The Reed Life

oh yum!

2012-01-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

oh yum.

i think i am one of the only people that (as of yesterday) had yet to try pho.

well, somehow, i convince my kids to come with me to try it.

yah....no idea how i got them to agree.

i must be getting real good?

(i'm not. i can't believe they came. with no complaining.)

it was really super good.

i followed my pal, lena's advise and got just plain chicken pho.

the boys shared one order of that too and also an order of chicken teriyaki.

but they both agreed to get their own order of pho next time, and no teriyaki!

what!?!?

who are you people!?

pretty rad, right?

lookit my baby using chopsticks!

awwwww.

if you haven't tried this yummy dish, you should.

it's simple but good.

and there seem to be places popping up all over around here!

insta friday

2012-01-27T20:25:00.000-08:00

a recipe, some pictures, and a bad attitude

2012-01-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

hi friends.
i am having my quarterly questioning period, where i get kinda put out and attitude-y about blogging....mostly cause i can't think of anything that i even think is interesting to share.
but,
since i have gone through this before i am more familiar and accepting of it this time.
i have pictures.
pictures are my thing....
and today i am just going to give you some randomness and call it a blog post.

this is my favorite brussel sprout recipe.
my friend lois gave it to me.
i've made it twice and my kids each eat one...because they have to.
then i eat the rest.
and that's my dinner.
nothing else.
yum.

Sweet and sour Brussels sprouts

1 pint fresh, or 1 package (10 oz) of frozen Brussels sprouts, cooked (i microwaved them in a bag with slits for 3 minutes).
2 Tbs cooking oil
1/4 cup of cider vinegar
1 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbs grated parmesan cheese

Prepare sprouts your favorite way, cut in half, or cook whole If they are small
Drain and arrange in a shallow baking dish
Combine oil,vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper & blend.
Pour over sprouts and sprinkle with cheese
Cover and bake in preheated oven (350 degrees) for 15 minutes or until sprouts are tender.

**my only addition is that i broil them for about 2 minutes at the end.

makes 3 to 4 servings
(that picture is before they were cooked)

enjoy!!!

look at his accomplishment......

that is all the seasonal stuff.
6 christmas.
2 fall.
1 spring.
1 summer.
all in reedo's matching tubs.
the garage is his.
he keeps it cleaner than my kitchen.

this just has to be shown.

i finally finished this lamp.
i got the base at target.
it's the color of #2 pencils.
i love it.

i took reedo too a cool place where you can order flights of beer and meat and cheese and olive plates.
i'm not a beer drinker, but i tried it that night.
i thought it was pretty awesome of me.
i was impressed with my wife skills.

then he followed me around in an antique shop.
i think he can tolerate antique shops just a tad better with some beer in his tummy.

monday it rained all day.
i helped in ty's class and it seemed so crazy to have all of those 6 year olds in one room all day.
the poor teacher.
i decided to pick him up early.

we went to target and got stuff to make bread, soup, hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and little sparkly valentine critters.
we were so happy to have him with us.
i just love that guy.

this week, my job is to get the house cute.
it still has that bare, after-christmas look.
maybe some valentine stuff?
maybe some spring....am i ready for spring though!?
this is the only area that looks good so far.....

so, that's me.
i'm a bit of struggler lately.
not feeling like sharing.
i'm not sure why.
thanks for reading and caring about my little life and adventures.
even when i have an attitude.

ballerina beauty

2012-01-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

so, i'm sure you can guess that i've been patiently waiting to get my real camera on my tiny dancer.
the time just hasn't been right.
plenty of iPhone pics.
but i haven't been brave enough to bust into the studio with the canon and ask for everyone to clear out while i do as i please...
not sure if that time will come.
but today i asked ella if she wanted to do a photo shoot with me and she enthusiastically started styling this shoot.
she knew what costumes she'd wear and what she'd do.
so i obviously went with it.
i set up a little mirror and some treats in my favorite 4 o'clock corner of my house and she showed me her stuff.
the high point was her lying on the ground with me dropping pink heart marshmallows on her while she giggled.
i was in heaven and she felt so special.
(you know the brothers were swarming in the background wanting at those marshmallows...back off boys!!)
i will love these photos forever.
i know it.

beautiful momma

2012-01-17T14:38:00.001-08:00

i don't want to be presumptuous with my blog.
if you are a blogger you know what i mean.
if you are not you can imagine that, it is hard to know how someone might view being included on your blog.
some might be thrilled.
some might be fine with it.
some might feel...a bit violated.
since it's my blog, i have the choice to include photos of myself on here (obviously)
i guess my kids don't.
my husband could certainly say something if he was not into it.
and i do i try my best not to make my friends and family feel like i am putting unapproved photos of them all over my blog...
sorry if i've missed something. really. i do try.

**********************************************************************

with this new effort i have been putting in to improving my photography skills, i have had some good little opportunities here and there in-between the monthly "family sessions" that i am committing to this year.
one was to bring my camera to my cousin's baby shower.
my aunt asked me to snap a few photos of the festivities and i just had to share how lovely my beautiful cousin looks as she is blossoming into motherhood.
( i made sure i asked her for approval, of course)

this lovely momma lives up north in more...gloomy weather and so i watched as she basked in the sunlight pouring through the windows....
sit on that couch over there?
how could she when there was a flood of dream sunshine puddling on the floor at her california friend's feet?
so she lounged in her friends company and the beams as i snapped away.
(i so wished to just make everyone else move so i could really get in there...maybe next time...i felt to bashful....and they were supposed to be there, it was as party)

see what i mean?

how can i not share?

she is luscious.

ps. my cousin is actually a really wonderful photographer, herself.

click here to see a part of her photography journey

oh yah!

2012-01-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

do you ever just look around and think,

"what have i even been doing around here?"

i do.

but then i start up a blog post and start downloading my photos from my phone and i remember...

what do i NOT do around here?

oh yah! i had that babygirl play date with the cutes little blondie you could meet!

(i discover the key to playdates is the kids NOT being the same age...just a year makes a difference)

oh yah! i had a lunch meet up with my favorite red head and this little pouting princess!

oh yah! then we had rainbow sherbet!

oh yah! i cleaned my kitchen and put out a fresh cloth and a treat!

oh yah! i made "crazy hair!"

oh yah! i made them pose!

oh yah! i drove to and from schools 15 times this week!

oh yah! i took three kids and a husband to a 3D movie for the first time!

oh yah! i woke ua nd merged right into playing "pupunzel" !

oh yah! i went on a date!

oh yah! i took the little guys to see daddy's new office!

oh yah! i sat next to a crazy little boy at a resteraunt!

oh yah! i read my book while....

......listening to my boys make up rules for chess!

oh yah! i got myself dressed in a new skirt!(copied my lady friend, joy, and got one from target!)

oh yah! i got dressed in a more of a "lumber jack" look.

oh yah! i cooked veggies!( and ate most of them myself)

oh yah! i coached a 8 year old through making dinner for himself and his siblings!

oh yah! i played the quiet game!

oh yah! i smiled!

wow! that's a lot of stuff.

this little life is not that remarkable.

i am sure you did some much more impressive things.

just remember to look back and see what you HAVE done.

it's somethin'.

ps. i really want this.

Source: olloclip.com via Shauna on Pinterest

all boy

2012-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

here is the one and only lesson i learned about taking photos today.
know your subject.
i can't trick this guy.
he isn't a baby.
i have to commission him.
see if he needs work.
see how much he charges.
he apparently charges one green tootsie pop, today.
for one green tootsie pop i get some cute smiles, his hands on the typewriter (dirty fingernails and legs give it character), relatively good cooperation and a strong back to move furniture around so the sunlight can be to my liking.
that, i think, is called respect.
i'm respecting him and his time.
he knows what i expect and respects my requests.
it feels a bit business-like and i think we both enjoyed that today.

and because of the good feelings, he had his own idea.
although i might not have decided to do this, since i've seen it a lot before, he really wanted to try the shadow of hands doing a heart thing....
how sweet is that?
i'm not sure if he saw it on pinterest, over my shoulder, or if it came to him as an idea with the shadows from the lighting, but i just went with it.
he was so proud of that.
and he could tell i was pleased.
it was an over all good transaction with some sweetness thrown in.
by oldest son.
all boy.

