In Case You Call...

Hate to tell you, but this is likely if you call...

Little Miss & Mr. Liberty

Today our neighborhood hosted an early 4th of July celebration, complete with parade and festival! Getting up early, Kate and I took careful pride in decorating the ol' Radio Flyer with anything and everything RED, WHITE, and BLUE we owned. Feeling very satisfied with our results, we then dressed in our most Patriotic of outfits and drove down to the pool area where we thought the parade was to begin. After practicing our march around the pool area, where Kate pulled Ashton in our float for everyone to see, we were informed the parade actually ENDED at the pool and we'd better hurry down to the other side of the neighborhood where it was starting! So, after hastily scooping up a toddler in each arm, we drove to where the parade was in progress, pulled over to the side of the road, unloaded each little one and ended up bringing up the rear of the parade. Ashton was so excited to be in the "Horrary-de" as he called it, and marched with knees high right in front of the police car that had lights flashing. While the 90*+ weather began to wear first Ashton down, then Kate, they both ended up riding in the wagon with the previous only passenger - Baby Doll. I sweated it out pulling everyone up the gia-normous hill and coasted to the pool house. We each chose a hot dog from the vendor and Ashton helped himself to a red iced cupcake and made sure to bring Kate a blue one. With both children a mess from the icing, we hurried over to the bathrooms to wash up. Just as we were coming out of the bathrooms we were just in time to hear "Ashton & Kate Reid, winners of the parade float contest!" I was so proud of them as everyone told us how great we looked and how cute the float was. And to think, I almost didn't go since Paul was working and I rarely take the two into public alone! I am so excited that Ashton's therapy is helping with this and, while the dj was playing the music loud and it made Ashton a bit overexcited, all-in-all it was a great time!

Gavin Photo Show

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Currently Reading/Watching/Doing

I think this is the least I can do between times when the writing bug hits:

• Currently Reading:
• Growing a Girl: Seven Strategies for Raising a Strong, Spirited Daughter by Dr. Barbara Mackoff (excellent!)
• Taming the Spirited Child: Strategies for Parenting Challenging Children Without Breaking Their Spirits by Michael Popkin, Ph.D. (recommended by Ashton's old Occupational Therapist who we loved)
• From Difficult to Delightful in Just 30 Days: How to Improve the Behavior of Your Spirited Child by Jacob Azerrad, Ph.D
• The EVERYTHING Parent's Guide to the Strong-Willed Child: An authoritative guide to raising a respectful, cooperative and positivve child by Carl E. Pickhardt, Ph.D
  Currently Watching:
• The Painted Veil (Naomi Watts & Edward Norton) - 2007. Just got it from the library, looking forward to checking it out. {No pun intended}
• Flipping Out (Bravo) - The 2nd season just started and I LOVE this show!!!
• So You Think You Can Dance - Kate and Ashton love watching this too!
• The Courtship of Eddie's Father (Ron Howard) - 1963. I can't stop wondering if people really dressed as formally as this move portrays they did back then. I mean, really, kids wore ties to SCHOOL?????!!???
  Currently Doing:
• Gardening - when we first moved in to our house, we had 4 bushes and a Bradford Pear tree. We've since added a monster deck, a Japanese Weeping Cherry, a bed running the entire side of our house that now wraps around to the deck (the 1st set of bushes and plants were scorched and died by the past drought so we replanted with better weather and knowledge in Sept of last year and it's doing MUCH better), flowers and a Japanese maple to the front bed, a bed around the mailbox, a bed around the old tree, not to be confused with the Ol' G, and herbs to the back bed. GO US!
• Parenting - Working on Ashton's listening and following directions and Kate's new found defiance. Also, still no potty training success with Ashton. And really trying to be "in the moment" with the little ones so that I can just enjoy them and not always focus on what's not going well. THIS IS REALLY HARD LATELY.
• Hanging Out - threw a party for Paul's birthday and had "grown up time". I discovered I really miss my old friends and that I've been seculed and feel kinda lonely. So... my old best friend Angi and I have GREAT plans to get together Monday nights for wine and catch up. Wish me luck with implementing and sticking to it!
  

