when life hands you lemons

you paint them! 

 8 x 8 acrylic on canvas

I painted these sour sweeties tonight in preparation for our ward's Relief Society Service Auction tomorrow night. I would have done something non-take-homeable, but with this baby coming any time now, I just wanted to not worry about it after tomorrow night. All that's left is a little signature... can't let these ladies forget me!

More fun with food/kitchen items, Mont found the strainer:

Decided it might make a good hat:

That didn't work out too well, so he decided to play the drums and knead it like bread:

Thanks for the sweet thoughts on my last post! Today was much better. And I got a nap.. so nice..

happy St. Patrick's Day!

routine

There are a lot of thoughts racing through my mind these days, and a lot of it makes for some sleepless nights and more anxiety than I normally succumb to. Lots of it was even before the disasters in Japan and elsewhere.

A few weeks ago, a roommate of mine from college lost her nearly 2 year old daughter. She just simply did not wake up from her nap.. Almost 2 years old. She would have turned 2 on the 7th of March. When I found out, I was devastated for her.. I can't imagine that sort of pain. At the same time it scares me to pieces.

I used to read on friends' blogs (before I had Mont) about their worst fear was something happening to their children or husband. I thought it was sweet, but didn't understand the full magnitude of their feelings. Now I can relate it to when I was growing up, my worst fear was something happening to my parents or sister. You think of someone you love and admire for their strength in such a vulnerable position and it makes your nerves tinge and your mind spin with anxious dread. Now with someone (and nearly 2 someones) to protect and keep safe, it's even more intense of a feeling than ever. No wonder why love comes through sacrifice; I'd give everything I have to keep my children safe.

Then the disaster struck Japan. The disasters are far from over, and I hope I am ready if ever I have to face one. I heard there's a scientist (or several) who predicts another large quake in the US's NorthWest within the next week or so. This morning we had a small one, and on facebook I was asked by my Relief Society President, "Are you ready?" To which I replied, "... no I'm not ready!! ... well yes, I have 800 gallons of water in the garage, and food storage in the basement, but I just want to have this baby in a hospital that's not shaking back and forth!! oh gosh.."

Yes I'm physically ready, but am I emotionally and mentally ready? Survival is an interesting thing, isn't it? When you are faced with a situation where you have to fight, flight, or freeze, ... are those the right three? ... you have so much adrenaline rushing through you, that you are bound to not remember the pain too much. You don't concentrate on the pain, because it's crippling. You do what you need to do to survive, as happily as you can after a certain amount of time. Japan will always remember this devastation, and my friend will always remember her heartache. But they will survive. Perhaps wounded for a good long while, but I believe they will recover.

The last few days have been a bit harder than most on me, which is saying something because I don't normally have 'hard days.' I feel guilty when all I have energy to do is stay on the couch and roll a crayon across the table top with Mont. I should be enjoying these last couple of weeks with him as my only child! I love his creativity, his spontaneity, his joy, his new-found talents (like throwing his baseball at Buckwheat), his squeals when he gets overly excited, and how he is now making some of his own choices.

I take comfort in routine. It calms me. I think of all the fun we have as I pour his bath water and he is all ready to be tickled, and how he folds his arms at the very mention of "prayer" then acts like he's closing his eyes, until he becomes distracted 2 seconds later and tries to kiss me while I do the praying. I love these moments. One of the fun moments (photo above) is after I've brushed his teeth and I let the water run while he dabs his brush under the faucet and returns it to his mouth about 10 - 15 times, all the while he is making silly faces in the mirror. Simple pleasures are worth being happy for.

And I don't ever want to take them for granted.

the aurora borealis

Also known as "the northern lights": 

Last night I (and all the other late night Eagle River-ers) were lucky enough to see the entire sky light up with the celestial glow of solar activity. There were two sun-storms on March 7, and we have been anticipating the arrival of the rays... well, here they are!

Photo taken by our friend, Rick Neff at the elementary school up the street, exposure time 30 seconds. This photo is facing North. As he was taking this, I was staring at them out my bedroom window, about ready to smash my own camera for not knowing how to work it! I'm hoping tonight I have a chance to capture my own shot of the Northern Lights.