10 on 10 (i did it!)

2012-01-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

oh yah.

yes i did.

so. i was determined to do 10 on 10 today.

i have never made it past 3 or 4.

i get distracted and i forget.

so today i brought my real camera in the car and set my iPhone to alarm ever hour on the hour as a reminder!

got out that cannon at 9 am and.....guess what. no SD card.

this is ella and i feeling sad about it....

then i quickly got over it and decided to iPhone it!

the photos aren't all that interesting, but i love that for once there is one an hour.

not just 10 in a day since i'm sure i do much more than ten lots of days.

but the good and boring moments too.

i think it's good for me.

and if i'm being honest this was not the best "fanciest" day to document.

i hurt my back so i was sitting on the couch more than i'd like to portray...

and i took ella to burger king...classy.

but its good to not be too put together right?

this is my day.

today.

honestly.

9am

ballet stretches

10am

tappin' like shirley

11am

this is when i knew my back needed rest, so i decided to make it into a party. just me and ella. the sound of music. popcorn with m&ms and ice water in mommy cups.
and oh my gosh i seriously love this movie.
i cried three times.

noon

poor mommy

1pm

he's home!

2pm

LEGO mania

3pm

karate trek

4pm

ella was the queen of saying "yes mom" today.
so i told her i loved having a daughter who has a respectful voice for me and that it made me want to do something nice and special for her. i asked her what she'd like to do while the boys were at karate for an hour. she said, "how bout go to burger king for some french fries and a sprite?" and i obviously said, "yes ella!"
(although i did get her to change her order to OJ...lets not get crazy here)

daddy's home!

dinner: rainy day soup
(thanks for the recipe, momma)

calico critters

2012-01-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

this is a little crazy.

posting photos of small furry toy critters.

but i had such a fun day with ella at the antique mall.

we went hunting for furniture for her new calico critter house.

way better than the stuff they sell at the toy store.

plus i get to have fun doing one of my favorite things with my girl!

so perfect!

i am already dreaming of the flea market hunts we can go on!

today we found a red couch and an aqua chair that was hand painted with pink flowers.

and we were both in heaven.

her setting it all up.

me with my camera.

say cheese! (justkiddingineversaythat)

2012-01-08T20:42:00.000-08:00

here is some information that i have been getting questions about.

this is my lens.

a 50mm 1.4...

Source: bhphotovideo.com via Shauna on Pinterest

this is my camera.

Source: buydig.com via Shauna on Pinterest

this is what i am learning to edit on.

Source: apple.com via Shauna on Pinterest

what i edit on until i learn aperture or get a fancier editor.
picnik.com
it's free.

Source: box.com via Shauna on Pinterest

this is the lens i dream of getting next.

a 35mm 1.4...

Source: google.com via Shauna on Pinterest

there is so much out there that i could want.
i am trying to learn as much as i can on what i have.
i am trying not to always need the next thing.
but i still really want that lens...
and maybe even a new camera someday....
we'll see.

a boy and his doggie

2012-01-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

here is a shoot that i did just me and my little ty.

i have been trying to practice as much as i can on pretty days when i don't have to have all of my kids...

that is the first thing i learned this day.

it is a bazzilion times easier to have fun and be relaxed when i only have one child to deal with.

i guess i already knew that.

but this proved it again.

i also learned to NEVER forget to wear real closed shoes ( no peep-toe flats)

and to try and remember to make my kids do the same.

but.

on the other hand i kinda loved that ty was wearing two different color flips.

which he does everyday.

and that is so him.

i worked for a long time on getting his freckles in that one down there.

practice makes perfectly imperfect?

i am also getting more familiar with how to angle the sun with my new-ish lens.

it is actually a year old, but it has taken this long to feel like friends.

i also re-learned how great it is to have space with that lens.

i have to move my body way back to get as wide a photo as i want and i just can't do that everywhere.

location and space really matters with this camera/lens combo for me for now.

i seriously love this little fella.

he is the sweetest person.

he loved pretending to do a photo shoot of his own with his little doggie.

he is just so accommodating.

(it's harder to say that about the other two)

so we had fun and i learned a little more....

lessons learned....

2012-01-07T20:50:00.000-08:00

oh hi!
so i just thought of a cool thing that i can do to share with you my journey with my photo taking commitment.
each session i do, whether for others or myself, i will tell you some things i learned.
all you real photographers will smile and nod and maybe even pat me on the head and i will be proud of myself, kay?
so.
since i kinda already shared about the game day shoot, i will start with the new years one.
it was really simple.
i learned that the closer you are to home, the better.
that just doing photos more spur-of-the-moment works out better sometimes since there isn't any pressure.
we road bikes up to the hills and pulled ella in the wagon.
the only props were the hats and horns.
simple.
the lighting was perfect and i wanted practice making it work for me.
i tried letting the sun shine from the side this time instead of from right behind the people.

this one was for sure my favorite.
i loved how i was just capturing what she was doing and not making her smile.
i loved how the dry grass ended up looking like confetti or something "new years-ish"
the light was so beautiful.
i shot until the sun was gone and then walked up the hill to find a few more seconds up there.
so there.
that's it.
i'm working on getting better at quickly adjusting my camera settings according to light changes and different positions.
if you know what you are talking about and want to give me any input, i am open.
but remember i'm not trying to be you.
i'm trying to be me.

and here is a sneak peek of the session that i will share tomorrow, lessons learned and all....

i'll see you back here tomorrow...

a not-so-brilliant post on january 4th

2012-01-04T22:23:00.000-08:00

ok, so you know how when you need to return a call or an email and you keep putting it off because you are busy and then it turns into putting it off because you have put it off for so long that the conversation seems like it has to be giant and long and the longer you wait the harder it gets to make the call?

yah?

do you know?

or am i the only one that does that.

ok nevermind.

but wait, yes, that is how it feels sometimes when i've ditched blogging for a while.

like the next post just has to be brilliant.

ha.

so i am just going to break the ice and post some of my favorite pictures from the last few weeks.

they aren't brilliant.

but they are mine.

and i hope this will inspire me to get the ball rolling...

included below is:

night vision

a birthday cake for baby jesus (ella calls him baby geez)

candyland

pin the nose on the reindeer with aunt jen

calico critters mansion

our most exciting christmas gift reveal

a vintage porch swing for the mansion

my cute husband peeling potatoes (hot)

ella and i playing toss with the kitty purse

my postal pics order (love it!)

snuggle time

mustache straws

first day of 2012 spent at the beach!

the king and queen of 2012

mommies' night out

my first born and i celebrating the new year at midnight

me and baby clementine making friends

my ella's new camera

lego love

tiny ballerina legs

more ballerina

can't get enough of my baby ballerina

so, i'm back!

goodbye 2011...

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

we are sending you out with a bang!

you've been good to us, now hit the road!

hello 2012!!

2011-12-31T22:30:00.001-08:00

we wish you a merry christmas!

2011-12-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

and a happy new year!

look up, for golden is the hour!

