The recent haps

We've been in Florida for the last two weeks. Braden went to build Reese new kitchen cabinets. True to tradition, we contracted a lively stomach virus while there, and some of us were violently ill (me of course). Lila got a dog bite which left three deep holes in her pudgy paw, and another nasty cold. Anabelle romped with cousins, uncles, and Grandma around the clock, Braden worked around the clock, and I got to snuggle and smell the new wee twinners, which made me happy. We just got back yesterday so I'm trying to get things in order around the house, and we are feverishly trying to get everything together that Braden needs for OTS. Somehow that list grows daily and it seems like we won't be done getting him ready until he gets there.

Our last bit of time together didn't turn out as we had hoped. We didn't have the chance to spend any fun play time together. But I helped Braden as he built and installed cabinets and it was good to work together and share a two-day glue high. New element to our relationship.

I'm sitting here listening to Braden tuck the girls in for what will likely be the last time for a long time. I must admit, it's yanking at mt heart a bit. As our final few days together are closing in, I can't help but feel a little anxiety, a little dread, a little sadness, and a little excitement (for him).

This blog will probably become unreadable and absurd to everyone but Braden. He asked me to update it often so he doesn't miss the next few months of the girly happenings. So basically the conversation that most parents have at dinner or after work about the day and the goings on of the kidlets will now happen here each day. Be warned of the boringness that is to come.

Here's to 2 more days hanging out with my Beldy.

And here are a few pics from Florida...





The rat pack who would sit at the piano and bellow out songs that they made up as they went. Wish I had a video of this one

See what her little beaver teeth can do if you give her a pile of wood? If anyone ever asks her if she ate wood chips as a kid she can probably say yes and feel good about that answer

Daman and Reese "helping" Braden

Naked dancing with Grandma. At least Grandma isn't naked. Although, I don't think it would surprise too many of us if she were.

Anabelle loving Grandma's high heels

...and glasses

Truly her father's daughter, Lila grubs on a rib from Sonny's


Visiting our fat friends, the manatees

Cultured?

We were driving in the car and Anabelle asked me if she could hear "Cosette", which is "Castle On a Cloud" from Les Miserables, her favorite song.

I say sure and put it in.

She listens happily for a miute then says, "Mom, do other little kids listen to this?"

"Um. No. Probably not".

"Awwwwwwww. That is SO sad".

I'm going there someday...

One morning I told Anabelle that she and Lila were going to her friends house later that night because Dad and I were going to go to the temple. She didn't really acknowledge the information in any way. Eight hours later, the minute Braden walked in the door, she ran to him and yelled, "DAD! YOU'RE GONNA MARRY MY MOM?!!" We laughed and said, "Well, at least she knows where to get married".

Then a few night after that Braden had volunteered to go help with the youth temple trip. He came home from work and came out of our room dressed to go.

Anabelle: "Dad, are you going to church?"
Braden: "No, I'm going to the temple".

He walks away. Anabelle comes to me with a face a great concern.

Anabelle: "Where are Lila and I going?"
Me: "Nowhere. I'm staying here with you. Only Dad is going."

Her face goes white and a look of panic comes over her.

"IS DAD GOING TO MARRY A BUNCH OF OTHER GIRLS?"

Christmas

In a conscious and deliberate effort to keep Christmas alive all year, I have purposefully postponed my Christmas blogs until February. Whatever I can do to extend the merriment and good cheer of this wonderful holiday season.

I was overcome this year by the absolute joy it is to have children at Christmas. It was for me, the most I have felt the Christmas spirit since I can remember. It was certainly different than when it was just Braden and I or when we just had babies. Anabelle gave me the gift of focusing. She has not yet had commercial Christmas shoved down her throat. She hasn't been to school yet to know all things secular. She knows the story of the birth of Christ and she knows it well. I bought an illustrated book of the birth of Christ as told by the gospels. It has maps of where they traveled from Nazareth to Judea by the Sea of Galilee (wherein I pointed out the Dead Sea and she said, "Where is the alive sea?"). We read that book several times a day for the entire month. By the time Christmas came, she had memorized the book, almost in its entirety. Which was just memorized scripture. It filled my heart to hear her tiny sweet voice recite, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And you shall call his name Jesus." And it wasn't just that she knew the words of those sacred scriptures, but that she believes them. You can hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes. I can tell by the way she begged me to read it all throughout the day.

It was December 23rd and I stood in the kitchen with a pen going over my to-do list that was literally two pages long. I was feeling overwhelmed by the things that had to get done before we left town. She came to me saying she didn't feel very well. I told her to go to her room and lay down for a while. To which she replied, "If you read to me the Christmas story I will feel better, and I will feel happy." My heart immediately softened for this small child of faith. We sat together on the couch reading the sacred words of the scriptures and I found that amidst my frazzled mind and overworked body, she was right; it made me feel better and happy too. I hope I never forget how I felt as I sat with her in that moment and realized that in all my Christmas preparations, I was missing Christmas. Thank you Anabelle for giving me my favorite Christmas gift.

