8/52: Sunbeam

Today was the first Sunday this boy has asked to wear a tie to church! So here he is with both a tie and a smile to match his handsome daddy's. This morning when I laid eyes on him wearing his new tie, my heart just turned to absolute mush. All through primary, too; I'd look up at him and we'd wave back and forth with our hands under our chins then give each other a thumbs up. What a little ray of sunshine for me. 

ever in my favor

via

Oh say whatever you want to say about me being years late to this craze.. but I'm reading them. And loving them. The first one I listened to via audiobook on itunes was when I had my eye surgery (still haven't posted on that.. not sure you want me to!). I loved the "reading talent" of Carolyn McCormick, and looking her up just now, she is just how I pictured she would be. The second book I read the old fashioned way, but found myself hearing the voice of Ms. Carolyn reading the words, so I decided I'd better just call ahead and request for the audiobook to be sent to the library for the third book in the trilogy. That's where I am now: Disc 1, Track 3.

This is where this post is now changing gears.. The real reason for this post has very little to do with any book series. Gotcha.

I have always been a fan of audiobooks, but they are so dang darn pricey! $25 for the first Hunger Games audiobook.. unabridged, but still. That was a bit of a stinging-dollar-bullet for me to bite, since I rarely read/listen to a book more than once. But because of the eye surgery and needing to listen to something completely captivating, I gave in and justified the purchase as a 'necessary entertainment.' ha! There had to be an easier, cheaper way..

The library! That is where I checked out the third book's audio recording, read by the great Ms. Carolyn. Ding ding ding!! Free for checkout to boot.

Uploading the discs on to my laptop, to then transfer to my phone for easy listening anywhere and anytime, I thought would be a simple enough process, if not time consuming.

Time consuming was right! My laptop is now aged and vintage, but not like a fine wine. The kids have unwittingly knocked it off the coffee table, tripped over it (I'm getting much better and making sure it's completely under the couch when not in use nowadays), dropped objects onto it (thankfully never liquid), etc. It has seen better days, but still is holding out strong for the most part. It is now a 6 year old macbook pro, and is mostly working like a champ. The only thing is that the cd drive is no longer 100% reliable; if the disc has any scratches, small or otherwise, it will struggle with reading them.

This is getting too long!!

Long story short... after hours of searching for different options of how to get that dang audio book on my dang phone, (even my phone won't hook up to my computer since it missed a major software update - what? Thanks a lot apple. Same goes for an external CD drive.) I decided to ditch the new technologies of our current day and jump back a couple decades.

I ordered a Discman. Whoa... watch out. Did I just turn 85 or 27 last November?

Really, though. Think of all the things I can be doing while listening to a book instead of on a couch with my eyes glued to a book and my fingers clutching at it. Waiting to find some scrap of an answer to any mystery that might have befallen the heroines! Dramatic, yes, but imagine doing all of this while sewing or painting, or exercising! The possibilities are nearly endless... no Pinterest while listening, however; that is too distracting as it all too attention grabbing. But most everything else - folding laundry! See? The list goes on.

Anyone else out there in the same funny boat as myself? Probably not. But if there is, and by some shred of bad luck you find yourself in my stupidly-stressful dilemma, just know I'm putting all of my pennies on the walkman's odds being ever in its own favor. ha - Happy Hunger Games! Until the batteries give out.

heavy heart

"Living the Gospel does not mean that the storms of life will pass us by, but we will be better prepared to face them with serenity and peace." -Joseph B. Wirthlin 

Social media has really shrunken my social world; when friends go through things, I feel it more deeply and more quickly than I would have hearing news through the grapevines of word-of-mouth. A couple different friends have lost some dear little loved ones the last two weeks, and my heart just aches for them. 

