Smelling the roses....

We believe in picnics. Big time. All the time. We also believe in matching clothes for the girls. When I say "we", I mean "I", because matching outfits makes Braden roll his eyes and he hates being outside unless it is below 60 degrees. So, yesterday I did my favorite thing to do- I went picnicking with my girls. There are few things I love more than to saunter around in the sun with Anabelle listening to her chatter about the world. We wandered around the gardens for a few hours as we like to do exploring earth matter and stalking the geese family who had a new baby. I count these experiences as no small blessing. It means that we are all healthy, and that I have the opportunity to stay home with them.

I'm like Ferris Bueller- I wake up and think, "How can I possibly be expected to handle laundry on a day like this?" I can't stay inside and be productive when I could be playing outside with the girls. What I'm saying is, don't drop by my house- unless you have a Brillo pad and a bucket of Clorox. I met an old man today who made me feel validated in my decision to opt for play time instead of housekeeping (continually). He looked at my girls and told me to enjoy everyday with them because he has seven girls and they are all gone now and he misses them everyday. I just tucked Anabelle in and as we were laying there together snuggling and kissing each other, I was just thinking how I never want these days with my little ones to end. Someone told me once that children spell love T-I-M-E. Which I know is an exaggeration because Anabelle spells every word b-a-n-a-n-a-s. But I think the principle is true. One day my fridge shelves will be clean and my closets will be organized. But not until I know that there aren't little people that could be cracking me up instead.

Still rockin out....

It's been a while since I had a second-hand high. Whenever I used the bathroom for the last time at Colton High (which by the way is in the Reader's Digest this month for the sign on the front of our high school that says we are "Commited to High Standards". And yes, it is spelled wrong. Can I really be held accountable for the fact that I am uncertain about appropriate uses of a comma?) But I digress...

Saturday night was the Avett Brothers concert. Our girls slept over at Jamie Denkers house, the only person who might possibly kiss my kids more than I do. She is the absolute epitome of the sweet southern woman. She makes me want to watch Steel Magnolias. We went to dinner at this seafood market downtown which actually turned out to be a stellar place: live jazz, live fish, and corn on the cob that makes me loathe what I have in the freezer.

We have grown to love this band over the last two years. They are clean, their lyrics are meaningful and clever, and they're amazingly talented. I have decided that I will see them every time they come to the city I live in. It was such a fun night. Minus the fact that I went home high. Since we were childless, we had plans to run the streets all night, but I felt so awful from the smoke I had to go home and take a bottle of Ibuprofen and lay on the couch like a sissy.

Anyway- rockin concert, hot date, no kids, good times.

Here's a clip if you've never heard em'...

eAsTeR wEeKeNd...

One day I'm going to make a list of funny things about the Reynolds family. And on that list somewhere will be the fact that no matter how many times you say you will not be attending a family get together, or how far in advance, or with great measures of certainty, it is hardly ever true. You never know who's going to actually show up until the day of, and usually it's at least a majority of the 6 kids. Easter weekend was no exception. We had absoluteley no intentions of going to Florida, we even had other plans. But on Thursday night we got a phone call with promises of gas money and some story about needing a portugues translator for a baptism. I had to laugh. We just can't do it. We can't stay away from each other. It's great.

And now something for the list of funny things about my kids. We can go months and months without being sick. But the very moment that a trip is mentioned somehow instills nausea and fever in my girls. It's like the sound of luggage being drug out causes their noses to run and their throats to hurt. We sat and tried to think of a trip where the kids were healthy and I thought of 1 or 2 when Anabelle was a baby. We had matching little pink outfits for Easter so to take it to the next level we got pink eye to match. Lila threw up on her dress and Anabelle stained hers in 3 places in 10 minutes. On that account, we are foregoing spring family pictures this year and instead searching for a great multi-vitamin and effective stain remover.

We are now in phase 2 of PVS (post-vacation syndrome), which is the denial of reality and an inability to accept that I must resume housekeeping. We feel grateful to be out of phase 1 however, which is covetousness of a huge plot of perfect land. That one's a doosey to get over. And it gets me every time.

Over the mountains and through the woods on Grandmother's bike we go...

So she's a little fluffy, what's the big deal?

No animal will ever starve as long as Anabelle is around. But they're good to her too. She says that "Chief dog shares his bones" with her. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

Lila and Grandpa. Also known as "The Silver Fox". Or "Old Man River". At least in our house he is.

Fairy princess by day, sword wielding pirate by night

A-belle & Tagg, age 2

I pity the fool...

...who dares take on Lila in the Sit-n-reach. I think I've got a future 5th grade field day champ on my hands.


First she reaches spectacular distances to get the desired object, in this case a glass of water. She then folded herself in half in order to slurp her prize. Is she really that thirsty or is she just showing off? Meanwhile, I try to recall the last time I vacuumed that spot in my room.