Another favorite moment came at 3 am on Christmas morning. The four of us were all sleeping in the same room together at Ryan's house. We were awakened by Lila who began to sing perfectly, the tune of Silent Night. I was shocked. She can't say the words, but in perfect rhythm we heard "Duh duh duh duh..." Braden and I smiled at each other in the darkness. She had never sung it before and I'm not sure she has sung it since. Best wake up to Christmas I have ever had.

I decided to do a low-key, homemade Christmas. In November I went to work on a felt playhouse for the girls, with intentions of it being basically all they were getting. Well, as December rolled around it didn't go quite as I had planned. Time drew shorter and shorter, and my once fun project became a bit of a stresser. I contemplated getting her a few presents and finishing it later, but when asked what she wanted for Christmas, the response she gave everyone was, "a house". I couldn't let her down. I had to remove poor Ole St. Nick from the picture altogether if it was going to happen. She knew her Christmas present was coming from me. Tired of trying to hide it, I told her that her present was in my room, that she wasn't to see it until Christmas, and not to go in there. Wow. If ever I wondered if that girl is a rule follower I wonder no more. If she ever saw that one of us had left our door open she would yell at us, "MOM!! Shut your door! I don't want to see my presents until Christmas!" And then I would yell back, "OK you weird kid!"

The house did not end up being all that I wanted it to be, and in truth it is still not done yet. But there was enough to give to her. When she walked around the house and saw what all the accessories did, she began to get excited. (But the true love of the playhouse would not fully come out until we returned from our trip to Seattle-more on that later).

Lila got a pack of balls from the dollar store which made her one very happy girl. Yes, that is about all she got. I also made Anabelle a puppy dress and Lila will get one too when I return from my sewing hiatus.

It was a joyful Christmas morning (although it was actually Christmas Eve morning) at our house. We opened presents and then rushed out the door to the airport for a larger Reynolds gathering.

My days may not be productive, but they are happy. Mostly.

I used to use toilet paper that I unrolled myself. I no longer have to do that. As soon as I replace the empty roll with a new roll, Lila senses this and immediately comes to disperse it throughout the house. She sends it rolling down our 20 foot hallway. She eats some. She wipes her hair and her face with it. Public restrooms actually have a perk now- whenever I have to use one, I feel just a bit special because I get to use brand new, perfectly rolled up toilet paper, instead of picking a piece from our basket of crumpled overflowing stock.

I used to be able to take out a recipe and start cooking right away. I now find myself spending several minutes to locate each needed kitchen gadget.

"Anabelle, where is my ladle?"
"I don't know"
"You had it last week"
"What's a ladle?"
"Where is your fish pond?"
"Oh, well, that's in my room"
"Please go get it for me"

She brings me my ladle. The whole inside is covered in hot pink crayon.

"What is this?"
"Oh those are just my fishies"
"Fabulous. Now where is my whisk?
"Your what?"
"Your magic powers wand. Go find me your wand"

And so it continues until I reclaim, at least for the night, enough of my items to get through a task.

And my bed time routine is longer now too. You think it is finally that moment when you get to climb into bed and sleep, only to realize that 16 stuffed carnivores have been tucked in there for hours. Sometimes we laugh to find more and more things in our bed as we keep nestling in. And we now know better than to toss them on the floor next to our bed. That would not be worth the tragic breakdown you will witness in the morning. Better to take a minute and tuck them snugly on the futon.

I used to be able to load the dishwasher whenever there were dishes in the sink. Now I must only load it if it is between the hours of 12-2 on weekdays and 1-3 on weekends (the napping hours of the sworn enemy of productivity). Otherwise you are certain to have a Lila unloading faster than you can load. It takes her about 45 seconds to make her way there from the time she hears you begin. And in an instant there are silverware strewn about the entire kitchen and you find yourself trying to free beaters that she jammed in the wiring of the dishwasher just to get it closed so you can stop the madness. And excitedly, she now knows how to open it herself and will just climb in, have a seat, and start throwing.

And there is just no end to it- my shoes are lined up in Anabelle's room and stuffed full of Lila's socks ( I can find neither when I need them), we have no band aids because Anabelle thinks "Band-aid" is a synonym for "sticker". My chapsticks have all but been eaten or sucked to death and my phone is constantly being taken over and stashed secretly by Lila, sometimes missing for a week at a time. On average I pick up at least 56 hair contraptions of one kind or another each day. My purse is full of crumbs and snacks and books and bouncy balls and diapers.

And on and on and on....

