Easter 2013

This past weekend we celebrated Easter.  What a great time to celebrate our Risen Savior and the sacrifice He made for us. We started our day with a visit from the Easter Bunny.  He brought Emma & Evan all kinds of fun things.  They got a bubble machine and LOTS of bubbles, play dough, sidewalk chalk, washable paint, some books, and a cute little Easter shirt.  They actually wore it a few days early to their preschool Easter Egg Hunt, which you'll see in pictures below...but it was supposed to be an Easter gift...so it went in the basket too!  We then got ready and headed to church.  There were over 30 people in Sunday School and that wasn't including Matt & Katie.  They had to teach this past Sunday.  I thought that was an awesome number.  Then, we headed to preaching.  After church momma & daddy left to head home and get dinner started.  Katie & Matt were eating at Emerald Gardens with Matt's grandma so they took a quick picture with us and headed out.  We also got a family shot...which you will also see below!   Then it was time to head to my parent's house for lunch.  The Easter Bunny also visited my parents house and left some things for Emma & Evan.  There they got 2 new baby Eistien DVD's, a couple of books, a stuffed rabbit to go along with one of the books, and some snacks.  They are two spoiled little toddlers!!  This is just a side note...but Emma & Evan still LOVE baby Eistien movies.  They are not big TV fans.  If it is on occasionally they will stop what they are doing to watch it...but very rarely, unless you put on one of their DVD's.  They will sit there for hours watching these things.  How do I know that you might ask...well one of their DVD's had a skip in it and after it had played for about 20 minutes it would start back at the beginning.  They watch that one for at least an hour one day.  I almost just let it keep starting over to see how long they would watch it.  I didn't though!! Anyways...back to Easter... after a wonderful lunch at Momma & Daddy's we headed to Justin's family annual Easter Egg Hunt.  This was Emma & Evan's first time hunting at the event so we were excited.  They did pretty good considering they both only had maybe a 30 minute nap all day.  They even found some eggs on their own and put them in their basket.  It started raining right as we were leaving the family egg hunt...so the weather cooperated.  We then headed home for a quick supper and early bedtime.  Remember they only had about a 30 minute nap all day!!  After they were in the bed Justin and I ended our night with the last of the Bible series. Over the past 5 weeks, we have been watching the Bible series on the History channel every Sunday night.  I hated to see that series end because it became part of our Sunday night rountine.  It was a series that shared stories out of the bible from Genesis to Revelation.  From reading in the bible and stories I heard all my life...I had them pictured in my head as to how they happened.  This series changed a lot of the pictures I had.  It put the bible into real life.  This past Sunday was also mine and Justin 6th wedding anniversary.  6 whole years we have made it!  As aggrevating as he can be there isn't anyone else in this world I would rather share my life with.   Justin is a great husband and father! We're hoping for MANY more years together.  Until next time...enjoy some of our Easter pictures!!

Aunt Katie kept Emma & Evan one afternoon while I ran some errands and they made this little craft for me and Justin.  I knew Katie was up to something when she wanted me to bring them over for her to keep!  We love their little hand print bunnies though!!

Emma & Evan checking out their stuff from the Easter bunny!

 

And again...

and again..

Family photo!

Family photo plus Katie & Matt

Janice gave Emma & Evan a sucker for Easter.  Emma was really excited about her sucker!

Baskets from MaMa and PaPa.

Emma was still playing with that sucker!

Emma & Evan looking at their baskets!

Chubby cheeks looking at what Evan was doing!

MaMa feeding Evan his rice krispie bunny!

My sweet boy!

Emma & Evan's Easter goodies!!

 

A work in progress...

Justin and I have been wanting to get to work in our yard and we started that this past weekend.  We bought our house March 15, 2011 and I found out I was pregnant April 8, 2011.  So, with morning sickness, bedrest, and then babies...our house and yard got pushed to the back burner.  Now that Emma and Evan are older and able to go outside with us...we have lots of plans for this summer.  We started by working on the deck.  Since there are two levels we thought we would close in the top level to give Emma and Evan a place to play outside.  Here are some pictures of Justin & Emma and Justin & Evan working on the deck.

Emma helping Daddy!

Evan helping Daddy!

Evan enjoying outside.  Yes, I made him wear this hat.  Poor thing has pasty white skin like his momma!

They are big little helpers...or at least they think they are helping!!

A relaxing mountain trip...or not!!

