelmed. I don't know if they will actually do what I tell them (whether from forgetfullness or disobedience) and if I am relying on them in order to do the next thing, I feel that I am going to be disappointed if they aren't helping me. It's so hard to get a good balance: I need to teach them and they need to learn and get more responsibility, etc. It's going to take some planning and following through on my part too. Maybe I can delay it a bit longer until my James will sleep better?

Speaking of James, that boy is not a fan of food. I mean, seriously? What kid doesn't like bananas or apples? He literally gives me a disgusted look with the first few bites, and then tilts his head back to avoid the spoon. I don't understand it. Tommy says he has more tummy/reflux issues than our other kids. Poor little guy.

On the flip side, James is one of THE happiest babies I have had. He LOVES faces, and when people look at him and talk to him. It's hard to get him to take a nap when we go places because he is so excited to have company. I hear all these little "aww's" behind me at church because he is smiling at the people behind us. He laughs at the kids' antics, and sometimes it's just regular stuff that makes him laugh. It's a deep belly laugh just like Tommy, which just melts my heart!

"Who made you?"

2012-01-18T13:40:00.000-05:00

Emma was outside playing the other day, and when she came in, she very casually mentioned her conversation with our little neighbor.

Emma: He says his mom made him.

Me: What?

Emma: I asked him who made him, and he says his mom did.

Me: Well, what did you say to him?

Emma: Well, I told him that God made him.

(Tommy said he overheard the little boy say that they don't go to church.)

It's the little things that help me to know they are listening!

Your Pie, Sir!

2012-01-18T13:22:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to my Patrick, who sold the most popcorn of his pack! The 3 highest sellers got the honor of putting a pie in one of the leader's faces: the Cubmaster, the Committee Chair (Daddy), or the assistant cubmaster. Patrick's choice was not Daddy, because "that would be mean" but the Cubmaster. As it turns out, all 3 boys chose our cubmaster. He is such a good sport!

There was no hesitation! Go Patrick!

2012-01-09T18:34:00.003-05:00

Two things we learned today:

1. William is learning to share his frosty.

2. James liked it too.

(Mommy discovered chocolate on the baby's bib after we got home. William said he gave him 3 bites.)

Toothless Cutie

2012-01-08T13:33:00.001-05:00

We had a bit of excitement during Mass!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-07T22:12:00.003-05:00

Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful 2011. We have had so many blessings, and we are so grateful.
I will never be as eloquent as my dear husband, but I am so happy and feel that the Lord has blessed us so much.

Our new year was toasted with what we call "kid wine" and a touching toast by Tommy.

Looking back on 2011, there were so many ways that God showed how much he was taking care of us. As I think back on the events of my pregnancy especially, it is impossible NOT to get emotional. I am sitting here trying to find the words and I just can't find them. All I can say is that God is so good.

We are especially grateful for the safe delivery of this little man and the joy that he spreads throughout our family. God bless our family, and all that 2012 brings us.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

2012-01-07T19:36:00.004-05:00

It's so nice to have Emma's birthday during the Christmas vacation because we can always have a nice family gathering, especially with the extended family that are in town.

We took a chilly day trip to Mount Vernon with Jimmy, Alex and Hayley.

It was beautiful to see everything all decked out for Christmas.

James was super good, and didn't mind the cold day.

This sweet lady was "Lady Washington" answering questions and telling stories. It was extra nice to visit her and sit down because it was warm inside.

Patrick was able to earn a Scout patch during our visit there. He also got in free while wearing his uniform!

William played Angry Birds while we waited in line for the mansion, where we got to go up to the third floor, where the cuppula is.

This gingerbread house was just lovely!

We then went to Pap's house and celebrated some more.

7 years old!

New bed!

2012-01-07T19:21:00.002-05:00

My William has moved into a new bed!

This firetruck bed was Patrick's, and he just loved having it.

William wasn't too thrilled initially with the new bed (he kept saying, "it's not good, Mommy.") and seemed to enjoy the rug we put down in his room to play with his cars, but I think it had grown on him. The Lightening McQueen sheets helped a bit. :)

I told him he had to stay in his new bed until the sun was up and Frosty is down (Frosty the snowman in our front yard). It was adorable to see him in the morning at our door, telling me that "the sun is up and Frosty is down. Can I get up now?" Sweet boy. I am not sure I am ready for such a big kid step, although the next step is way bigger: potty training! One step at a time, mommy.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-31T11:05:00.003-05:00

Santa and the kids

2011-12-22T21:29:00.004-05:00

Santa Claus made a visit to the Pack meeting for the scouts, and all the kids (big and small) got to visit with him.

These pictures of William are so adorable! He doesn't quite have the hang of "what do you want for Christmas" talk, so each time we see Santa he asks for a candycane, and each time he is not disappointed. It's so cute!

William recently had an encouter with the tile floor at McDonald's, and as you can see the floor came out victorious. Poor little guy.

Each time Emma has seen Santa, her list for Christmas gets longer. My favorite thing that she asks for is "a bag of socks." One Santa chuckled and Emma said it was because "she can never find any when she needs them." LOL What a nut.

Patrick is so predictable, but he has only asked for 2 or 3 things, at the most. And it's always the same things. He's so serious too.

And here is the token Mommy and James photo. We were there too! (And, if any of you are wondering, I am using an Ergo carrier, courtesy of the Iveys who are always so generous, and am totally.in.love with it!!! I can't believe it's taken me this many babies to discover the joys of a good baby carrier.)

Christmas in my home

2011-12-19T09:20:00.004-05:00

My big helpers to finish the tree.

" Is it time to open mine yet?"

The first bit of mischief this boy is into.

Our sacrifices and good deeds go into the manger as straw to make His bed soft.

My Fontanini creche!

They are homemade and look it, but they are finally all sewn. If I could only find the things to cross-stitch the rest of the names.

We are counting down the days!

Visit with Fr. Puigbo

2011-12-19T09:11:00.004-05:00

We invited one of our parish priests over for dinner, and Fr. Juan said he would come, only if he could cook! I am not one to turn down a night off from cooking and we knew it would be delicious so we happily agreed to the terms. (And, to be honest, it was a good reason to kick start my Christmas cleaning! :)
Father came over and cooked his grandmother's recipe for paella. It was absolutely delicious, and the company was even better!

Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds came and shared the evening with us. It was perfect timing for Emma, as she got to borrow Grandma's hat for school the next day.

Thank you so much, Father! We can't wait to have you over again!

When you give your toddler the cell phone.....

2011-12-11T22:01:00.003-05:00

...you should expect some things like this to show up on it. I thought he was taking a picture.

Cookie Time!

2011-12-09T09:08:00.004-05:00

Emma was just amazing this year with our Speculaas cookies. Such a great helper, and did not tire of doing the cutting and rolling.

(The recipe is here)

We were joined by "Aunt Nichole" and her neice, and the two girls were peas in a pod. They were so cute with the flour everywhere. Don't you just love Emma's outfit?

Their favorite part was the flour containers.

I love this time for the cookies. It is so special to me to have this tradition with my kids.

December Odds and Ends

2011-12-07T21:52:00.003-05:00

We are enjoying our evening drives with all the Christmas lights everywhere. William shouts "AHOY!" every time he sees a house with lights on. I think maybe it's time to limit Jake and the Neverland Pirates for a bit.

The first day of December I was awakened with noises from my kitchen along the lines of how to pronounce the word "Psalm" - one says it right, the other says "Pee-salm." The children are so excited to have their new advent calendars doors to open each day and have pulled out the Bible to look up the verse. And no, I did not tell them to do this. My mother's heart was so happy! I watched Patrick look up a verse, and he was in the the book of Isaiah, and he knew which way to go in the Bible to find the book of Psalms. I have to admit that I am not even sure which one comes first.

I am finally the proud owner of a Fontanini nativity scene (or "creche")! My mother was so sweet to help me get this beautiful set, and she has already added to it. I have to say that I don't think Legos or the little green aliens from Toy Story belong in the empty manger. The elephant that has come to adore is okay, but not so sure about the sword-wielding lego Nijago guys. William felt it was important to not have the manger empty. (I was so close to getting a photo, and I hope he does it again because it was so cute how well they fit!)

I am having such a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I feel like I missed out on the season last year, and I was hoping this year would feel a little different, but I still feel overwhelmed. Maybe it's just that time of year.

We made our Speculaas cookies for St. Nicholas day, and I was very sentimental in the process this year. My best helper this year was my Emma. She was a dough rolling and cutting pro this year, and it reminded me of all the years that I was the one spending all the time helping my sister Jenn. My brother and I were always her helpers with the big baking this time of year, and it made me so happy to share that with her.

We have big news in the Reynolds family! Tommy's brother Paul is engaged! The kids are excited to be able to call their music teacher "Aunt Nichole." We are so happy for them, and ask for prayers as they begin their planning.

We have a great Christmas card this year, thanks to a wonderful friend who offered to take pictures for us. They turned out great, even with a wiggly 3 year old who never stops moving or talking. She said we would do it again in the spring, and I can't wait! We are so grateful.

Jumping James

2011-11-30T20:44:00.003-05:00

Thank you, Iveys!!! James is loving the jumperoo!

