After Christmas lounging

All we have been doing for the last few days is go to Church and this:

Daniel waited for the lil ones to go to bed
to set it up just the way he wanted it
like this:

It currently looks like this:


Eva and Alexander have been trying to surf the waves
with their new kick boards for
swimming this summer.


Daniel keeps helping them make houses with the blocks.
Alexander loves houses.
This one reminds me of the Weasley house,
the tall tower is compliments of Eva,
she just likes to build separate towers.Eva trying to get the most out of the toys as possible.

Now I have to try to pack for our trip.

Merry Christmas

We started off with the Christmas Eve Book.
Very nice I highly recommend this one and watching the performance.

Then Santa stopped by
He put these in their stockings to remind them not to be naughty



We made them wait in our bed while
Daniel got them some juice and turned on the Christmas music



Eva Loves her little Kitchen

Alexander loves his new trainset
(I made the train table, sorry I didn't have a camera
when I did it it was super ugly and now its a train table,
Santa brought us a very nice new camera
that we are still trying to figure out)


Eva also loves the trainset


Opening gifts

The Stockings.

There. that was a Christmas morning SOOO much fun watching them love all their gifts and Alexander is skipping his nap today because he has a lot of playing on his schedule.
Merry Christmas!

Can you guess what new word Alexander learned today?

I will be laughing forever. Now Alexander wants to cover everything with ...

Christmas Time in the Reeves Household

We have really been enjoying the wonder Christmas season. These Santas just keep bringing fun things every morning. I can't remember the order but they brought dvds one morning and Eva and Alexander got to watch theirs. They brought books, play doe, a foot ball and a jump rope, slinkies and probably other things I can't remember. This morning was Santa's worse choice ever. Santa put recorders in the shoes. Thats right those plastic fake flute things. Let me tell you right now that being serenaded by a recorder at 630 in the morning is horrible. Especially when Alexander hops into bed with you and sits there serenading more and more right into your ear. Lesson learned on that one.

Daniel has been doing the living Christmas card with the missionaries each night. He is really enjoying it. He will be doing it each night up until the 23rd. They did it for us last night and Eva kept telling them bye and trying to slam the door in their faces. It was lovely and I am so glad Daniel can feel the Christmas spirit each day even with his hectic schedule.

Daniel's work Christmas party was Friday night so we got a sitter. We only seem to get sitters when Daniel has a work party. It was very nice and I must say they are very generous. It was at a Greek restaurant and delicious. Its not December without Christmas parties right?

At church yesterday I felt that strange wow life has changed just today feelings. They rarely happen for me. Things generally change on a more subtle gradual pace for me. We were sitting in Primary and they announced that Senior Nursery was going to join us. I saw my little Alexander march into primary with his class and it struck me that he is not my little toddler anymore he has graduated into primary. I loved being able to see his first time in primary. He was very quiet and it looked like he wasn't sure what was going on but he will do fine.

I told my little primary class that next week is our last class together and one of the little boys told me he was going to miss me and that I was a very good teacher. Words from a 5 year old. It was touching to say the least.

On Saturday I officially finished all of my Christmas sending and shopping. All I have left to do now is wrap and get things for Christmas dinner and stockings. Daniel and I are pretty excited for Christmas this year. The kids know what is going on and we are excited to see them get their gifts. Alexander is a very good gift receiver with all the WOWS and THANKS as loud as he can even if its a pair of socks. Anyway that is what has been happening in our household this last week.

Merry Christmas,

Pictures yay

Here are some pictures from the camera phone.


This is when they announced that Santa was in the house.
Alexander was so excited.
It was like his favorite movie star just stepped in the room.
He couldn't believe that Santa had come and was going to talk to HIM.

Eva and Alexander on Santa's lap.
This is the first time we have visited santa.
The picture kind of sucks but thats what we have.
I plan to make ornaments of each christmas, next year not this year.

This was the other day when we decided to make sugar cookies.
They have their own rollers and things.
They loved this.
Making their own cookies made them feel very special.