Inadvertently I squeeze my two little ones tighter, and smile a little longer as I listen to them and their frequent babblings. They've been getting away with a little more, and I'm not quite sure that I mind for now. For the moment, I have been reminded once again to enjoy everything completely. I remember hearing other friends who were moms long before I was, talk about their greatest fears being that something would happen to their little children, or their husband. I couldn't understand the depth of that fear until I had my own. I try not to let fear overpower my mind as I think of what could happen since I know that fear is the opposite of faith. I'm not sure how I would handle losing a little one, but in my moments of pondering and deep thinking, I am reassured by my knowledge of the resurrection. How grateful I am that we will be reunited with our loved ones again; young and old alike. The above quote is one I read yesterday, and it has since stayed close to my thoughts, as a constant reminder that we don't know what experiences are around the corner. All we can do is prepare and make our testimonies as strong as we can, to ensure that we are able to stand against the storms that will surely come to us in this life. At times this life can seem just too hard, and at those times, I hope everyone can feel the love of our Savior, and the love that is present in the plan of Salvation. Without His love, there would be nothing to hope for. With it, we have everything to hope for. 

7/52: Noah

from Katherine's Instagram

"Living the Gospel does not mean that the storms of life will pass us by, but we will be better prepared to face them with serenity and peace." -Joseph B. Wirthlin 

Sweet Noah passed away in his sleep on the night of the 10th, and this picture was taken that same day. I'm sure this will be a treasured picture for the rest of forever as they wait to be reunited with their littlest boy. My heart has been breaking so often the last week and a half as I think of our friends. There will never be words strong enough to emphasize our love for them, so we just pray. Gratefully, prayer is a wonderful thing. 

history: Katherine and Daniel are friends of ours from Alaska, and she is sisters with Aimee, our sister-in-law.

6/52: little reeders

This "portrait a week" project is just turning into an excuse for me to put pictures of the kids on here every week; the silly or the sweet. So from this latest week, one of the each, the two minis:

iphone pics

5/52: Mont

You'll see a lot of these kids with this weekly portrait project, to be sure. Maybe I don't need to warn you, but perhaps when we see a bit warmer weather, you'll be seeing some more variety on here as we find ourselves outside more often. Perhaps.

These two pictures are different from one another in that the first, is Mont trying a new food. In the second, he is being his usual, silly self. 

Trying a new food never happens, and yet it has happened twice in the last two weeks. He actually has asked for it each time! The first: mushrooms (thanks to the dancing red mushrooms on Fantasia). The second: popcorn (thanks to Dennis the Menace, the original tv show). Here is Mont chowing down on his new favorite snack. This is huge for him! 

The second is just so... Mont: never holding still, as busy as a honey bee.  

Also.. he is growing right out of his clothes. 

blackberry dreams

image: web find

Blackberries have been finding their way into the grocery cart when we are shopping, even though they're a little tart, they're still sweet enough. While little Emmy enjoys the berries, I can't help but think back to the late summer visits to Washington when the berries are plentiful, plump and ripe on the berry bushes that line the road behind my parents' home. In my mind, I'm already dreaming of the next visit when we can pick berries on our way to and from the park, watching Emmy pop them quickly into her mouth, and mmm-ing all the way.

I'm doing a lot of day dreaming of warm summer days as I wake up to the ice that is still drafting its way to the inside lines of our windows. We can hardly wait to see some green outside these ice-lined windows!

4/52: Jack

Oh, Jack. This is Jack Jones, who lives down our street. His parents are friends of ours, and it truly is like "keeping up with the Jones'" in all senses of the phrase. They have three boys, two older than this cutie, who are very energetic and smart. They have more toys than I can imagine, it's amazing their house is always so organized! Going over there for us is like a trip to a fair. Good food, fun times, and wonderful amusements. 

About a year ago, I checked a book out for the kids called, Give That Back, Jack! written by Phil Roxbee. It was a fun little cautionary tale for children to not take without asking, and this little blonde haired boy named Jack who does all this taking and getting in trouble, and in the end meets his demise because he wasn't very nice. Well, when our kids were reading that a year ago, we had already known little blonde haired Jack down the street, so it was easy to glue the two ideas together... terrible!!

