Library : Home away from home.

So the library has become like a new best friend for me. They call me all the time now to let me know that a book I have on "hold" is now ready for pickup. Fun. It's like getting a package. I don't know which book it will be until I get there. Yes.... it is a little sad, I'm a "hold" hog. I always have 5 books on hold at a time because that is the limit. But the really sad part of this "hold-it" story is when I get a couple of books come in at the same time and I have to decide between them. It's like choosing between children. Seriously? No. But I can't read two books at once. I'm gifted, but not that gifted.

Soooo, I frequent there often. Kate and Clayre like to pick out a movie or two each time I go. No reading for them...just me...movies keep them busy while I am reading. Well they picked a VHS movie the other day, I think it was "Fly Away Home." Good movie. Clayre came home and put it into the VCR (yes, we still have one of those VCR's) and a minute later came downstairs hysterical saying that she broke the movie. I scolded her for interrupting my reading...but then told her she probably didn't break it and I would go check it out. It wasn't broken, yet. I actually broke the video trying to pry it out of the machine. I ended up having to take the VCR apart to get it out. No worries...I put it back together in working order, before Shayne could lecture me about how we are not made of money and buying a new VCR for $5 from DI wasn't in the budget this month.

But the video was still broken and could not be repaired. I didn't want to pay for a new video probably over $30 because Library's like to charge a lot for out-of-date VHS's. I thought of a better plan. AMAZON. I got online and found a "Fly Away Home" VHS for .... now brace yourself, .01, yes... 1 cent. I ended up paying just under $3 because of shipping. Nice work, Dais! And the best part is that it got here before the week was up, no need to renew. I just took the library stickers off of the old broken video and retaped them on the new one. Genius! A little devious. Yes. But dishonest? No, I'd like to call it Resourceful!

Yay Me?

So I bought a lunch bag for Parly a few weeks ago from a company called NY Built. I got a cute bag called a Munchler for only $9.99. It zips all the way around so you can also use it as a place mat. Cool. Anyways, they said that the bag would be shipped and arrive in 5-7 business days.

Over a week went by and no lunch bag. I was a little disappointed, so I emailed the company and just asked what was up and wondered when it would be getting here. Well an hour or so later I got a reply. The email said that the shipment was late and there was an influx of orders...they were sorry for the inconvenience and they would send another Munchler bag with the one I ordered. SWEET!

After reading the email I was excited and very proud of myself (for contacting the company and thus getting a free bag) that I called Shayne and told him the great news. It was also nice to hear him say, "Well done, dais, well done."

It wasn't more than a few hours later the FedEx came and dropped off a package. Who from? NY Built. Yay! But wait, now I won't get a free bag. Oh well. I opened it anyway and ....SURPRISE...two bags were there. Sooooo, I guess it wasn't because of me that I got an extra lunch bag after all. It was actually just because I was dealing with a great company. Oh well, that's okay...now we have something to give Clayre for her birthday.

Maggie's 1st Birthday

Maggie's first birthday came and went. It was July 23rd. She is obviously my 4th child, because we didn't do anything to celebrate the BIG day. "She won't remember it anyway," Shayne said.

But, I did feel a little guilty...so I just told everyone that we would celebrate her first birthday when she actually looks a YEAR old. Chuckle, chuckle. That will buy me some time....maybe even a year. It will be the first ever: 1st and 2nd year birthday celebration!

Here are some pictures of Maggie...between 5 and 12 months old. I know they look like they were all taken in the same month.... Don't ask me which picture was taken when, I'm only HER MOTHER.

I have an 8 year-old

So Parly Sue was baptized on Saturday. It was nice. We had lots of family there and even a few of her friends came, which was fun for her. The saddest part was Parly wasn't feeling well and had thrown-up the night before and then that morning. (Story of my life, right?) Well, we got to the church early and sat down when she said she thought she might throw-up again. We ran to the bathroom and just made it. I guess it turned out to be a good thing, because then she felt better and we didn't have to worry about it when she was actually being baptized.