I Know, I Know...

I know, I know... I have not been the best with my posts and writing as often as anyone would like, so apologies are in order! We actually have been busy with the following projects-

1. Cleaning and re staining our deck
2. Landscaping and finishing touches on yard
3. Visiting mom two weekends in a row (This past weekend was Angelique's 2nd birthday party!)
4. Paul's brother Ron was in town for a week
5. Getting ready for our yard sale this weekend
plus our camera was temporarily lost (but now is found)

Also, FYI mom is having her gallbladder removed this week, so if the postings don't come this week, they will be there next. Love you mom and hope you feel better soon!
And Dar, looking forward to seeing photos of your cross-country trip soon!

The Time Will Be Here Before We All Know It...

This list comes from Karen, but I agree with ALL OF IT. So, when the time comes for my little ones, I hope this still holds tried and true about the years post-high school with parents and pre-adulthood.
So you’re off to college? Things you should know…
-Go away to college! IF YOU STAY AT HOME AND COMMUTE, THAT'S JUST HIGH SCHOOL PART II!! (This is from Dawn).
- There is nothing worse than the first time you get sick and Mom isn’t there to take care of you. Driving to Wal-Mart to get your own Pepto Bismal and chicken soup is horrible and will make you feel very lonely and totally pathetic. To make this bad situation bearable, have “sick” supplies on hand (better yet, stock a medicine cabinet to take with you) before you get sick.
- You know you are a grown up when you have to spend your own money to buy toothpaste and toilet paper.
- You will hate doing laundry. In fact, you will go buy more underwear rather than washing your dirty ones.
-Good luck with roommates.
- The people you make friends with in college will probably still be your friends in ten years. You may never speak to the people from your high school again.
- Have mercy—call home.
- Tell your parents, grandparents, friends, and significant others to send you stuff in the mail. Empty mail boxes are depressing. Furthermore, have them send you “exam supplies” (with lots of sugar) during exam time.
- Stay on top of your academic adviser. They make mistakes that can delay your graduation!
- There is a limbo-zone in which you exist between graduating from high school and before you actually start college (or whatever you will be doing) when you feel like you no longer belong at home, but you don’t belong to this new phase in your life either. There is nothing to be done about this.
- There are idiots in your dorm who will pull the fire alarm at 3 AM. Keep a pillow and a blanket in your car (if it’s close) so you can stay warm and go back to sleep.
- Learn to write thank-you notes.
- Keep change on hand for vending machines and coin laundry.
- Take a multivitamin and drink A LOT of water.
- Everyone gets sick at exam time.
- Take advantage of the groups on campus but don't let them dominate and define you—Bible study, Young Democrats, sports teams, frats/sororities, RAs, etc. Be involved or you will get very little out of this experience.
- Live on campus for at least the first year.
- Learn to cook in a microwave and have a mini-fridge!
- If you’ve never had to study before, you are going to learn now.
- I would advise against a credit card.
- Have something you need to take care of—like a plant.
- You are going to make mistakes—some insignificant and some enormous—this is normal and it happens to everyone. Be the kind of person who learns from your mistakes.
- Every now and then, skip class to have an iced tea and sit in the sun with a friend.
- 8 AM classes will be the end of your academic career.
- The time that you are in college will be the point in your life when you are the most open-minded. Try not to forget what that is like after you graduate.
- Major in something you love—not something simply that may eventually make you a lot of money.
- Be safe, drive carefully, and wear your seatbelt.
- Go on big trips over summer break. Take LOTS of pictures.
- Sometimes life is going to throw you curve balls. You can't really practice for this, but the way you react to what happens will speak volumes about the kind of person you are.
- Try to conduct yourself in a way that you will not find embarrassing in the future.
- You absolutely never know what is going to happen to you so never say never, have a plan B and C, and remember that sometimes, when the door isn't open, you may have to go through the window.
- Keep a flashlight and an umbrella in your car.
- Remember that every person in your life is there for a reason. The right people always show up exactly when you need them and they stay just as long as you need them to stay. Be sure you make the most of the time you are given.
- Don't forget that "you are really fine" and "all is well in the universe."
- And, as Garrison Keillor says, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

What Happens When Mommy Has a Tough Week?

