Nutcracker

 Ryan took the girls to the Nutcracker this year......and boy, was it exciting! From what I gather, the fact that it was on Friday the 13th seemed to really shake things up bit.  They went with a group of friends and family and started the night off by getting separated at the Bart station.  A few of the kids and one adult managed to get on the train before the doors closed......and then it was adios.  (Thank goodness at least one adult scooted on!) The others watched the train pull away without them!  Kendri was one of the 3 kids that got on and she said she was a little worried (I think there may have been some sniffles involved).  But then they started to play a game and she was fine after that.

They managed to regroup in San Francisco and it was off to the ballet!  During the first half of the show, the fire alarm went off and everyone had to evacuate.  After hanging around outside for 30 minutes or so, they let them come back in.  I think someone was playing a prank.

But even with the added excitement, the kids all had a great time! It's a fun tradition.

There was obviously some time to kill during the evacuation........great time for picture taking!

Happy Thanksgiving

We spent a few days up in Angels Camp celebrating Thanksgiving.  Who wants to make it a one day holiday anyway??  We played card games, went on hikes, watched movies and just relaxed.  Here we are teaching the older girls how to play Skip-bo.  It was a hit!

These are our little hiking buddies.  They did a great job making it to the "waterfall".  Except there hasn't been any rain so there wasn't really a waterfall. How disappointing!

Oh well.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Gobble, gobble!

Happy birthday to Moi!

I turned 34 this year!  I dare say I cross into my mid 30's next year.....how did that happen??  I woke up to these little schweetie-schweetie's making me breakfast first thing in the morning.  I had no idea what they were up to!  They surprised me by bringing up a banana pancake just as I was getting up.  For it being a school day, they sure were on top of things!  

Later that afternoon I was surprised to see my nephew Reese show up at the door with an envelope for me.  Apparently the spa was awaiting me and my tense muscles.  Really, it was the best massage ever and my poor shoulders needed a good work over!  After that I headed to my "surprise dinner".  The family was waiting for me at Texas Roadhouse where we partied!  Because I was showered with gifts and desserts at the restaurant, I saved my angel food cake for the following day when I could actually enjoy it!  

And unfortunately this is the only picture I have of the cake.  Oh well.  Here's to another year!  

Happy Halloween!

We decided to be a family of superheroes this year for Halloween.  It took weeks to come to that conclusion.  Weeks.  And even then we didn't have everyone on board.  Which is why we also have a ninja.  I assume ninja's are superheros in their own way.

This was the first year the kids were able to wear costumes to school.  The kids had a blast and it took me back to my childhood memories when we would have a costume parade at Parkview elementary.  This is Kendri during her costume parade!  It was fun to see all the kids in their costumes.

And here is Shayli on Halloween night.  We were ready to trick or treat by 5:30.  That's what we are used to. Start early and end early and everyone is happy.   But this year we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  We kept looking outside for trick or treaters and they were no where to be found!  Finally when it was dark they started to come out.

We joined the cousins over in Redbridge to trick or treat for the rest of the night.  We came home with bags of candy. And here was our pumpkin carving......a little out of order, but oh well!

Happy Birthday Pa!

The fun thing about living closer to family is all the parties we get to have!  Rodger had a birthday in October and the grand-kids showered him with gifts.  He loved every minute of it!

Happy Birthday Pa!

Pumpkin Patch

We made it to the pumpkin patch early this year. We were invited to join some friends on a Monday evening for FHE.  It was great because we had the place to ourselves!  It's one of those places that have lots of activities.  We were able to have some fun races on the bike track.

And we walked through the pumpkin patch.  We weren't quite ready to go pumpkin picking just yet.....

And who can resist these cutouts??

Say cheese!

It may not look like it, but Shayli was a fierce competitor on the trike.  After I started standing on the back and pushing.  We made great time!

Happy Fall!

Kyson's Football and Bribery

Flag football is officially underway.  Kyson is playing on the 4-6 year old team with his cousin Carson.  They are having a blast.....I think.  Okay I'll admit it, there are days when Kyson does not want to go to practice.  And there are practices that I have to threaten him with the unimaginable to make him get off the playground and go back and listen to his coaches.  But overall, I'd say it's an improvement from T-ball. (Something I like to think of as Torture-ball.)

 Anyhoo, Kyson's team has been doing awesome and actually winning all of their games.  Which is a nice change for this Reese family.  I'm pretty sure we've never been on the winning team.  For any of our sports.  It's kinda fun.  And takes me back to my competitive days and reminds me why I like to win. ;)

Kyson has scored two touchdowns so far.  He loves it.  He feels special.  And it's exciting for us as the parents!  He's the littlest and youngest on the team so it's fun to watch him outrun (barely!) the boys chasing him.

The other day Kyson came to me with a fistful of money and shoved it in my face.

"Here, mommy.  Take my money."

me: "I don't want your money.  I have my own. You keep that in your piggy bank."

Kyson: "No, really mama.  I want you to have it.  All of it."

me: "I'm not taking your money."

Kyson: "YES! I want you to.  I owe you money."

Me: "For what?"

Kyson: "For my badness.  I owe you money for my badness.  Because I've been bad."

Me thinking: Hmmm.  He's right.  Maybe I should take his money and teach him a lesson. "Okay fine. Give me your money."

Kyson nodding his head solemnly: "Yeah mama.  Take it.  And I have more.  LOTS more.  For when I'm bad again."

Me, starting to realize where this was going: "Ahem.  Kyson (insert meaningful mother stare down) You know you can't be bad on purpose and then just give me money.  It doesn't work that way.  You can't pay your way out of trouble."

Kyson, eyes darting around.  "Ummm, yeah."

I still took the money.  Someone needs to teach that boy a lesson and I hope this one sticks.  But probably not.  Orneryness is hard to get rid of.......just ask his dad.  ;)