I can't begin to explain how amazing these are in person. They dance and move so exquisitely ... never seen anything like it.

waiting for the melt

While waiting for the snow to melt and the degrees to rise, we spend a lot of time on the floor with wheeled contraptions. I say contraptions, because it can be anything with a wheel and he loves it; all the better if it is a car. 

His '66 mini coop, Matchbox:

Wooden toy tank, craft store:

"General Automobile" from World Market, lucky find:

oh, cute little boy..

cabined up

Mont was trying to entertain himself or share with Buckwheat... I'm still trying to decide.

Probably the first.

Poor kid is ready for Spring.

And I'm ready to be able to move again without feeling bruised.

order 101

Check out this beauty of a find I had after putting Mont to sleep tonight:

What you see:
two messy little drawers, misplaced, and left.

What you don't see:
jewelry on the floor
necklaces in their rightful drawers

I was elated when I found this little surprise.. he was playing by himself with his "treasure chest" and must have emptied 3 drawers and pulled out their contents. Typically when this happens, there are necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other little things scattered around where he once sat. But THIS TIME, there was no mess, other than the two pulled out drawers, only one on the floor, and all the necklaces he had pulled out were in one drawer together (see right drawer). In other words..

He picked up when he was done playing!!


Simply beautiful..... !!


*another fun tidbit: while saying prayers tonight, he was sitting on his changing table facing me, while I leaned onto it, with my eyes closed and arms folded. While I was praying aloud, he was trying to distract me so bad: either trying to eat my face or give me some major big kisses. Oh that was a hard prayer to get through without laughing.. 

small world

When Mark is flying around the world on a 7 day trip and runs into one of his greatest long-losties, (this here is Sven) we realize how small the world can be. 

Here they are in the dusty middle east, sharing a laugh and a photo. 

I really appreciate all the feedback on my 'reeder questions'. I am going to try the V-8 stuff and see if Mont likes it. Then I'm thinking of trying a couple of those recipes (thank you, Rach!).

ALSO, thank you for the happy anniversary wishes! It was on the 16th, but as Mark has been gone, we are going to celebrate this week upon his return.

First showing tomorrow evening! ... I have some cleaning and cramming to do (cramming = Buckwheat and his things into the car, for instance... sorry poochie woochie!)

reeder questions

Bed Head
1. My pillows have been slowly turning into rocks every night, despite my best fluffing efforts. Do you have favorite pillows? If they are feather pillows... how do you get the feathers to not occasionally come out and prick you in the face? Mark uses a memory foam pillow (with the 2 different neck height options on top and bottom), but even the lower side still gives me a sore neck. Suggestions?

Yuck to Yum?
2. Mont is a picky little eater. He likes shredded cheese, peanut butter on wheat thins, syrupy (not too syrupy - he has his limits by which I am shocked b/c I love the syrup!) breakfast foods, granola bars, oatmeal, toast, milk, pretzels, chips, Carnation hot chocolate (hello vitamins!), cookies and chocolate.

Sometimes he likes string cheese (the last few days he's not been a fan - I guess he ate himself sick of it), sometimes he likes yogurt, sometimes he likes pizza, sometimes he likes pasta, sometimes he likes taco meat, sometimes he likes baby food (I'll give it to him when he'll eat it - only way he'll eat vegetables and fruit) sometimes he likes nutri-grain bars, and sometimes he likes what I eat.

I know the "he'll eat when he's hungry" but I have different questions.. I'm thinking about ways I can trick Mont into eating healthy foods. For instance, I want to try the V8 fruit juices with the veggies in them.. has anyone tried them, and liked them? Or any other healthy sneaker tips like carrots in the brownies?? haha.. Or any tips at all on what to feed picky toddlers?

It's a good thing he likes taking his vitamins every day (blah! - have you ever tasted baby tri-vitamins!? How does he like those and not pizza?!)

?s
3. I know I have more.. but I am drawing a blank. There may be more of these "reeder questionnaires!"

wanna see where we live?

Our house is for sale! dun dun dun... 

And I made this blog up with a bajillion pictures to link to while looking at home-for-sale websites. 

Take a look and tell me if it's user-friendly! 

So far, my family says it is, but it doesn't hurt to have more feedback. Right? Right! 

Take a little looksie:

PS - we actually just booked our first showing for Monday.

(we're giving FSBO a try... for now...) 

I love adventure

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Anniversary to my Mother and Father in law!!

And a Happy little Birthday to Buckwheat!