Look at those splitz!I've been saying she has the body of a ballerina for months. Those teensy little bendy Asians got nothin on this kid.

There were tears...

I found this very hilarious. Braden didn't really seem as entertained. Either it is a Mom thing or I am delirious and need more sleep because I was busting a gut.


Thinking of Having Kids?
Do this 15 step program first!

Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breast-feeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner.)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3 AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons.

How does that look?

Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6
1. Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a jar of paint, turn it into an alligator.
2. Now take the tube from a roll of toilet paper. Using only Scotch tape and a piece of aluminum foil, turn it into an attractive Christmas candle.
3. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.

Lesson 7
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 8
1. Get ready to go out.
2. Sit on the floor of your bathroom reading picture books for half an hour.
3. Go out the front door.
4. Come in again. Go out.
5. Come back in.
6. Go out again.
7. Walk down the front path.
8. Walk back up it.
9. Walk down it again.
10. Walk very slowly down the sidewalk for five minutes.
11. Stop, inspect minutely, and ask at least 6 questions about every cigarette butt, piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue, and dead insect along the way.
12. Retrace your steps.
13. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbors come out and stare at you.
14. Give up and go back into the house.

You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.

Lesson 9
Repeat everything you have learned at least (if not more than) five times.

Lesson 10
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a preschool child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 11
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 12
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 13
Move to the tropics. Find or make a compost pile. Dig down about halfway and stick your nose in it. Do this 3-5 times a day for atleast two years.

Lesson 14
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; an occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years.

You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 15
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt-sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 14 above.

You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

What a drag

And now for some super annoying news...our blog is going private in the near future. I know, I know, what a hassle. Now it will take 4 seconds to click on our link instead of 1. But, due to the upcoming changes in our lives, I feel that I will sleep better if it is not public knowledge when I am without manly protector for months. So this means that if you still want to e-witness our small circus, you either have to

A) Email me at jkreynolds83@gmail.com
B) Leave your email address as a comment to this post
C) Stop silently stalking us
D) Move in with me when I am all alone and help me keep our socks from sticking to the kitchen floor

Also, it should be said that I am looking for a short term room mate who enjoys cooking gourmet healthy meals daily, scrubbing bathrooms, doing 3 loads of pink laundry each morning, and reads Fox in Socks. I hate that book. Oh, and mops like a champ, hence option D above.

"They needa be with their family"

The other day I tried to explain to Anabelle that whales eat fish. It was a thoughtless move on my part. I know better. I did this while she was playing with her "family of fish" and there happened to be a whale in the bathtub. She burst into tears. She fights the reality of the food chain in a serious way. And this because of her small obsession with the concept of "families". EVERYTHING belongs to a family. My entire house is cluttered with little groupings of items that are lined up and sorted by size, color, species into families. One must be very careful about moving them, talking loudly, or heaven forbid cleaning them up, as you may have happened upon the family during their nap time. Often I am cooking and discover I have absolutely no measuring spoons and must then comb the house for where this particular family may be napping. And the very tricky part is that she has a FREAKISH memory and knows where all her families are and will notice if you remove just one member. Even if it is only a quarter teaspoon. So if you ask her what lions eat, she will tell you they eat lion food. It is the same for every animal. She can't bear the thought of a part of a family being eaten and thus destroying the family. I bought a new pack of hair clips for her and I took one off the cardboard and put it in her hair. Tears. How was I to know that was the Daddy clip? After all, it was pink.

It is mostly entertaining to me, except when I actually need a member of one of her families and am told, "Oh baby can't come. She's with her family right now". May this feeling of family togetherness stick with her through the teenage years.


A pile of sticks and some empty flower pots? No siree. A Daddy, Mommy, and two sister sticks napping near 2 different families of pots. And Daddy pet rock, which she checks on periodically throughout the day.

Anabelle napping with a family of bears. And if you look closely you can see the car family lined up below her.

And yes, although never a thumb sucker in her infancy, she recently started. I told her that only babies suck their thumbs and she told me at Christmas time that she just sucks her thumb like baby Jesus.

