The Reynolds Nation

So there are some awesome advantages to running...especially running so early in the morning.  This is what I got to watch this morning as I ran.  It was beautiful and totally inspiring.  To see this so early in the morning just brings such peace.  I didn't actually take the picture.  My daughter Bryn was running with me and she stopped to snap it. You just couldn't let it go by without documenting it. Well, it's been a month since my first 5k.  Can you believe it?  It's so crazy when you wait for something so much and then you blink and it's been gone for a month.  I am still running.  Three days a week to be exact. I am still loving it.  Yes, some mornings it is hard to get up.  But I really don't mind.  It's all for this new life I am living.  I think it's hard sometimes because it's summer time and this is when we are supposed to sleep in...right? Not here at the Reynolds Nation. I am up every morning at 5:15. My pl...

Bryn took this shot of Judah the other day when she was messing around with the computer.  It turned out to be a fabulous picture of my boy.  When I stare at it I see the man he will become.  It amazes me.  I feel like I see his future.  Gosh he is going to be incredibly handsome!

If you stop by the Reynolds Nation, you may get stopped at the door by these silly creatures.  Yes, they are pesky, not overly attractive...but they are loved desperately by the members of this family. Got to love their faces.

So...my blog is slow.  It's very slow.  Slower than I like it. It's my fault.  My posts have been few and far between.  And part of the problem is that I am just living life.  A very full life I might add.  To keep you up to date, I am posting a few pictures from the past week.  Above you can see a creation Esther made with a friend at the beach this week.  Super cool.  William, having a blast as always in the sand.  He loves the beach. The kids stayed up by me mostly this week, because of a small tropical disturbance (named Debbie) that was making the surf a bit rough.  So more sand time than water time. It's never too early to teach water safety :)  My little Judah bear acting crazy at the beach.  He loves going.  Sadly we have had rain almost every weekend, so it we haven't had much time at the beach with Dad.  Here is Esther displaying her work of art.  She is in the Art Aces and enjoyed a li...

Can't go by without mentioning what a great Father's Day we had yesterday.  We all headed to the Mall of Millenia in Orlando for some fun shopping and yummy food.  I have only been to this mall once and it was only for a few minutes. So, it was fun going to all the expensive stores and specialty shops.  We walked the hallways, peered in windows, watched strawberries be dipped in Godiva chocolate, tried on clothes and then headed to one of our favorite restaurants, PF Changs. All in all it was a good day.  Best of all it was a day to celebrate the most awesome father, Matthew.  He amazes me all the time at his ability to father our children.  I love him so much and love watching him be the Dad!

Just so you know what we have been up to lately, you can tell by these smiles.  Hitting the beach every opportunity we get.  Happy kids=Happy Mommy!

Oh my, I can actually say that I am so glad that this week is over.  It has been long.  It has been very long. It has been a week since we got rid of our books and started summer...and it has been a fiery crash down.  I guess my kids are so used to structure and lots of it.  We have had more arguments, fights, and misbehavior in the last week...and this mama is feeling a little crazy.  Glad to be done with this week and move into our full summer mode.  At least the kids will know what to expect each day and may not want to tear the face off of their sibling.  So, in response to my week of anguish I want to say something I am thankful for each of my kids :)  I will call it my therapy. 1. Bryn-How lovely you are.  I am thankful for your joy, exuberance and your funky personality. I see things in you that I never was able to blossom into at age 15. 2. Caleb-I am thankful that you are so helpful. You are the first to open a door, pi...

Welcome Summer! Yes, I know we are a few weeks from the official start of summer...but you know in Florida, summer actually starts around mid-April...and some years it literally is all year long.  But that's another post, right? We are in full summer mode now.  School is done. The books are being put away. School schedules have been thrown out the window.  And now we are jumping right into the summer schedule.  But what does this schedule look like? I have been thinking about this for days.  And my heart want to make this a summer of purpose. I want to have an idea of what I want to conquer over the next three months.  I don't want the months to just drift by and then all of a sudden it is time for school again.  That is very easy to do.  And I will be one very unhappy mama...most likely because my kids will probably fight and argue all summer long.  So, I am making a loose schedule out for the kids and I. I don't want to be crazy about th...

Yes, we did it! We finished our 10th year homeschooling.  The kids completed all of their subjects on Thursday.  Aaaaahhhhhh...can you hear the total relief and relaxation coming from me.  It was a great year.  It was our first with Tapestry of Grace...which I highly recommend and loved. Next year we will be going into Year 2 and I am so excited...Joan of Arc, the Crusades, the Printing Press...all that good stuff.  But first, I am trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I don't have to plan what we are doing for school the next week.  I am so glad. Of course, this means swim, swim and more swim.  But that's okay.  How about you? When do you finish?

I thought I would real quick post my new favorite picture of Matt and I. We took it last week when we went out on a date. A night out at our favorite sushi place. Love these moments. Love this man.

I took this shot yesterday on my first run by myself.  All of my running partners are down with injury or resting...so yesterday was the first time I had to go out by myself.  Though I didn't mind it was different.  And it is a struggle sometimes when you don't have anyone you are accountable to...nobody was expecting me, so I could have easily had gone under the covers and went back to sleep.  But what I have realized is that I am accountable to myself...I am choosing to live a healthier lifestyle.  I am choosing to loose this excess weight.  So, yesterday, I chose to go run (2.8 miles to be exact).  And of course it felt great.  It always does.  So if you haven't been to the gym yet or for any daily exercise...then get out there.  It's for you!