2011-12-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

last year i had a rough time with the santa situation.

this year i made a plan early.

to MAKE the real christmas story come alive for my sweet children.

and for me.

in my stage of my story.

christmas will never look just how it looks this year, again.

so, i got together with my friend joy and we put together a creative expression of the nativity, in our own way.

with our treasures.

the entire nativity session is posted on joy's blog.

please visit over there to see them!
wildflowers photography

they are what kept me going this december.

then.

as if it could get any better than that,

my new friend marianne offered to film the session.

all these beautiful gifts around me!

i am a blessed friend this chistmas.

truly.

the frosting on top of this giant christmas treat?

the song on the video is one of my favorite songs by my adorable sister, gracie.

this post may just make me explode with happiness!

game day

2011-12-20T22:56:00.000-08:00

when heather asked me to take photos of her family these were my thoughts:

1. yes!

they are all so beautiful!

tall, artistic, lovely heather (wouldn't i love to be tall?).

dark handsome happy Jose (quick to laugh).

emily who is the oldest and is creative and beautiful with great taste and perfect freckles on her nose.

sweet and cool sabrina who dresses funky and has a great laugh.

and of course gavin (who has a soft spot in my heart because of how much he reminds me of my tiny ty) with his own mischievous ideas and a heart melting smile to go along with them.

2. i am not good enough to do this.

heather is so creative herself.

she thinks i have better skills than i have.

i am going to get too stressed.

3. i feel a little bashful/nervous/inadequate/babyish.

but who else can i just shove that all aside with than a friend who i've known and loved since i was a girl?

who else is worth my best try?

even if i fail....and i still might not....

and if i can just do my best to see this family as they are, and try to capture them, then i am at least obeying the call that i feel on my heart.

awesome photos or a good try, it's still obedience.

so i took their family to a little spot that i love in san juan capistrano and they brought all of heathers vintage suitcases filled with old games like dominos and bingo and tiddley winks. they drank coke out of glass bottles and i snapped away as they teased each other and tried to pretend that it was completely normal to stand in a line and hold hands and kiss while their kids watched. then, somehow, we realized that time was up and the sun was down. time sure flies when there's a crazy lady with a camera telling you to snuggle....

and i did it.
there are lots of things i feel tempted to say could've been better about my skills....

but instead i will say, that these photos perfectly capture what i saw that day.
the love and action and personality and silliness and beauty of this special family.
they are a real family.
they have rad outfits and compromises.
they have hand holding and rolled eyes.
they have "closed eyes" laughter and bashful kisses.
they have long legs and cute freckles.
they have perfect smiles and dirty knees.
beautiful.

these photos also represent this moment in my photography journey.
and capturing this moment is....beautiful too.

a call to see

2011-12-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

i hesitate to share this because although i could succeed, i could also fail.
if i share then there will be no way to hide if i fail.
but.
i know that failure isn't the worst thing to ever happen to a girl.
i am sure there are a dozen inspirational quotes about that.
you can leave those in the comment section for me if you feel so inclined...

i have decided to start practicing photos of families.
yes.
that is the particular area of photography that is on my heart.
i love families.
i love seeing things about a person or relationship that maybe someone else doesn't see.
or maybe they do and just really want another person's eye (and lens) on it to capture that beauty for just a moment.
so my idea is to try to see families.
i know how to capture my family.
but what about others?
this is gonna be hard.
there are lovely things in families and there are ugly things in them.
don't. i. know it.
but when the ugly things come out in my family i can sometimes take comfort in looking at something lovely that happened and smiling about it. just for a second.

so, as you can see, my call mostly has to do with seeing.
but here the catch.
the hard part, for me.
if i want to see AND i want to capture, then i need to practice.
i need to get better with my camera.
i need to gain experience and boundaries and skill.
so i have made a challenge for myself.
i am going to ask families, that i know (and think might say yes) to let me photograph them.
one family a month for a year.
this is a goal.
i might skip a month.
or something.
but i am going to try.
i am going to try and see.
i am going to try and show you.
i might be great.
i might not.
but i'm going to try.

vacation breakfast

2011-12-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

this is how we roll on christmas vacay....

everyone picks their own favorite cereal.

no matter how sugary.

bouncing off the wall starts....now!

tune my heart

2011-12-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

it's six am and i just threw my covers off and "speed walked" down here to try to get this swirling thought out.
written down.
jake is in my bed since he had nightmares and ella will be down here asking questions and talking a mile a minute if she hears one peep.
so I'm quiet as a mouse.

i've been struggling with something for a while.
something about my pre-conceived notion of what worship is.
as much as i'd like to say i've understood it, since i was raised in a family of worship leaders and was one myself, i think i've never really gotten it.
i've thought of it as something that i can make happen.
i can start and stop.
i can decide to sing a song, and as a result, Jesus is praised.
but as i lay in bed this morning thinking about it, one of my favorite songs was circling.
tune my heart...
tune my heart...
tune my heart to sing thy praise
i sometimes want to think that's about singing.
after all, i know how to sing.
i sound pretty good.
that's a pretty nice offering.
but what it really means, to me, is that there is praise and worship and adoration always flowing up to the one...
the one who this is all about.
I am.
its always surrounding me, this thing called worship.
in love and sunsets and smiles from my innocent children and selfless giving and kindness and mercy from others, in colors and rain and christmas and families and art and the crashing ocean and the millions of different rocks and snowflakes and stars....
and i get to decide if i am going to tune my heart to that song. to that beauty that is happening.
its happening whether i tune in or not.
it's not "god in my living, god in my breathing"
it's, "do i want to join in with HIS living and breathing?"

my recent struggle has been trying to get rid of the idea that this tuning in has to involve music in some way.
or that worship is synonymous with music played for the purpose of God's people singing along.
i know, some of you may think it's crazy that i thought that.
but i did and still do sometimes.
i start to forget that although it is lovely and good to sing (or play) a song of praise it is only one tiny tiny teeny tiny way to give back to the Lord what he has given you.
what has he given me in particular?
what has he given you?
a eye for beauty?
a good relationship?
someone who loves you?
a child?
a voice?
a musical ear?
rhythm?
a husband?
a talent?
patience?
forgiveness?
organizational skills?
a listening heart?
all these things are gifts and they may or may not be able to be summed up with some other person's idea of a beautiful song.
so when i go to church on sunday mornings lately, honestly, i'm a bit of a struggler.
a lot of times i sit there, feeling detached.
i know, i know all you worship leaders cringe and that "sitting girl".
i know, because I've seen that person too.
but here's my thing, i am not protesting worship music, i am just finally understanding that that 20 minutes is not even close to "it" for worshiping I AM.
and it disappoints me to think of how that sweet time of people, up on stage, sharing what God has given them is misinterpreted by me and maybe others too as "it" for us all.
as if, if we just leave all that's us behind we can participate in their special talent.
those people have, maybe, been led by God for a season of giving to Him their music by sharing on sunday morning.
that is lovely.
seeing someone obey and follow Him is lovely.
why is it that it sometimes seems that we only have that one way of worshiping Him at all our churches?
why aren't other forms of obedience displayed?
or, why i am i not noticing it?
why isn't someone sharing their non musical worship?
a painting
a photograph
a child
a relationship
a creation
a blog
a clean house
an obedience that was scary

i know that sharing other things is not the norm and that music and singing is the acceptable form of worship on a sunday morning...
but i just woke up thinking...why, again is that?

i guess the danger in this line of thinking is that i'd get annoyed with the very narrow idea of worship that i may have allowed myself to go with and push away all things and people related to it.
but instead of doing that, i just want to remember what "it" really is.
it's not what i sometimes allow myself to think.
His grace will be sung no matter what.
the real choice is whether or not i will tune in to the earth calling out for Him and choose to participate.
in my way.
with the gifts he's so generously given me.
so that i can sing his grace.
and i can dance and dodge and spin and circle around all the confusion and pain and temptation that my be thrown my way.
and i can tune in to seeing others trying to do the same.
they may be up on a stage.
they may be helping me clean my house every other week.
they may want to share calico critters with me.
they may want to be given a simple chore to help.
they may help me sort out messes i've made.
they may inspire me to see things differently than i do.
they may be searching for what exact gift they have to give back to the ONE.
and they are looking for worship.
struggling and sliding up to that note of perfect grace.
when we each realize our gifts and then return them to their giver, it's like a little taste of heaven.
there we will be perfectly tuned for all time.