Eva eating cookie dough, she didn't like it after awhile.

Alexander showing us that the dough is stuck on his roller
and Eva putting the cookie cutter on her face.
(don't ask why because my guess is as good as yours)

I LOVE CHRISTMAS

I really love Christmas. We started the 13 santas 2 days early I think. I wanted Daniel to be able to see the kids faces in the morning, so I started early. They LOVE the things they are getting. Day 1 was snow globes, plastic ones Day 2 was little battery powered lanterns a santa and a penguin. Day 3 gloves, I know boring but Alexander thinks its a puppet and Eva just loves owning them. Eva especially loves this because she knows the items are hers. She won't let go of her things even to put clothes on. I have never seen her so fiesty.

This last weekend we had a lot of Christmas fun. On Saturday we went to our ward Christmas party at 9am it was a breakfast. Daniel got to sing in the living Christmas card. He got called to be a ward missionary and suggested they do the living Christmas card that he used to do on his mission. It was a hit and he is going with the missionaries every night this week. He is very excited.

They had a Santa clause at the end and Daniel kept telling Alexander to tell santa he wanted a train set and blocks for christmas and so Alexander kept telling me that was what he wanted and when it came time for Santa he lost all his nerve. He liked him though, no screaming there. We took some pictures on the phone but Daniel has the phone they are on so I will post pictures later.

Then we went home for naps for the kids. Later that day there was a Christmas parade. It was fun all the cars and trucks in the parade had lights on them. It gets dark at 5 here so it was perfect. The kids loved it and the parade people threw candy at us so the kids were in heaven.

Sunday was the best Sunday EVER. Eva started Nursery. She turned 18 months on Saturday so she was officially allowed in. Daniel has been going in with her for the 3rd hour to get used to it. She likes it much more than sitting with me in Primary. She did really well all by herself but she was crying at the end. Her nursery leaders said someone pushed her at the end so thats why she was crying nothing else. SO YAY. I think its every parents dream for their children to go into Nursery.

Alexander goes into Primary next year so that should be exciting. I am in junior primary so I will be able to help him if he needs to go to the bathroom or if he has a rough time. They are both growing up so fast. Church will become lovely with Eva in Nursery alot less stressful.

Anyway thats what has been happening so far this Christmas in the Reeves' Household.

Gratitude

I have been reflecting deep within myself on this last year for the past few days and I am really grateful for everything I have. We have come pretty far from where we were just a year ago and my heart is full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father. We have been blessed immensely through family and friends and the gospel and we are just so grateful. I have really been loving life. There are many ups and sometimes it seems even more downs but it all strengthens us and helps us to see the bigger perspective. I often let all the little things and big things get to me and at times that causes the feeling of desperation and a lack of faith. I have felt my lack of faith many times this last year and Daniel has been there to pick up the slack and in just a small amount of time it is restored. I am so grateful for the strength he brings to our family.

On Sunday I felt inspired to bare my testimony. This does not happen often. I usually sit there and take care of the kids and don't even look inside myself to see if the spirit is prodding me to get up ( a horrible habit I know ). I noticed hardly anyone getting up and it made me realize that everyone is probably having a rough time and that they just weren't feeling it (this is how I was feeling). Christmas time brings much joy but can often bring feelings of sadness, regret, nostalgia and even loneliness. So I got up, I didn't think I would uplift anyone I just knew that getting up would uplift my spirits which was what I needed. When I sat back down I felt an overpowering feeling that I am not perfect and its ok that I am not. I do not bare a perfect testimony, I don't tell funny stories or horrible stories or stories that make you cry but I shared my testimony with everyone in the room and most importantly with myself. The feeling that I am imperfect gave me great comfort. I get so overwhelmed with all the things I feel I should be accomplishing and I am not and it pulls me down and makes me feel as though I am not good enough and constantly falling short.

