Presenting.....

Our Family Home Evening Puppet Show!

Starring Ethan and Cole Reese

Post it on the blog

Ethan came up to me this afternoon and asked me to take a picture of his transformer. When I asked why he said that he wanted to "post it on the blog." Shawn just started laughing. I asked Ethan what a blog was and he replied that he "didn't know but that I always post things on it." So, maybe I spend to much time on the blog. Anyways, here is Air Raid as I promised I would post for Ethan.

The weekend has included the following:

5 boxes of girl scout cookies (3 of them are just for me, the Samoa's)


Two boys tearing all the leaves off the tree. When I asked what they were doing I was told, "we are just making a salad mommy."


Livy pooping all over the floor and then stepping in it and smearing all over the floor-disgusting!


Ethan informing Cole that your spirit lives in your tummy


Cole requesting to drink chocolate milk when he goes to heaven


Ethan asking a lady at The Children's Place why she had tattoos? AND, why she had a skull tattoo? He told her that skull tattoo's are for boys only!

Las Vegas + February = Perfect

This morning we went to the park and it was so nice. I am LOVING Las Vegas in February and not missing Utah with everything burried under the snow. Here are a few pics from our morning in the sun. I might have to get out the sunscreen already because Livy got her first little sunburn and she just couldn't get enough of the rocks!

My Realization

I had the wierdest realization this weekend- my husband is a doctor. I know that sounds dumb after all the years of schooling and thousands of dollars of debt you would think that I should know that already. But to me he has always just been Shawn, the husband, father, and best friend. Being just Shawn is no small task and he is amazing at being Shawn, but I have never looked at him as a doctor, maybe just my husband who knows a lot of medicine, but never Dr. Reese-doesn't that mean he is old or something? If someone says Doctor Reese I immediately think of Shawn's dad, who is a pediatrician, but not my husband. (don't worry I am not calling my father-in-law old, rather a young pediatrician who has aged well. I'm just trying to be a good daughter-in-law!).

If Shawn and I ever run into a friend while out shopping or eating or whatever else we do, it is always a friend of mine. We usually never run into any of Shawn's friends-probably because they never leave the hospital-much like himself. After we leave talking with that person Shawn always asks who it was. Well, on Saturday we were shopping and a lady eyed Shawn out and starting hollering "Dr. Reese, Dr. Reese". I was a little surprised, as this never happens to us (but always to Shawn's dad when we are out shopping with him), but it ended up being another doctor that he worked with at the hospital. She couldn't say enough good things about working with Shawn and what an amazing doctor he was, and it was then that I realized, my husband is more than just Shawn. He is an amazing doctor who people rely on and it made me so proud. On Saturday, I was the one who had to ask, "Who was that?"

Also, as for an update on the hive situation. I am taking three different pills every morning, and I think they are finally working. I didn't get hives last night or this morning. So, I guess now I just need to go and see an endocrinologist and get rid of this crazy thyroid of mine that is causing all this havoc in my body. I will have to drink some radioactive iodine that will kill my thyroid. They even say that I should not breath on anybody for a few days after I drink the medicine because it will be radioactive (and I will even have radioactive pee for the few days after). Maybe they should just lock me in a metal room. Just shove a few books in there and I would be so happy for the peace and quiet. Or I should just go hang out with my mom and sister who have already swallowed the posion. Either way, things are getting better!

Cole vs. the Mannequin

Today while doing some shopping I strapped Cole into the stroller in hopes to avoid a disaster. He didn't get loose and run through the store-as usual, but he did manage to wrestle with a mannequin and pull off his arm. Shawn and I were so embarrassed. We just put the arm on the ground and immediately left the store, laughing all the way. I think we will wait a while before going back to that store!

Maycee Jo Reese

My twin sister, Jamie, had her baby yesterday. It is killing me being here in Las Vegas and not with my new little niece, but I will have to wait a few more weeks until we get to Utah. Here are a few pictures (that cute kid in the bottom picture with Maycee is my brother, Mike). Hopefully soon I can get some good pictures, these are just from a cell phone. Congratulations Jam and Kev-we love you guys!