(this is a little risky to share.
i hope you understand me.
i hope you know i love music.
i hope you are loving me through this growing that my little tiny heart is doing.
i hope you can have grace for me if anything came out wrong and seemed judgmental.
i am sorting.
i am learning.
i have a ways to go....
thanks for listening.)

{insta} cheer

2011-12-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

my house is clean.
my house is clean and there's dinner.
my house is clean and there's dinner and the kids WILL be in bed on time tonight.
my house is clean and there's dinner and the kids WILL be in bed on time tonight and i will be starting the third season of parenthood with my cute husband.

this is a good night.

i will not ruin it by thinking of what i need to STILL do.
i will not ruin it by thinking of things that can be dealt with later.
so there.

on that note, this is insta-friday (christmas addition)
have some cheer!

burlap photo wall ready for a special series of photos from a shoot that i will share soon!
(promise)

santa plays with baby mouse jesus

hung this mirror by myself
(things are getting done around here! and i think it's because of something my mom used to say..."if you want to get projects done around the house, have a party, it'll give you the motivation to get it all done!"....with christmas coming up and all my family coming, i am in "get it done" mode! and i love it! thanks momma!)

i changed out a buncha pictures today!

just me and ella on a shopping day

"kids only" sing a long

hey

2011-12-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

hey,

remember when i used to post every day?

like last month?

yah, those were the days, huh?

hey,
remember when i said that i wanted to take more photos with my real camera?

that was a good idea, huh?

yah...i have good ideas.

(at least i have four today!)

hey,
remember when ella was a baby?

yah...that was fun.

but look! she's getting so big!

what happened?

hey,
remember when i used to drink diet coke?

yah, well i still do.

but i also love drinking tea (preferably jasmine) out of this little lady.

she's my colors and everything.

well, i am trying to do all that i ought to do in this little mommy life of mine, which means sometimes i don't post as much as i'd like.

thanks for still reading, friends.

insta update

2011-12-01T23:25:00.000-08:00

hi friends.

sorry i have been so scarce lately.

i've been busy.

and instead of talking your ear off (wait...eyes off)

i will just show you what i've been up to....

thanksgiving morning

aunts grace

making props

(for a special upcoming photo shoot i get to share soon!)

birthday shopping

hanging with friends

exploring my favorite place

realizing his head is up to my shoulder

ready (at 6am) for ballet class

lots of kisses

matchy girls!

more kisses

thanksgiving at the reeds

my people

dancing with daddy during her first viewing of "white christmas"

putting up grandma cindie's villiage

aunts grace carrying on the legacy

visiting my lady friend and her amazing house and family

and baby clementine

photo shoot to celebrate this coming season!

ballerinas

little reedos

sand babies

a new mug from a special new friend

all is well

turkey beauty....

2011-11-29T23:05:00.000-08:00

i am crawling out of my thanksgiving hole.
so for now, look at this RAD video that my new friend marianne made of my reedo and his very first turkey roasting experience.....

Reedo's Turkey. from Marianne Bach on Vimeo.

a gratitude app! are you kidding me!?

2011-11-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

wow wow wow!

i am having some busy days.

but i have to make sure you've seen this!

this is so super great to me.

an app that reminds you to take photos of things you can be grateful for.

brilliant!

i will be back around soon.

with reports of happy days with my sis, a thanksgiving dinner at my house with a viewing of white christmas to follow, and a new surprise AMAZING family photo shoot!

i can't wait to tell you!

some ideas, questions and comments

2011-11-21T01:32:00.000-08:00

1. is this calico critters camper more fun for me or ella?

2. check out this seasonal update for my red cabinet!

it's just scrap book paper cut to size and sitting up there!

i guess you could tape it but mine stayed without!

3. one day a week i help in each of the boys class rooms.
the other day i stayed for recess....
(that last picture is me and ella hittin' target after i picked her up)

4. does ella really "need a unicorn, really so bad, mom"?

5. this is one of my favorite recent pictures i've taken.

6. if i saw santa last week, does that mean we don't have to see him AT ALL again til next year!?
(please say yes)

7. could she be any cuter?

8. this is my fall-to-christmas set up right now.
doesn't it just say "holidays"?

9. i really loved my outfit this day.
i felt sassy, and what's wrong with that?

10. well, maybe i'll take her back to see him one more time....just her.

11. jake loves reading to ty and ty loves listening.

12. does it get any more cheery than rainbow banners and sunflowers?
OH and by the way! a buncha you have asked about the banners.
so:
*you go to michaels and get the giant packs of 12 inch and/or 5 inch already cut circles in rainbow colors.
*you cut the circle in half with a paper cutter.
* then you start sewing them into a line on your sewing machine....just keep feeding them in!
this banner is one giant long continuous bunting! just strung back and forth.
*i used regular all purpose thread and made sure there was some extra hangin off on both sides.
* done.

13. have you tried these gingerbread boys with chocolate fudge from traders?
do it!
they are spicy!

14. i like this special book i got last year after christmas! so inspirational!

15. thank you ruby's for making a car i can actually put together with out thinking of storming out of the restaurant and abandoning my children or kicking my husband hard in the legs under the table...that's real nice.

that's all i got for now!

it's one in the morning.

i've gotta go to bed!

have a good monday!

a couple more things

2011-11-18T19:46:00.000-08:00

you know what?

something i am really grateful for is instagram.

i know i know!

can i really be grateful for two social media avenues in a row?

but hear me out.

i love the little moments it catches!

it has really even changed my life a bit.

because now i can easily go back and process things, after the fact, by being reminded what happened with instagram.

i just printed a bunch out on my own printer the other day

i t was so super easy.

i printed them as 2"X2" squares...tiny.

but then i sewed them all together (just feeding them into my sewing machine in a big row) and hung them on my mantle under all my vintage cameras.

i love it!

you should do this too!

i am grateful for instagram.

God can really use it to bless me.

i also am really grateful for soundproof play areas.

sometimes i really just need this.

so, here we go!
lots and lots of days off school!
Lord give me patience!

dreamy ballerina

2011-11-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

on tuesday ella became a ballerina.

she received all the ballerina necessities for her birthday and began classes the next day.

this was her at 5:54 in the morning.

ready.

playing with her new calico critters from the day before.

(see how she even has her little ballerina backpack on?)

i was a little nervous about her.

she's pretty moody.

and, if intimidated, shuts down.

and right before we went in she looked like this.

but her first class was so perfect.

she loved it.

i mean loved loved loved it.

she is a ballerina.
her little body is made for it.
she followed along flawlessly.
there was a two way glass mirror so i could watch and i figured out how to angle myself to take instagrams.
i seriously couldn't help tearing up because she was so happy and so beautiful.

the teacher was really sweet and beautiful
i am sure she is now ella's idol...
(mine too...wow)
it couldn't have been lovelier.

