I did it!!!!

Actually I should say "We did it!" because without these sweet kids (and an encouraging husband) I wouldn't have been motivated or had so much fun reaching this record keeping goal. This past month has flown and they've given me so much worth remembering. I'm thrilled that I actually will remember it now---so thrilled in fact that I'm kind of afraid to stop. It seems a little crazy to keep up this type of commitment, but I keep asking myself what I've missed out on by spending my time recording the things that I have. So far I can't think of anything...maybe a few episodes of Project Runway? a little sleep? When I look at what I have recorded to keep forever even the little extra lack of sleep makes it seem worthwhile. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do. I know I definitely don't want to go back to being a monthly record keeper. These kids are growing and changing way too fast for that.





Just yesterday as we were setting the table for dinner Reed asked if he could start using a grown up plate. I tried to act like it was no big deal (because it isn't), but inside I felt a little pang of sadness to realize that that my little boy really is growing up. I, of course, want and expect him to, but for some reason it still takes me by surprise. Thankfully this whole growing up thing is a process. While he has recently taken huge strides in being more responsible and mature in his behavior he also does a million things everyday that reminds me that he's still my silly little boy.

Reed was ecstatic to get a birthday gift of helmet, knee pads and elbow pads in the mail from Nana and Papa. He put them on right away with his rollerblades and then kept falling down just to show me how much it didn't hurt him.


Later on when he was in the kitchen getting a glass he bumped his head on the cupboard and said, "Oh, I should have been wearing my helmet."


And this little girl really does change every day--- I think I love her more everyday too. Will the novelty of getting her dressed every morning ever wear off?

She found it

For the past 3 1/2 months I have be trying to push a pacifier on Ruby and I've just about given up. Today she found what she's really been looking for. I guess I shouldn't be suprised since in 2 of the 3 ultrasounds I got she was sucking on her thumb and hand. I've never had a thumb sucker so I don't know what this means for the future, but for now I think I will just enjoy the perks.



She looked like she'd been caught when she opened her eyes.

Creative Energy

Today was Reed's first day of being tracked out and as expected he was a little ball of energy and creativity. This morning when it was still dark outside he came into my room and said, "Mom, I want to make something." I was hoping it was breakfast he was talking about, but he was thinking more along the lines of monsters or robots.

He went straight to work planning and organizing his construction paper monsters . I wasn't kidding when I said these children can go through a ream of paper a week. My children love paper and especially love to cut it. Reed had just turned 2 when my mom showed him how to use scissors and he's been a cutting fool ever since. I am a little embarrassed when I think about how we used to bring scissors to church to keep Reed busy during sacrament meeting. We don't take them to church anymore, but I do usually keep a pair in my purse and they often come in handy. Just a few weeks ago while Max, Ruby and I were hanging out during Reed's soccer practice I was able to pull them out and keep Max busy. I did get a few funny looks, but it did the trick. I must say I think all this cutting has paid off. I was so impressed by this little 2 inch Clifford that Max cut out the other day that I saved it.



Here is Reed focused on designing creature #1.






We did sneak in breakfast. Our empty oatmeal container turned into monster number 3.


After the monsters were complete the boys wanted to set up a monster art gallery. I told them that we could do it as soon I mopped the floor. I guess Reed knows how long that can take me sometimes because he jumped right up and said, "I know just what to do," and grabbed some rags and a bowl. The floor did get a little wetter than usual and I think they used every rag in the house, but the floor did get clean.

They washed while I took pictures. I'll take that trade any day.








Reed even offered to wash the walls. He really was full of energy.




Max had an interesting rag throwing technique...


and an even more interesting drying technique.




After the floor was washed the monster art gallery opened. Apparently, for Reed life really does imitate art.

Before it's too too late...

Yes...I know Ruby was blessed almost two months ago, but if I never took pictures of her in her blessing dress I would be sad. I had to take pictures after the fact when Reed was blessed too. I never did get a picture of Max in his blessing clothes and now I regret it. I didn't want to make the same mistake again, so here little Miss Ruby in her blessing dress.


In addition to not taking pictures of my children on their blessing days I have also been pretty crummy about recording anything from their actual blessing. A very kind woman in our ward, Teresa Loveless, was thoughtful enough to take notes for me when Ruby was blessed. I fear I will lose the post-it note it is written on so I thought I would record what she was able to write down here in the most permanent record I have.

Ruby was told she was blessed to be born into a family of parents and brothers who love her, and that she came to a home that follows the principles of the gospel.

She was blessed with a thankful heart and kind spirit and a desire to learn the gospel and all about the world around her.

She was blessed with a desire to serve others, to have empathy towards others, and to have compassion and an ability to love others.

She was told to always follow the promptings of the Spirit and develop her spirituality. She was told that as she does so she will be blessed to lead a life that will be a light and an example to all those around her.

Finally, she was blessed to find and marry a worthy priesthood holder in the temple.

I wish I had this much detail about my boys' blessings. All I remember from Reed's is that he was blessed to be a leader in his home and among his peers.

The part of Max's blessing that stands out is that he was blessed with a strong body and should always be grateful for it. This was especially comforting to me with all of the concerns the pediatrician had expressed about his muscle tone, eating patterns, and growth.