Thanksgiving at School

2011-11-21T17:27:00.005-05:00

We enjoyed our first thanksgiving meal at school with the kids. Round 1 was Patrick's lunch and round 2 was with Emma. The priests served the kids, and we loved getting to see all the families with their kids

William got ready on the way.

It doesn't sound like much going on, but I sure do feel like it.

2011-11-15T08:50:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite things about this time of year is driving through the swirling leaves on a blustery day. (I just love that word!) It makes me feel like a little kid, when we used to rake leaves at my parent's house (which was a never-ending job with all the trees) and the crunch of all the piles of leaves we had. I can't believe it's fall and I have to start thinking about winter clothes for the kids (and Christmas is around the corner. Ack.).

We are already in the second quarter for school and the kids are doing so great. We are so blessed with our teachers this year, and I enjoyed conferences to hear about the kids. Emma's teacher said she wished she had 3 of Emma in her class and I was touched. She also told me about the "date" she had with her: Emma used her "duck dollars" (class money) to buy a lunch with her teacher. They had a special time together in the classroom and I am sure Emma talked her ear off. Patrick's teacher is tops in my book because she doesn't like to give the kids weekend homework. I LOVE that!! And she enjoys reading Patrick's imaginative stories all about Mario brothers, or whatever game he is into at the moment.

William is still wildly in love with James, and continues to smother him with kisses and wake him when he is sleeping (much to my chagrin). His other activity lately is to put a backpack on his back and say "Bye, mommy. I'm going to pre-k. I'll miss you!" I think we need to get this kid in some activities. He continues to crack me up with his movie quotes, and amaze me with how much he understands and remembers. The alphabet has all of the sudden come alive for him, and I think it may have something to do with the "Letter Factory" video we have, and how much he likes to quote movies.

James is my unpredictable one. I have to admit that he is the first child ever that I put to bed with us, on purpose. He does not like to sleep anywhere else. Well, other than in my arms. I feel like a rookie mom again, since I can't seem to make this any easier. He is such a happy baby when he is awake, and loves to have people around, but I think he has an extra sense that tells him he needs to wake up of nobody is around while he's sleeping. I'm guessing it has something to do with all the noise in the house all the time. I keep telling myself that I have to be more disciplined, but a part of me enjoys snuggling with this little man as long as I can. He's only 5 months and wakes up a lot during the night. I can't imagine getting up and going to another room as often as he is up. But, on the positive side, he is a great eater, is so cute, and just brings out such sweetness and happiness in the whole family. And did I mention that he rolls from his tummy to back? AND he has found his toes? That is so adorable!

Seriously? How can I get mad at such a sweet, smiley baby??

All Saints Day

2011-11-13T21:20:00.005-05:00

The Parade of Saints!

Thanks to my mom who made an amazing cloak for St. Patrick! I can only take credit for the hat. And being the mom to the cutie IN the hat. :)

Visit from the Godfather

2011-11-03T16:28:00.004-04:00

Joe and I have the same Godfather who lives in Texas. We were fortunate to have a visit from him at the end of October. It was so nice to have him meet our kids and spend some time with us.
Compare Tony makes a drive up for his college reunion every 4 years.

He is particularly excited about our newest baby, James ANTHONY. :)

He was accompanied by his friend Genevieve and it was lovely to meet her.

A first for me

2011-11-03T16:05:00.002-04:00

William + nerds = a need for something like this.

As I was putting him in his seat in the car, I noticed something white and round in his ear. I started to panic thinking he had some kind of tumor in his ear.

Me: William! What is in your ear!?!?
William: A nerd.
Me: WHY did you put a nerd in your ear!?!
William: Because it fit.

Naturally. So, time to get it out. Thankfully, I could see it, so I tried with tweezers first of all. He didn't like that much. So, off to the pharmacy, in hopes that I won't have to go see the doctor. I get to Walgreens and ask the man where "the little things you put in your ear to get the wax out" are. He says, "You mean Q-tips?" "Nope. Something similar, but not that." He gave me a perplexed "what-planet-are-you-from" look and proceeded to show me where the ear care aisle was. Thankfully, they had these really cool plastic things. And the scoopy end was just perfect! I am glad it came in a pack of 10. Here's hoping we don't have another adventure like that again. As I said, it's a first!

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-03T15:45:00.006-04:00

From our Wii-loving family to yours!

Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Mario. I made those mustaches myself! William didn't keep his on very long but we did draw one on his lip before they went out.

First Halloween!

Daddy went with the kids with his wii-mote. :)

The neighbor had some very popular blow-ups in front of his house.
To make the night even better, we had Papa, Mani and Wilson over to join us! What a fun night!

Patrick was finally ready to smile after the sticky mustache came off, and a box of nerds.

Pumpkin Time!

2011-11-02T13:01:00.009-04:00

It's our little James' first halloween! Our pumpkin was the cutest thing on the table.

Tommy wanted to be sure the kids got the full experience.

Yeah, he was thrilled.

Emma put up a big enough fight that she got to use her favorite thing to decorate her pumpkin: Sharpies!

She had a hand-inside-the-pumpkin at school this year already.

Now to the real torture!

The amount of glee on Tommy's face is just not right.

Sweet boy!

Patrick and Mommy worked hard on a pumpkin.

Here is Daddy's handiwork. William calls it "his" pumpkin.

Mommy and Patrick's work.

School Days 2011-2012

2011-10-17T15:31:00.004-04:00

The 3rd grader.

My big 1st grader. It's amazing how they have changed since last year.

So much love!

2011-10-13T16:33:00.003-04:00

Jersey Day

2011-10-12T09:04:00.002-04:00

Our Weekend visitor

2011-10-02T21:39:00.007-04:00

Emma came home on Friday with the class pet. Humphrey the hamster came to our home to spend the weekend with us.

Thankfully, he is of the stuffed variety so required not too much looking after (except to be sure we didn't lose him). Emma was so excited to bring him home that she started writing down adventures BEFORE they happened. LOL

Scout popcorn sales came first! Humphrey agrees with Emma that Unbelievable Butter is the best. (I think the Caramel with the nuts is out.of.this.world. If any of you would like to support my Patrick in his "go to camp" efforts, please visit the Trails End Website.)

The cub scouts had a private history lesson from a civil war reenactor and Humphrey enjoyed learning how to march and see a musket shot.

Part of Humphrey's adventures included the Oktoberfest at the Knight's of Columbus. I love that it's a family event, and to see William do the Chicken dance was just priceless! Humphrey was our DD, so there weren't any worries there.

The "blowing" part only lasted a little while and they just turned into the noisemakers by themselves. Humphrey was very subdued during the celebrating, but did enjoy the delicious food.

We enjoyed our time with Humphrey and hope he will go back without telling too many tales about my messy house, naughty kids, and grumpy mommy. Thankfully, Emma is the only one who gets to tell tales in the journal. The good news is that there are more class pets to be visiting our home this year! We can't wait.

2011-10-01T11:42:00.001-04:00

And how are you today?

"I always knew a meeting would kill me...."

2011-09-24T00:07:00.003-04:00

Page 1 of Patrick's journel for school. Apparently he took Tommy's comment very seriously. (Click to enlarge, I think.)

3 Month Cute

2011-09-24T00:00:00.003-04:00

James thinks Wilson is funny.

2011-09-21T13:10:00.001-04:00

"William, why are you so loud?"

"Because God gave me batteries so I can yell."

My days

2011-09-16T21:29:00.005-04:00

- "Please get off the baby. Please get off the baby!" "GENTLE!" "Eeeeassy. Easy." If I had a nickel, a penny even for every time I say those words in a day I would be a rich woman.

- I would like to have some great blog posts, but my brain is turning to mush. My vocabulary has dropped to a grade school level, since I have to at least be able to keep up with my kids' homework. My days are spent holding, feeding or changing the baby, or running interference. William LOVES the baby. I mean REALLY loves the baby. He is always on top of him, kissing, hugging and just plain lovin' on him all day long. I think it is so amazing how much love he has for him and how he just wants to be with him all the time, but it is exhausting. James is a cutie, and it's hard not to kiss those cheeks. He is a beautiful, sweet and smiley baby almost all the time. But, he is not a fan of the car and/or carseat. He tells us by his wails. That boy can go from zero to screaming in no time flat, and to drive with a little one screaming is very hard. He is not the best sleeper, but that is mostly my fault. I need a better schedule (in EVERY area of my life) for him.

- I asked William if he wanted to do swim lessons. His response: "Then I can get my license back?" No idea where that came from. LOL That boy still cracks me up every day by his comments. He is like a Gregory in his singing and quoting movies - he only has to see/hear it one time and he knows it - and his sense of humor is Daddy's all the way. He is a nut.

- Emma is enjoying first grade, with more responsibilities and fun. She actually told me that she wished she could go to school on Saturday. I guess that's a pretty good sign. I love her new uniform and I think she looks absolutely adorable in that jumper. We are hoping that she will share a room with the baby when he is ready for a room, and I think she will be a great help with James. She is a huge help in the car when James starts screaming.

- In Spanish class, the kids filled out a little thing about themselves. Likes and dislikes or "me gusta" and "no me gusta." Patrick's came home with the usual in the likes - video games, Mario, etc. The dislikes: earthquakes, ticks, cancer. Sigh. I know he's growing up, I can see it in our conversations, and by an incident that happened at school. One of his friends was saying some things that upset him, not AT him, and he got concerned, so he brought it to the attention of the teacher. Big moment for him and proud moment for me. I can't believe he's so old!

