Spring Break Re-Cap

Spring Break came and went and now everyone is back in the saddle again. I feel like it has been forever since I checked in but that's what happens when husband and children are home all week sucking all the free time out of your days! But you'll find no complaints from me about it. Todd was home all week while Kyler was on vacation and it was a huge treat for us. Slightly weird at times to have him here but definetly worth it. It was also a unique vacation because it was the first one where we didn't have any big plans to keep us busy. No weddings to attend, no Disneyland trips, no family reunions....just US the whole week.

The one place we did go to was Leavenworth. Just the 4 of us on a couple day trip. That is a first for us. We were able to get a few days at the Worldmark Condos that my Aunt belongs too. It was such a nice place and an extremely low price. (Bonus!) 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, fully stocked kitchen, deck...everything you need! And the extra bonus.....no funky hotel smell.

The view from the deck included a beautiful snowy mountain and some deer grazing in the grass

The weather was everything from pouring down rain to sunny skies.

And yes even snow!

But somehow things worked out. It rained outside while we were playing games inside and having family time

And then it was like the stars where aligned for us because as soon as we set out to go shopping the sun came out and showed its beautiful self!

I had never really been to Leavenworth in the winter. There wasn't as much to do and some of the shops were closed but miniature golf was available and to my boys....that is all that matters!

And just for the record.....I won!

We visited the Cheesemongers shop. This little hole in the wall shop down some steep stairs. They let you try anything and the people are really friendly. Of course we found something to buy. We are huge cheese lovers over here. We fell in love with this special type of aged Gouda cheese. I can't remember the name but it was $16.50 a lb!! Yikes! Needless to say we only bought a 1/2 a lb and its being savored as we speak

Our one huge splurge for the trip was having dinner at one of the German restaraunts. I have been waiting for months to come back and have some Jagerschnitzel. Its not cheap though. Lets just say our dinner cost more then the price of our two night stay in the condo! But it was ooooohhhhh so good. So good that I forgot to take a picture! I was so bummed that as I finished cleaning my plate...*slurp...burp*.. I remembered that I wanted to take a photo and share with everyone the wonders of Jagerschnitzel. Well if your curious then I guess you can google it

On the way home we encountered snow but since we were in Todds car it was no big deal. The boys slept and I was busy distracting the driver with my camera!

We also stopped at the little Wayside Chapel on the way home. Many years I have driven past it but never actually stopped. We had the time so we thought...what the heck!

The rest of the week consisted of just hanging out with each other. No real big exciting plans. Movies, taking walks, going to church, playing games, working in the yard, going to the mall.. The kind of stuff that people with normal jobs and schedules do all the time. But we have to be on vacation to do all these things!

We have a dog!

For what seems like forever, the kids have been begging and begging and begging to get a dog. I have always been the bad guy because I always say no...not right now. But I am the one that would most likely be taking care of it, feeding it, training it and cleaning up its crap. So, of course I should have the final say in all of this.

Well.....We finally broke down and got ourselves a dog!!!!!

Let me introduce you to Biscuit

He is the worlds greatest dog! So well behaved and already trained

There is no hair to be vacuumed up

No poop to pick up

No food to be bought

He knows around 7 commands

Biscuit only talks when spoken too

So far no problems with fleas or body odor

Its great that Kaden is not afraid of him

The cats are thankfully not bothered by him

And my favorite thing about the dog????

When your done....just turn him off and stick him in the corner!

That's my kind of dog!!

This is where I finally say it!

When I started this here blog of mine, I envisioned it to be a place I could share my thoughts, feelings, memories and stories. And its really been great so far! I have been able to document things about my children so I can look back and never forget. And of course I want everyone to read it and catch a glimpse into my world. When I started this I knew I wanted to be very open about what goes on. And I feel like I have been so far.....except for one thing. You see there is this one thing that has really shaped who I am as person. This one thing that makes me want to live my life in a way that everyone will look at me and say to themselves....."I want to know what she knows" But so far this one thing as been very unspoken....an elephant in the room....a bush that's being beaten around. The most important thing that has happened in my life and I have been bashful to talk about it. And its not that I am ashamed. That's the furthest thing from the truth because in all reality I want to shout it from the roof tops! I have whats called "my story" and I love to share it but....I am afraid there are some people who don't want to hear "my story". And that is what holds me back. I hate making waves! And I am afraid waves may be made.

But of course we ALL know what I am talking about! I am talking about the fact that I was once a Mormon and now I am not....I consider myself a Christian...there I said it! I have spoken it....the elephant has been let outside and I am done beating that darn bush. This is who I am and why should I hide who I am?