It gets even worse.. When we are having a hard day with our kids (namely, Mont) often we have to take the toys away from them for the 'toy-time-out-box' ... if that doesn't work, we bring out the big ammo.. the "do we need to give all your toys to Jack?" The resounding "nooooo THANK YOU." is all we need to hear before they start shaping up (usually, at least). Poor Jack. HA! It's a good thing our kids still love to play with him. Otherwise, our tactics might be in need of adjustment.  

three little cars

three little cars, 9 x 12, 140 lb watercolor paper

Three years ago, when I had done these Neverland Pieces for new-baby Mont, my cousin (and childhood friend and next-door neighbor all in one) wondered if I could paint a retro sort of car for her son Jameson's room. Even though it has taken me so very long, I have never forgotten, and it's always been on the top of my to-paint list; but I never found a sort of car painting I liked until just recently. I'm happy to finally do something for her because she is always, always so willing to help others and send me off with clothes and fun stuff for my kids. She works so hard in her callings and always remembers her friends and family in everything she does. So surprise, Brit, if you're reading this! ; )

Watercolor has become a fun medium for me to try again after so many years. It's fun to see what happens when it's on the page, with altering amounts of color or water. 

First things first.. laid out my watercolor pencils for outlines, then began the sketches:

Pretty primitive, until step two when I get down my brushes: 

I wanted something that felt young, and a little bit beginner, and with these very basic cars, I really hope it is an okay piece for his room. The simplistic colors and lines, hopefully, will be a fun little view point to catch his eye and make him think about playtime, racing his toy cars around the floor and between furniture legs. Mont just might have to get a copy for his room too; his reaction when he saw it made me smile. Let me just say he used the word "cute!" He is my funny little sweetheart for quite a few reasons, that one.

-18

What a tease the pink morning light was this morning streaming through our bedroom windows as I made beds. I opened the curtains to let Buckwheat out and noticed the ice inside our glass doors. It was cooooold. When I took this picture, it was -18, but our neighbor's temperature readings were even colder than that, without factoring in windchill.

We're looking forward to warm summer days spent outside, making up for lost time on that slide and swing-set. When the trees are fat with green and the grass is soft and wet from sprinklers, we'll be in our swimsuits, playing in the sun. I can hardly wait!

sundog

I thought I'd seen sundogs before, but I didn't realize just what they were supposed to look like until I pulled out of our garage for church on Sunday. Mont was sick, and Mark was at work, and I had to play the piano for the last two hours of Primary. Leaving the kids with Stacey and Molly, I set out on the ice-blown roads for town. What I saw in the sky when I started to drive, made me hit the brakes almost instantly. It was insane!

This is what a sun dog is truly like, but my phone pictures are even darker than it was in person. Incredible, miraculous, divine, celestial... I can't think of profound enough adjectives to get my point across, so these pictures will just have to suffice. My first views of it were only half the whole thing.

When I pulled on to the main roads where there was enough horizontal view to see, I could see the entire full circle of the sundog. I was mesmerized.. I was lucky to make it to church because I was so distracted by this ... phenomenon.

3/52: Stacey

Meet "Grandma Stacey." This wonderful woman is Mark's mother, and sweetheart to Mont and Emmy.  Mark and I are so lucky to have our mothers; both raised us with music, culture, travel, fun, and taught us how to organize, clean, respect ourselves and others, and love the gospel. I love watching Stacey with our children. She raised 5 and has so many ways of helping children avoid trouble, I wish I had a notebook filled with her ideas. She has this way of understanding just what the child needs (mine or others), whether it's something to learn, something to distract, something to hold or someone to be silly with. It is so natural for her to recognize 'disaster' and divert it with something equally good and fun, neutralizing the child's encroaching bad mood. It's truly awe-inspiring to see her with Mont and Emmy, who love her more than candy itself. Always fun, always loving, always caring, and always Stacey. I love this Mother-in-law of mine.