- I keep hoping my house will clean itself, and the laundry fairies will visit me a little more frequently. I know things are going to take a bit longer to get used to. I know it, but I can't seem to handle it. Just have to keep going. So, if you don't hear from me in a while, I may need some rescuing. If you don't find me under the pile of Mount Neverest, try under the nearest bed, where I may be in the fetal position, sucking my thumb.

Just kidding about the thumb.

Well, maybe.

Slow down!

2011-09-01T11:14:00.003-04:00

Patrick has had an evenful month. No, not activity-wise. Life issues-wise.

We first started with an earthquake, followed by a (over-hyped) hurricane. He was very worried about those things, and kept asking us lots of questions, especially in the evenings, about aftershocks, tornados, etc. He gets to school, and on the first day, he comes home and starts talking about cancer. His teacher is suffering from non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, so he has a permanent substitute at the start of his year. They are praying for her, and the talk of cancer has come up, and he informs me that some people die from cancer. Fast forward 2 days: Mommy is in bed with fever. His first comment to me: "I hope you don't have cancer, Mommy." My poor little man. The next day, he hears about the anniversary of 9/11, and sees a clip of some of the tribute shows coming on. More questions, and he makes the connection of why we are at war, and why his uncles are deployed. More worries, more questions. Oh, and did I mention that we had an elderly friend of the family pass away right before the baptism?

It's so hard! I had no idea that he was going to have to learn these things so quickly, and feel the weight of how scary some of these things are. I know my kids have to grow up, but not now. And not with such heavy issues. I am praying for and with him often, and my prayer is that we can get through this without too much worry, and we all stay safe.

First Day of School 2011-12

2011-08-29T09:17:00.002-04:00

My big 3rd grader Patrick, and 1st grader Emma!

It was hard to get a non-silly face of William.

And when James is around, William is all about kissing and loving him.

Twinkies!

2011-08-25T14:05:00.004-04:00

Thank you, Grandma!

Earthquake!

2011-08-23T08:49:00.005-04:00

We were enjoying our last week of summer by having a "picnic" in the basement as we watched a movie. It had just ended when I sent Patrick upstairs to get some socks on. James was sleeping in the basement, and I was in the kitchen with the other kids. I heard this thumping and told the kids to stop. It continued and I yelled a little louder for them to stop, thinking the kids were making a racket. William and Emma appeared in the kitchen and I thought maybe it was Patrick upstairs, and was just about to say something again when the noise got louder, and the whole house started shaking. Patrick came downstairs with eyes like saucers, and William and Emma came to me and held on. I kept thinking a truck wouldn't make a noise like that, or shake the whole house, and I know my neighbors can't do that! It lasted about 20 seconds, but seemed so much longer. We all kept saying "what in the world was that?!?" and ran outside. Our neighbors were all out there asking the same question and one man was so nonchallant about it. "It was an earthquake." Like, seriously, go back to your lives, citizens. I went in the house to call Tommy, and the phone rang as I picked it up. I had a quick conversation with my sister, and then the phones stopped working. Both of them: cell and land line. It was crazy. The kids were really shaken up, and hovered over my shoulder as I went on Facebook and tried to email Tommy (admittedly, I put the wrong subject line on his. I don't think I should have put "help" anywhere in the email I picked the wrong word and he kind of freaked out). Patrick was especially nervous, and would not leave my side. I still couldn't believe it. We had an earthquake in Virginia!

It registered at 5.8 (I think) and was a big deal on this east coast. I watched a bit of news with the kids and I think it made Patrick more nervous about things. He heard buzz words and hung on: aftershocks, nuclear factory, earthquake, and hurricane. I guess it's time to do some weather lessons. :) Actually, another lesson we need is an earthquake lesson. I had no clue what we should do, to be perfectly honest! Never thought we needed to learn about that. When I looked online, it reminded me of those old videos that showed what to do in case of a nuclear attack: get under your desk and hold on!

Patrick is 8!

2011-08-18T23:13:00.006-04:00

Patrick enjoyed an afternoon of putt-putt with his cousins and friends. He chose 8 (for his birthday year) with the theme of Super Mario Brothers.

I love this picture of my nephew helping William.

I think everyone had a good time!

I think the boys are doing Mario poses. William is clutching Patrick's "noisy Mater" for dear life. He claimed that present almost immediately! I can't believe my oldest child is 8! I am so blessed with such amazing kids, and my Patrick is so smart and sweet.

Baptism

2011-08-18T21:32:00.006-04:00

Triple baptism day.

I think we have a future priest! We have never had a white garment like this and it must be a sign!

Our first baptisms in the new church! My nephews were the altar servers, my godson is on the left.

Fr. Juan was so supportive during this tough pregnancy, and even told us that he feels that he has a connection with James, since he prayed so much for us. We were so happy to have him at the baptism!

Melanie and Kate (3 weeks), me and James (9 weeks), and Elena and Leah (10 weeks).

Godparents Theresa (my sister) and John (Tommy's brother), with Dad Reynolds as proxy, since John is deployed.

"I lost my 2"

2011-08-09T15:20:00.007-04:00

All day Saturday we kept telling William that this was the last day he would be 2. Tommy told him that during the night there would be a big "POOF!" and he would be 3, and he told William not to break the bed. William was so cute in the morning when he told us that there WAS a big poof, and "I lost my 2, and found my 3!" (He says it so cute: fthlee) He did that all by himself! Such a cutie. I attempted to put a "noisy Finn" on his cake (from Cars 2) and he was so happy!

Conversation in Line

2011-08-06T19:08:00.005-04:00

It was a long wait to get to Confession last night. Patrick was getting very impatient to get back to his PBJ sandwich. I am explaining to Patrick that we need to be patient, we need the graces to get to Heaven, and this isn't as hard as what Jesus did. I said I want to go to Heaven, and want him to get there too. It was one of mommy's lectures that I find myself trying really hard to get him to pay attention, fit a lot of good information in it. I am feeling like he is hearing me, and I am so serious.

Me: ....to get to Heaven.
Patrick: But you'll be there first, Mommy.

I could not hold in my laughter.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-03T12:00:00.003-04:00

Just Dance

2011-08-01T22:11:00.005-04:00

No Reynolds gathering is complete without a little "Just Dance." We know where this boy gets his moves!

James Reynolds

2011-08-01T13:48:00.000-04:00

Grandpa Jim, Uncle Jimmy and Sweet Baby James.

Family Fun

2011-07-28T10:40:00.019-04:00

After months of being the one left behind on all the fun trips, we finally made plans to go somewhere together! My Tommy planned the day (as usual, since he is way more fun than I am) and was so considerate to plan something NOT involving a bathing suit. :) We took a drive to the Shenandoah area, or Mount Jackson, more specificly.

We first made a trip on the Covered bridge. It smelled so wonderful! Cedar, I think.

I had never driven on anything like that before.

Next stop was the Route 11 potato chip factory. We hoped to watch them cook, but they weren't that day.

Here is William holding his "tail." I never thought I would put any of my kids on a leash, but we don't have a double stroller right now. William was really cute with the monkey on his back, and though he was strong and sometimes pulled me, it was good for the sightseeing we did that day.

All set to go in the Shenandoah Caverns! It's the only caverns that had an elevator to get down the 60 feet to the caverns.

It was 52 degrees down there! Thankfully, Tommy remembered a blanket for the baby.

We had a little bacon while we were down there...

And eggs!

Here is Patrick's castle. It's so amazing to see what God has done. Our guide said that it takes 125 years to make an inch of the stalagtites and mites. So beautiful!

Mommy and her cuties!

Daddy too. On a side note, I want to say that my kids were really good in the caverns. We had a groupl that was super rude and just kept talking and talking while he was trying to lead us. It was a funny tour, because he had to turn the lights on and off for us, as we traveled in each room, so we had to wait and stop, and wait. But, really, we were on a tour and the adults were just too chatty. I was really proud of my kids and how well they listened.

Rainbow lake.

This looks like something here in DC. Not sure what the kids are doing, but can you guess what this is?

There was also an area with the old-fashioned store window displays.

The great part of this trip was that the three main things we did were all in one area! There is a huge place with American Parade items - inaugural parades, mardi gras, rose parades...the place was filled and everything was HUGE. You see that stuff on TV but never realize how enormous it all is, and that some of it moves!

This is the Lone Star float, used in the inaugural parade for George W. Bush.

This train was over 100 feet (I think) and was the largest piece there.

I just want you to see the size of the building. This is only half! Look how little Tommy looks!

Then there was a place to let the kids just have fun. A big yellow barn with all kinds of neat things to see and play in. There was a beehive IN the wall, where you could see everything, a rabbit to pet, scavenger hunt and a train ride in the parking lot. The kids were thoroughly exhausted after this place, and it was a perfect stopping place.

After dinner, Tommy took the scenic Skyline Drive home for the sunset. We caught almost all of it. We would stop at the overlooks, and Emma would say something along the lines of "the sun isn't moving." "Where's the sun again?" It was funny. I am so happy we had such a great family day!

Scout Camping

2011-07-22T09:30:00.003-04:00

Our Patrick is a bear scout now, and is really enjoying the activities with the scouts. He did 2 camping trips this summer, and even though he doesn't say much about it, I know he had a blast.