I've got Hives

A few years ago Shawn and I lived in the Caribbean on the island Dominica. It was beautiful like you would expect the Caribbean to be, but this island was not modernized at all. Life was simple and peaceful and the culture was very friendly and full of life (and music-think Sean Kingston), but there were downsides also. Many of you have heard stories about this experience and how it resembled a third world country. We lived in a small little shack (not actually a shack, but compared to here it was nothing), I washed our laundry in the kitchen sink and then hung it dry, cooked with a propane tank and burner, walked everywhere on dirt roads with Ethan in a jogging stroller, made own bread and all the food from scratch for that matter, survived earthquakes, and many tropical storms (almost a hurricane), and many more fun things. One more thing that was not modernized was the medical care. Shawn almost died the first time he saw an autoposy on that island with a chainsaw! The healthcare was poor at best and not a place you want to be getting sick. One day I started getting hives on my body. They started on my legs and then each day they would progress until finally they covered my whole body. For several months every morning and every evening I would get hives from head to toe. It really started freaking me out because they were all over my face and in my mouth. I was worried that at any minute they would cover my throat and I would stop breathing, and Dominicia was the last place that I would want that to happen. Calling 911 wasn't an option, neither was reliable quick health care. Needless to say we prayed ALOT. Finally we were able to come home to Utah. I saw a bunch of specialist people and somehow they deteremined it was my thyroid that was causing the hives-it was some kind of antibody that my thyroid was putting out that my body was allergic to (or something like that). So after several different medicines the hives went away. I haven't had a hive for about three years, but for some reason they are back. The past three days I have started having hives again. They haven't taken over my body, but in three days they have progressed. Thank goodness for Benadryl right now, but it looks like I will be heading back to the doctor.

Morning Yoga

I came downstairs this morning to find the boys doing Yoga. No, they usually don't do this in the morning, but for some reason Shawn was watching a Yoga exercise program and the boys thought they were so funny. Ethan and Cole actually do like to exercise with me, but this was too cute. Althought I think they both need to work on their downward facing dog-especially Cole!

Special Cake

This is the special Valentine cake the kids and I made for Shawn. We figured that since he spent the last two days on call at the hospital and wasn't even home for Valentines Day we would surprise him with his favorite cake (yellow cake with chocolate frosting), but the M&M's are a new addtion by Ethan and Cole and I am not sure what Shawn will think about that.



This is Livy's new spot to hang out. She just can't get enough of the garbage and daily empties it all over the floor. And Liv has welcome a new ear infection with much crankiness!


Ethan keeps asking for Green Eggs and Ham for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I told him that he has to wait until St. Patricks day and then we can make it for Daddy (but I think Shawn would rather we made it without him because the sight of that just might make him die).

The kids and I went swimming yesterday and a man walked past with a tattoo. Ethan pointed and said, "Wow, he must be strong." When I asked him why he thought that he said, "because he has a tatoo." So I guess in the eyes of a four year-old having a tatoo makes someone strong.

Cole was taking a nap today and while he was sleeping Ethan took a Spiderman stamp and stamped all over his face. When Cole woke up he had no idea why everyone was laughing at him.

And one more moment from the past few days. The kids made the biggest mess with all their toys and I told Cole that he needed to go pick them up or I was going to throw them away. Cole immediately went into the toyroom so I thought my threat had worked. But a few minutes later I went to see what he was doing and he was saying goodbye to all his toys. "Goodbye toys, have a nice day."

That is about it for the past few days and now I get to enjoy my husband home for three whole days!

Monumental Occasion

I just needed to document that last night Ethan ate BROCCOLI! Yes, I know I can hardly believe it, but it gets better. After his first helping he asked for seconds and even thirds. And then this morning for breakfast he asked for more broccoli. I don't know what has gotten in to him, but I love it. Ethan's diet usually consists of just a few things-peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, toast and cereal, and anything dairy(cheese, yogurt, ice cream, chocolate milk, etc.). So this is great improvement!