Why am I bringing all this up now? Hmmm...I don't really know. Maybe because I am an adult and I can say whatever the heck I want to. Take it or leave it.....Like it or not....Be my friend or don't! Speaking of friends.......

Even though I am not of the Mormon faith and I wasted a lot of my life believing the wrong things, there is one thing I don't have any regrets about.....my friends! I had the best friends and the best time growing up with them. We had so much fun and made some really great memories. And that is something I will never regret. And because of Facebook (aka the best invention in the world!) I have been able to get in touch with some of my old friends that I haven't talked to in a long time. Its been alot of fun catching up with everyone. Just this last weekend I was able to get together with some of them to celebrate a wedding.

It was funny how much everyone has changed but yet still stayed the same. It was huge decision for me to even go. In someways I knew it would be uncomfortable (and sometimes it was) but I really wanted to see them. Especially these people...

They are who I saw at seminary every morning at 6 am....who I went to dances with....who I hung out with at various peoples houses. Of course there are alot of people missing from this picture but unfortunately they weren't there that evening. Even though I don't have the same beliefs as they do anymore and we can never be as close as were...I still love them. I still pray for them and I still wish them every happiness in the world!

And "My Story"?? Well, it will be told...but not today. It's long and I need to write it out so I can make sure it comes out perfect and the way I want it too. So stay tuned if you want to read about the best thing that's ever happened to me! (besides Todd)

He woke up at 6:30 this morning!

This was our conversation in the car on the way home from the grocery store.

Kaden: "No ma, I not take a rest!"

1 minute later...."I not go to sleep"

3 minutes later..."Not go home and take a rest"

5 minutes later...."I not sleepy ma!"

8 minutes later.....

What was it that you said son?

And I love that still at 3 yrs old, his hands curl up like a little baby when he sleeps

Checking In

Its been awhile since I have had a something post-worthy to write about. Absolutly nothing has been going on . My days are filled with...

*Cleaning up the house,

*Trying in vain to get Kaden to poop in the potty

*Trying in vain to change the shape of my body

*Robbing Peter to pay Paul

* Wishing my hair was still blond

*Spending way to much time on the computer

This pretty much sums up my day. Really, I am telling the truth. Nobody wants to here about the mundane things in the Reynolds life...heck I don't even want to hear about it and I'm living it!

We did go to the beach the other day thinking we would fly some kites but when we got there, the air was freakishly still. We still had a nice time though, just getting out of the house.

Did I ever tell you that Todd went to school for photography? Did I ever mention that 99% of the pictures you see have been taken by me. Why is that? Because everytime Todd gets a hold of the camera he takes THESE kinds of pictures....

My butt

Some wierd log sticking up in the air

I think these are bolts of some kind...from somewhere

lights

I am thinking he likes the patterns here. Maybe I just don't get it because I am not an artist. Todd is an artist...we have $40,000 in students loan for proof!

This is our traditional self portrait of the 2 of us. Sometimes I wish we had our very own paparazzi. Someone else to hold the camera and take our pictures.

Kaden really believed that he was fishing. 3yr olds are so much fun (most of the time)

Once I really got to thinking about it.....

It may seem like there isn't really anything going on in my life right now....

But all I really need is the LOVES of my life!!

Giving Up Chocolate

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and

shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.

I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked,

'If I give you this money, will you buy chocolate with it instead of dinner?'

'No, I had to stop eating chocolate years ago', the homeless woman told me.

'Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?' I asked.

'No, I don't waste time shopping,' the homeless woman said.

'Ineed to spend all my time trying to stay alive.''

Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?' I asked.

'Are you NUTS!' replied the homeless woman. I haven't had my hairdone in 20 years!''

Well, I said, 'I'm not going to give you the money.

Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight.'

The homeless Woman was shocked.

'Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that?

I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting.'

I said, 'That's okay.

It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up chocolate, shopping and hair appointments!

Here comes the snow again........

Because Mother Nature didn't think we had enough snow for the year!

Yep....that's 4 inches of snow your seeing
When is the insanity going to stop???

When is Spring going to show her face around here?

I need some good ole vitamin D

We've an outlaw in these here parts

I'm a sneaky outlaw

I love my success

I've never been caught

I'll never confess

I'm a sneaky outlaw

You best run

I'm the meanest guy around

And I'll use my gun

I'm a sneaky outlaw

I'll shoot ya'll down

You best run

When I'm in town!