He did tell me his favorite thing to do was the sling shot. Notice the cape? The theme was superheroes!

Green arrow Reynolds.

Here are some of his pack at the campgrounds. He and Tommy came home hoarse from their weekend, and I love that I keep hearing the little things he learned while at camp. "And-a ONE, and-a TWO, and-a you-know-what-to-do!" They did some songs too, and he's been singing "there are no bananas in the sky (in the sky)" and teaching his siblings.

Click for the full effect. I had no idea he could make faces like that!

Tommy and Patrick are both involved in the pack, and it's so neat to have so many friends from school there with him. I am really impressed with our pack leader. He is great with all the boys, and (this is what really got me) arranged meals for us after James was born. They came at perfect intervals, and were all delicious. We never had anyone coordinate meals after a baby was born, and he didn't even ask, just did. He would tell us when dinner was coming and we would enjoy it. It's a small thing, but made a big impact on me. We are so blessed to have such great friends and community.

Little Joys

2011-07-14T23:01:00.004-04:00

First and foremost, my brother-in-law who helped fix our A/C so we only had to spend one night in discomfort. He is the best!
These always make me "glad."

William wore these to a doctor's appointment this week. He walked very.slowly so he wouldn't fall.

"You've got a friend in me."

Always one of my favorites! Sleeping babies are pure joys. (And the sweet smiles that he is giving me now!)

2011-07-10T20:18:00.002-04:00

Boy, that Murphy really knows how to keep it coming. Our A/C decided to go out this weekend. Naturally. In hot and humid July.

2011-07-09T13:19:00.005-04:00

So, what do you think happens during the week that your wonderful, hard-working husband goes back to work after being superdad for almost 3 weeks? Why, anyone who knows Murphy and his law will tell you that everything seems to fall apart. And yes, I will tell you all about it!

Thankfully, because of the holiday, it was a short week. I had a doctor's appointment to have the stent removed (YAY!!!) on Tuesday. I dropped my big kids off at my sisters and took the baby with me, thinking it would be nice and short. I was a bit late for my appointment, but did not get leave that office until 2 hours AFTER my scheduled appointment time. I saw that there was a tractor trailer fire on the main highway, and I thought I could just avoid that road and there would be no problems. Boy, was I ever wrong. I did not get to my destination until almost 3 hours later! I was stuck in traffic in the same city for that length of time. Everyone was trying to get around the mess. Tommy, my Knight in shining armour, came and met me for dinner after picking up the kids. He beat me home, because he was on the train, and drove back to help me. What a sweet man.

I thought I would make dinner that night, and prove to myself that I can do this "mother of 4 alone" thing, but that didn't happen. So I decided to make it the next day. No biggie. I put the roast in the oven, and after 20 minutes I was very aware that there was no smell of dinner cooking. The oven, which was on, was cold. Broken oven. Great. Stove top works, but you can't do a roast in 30 minutes on the stove (or at least, I have no idea how). There also were some eggs boiling on the stove which I forgot about, and I ruined my pot because there was no water in it for so long. Drat. I was going to make zucchini bread, but that isn't going to happen any time soon. I was hoping it would be fixed on Friday, since Tommy scheduled a man to come out and fix it, but he never got here. We never got a call or anything, and nobody else could help us. Time to get my cookbooks out for some easy cooking. "Hello, Tony's?"

Oh, and I decided to run errands. With the 4 kids. I know. I'm crazy. (On the plus side, it was Target and there is no place better for some retail therapy!!) There is a light on in the van. Mind you, we JUST had the darn thing in the shop but now the ABS light is on. Kind of important, so it's time to take that in again. And, naturally, the light is nothing, but there is something else to fix.

And I am dealing with this on not much sleep, because we have a newborn in the house. And he likes to be held. A lot. I am writing this post in a rare hands-free moment, and I am on edge, waiting for him to start crying.

But, on the positive side, I feel so good! I feel like a new person. I am stent and stone free (says the doctor) and am almost feeling like myself again. It's so nice to have energy to do things around the house and just FEEL better. I know I look better, because people keep telling me I look like a new woman, but I have to admit I feel it too. Granted, I need a haircut and to lose some more baby weight, but I know I am doing better. :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T13:42:00.001-04:00

Crazy kids

2011-07-02T15:38:00.001-04:00

Anyone else want to say it?

2011-07-01T22:32:00.004-04:00

Now's the time. Really, go ahead. It seems to be the theme these days.

I looked bad. It's okay. You can tell me now that I've had the baby. I looked as sick and as bad as I felt. I knew everyone was lying to me. "Oh, you look so good." Baloney. I just had 2 people tell me that I look so much better now that I have had James. "I saw you that one time and you really, well, I was really worried about you." Which, on one hand is good. Means they were praying for me. But now they say I look much better. Hmm. Back-handed, but good. I am happy to hear that I look so much better. I guess. It's hard to know how to take that. But, I do know that I feel better. So, thanks.

I think.

James' Birth Day Story

2011-06-29T21:45:00.001-04:00

Thursday was to be the big day, but I don't think it was real to me. It felt really far away still when we went to Mass on Sunday. Everyone was very nice but they all had the same questions about how soon? and even though I would say "4 days" it still didn't sink in. I think I kind of knew that I wouldn't go then.

5AM on Tuesday Tommy's alarm clock went off. I usually only half hear it, but a pop woke me up. A trip to the bathroom confirmed that my water broke. I told Tommy "We are having a baby today!" and he said "okay" and sent an email to his boss. He was so calm about it, as was I, which was kind of weird. I can't believe how perfectly God timed my water breaking. Tommy didn't have to come home from work (an hour or more away!) AND my mother is always up at the crack of dawn or before, so when I called her after reaching the doctor, she was up and ready to come over. I even had time to shower, because the doctor told us to come in about 2 hours. I did have to pack my bag a bit more (I actually overpacked LOL). It was fun to tell the kids, especially Patrick. His first response was "it's not the 16th!" They were really excited, and I am sure they must have told people at school.

When we got to the hospital, Tommy dropped me off at the door while he went to park. As I am walking through the doors, a lady behind me wants to know if I am having the baby right now. Of course I responded yes, and she shifts into high gear: she's a nurse there and she is trying to get me into a wheelchair and giving orders to the people at the desk. I had to slow her down and tell her that I was coming for a c-section and all was okay, but she made sure to send someone into the restroom while I was in there to be sure I was okay. LOL I was pretty amazed when we got upstairs because we were prepped and brought to the OR within 20 minutes. I think we snuck in before the scheduled sections for the day. Another blessing? I spoke to one of the doctors from the OB office on the phone, and was a bit disappointed because this one is not my favorite. But when we got there? The doctor who was so sweet when I was in with all my kidney problems was the delivering doctor!

I have to admit that once I got to the prep/recovery room, my nerves were on edge. (well, they were going in the car too, because I fussed at poor Tommy on the drive to the hospital, including telling him which way to go) The nurse brought in the scrubs for Tommy, and the giggles to laughter to crying began. Can you see how tight that is across his chest? He couldn't sit down in the outfit they gave him! He could barely get the shoe coverings on his size 15s. The nurses told him to sit, I mean stand over here while I was getting my spinal. The last time he stood to watch the c-section because he wanted to see. This time he didn't have a choice! LOL It was such a relief to hear my little one come out crying that I was crying as hard as he was. It was so neat to look over at the warmer and see a familiar face. He looks so much like the other kids, and I was so happy that he was finally out. I loved it when the nurse put his little warm face up to mine, because I could hear him making these little noises, and he was so soft.
It was a great day, and we are happy to be home with all the kids.

Emma's Wish List

2011-06-27T23:39:00.000-04:00

Click to enlarge (I think).

Baby Days

2011-06-26T21:26:00.007-04:00

We are all here, and doing well. The baby is gaining weight, and I am losing sleep, as most newborn moms will say. This little man likes to be held, and is not too happy when he is put down, so it's really nice to have visitors who are willing to hold this little man. William is soo sweet with him, and calls him "Mommy's baby" or "your baby" when he talks to me. The big kids are adjusting to summer vacation and enjoying Daddy's staycation, but are so helpful and sweet.
James is 12 days old! We went to Mass as a family today, and we did okay. Well, unless you count that I forgot baby-sized diapers and had to put the baby in a William-sized diaper during Mass. LOL

I can't figure out who he looks like, but I do know he is one of my kids. :) Definitely.
James and James!
Papa, who was one of my longest hospital visitors.
Grandma Reynolds.
Mani, who always makes babies feel snuggly and warm. (Anthony is my mother's maiden name, and his feast day is Monday, June 13.)

I am happy to be holding this baby in my arms, and I think my body is happy to not be pregnant. I am in a LOT less pain, and ready for the last few issues to be resolved. The doctor found a large kidney stone that they are going to laser out this week. Unfortunately, I have to go under again, but I am hoping the stent as well as the stone will come out this week. Those are the last hurdles (I think) to getting me back to feeling better, and I am so excited to be almost there!

Last Week of School

2011-06-25T22:33:00.003-04:00

Monday of the last week of school for my cuties. My Emma is growing like Daddy.

She had a special Luau on Tuesday which I had hoped to make, but was unable to because that was the day I had James. This photo is her tatoo, which they aren't allowed to have any other time at school.