Even at their young age I have begun to see the fulfillment of some of these blessings. I can hardly wait to see how Ruby's blessing expresses itself in her life.

Hemlock Bluffs Hike

Today we celebrated another week of good behavior from Reed. The reward he had chosen to work for was going on a "real" hike. Lucky for all of us the weather was PERFECT and we were able to enjoy a family hike together at Hemlock Bluffs.

In order to be a "real" hike we needed the following:

1. Backpacks: This was probably the most important part of the activity. The boys were so excited to pack up their unnecessarily large bags with a lunch, paper, pens, and of course Max's blue monkey "Bluey".
2. A hiking stick: Reed insisted on finding the largest hiking stick possible. He hung onto it for the whole trip and was disappointed when we couldn't bring it home in the car. Instead we found a special spot along the end of the trail to hide it until next time.
3. We had to collect things.
4. It had to not be a hike in our backyard.

Despite the look on Max's face here, they were both anxious to head out on the trail we had selected from the map.




About 3 minutes into the hike Max started with his heavy sighs saying, "huhhhh....this is a long trail....this is a long trail...this is a long trail." He continued this mantra for most of our hike, but really did have a good time and never asked to be carried.


Striking a "funky" hiking pose. I really do not know where Reed gets his moves.


I loved Max's enthusiasm for everything we saw along the way---especially squirrels (or squirrellurs as he calls them) even though we see them in the backyard everyday.


Reed was beaming the whole time. More than once he said, "I'm so glad I got all the smiley faces I needed to go on this hike." We were too.


Towards the end of our hike we stopped at the observation deck for Reed to draw a few of the things that we saw along the way.


What's a hike without trail mix to snack on along the way? I think Max missed the concept of trail mix though and spent his time sorting the pieces into piles... and giving all the raisins to me.


Ruby enjoyed the fresh air and was a trooper for most of the hike.


Goodbye Hemlock Bluffs...we will visit again soon.

Sick Boy

This afternoon Max was feeling a little under the weather. He fell asleep in the car when we picked Reed up from school. When I brought him in from the car he immediately laid down on the floor so I decided the best thing was to just let him sleep. I've been pretty lucky with my boys so far. When they are sick they are super sleepers.


After Max had been asleep on the couch for a while Reed said, "I know what would make Max feel better. I think he wants to watch a show...and needs someone to keep him company."

Apparently Reed was right because a couple hours of sleep (with Reed watching TV beside him as he slept) and he was back to his happy little self.

Why is Max so sad?

If you guessed, "because you gave him applesauce on a plate instead of bowl." you'd be right. There are many things I missed out on before I had a little girl, but drama is not one of them.

Max was born with a very expressive face. Even without saying a word I can usually tell what Max is feeling. I think he gets that from me. I always tell Sam that I think I have an overly expressive face. I feel like people always think I am more stressed, more worried, more upset than I actually am and I usually blame it on the looks I must give.

He may have inherited some of this from me, but a lot of this is just who Max is and, minus the drama, I love it. Another good thing about Max is that while he can be very dramatic he can also move on to the next emotion pretty quickly. It is not unusual to hear him in the middle of crying just stop, wipe his eyes and say, "Never mind--I changed my mind," and have a big smile on his face.

In this case it only took him a minute to decide that plates are just fine for applesauce...



and in some ways they are better!

Happy Birthday Reed!

Reed's celebration started early this morning when he woke up to find birthday wishes on his bathroom mirror.



A few days ago I told Reed he could have whatever he wanted for breakfast on his birthday---pancakes, waffles, french toast...whatever. He said what he really wanted was a cereal with a toy surprise or a "junk" cereal. He opted for the "junk" and enjoyed a huge bowl of Cookie Crisp with chocolate milk.


Half-way through his meal, he said, "Wow..this cereal has 13 grams of sugar!"



At school I did bring in a gigantic cookie to share with his class, but when Reed got home from school I really didn't have anything planned. Sam had a late meeting at work so after school I told Reed to make a list of things he'd like to do to enjoy the rest of his birthday. I knew he'd probably enjoy making the list just as much as doing the actual activities. His list included:

1. Play the Wii
2. Play with Legos
3. Play with Paul and Leah (neighbors)
4. Do a play (when I asked about this he described something more like silly birthday charades: e.g. pretend you have a cake in your hand and you smash it into your face.)

We only got through half the list, but I still think he felt celebrated.

Playing with Paul, Leah and Max of course.


Dangerous games.


Trampoline.


Sam wasn't home for dinner so Reed asked if they could watch TV during dinner..., "Since it is my birthday." I felt a little guilty, but birthdays do only come once a year.


Reed loves Ruby so much. She doesn't have much to say, but I did want Reed to know that the feelings were mutual. He loved it.


When Sam got home we opened presents and enjoyed some birthday ice cream. We got Reed rollerblades. He had tried them out a few weeks ago and had fun so we thought it would be a good gift. We were right. As soon as he put them on he took two strides and said, "Wow...I didn't know I was so good."


After a few loops around the kitchen he was feeling confident enough to multitask.


The only downer of the evening was Max when he realized there weren't any rollerblades in the box him. Poor boy.


Thankfully it was nothing a bowl of cookies and cream ice cream couldn't fix.


Happy Birthday to my big SIX-year-old Reed!! I love you.