The Reynolds Nation

Well, I haven't died or fell of the face of the planet...I am here. I don't know what has happened these past few months. I truly miss blogging and I am trying to come back. Here is a picture from Saturday. William and I are now training for our half-marathon and this is right after we ran 5 miles. William actually ran a consistent 10 min mile. He is so awesome. And when we were done he acted like nothing happened and that he didn't just run 5 miles!!! So funny. To have an 8 year old body again. The weather is beautiful this morning and the clocks just changed. Which I love. It makes it so much easier to run in the morning and I feel like I have more time in the day when I am at my best...the morning. So, there is a pot of beans on the stove and the windows are wide open in the 58 degree weather. We had record temps on the first day of November...nothing like a 93 degree day on the first of November. So...if you read my blog...can you post a message and tell me you are...

Funny things I heard on the first day of school: Are we done yet? Can you write my name, Mommy? Hola! Why don't you want the power to go out? (It was storming outside) Adios There is a dragon fly stuck in the door...ooh I want to see it!! (please focus children) Are we done yet? Please circle it Judah...but I want to box it, Mommy!! Are we done yet?

I thought I would show you my SPOT lately. Sitting in front of curriculum and the computer. All week I have been playing out the first few weeks of school. I am adding on some new subjects this year so I have had to spend more time going over work. After 11 years of schooling I am very comfortable with my kids, my schedule and how I walk it out. But I am open to new things and change...stretching is always allowed to make improvements. Our school year starts next Wednesday...and I am very excited. I always feel like this at the end of summer. Ready for the routine to come back and the last few weeks of summer the kids get kind of bored.  So, on with the show.  Keep you updated...and pray that my eyes don't fall out of my head :)

Obviously I have been enjoying summer a little too much. Because I am still not keeping up with the blog. Shame on me. It's been so lovely lately. We have been beaching it, pooling it and just having a blast all summer. We got back from our vacation last week and now I am planning for the school year. Lots of curriculum hanging out on the tables and lots of time on the computer for me. Fun, fun, right? I will be back. I promise!

 At the beach on Friday...what a hot one it was!!! It was just the boys and I that day, so we got lots of time together!!!  The weatherman predicted rain all weekend, so we didn't do anything outside. By time Sunday night came the kids were going crazy! And the worst part...it barely rained! So we headed over to my brother's house and swam...until 10:00. The kids were whipped and passed out as soon as they hit the pillow!  The boys and I took a 2.5 mile bike ride on Friday. The sun was hot, but it was a lot of fun. My tan boy...this boy looks like he lives at the beach in the Bahamas! What a great day!

Well, I am back. Not that I went very far.  Actually, I didn't go anywhere these past few months (not including my NY trip that I referenced in the last post). When I got back from my trip I had full intentions to write again. And then a few days went by. Then a few weeks went by. And then every Monday I had great plans to write that day. And it didn't happen. I think I just needed a break. It's really my first break from the blog. Not much has happened. Just in the middle of another busy summer of sun, water and fun. School has been out for almost 6 weeks...we are just about at the half way point. I only have three more weeks before I start planning my school year again. We are going on vacation in August and then when I get back I will be knee deep in planning. But for now, I am taking that much needed mental break. So, see you again this week. I will post some pictures of the kids and what we have been up to.

On my way to New York...be back next week :)

Our little lady hit the two digit numbers at 1:33 this morning. Our precious little Roo graced us with her presence on Good Friday in 2003...and she has been a delight ever since. She is planning a huge fashion party this weekend for all her girlfriends....and she is so excited. So today is her day...a yummy sweet for breakfast, a lunch together at Chick-fil-a and then time together as a family tonight. We love you little Roo. You are a delight and every day is a joy with you in our home. Happy 10th birthday...may you have many, many more decades before you. Love you!

We got a special visitor in our bed the other night...around four in the morning. Special, yes. Surprise, no...lol. He mainly visits our bed most nights. Our special little Judah bear. All of our kids have gone through this. They love to come and get in our bed. It lasts a short season and then they don't come. It's sweet when they are young. Okay, so anyways....He came in and was snug in our bed. Until about 5 minutes later Judah screams that he has a bug in his ear. He gets totally hysterical on me. Screaming, yelling...and he is totally not controllable. We thought this must be a huge nightmare. So we check his ear...nothing. Matt flushed his ear out...nothing. I finally told him that we will take him to the doctor in the morning. I held him really tight and I finally got him to go to sleep. When we woke up in the morning I figured that all was well and done. But, not for Judah. He mentions first thing that we need to go to the doctor immediately. Now we are suspicious. It...

