Introducing...Thomas Zachary Reese

He is here, and we are so excited. Congrats to the new momma, and the new proud papa. This sweet little baby joined the Reese clan in the wee hours of the morning. He is BEAUTIFUL, and his mother is glowing! I love you guys and I'm proud of you...

(Tommy)

I took this through the glass at the nursery with my phone. He came via c-section, so this is how we first saw him. He has a ton of dark curly hair, and the cutest most distinct little nose. I am so excited for these two and the roller coaster ride they are getting on. It's the best ride you will ever ride!

Ruby + Winston = True love?

Check this out.

**It is not for the weak stomached.

Easter Dress

I haven't sewn since Ruby! It was time. I did Easter dresses and ties! It was so fun. Here are the pic's

I did this cute dress with long bloomers underneath!

loved it.

The style of the two dresses were different with same fabric.

I did the ties, so simple and so fun!

I look like my hair is blowing away! YIKES!

Colin said yesterday we have done this picture every year! Well, he's right. They are a little different each year, but fun to see the change in our family! (and how I climb up and down the scale!!)

Easter 2002 (Prego with Ruth)

Easter 2003 (Ruth 9 months)

Easter 2004 (Washington DC with Spencer and Neeley, prego with Hank)

Easter 2005 (DC with Spencer and Neeley, Hank is asleep)

Easter 2006 (St. George, commuting, no Easter dress)

Easter 2007 (St. George-Living there)

Easter 2009 Potters front yard

Dad has been MIA

So, I don't think we've seen Colin in a few weeks! So, friday night this handsome man we call "Dad", and "Honey" came home! He had an event planned out for us. He brought a huge poster board, sugar cubes, foam shapes, frosting, markers, and an idea. We created our own little earth! Jack and I did a castle, Hank, an igloo, and Ruth a skyscraper, a wal-mart, a zoo, and much more. We spent hours and had a great time! We love it when we are complete and he comes home to be with us. I always tell him, "You don't have to be 'Disneyland Dad' just coming home is enough for us!" we love you, Dad.

RSV?

Ruby has had a runny nose for a week now. The other morning she woke up with a scorching hot temp! (103.5!) So I made an appointment and went in for a visit. The doctor started out by saying that her lungs sound good. She moved to the ears where there was a "massive" ear infection. (Her words) Then she wanted to do an RSV test. After waiting the 15 minutes she said the test was inconclusive and that she "thought" Ruby had RSV. She gave me and antibiotic, and a charge to go to the suction clinic at Primary's. After I was on my way, I thought to myself, how could this possibly be RSV. She is eating, sleeping, happy, and NOT coughing. She was extremely congested, but the doctor said herself that her longs were clear. I decided, no way! And after a day of amoxicillian, we are on the mend. Sometimes, mothers know best. (But thank goodness for doctors who verge on the side of caution, especially with the weekend ahead:)

Needless to say we have spent may a hours in one of our favorites places this weekend!

This was a BIG reason for the farmhouse sink!

LOVE IT!

Ironic

For family home evening last week Colin phoned home to see what I would like him to teach. I told him to teach them a life lesson this week, not a scripture story. I told him to pick something he feels they need to work on. He had a great idea. He went to the store and bought sweettart jelly beans. And a whole bunch of candy! (It was 3 of everything, so that it could be divided up equally) The idea was that everyone would have a bowl of their own. Every time someone was caught doing, or saying, something nice they got a "sweetheart" put in their bowl. Then, after one week we would see who had the most and they would win ALL the candy Colin had bought. You can imagine the excitement. In the first 2 hours of the project I was told that my hair looked beautiful 20+ times! Their enthusiasm didn't die, they were great kids ALL week. They said nice things, and did nice things for each other. It was so great! The catch phrase of the week became, "Mom, is there anything that I can do to help you?" Wow, what polite and thoughtful kids.

Being the mom, I was put in charge of distributing. All was well. By the end of the week everyone was well on their way to the prize...except me. I had 0 jellybeans. The kids just kept saying, "Mom, you just aren't very nice," or "You haven't helped anyone today."

HOLD ON A MINUTE!

REALLY?

That is all I do. Do you ever feel like all you do it DO for someone else? That is the definition of a Mother. Oh, wait, it is also that you do it all, UNNOTICED. So, I am sure that with all the meals, clean laundry, driving to lessons, cookies baked, and love administered, I had this thing in the bag! But according to those "sweet" little children, I had done nothing!

IRONIC!

