I Know, I Know

Who has been the biggest slacker with blogging this year?
Yeah, me. (I blame it on our silly computer not reading our camera card.)
We are still here, alive and kicking.

Speaking of blogging though, I ordered our 4th blog book - wahoo!
I adore those books.
I love that my kids appreciate them and often read/look thru them.
I look forward to several more.

Remember that triathlon coming up this summer?
I've started training.
Well, I'm not sure if you can call it "training".
I go to the pool a few times a week and do laps.
You know, whenever I've heard of people exercising before their kids get up I thought they were stupid. Okay, stupid may be a little harsh, but it bugged me how enthusiastic they were about it.
I feel like the stupid one now.
It feels SO GOOD to be up before the kids and get some exercise in.
Exercise that I can do where I don't feel totally defeated after.
I've found that if it's one of the first things I do when I wake up, I actually get it done.
Who knew?
Crossing my fingers that these aren't the results come race day . . .


We've got some change coming up here in the next few weeks and it kind of freaks me out.
It makes me wonder why we (the human race) are so resistant to change.
It's good change, but still change none the less.
(You're wondering what it is, aren't you? :)

Henry is almost 9 months.
NINE MONTHS, people!
I find myself trying to picture him as a little boy running around with the others.
It tugs a bit at my heart strings.

Such a happy boy.

Olivia sums up my thoughts on laundry perfectly.
Exhausting.

Two Peas

These two are my two peas. Every morning they are so excited to see each other. As soon as there is any day light and Henry makes any sort of noise, we can be sure that Olivia is going to stroll right in. When she does, Henry just beams, so happy to see her. Every morning. Lately, Olivia won't wait for first morning's light and will just come in anyway. Forget that Henry is a rotten sleeper, if Henry hears Olivia at all, he whips around to see her and offers her his biggest grin.

About two months ago, Olivia was sick. She slept a lot and Henry looked for her ALL day. It was the sweetest thing.

Around that same time, after Olivia had gotten better, Henry was having a hard day. I put him in the middle of my bed and asked Olivia to lay down with him. Sure enough, just moments later, Olivia came back out to inform me that Henry had fallen asleep.

I love that Olivia can climb into the crib, too. They have so much fun together. She knows what toys he likes and knows how to pull him up to sit.

I love when Olivia is feeling extra protective and shouts "MY Henry brudder."

They are such sweet friends and it makes me melt.

Often times they remind me of how Rylee and Clay were. I love it.

Love my two wee peas.

Short Shorts

The computer is rejecting the camera card so I haven't been able to download any of the pictures off our camera. It's annoying. I've been using my phone more to take pictures - which I find my children are doing as well. I've found it quite entertaining to see what moments little hands have captured, along with Lucy-produced videos.

I came across this picture and it made me laugh. Not only because of my pasty, shape-less legs, but what my kids said to me that day when they came home just after I'd gotten off the treadmill.

Rylee: Mom, why are you wearing such short shorts?
Clay: Mom, those shorts are way too small - they come above your knee..
Olivia: (when she sees any skin): are you naked?

Nice to know we shouldn't have many girls wearing "short shorts" in our house any time soon!

Pinewood Derby

We (the kids and I) experienced our first Pinewood Derby. With Ryan working a bajillion hours Gma and Gpa Hunt came to our rescue and pulled everything off beautifully! With 5 sons, they're pros at this. I am so grateful. We're grateful Ryan was able to come to it, too!

Clay and Gpa hard at work

Not too surprising, I found myself feeling quite competitive as we watched the cars race. It was nice sitting by Gma who was feeling the same way.

It was double elimination and our Clay boy (and Gpa) came in 4th!
Not too shabby for 17 cars.

Great job, guys!

To the Dark Side

My stylist friend warned me that there would be a shock factor and that it may take a little while to get to use to darker hair, but it would be fun. She warned me that some people will like it, and some people won't.

Comments from yesterday:
Kaycee was the first to see me and with eyes wide: Awww, I like your hair lighter.
Getting Henry from his crib: The saddest cries ever. He wasn't too sure for about 20 minutes.
Clay: Whoa. You're not my mom....I wish you didn't do that.
Rylee: Ha! Mine is still darker. (actually it's not.)
My favorite (from a guy at church): Wow, Ryan, looks like you got a new wife, congratulations.

Really, there are several people that like it, but with my family, I think the verdict is in :)

You tell me?
Ready?