As I promised, here is an update on how our mountain trip went a couple weekends ago.  We had planned to leave Friday afternoon at 6:00.  It was more like 6:30 but hey...that is normal for the Reid's!!  We decided we should eat soon since Emma & Evan like to eat between 6:00-7:00.  We stopped at Fatz in Clinton.  Mind you this was about 7:00 now. 2 and 1/2 hours later we leave Clinton.  Yes, it was 9:30 before we even got on the road good.  The girls & babies were all in my car and the guys rode in Katie & Matt's car.  So, here I am driving on the interstate at night following Matt.  Those of you who know me know I am not a good fast driver.  People HATE for me to follow them.  Plus, I HATE the interstate!!  Thankfully by 9:30 though...the interstate was pretty bare!  Plus, Matt is an AWESOME person to follow.  He really thinks about things.  He even knew that I get extremely nervous driving on the interstate when people are coming in off exits...so he would slow down to let them in before I get got to the exit.  What a great brother-in-law I have!! :) So, of course Emma & Evan go to sleep.  At 11:30 when we arrive at the mountain house...we have to wake them up and take them inside.  Those of you who know Emma & especially Evan know what it is like to wake them up!  Katie & Alison tried to just hold them while Justin and I set up the pack-n-play's.  Of course that took forever and at 1:00 they were finally back asleep.  That was a lot of screaming between 11:30 and 1:00.  If Alison ever thought about wanting kids...that may have changed her mind!! :)  Oh...don't let me forget to mention that Justin was sick this whole time.  He wasn't feeling great when he came home from work but just thought it was what he had eaten for lunch.  So, in our 1 hour wait at Fatz...he has to make a dash to the bathroom because he was throwing up.  Fun time that was.  Anyway...back to the mountain trip.  Saturday morning Evan woke up at 6:00 but we had only been asleep for 5 hours and that is not enough time for this momma...so he slept in the bed with us until 8:00.  Katie fixed us breakfast and it was delicious.  We just hung out around the house exploring and enjoying the wrap around porch.  We just had hotdogs for lunch and headed to Waynesville after that for a little window shopping.  It is a neat little town with lots of shops to just wander through and look around.  The weather was perfect.  It was between 65 & 70 degrees.  Emma & Evan enjoyed being strolled around.  We headed back to the house that afternoon for a feast that Katie prepared.  She got NO rest the weekend because she spent the whole time cooking for us but that is what Katie lives for is too cook.  She fixed steak with somekind of sauce.  It has a fancy name but it really was good.  Coconut shrimp and just plain fried shrimp for those picky ones of us that don't like coconut.  I will admit I was skeptical but it really was good.  She also fixed salad and potato casserole.  Don't worry I took a picture because all of her hard work needs to be recognized!!  We spent the next night fighting with Emma & Evan trying to get them to sleep again.  It was not near as bad as Friday night but they just weren't having us laying them down like normal.  They wanted us to rock them and they had to be completely out before we could even attempt to go put them down.  We had planned to go eat breakfast at Joey's pancake house Sunday morning but it was closed.  How is that even possible??  We ended up at a Waffle House.  Defintiely not my first choice but it was good.  It didn't take us long at all and Emma & Evan did great.  We like going to quick places.  Waiting for food is not the most fun expreience.  As long as there is entertainment they are fine...but that wears off quick anymore.  After that we went back to the house packed up and headed home.  Even with all the crankiness at night we still had a wonderful time with family.  I am so lucky to have such great parents and sisters that I truly enjoy being with.  We also planned an Easter Egg hunt that we are going to host for our friends and their kids.  It is going to be so fun.  Look for that post to come in a few weeks!!  Now, here are some pictures of our trip.

Evan was really telling PaPa about it!!

Emma wasn't into picture time!!

The boys!!

Katie cooking away!

Momma & Daddy just relaxing!

Evan wearing Uncle Matt's hat!

Me & my sweetie!!

Aunt Katie and Evan checking out the creek.  Emma wouldn't have any part in that!

These babies LOVE so cheetos!

Emma trying to feed Evan.  She is such a little momma to him!

Katie's delicious supper!!

Family photo!

 

 

Group shot.  Evan wasn't feeling picture time!

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY...