Kindergarten graduation on Wednesday!

Principal on the left and our Pastor on the right. So proud of her!

Emma and her teachers. She worked really hard this year, and these ladies challenged her and she absolutely loved her first year. She is off to the First Grade!

My Patrick had a great year as well, and did fantastic on his report card. He got a special award for his effort and improvement in the the last 2 quarters. The class also had some special things that they voted on (nicest smile, most reliable, etc. - enough for everyone), and Patrick's award was the the one who is the best at following the rules. My mother's heart was so happy to see that! I know he worked REALLY hard this year, and I am so grateful that God opened this door for my kids. I don't know if these kids would have learned anything this year if I had homeschooled them. My Patrick and Emma are really smart kids, and I am super proud of how far they came in their studies this year.

He's Here!

2011-06-18T19:00:00.007-04:00

On June 14, 2011 (2 days earlier than my scheduled surgery) we welcomed our 3rd little boy:

James Anthony Reynolds

9 pounds 8 ounces

20.5 inches long
And the most kissable cheeks ever!

We are over the moon with this new bundle, and soo grateful for all the prayers. God has been so good to us and I am overwhelmed with how much love and support we have received.

2011-06-11T15:59:00.007-04:00

- The countdown is here. Thursday June 16 is our scheduled c-section for this baby. He is going to be a big one, say my FIRST stretch marks (yes, plural) and my ENORMOUS belly. Yes, it's very large. It's okay. I know it is. My guess is he will be bigger than 10 pounds. Easy. (I like this photo, but I have been told that it's not good because I am not smiling. As a pregnant person, I have a puffy face and smiling never really makes me feel any better.)

- I had an interesting situation today, and this is NOT the first time it has happened. A couple approached me at Mass with their daughters, asking me if I needed babysitters. They gave me their phone numbers, introduced themselves and just wanted to chat and offer their girls to sit for us. They are a big homeschooling family and it was very nice to chat with them, but I was curious about the whole situation. My first thought is that I must look really pitiful and could use a break, OR my kids are so cute and well-behaved that they want to enjoy them. Yeah, I think it's the latter too. :)

- Can I tell you that I am officially in freak out mode? Baby is coming soon. I am praying for a safe delivery and healthy baby, but I am really hoping that some of this constant pain is going to let up, a little. I have amazing doctors that are taking care of me, especially my OBGYN. I had an appointment last week, and he could just see that I was having some trouble. It was like he was telling me that I needed to let some of this stress out. I guess I have been holding it in a bit, and unfortunately I was a weepy mess the next few days since he gave me "permission" to de-stress. My mother says it massages my liver, so it must have been good for something.

- Here are some William-isms: Daddy to William: "Hey, big guy!" William: "Hey, little guy!"
To Mommy: "I love you, my soft Mommy."
"I want my sandwich cut like a crayon." I'm not sure where he got that, but apparently that means we have to cut it into 4 triangles.

- Emma is graduating from Kindergarten this week. This is our first experience with a "summer vacation. Emma's question about it? "What kind of uniform do I wear for the summer?"

- Patrick is officially a Bear Scout! There was a family camping trip this weekend and he had a blast. I asked him his favorite part and he said "everything." His last school day is the day after Emma, and I can't believe how big he is.

- I've been doing a lot of TV watching lately, and I have been enjoying some crazy infomercials lately. Have you seen any of these? This is the fun part of not being able to do too much walking around.

Pajama jeans

Dream look: instant eye lift!
And my personal favorite, Gray Away!

Aren't these just too funny??

- Speaking of modified bed rest, my Mom, MIL and husband have been amazing with all this going on. The laundry has NEVER been this caught up, the kids have never felt so spoiled and taken care of, and there have been NO complaints from my Tommy. I know how hard this has been, and I am feeling so blessed to have such an amazing husband and family.

2011-05-17T08:06:00.004-04:00

I am still here. Still pregnant, and still getting those looks of "soon, right?" even from the nurses at all the doctor's visits I have (no, really, there are LOTS). My OB doctors called me one morning and said they had a meeting about me (I love that they are all taking such good care of me) and their decision was to do the steroid shots for the baby's lungs, just in case. They want to be sure that he is ready in case something else comes up with me. I am about 35 weeks. Official due date (40 weeks) is June 22, I think. The doctors are hoping for 38-39 weeks, but we are ready for anything sooner. I had a sonogram to check on the baby, and he was measuring 5 lb, 10 oz (give or take 14 oz LOL) so he is already a whopper. I have a feeling that they are just going to send me to the hospital after one of my many visits, so I should probably pack my bag. It's hard not having a definite date yet. I am having a c-section again, so I know they should be able to give me a date pretty soon. I hope. To be honest, I am a bit frustrated. I feel trapped. I never know what today or tomorrow will bring, as far as pain or mobility. I am a failure as a mom in my grumpiness, and I feel like I am behind in everything, and am doubting and blaming myself at every turn. It could have *something* to do with the lack of sleep at night, since I am up going to the bathroom almost every hour.

On a positive note, I have found a delicious low-carb ice cream with chocolate and almonds that I am enjoying. It may stay after I've had this baby. :) It's the little things for this diabetic mommy.

First Tooth!

2011-05-15T20:28:00.001-04:00

There is no tricking this kid. He placed his tooth on the dresser and gave me instructions. "If you or Daddy is going to give me the money, be sure and leave my tooth because I want to keep it." So, we left the tooth. I like that he kind of figures things out on his own.

These are for Daddy

2011-05-14T08:01:00.003-04:00

He was the photographer! Not guilty!

Patrick's First Communion

2011-05-09T13:25:00.005-04:00

We had beautiful weather for Mother's Day and Patrick's first Communion. Fr. Melmer was our celebrant and our pastor Fr. Bob Cilinski (GMU shirt) gave Patrick his first. We had a LOVELY party after at our home, and I had a great time being with my family, and having guests. That was the nicest mother's day possible. Patrick did amazing, and I was so proud of him!

2011-05-02T07:33:00.002-04:00

Tommy loves to wrestle with the kids and yesterday it involved tickling. Tommy told William to "go get Mommy" and my response was "don't even think about it." It stopped him for a while, but he came up to me a bit later, put his hand up and said, "I'll just think about it, Mommy."

He's such a nut.

Cute Cousins

2011-05-01T19:18:00.002-04:00

Donna, William, hiding Patrick, Mac, Emma, Jenna, Anna and Lynsey. Sweet, cute kids!

A View of DC

2011-04-29T11:00:00.005-04:00

My kid's view, that is. Our neighbor gave us an old digital camera which I sent along with Patrick and Emma when they got the opportunity to go to Washington, DC with their aunt and grandpa. I love seeing different things that they got to see, and what they considered interesting.
I think the Air and Space Museum was on their agenda. Good picture, too. Emma said they got to touch a Moon Rock, and I asked her why that was special? She didn't know, but when I told her it was a rock from the moon, she kind of gave me a look and said "why would they bring home a rock from there?"

The American Indian Museum was the one that took most of the camera. Emma found some interesting benches and tools to photograph.
Tommy picked up tickets for the group to go to the top of the Washington Monument. I have never done that, and I was super excited that Emma took photos while they were up there.

It was a beautiful day!

I asked Patrick how many steps there are to the top. He said they don't do stairs on the way up because people were getting sick - you know, heart attacks and stuff. LOL

I was kind of hoping for more photos of the people they were with, but I will have to ask Grandpa for those. Their cousin has an IPod touch, and by the end of the day Patrick was asking me for one. Oh boy. I am so grateful that they got to go and enjoy such a great trip with family, especially since I am pretty sure I wouldn't have been making a trip to DC in my condition. They had a really great week! The next day brought more adventures: Take your kids to work day with Daddy!

31 Week Thoughts

2011-04-22T13:10:00.001-04:00

Hello! I'm here! *waving* How are you all? I suggest a cup of coffee for this post, if that's what you drink. In my fantasy right now, I would have a big plastic cup full of ice and Coke. Mmmm. I would love to drink coffee, but all I enjoy is the aroma.

I have finally hit it. 31 weeks. The countdown has begun and it's about 8-9 more weeks until the baby comes. Let me tell you, I am ready. Not ready as in the crib is set up, clothes are washed, and we have a name picked, but I am READY for this baby. This pregnancy has been really tough in a lot of ways, and I have been struggling to express myself properly. But, after this past week, I think that God has shown me that I have more to offer to him this time around.

Last week, I took 2 trips to the hospital. The first one was Saturday when I found some blood when I went to the bathroom and was sent home with an antibiotic for a UTI or something like that. Sunday brought some serious pain in my right kidney area, which brought me right back and had me stay there until Thursday. Not really what we were expecting. I don't remember much from Sunday because I was in excruciating pain, and it took a LOT of pain meds to bring my pain down, and the drugs that helped are the ones that make you loopy. One nurse described it as a cocktail ("honey, you're going to feel like you drink a whole pitcher of margaritas") and my OB doctor was afraid I was going to stop breathing with all those drugs in me, that she stayed with the whole time I went down to get an ultrasound. I don't remember her being there, but Tommy does. We thought it was a kidney stone, and we hoped it would pass, but if it didn't the urologist was going to put a stent in to help it drain. (Back story, I had kidney surgery on my LEFT side about 10 years ago. I have had some trouble on that side with almost every pregnancy, so it's odd that this time it's the right.) No stone passed, so I had to be put under to get a stent in from my kidney to bladder, and they said there was a serious infection in the kidney (if you would like the gross details, they found pus coming out). Good news, the pain was MUCH less. The bad news, it has to stay in until the baby is born (or longer) AND I did some serious coughing when I was coming out of anesthesia, so I popped some blood vessels in my eyes. Seriously, we are too far away from Halloween to have these.