We have our new assignment: Grand Forks, North Dakota!!!!

Marrying my Mark, I knew I would have to be up and ready for any adventure the Air Force sends our way, no matter how expected or unexpected it may be. So far, all the adventure has been extremely fun! I think this will be the same. Yes, it was a shock. Yes, it is going to be even COLDER than Alaska in the winters. But the winters and shorter and the summers are MUCH warmer. So warm, and sunny, that I will be growing all sorts of stuff in a garden with my little helper Mont (who may just dig them all up with his little furry pal).

Moving is coming a lot faster for us, unfortunately. We are in the process of putting our house up for sale all over the place. In fact, I've made a blog with millions of pictures... I'll post that maybe tomorrow.

We will spend the summer and probably early fall in California, just north of Sacramento. I plan on getting a nice tan to make up for all my Alaska wintery-whiteness. Then it's off to the mid-US!

We're excited!!

1.2.3 red yellow and blue

Markers seem to be the best solution for playing with colors; until he discovers that the lids can come off!  Crayons end up in the chompers, and colored pencils make me nervous when he stands up holding on to them with glee.... don't run!

So while we play with markers, he hands me bouquets, and I wonder... are these his favorite colors today? Because his mother, certainly, can never choose just one favorite color from day to day. 

just try it, honey

After his nap, this was Mont's 2nd day of 

trying peanut butter and honey sandwiches 

(little mini squares cut by yours truly):

a little sticky: 

a little sweet:

*notice his battle wounds inflicted by the Indian furniture screen? Not so bad looking in these photos.. He just wanted to turn on some light switches, and he stepped on a toy, then cheese-grated down the screen with his chin, lip, and nose... that happened Friday night (while Mark was out, in a yurt)

28/29 weeks

Before Mark ran off to work one morning this week, I asked him to take a belly shot or two... this girl wasn't going to have any of her in there if I didn't start soon! So here we go with a late start:

The true side shot:

Trying to look 'less tired' for an am shoot:

Mont started to pull on my leg and dance around:

So we got goofy:

On to week 29! If she comes when Mont did, I only have 9 1/2 more weeks! holy shmokies!

a night out, in a yurt

Our Bishop posted this on his FB about the experience they all (Mark included) had last night. Can't Relief Society do something like this?? I mean.. come on, what a fun trip!

"Spent a wonderful time this weekend with the Priest Quorum. We cross-country ski'd up Eagle River Valley about 3 miles on Friday night, spent the night in a Yurt, eating great food, telling jokes, and having a very spiritual discussion about Book of Mormon Heroes, recognizing the Spirit, and missions. The setting was beautiful next to some rapids on the river, fresh blanket of snow and wolves howling in the distant."

The food they had was rib-eye steaks, potatoes, green beans, with apple pie and ice cream for dessert. The jokes they told were about a club-foot and a wood-eye, the Book of Mormon heroes were several, including Nephi, Moroni, Captain Moroni, Ammon, and Mark's heros (or heroines) were Ishmael's daughters "cause they were all hot" (no wonder he's in young mens! haa).

What a fun night - wish I had either a) gone with, or b) been able to see some pictures! Mark's hands were pretty full with bags, skis, and pulling sleds with food. I don't blame him...  Mark says we'll hike up there "with our little munchkins" this summer. I'm excited!

*I only knew what a "yurt" was because I watch Sarah Richardson on HGTV - isn't cable the best?!

little sweetie

Last night was a baby shower for a very good friend of mine. She has been trying to adopt for years, and it has now happened.. oh we are all just thrilled for her and her husband. For 5 week old Madeline Ray Thomas, I painted a little green apple for her. It was a canvas I had on hand from before when they nearly adopted before (my friends have been through the ringer a few times). But it found it's rightful home, and it turned out just how I'd hoped. Now I just need to start signing J.J. Reeder... not Jayci Jr. ha!

acrylic on canvas
9 x 12"
1/5/2011

brown paper packages

some of my favorite things...

chocolate chip cookies for some feel goods.

vacation

When I think about the trip we took, I think of three things: flying, family and flying! In all, we took 11 flights to get to two places. That meant... I got sick quite a few times. I love being pregnant! 


We went to the beautiful state of Hawaii for our first destination, to visit with my family. it was great seeing them again, and also really great to be in some warm rain and warm sunshine. 