It is a dreary Saturday here in the ole Ninety Six.  Emma & Evan are napping & Justin is at work...so I thought I would blog for a little while.  I have written the mountain update but the adapter for my camera card is broken and I can't find one anywhere in Greenwood.  I haven't checked Office Max yet...so hopefully they will have one.  Once I can get my pictures uploaded...the mountain trip blog will be posted.  We are getting ready for Easter around here.  I ordered Emma & Evan the cutest little monogrammed shirts off Etsy and they should be here before too much longer.  I am trying to convince Katie that we need to invest in a monogram machine.  It is ridiculous what I pay for monogrammed stuff!!  Surely as many people as there are that can monogram...we should be able to do it.  So, what are Emma & Evan up to... They have a new bedtime of 7:00.  No you aren't reading that wrong...they are literally going to bed at 7:00 and sleeping through the night until usually 6:30 or 7:00 the next morning.  Normally I wouldn't be one to complain about this because this girls loves her sleep too...but we don't have time to do anything before they are ready to go to bed.  Those of you who know my two know when it's bedtime...it's bedtime.  There is no stalling or trying to keep them awake.  Each night it's like before baby times again!!  Emma now has 3 of her 4 molars...so hopefully teething will come to an end for her before long.  Evan still doesn't have any.  We defintiely think they are coming though!! :)  Evan's new favorite words are Thank You, apple, & PaPa.  It is so cute.  Emma still isn't saying too many things.  My mom says it's because she always has the paci in her mouth...so we are limiting paci time.  They will fold their hands as we say our blessings before meals.  I know they do this at school...so they are getting the hang of it.  They will follow simple command like helping to pick up toys and to bring me things when I ask for them.  Oh and they LOVE to throw away their diapers.  Once you finish changing them...they stand right beside you waiting for you to hand them the dirty diaper.  They will take it to the trash and throw it away.  I hope their love for cleaning continues into their teenage years! They both LOVE some praise.  After everything they do they start clapping.  I guess we have started that by clapping for everything they do...but it is so funny to watch them clap for themselves!!  Never hurts to boost their own self-esteem right???  Spring is here and summer will be before long.  Justin is supposed to work on getting our deck finished so we can block Emma & Evan off from the pool today.  That is why my title hints Rain Rain Go Away.  I have been wanting him to do this all winter.  He decided that since April is just around the corner and he plans to spend every Saturday Turkey hunting..that he needed to get this done now. Putting up this gate and rails will also give us a place to let Emma & Evan play outside where they will still be confined.  They are getting outside things for Easter so we are anxious to be able to use them.  Bubbles and play dough and things like that are much better outside activities than inside activities!!   So, that is our weekly update.  Hope you all have a fun-fill dry weekend!! 

Bumble Bee and E-I-E-I-O....

As you remember from a while back...Evan's favorite song was Deep & Wide.  At random times throughout the day he would just start singing it.  Emma would help with the motions but he had the singing down pat!!  We tried and tried to get it on camera but he always would stop singing as soon as we got the camera out.  Evan has now moved on to a Bumble Bee song they sing at school and Old McDonld.  At first I didn't know the words to the bumble bee song so I was a little confused as to what he was singing or better yet trying to sing.  So, I googled the song so I could sing it to them.  At first they only part they would chime in on was the "Ouch, he stung me part."  Then, they started squishing up the baby bumble bee and now they will wipe off the baby bumble bee.  Emma still just does the motions but Evan loves to sing.  It is hilarious hearing him try to say bumble bee.  Also, Evan' loves the song Old McDonald Had a Farm.  Every time I turn on their video in the car he starts singing E-I-E-I-O.  At first he wouldn't say the "O" but now he does.  It just amazes me how quickly they are learning things!!  Emma loves to dance.  I was clogging with her the other night...yes, I still know how to clog...and she started copying me or at least trying too.  There is hope she will like dancing after all.  Just a little post to keep track on what Emma & Evan are doing.  Since I don't keep a journal...this is my way of remembering fun things they do!  I took advantge of a website a friend posted about where you can print your blog.  I have printed through 2012...so we are pretty caught up.  I just want to be able to remind them of things they did when they get older.  Oh how we love these two munchkins!! :)

15 month update...better late than never!!

A couple days ago a friend of mine posted on Facebook about taking her little boy for his 15 month check-up! What???  A 15 month check-up???  We didn't have one of those and we go to the same doctor.  I called immediately to check and see what the deal was and just as you would know it we missed our 15 month check-up.  So, we went for that today.  Actually I took Emma on Monday because she STILL has a lot of green yucky junk running out of her nose.  This has been going on for weeks now.  Good news...the ear infection was cleared up but Dr. Felder put Emma on Zyrtec because she thinks Emma may have allergies.  NO SURPRISE THERE!!!  Back to our 15 month update.  The appointment was at 10:00 and Justin met me at the Dr. Office.  Evan was not in a good mood because he wanted to get down and I am not about to let him roam around that germ infected place.  We have enough trouble staying well without doing that.  So, he was already pitching a fit before we even saw the doctor.  Fun times....I tell ya!!  Evan weighed in at 25lb 8oz (58%) and was 32 in long (68%).  He head is 19in (90 something %).  Emma weighed in at 23lb 8oz (56%) and was 30 in long (36%).  Her head is also 19in.  They both are doing great developmentally according to all the questions Dr. Felder asked.  We ended the appointment with 2 shots.  You can imagine how that went with a baby that was already CRANKY!!  We got in the car and as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot Evan was asleep!!  After naptime and lunch...they seem to be back to normal.  Dr. Felder also gave us a new antibiotic for Emma.  This makes #4!  I hate giving her all this medicine.  She is going to become immune to antibiotics before long.  Hopefully this one will help get rid of all her congestion.   We are getting ready for our 1st mountain trip this coming weekend.  It looks like we are going to have perfect weather.  Yay for a weekend away!  Be sure to check back next week to see how our weekend went.  It's time for me to go start supper.  Happy Wednesday!!