I stayed at the hospital for 5 days, with antibiotics flowing and about 4-5 doctors coming in at various times, and the sounds of mommies in labor and new babies crying. The nurses were amazing and super sweet, even when my kids came in and made lots of noises. Tommy was super dad at home, and all the prayers and well-wishes really kept my spirits up. I am so blessed with family and friends. I finally got to go home because of the marvels of modern medicine: at home IV meds. They put a special PICC line (Peripherally, or "prayerfully" in my own word, Inserted Central Catheter) so I could continue the IV antibiotics without staying in the hospital. That's the good news. The bad? Well, I am not supposed to do much. I have to drink TONS of water for the stent not to irritate anything, but it hurts a lot and makes doing anything very difficult. I also don't think my infection has cleared up all the way yet, since I am still very tired. I'll know more next week, I hope. Just a few more days of medicine left, but a longer time "resting" and getting help.

Just wanted to share some quick things that the kids while I was laid up. Patrick would not sit on the bed with me the first time he came to visit. I asked him why not and he said he "didn't want to get my germs."

The kids went to the toy store so Daddy could spoil them a little, and they picked a gift for mommy. He is a nice version, and smells like strawberries, and asks you for a hug all the time.(This is going to sound silly, but he says this little "hello" with the same inflection as my Grandma, and though I am not a fan of talking toys usually, the hello helps me think of her.)

ETA: Oh, and have I mentioned that I have gestational diabetes again? AND I have insulin to take? Just one more thing on my list.

Easter preview

2011-04-18T03:28:00.004-04:00

Tommy took the kids to an egg hunt at the Knight's Hall (or, if you ask William, it's where "Scub Scouts" are). It was raining really hard that day so the hunt was inside. Apparently, my William is a good egg hunter.

I asked him if he saw a bunny rabbit. I am not kidding you when he said "Yeah, I saw a man in a bunny rabbit suit." LOL Tommy said he checked him out by looking in the mouth. He's so funny.

Tommy said Patrick was done really fast (very typical of him). They had a really good time, and to be honest I am happy that we haven't really done the whole "easter bunny" thing but they were happy just to have the hunt. Patrick in his Mario Kart shirt (I think I gave him that last Easter). Have I mentioned that there is a bit of crazy in my house? LOL This stinker was the one that the Knights talked to me about the next day. He is so sociable, and most people aren't ready for how much he understands and says.

Spring in the yard

2011-04-17T21:09:00.002-04:00

Our neighbors have a tree with a nest that has been there for a long time. I love that the nest is reused each spring. It's a dark photo, but does anyone know what kind of bird this is? My favorite part of the nest is the Easter grass that the first bird used to make the nest.

"How are you feeling?"

2011-04-11T08:32:00.003-04:00

*This post has been sitting in my Draft box for a long time. I thought perhaps this week it would be appropriate.*

That is a hard question for me. I do a quick pause before I answer anyone, wondering if they really want the truth. Is this person a smile and "fine" answer or can I complain/confide?

I need to complain. Just a little (please). My home is falling to pieces around me because my energy level is really low, and I have to admit that I am feeling a bit depressed. I have been trying to keep up with the house, and we haven't been wearing stinky clothes, but it has been tough. I feel like something is always hurting: not just a little, but a with-every-movement-I-am-cringing-and-crying-out. Yesterday, I got a burst of energy and decided to clean my kitchen, in preparation for our *new* dishwasher that will be coming (I am SO excited!!). It looked amazing by the time I was finished, but I overdid it. Majorly. I was in so much pain I could barely move - my sciatica hurt, ribs, belly, side, you name it. Could that be any more frustrating? I wanted to clean. (If you know me, you know what a big thing it is for me to say that.) The kids have a day off next week, and Tommy was asking me if I wanted to take them to a museum. Um, not so long has I have a ginormous belly. It would be a very short trip. I just feel very defeated. I go see a chiropractor each week, and I am starting to feel like my list of aches and pains just get longer each time. She did give me some good news: the motion of mopping and vacuuming is very bad for my back. :) Of course, that means I either need to get my kids to do it (HA!) or add more items to my husband's already incredibly long honey do list, hire someone, or just do it myself and suffer the consequences. Gee, so many choices. I did decide to hire someone, and feel REALLY guilty about it, but I hope it will help. I guess I'm just a bit tired of the "when are you due?" questions. I want to lie and say "tomorrow" so they leave me alone. It seems when I say "June" they have this look of "ohmygoodness she's so big and has a long way to go."

*This post is only partly written, due to the circumstances of this past week, which will come in another post.*

2011-03-28T20:37:00.000-04:00

William was helping me close the door in the car, and he looks at me and says "Be safe!"

Emma came home from school and had a special hat on with the words "Angel of the Day." She was the best behaved at Mass today. I am so proud of her!

Patrick just came up to me and asked to go to confession again. It's only been a few weeks, but I am proud of him for not being afraid or too nervous. Grace is so awesome!

William has decided to name the baby. He comes up to my belly and talks to him, saying "Good night, Mario." We keep telling him we are not going to name our baby after a video game character, but I don't think he quite gets it.

We happened upon a yard sale the other day, and William very excitedly brought me something. He was in the baby toy section and said "Look, Mommy, Angry Birds!"

Patrick has been so generous lately. Without any prompting he shared his special St. Patrick's day treasures with his brother and sister, and gave up a very special toy to his cousin. I was SUPER proud of how unselfish he's been, and I *hope* it will continue.

Emma told me that they did a volcano drill at school today. Patrick rolled his eyes and said "tor-na-do" drill. I thought it was so funny that she called it that, but Patrick was not going to let anyone say that without correction. Silly boy.

Parade Pictures

2011-03-21T21:33:00.004-04:00

Tommy had the kids for the St. Patrick's Day parade. Patrick was to march with the Cub Scouts, and we bundled the other kids up for their walk/ride with Daddy. It was VERY cold that morning and as it turned out, Grandpa was driving his van, so Emma and William stayed warm and enjoyed a ride.

He looks so darn cute, doesn't he?

2011-03-05T13:01:00.004-05:00

Today was the big day. First Confession for Patrick. All week I have been hoping to go as a family so I could get to confession with him. My plans were changed by my 2 sick kids who needed some extra TLC and a doctor's visit to say we have and ear infection, and watching for strep. It's always hard to go to the doctor's on a Saturday, but there is one doctor in particular with whom I don't have the best appointments. I usually feel very small and frustrated, largely in part due to temperment (mine) and personality (the doctor's). Unfortunately, this doctor was the only one there, and Tommy wanted to take Patrick, so it was my job to take the 2 sickies. I am so happy to tell you that the appointment went well. I am so grateful to God for such a good visit, with smiles, laughter and well-behaved kids. I know God was taking care of me because He knows how tough it was to miss Patrick's big day, and to deal with this doctor. I also know that Patrick did really well at his confession. He even went to a retired priest (the one with the shortest line) who has an accent. As we were going through the steps to confession, I asked what kind of penance he thought he would get. His response was that only grown-ups with big sins get big penances (like 5 rosaries) and he only has small sins so he won't get a big one. He was right! :) I am so proud of him, and I think he did a great job. I can't wait to take him for his next time!

2011-03-04T15:10:00.002-05:00

I love it when I can feel like a "cool mom." Patrick has been coming home making these "fortune teller" thingys, which are just paper folded over, with dots and things all over it. I found those cootie catchers and made one for each kid and you would have thought it was Christmas for these kids. I love that something so simple would bring them such joy!

Emma-isms

2011-02-27T18:28:00.004-05:00

I came home from work and told my family that I didn't have a chair. Emma wanted to know if the patients had to stand up?

One morning, she was very concerned because her teacher told them that they needed to bring a brown lunch bag to school and hers is pink.

Emma recently got a haircut, quite short, in fact, because she started the cut in her room. She must have cut about 4 inches off the front of her head. It still is uneven in some spots.

She is my bag lady. Everything goes in a bag to be carried around. Oh, and one bag is never enough. The more the merrier, especially if they are small.

Her name is EVERYWHERE. I'm not kidding. EVERYTHING has her name on it. It is nice printing, but I am starting to feel like she is either preparing for when I die and claiming her inheritance, or she is like some animal marking her territory.

The other day, I found Emma furiously writing on a stack of my "thank you" notes. She told me that she was making up invitations for her birthday party, which included a date, time and place with our address. Her birthday is in December.

Oh, William, so pretty!

2011-02-25T20:11:00.002-05:00

2011-02-24T17:05:00.000-05:00

The first purchase for the baby seems to be a big hit.

Blue and Gold

2011-02-24T13:52:00.003-05:00

Don't you just love a man in uniform? :) We had the scouts banquet (on my birthday), joined by the grandparents. We had a great time and enjoyed a "mad scientist" show.

Patrick's second row, second from the right.

Grandma and Grandpa.

Mani and Papa.