Happy Birthday to the hottest, raddest guy ever

Braden turned 28 yesterday. This is the first birthday he seems to be struggling with. He says 28 is the point where you round up and now he's practically 30. What a drama king huh? Personally I think he should enjoy his age and appreciate the advantages of it. I mean imagine if he were 9 months old no matter how high he stretched his arms up in the air, they would still never reach the top of his head. Or imagine crying 13 times during one day. The juice is gone-tears. The movie is over- tears. Your baby bear is missing-tears. He's not even recognizing the fact that although his body may be a bit more achy after sports, at least all his parts are porportionate to one another and his emotions are stable. These are things generally overlooked and thus underappreciated by the bulk of us. Plus, when he is actually in his 30's and karaoke comes up in a casual social setting he can say, "Oh yeah, wow, I did that in my 20's", since we did that this weekend on our birthday getaway trip. He had accumulated Marriott points while working with ESD and I decided to surprise him and use them. The girls had a sleepover at a friends house and we got to have a night to ourselves. For free. (I even had movies and pictures of the girls on the camera which I did not watch once. Go me for detaching myself). It was fabulous. Then last night we had a few friends over for cake and ice cream. And he got two tickets to the Avett Brothers concert in April from his parents. I have to go now. I'm fixing large amounts of cow for dinner followed by a back massage and a car wash because he hasn't said who's he taking yet. Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me....

And it should be noted that the title of this post has nothing whatsoever to do with wanting to be picked and should in no way be viewed as "sucking up" or "buttering up". Rather, it only depicts my true and sincere feelings for my adorable and amazing husband on his birthday.

Lila, in general

Little Lila Kristine is 9 months old today. Can I just say, Holy Chickens! How did that happen? I could have baked a whole other person in that time. I haven't, and I feel great about that decision, but you know...I could have.

Let's be clear about one thing-she's a good eater. A few weeks ago at the hospital she weighed 19 pounds. In the last few weeks everywhere we go, everyone comments on how much weight she's gained. And she's still been so happy. If everyone I saw called me fat and grabbed my thighs I don't think I would handle it as graciously. But that's Lila for you.

These last few weeks have been huge for Lila. At the same time she really started to pack on the pounds and look great and healthy, she also seemed to come to life in other aspects. She has started to catch up on everything all of a sudden. She rolls, claps, chats & babbles,puts things to her mouth, self-feeds, yells when you take something from her, and tries to move around. She says, "DaDa", which is super fair because he sees her for 20 minutes a day. But also convenient because when she wakes up at 3am I can say, "Honey, Lila wants you". She also says what sounds exactly like "Li-La". So she's got half the family down.

In the NICU they were always concerned that she didn't cry when she was hungry. She just always hung out, totally chill, and they thought it was tied into her medical mess. I now know that indeed that is just Lila. I go days without hearing her cry. I have to be careful not to take advantage of her goodness and accomadating personality.

Much to our disdain, disgust, & dismay, her favorite food seems to be peas. I tell myself that good moms feed their children peas, so I fight through the smell. But I do think it's very brave of me to do so. Often when I feed her, her eyes start to water and her nose starts to run so she still sees her allergist twice a week. Which I think is helping tremendously.

It seems that she has finally turned the corner and is starting to really thrive. Can you hear my huge sigh of relief? In the beginning the neurologists told us they weren't sure if there was any brain damage, that we would have to see if she met milestones to know. And then she didn't do much for this whole time so I was preparing myself for delays. But now I am hoping that she will continue to progress like she has in these last few weeks.

She and Anabelle crack each other up. It is not uncommon to hear uproarious falsetto laughter from both of them in the back seat or in their room. Is there a better noise? I submit that there is not.

There is no way to describe the way she makes me feel. She absolutely lights me up inside. She has always been such a delightful little soul and her sweetness melts my heart. She radiates love and peace and gentleness.



Good thing she's wearing the headband to keep those luscious locks out of her eyes.

We hear she looks just like her Dad because of her facial expressions

Demonstrating the mad clapping skills

Here's one thing I know about Lila- strawberries and blueberries are something she takes seriously.

Oh how I LOVE the dimples, creases, rolls and chub.

Our favorite new smile that she does. Maybe she's trying to prove that she does have a neck.

Oh, how well she knows me

An interview about Mom. From Anabelle, age 2

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Yes! I want to go potty!

2. What makes mom happy?
I make you laugh

3. What makes mom sad?
You don't cry!

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
I don't know. We don't push our friends.

5. What was mommy like as a little girl?
Me.

6. How old is your mom?
I don't know. One? I think I can exercise with you.

7. How tall is your mom?
I don't know. BIG!

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
I don't know. Play with me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Plays in my room

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
I don't know

11. What is your mom really good at?
houses

12. What is your mom not very good at?
You're not bad at!

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Flowers?