Well the end of the week came and here is the outcome:

Everyone else's bowl

mine

**Ruth threw a few in the day before for taking her to a Ballroom dance performance. (Isn't that nice of her to notice?)

Ruth won, but the catch was when she got the candy she was supposed to share. It was ALOT of candy for one little girl, and it would divide up nicely between the 3 of them. She wanted to give them one thing! She lost the challenge. Once it was explained to her that she wasn't a true sweetheart until she shared everything evenly, she gladly did it! Good girl!

I am not ranting that I feel over worked and under appreciated. Actually the opposite, but Colin's fun little FHE lesson proved the point that mother's fly under the radar. That's the way it is supposed to be, and that is the way I like it.

**If you are thinking, "At least my husband appreciates me." Think again!

Conversation:

I made green pancakes for St. Patrick's Day.

Colin: Look at those awesome pancakes! I bet no one else gets yummy green pancakes today! You guys are so lucky!"

Naturally I am thinking that he is saying that to make a big deal of what I do for them and to give me a Jelly bean.

NOPE...

Colin: Hey mom, I deserve a jelly bean for saying that!!!

WHAT?!?!?!

I love being a mother, wouldn't change it for the world, but some appreciation is not coming till Ruth has an experience like this with her kids, and gives me a call. Here's to waiting 20 years for some appreciation.

Colin and I had a great little laugh about that one! He meant well! Thanks sweetie!

&

Thanks Mom! I love you, and ALL that you did for me when I didn't get it!

Molluscum?!?!

About 6 months ago Hank got this weird virus from his cousin. It is called, molluscum. It is a wart virus and spreads quickly! I was a little laid back in my approach to it, and it spread like wildfire! It has to be treated by a Dermatologist. This morning we finally made it there. Rather than burn it off the doctor wanted to "scrape" them off. After Hanks reaction it is safe to say that it was a bit painful! Although the kid had 20+ to scrape off. He was a champ! I'm proud of you Hank. You endured the pain your mom subjected you to. You should know that it wouldn't have been so bad if I would've taken you 6 months ago when you first got it! I'm sorry!

Here is the aftermath:

Those are the Band-Aids covering each molluscum.

Yikes!

**Jack just had 2 scraped off...thank my lucky stars!

While the Cats away the Mice will play

The Boys of the Reese family took a road trip to the WAC tourney to see the Aggies this past weekend. I think it is safe to say that they had a great time. They came home laughing about a lot of different things, and making fun of one another for different short-comings! But while the cat was away... the mice played!

• We were together every night for dinner
• The kids stayed up till 10 every night!
• We watched American Idol
• We went and saw, "My Family Wedding" (GREAT show)
• Did I mention that we ate food?
• Ruth put on a few plays
• Played with play dough

The weekend is now over and the kids are having withdraws! It was a great weekend. Thanks ladies;)

The boys

A play performed by Ruth, Ellie, and Scarlet

Hank eating Ashlie's YUMMY scones

D-D!

SCONES!

30, flirty, and THRIVING!

Two of my great friends turned 30 last week! Come on guys catch up with the rest of us that are well on our way to 40! (Kysha) Anyway, we kidnapped them for the day and went to the spa, lunch and shopping. Oh how these women bring sanity to my mind! I love you, dearly!

They were fun, and good sports!

My grandma's LEGACY

When I think of my grandma I think of sleep overs, late night cookie and jello making, shopping trips, and soft gentle hands. I have the greatest grandma in the world! This year for Christmas she gave Ash and I, each, a day of service. This means she will come and do whatever we want her to do. Well, my grandma's greatest legacy is her candy making skills. So yesterday Ash cashed in her day of service to learn how to do butter mints. It is always so fun to be with my grandma and learn her trade. She really is the BEST. If any of you like my fudge, caramels, toffee, it's all hers. It is amazing how temperamental candy making is. The weather makes a difference, the pot, the temperature of your countertop...you name it! I love her to death and had a great day with her yesterday, AND the mints turned out Yumm-o!

Who would believe that you pull butter mints like taffy?

So pretty...

***grandma, I want to dip chocolates in November!

Aspiring Beautician

I really don't need to say more. When I realized what he had done, I got a little hot under the collar! So, he felt terrible. What can you do? It is always a good learning moment. We have a mantra in our family, "ONLY, Nana cuts our hair." I can now say that Ruth, Hank, and Jack have learned that one the hard way. Sometimes you just can't protect them from learning by experience.

YIKES!

It could be worse...