It was really neat to watch her walk into the baptismal font from one side and her dad walk in from the other and then meet in the middle, both of them dressed all in white. Although I have to say that my favorite part was being able to go into the dressing room afterward and help her change back into her white church dress, just the two of us. I remember my mom doing that for me. Parly was then especially excited when she saw that she beat her dad out of the dressing room.

It's so amazing to me that I now have a child that is 8 and she has been baptized. I still remember my baptism. And this makes me realize more then ever that her memory of her childhood has already started. Scary. I better be on my best behavior from now on. Right?

Our Trip to Mesquite

Shayne won a two nights stay at a hotel in Mesquite, NV. (30 minutes drive from St. George). So a month ago, we went with some friends (another family that has two girls the exact ages of Clayre and Kate...how perfect is that!). It turned out to be a great trip. The first night we just hung out in our room and enjoyed being somewhere different. Then the next morning while the husbands went golfing....the wives with kids went swimming for hours, had a lunch break, and than swam some more. All the girls had a ball. Even Maggie enjoyed herself, thanks to the shallow kiddy area. Then it was back to the hotel room for some much needed nap time.... I think the kids fell asleep too. After dinner we went bowling. What else can you do in Mesquite? But it was a lot of fun! Again the girls loved it. And I loved it because it was inside and air-conditioned. After that we crashed in our room for one more night. Leaving the next morning was a breeze....it was so nice to only have to drive 30 minutes instead of 5-6 hours like most of our vacations.

Question: Is it just me or does it not matter if you are leaving for 1 night or 1 week, when you have a baby it looks like you've packed for a month?

Side-note: Parly is not in any of the pictures because she was in Logan (see her blog) with her cousin Lily and nana & papa. Perfect timing!

It feels like a Break-up!

So I just finished the final book, Eclipse last night. And now I don't know what to do with myself. It feels just like I broke up with someone and am not sure what to do or think about. These characters are just so vivid in my mind. I think I will just crawl into bed and wake up when the fourth book is out....next year. Sad!

This is actually embarrassing but I went to the Stephenie Meyer (the author of these vampire books) website and she had a chapter for a book she is thinking of writing called, Midnight Sun. It would be a companion book to the first book, Twilight....only written in Edward's voice (another character). Loved it! Although it made me a little sad only being able to read 1 chapter. I think I will call Stephenie and offer to babysit her kids so she can finish writing all these books for me. You don't have to tell me...I know...I've lost it!!!!

Well now that I am feeling a little blue I think I will go and watch one of my favorite shows at the moment. (DVRed it Monday night). The Closer. That always makes me feel better. And if your wondering what my children are doing while I am crazy about books and t.v. shows....that's a good question. I think some of them are in school....so at least those ones will turn out alright.

I am still here....really!

Okay, so I haven't posted anything for 1 month. Some of you probably have given up on me. Welcome back. Maybe you think I haven't been doing anything interesting so that's why I haven't written. Nope. On the contrary. I have been busy. And it doesn't help that besides my real life : kids, school, cleaning, cooking, running, etc. etc.... I have also been READING. (yes, siblings who have thought I was the illiterate one in the Reeder family). So blame these (and a few other books)......for not hearing from me for so long:



Don't start these books unless you can be prepared to put your REAL life on hold.

My Favorite Line Ever.....

So I decided that I need to get organized again when it comes to my meals. I hate figuring out what to make for dinner. In fact, I cringe every time one of my kids asks me, "What's for dinner?"
I also feel bad about my kids only having cereal for breakfast, mostly because of the guilt trip I get from my husband....cereal has lots of vitamins, right?
And then I also need to get more creative when it comes to snacks....instead of just sending the kiddos to the pantry for a granola bar (like cereal).