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
You eat crumbs and cheese

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
We're gonna play together this morning. You and you and me! (pointing to Lila and I)

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
You are my friend

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play together and smile

18. How are you and your mom the same?
You are the family.

19. How are you and your mom different?
How are you different from you?

20. How do you know that your mom loves you?
I don't know. Can I watch a movie? I want to watch a movie Mom.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Because he's to work.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Wal-Mart


At a Mardi Gras parade last week

Sisterhood: A Full Contact Sport

The concept of p e r s o n a l s p a c e is as foreign to Anabelle as trigonometry. She LOVES Lila. In her pure passion-live out loud-in your face-hands on-all or nothing-sort of way. Everyone who spends time with Lila comments that she is ALWAYS smiling. And I agree. But somewhere in the back of my head these images are flashing through my mind. So for honesty's sake- she doesn't ALWAYS smile. And I guess as long as I'm being honest-these pictures are only a small sample of the collection I really have. And the collection I really have is only a small sample of the real life moments. And I could count the times Lila has cried because of it on one hand. In fact, usually when we go to bust Anabelle for licking/squishing/feeding/poking/smooshing/sitting/nibbling/kicking Lila is erupting in giggles.
May they always be this "close".

Holding Lila close today

Our dear friends Brooks & Bethany have a baby who was born with a heart defect requiring three open heart surgeries in order for her to live. Her name is Emma Kate and she born not too long after Lila. She just had her second surgery last month, which was successful, although she has had some complications and a long stay in the hospital. About a week ago, Bethany made a request on her blog to pray for another family whose baby girl had the same condition as theirs, and was requiring the same surgery. I clicked on this family's link and immediately my heart ached for them. Each day this week I have checked their blog to see how little Gracie was doing and it has constantly been weighing on me throughout the week. Having recently gotten just a tiny sliver of an idea of what they must be going through, and having a little girl about the same age, I couldn't help but be overcome with compassion and heartache for their situation. I can remember 2 distinct days last summer, one in June, one in July, when I was faced with what it would be like to lose Lila. I remember one night in Children's hospital finding out finally what they really believed she had, and when I researched it online I found that it almost always kills infants. I remember the gravity of the situation hitting me like a truck. I don't think I'll ever forget what that night felt like. I think some of my most sincere prayers have been said kneeling at the side of a hospital bed and pleading with the Lord for Lila. For those nights I will always be grateful- because it was in those moments that I found where I stood with the Lord-what my heart is made of. I found out something about me on my knees- and that is that the life of my child does not determine my devotion to the Lord. I found that regardless of the trial, I will follow Him and be faithful. He knows that, and I know that. And I think that is what those moments are about. I guess all of that is why I have been so drawn to this sweet family in Utah that I have never met. This morning they are going to take her off life support and let her go. I just cried my eyes out when I woke up and read that. My heart absolutely aches for what they must be feeling. I also feel reminded of the great miracles we have been given in the gift of our two healthy girls. I feel grateful that today I get to be home with them and go to storytime and wash their laundry and clean their spilt juice. I feel grateful that Emma Kate's surgery was successful and that she will be okay. Mostly I feel grateful for the knowledge we have about eternal families and grateful that Gracie's family is strengthened by that too. For me, today is one of those days that you cherish your temple covenants and the sealing power that binds your family, come what may. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the comfort and love of the Savior that graces us, and ultimately has the power to heal. Please say a prayer for the Gledhill family for what today will bring for them.

MaShay's Wedding

Highlights of the trip:

-Seeing Lori and the weeest half of her family. Anabelle and Lance had a great time paling around together. Whenever I see her playing with cousins I feel sad that we are so far away. And whenever I see Lori I feel sad that we aren't neighbors. Hmph.
-We drove from Mesquite to Salt Lake with no movie or form of entertainment and we were scared for this part of the trip. But the girls did fantastic both ways. I liked the idea of good old fashioned entertainment-looking out the window, singing, counting toes, and the like.
-Staying with Aunt Jeanne. Love to see her family and love to hang out at her house. And the way my laundry smells when I do it there.
-Temple session with Reynolds fam-one of the best temple experiences yet. There's something about being there with your family that leaves you feeling more grounded and on track. Such a sweet experience. Lots of happy grateful tears.
-Sledding with Jeff's fam. I forgot how great sledding is. I loved that hour that I got to play with Katelyn and Cody. We also got together with Michelle's fam and I got to see my grown up nieces with cars nicer than mine and jobs and boyfriends.
-We went out to lunch with my dear old friend Millie, whose husband opened his own restaurant in Orem. It is absolutely delicious. It is called Pizzeria 712 and it is fresh, creative, and wildly scrumptious. I was very impressed and excited about it.
-We got to see my parents at their new digs in Mesquite, Nevada. I have to pounce on every chance my kids have to see them.
-Seeing MaShay look so stinkin in love. She is so the smitten kitten. Which is fitting because Jason is a very cool cat.
-Introducing Anabelle to the snow. It refreshes me to watch her explore something for the first time. I wish I still looked at snow the way I saw her look at it-eyes full of wonder and awe, voice full of excitment.
-Seeing lots of family (especially Cedar and Beaner who have now officially made the Reynolds family blog)and eating at Los Hermanos and Cafe Rio. We love to be out west and see the majesty of the mountains and feel the love of our families.