Reese Family

10.31.2010

We've been gone

Just got back from a quick little trip to Utah. Lot's of pictures, little sleep, and lots of candy. It was a great trip. I'll get more pictures up tomorrow after the kids go to school, but here is one for now of Ethan relaxing on Grandma's deck with the newest Lego magazine.

10.18.2010

Chicago

We spent the weekend in Chicago. I wish I could say it was a leisure trip, but it wasn't. Shawn had to take the Pediatric Boards. For the past three years Shawn has been studying for this BIG exam. Shawn survived, but barely, testing for eight hours straight is exhausting. He is recuperating on the couch right now. The kids and I decided to go spend the weekend with him (we had to pay for the hotel either way so we might as well make good use of it). When Shawn checked in, the front desk lady felt bad that we were all cramming in one room and upgraded us to a suite for free. The perks of having a large family (outside Utah three kids is a large family). When fellow physicians or residents find out that Shawn is married with three kids their jaws drop and they can hardly believe it. Then they usually ask him if he is crazy and most of the days I think he agrees with them. But due to the largeness of our family we got to stay in a nice suite!!

We spent the time swimming and roaming around Chicago looking for parks to hang out at. We didn't do any of the touristy things because I wasn't totally confident in my ability to get us around Chicago without Shawn. But with a little help from my GPS we found some great parks, met lots of nice Russian immigrants, and I successfully completed two parallel parks on big city roads (I was so proud).

Last study session the night before

And the kids enjoying a movie.

I didn't even take any fun Chicago pictures, but hopefully we will make more trips down to Chicago since we live so close.
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10.17.2010

Jack-O-Lanterns

Just for fun a little Fall video of the kids. I'm no expert at making videos, but I really like to do it because it captures more of the kids personalities. I hope when they are old and gone they will watch these videos and appreciate the bond they have with each other.

10.15.2010

Pumpkins

Next, come the Jack-o-lanterns.
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10.13.2010

Growing Up

My kids are growing up too fast. While I am way excited to see what great little people they turn out to be, I miss when they were little. Ethan and I almost have the same size of feet. Next year all my kids will be in school. ALL of them! I know, it's sad and crazy. So, I really am trying to enjoy them while I can. And sometimes that means I totally neglect my housework and just play. Let's be honest, that really isn't too hard for me :) On Tuesday and Thursday after I pick Liv up from preschool we like to go do something just the two of us. Usually it's practical things like grocery shopping, but last time I packed lunches and we just stopped at a random park. It was such a beautiful fall afternoon and Liv was just the perfect company.

Also, totally unrelated, we have the nicest neighbor. He is an older man and he trims his lawn with kitchen sheers (I'm not kidding, it takes him several days). He has an amazing garden and brings me things from it like wonderful heirloom tomatoes, or lettuce, green onions, etc. Last night he brought me a homemade apple pie. He used his grandmothers recipe and it was delicious. I love midwestern hospitality and nice neighbors :)

10.11.2010

Things I don't want to forget

Just a list of some random things that I don't want to forget.

We made these the other night. They were messy, but oh so good!

Back during the summer I started making up stories to tell the kids each night before bed. I always stopped at a really suspenseful part in the story and made them wait until the next day to hear what happened. Our recent story was one with purple magic beetles. It's my dad's fault really, he is the one who always told me these kind of crazy stories when we were on road trips. The boys LOVE the stories, in fact they beg for them every night. I also try to read actual stories with the kids. We recently finished Charlottes Web and I just started the Boxcar Children (which Shawn keeps calling the Indian Children because sometimes he is just a dork like that:))

It was my week to teach preschool last week.

I volunteer in the library at the boys school on Thursday (with Cole's class) and Friday (with Ethan's class). It has been fun and I really love to see my kids at school with their friends.

Shawn and I made the dreaded trip to the DMV. We are now officially Wisconsin residents. When we were checking in the lady asked me if I was from Utah. I was confused and wondered if I should know this person, but she continued to tell me she could tell by my accent. We've lived outside Utah for almost 8 years and no one has ever told me that I had a Utah accent until now. I wonder what a Utah accent sounds like??

We are on the countdown until Shawn's boards. In a few days we will head down to Chicago for the big exam! The kids are I are coming along and we plan to stay in the hotel and swim all day and jump across the beds. I will be so glad (and Shawn will too) when the test is over. Lots of STRESS, STUDY, and COKE!!

The boys are in swimming lessons again. They love swimming. The classes are held at the middle school and parents can't watch, so I just drop the boys off at the locker room door and pick them up 40 minutes later. It is kind of weird to just leave them, but they seem to be having fun.

Liv and I have been spending lots of time at the Fabric store (that's my latest obsession, sorry Shawn!) Today another customer in the store came up and asked me if I was a Designer. I must look like I know my way around a fabric store or something. After proclaiming that I'm not a designer we talk for a while and I gave her my advice, but who knows if it was good or not. But I do have lots of great projects/crafts/sewing things in mind.

Liv has been cutting all her dolls hair off (with Cole's help). At first she just gave them all bangs, but now they are all bald! I guess it is better than cutting her own hair off.

Cole had his first school field trip and bus ride to the Neiman Markets. I kept thinking his teacher said they were going to Neiman Marcus for a field trip and I thought that was weird. Turns out the Neiman Markets are a nice big apple orchard.

The boys are into painting things. Recently they painted their light savers, Nerf guns, and frisbees. So tonight for FHE I actually bought them something they are supposed to paint. We don't have too many halloween decorations so I thought a halloween craft would be fun.

Ethan named his "the dragon of death", Cole's is "the rainbow soldier", and Liv named her's "Wendy the witch."

Tonight the kids all got their flu shots and then after we took them out to Five Guys for dinner because we are cool like that :) But none of my kids like french fries. I think that is crazy, isn't that usually the thing that all kids will eat??

And I think I'll end this post with a recent picture of the kids. I think I just might have to frame this one.