Reeder's Digest | distinguished visitors

The night of the day I found the star-flake, was the night Stacey and Molly flew into town - ha! did that make sense? The kids were so excited to wake up to them the next morning. Saturday we were expecting a non-snow blizzard: strong enough winds that would kick up enough snow to make blizzard-like conditions.. sounds so fun. Mark was signed up to be the "Point Of Contact" for showing the plane off to some cheerleaders who were here from Minnesota for a Pre-Superbowl Extravaganza Party.. sounds so fun. They call these cheerleaders, "distinguished visitors" since they were setting up VIP things for them and all, but we had our own DVs to show around base! We threw as many layers on the kids as we could, hats, coats, what have you and hugged them tight as we ran ice skated from the car, through the gate, and 500+ more ft to the hangar. It was beyond freezing, and with the wind it truly hurt to breathe, if you could indeed take a breath. The kids even began to cry because it was so cold and harsh.. I couldn't help but think of pioneers and their sweet children. Ah, before I cry, I'll get back on track. We took these kids and ladies in to see Mark's plane before the cheerleaders showed up, to get our own pictures taken with it. It was great! I never thought I'd get a picture with it, and just so you know, this might be the last you'll ever see of it on this blog! I'm so proud of my Mark! He does so much for our country, and no one will ever even know about it. Shhhh.. :) so fun to be apart of something like his job, even if I'm just on the home front. I love him and am so proud to be his partner in this adventure. Mont's pretty dang proud of his dad too. He was struttin' his stuff with his [too] little jacket. Emmy... well, she's just too cute. It was so fun for Mont and Emmy to run and dance around the plane, and for Stacey to see what her son flies. Distinguished Visitors to be sure.

seein' stars

This morning it all began at three thirty in the morning; Mont yelling and crying for us, as he walks in our room. Something about a dream; blueberries, he would tell me later (thanks, Willy Wonka). This continued for every 30 minutes or so, interrupted with bathroom breaks, until 5:30 when Mont fell asleep.

At 8:00 we hear, "it's YELLOW!" as we look at each other and realize that we overslept because of the awful morning. Normally that "yellow siren" goes off right at 7:00 when the kids' good-nite-lite turns to the sun. They overslept as well.

Mark has a sim later in the afternoon, but planning goes on in the morning, from 8 - 12, for which he's late! No rush... I go out to shovel the drive while he eats breakfast with the kids watching Ichabod (and Mont has bad dreams about blueberries???). It's slick out, but I avoid slipping, as I notice a star-flake right on the freshly shoveled driveway amongst the rain-like hail that is falling.

Maybe it's a good omen.

We finally get out the door, back out of the garage, ... and the garage door won't go down. Great. Mark asks, "is the snow shovel blocking the sensor?" "No, I don't think so... maybe?" He goes and checks, nodding to himself that yes, he was right. He walks to the car...

Then he's starts to skid, and whoosh! He goes down.

So much for that good omen!

We get him to work, then go pick him up for lunch after I get ready. Where is this day going?!

When he gets in the car he tells us that "Grandma Stacey and Aunt Molly are coming tonight!"

The day starts to smile again. ... Well, let's be honest. The day started smiling when I got to get ready!

Mark leaves again to get to his sim, after which my neighbor comes over to show me her mom's meatball sauce recipe. Holy Heavens, its the best I've ever had. My house now smells utterly amazing.. makes me feel accomplished somehow. ha!

Hope everyone found their star-flakes today too.

*And read their scriptures and said their prayers. That helps a lot too. :) 

on hold

Emmy has been trying her luck at sitting at the table recently, which usually ends up with her on my lap at meal time anyway. The high-chair is losing her interest quickly, yet this table top is a little too near her chin to make anything easy. So this morning as I sit on the phone, holding, hearing my call-number climb the ladder to number one, we improvised a little and she ended up with a table top she felt was just right.

Happy Eating!

woohoo! after an hour, caller number one!