I was reminded that I am not perfect, non of us is perfect but this life is the time to strive for that. But the perfection we are striving for is so that we can be with our families eternally. I kept telling myself perfection was getting my to do lists all accomplished, trying to keep up with everyone in the world. Sunday made me re-realized that I need to live in the world not of the world. I need to trust Heavenly Father with my short comings. I feel good and I wanted to share the feeling.

Merry Christmas,

I've been Lazy

I am finally posting something. Great News yesterday we said goodbye to our Murano. I was a little shocked when it was gone and Alexander kept asking "wheres the car?" over and over (he knows the difference between the truck and car). I am so happy about it thought! I have been wanting it sold since Guam and now it is. Wohoo Merry Christmas to me.

I haven't felt like it is Christmas at all but yesterday did it for me. One of Daniel's co-workers was singing in a Christmas concert and invited us and it was wonderful! It was works from Handel's Messiah. They were so talented I couldn't believe it!! They ended with Hallelujah or whatever that powerful song is called and it was amazing! It reminded me that Christmas is about Christ and I was grateful for that message. We got all our Christmas shopping for the lil ones done! I am happy that is all over now we just need to do things to keep the Christmas Spirit in our home. We love our tree I feel likes its HUGE. Eva and Alexander take all the bottom ornaments off everyday so I try to reapply them at night but it is starting to look pretty naked at the bottom. Maybe they are hiding them.

We drove around last night to look at Christmas lights and Alexander LOVED it. Today we are going to go collect pine cones so I can finally finish my wreath. I feel like I have so many things to do before Christmas and then it will be here! I am waiting for my Christmas cards to get here. I ordered them online and can't wait to send them out. No Pictures because the camera is dead and buried. Sorry about that. Merry Christmas!!

P.S I am doing the 13 Santas this year for the first time. I have all my things ready I need to do some more research on the Santas names (if you don't understand its an Iceland tradition including shoes and treats and every morning 13 days before Christmas) If you have a good site for the 13 Santas please let me know.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with Jenny, Kathryn and Ralph. We were sad to see them go. Many of us got sick over the holiday but I think it was fun just being together. We are putting up Christmas Decorations today so we are excited about that. Here is a picture Ralph took of the kids while we went to the store. They really love each other.

Hi all

I haven't blogged in awhile. I have been so behind on life from being sick so I am still trying to catch up. I just wanted to post this hilarious picture I found on Unnur's Blog this morning. Enjoy! I will hopefully catch up on blogging in a few days. There are no promises though because my camera told me personally that it hates me and never wants to serve me again. I pleaded and beated it but nothing.

BYU vs UNM Football Game

We went to the BYU vs UNM football game yesterday and that is BYU fan section. Miriam was rooting for BYU along with the kids, I had to decide which fans I hated worse. There was one BYU fan who held up a UTES SUCK sign at the game so that almost made me root for UNM but I think all the UNM fans ticked me off more. This is why it is hard for me to root for BYU even when they are not playing Utah, why would a BYU fan bring the UTES sign to the game?

This is a picture of Bubba in his BYU fan gear.

This is a picture of Eva with her BYU shirt on

This is a picture of them together standing on the bleachers giving me a heart attack. This is all they wanted to do. Well Eva also wanted to share the drink and the nachos of the people sitting next to us. She kept walking over and looking in the drink. What a begger child. I am surprised she didn't say "peeze" to the lady. I half expected to look over and see eva drinking their drink.
This is after the game it really wore them out I guess. Bubba wouldn't wake up and Eva was so grumpy after we woke her up that all she wanted to do was go lay next to Bubba and sleep. Also you may notice Bubba's blankets are on the floor. Miriam went to get him one morning and found him with his blankets all on the floor and that is where he prefers to sleep now.