Momma and Emma before church on Sunday!

Momma & Evan...best picture I could get!!

Another week behind us...

I don't normally wish my life away...but I will be GLAD for this week to be OVER!!  Our week started out pretty bad and didn't get much better. Emma & Evan were both sick Saturday with runny noses and crankiness.  Friday night my throat was killing me...so  I decided to take Emma & myself to the doctor on Sunday and we both left with antibiotics.  Evan was already on an antibiotic...so I didn't feel the need to take him with us.  He actually went to do some things with his Daddy.  They went to visit an older man that Justin turkey hunts with, they went to check the trail cameras, and ended up at the Stewart's house.  Sam worked on Justin's bow for him.  After Emma & I left the doctor's office, we did a little shopping while our medicine was being filled.  Justin and I are going to a wedding in April where everyone is wearing cowboy boots and I didn't have any...so we were on a mission to find me some boots.  We found some at Shoe Carnival that I love.  We also visited K-Mart for some baby essentials.  Little Miss Social Butterfly proceeded to wave at everyone that passed us as we strolled down the isles.  You would have never known she was sick.  Emma & Evan have both been sleeping A LOT this week.  Monday when they got in the car from school they both fell asleep...which was 12:00 and Abbey had to wake them up at 3:30 to feed them.  They both have slept MUCH better the past fews nights...can you tell I am one THANKFUL momma??  Hopefully we are all getting better.  I went for my follow-up with Dr. Tarasidis on Monday and to review my bloodwork.  I got really good news.  My right thyroid is doing a fantasitic job and I won't need to take medicine.  He was very pleased with the whole surgery and released me from his care.  Since the mass wasn't cancer and there weren't any nodules in my right thyroid...he is hoping that I won't have any more problems.  Yay!!!  Momma and Daddy are busy getting their house packed!  I'm not going to lie-- I was sad when I drove up Sunday and saw the sold sign in the yard.  We know the couple buying it and know that they will love it as much as we did...but it is still hard to imagine someone else living in our house! :(  The other house is just about finished.  All the painting is done and Gary Price is coming to talk with them next week about the additions they are doing.  We have a lot of moving to help with over the next few weeks.  Since Daddy is just now healing from his knee surgery and momma still isn't supposed to be using her arm for lifting...they will need LOTS of help.  On the bright side...she is fixing to start keeping Emma & Evan again.  She is such a lifesaver!!  Last night we celebrated her 61st birthday.  Emma, Evan, & Alison missed the party.  Emma & Evan were already asleep because they decided to only take one 30 minute nap yesterday...so bedtime was extremely early!!  Alison is in Santee with Nick for his birthday, which was the 6th.  We had planned to celebrate momma & Daddy's birthday's next weekend while we were all in the mountains but we just had to do something on momma's birthday.  She goes out of her way EVERY year to do something for ours...so that only seemed fair!!  I am so thankful to have such a wonderful mom.  I can't imagine my life without her!!  Work is starting to get interesting.  At the end of last year, we talked about me taking on several new roles and now it has turned into me taking on a lot of new roles.  I actually got started with some of the new things this week and I love it.  Budgets and managing money are right up my alley!! :)  I knew that financial planning degree would come in handy one day!!  This weekend is supposed to be warm and sunny...so we are going to get outside and have some fun.  It will be spring and summer before we know it and I can't wait!!  We all have our new Easter outfits ready and waiting!!  Anyways...this is just a little update about our week. Hope your's was healthier than ours!!

 

 

 

My sweet boy is ready for spring & summer. 

 

Momma's birthday cake!

Me & Katie with the birthday girl.  Just noticed how big the shirt makes me look.  No more wearing it!! :)  I also just noticed my last few post have had no pictures of Emma.  Probably because my little wiggle worm won't be still...but the next post will have some pictures of Emma.  No showing favoritism in this family!! :)