So here is my plan:
Breakfast-

• Mondays: scrambled eggs
• Tuesdays: pancakes (possibly with bacon---I don't want to get too ahead of myself)
• Wednesdays: cereal
• Thursdays: french toast (possibly with sausage--again a maybe)
• Fridays: cereal
• Saturdays: cereal or Shayne make something (I haven't talked to him about this yet, so it will probably just be cereal)
• Sundays: waffles

Lunch-

• Mondays: soup or Mac & Cheese
• Tuesdays: tuna fish sandwiches
• Wednesdays: deli sandwiches (that's just a fancy way of saying turkey or ham)
• Thursdays: pizza (the frozen kind-we like Totino's)
• Fridays: PB & Jam sandwiches
• Saturdays: hot dogs or deli sandwiches or Del Taco if Shayne's buying
• Sundays: toast

Dinner-

• Mondays: Mexican night (examples: enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, etc.)
  
• Tuesdays: Pasta dish (examples: spaghetti, lasagna, baked ziti, etc.)
  
• Wednesdays: omelets or leftovers (this used to be the breakfast for dinner night since I didn't make breakfast...but now...well see.)
  
• Thursdays: chicken , pork, or casserole dish (examples: Shepard's Pie, uhmmm..., etc.)
  
• Fridays: calzones, pizza, or burgers
• Saturdays: something grilled (or eating out without the kids would be nice!)
  
• Sundays: Roast or pork chops (definitely with homemade rolls....well the frozen dough.)

So, that's the plan. We'll see how long it lasts . I did just plan all my meals for a month. Hooray! No more planning for 4 more for weeks.

Shayne's B-day

So Shayne had his birthday yesterday. You may think that I am a horrible wife and that I forgot his birthday. Not this year (a story for another time). I purposely did not post this entry until after his birthday, see Shayne does not like to make a big deal about his birthdays. In fact, a perfect birthday to him would probably be just be like any other great day that includes: 18 holes of golf with friends and his new totally awesome golf bag, possibly a dinner out, definitely no fights with his wife and maybe even little something/something later, BUT most especially....a day without any mention of his birthday. Side note: Except from maybe his children ....another excuse for him to get kiss and hug.

Okay since it is not his birthday I can now safely say, "Happy Birthday, Shayne!" (I did say it to him yesterday, but not so everyone could hear...read.) Now I want to take this time to say how awesome Shayne is.

1. He could not be more funnier. Proof: his blog and Christmas cards
2. He is a great dad. Proof: I am devastated when he leaves for more than a few days, because I will miss him? No, well a little. But mostly because I won't have his help with taking care of the 4 little brats at home.
   
3. He is good at his job. And works hard when he's not....see #4
   
4. He plays hard. Enjoying golf...a lot.
5. He's smart. Proof: he can knock out those Sudoku puzzles in minutes and don't forget the good old crossword puzzles.
6. He has great taste in T.V. shows, movies, and music. Proof: an amazing music collection, also we enjoy most T.V. shows together: The office, 30 Rock, King of Queens, Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance, just to name a few... J/K on the last one.
7. Some say when it comes to spending money, he is stingy, thrifty, cheap, tight, maybe even a tightwad. But I will say he is frugal. Sometimes this trait is hard on ME...not always getting what I want, NOW! But his careful, penny-pinching, pocket preserving ways are what got us to where we are today. Living in a beautiful home in an amazing neighborhood, enjoying a great life... on a budget mind you, all because of his hard work and practical ways.
   
8. He is a great husband. Proof: for one thing he is very thoughtful MOST of the time...like when he surprised me for my birthday. And then for all the reasons I said earlier (see #1-#7). Shayne likes to tell me that I have it great, being married to him ... and maybe I don't like to admit it to him right then, because I would be agreeing and then he would win....But right now I will say it....YES, I DO HAVE IT GREAT BEING MARRIED TO SHAYNE!

So...Happy Happy Birthday!

Fun times in Logan

We just came home from spending 5 days in Logan. What fun! I love going back to Logan especially in the summer when it is 115 degrees here and climbing. We went to the park a lot, went to Bear Lake, and just played and played. Oh and ate lots of great food. Thanks mom and dad.

I also was able to see friends that live far away and I haven't seen for a couple of years. Now that was fun!!!!