The show was really fun, except for the fact that he kept using balloons to demonstrate things. Patrick spent the whole show with his fingers in his ears. He never volunteered for anything, and Emma did for everything. LOL

I wish I could remember what was involved in this experiment, but he did it twice for the kids. Their faces were priceless the first time!

Tuesday Randoms

2011-02-15T12:35:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, as the kids and I were heading to the car, we noticed that someone decided they needed to borrow our front license plate. Course, they haven't returned it yet, and I don't think they will, but we are now driving with only one plate on the car. It looks funny to say the least. We do have new plates to put on, but no screws for one set.
When I went to see if Tommy's car was missing anything, I got lost in that darned parking garage. Yes, I know that sounds so silly, but unfortunately it's not the first time. I am not looking for a parking spot but Tommy's car and I always get turned around. William kept saying "are we going to get out of here?" And when we finally exited, there was a cry of "WE DID IT!" from the backseat.
Valentine's Day was yesterday and the kids (coughandmommycough) had way too much sugar. Their eyes were so bright and the excitement to have a bag full of valentines was just so precious. It makes my heart so happy to see that they have made friends, good friends, and that my kids are liked is just so great.
I have had 2 chiropractor appointments in the last week. My sciatica has been so bad, and I was really hoping she could help me. I really like her, and from what she has told me, she will work with me and get me to a good place so I don't feel like I have to go to see her for forever. I find it so neat that she can tell me what's going on with my whole body - and I'm a mess, but I know Tommy could have told her that. He's always told me that I am broken. She has given me a heads-up that my sugar is a bit high, and to help keep this baby small(er) we need to tackle that. I am having trouble giving up coke.....oh that addiction is strong! But, on another note, I am so happy that my back is feeling better.
I am getting ready to try some new methods with my kids. I need these kids to be more independent in the mornings. We all need a better schedule (oh that word is going to be the bane of my existence) especially with the baby coming.
Speaking of the baby, the sono technician told me the placenta is "anterior" - IOW, in the front, around the belly button area (mine, that is, not the baby's) and it makes for very odd movements. I can't feel him as much as I would like to, and only on the sides. It makes it hard for the kids to feel him moving too. I just hope it moves a little higher so that changes. Not that I am wishing for me to get any larger, but just a little change in the location.

William-isms

2011-02-10T09:37:00.003-05:00

If I tell him something is upside-down, he will fix it and say "it's upside-up."

When he goes to get something, he will look at me, put his hand up and say "I promise I'll be right back. Will you wait for me?"

William sings ALL THE TIME. If he has Jessie in his hands, he will start singing the song from TS2, and hold the doll just like the movie.

When Tommy comes home from work, William RUNS to him, hugs his legs, then asks "Are you on a special assignment?" Maybe we are watching too much TV.

He is my first child that screams during a haircut. Tommy says he has nerve-endings on his hair. It's a viscious cyle: he screams, gets hair in his mouth, spits, then screams some more. Needless to say, he is looking shaggier than I would prefer right now.

William is still the most truthful in the house, especially when there is candy involved. He will tell me exactly where it came from and how many he has had and show me very excitedly what he is eating.

While driving in the car, I gave him a bag of Cheez-itz to eat. He couldn't remember the name and kept asking me "What's this in the bag?" "Cheez-itz, oh." He asked me quite a few times. By the time we picked up my mom, he had the same question. I responded with my "Cheez-itz" answer, and he says "No, they're crumbs." Sure enough, that boy just had crumbs left.

William will tell me when he's stinky. Not only will he tell me, he will start to walk up the stairs to the changing area so I can change him. I have NEVER had a child do this!

He knows there is a baby in my tummy, and comes up to me, puts his mouth on my belly and says (with his lower jaw sticking out) "Hello, ba-bee!"

2011-02-06T21:45:00.003-05:00

I just got my first birthday present. Share my joy as I have joined the current age of technology with my new DroidX phone with a cute pink cover! My hubby came home with the coolest phone for me, and I am now able to text (woohoo!) and keep up with everyone! I started playing with the phone, and began laughing like Madame Mim from "Sword in the Stone" and the more I laughed, the worse it got. I know it has something to do with the very large belly I have right now, and usually it has a "trucker's laugh" at the end of the pregnancy, but maybe Madame Mim is better. And, let me tell you, if you want to make me feel really good, please don't mention how large my belly is. I am a very sensitive pregnant person, and I will either cry or rip your eyes out. :) I'd appreciate it very much.

New and Old

2011-02-06T21:28:00.004-05:00

We are doing sacramental preparation with Patrick. This is a big year for him with first Confession and first Communion. I am so nervous for him, and for myself in hoping that he is prepared for these big sacraments. I know the graces will be there, but I am a bit nervous. He brought home the Act of Contrition that he is learning from school, and I remember seeing it on the wall of his classroom. It is different than the one I learned all those years ago and we have been saying it together at night. The more I listen to it, the more I am moved by the words, especially the last 2 lines.

This is the new one:
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned
against you whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy.
Amen.

This is the one I learned:
Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee.
And I detest all my sins, because of thy just punishments.
But most of all, because they offend thee, my God, who art all good
and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace,
to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.
Amen.

This is such a big year, with a lot of growing up. As we do our prep, would you add some prayers for my big boy?

Shower "table"

2011-02-01T19:14:00.004-05:00

My mother still has many items from the days when she cared for my grandmother, and one item is a shower seat. An elderly friend of ours was having some trouble, so my mom offered the use of the seat for him and dropped it off here. It was in my living room for a time, but it just recently disappeared from that location. I discovered it had moved to the bathroom upstairs. As it turns out, my children are very excited about this new "table" that showed up at our house because it is just the right height to use while they are spending time on their throne. (as a side note, I'm not sure anyone else has this issue, but my kids seem to think that going to the bathroom should take no less than 15 minutes, and involve reading, writing, imaginery friends and explosion noises. Apparently, this "table" is just the thing for them!)

We are having......

2011-01-31T10:27:00.002-05:00

.......a handsome baby BOY! Our sonogram went really well, the baby looks healthy, big and as cute as any other sonogram baby can look. LOL We had William with us, and he was just as sweet as can be looking at the pictures. He has been coming up to my belly and saying hello to the baby all the time, and now he keeps talking about having a "baby brother." I think I've had enough sonograms to figure most things out, and as soon as the picture came up, I could tell it was a boy. I also could have told you it was a boy by the cravings - cokes, salty stuff, and veggies/salads with dressing, NO chocolate like with Emma. Other than that, this pregnancy has been so different with the aches, tiredness and sciatica troubles. And the hormotional-ness, but my poor family is the main recipient of THAT trouble. We just need to narrow down our names choices, and figure out the date for my c-section, which, unfortunately, is going to be the last week of school including Kindergarten graduation. I know it will all work out! Thanks for all the prayers!

Pinewood Derby

2011-01-31T09:16:00.005-05:00

It's Race time! The batteries in the camera were dead for the first round of races, so I missed everything. Patrick got 2nd place in his group, winning a really cool medal, so we all were able to come back for the "winner's circle" races. With batteries. :) Unfortunately, he didn't win any of the races I saw, except against Emma's car in the after-race-races.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you which is which.

Transformers-M&M's car. Voted best "Sweet Tooth Fix" car.

Emma's car was voted "Best in Show" in the family/kids group. She LOVED getting a trophy, and tried to sleep with it.

Snow Day

2011-01-31T09:11:00.002-05:00

This is what I found on one of the snow days in William's room.

2011-01-24T22:50:00.002-05:00

My kids have been learning about historical figures. They are also learning a lot of math. Sometimes, the two get a little mixed up.

Emma: Mommy, were you alive with Martin Luther King, Jr?
Patrick: What year were you born again, Mommy?
Emma: Mommy, did you have phones like this when you were young?
Me: No, I don't remember cell phones when I was young.
Emma: No, phones like this (each hand is made like she is holding something, and one goes to her ear and the other to her mouth) and answer "Hello?" Or was it just like this? (with only one hand up to the side of her face)

Jet Pack Activated!

2011-01-14T11:42:00.003-05:00

Kids night at Chic-Fil-A was a hit with Emma and especially William! (The quote is "Special Agent Oso.")

Clunk! (that's the sound of plastic cups doing a toast)

2011-01-04T15:45:00.003-05:00

The Reynolds family toasted the new year with Sprite, Ginger Ale, Gatorade and Apple Juice. None of them came in a glass, and all of the family celebrated together. The "chunta" (give it that gutteral "Hunta" and you've got it) virus, as our friends call it, came through the family, not sparing a one of us. Tommy and Emma were first, followed closely by Patrick and William and Mommy was the last, giving her enough time to change sheets, clean messes and go to the store. Technically it was the day AFTER New Year's, but it was still a day of high hopes for the return to school, work, and routine (oh who am I kidding. My routine consists of lots of naps during the day and keeping my 2 year old occupied). I thought today would be the back to school day after recoup day on Monday (with Daddy on duty), but my poor Patrick had some more vomiting, after 24 hours without. He was so pitiful, and I KNEW it was going to be strep, so off to the doctors we went. I felt so bad for him, and he only got a short nap in the car. We got some meds into him, and I am pretty sure he started feeling better because he woke me from my very short nap with the sound of peanut butter and jelly (typically not a noisy sandwich, but it is when you buy the frozen kind and it needs to be unwrapped). I kid you not. I am guessing he was hungry. AND feeling better because he started talking non-stop, which did not go over well with a sleep-deprived mommy (3 nights of not much sleep).