(sorry, cheesy pic from my phone - the light isn't the best,
but you get the idea.)

American Girl

This was a big day for Rylee.

She saved her own money for almost an entire year
so she could get her very own American Girl doll!
Rylee had done her research online and finally decided to get a look-alike doll.

Rylee, Kaycee and Gma with newly purchased, Ryan.
(We have several pictures to document this trip, however,
this is the only one I've gotten to work. )

Way to go, Rylee!

They Make Me Laugh

We were cleaning Lucy and Olivia's room
and while I was in the closet with my back turned, Lucy says:

Look at my eyes, Mom. Aren't they wonderful?

Sleeping Beauty

Olivia Reece
Our Sleeping Beauty

Lately, she's moved past falling asleep on the floor...

And, most impressive


That girl has talent!
(or narcolepsy . . .)

Can We Start Over?

I'd like to start this morning over again.

Henry's super congested = he slept terribly last night
No sleep for baby = no sleep for mom
No sleep for mom = grumpy mom
Ryan left for work around 7:30am (on a Saturday) = grumpy mom
A kind reminder that he has a 5 hour meeting this afternoon = grumpy mom
I heard the Wii start up this morning = kids immediately fighting and whining
Kids fighting and whining = grumpy mom
I'm still in bed with Henry = kids getting their own breakfast
Kids getting their own breakfast = a new gallon of milk dropped in the kitchen
Milk dropped = milk all over the floor, under the fridge and under our walls...
Milk everywhere = grumpy mom crying over spilled milk

It's going to be one of those days.

What to Blog About . . .

. . . when it doesn't feel like there's much to blog about . . . Let's see . . .

We rang in the New Year over at the Hunts with good food and games. In the night, poor Lucy threw up all over herself - twice. Fun. Between Henry and Lucy waking in the night, I didn't get to sleep until about 7:30am and then I had the barfies, too. Ryan's stomach was queasy all New Years day and we skipped out on Church on Sunday. We just waited for more to fall, but thankfully no one else did. And would you believe there were a couple bright sides to being sick? I was able to stay in bed and be sick for TWO days - thanks to a fabulous, responsible, and helpful 9 year-old and husband. Moms rarely get to BE sick. It's usually business as usual but feeling awful. Another bright side was finishing our blog book for 2010! Yippee!

Clay earned his bobcat in scouts. To those of you with several sons or who work with the scouts, my hat's off to you. Holy cow. I find this whole scouting thing so intimidating. It makes me wonder too if they let non American citizens even work with Scouts...I'm hoping not. Isn't that awful?

I have an insatiable desire to re-decorate my house. From new colors and furniture, changing out the toss pillows to building a mantle for our fireplace. It was somewhat calmed the other day when I started moving furniture about in the living room. Stupid living room. There aren't really any good ways to mix it up. Dang it. Micki, will you come and decorate my house? I love her house. It's so calming, warm and inviting. It's no wonder her favorite part of vacation is when she gets home. How cool is that? I love that. I don't think I've ever felt that way. Ever.

We figured out a couple weeks ago that Miss Rylee has read over 3700 pages since August. Whoa. I'm pretty sure that's more that I've read in the past several years. Before Christmas, she finished the last book of the Percy Jackson series. Go Rylee.

If you ever get the chance to ride in our van - scratch that. You wouldn't fit in our van. Anyway, if you ever pass us in the car, we're probably rockin' out to this:

Our most favorite soundtrack ever. Have you seen this movie, yet? You must. L.O.V.E. it. I went and saw it with some girlfriends on my birthday and then over the Christmas break we took the kids to see it. (Thankfully we have some major hook-ups and were able to see if for free - it would have cost over $50 to take the fam. How ridiculous is that?).

I'm 3 weeks into Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Holy killer work out. It gets easier though, well, until you move up a level. This week I started level 2 (I actually like level 2 better than level 1, Reece) and I'm pumped to see results. I'll hopefully move to level 3 mid week next week! After the 30 days then we'll talk training; Training for the Whidbey Island Triathlon. I know, crazy. I wanted to do a triathlon before I turned 30, but Ryan messed that up when he said "I think there's one more." But, right away, I knew he was right, and we sure love our sweet Henry. So this summer it's IT.

Speaking of sweet Henry, he's just a couple lbs shy of weighing more than Olivia. It's interesting having a tiny two year old and a big almost 6 mos old. I know, I can't believe he's almost 6 mos either. Dang it. Look at how cute he is, too.