Never in my life did I dream that my days would be filled with so much joy and laughter because of these little people. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Aint nothing better than being a momma.

Quick rewind, if I may

Winter doesn't officially start until December 21st. Trust me, I googled it. Which, if my calculations are correct, means that it is still fall and I am not late at all in posting all of our fabulously fun fall festivities (say that 10 ten times fast. OK, I just did it and it's actually not that big a deal. It was however, fun to write).

Tim and Katasha came to visit us for a few weeks in November. We candied apples and nuts, played at the park, carved pumpkins, and caused general uncategorical ruckus. We always love these visits.




By the way Tim, that lamp IS broken- I'll just put it on your tab






See what I mean about always hiding one eyeball?

Vertical

Lila is vertical! About 3 weeks ago she took her first few steps and has been stepping here and there ever since. In the last few days she has given up the incredible speed crawl (for the most part), and walks. If that's what you want to call it. She walks like you imagine a giant with a wet diaper would- toddling back and forth on big square, box-like feet. Less a forward motion, more sideways back and forth. But she does in fact move forward. All the while bearing her new adorable beaver teeth in a HUGE face-wide grin. She is so excited for her new skills. As are we. Not to complain or anything but, my arms are tired. I also feel like I owe her a small Thank You. Kids who are good eaters but not good walkers means Moms who have respectable biceps. So thanks Lila, for that, but good heavens girl, it was time. I will miss seeing her crawling a million miles an hour, only to see her stop suddenly, hang her head down for a minute-totally relaxed, then resume crawling. Her big head is quite a heavy load apparently.

She is 18 months old today. To celebrate, she pooped in the shower (on Anabelle!) and pulled my Christmas tree over (for the second time, thus crunching my remaining ornaments that survived her first attack). And that is why I am at the computer looking at endearing pictures of her- trying to feel the love.

She continues to be a cuddlebug to the max and is just so playful. She is always looking for a reason to laugh. And if she can't find one, she will just laugh out loud over and over until you start to laugh with her, giving her an actual reason to laugh. What joy to my soul is Lila.


Watching something furry on TV

Total apathy towards things without fur

See it? There's the neck I told you about

Veterans Day 09

I am patriotic. I would even say fiercely patriotic. I think my Dad gave the old America tree that grows in my heart it's tender little roots. For that I will always be grateful. I know something of what the Marine Corp has meant in his life and I know how he cherishes freedom of choice. I too have come to realize and feel so indebted for the sacrifices made on behalf of my freedoms.

So last week when Veteran's Day showed up I was game for a parade. Until Lila fell asleep in the car 30 minutes before it was time to leave. We all know what one 15 minute cat nap will do to your night. It will force you into the bag of Halloween candy and a diet Coke (and don't judge me because I use caffeine and or chocolate as a coping mechanism- I could smoke you know). I wondered if dragging my kids to downtown B-ham to watch boy scouts march around tossing tootsie rolls was really worth it. Turns out, it was.

As the parade started and the first troop of uniformed soldiers marched by I told Anabelle what they were. I told her when soldiers came by to clap for them and thank them and tell them good job. She asked me, "Mom, why is that guy a soldier?" And that's when the tears started. I couldn't explain to her why he had chosen to be a soldier without emotion (I didn't throw in the fact that possibly paying for college tuition might be a contributing factor). The parade was three hours long and every time a troop walked by we clapped and said 'Thank You'. I couldn't help but become choked up each time. Seeing them in uniform made everything so real, so personal- they were husbands and Dads and sons.

At one point a truck went by with vets from World War 2. It was driving very slowly and I had time to make eye contact with them (it has to drive extra slow- they are like a million years old now. It would be a shame to injure them in a parade when they made it through Normandy). I looked up and made eye contact with a wrinkly old man. Through tears, I mouthed, "Thank You" to him. Through tears, he mouthed back, "Your welcome". What an experience. I had the opportunity not just to feel grateful in my heart, but to be able to express it. In that act, I realized how deeply I love this country and how much I appreciate the men and women of the armed forces and their families. (Phil & Jaime!)

I admit that I stared a little longer when the Air Force guys went by. Trying to prep myself for that. Braden will be entering Officer Training for 13 weeks on March 1st of next year. Visitors welcome from the 2nd of March through May 27th. Must be willing to eat Captain Crunchies for dinner and pop my back.

There isn't a better thing I could have done that day. I don't know that Anabelle will remember it at all. But doing things like that keep it fresh for me. It was important for me to see the eyes of those who have fought. To clap for those who are still fighting. And to say 'thank you' for a life and a country that I love.

God bless America and those who fight to keep it free.




This is what Tim looks like. Not many people know what he looks like with two eyes. Usually one is hiding behind a camera lens. Tim let me take over his camera while he was here and I'm positive I took more pictures of him in a week than he's had in his whole life.