(whispered)
well, maybe a just a tad lovelier if she hadn't had a three tantrums during the second part of the day....but i think the good outweighed the bad here.

two simple things

2011-11-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

not everything that i am grateful for is big and fancy.

or even that special.

or can be artfully photographed....

del taco.

you save me sometimes.

i am grateful for del taco.

pinterest.

i just love looking at you.

you relax me.

i am grateful for pinterest.

it's the little things, right?

and i don't want to leave stuff out because it doesn't match the colors of my blog or impress you.

there is so much to be grateful for.

daddy-daughter love

2011-11-14T22:30:00.000-08:00

does it get any more sweet than this?

daddy playing with calico critters on the hearth.

i am incredibly grateful for daddy-daughter love.

ella's birthday was great.

tiring but great.

i love to let the kids feel special on their big days.

but i always understand so well, after birthdays, why they aren't "in charge" all the other days.

the little tyrants....

here are some highlights besides the serious calico critter time up top...

boy!

am i glad she was born!

growing up

2011-11-13T22:11:00.000-08:00

just a minute ago she was a tiny infant with amazing little lips and eyes and fingers.

tomorrow she is turning four.

there are parts of me that wish she could stay small.

but today i am choosing to be grateful for

growing up.

growing up is good.

freedom from fear

2011-11-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

there are some things that i am grateful for that i most of the time take for granted or live my life
frequently forgetting about.
for example, the fact that i do have freedom from fear.

i have freedom from fear.
no matter if i choose to live that way or not.
if you've been reading my blog long, you know that i struggle with fear often.
but i am choosing to be grateful, today, for that fact that i don't need to be afraid.
i mean, i have nothing to fear.
at any given time i can quietly slouch out of this heavy burden that i choose to shoulder much of the time.
i am seen and heard and loved.
i am not in charge of the world.
i am tiny little lady who, when obedient, can get a smile out of my heavenly father (who does happen to be in charge of the world ).
no fear necessary.
just arms wide open and the wind in my (stringy) hair....

(please mention this to me tomorrow when i am all tied up in my fears, ok?)

kisses

2011-11-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

i'm grateful for kisses
especially pie covered ones!
mmmmmm

no time to say any more.

i'm enjoying my blessings tonight....

his laugh

2011-11-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

see this?

i really need this.
it is the cure all medicine for anything.
his laugh.
i'm grateful.

grateful.

2011-11-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

really quick.
just to keep it honest here.
i can sometimes put a bit of unnecessary pressure on myself to try not to let photos of my children be so all-consuming on my blog.
especially with this gratefulness series.
like there is some kind of rule that i need to photograph other things too.
and while i do feel interested in photographing other things, just for the fun of it, i'm not as interested in that as i am in photographing them.
they are so very interesting and entertaining to me.
all the time.
it never gets old.
(if you don't have kids and you are doubting this...believe it!)
i may get sick of them....but i never get sick of them.
ya know?
and plus, my life is pretty much completely taken over by them.

so i am publicly saying that i know i take a lot of pictures of them.
i know.
a lot.
but i am going to keep doing that and you can like it or not.
and you will know when i get tired of it because i will stop taking the photos, kay?
and i will not try and be anything that i'm not....until i am.
(do you understand this? not sure if i do...)

and also, i want to try and put an image with each of my hundred things
so sometimes it's a stretch to figure out what to put with an idea.
like today....

the smell of my children's hair.

you know.
it starts out as a baby head (a unmistakable smell, right?)
and then morphs into a sorta sweaty and spicy smell.
sweet when there's been a recent bath or shower.
a bit on the musty side, if not.
i love that smell, no matter what.
i wonder what i'll think when they're teenagers.
or adults.
for now, let it be known that i am grateful for the smell of my children's hair.

my wedding day

2011-11-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

i was pulling out my wedding video a few night ago, when i wanted to show some friends a picture that was in our wedding montage.
(do people still do that? you know make a video of a bunch of photos of the bride and groom to show at the wedding?)
and i stumbled upon this little super short summary video with a recording of my family (me, my sisters, my mom and my dad) singing behind it.
i am really grateful for this.
of course i can't watch it with out crying.
i miss my mom so much.
it overwhelms me to watch her alive body.
it hurts in a beautiful way to see what my life used to be like.
i love what my life is now.
but this is beautiful too.
and my groom was and is so incredibly sweet.
enjoy.
and be so grateful for this memory with me.

ps. my computer wouldn't even read the dvd that this video was on.
so i used my iphone to video our big tv while it played.
that is why you can see my reflection at one point.
and also why you can hear a little sniffling....

pumpkin patch paradise

2011-11-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

taking a break from the gratefulness posts today.

but to see what i am thankful for today, go here.

i have been so looking forward to sharing this special group of photos with you.

i had the privilege of meeting up with some of my favorite people (you of course know leslie) at the pumpkin patch last weekend.

they, graciously, let me practice my photography skills on a family besides mine.

(since my family get a little burnt on photos)

it was so fun!

a super lot of work, i will say.

but so so cool.

i had a blast.

and though i have a many many many areas to improve in and learn, i was very pleased with what i accomplished.

leslie agreed to let me share a few and i am afraid its hard to pick just a few

(sorry les, moderation is not my strength....i have many other fine qualities?)

maybe it's because it's not just about the beautiful location and the streaming sunlight, but it's that i really love this family and felt blessed to capture them at this moment and see their love for each other through my camera lens.

i am sure anyone that is a real photographer is smiling and nodding and already knowing that this is the special gift of photographing people.

that new way of seeing them when you look through a lens....

so please enjoy this moment in the life of this sweet family.

and this moment in my journey too.

snacktime.

2011-11-06T22:47:00.000-08:00

i am grateful for the time between when ella gets home from preschool and when i have to leave to pick up the boys from elementary school.

from 12:30-1:45.

i call it snacktime.

ella has a lot of words.

she tells me....a lot about her day while we eat snacks.

she tells me other stuff, too.

she tells me lots of stuff that makes no sense to me.

she asks a lot of questions about things that can't be answered.

ex: "why did God make the color blue, mom?"

and i mean a lot of those.

and although sometimes i actually have to take a few advil to get through all the questions, i am so grateful for our time.

even when i'm tired, i can feel it's value.

for both of us.

this might seem a bit strange to share,
(then again, this whole blogging thing is kinda crazy)
but if i'm honest, i can't really picture living past my forties.
my mom didn't.
her mom didn't.
even my dad's mom, grandma betty passed away in her 60s.
i'm not saying i'm superstitious, i just have a hard time picturing getting very old since i haven't seen it, in the women in my family.
there are times when i can get a bit overwhelmed with fear.
fear of what will happen to my children if i'm not here anymore.
and if you've had any experience with fear (um. haven't we all?),
you know it's not very rational and can get a bit out of control.

just today, i was dropping my kids off at church and meeting reedo in the second row (where we always sit).
as i was doing this, i felt dizzy, like i needed to sit down, maybe 4 different times.
and then i realized that had happened once when i was getting ready at home too.
and i sat there with the worship music all around me.
loud voices singing about how "Your love never fails...there may be pain in the night, but joy come with the morning" and my active imagination was letting fear make up crazy stories about why i was dizzy, in my mind.
i had to have self control over that, big time if i wanted to be able to calm down and listen to the service.

so, i'm telling you that i get freaked out often.
and in a way that i can see is plain and simple fear.
my brain can be rational.
my faith can even calmly tap me on the shoulder, trying for my attention.
but sometimes fear just wins.
for a time.

then i start thinking about things..... like the hour and fifteen minutes that i have with ella for snacks.
i start to remember that i can make a difference with her.
no matter how long my life is.
because the thing is, no one can say to me, "oh...stop it! you'll be fine! you'll live till you're 90!"
no one knows those things.
and i have to take comfort and be calm in things that are true.
the truth is i don't know which day is my last.
i have to live like today is.
i have soak up the time i have to answer three hundred and twenty seven more questions today....
i have to listen to the faith that waits patiently for me to turn and give it my full attention.
do i believe that God's plan for my life story is better than mine?
yes.
end of story.

rain.

2011-11-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

i really really love rain.

it's my favorite weather.
i love the drama of the sky.
i love that it is different than normal, but also that is it isn't so cold that my snot freezes in my nose or anything crazy like that.
i love it.
i'm grateful for it.

thanks Lord.
good job with thinking up rain.
you are a creative daddy and i love you.
and i feel lucky when i get to like the same stuff you do and be like you and understand that i am your girl.
i guess that's how most daughters feel about their dad, if he's a good one.
i've got the best.

brotherhood.