2/52: Mont

For a Christmas present, we gave this boy Fantasia (the original and 2000). The first time we watched it, he could not care less about it. But all the sudden the last week or so, it's all he asks for. He loves the "horses" which incorporates the pegasus, centaurs, the satyrs, the cherubs, and the thunder and lightening gods. I love it because there are no words, just music. It was one of the movies we were allowed to watch on a Sunday afternoon after church when my sister and I were kids. So yesterday we watched it in the quiet hours of our Sunday. Mont always has loved classical music, making up story lines as the music ebbs and flows, crescendos, growing more and more exciting, then lulls back into the pace it began. This movie for him has probably been just a manifestation of what he already visualizes as he listens to instrumental music. This kid has a thing for the classics.

Here is the boy last October at Gardner's Village in Utah. We've been able to go every year so far to see all the cute witches they have flying, crashing, and floating around the shops and storefronts. It's been a lot of fun, and this picture still has a place on my fridge (in b&w) because I cannot get enough of this sarcastic face. I think he's got a lot of fun in store for me.

*This post is part of the 52 portrait series: a portrait, once a week, every week, in 2013.*

sugared

Friday night as I carried Buckwheat out to his run, I looked around at the eerie low clouds, and the smothered yellow light of street lamps. Quietly and quickly as possible, I tiptoed back into the house and shut the door, locking it. Then repeated when the pup was satisfied with his encounter with nature's wild and needed to be warmed again by the blanket-warm indoors. Saturday morning we awoke to powdery white trees, grass, fences, and rooftops. Snow hadn't come our way, but fog? Yes.

Saturday morning, as the haze thinned, we took note of all it left in its wake: sugar. Or at least it appeared like everything had received a nice dusting of sugar. We all hopped in the car and went out for a drive to Turtle River to get a good long stare at this wintery silvery splendor.

1/52: Emmy

(Pajama Diaries)

In all her messy breakfast glory, this girl was putting a show on as usual; this time though, Mark had the camera pointed straight on her as it was New Year's morning. As we were hootin' and hollerin' and blowing paper trumpets and clackin' the noise makers, we rung in the New Year about 7 hours after midnight. But that's okay if every day is a party!

This year I will be posting a weekly portrait picture (whomever it might be of) as a part of The 52 Project.

What better way to get motivated and getting myself back into the camera-toting way of life? My camera is small enough, and for the last few months, I've been carrying only half a supply of diapers, as last November Mont was officially and completely potty trained. It only took a few days before he was wearing big boy pants to bed.. I ran a risk without a matress cover but he kept proving to be a big boy! Even still.. no accidents, but we still put a special sheet on his bed. Just in case! I'm so proud of what my two accomplished in 2012, both big and small; pretty sure it was all a big deal to me.

Here is the button I'll be adding to the side of my blog to remind myself that every week I have a portrait to upload here. Might not be all that great of one, but a portrait nevertheless. ha! Join me and see what we can all come up with. I think it will be SO FUN.

2012

There was a lot packed in to this year. I can't even count the number of plane rides, the number of hugs, and hellos or goodbyes. So much to fit into a mere 52 weeks. I get all mushy when I think of what was lost and what was found, what was given up and what was obtained; not only by myself and my family, but our country, our religion, our world, and our humanity. Lots of heartache, lots of triumphant joys. Tears and laughter filled many moments, and those moments are precious memories to me. Weddings and funerals, vacations and homecomings, packages sent and received, kitchen mishaps and athletic feats.

2013 might hold all sorts of new adventures for us. We have no idea, and that is half the fun, isn't it? As long as we have family and friends, food and comfort, we can say we have it all.

At the close of 2011, I was done with stress and ready to relax and enjoy life at a day to day pace. New Year's Resolutions were out of the question. It served me well for this year of 2012. I still had many new experiences, exercised, read books, watched lots of movies, visited many new places, and spent time with my loved ones. This year, however, I am ready to pace myself to meet some new goals. I have slacked off the exercise the last bit and have been motivated to get back into yoga. It's been a while, and it should be an exciting challenge. I want to read more. I want to sew more. I would love to be a finisher. And an organizer. Learning systems that work for my house to enable myself to be more of a teacher for our two little ones. I want to teach them all the numbers and words I can before they start school in a couple years. It's coming fast and I want to prepare them with the best head start I can, for whatever lies ahead. I would love to finally get a bicycle and take bike rides with Mark around our neighborhoods and around the woods in back with our two stinkers strapped down with their arms and voices up in the air as they hoot and holler with excitement. I would like to get out and walk more with the kids and the pup. Before it froze here, I took all three of those little ones out and Mont and Emmy practically sobbed and fought the whole time for Buckwheat's leash. It was a joy.. but if we do it more often, perhaps they'd gladly share the responsibility of my commands to don't let go! hold tight! chase him! 