I tell you what happens when a Mommy has a tough week...EVERYONE has a tough week. What's the old saying "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"? Yes, chalk that one up to fact vs. fiction.

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. {Gaelic}

"Praise the young and they shall blossom."

An Irish Blessing For A Baptism Day

May God grant you always

A sunbeam to warm you

A moonbeam to charm you

A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you

Laughter to cheer you

Faithful friends near you

And whenever you pray

Heaven to hear you.

Gavin Marc Rossmeisl was baptised at St. John Neuman Catholic Church and behaved like a perfect angel. The ceremony was beautiful and the party following was filled with wonderful food and good times.

In the spirit of the 95*F heat outside, everyone came warmly together to show their love and faith for Gavin as his sins were washed clean and he could begin his lifelong spiritual journey surrounded by those who love him.

Click Here for a more photos: http://the704reids.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b3477d0684b7

Katie Beth Reid

Kate is turning into quite the interesting character these days! Her favorite things to do always seem to involve turning various items into hats, singing songs of original composition, dancing like noone is watching, being very attentive to babies and saying the word "Mama" in 10 different ways to mean 10 different things.

She knows what she wants, how things should be, how to manage people, when to be shy so that it's cute and the basics of a clean house. Kate is such a good girl, very patient with everyone around her and so loving of all people, cats and stuffed men named Albert. She is a great eater, snuggler and conversationalist. She comforts the weaker personalities and leads the way for them. All she wants in life is to kiss and hug everything along with thinking Buddy the Cat is the greatest thing in the world. (She actually was reading to him and asking our cat to "point to the circle" in her book today.)

Katherine thinks bubbles are the most amazing invention ever, loves to talk with Angelique on the phone and wishes she could jump higher off the ground. (I know she does from the frustrated look she seems to have as her hands reach up and her feet don't move.) She can throw a greatly aimed ball just as well as a naughty tantrum complete with kicking and screaming.

Can you believe Kate can pull Ashton uphill in a radio flyer wagon? She can't seem to get enough of different types of food and will try absolutely anything we put on her plate. She always makes me smile after a tough night with her first laugh in the morning and I love her more than words can say.

I love you Katie Beth for being everything I never knew I wanted in a daughter!

He that thinks himself the happiest man is really so...

Here is a list of things that just flow out of Ashton's mouth these days:

• Buddy (our cat) has sharks teeth on his feet. (meaning his claws)


• Please close window, the frogs wake me up when they sing the ribbits.


• I go candy store and toy store when I get 5 quarters and spend them.


• I love you today mommy.
  
• Happy Daddy's Day Mr. Jimmy. You a daddy so I give you a hug.(Our neighbor and it's not even Father's Day yet!)
  
• Clean up or the pigs will come. Lock the door so the pigs can't come.
  
• That's not a monster truck, it's a green truck.
• I'm not Curious George mommy, I Ashton.


• Kate! Turns. My turns, Kate's turns, my turns.


• Grandma come to our house in 2 days. No, 5 days. No... 2 months, yes Mommy, 2 months. (She came to visit the next day)


• Mommy, today is not Monday, today is Sunday. Sun-day, because the sun is out.


• I put rainbow in my hand and give it to Daddy. Here Daddy! I share a rainbow with you!


• I can do it! Look!....Uh oh, sorry Mommy. I make a mess.

"He that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks
himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool."