Valentine Party

Today for playgroup we had a Valentines Party for the kids. We had a great time and came home with candy to last us for a week (unless I get a hold of it-then it will only last a day or two)

Here is Livy's enjoying her sucker!

We decorated cookies, but my kids just ate the frosting.

We made treat bags for all the goodies, but my boys just wanted to play. Here is Cole attempting to color for a second.





The boys checking out all their treats. They made a good haul and were very proud of themselves!

Just a little detour

Today after church we took a little detour. As if chasing my kids all day by myself during church wasn't enough, we needed one more adventure. We were on our way home and Ethan started screaming. When I finally got him to calm down he told me that he had to go pee, RIGHT NOW! Well, we had just left church and were still about 10 minutes away from home. So I pull over to the closest place, which happened to be CVS Pharmacy. I thought for sure they would have a bathroom. So I drag all the kids out of the van and into the store with Livy in one arm, and Ethan and Cole hanging on the other. After we walk around for a minute I finally found an employee and asked where the bathroom was. She replied that their bathroom is not for public use. You have got to be kidding me. Really, I am just a crazy mom dragging around three kids can we PLEASE use your bathroom. But she was firm and would not let us use the bathroom. She said that we would have to walk down to the otherside of the parking lot and use Albertson's bathroom. So, that is what we did. I am sure we were an odd site. This crazy lady in her high heels walking around the parking lot of Albertson's with her three kids. Anyway, once we got in there I realized that this was not a nice Alberton's or a very good place to be with my kids. Not a great part of town I guess. So we quickly took care of our business and then basically ran back across the parking lot into the van. After all that I really think Ethan could have just waited until we got home, or maybe I should have just let him pee his pants...oh well! When we got home I asked Cole what he learned in Nursery he said, "We learned about Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner." Hmmmm, maybe I should check the nursery curriculum. Last time I checked they weren't teaching about Pirates of the Caribbean.

I am officially a Nevada resident

I did it, I am officially a Nevada resident. While my parents were in town these past few days I took the opportunity (free babysitters) and went Friday morning to the DMV. This was my second attempt at getting a license and it was successful. I arrived about 45 minutes before it opened early that morning and there was already the beginning of a line. I was number 15 in line, but it was totally worth it because as soon as they opened the doors I was in and out of there so quickly. At first the lady didn't believe that I was over 25 (if you are 25 and younger than you have to take the test), but when I showed her all my papers she had proof. Also, remember how last time they needed my marriage certficate, well this time they didn't even ask for it. Maybe that is because I had my passport also, but I was so mad. The electronic signature bar wasn't working well when I was trying to sign my name on the license and the guy kept telling me to do it over and over again. About the sixth try I finally told him that I didn't care what it looked like and that I just wanted my license. He laughed, but handed me my license. The signature looks pretty much like chicken scratch, but really-who cares!

Ewey Gooey!

What else are you supposed to do for the Family Home Evening activity with a house full of boys(and one sweet little princess)?

Slime Recipe

1. Mix together 3/4 cup warm water, 1 cup glue and several drops of green food coloring in the first bowl.

2. In the second bowl, mix together 4 teaspoons borax and 1 1/3 cups warm water.

3. Pour the contents of the first bowl into the second, but don't stir. Let it sit for 1 minute, then lift the now-congealed slime out of the bowl.

4. Divide slime so that each child has a piece to play with. The glue in slime can make it stick to certain fabrics. To minimize accidents, give each little monster a zip-top bag to store it in.

Do NOT swallow bubble gum!

A friend sent me an email with this picture and the following warning:

GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING:

DO NOT SWALLOW BUBBLE-GUM !!

I think this picture is so funny. My mom used to always tell me not to swallow gum, now I know why!