This year we are going to learn more scripture stories and I am going to strengthen my own testimony. I am going to read the stories of The Friend more often to our children and explain more enthusiastically the simple truths of the gospel. The love learning. They love to play. And Mark and I want to enjoy it all with them.

Happy New Year!

a bit of magic

5 points awarded to whomever can find Buckwheat

Our house held a bit of magic this last week for our two children, but let's be honest, mostly for Mark and I. The fun that is involved in seeing these wonderful holidays through the eyes of little ones might be the best part of the season. Telling Mont and Emmy all about the birth of our Savior, and having His gift of life relate to all the gifts they give and are given, is the greatest.

Toys... are another favorite around here. Setting up late Christmas Eve, with some help from jolly ole' Saint Nick, was full of laughter for us. We were trying to build this tower over there near the bottom, and it just wasn't working for me; Mark came to my aide and showed me how to use the "door stop" pieces and even went so far as to put Santa's gift of dinosaurs all over it. Even the dragon had a nose-bleed seat way up top - those wings are good for something after all, eh, Dragon?

This lovely little, partly burnt out tree has been with us since our first Christmas together as a newly established Reeder family. We purchased it while in Del Rio, TX as Mark was suffering getting through pilot training. (fun memories!!) Sadly, this long-lasting tree didn't last long enough, as this mid-section burnt out a couple weeks ago.. and our light-gun was no where to be found. On to the fun facts: This year's Christmas loot included a tent, blocks, dinosaurs, little velvet horses, small (but big enough!) trampoline for indoor energy release through the winter months, a couple movies, clothes, a couple books, and a doll house for Emmy and a doll castle for Mont. They are sharing just dandy, making a decent sized neighborhood with its drawbridge, front door, and dungeon.. those creative little cuties.

A week ago I made a yummy sugar cookie recipe which I discovered earlier this year; but I made it with a "self-rising flour" instead of "cake flour" - no no no!!! I didn't realize why at the time, but it tasted a bit off. Come to find out, the "self-rising flour" has extra baking powder in it... which the recipe had already included. They tasted as sugary as an old pair of jeans. OH! it was embarrassing. So I took them to Cub Scouts and fed them to the wolves (literally. the Cub Scout Wolves ate them like they were the best thing ever. Only one little girl (it was pack meeting) told her mom [whom I was sitting next to], "I don't like my cookie." haha!)

But to make up for my unsuccessful cookies, I had to make something to share with a few people around base! So I made these old-fashioned, spiced oatmeal-raisin cookies. They remind me so much of Williamsburg, VA at Christmas time. (recipe below)

If you don't follow down through to the recipe, but made it this far, I hope you had the merriest of all Christmases. Heartache was prevalent throughout this special month with everything that has happened, in states abroad there was horrific tragedy, and family losing a dearly beloved grandmother. Yet in the midst of all the darkness...  joy. There were bits of Christmas magic sprinkled throughout the month, even has trying as it was. I pray that everyone found that bit of magic I'm talking about.

Merry Christmas!

Spiced Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

- 1 c butter, softened
- 1 c packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 c white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
- 1 t baking soda
- 1 t ground cinnamon
- 1/2 t ground cloves
- 1/2 t salt
- 3 c rolled oats
- 1 c raisins

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350º
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. (I cover sheets with aluminum foil - don't grease that either).

2. Bake 10 - 12 minutes until light and golden on bottom. Do not over bake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely. Store in something airtight if they last longer than 20 minutes before being gobbled up.