YES! Soliciting

Help! Does anyone who reads this have any ideas on the following situation at hand? (Feel free to post a comment or email ANY responses.)
Ashton doesn't sleep much for a 3 year-old anyways, but as of late he is in the habit of waking up at 6am, coming into my room and waking me up to get him a drink. After dragging myself out of bed and getting the much needed drink I can then settle him down for another 20-30 minutes. He then proceeds to wake me up again and again until I get frustrated at him and yell "MOMMY NEEDS HER SLEEP ASHTON!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!", which quickly after I am racked with guilt because deep down I know that he just wants the pleasure of my company during his best time of day. I can't expect him to understand that, because of my part time job, I go to sleep most nights around 1-2am and am just sooooooooooo sleep deprived.
I've tried locking him in his room until I am ready to wake up, but he's figured out how to take his night time diaper off and, well, it just doesn't pay to wake up to the messes I've seen a few times. He also will kick and bang on his door until he wakes up little Kate and YOU TRY TO SLEEP through not one but two "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"s.
ANY SUGGESTIONS? Help!
Sincerely,
Haven't Slept Since Feb. 2007

We Picked In Fields of Gold

Today was such a lovely day outside, High of 78*F without a cloud in the sky, that we just simply had to go pick our own strawberries! We headed over to Hill Family Farm, which was located in right outside the bustling area of Ballantyne (check them out at: http://www.hallfamilyfarm.com/about_strawberries.htm). We rode over in the Honda van, each child holding on to their own basket. (By the way Brian, Ashton still remembered that the yellow easter basket I pulled out to use once belonged to you!) Kate actually thought hers would make a more suitable hat/helmet and wore it proudly on her head.
While we picked 4 lbs, we took home 2 lbs (between Ashton throwing the "mushy ones" and Kate eating every 2nd berry).
It was a beautiful day and a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed slowing down and taking in the sights, scents and sounds of a little country farm, right in the middle of a bustling city! Who would have thought you could have it all!

Listen Closely to the Minds of Children

Today, for reasons that are an even longer story than I'd like to get into, Ashton told me today..."Mommy, I don't want to go to school." Raising an eyebrow and looking closer at him, I asked why not. This is what followed in the perfect three-year-old speech I am adjusting to, "Mommy, I eat my vegetables and fruit and grow big and strong so I can go work to get money to pay puppy and kitty doctors for Buddy so his teeth will not hurt him."
I love this stream of ideas about our day's worth of activities. It was interesting how he connected everything into one sentence, however long and drawn out it was. Ashton is demonstrating that he is becoming less and less of an observer in my life and more of a participant. Welcome to the world Ashton!


And little Miss Kate, well, she is just a world of personality all balled up into one amazing red-head! She was doodling today with a random pen and paper she found when she suddenly busted out into a garbled song coupled with motions toward the paper and a huge smile. I realized she had come very close to what I can only assume was an accidental almost perfect "A" and was singing "A,B,C,C,D,la,la,T,W,la,la,now,I,la,la,Yea!" She really understands and comprehends so much more than Paul & I give her credit for. She is on the verge of conversing and I simply cannot wait to hear what she has to say!

Daddy's Little MVP

What could make Paul happier than a child that L-O-V-E-S to watch basketball games? You see, the playoffs are on and every night Paul tries his hardest to watch any game he can. But, in this house the children rule the roost, and by roost, I mean remote control. So, you can imagine, Blue's Clue's always seems to make it's way on to the screen. But there has been a recent development that almost brings a tear to a dad's eye. Tonight, while Paul was stealing a look at a game's score Kate grabbed the nearest floor pillow, dragged it over right next to her Daddy and quickly plopped down while pointing and saying "Baket-ball daddy! Baket-ball! Yea!". She was very much into watching the game saying, "Hurray!" during either team's baskets and "Uh-oh!" when they missed. (This was a little unexpected as it was all done on Kate's own accord.)

While Paul is somewhat sad that neither Ashton nor I are ones to spend time watching sports on TV (although both Ashton and Kate REALLY enjoyed checking out a Steeplechase on tv the other day), I'd like to believe that his heart has been lifted when he realized he will have a Reid as a couch buddy when the sports seasons start.

Kate is very interested in and already VERY good at kicking balls, bouncing balls, throwing balls...but don't count Ashton out when it comes to athletics. My guess is he may shy away from team sports like soccer or baseball, but I anticipate we may have one heck of a golfer, swimmer or maybe even tennis player on our hands. Only time will tell!