The rain I'm talking about was incredible! I've only seen rain like that once before and it was in Brazil - very tropical and heavier than you'd believe. The mud was insane (and everywhere from the flash flooding), and turned the marina that lovely rusty brown color. 


Recognize that ship? It's the BLACK PEARL from Pirates of the Caribbean! I had no idea they had been filming a fourth movie, but now I'm really, really excited. Mark says it looks less complex than the third and more down to the basics of pirates. The ship was really intricate looking (from as far as we were), and really spectacular. Made me want to wear some rags, tie on a bandana, maybe even sport an eyepatch to climb aboard! I would have done it!!

After Hawaii, we jet setted for Utah.. landing back where hot cocoa and fireplaces are needed. It was a nice balance to have a little sun, then a little snow. 


The entire family was there - it had been a couple of years since we last saw Mark's older brother Mo and his wife Tory. They just found out they're expecting a baby BOY. I will have a nephew! And Mont and ___?___ will have a cousin! Here's the family picture we took for Stacey's V-day card send out: 

We had lots we wanted to do, lots we did do, and some we didn't do. One of the things we almost did was visit the lights at Temple Square. We had gone to visit my grandparents and got to pass them with a cranky Mont wanting cookies. They were beautiful! Maybe next time, Mont.. I'll be sure to bring the cookies.

I got my peppermint bark from Williams Sonoma, Mont had his first candy cane, and we had plenty of chocolate between the three of us, and lots of boxes to open and presents to play with. It was a great trip... but next time I'll hope for more direct flights!

Mont loved the boxes... Merry Christmas and happy giving!

things done, things to do

I'm in Utah now and just arrived yesterday after a great few days in the sun of Oahu. What a great trip! I'm glad we went. Mark talked me into going anywhere (are you thinking 'had to?') ... I really was done flying after October. I'm glad he did, even though the flying has been hard. Mont does well, but flying is just hard. For me, Mark loves it. Those baggies are my besties.

The fun in the sun only was for 1 of the 3 beach days (rainy!), but I got a touch of color to make me feel less like a character in Twilight... always good to be less sparkly, right? Being with my family was so relaxing and nice, fun, eating and sleeping, resting and then Mont getting bruises all over the place.

We had our small little Christmas before we left, and had our annual (or bi-annual if I have anything to say about it! I could eat it every single day) monkey bread... pulls apart with almondy syrup? deeelicious.

Mont had too many presents to play with at once, including things for Mark to 'help' him with: a remote control Deere tractor, and a remote control helicopter (Mont loves those things).

Watching A Christmas Story while cleaning up and cooking our small celebratory dinner (turkey breast in a crock pot! Dad's herbed recipe is scrumptious + mashed potatoes - easy!).

Still to do, pizza party tomorrow, Christmas Eve fireside in the Reeder's basement + shows (Mark and Michael are going to do something ridiculous, I just know it). Opening presents (or watching Molly open her presents! lucky duck), more monkey bread! (yes yes please please!), Christmas dinner, carols (I've already been heating up those Steinway ivories!), and pictures in front of the tree.

The heat was grand, and so is the warm and toasty cocoa.. Christmas is the best and greatest!

It is after midnight now, making it Christmas Eve! My eyes are heavy and my brain is fuzzy.. this entire post just might make absolutely no sense. And with that.. sweet dreams.

a pre'ception

One week ago was a pre-wedding reception at a friends home from the ward. Walking in to the sounds of piano and laughing was a great first impression. After taking off my snowy boots, I walked through the line in my thankfully new socks (pre-Christmas gift to myself) and talked about the nice warmth of St. George with the new in-laws.

Then ... I saw the cakes! So wintery and perect!

.. let it snow let it snow!

Tonight: we came home from a White Elephant with my own Judo 2nd Place trophy from '97... a plumbing soldering kit...$15 Coldstone card... and ... did I mention my trophy? Mark wanted it back way more than me. I was ready to sing my partings to those embarrassing memories.

Dear Santa..

I think he was trying to tell me,

"Please let me have a scarf... without a flower."

Don't let this face fool you - right after I took this picture he gave me one big cheeeeeesy grin. Sorry I ruined the moment with my flowery warmer! It was the closest thing to the door that could keep his face from freezing! We had to get him out there after his nap and before the night took over! We were in a time crunch... yes?