It is really fun to go to sporting events with Miriam, especially if you don't particularly care for either of the teams playing, she is the ultimate realist at sporting events. If you really like a team I wouldn't recommend going with her. When BYU scored a touchdown the cheerleaders would wave those big BYU flags. THen BYU kicked a field goal and Miriam missed it because she was watching the kids but she saw the flags waving and asked me if they scored a touchdown. I told her no just a field goal. She then asked me sarcastically if they were going to wave the flags every time BYU got a first down. Then when the game was getting close she kept telling me that BYU football always does this and it is aggravating because they are never consistent and that the fans should be used to this sort of thing. She also found it very amusing about the UNM fans who kept saying "Hey we might actually win this game". I am sure she has some thoughts about Utah's team and there fans but because she knows my allegiance to them she didn't share them. She is a very good wife when it comes to sports especially considering how crazy I get about certain teams. It was nice to go with her though because she kept making me laugh.

Daniel is a Denver Nuggets Fan

This was an awesome night. Not only did we beat the lakers but with this guy backing up Billups it is going to be a good season

This week

This is the kids this morning. We got new tires today and I am getting better finally. Oh and we got free tickets to go to the ByU NM game tomorrow.

Miriam

A recommendation

My sister in law Kristen Reeves recommended this book to me and I already recommended it to Melanie but I just wanted to say this is a great book. Go read it! I was laughing out loud so much. A very enjoyable light read. Very touching and it just made me happy to read it. So go check your libraries and try it out. I loved it.

Wednesday Wars; Gary D. Schmidt

Maybe its not funny to everyone else but certain parts just made me laugh so loud which doesn't happen with many books for me.

and the winner is...

I might have strep throat. I went to urgent care because of the short breath and feeling of suffocation all day long and especially at night and all the other symptoms. They took a strep test and it was negative so I guess thats a big maybe?? My tonsils are all swollen (no wonder its so hard to eat or drink all my water) and gross and white with pus. It doesn't explain the headaches and suffocation feeling. Oh well.

He prescribed Robitussin with codine and the infamous Amoxicillin. I say that because When Alexander was diagnosed with Asthma they gave him Amoxicillin. Then last month when Eva was sick for 3 weeks they prescribed Amoxicillin. It makes me wonder if its a catch all. I have seen it work so thats good. Hopefully I can breath again in a couple of days. I HATE being sick I just sit on the couch all day cause I can't breath. Blah I hope it goes away.

Miriam

This week in the Reeves household

I am sick.
I started to get pretty sick on Monday at 530pm and its slowly progressing to worse. I have been trying to keep a regular schedule and it just makes things worse. I have almost lost my voice now so I got a sub for primary. (don't want to get them all sick)

Daniel let me sit in bed ALL day yesterday and I just read. I couldn't sleep. Hopefully I will get better because being sick makes it so you can only do Yoga and stretching for exercise. Even that makes me have a fit of coughs. I think this is the longest I have been sick in a long time.

The kids have been good. Lots of Movies. We watched Elf and Alexander actually liked it. They fight and it makes me laugh still but I try to get them to share. Alexander will come take (insert item) from Eva, she won't fight for it long. Then a minute later she goes to him takes it out of his hand and says thank you. They are the most polite children. They start taking the books out of my shelf and say sorry (both of them) over and over while still doing it. Sorry is becoming my least favorite word. I hear it all day long with no stopping of bad behavior. Just a learning process I guess.

Got to go be sick all day again.

Have a great week. My to-do list is getting really big and so is my laundry pile :(

Miriam

Its that time of year!

Its totally time for Holiday planning. So I am trying to update my Christmas card list. Please email me your addresses if I don't already have them if you want to be on our Christmas card list from now until forever. Here is my email:

mktr1984 at gmail dot come

K thanks,

Miriam

Miriam's Tale of Working Out

I have started working out every day but my day off (Sundays for working out) for 20 minutes and I LOVE it. It makes me so much happier to work out. Here is an example:

Yesterday I got in a foul mood for some reason related to stress and mess etc and Daniel called and said he was on his way home. I was grumpy and he could tell so I hung up (I didn't hang up on him it was the end of the conversation). I was just about to start my workout I was even in my work out clothes and I worked out for the twenty minutes with my Fabulous workout playlist I had created and I was out of breath and all sweaty when Daniel got home but in the best mood EVER. I love the feeling I get when I work out all the endorphins and whatever else (I never did well in chemistry, biology or human anatomy) Its lovely. Even just a 20 minute work out helps. I would suggest everyone work out just a walk or whatever.
Here are some of the random things I do to work out because I don't have any equipment or a gym membership:

Chairs to start with for 3-5 minutes. You can laugh but these get your heart going fast. Get a chair and go up and down like its a stair with a timer on.
Then I jog around nonstop for 15 minutes. I love this one because I can listen to music and feel the burn

I did the hiit work out yesterday: 20 push ups, 1 minute jumping jacks, 20 quick crunches repeat 3 times then 20 push ups on a bench jumping jacks 20 crunches, then twenty backward push ups on a bench(these are HARD) then run in place 20 minutes then crunches then 20 punches (think taebo) run in place 1 min, 20 punches then run in place again 1 minutes then stretch.

Doesn't sound like much but it works and makes you all soar and happy the next day. I also do lunges with weights and just arm exercises with weights. Lots of Reps.

Oh and I can't work out without music. It just isn't the same. The music alone gets my heart pumping so I was going to post my workout play list:

Its really poppy and hip hoppy but thats the kind of music that gets my heart pumping and makes me want to move. I was researching music to work out to the the ones that always popped up were the Rocky song and all kinds of 80s music (I have nothing against the 80s) but it just doesn't do it for me. Oh and Metallica which I can't stand ( I know shame whatever) I don't like 80's rock but some people love it for working out. I say whatever gets you moving! Can you guys share your workout playlists with me? I am dying to find workout playlists because after a week of a playlist you just need something new because it gets repetitive.

Good Luck getting a work out it everyday. Of topic has anyone tried Yoga? I hear its delightful but I have never tried it.

Funny random fact on workout playlists: Rhiana the singer uses most of her OWN music in her workout playlist. That made me Laugh out Loud when I read that. She said it needs to me upbeat and make you want to dance. Um a little full of yourself? But I have her in my workout list so I can't talk.

Trick or Treating with the Reeves

I LOVE Halloween. We went trick or treating to a few houses and the kids loved it. Then we got home at 7 and I hoped and hoped and hoped for trick or treaters (we never get any) and we got some wohoo!! Then Eva saw the big bowl of candy on the printer for them she said "trick or treat" well in her own way "tree o tree"

Daniel and I wore our eye things, its the most we have dressed up well most he has dressed up since we have been married. I was an old fashioned golfer 1912 times our second year of marriage when he was in ohio.

Its Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween everyone.

I have heard of the coolest things to do on Halloween day such as:

Making black and orange scrambled eggs for breakfast with grave pancakes. (Lynsey Lake)

Making Halloween cookies, watching scary movies or childrens Halloween movies like casper and harry potter.

Having a Halloween feast with eyeballs and foods that look like Halloween fun (Kathryn Reeves)

Carving Pumpkins

Going Trick or Treating of Course (or trunk of treating)

and many other things.

What traditions do you guys do on Halloween?

I want to start my own and I am really blank on what to do.

Here is a giant pumpkin just to make your day bright!

I got the image from here

Time Out

Alexander misbehaves at times (gasp and shock) so he gets time out. I usually give a warning then a time out unless its really really bad then its straight to time out. Well for the last 2 weeks the two little ones have been taking all the books out of my bookshelves (the ones they can reach) I finally had enough (I gave many many warnings) and put him in time out. He tried to argue, "um no mamma no time out", "um yes Alexander mamma is right get in time out". He hasn't been in timeout for a week so he went and sat in time out (the end of the hall) and Eva is so loyal that she goes and shares the sentence. I don't put her in timeout yet because I don't see her learning from it yet. (Although when she is being bad I ask Timeout? and she starts to fake cry)

Eva helping carry the sentence of Time out

Saying Cheese and posing