2011-11-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

if i could choose someone to be my big brother,

it'd be jake.

not that he's perfect or anything.

he looses his patience as much as any of us.

but most of the time he is....

just such a great big brother.

and ty.

he is so enthusiastically fun.

he's always ready to go along with jake's leadership.

he doen't need the credit.

he just wants to participate and have FUN!

i wish i could be more like him.

they are brothers.

it is so beautiful.

i'm sure there will be more to come.

more beauty

and (as with most beauty) pain and disappointment too.

but right now, in this moment, their brotherhood is such a gift.

i am grateful.

i hope someday they will be able to see the gift and be truly grateful too.

freckles.

2011-11-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

looking at the little sprinkling on his nose brings to my mind and heart such feeling.
simple feeling.
complicated feeling.
my first born son.
i experience nearly every "first" of parenting with this
precious, frustrating, childish, wise, hilarious, deep, trusting, bossy, complainy, sweet
eight year old boy.
yep.
i get all that from freckles.
his freckles are a symbol of him.
he is my treasure.
i am truly grateful.

the reed home made {lovely}

2011-11-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

this is my laundry.
bummer or blessing?
i am gonna choose to look at it with a grateful heart today.
we have more than enough clothing (clearly).
i have a washing machine that works.
that might not always be the case.
so today i choose to say,
"thank you Lord, for my laundry!"

and to see the rest of my house,

come on by heather's today!

our home is featured on her home made lovely series!

what a privilege, huh!?

join me and my never ending dishes over at

life made lovely!

and see....

the reed home made lovely

tea parties

2011-11-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

welcome november!

welcome my very first of my hundred things that i am grateful for!

welcome to my new button that will keep you up to date with my gratefulness list.

welcome to my and ella's little tea party....

today i am grateful for tea parties.
apple cider and colorful fishies in fancy mis-matched tea cups.
does it get any better?

livin' (the good) life

2011-10-31T21:43:00.000-07:00

this is what our lives have been made of this week:

lunch date (first ever!) for my reedo and i.

pumpkin patch date (just me and ella).

ninjas.

a mouse turns to rupunzel at the last minute.

pumpkin carving.

trick or treating.

i am of the belief that in order to enjoy halloween at all, i do not became crazy photo mom.

trying so desperately to get pictures that will undoubtedly be really really bad.

instead i am deliberate about taking photos RIGHT when the costumes are complete.

preferably a few days before in some nice light.

this year it was with my trusty iphone and i love the few shots i got of my ninjas!

and then i of course snapped one or two of the action (red eye and all) the night of.

in my opinion that is perfect!

dancing on daddy's feet.

(the good life, indeed)

a week ago today...

2011-10-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

tiny pumpkins.

2011-10-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

remember this from the day before yesterday?

yah, well, one of the MOST annoying things happening at my house right now is the "need" for everything to be fair.

i realize that the reason it is so annoying is that i feel like a failure at teaching the children to be grateful for what they do have instead of looking at each other and being jealous.

but, beside that, it's just super duper ANNOYING.

so when the boys saw that ella had these, OF COURSE they had to have some too.

and each person should have the same amount .

ugh.

well, i did have enough to make them all five each.

(no wonder they feel entitled, right)

so i did.

and then we named them.

and that was super funny.

good names.

right?

and everyone is happy because it's fair.

hope i don't get hungry and each one.

cause then i'd have to eat three.

unsung hero

2011-10-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

you wanta know who the unsung hero of apple day was?
reedo.
nothin' hotter than a man in sunglasses eatin' a tiny granny smith, right?

this guy came through in a big way on sunday.

overcoming obstacles left and right.

my camera's SD card was only holding 20 photos?

no prob.

lets go get a new one in town.

an apple orchard (they said they were the last one open) would only let us pick four apples off the trees and then the rest had to be out of the already picked barrels?

jake's crying.

i'm keepin' my chin up.

no, no, lets go into town and have some lunch (at an amazing BBQ place he found) and then, sure enough, he finds another one open.

it's pricey.

but he bit his tongue, went to the ATM, and then marched everyone in.

and as i went crazy taking photos (better get our money's worth!)

he took over with whichever kids weren't cooperating with me and did the majority of the apple picking.

THEN, stopped on the way out for me to get a tall cold apple cider.

all in all, this has never been his favorite activity.

but honestly, you never would've guessed if you'd seen our family that day!

what a sweet gift he gave me.

his happy heart doing an activity that isn't even his favorite.

...and maybe, after three years, he's starting to like it?
(ah, who am i kidding, he's just a kind husband)
thank you, reedo.

today.

2011-10-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

today.
my girl dressed herself well.
and asked me 783 questions before 7 am.

today.
my girl and i went to target.
i got a salted carmel frappaccino with half the coffee.
yep, a glorified milkshake, i'm not ashamed.
(well, maybe a little)
and she got a vanilla milk and we grocery shopped and browsed.

today.
i bought 16 key lime pie yogurts.
they will be gone in a few days.

this may the most unflattering photo of myself that i have ever posted...or ever will again. so point and laugh it up...go ahead.

today.
i made ella clementine-o-lanterns.
with cuties and a sharpie.
she LOVED um!
she lined um up and made a pumpkin patch.

today.
my girl and i baked pumpkin muffins.
then i filled a tin pail up with them and brought them with us to school pick up so the boys could have them while they were still warm and right when they got in the car.
yes.
it was a "good mother moment".
please remind me of this when i have a "bad mother moment" because it's coming, i'm sure.
you'll know it when you see it.
i promise.

today.
i took off my boots and lay back on my couch(maybe i could shut my eyes for 10 minutes?) and sure enough the phone rang and the timer went off and then we were into homework mode.
who was i kidding, anyway?

today.
i made up a recipe for chicken tortilla soup in a crock pot.
the goal was that i could assemble it in between activities and it be ready at 5:30pm.
i started at 8:30am.
(oh yah, and i didn't have all the ingredients when i started either)

it was seriously perfect!!!
i'm amazed at my own big self right now!

i call it.....

carpool mom's chicken tortilla soup.
this is what you do:

at 8:30 ( you know this time is pretty flexible, right?)

i sautéed and chopped up onion in a small pad of butter until soft.
(it's never too early for this smell, i'm telling you).

i filled the crock pot with two large boxes of chicken broth, 3/4 of a bag of fire roasted frozen corn from traders, a half drained can of pinto beans, and the onions.
i threw in (about) a teaspoon of chili power, a few shakes of dry oregano, and a pinch or two of cumin(the last of it)and some black pepper.
i turned it onto low and colored with ella, pinned a few things, read some blogs and then left for target.

at target i bought a large jar of green tomatillo sauce and corn tortillas.

then i drove through el pollo loco and bought 3 bone in chicken breasts that came with 3 large salsas (see photo).
and also a diet coke for the car.

at 11:00ish

i came home and dumped the tomatillo stuff into the pot as well as two of those salsas.
and added some salt (maybe half a teaspoon? up to your taste!)

then i made the tortilla strips(cut, spray with spray olive oil and sprinkle with salt and broil on a cookie sheet, 3 min. each side).
i made um, because i had time (freakish!)
but tortilla chips would be FINE!

then i took the chicken off the bone and chopped it up and put it in a baggie in the fridge(not in the soup yet!)

i turned the soup up to high for a while.
i made muffins and then went to pick up the boys.

we came home for playtime, naptime and homework.
i stirred and turned the soup to low again.
then left for karate.

we got home at 5:15.
the crock pot had switched to warm.
i dumped the chicken in the pot.
and served it up.
ladling the soup over broken up tortilla strips,
and sprinkling with cheese, avacado, a scoop of the EPL salsa and some sour cream.
done.

seriously good.
and it only look you 20 minutes to read this post.
this is just how do things.
messy and inconvenient and confusing.
you know you still love me.

we laughed, we cried, we got some apples...