So true!!!!

Huge celebration here at the home front. Our little man lost his first tooth!!!! I can't believe it.  We knew it was coming. He was shaking it...wiggling it...and begging it to come out. He knows what happens when it comes out...MONEY!  And lots of it.  So, there was $5 under his pillow the next morning that he gladly took for himself. The funniest thing about the whole situation was that all day he continued to ask me for the tooth back. He begged all day. I have never had a kid do that before. I told him that I will give it to him when he is 25 years old.  He wasn't too happy about that...but he was happy about the money :)

I failed to mention at my last post, Marathon week, that we had a birthday last week too. My little William turned 8 years old. So sad. My little man already 8!!! We had a Lego mania party on Saturday with all his friends...boys only, mom, no girls allowed. He really is growing up too fast and I don't feel quite ready for this. Happy Birthday little man...may you have many, many more. And may your heart be like God's heart and may you always follow Him. Love you, Mom.

Well, I have been missing again all week. Not intentionally, folks. I had good thoughts of coming on here and blogging. I promise. But the week just got crazier and crazier...and now it's Sunday. And we wonder why time goes by so fast. School started back again. And that's a big adjustment. After only just a week off, the kids are totally in a different element. And the weather is getting nicer. So the thought of being stuck inside isn't very fun. But we must continue, right? So, the first couple days was a rough adjustment. Nobody wanted to stay on task and my little Judah bear would have rather been elsewhere. But we stuck through and finished. This week's reading was exceptionally long too, which made it hard to muck through. Then on Wednesday morning (very, very early) I got a call for one of my ladies who I will be assisting in their labor. Well, she was in labor. So, start this marathon day. First call, at 1:55 am...home from the hospital at 9:30 pm. The day was...

So long spring break. Thanks for visiting...you will be missed. Monday we headed back to school. After quite a lovely spring break. I started the week with a tremendously large list of things to do, and I am happy to report that they were all done :) Now that's what I call a good little break. Though the weather was very chilly all week, so we didn't head to the beach once. Which usually happens at least once during spring break. We had one of the coldest month of March that I have seen in a long time. I don't think we ran our air conditioner once the whole month...which is rare for Florida. Anyway, it was a busy week of work. I worked on my certification for my doula work. That took a lot of time and patience...but that should be sent out this week. I also had two cars at the mechanic getting things done. That felt good. And all the kitchen cabinets were cleaned out and reorganized...fantastic. And to wrap up the week the carpet cleaners came by and cleaned the carpets :)...

I walked out of my mother-in-law's house today to this sweet message. Judah wrote on the sidewalk for me. This boy totally captures my heart :) Hope you had a great Easter!

Do yours?

I brought these two book on the cruise with us last week. I almost bought them in the bookstore. I am such a sucker in the bookstore...I love books. I always have. I love to flip the pages and read on...letting the story unfold. I am totally a book junkie. Well, I didn't buy them because I am also frugal. So, I went to the library and looked for them. And I found them in there....score!!!! Okay, so for you Downton crazies...the first book on the left is awesome. All the background stuff about the show. I loved it. Did you know that they rarely eat in the scenes in the dining room...because the shooting of that scene can take 10 hours and they would have to eat the same piece of chicken the whole time (can we say yucky salmonella)? I love all the background facts. And if you like Downton Abbey, then you will love this. Also, I read the book Below Stairs. It's very cute. It's the story of a real servant like the ones who serve on Downton. It gives a real account of life b...

This was the simple dessert I told you about yesterday that I found on Pinterest. I was searching just the night before because I ran out of time during week. I found this and knew that it would be a hit! It was super simple to make...inexpensive...not too heavy after a big meal...and most of all, delicious. There is a brownie on the bottom, then vanilla pudding tinged with green (next time I will add some mint flavor to it), followed by cool whip and then an Andes candy on top. Super good! And I made them hours before hand and they stayed very nice and the brownie did not get soggy in the refrigerator. Love it! Give it a try at your house!

The title says it all...I feel so distant from my blog. And I hate it. Life has been so busy lately, so I just haven't had time to post much. And I am sorry. And I know I will be sorry in the future because I like to look back at all the events of our life. I briefly hinted before that we had something in the works around Bryn's 16th birthday. Well, that was a cruise that we had booked for her and a friend to celebrate her birthday.  The four of us went last Friday to Monday to the Bahamas on a Norwegian liner. And it was fabulous. It was fun to take her and celebrate her. She is so special and wonderful to us and this was the perfect way to celebrate the major milestone of a birthday. We had a blast being lazy on the beach down there and on the deck of the ship. It was super relaxing. Can't beat staring at crystal blue water while you drink a pina colada, right? The worst part of the trip is coming home. All day Monday I washed clothes and got the house ready for the sch...