I hope he starts to feel better soon, and I wish the doctor would tell us what we should be doing for this - besides meds, changing toothbrushes and rest. We have been on and off antibiotics since about August, and I feel like I should have had his tonsils out over Christmas break, but I talked myself out of the consult. I am not the kind of person that likes to research, review, debate, get 2nd and 3rd opinions. I trust the doctors. They went to medical school, I did not. I want them to point me in the direction and tell me what's next. Maybe I am too trusting, but I think that's why we have doctors. I was so grateful when I was told a c-section would be my best option for William's delivery and it was the BEST delivery and recovery.

Anyhow, I'm complaining and this is my outlet. I think my mind is made up, and we will do a consult. Get the ball rolling. Maybe we should look into snoring Emma's tonsils too.....

Happy 6th, Emma!

2011-01-02T15:07:00.002-05:00

We had an intimate celebration with 5 "BFF's" from school at the pottery painting place. I think the girls had a good time, but most of all, I think Emma was tickled pink. She told everyone how old she was in each place we went that day, and was bouncing off the walls with excitement most of the day.

You can't really tell, but those have "Hello Kitty" rings with lip gloss in them. Emma helped make the cupcakes, as well as put the sprinkles on them.

I love the concentration!

Daddy the Doctor

2010-12-28T15:10:00.002-05:00

Emma asked to see the pictures from when William was born the other day. When we asked her why, she said "I want to see Daddy taking the baby out." (I had a c-section, and no, we don't have photos of him coming out.) I said that no, the doctor takes the baby out, and she insisted it must have been Daddy because he was wearing one of those masks. I told her that everyone - doctors, nurses, Daddy - all wear a mask in the operating room, except Mommy. Patrick chimes in from the back seat "And the baby. The baby doesn't wear one either." I have to admit that we all got the giggles imagining the baby wearing one too.

Christmas Fun

2010-12-27T08:30:00.003-05:00

What's a Reynolds family holiday without a little dancing?

Christmas

2010-12-26T22:24:00.005-05:00

Christmas Eve Mass, and the only photo I could get of the kids.

Then we put the kids to bed too late after reading lots of Christmas stories. Patrick was up very early the next morning (he admitted the clock had a "3" on it!), and tried to wake us ("I'm lonely downstairs") a few hours later, which should have given us the first clue. What woke me was the noise of the toys that I had just wrapped the night before. He decided he had been up long enough - during which he made piles for everyone of their gifts - and unwrapped all his presents. I will say that was not my finest hour - of the morning or of my motherhood - and poor Patrick will never do that again, I'm pretty sure. We did try to salvage the day, and we started all over.

William put baby Jesus in the manger after giving him a kiss, which I missed.

William would ask with each present when we started, before anyone opened it, "Do you know what it is?"

This he made at school for us. It's a really big tile!

William had a theme for his gifts: All about Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story. He didn't seem to mind very much. We had a great day, full of family and fun, and most especially a nap for Patrick and some time with family, a new Disney sing-along game, and some more Just Dance.

ETA: We found out later that Tommy's brother's girls got up and opened all the presents in the morning. Apparently, it runs on the Reynolds side.

Christmas Joy

2010-12-21T10:14:00.003-05:00

It's been a long time since I was in school, or even at the age where we would see a Christmas pageant. I had forgotten the beauty of such sweet children, telling the story of Jesus and singing the beautiful Christmas and Advent carols. Emma was part of the pageant at school the other night and I had such a wonderful time seeing all the sweet children sharing with us the true meaning of Christmas, ans preparing us for the exciting days ahead. I was so full of emotion, and if the room had been a bit darker, I think I would have let the tears stream a bit easier. There were some silly reasons I was emotional, and one was how happy I am that we DO an Christmas pageant, not a "holiday show." I didn't get a chance to talk to Tommy about it, but was so happy that he had the same feelings. He had never seen a Christmas pageant before (public schools all his life) and he really loved it. He was so happy that our children are part of such a wonderful school, that keeps bringing us back to Jesus.

Still here!

2010-12-08T19:48:00.002-05:00

Thank you to those who have not given up on me and my blog. I am still here, and crawling toward the second trimester (IOW, where I hope to feel better) so I can be my usual posting self. I have been spending most of my days in bed and napping at each chance possible, as my house, laundry and dishes have reached the toppling point. My excuse? I'm too short to reach the top, so someone else has to help me. Yeah, I wish. My Tommy has been helping as much as he can, but he is so busy himself, and sounds like a big bear with a whopper of a sinus infection, that he is just as tired. We did invest in Costco-sized paper products for the house, but we can't seem to convince the kids to use them. For some reason, they only want cereal in a "real" bowl. Speaking of the kids, they are really excited about the baby coming. When we told them, it was actually during night prayers, just like the post, and Emma said "WHAT??" and Patrick said "that's a small belly for a baby." Emma keeps hoping it's a girl, and I am just hoping that we can find out soon so we can start planning the room situation for the kids, and prepare.

While we are on the subject of preparation, are you as stunned as I am that we are in December, and CHRISTMAS is right around the corner? I have barely done Advent, and it took me 3 days to get the wreath out. Our candles are from years past, so it looks like we have been using them, but in reality, we are squeaking along. Oh, and not just Christmas is this month. We have a birthday. My social butterfly's big day is the end of the month, and she is gung ho on having a "friend party" and all I can think of is PLEASE not at my house! We will have to limit the number, I'm pretty sure, but we will do something for her, and invite some of her BFFs and best BFFs (apparently there's a difference). My mother reminded me today of another 6yo child who - on her own - planned a party at the house and called and invited as many people as she could, and didn't even tell her mother. I guess Emma comes by it honestly. I do remember it being a really great party.

Thanks for the kind wishes and all the prayers. I keep hoping *today* is the day that I will actually get up and take my kids to school in clothes other than pajamas (let me tell you, a coat will hide those cute penguins) so I can start my day right.

To Infinity and Beyond!

2010-11-30T14:26:00.002-05:00

Why our kids are so excited

2010-11-25T19:35:00.007-05:00

Our new night prayers with the kids:

"God bless Mommy, Daddy, Patrick, Emma, William and the baby."

Coming in June!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:44:00.005-05:00

It has been a full week at the school with a visit from the Pilgrims and Indians.

The show was followed by a Thanksgiving lunch. It was so neat to see all the parents and grandparents come and be with their kids, and all the Parish priests were serving at each lunch (there were at least 4 lunches, and I attended 2!).

Papa and Mani came for Patrick's. We discovered that Patrick LOVES pumpkin pie, but turkey, not so much.

William was a trooper for both lunches, and enjoyed plenty of cookies and PBJ.

Patrick's buddy from scouts and school. (If you look over Patrick's right shoulder, his teacher is sitting right there.)

Emma and her BFF. My daughter is the social butterfly and knows everyone's names and is very sweet and says hello to them all!

Papa had to go to court, but Mani was able to stay for Emma's lunch.
We are so blessed with family, friends, faith and our parish. It's such a joy to have you all in our life, and we are so grateful for the prayers, support and love.

2010-11-16T09:37:00.002-05:00

I love it when I drop the kids off at school and they tell me that the "life guards" are out. After a giggle, I do tell them they are called "crossing guards."

The Writer

2010-11-14T08:55:00.004-05:00

"Mommy, how do you spell....." is the beginning of most things asked by Emma. She LOVES to write. I am so impressed with how well she is doing. You won't see her going many places without a pencil and paper.
We met with her teacher and she told us that Emma is totally prepared for this year, and she is doing great. She also told us of how she is working to challenge her in higher levels (YAY!). It felt soo good hearing that, since we did Kindergarten with her last year (and she is reading some words at 6th grade level!) and I hoped she would be excelling.

Emma enjoys writing, and we have given her this book to be the author and the illustrator for her stories (which remind me of Twitter postings - "I am at Miss Susan's house"). The only downside is that she is so eager to write, that if she has a desire, she will write on ANYTHING. Paper, mail, floor, fridge....oh yes. I did say fridge. In a RED SHARPIE. I was so worried it wouldn't come off, but with a LOT of scrubbing, it rubbed off. Otherwise, we would have had Emma's name on there as a reminder to all of us when she was in her writing stage. Yes, I know. This too shall pass. But right now I am going to channel that energy to keep her skills up.

The Stinker

2010-11-13T16:10:00.002-05:00

I just had to share these photos of William, who is the funniest little kid. If you ask him his name, he says "My name is Buzz" and declares that he is "the real Buzz."
He is NEVER without a Buzz Lightyear toy in his hand, and absolutely loves anything with Toy Story charactors on it.

He is also a good sport when it comes to dressing up in a costume find at Grandma's house. So cute.

This is the newest Reynolds grandchild, Hayden Chase, born in August, and William asked to hold him. I don't think Hayden was thrilled.

William didn't get any cake at Grandpa's party. :) His latest thing, which I haven't caught on camera yet, is to "fly like Buzz." Tommy puts him over one shoulder, and with arms outstretched he says "to infinity and beyond!" and Tommy runs around the room with him. It makes me giggle every time.