2011-10-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

so here is a sprinkle of appliscious moments from sunday.
there were the happy moments as well as a few naughty ones
(as you can imagine)
but over-all, us reeds were unified by a mission.
to get apples.
and that we did.
so as i turn off my computer, and with the smell of spiced applesauce filling the house, head up to my fluffy pillow to dream up things to make with a parcel of apples, please enjoy the fruits of ~~our~~ my labor.

you are the....

2011-10-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

(photos inspired by one of my favorite people, bea)

just a little taste...

2011-10-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

there has been a bit of apple adventure in the reed life today.
here is just a taste of the loveliness.

it is quite an understatement to say that there is more where that came from.
stay tuned....
happy happy apple day!

the rock that is higher than i

2011-10-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

hear my prayer, oh Lord!
from the ends of the earth i cry.
your peace will lead me to the rock that is higher than i.

for you have been my strength in time of trouble,
a tower above my enemy.

and Lord, i will abide in you forever
in the shelter of your wings.

i sang this song at my church years ago and have never heard it again since,
but i have thought of it in several times of trouble.
does anyone else know this song?
i don't even know what it's called, so when i search for it i get nothing....
(maybe it was just for me.....)

wordless wednesday night.

2011-10-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

100 things....

2011-10-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

you know what i'm looking forward to?
this year's dose of november gratefulness.
i know i can be grateful all year long, and i am
but the structure of thinking of one specific thing each day sounds like just what i need right now.
i am also looking forward to it because i am planning on the november gratefulness tradition, to kick off a special new challenge i have for myself.
i first thought of doing this when i saw this video at my friend, joy's house.....

i came home and tried to find it online because this is the kind of thing i want to watch a couple times to really catch all the details, but i couldn't find it at first.
but today i did.
and i knew i had to share it.
and i knew i had to commit to it.
i am going to begin, on november first, to compose my 100 things.
i am going to try to figure out some image to put with each thing(this will probably be the hard part?)
i am going to take my time.
i am not going to just say things to find a 78th thing.
i might take two months.
it might take a year.
there are SO MANY things!
but i am going to do it.
now you know.
i can't wait!

kindness

2011-10-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

i get overwhelmed with my job, at times.
i mean there is a lot that a mother ought to teach her children.
love,
strength,
to stand up for the under dog,
to stand up for yourself,
compassion,
personal boundaries,
how to win,
how to loose,
to respect authority,
to respect yourself,
self control,
passion,
thankfulness,
how to strive for a goal,
how to relax and let go,
how to put your nose to the grindstone,
manners,
humor,
appropriate timing,
about heaven,
forgiveness,
graciousness,
how to do laundry,
that we aren't perfect,
that being imperfect is OK,
math,
how to talk to God,
how to listen to God,
how to cook,
how to clean up after yourself,
how to battle fear,
how to understand yourself and care for yourself,
how to ask for help,
how to help yourself.....

you get the picture.
sometimes, for me, it is paralyzing.
what about you?
i mean, i want to STAND for something.
but to stand for all of that seems exhausting!

so, that's where i am right now.
i know what i believe in.
i know what my job is.
but sometimes it.....just seems so huge.

i'm not sure what else to say.
that's it.
i have no solution to this dilemma.

but i will tell you what my kids and i did with my disappointment from yesterday.
i was planning on just doing my normal deal.
sleeping in a little.
(maybe adding in a little extra self pity that i was without a husband for the day)
taking the kids to karate.
having saturday, on my own(in the parenting department), without my normal break in routine.

then i read this post.
i saw it on kimberlee's blog.

and i stared and stared and thought it was one of the coolest things i'd heard of in a while.
it inspired me.
in several ways.
(there are a few things that are beginning to spin around in my head that i will share later)
it also inspired my kids, who i called over to share the post with.
they wanted to do something like that too.
so we quickly brainstormed and decided to pass out drinks (water bottles, apple juice and gatorade) with little "be kind" notes attached as random acts of kindness.
we woke up a bit earlier than usual.
printed out the notes.
wrote personal messages on the back.
jake wrote, "kindness. pass it on." and "God bless you and your family"
ty wrote. "this is kindness"
ella wrote her name and some scribbles.
it was perfect.
we hole punched and cut yarn together and tied the tags on with some friends over bagels.
and then just started handing them out at the shopping center by our karate studio
(we also brought gatorades for all the karate students.)
it was slow going until people realized that we weren't selling anything.
just giving it away.
the kids loved it.
jake was serious about it and a bit sad when people refused the drinks.
ty went up to anyone who came by and happily blew it off when refused.
no one refused ella, and i heard her tell one lady "God bless you" just like we'd rehearsed....

i didn't take any pictures of the hand outs since i thought that might be a little weird.

but i did get a few of the preparations....

this idea didn't change the world.
we didn't save anyone's life.
it's not my new mission in life to "let no man go thirsty"...
but we changed around our weekend.
nobody cried about not getting anything new at target.
i didn't bite off more than i could chew and start yelling at people.
instead we decided to smile at people and surprise them with a small gift of kindness.
it felt great.
it felt right.
so that's where i am today.
today i worked on teaching my children kindness.
at least i can check that off my giant list....

apple cider and disappointment

2011-10-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

here i am.
sitting in front of the computer with a small icy jar of apple cider.
icy apple juice/cider makes me think of two things.
one: being in the hospital when i delivered my children (i drank that like it was goin' outa style)
two: apple picking
our family is supposed to be doing that this weekend.
i was looking forward to that.
and i am sure i still will be able to do it another weekend.
but i'm feeling kinda baby-ish about it right now.
our plans have been set aside because of a work obligation.
i am very very grateful for reedo's job.
his job means a lot to me.
it provides me with many of the things that i care about most right now.
but i still wish to be apple picking.
i want to take fun pictures like i've done the past few years.
bea took um the first year we went.
remember this year?

i loved that year.
or or or!
remember last year?

ok ok don't be annoyed at my stroll down memory lane.
i'm just feeling sorry for myself.
it doesn't have to make any sense.

whaa whaaa.
i've got a really hard life.
this what last weekend looked like.

yah, sorta ridiculous to be whining.

i'll just sip my cider and shut up, ok?

"mollie makes" a pie party!

2011-10-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

hey, guess what!?

a few of the photographs from joy's amazing "reed family pie eating contest" shoot
got featured in mollie makes magazine! (seriously, how is she so amazing?)

have you ever seen it?

it is a really cute, creative magazine!
you can get it at barnes and noble.

us reeds are in a few of the photos that are in the article called "a perfect pie party".
it's also available here as an online magazine.

ella loves hers!

you should pick one up next time you are at the bookstore.

if not to see my super cute kids and husband or the sorta funny expression on my face in one of the photos, than because there are some really cute ideas in there!

for my girl

2011-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

i know i post a ton of pictures of ella.

she is with me a lot.

asking me questions and showing me things and telling me things.

yah.

mostly talking all day long.

laugh, if you must, all you mothers of girls who are familiar with the non-stop chatter.

wow!

that's a lot of words!

i am grateful for having my babygirl with me

and that i am the one who gets to be her mother and raise her.

but....i also have a headache.....everyday.

there i said it.

to show my devotion i made her this little banner.

i got the idea here,

(you all saw that amazing home tour right?)

and then did my own little spin, cutting white paper into rectangles and printing out instagram square photos so each flag looks like an oversized polaroid.

then wrote my words on the bottom and used my tiny heart punch to bring it home.

sew it all together with white thread and bam!

(that's a shauna reed tutorial for you! you didn't even know you were reading one, didja?)

delicious is only four ingredients.