My husband brought this ginormous bouquet of flowers home yesterday. So sweet. For our 17th anniversary. Love him. Seventeen years...amazing! Can't believe we have been married that long. We have lots of good times and some very dark, sad times...but it's all about the journey. Who are we in the end. I hope one day our child will call us blessed and that we are not only touching our generation, but the next and next generation. Are we perfect? No way. Do we have perfect lives? Yeah, right. But God is so good. And I love this man more today than I did 17 years ago. It's about the journey, folks!

This was the week. Bryn finally turned 16!!! The coveted age. She counted down for this one. There has been much anticipation for the day. It was a great birthday...and a great party. Super busy this week...will be back next week to share more. Enjoy the picture of our girl :)

It's cold this morning...for Florida at least. About 43 this morning. Yes, I know for you northerners, not cold at all.  Anyway, the boys were rolling around the floor with their blankets and Mia came out for the morning...and headed right for the warm spot in the house. So smart. Love my little pug!

One of my first thoughts at five this morning (when my eyes first opened) was...Thank God it's Friday. After a busy school week with 5 kids, I look forward to the end of the week. Matt will be home for the weekend and I don't have school to do. Lovely. Today we actually have co-op and then the park...so worth waiting for. Now, don't think that I don't like homeschooling my kids. I love it. I truly do. It is one of my favorite things in the world and I think daily how blessed I am to do it. But this year has been harder. Five kids under my care in regard to their schooling. They stretch me totally. They demand so much of my attention. It is hard...point blank. There are times where I have 5 pairs of eyes staring at me waiting (not as patiently, I might add) for their turn (and they are usually holding a book that they have to show me which adds to the intensity). And then there is Judah. I was thinking yesterday that I truly have met my MATCH . He is his own story. He i...

 My faithful running shoes out and ready to go at 5:30 this morning. We had a very early wake up call to get to the race on time. We had to be there at 6:20 to get our numbers, our shirts and to warm up...the race started at 7:00. I snapped this picture right before we started running. William is putting his earphones in and he was ready to go.  I love this picture...we had just taken a quick walk to warm up and he looked so happy. I just love his enthusiasm!  Our running gear, minus my phone that I use. We have an ipod, my garmin forerunner (to track my pace), bluetooth headset and ear phones. We were ready. First time I have ever fallen when I have run. Literally when I was at 5.5 miles I took a tumble on an uneven sidewalk. My knee looks bad and I bruised my thumb (of all places)...I am assuming I bruised it from trying to catch my fall. This is us after the race...goodness, I am sweaty. And it was a cloudy day. I guess I am allowed to be so sweaty ...

I snapped this picture on Valentine's Day.  We were having our big extravaganza with our homeschool group (70 kids, wowzers)...and I took this really quick before all the action. A great snapshot of all my kids...the boys with helmets on because they were riding their scooters...and the girls looking beautiful as always.   William brought this in the house for me one day.  Ready to slip on my finger. I am amazed with this boy all the time. He has always been super sweet and sensitive, but I believe he is going to be one romantic, smashing husband one day. I love when he does stuff like this. It so makes my heart melt.  Huge accomplishment these past few weeks. My little Judah bug is finally reading. Yes, that would be 5 kids that I have taught to read. Amazing. He was a bit of a late bloomer with the reading...he truly is ALL boy. Much more hands on and physical then the sit down and read type. But we made it. Every day he gets better and better. Lo...

So, I need to catch up. Seriously, my life is slipping by and I haven't made much mention of what is going on. I am feeling refreshed, finally. It is amazing how run down you get...and fast.              Well, I passed my special day....February 6th...and I thought of posting about it, but alas, I never got that far. The 6th was the year anniversary of my incredible weight loss journey. No diets, no gimmicks...just living life to the fullest. I was talking to my husband last night and I remember saying that I feel better today than I did when I was 18. WOW! If I only had known this before. I am truly and finally living. And it feels good. Just lots of healthy, yummy eating...and lots of lots of exercise. Voila! It was that easy....haha...not easy, but so doable. I am hoping to be at my goal weight by the end of the year. I have a 20th high school reunion coming up this fall...and I plan on buying a fabulous ...

That's my word for you today. My head has been spinning for the past two weeks. So much going on...the pace never slowing down...the to-do list running long and then longer. I feel really tired. And I think about blogging...and I want to...and I have funny pictures to post..but then the reality is that I feel too tired. I feel like I can't kick it. So, I plan on spending a few days laying low. And I hope to post a few times. I love blogging. I can't stop. I won't stop. I just need to catch my breath.

This was the sky above my house this morning when I walked my husband out to the car. To me, it actually looked like a painting or a picture done by a professional photographer. It was absolutely breathtaking. Even now as I look at it, I am amazed by the Lord's splendor. The last couple days have been a whirlwind. I am so tired, still. I attended a birth this past Friday that took me to after breakfast (when I arrived at dinner time)...and I was one very tired doula. I am not a night owl, so it's hard for me to function without sleep. Which is what I did (I did get 3 precious hours)...because I had my husband's birthday party that night. So, I am still recovering. And I don't have much to say, other than that. Tired. Tired. Tired. Catch me in a day or two.

 This is my favorite picture ever....Kayaking big family style...This was us on Sunday afternoon. It was so beautiful out. The weather was about 75 degrees (I know, it is January) and we were out with all the kids in the kayaks. We saw dolphins galore ( a few jumped by the kids kayak, only about 4 feet away)...and we went down the river for a few miles. It was such a glorious afternoon. We could not have had a better day.  A few minutes together while the kids played on the island in the middle of the river. Love this man!  Yes, our kids are crazy. The water was so COLD!!!! But they were in the water, swimming like crazy. Not me, that's for sure. I stayed on the island and snapped pictures. Even so, it was so much fun. We are looking forward to warmer weather (and warmer water) when we can take a picnic lunch out to the islands and swim for hours at a time. And last, but certainly not least, our little Roo had her cast taken off this week...after almost 2...

I had to post about the above picture. I posted it on Facebook on Saturday after some thoughts with God. I was having a really rough week with my self-image. Not feeling up to par, I guess is where I was at. Not feeling any thinner...feeling like the round ball that I was. Crazy. I must admit that this weight loss journey is such a mental game. It's so hard because you feel you look one way, but you really look another way. Obviously I don't feel as big as I did last year at this time...but I just can't seem to know how big I am. I am not used to this skin I am currently in. And the hard part is that it changes all the time. I have lost 112 pounds..in 11.5 months...I am constantly changing. I can't describe my feelings really well...it's so weird. Anyway, so I was thinking about it and I felt like God wanted me to take a picture of myself. I was alone in the house (that rarely happens) and I don't think I have EVER taken a picture of myself. Headshots, yes....

  I know, when I saw the words "virtual 5k" I thought it was kind of weird too. I had images of me just running in my mind, not actually running. Running on the computer? Well, over at my favorite blog, www.Runsforcookies.com , Katie was going to celebrate her 31st birthday. And what way would you want to celebrate your 31st birthday? Running a 5k of course...3.1 miles for 31 years...with almost a 1000 of your closest friends spread all over the globe. Lol. Everyone signed up and and agreed to run/walk 3.1 miles in honor of her birthday. She even made the cutest bibs to print out and wear...which William and I proudly did. Today we headed out in nice weather (about 50 degrees) and ran our miles. And it was a good run...it felt good. And it felt even better knowing that so many other people were out there running too. What a great way to celebrate the day! It felt great! Happy birthday Katie...thanks for being such an inspiration!!!       ...

So, Monday. Hello. How are you? Haven't seen you in awhile...about 7 days to be exact. Yes, I wasn't really looking forward to you. But that's okay. Now that you are here you are being quite pleasant to me. Thanks, I appreciate it. The kids are on the porch already playing with their legos. Making a new house to go on the table there. They are usually very specific. With lots of furniture, people and all the extras you expect in a house. We had an easy school day. Lots of reading (and of course all the other stuff too...like math, phonics, science). We are in the age of Elizabeth I...lots of Shakespeare, Catholicism and Queens. We have been reading Shakespeare for weeks now...the kids have got a kick out of it. Laughing at the silly stories...and being very confused at times because of the story lines. Today was "A Midsummer Night's Dream." A very confusing story...that seemed very silly in the end. The kids looked at me with weird faces. Oh well, they will ...

I am finally posting pictures from our race 2 weeks ago. My little man and me. I still can't believe that he ran the race. And since then has continued running with me 3 days a week. He is amazing! The picture with me in it still shocks me...I can't believe that I am that small. Enjoy!