2011-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

i wish to someday meet my blog friend keely.

she is rad.

for lots of reasons.

she blogs about the things she cooks for her family here.

i have had her recipe for peanut butter bites pinned for a while and i finally tried them.

her recipe has four ingredients.

oats, peanut butter, chocolate and honey.

so here is my (and ella's) experience in pictures.....

ew. gross. don't look at that pork tenderloin under the cookie sheet!
(why did i let that get in the picture!?)

ella drank strawberry milk on the side.

obviously....

and lets be honest she mostly just mauled the chocolate off the outside and left the inside peanut butter part.

i'm sure that part seems a little borderline healthy to her.

she wouldn't want to chance getting any protein or anything, right?

you should try them.
they are good.
really good.
and sometimes i just NEED chocolate and peanut butter.

(ps. i used milk chocolate here, but i think her recipe called for semi-sweet. whatever you use, you will be happy)

insta friday-october days

2011-10-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

this is what's been happinin' around here....

some simple halloween decor: black, cream, and white tissue poms with target pumpkin invitations clipped all around them.
i figure i can take down the black poms and pumpkins and substitute something wintry later?
possibly involving spray glitter?
(and yes, i mean without taking the others down. like, just spraying spray glitter into the air... over the carpet...yah, maybe it's a bad idea.....)

our week sadly started looking like this....

yep.

towels and a bucket.

the flu.

first ty, then jake.

but it was very fast.

just one bout of puking and then a day of sad moping around.

the flu is dumb.

especially because i had made plans with my cute friend and we had both miraculously written it down in our special new planners.

and then i had to cancel.

seriously?

i'm trying to be organized and big girlish and this is how i'm rewarded???

sick tummies get toast and Gatorade at the reed house.

and served in straw cups from smart and final, blue Gatorade is the prettiest thing about the flu.

(just God's little reminder that he knows my language even when i have the very humble job of cleaning up puke and waiting on my people hand and foot)

i woke up to a ballerina a few days ago....the light was too beautiful to pass up.
(don't tell ella, but i think we are going to put her in a little ballet class as her 4th birthday gift...i am so excited!)

rainy day school drop off.

Ty got to be sensei for the day on Tuesday.

he walk around bossing around guys that were twice his size.

and he even gave his brother push ups for getting out of line.

yep.

it was pretty rad.

does this even need and explanation?

big news!
we got a target in our town this week!
big, big, big news.
it's hard to explain how into it my kids were.
they begged to have dinner there (pizza).
we went on opening day, and i am telling you i think every child from our school was there!
it's like the new place to be!
dangerous. very dangerous.

crazy hair night included the age old trick of putting an empty water bottle in your hair....

ella and i went to d-land today.
we only have a few more months of our passes.
we went on:
1. mr. toad's wild ride (creepy)
2. the carousel (fun)
3. the storybook cruise (the whale freaks me out, but it's really not scary, i learned)
4. small world (obvs.)

5. the train (everytime)
6. winnie the pooh (her new favorite)

and then came home for school pick up.

i wished to go on this.....

(but, i think my little princess might piddle in her little princess pants if i took her in there.)

i got a lovely package from a sweet lady friend this week!
she speaks my love language.
anthropologineese.
she sent her baby announcement too.
it's the most beautiful announcement in the world.
(i know. i'm dramatic)

i am so glad that it's friday.
because i get to hope for more weekend morning dog piling (pictured below) very soon.
very, very soon.

that's just us.
hope you had a good week too.

rain

2011-10-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

around here, it's an event.

(thank you for all your encouragements yesterday.....they meant a lot to me)

the same me.

2011-10-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

this is me.

this is what i look like when i'm at my computer.
my sons are sick and so they are doing a star wars marathon (obviously)
i am sitting here.
thinking about my blog.
yes, i'm dressed.
i got this dress at forever 21 yesterday.
it was 24 bux.
the large fits me perfectly (unlike most forever 21 items that fit over my (agh-hum) lower area quite snuggly.)
it's lined with super soft knit cotton.
it feels like jammies.
(plus i can never wait to use something new...i always have to wear/use it right away.)
yes, my nails are painted the same color as my surrounding kitchen.
yes, i have a lot of freckles.
they show up even more when i picnik my photo and turn up the grittiness.
(yes, i picnik my photos of myself)
so here i am, in my kitchen that matches my nails and wearing my new cheapy dress...getting ready to clean up throw-up all day.

this is my life and this is what i feel called to.
at this point, i don't know if i feel called to blog for any particular reason.
i don't feel a calling toward a certain ministry or mission for my blog.
except to be as real as i can.
to be me and not be too worried about what everyone will say.
to give what is mine to share.
my ideas.
my photos.
my projects.
my creativity.
my honesty.
my grace.
my love.
it's mine because it's been given to me.
so why not keep up the giving by blogging about it?

this is not new.
this is what my blog has been about since....probably this post.... but for sure by this post.
but with a lot of talk of missions and purpose at and around blog sugar, i started feeling like i should have some kind of big change.
it's easy to look around and see another's beautiful purpose in life and want to jump on or even wish it was yours.
but the more i think about it, if i feel called to honesty, i have to say that my call is being myself (God's lovely messy little lady) and being a wife and sister and mother.
nothing else is pulling me...yet.
so maybe that's the answer.
i am just God's babygirl.
lots of areas to grow.
lots of life to live.
trying not to get ahead of myself or do things to appear super together for some dumb show.
i did like blogsugar.
i'm glad i went.
it was a good challenge for me.
and i loved seeing some faces that i already loved.
(you girls know who you are)
but now i'm here, getting ready to go get prepared for a guest post for a lovely lady.
same shauna.
same reed life.
hope that's ok with you.....

i'm trying...

2011-10-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

i'm trying to be better at keeping my closet organized.

a place where i can see what i have to wear.

it's hard.

i don't like doing it.

but when i do, i realize i have a lot more options than i think.

that makes me be less of a random unnecessary clothes buyer.

look at this rainbow.

then i pull out something i haven't seen in a while and it's way better than i remembered....

(all i need is some accessories)

well, here are some!

i feel like a princess!

getting to choose from all this stuff that i already had.

how lovely!

pie eating contest

2011-10-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

hey, so a few of you have mentioned that you haven't seen the reed family pie eating contest shoot yet.
well, it's hard for me to know how to share the photos.
if i just post those big beautiful (unwatermarked) photographs, my pal, joy's photos might be stolen.
that's not cool.
so let me make it easy.
look at the pictures here.
here.
here.

being in joy's photo shoots.
whether in this one ( that i WON!!!)
or this one
has been a dream come true.
really.
joy is brilliant.
and i felt like an actress and myself at the same time.
what's not fun about that?

(oh, and if anyone has any advise on how to share and protect photos you don't want stolen, let me know)
Publish Post

a picture story

2011-09-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

haven't heard from me in a while?
well, have a seat.
here is my week in pictures...

chapter one:

the week days and sister time with valerie

donut shop

reed kid love

ticket caddies, lego dana point, candy pumpkin patch, and rearview crazies

picture day at preschool

mmmmhmmmm

swingin on the hammock with aunt val

chalk feet

chapter two:

blog sugar weekend

packing and relaxing

balboa in the morning

the crow bar in the evening

quiet time at crystal cove

on the town with blog friends

thank you, julie, for having him and then sharing him.

chapter three:

home again, home again...

my life organizer: the cutest ever
from www.erincondren.com

back to my happy place with my girl

paddling with robin

my new storehouse crafts necklace came while i was gone!
check out Christie's blog (she has a shop on there!) you will want one too!

that's all i got, friends.
never a shortage of pictures here, huh?
but i think that letting them tell the story is sometimes the best way for lil' old me.

should i?

2011-09-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

pack for blog sugar?
or write a post?

packing wins.

(but here's one quicky photo of today...at 7am :)

(mysisterissobeautiful)