Coming out of Hiding....

We had a little vacation around here called Spring Break....which was no real break for mommy....I loved it though we had a few appts. throughout the week but we packed the week with alot of fun....Bounce houses, laser tag, sleepovers, Tides baseball, Toby Mac/Skillet concert....I was exhausted come friday and was so thankful for a day of rain...it gave me a little bit of down time which I took the truck in for some work...The only bad part is it gave us just a taste of whats to come for summer and we now are all so anxious for it to arrive we have alot planned then too...ocean breeze, summer camp w/ church, concerts, the beach, the pool, soccer camp, skating camp, probably a few more baseball games, busch gardens.....AAAHHHHH oh and a vacation home to see my side of the family and family pics while we are there....I tell you I am LOVING the time I get to spend with my kiddos...it's great when you don't have to worry about naps and such now that our youngest will be 5 soon....well hopefully I won't be in hiding so much I really try to get things updated here but I am the mom of "6" and our schedule is oh so busy but we are loving it...just doesn't leave me much time to settle and gather my thoughts always something to be done around here....Thank you for your patience....What do you have planned for you and your family this summer????

A very blessed day....

Today we started our day with a great service at church....oh how it was a great message and in great timing too...we are getting ready to start a great series and I am beyond excited...We then invited some very dear friends and some neighbors over for Easter brunch and an Easter Egg hunt with the kids..Oh the weather was just so perfect for this day...I just feel so blessed today with the weather, the fellowship and frienship that I have had today...and I think this starts us off to a great Spring break....The only thing better would to be with the rest of my family but I guess we will just have to start a countdown to JULY!!!

Let the Games begin.....

Well soccer season has begun and we couldn't be happier here in the Reynolds house...Shon has played soccer since he was a young child and played all through high school so that is a sport very dear to his heart....So all of the kids have tried to play soccer and now Pation and Abigayl are giving it their all...This saturday was FREEZING though but it didn't stop our children from going out there and giving their all!! Abigayl was too cute running around on the field kicking the ball at times and then also yelling to mom and dad and waving...I don't know if she wants to play soccer or be a model...and can I just say she can sport her new prescription goggles like a pro :o) she looks too cute......Pation on the other hand went out there and fought the fight and was the only one on his team to score a goal....GO PATION!!!! he just loves sports where he can run and run...and I do to by the time the end of the night rolled around we came home and watched a movie together then I had them head upstairs to brush teeth and head to bed....I went to tuck one in then headed up to the 3rd floor and the other two were crashed.....OH YEAH!!! I think I'm going to like soccer season....The one thing that I and a few others were really bothered by is the fact that the team we played against had these two coaches that were putting their kids down and I mean their self esteem...If my child was on their team I would've walked up on the field and removed my child IMMEDIATELY!!!! I was flabbergasted by the comments coming out of these coaches mouths.....I mean these kids are only 7 and 8 years old and it's call "developmental" soccer they don't even keep score..(although pation still tells me that they lost 1-2) they don't even have goalies and such....I am just so thankful and the other parents made the comment as well that My husband made the day fun for the boys and even though they didn't win they learned alot and are very excited for a great season that is what matters!!! and my son's self esteem will still be in tact by the end of the season...THANK GOODNESS!!!

Another Proud Moment as a parent!!!

Our maegan attends Bayside High as a Freshman and is in the health and sciences academy...She has really taken all of this to heart and is thriving in her school...She comes home each day telling us of something new she has learned or what new project she is working on....Well this one really touched my heart as a mother because it affected someone else's lives this time...she got an email from a women named Donna who maegan wrote about her daughter who has angelmans syndrome.... These are the moments in a parents life that make you proud of what you are doing at being a SAHM and how you are raising your kids...when you sometimes have those questionable moments on if you are doing the right thing or doing the parenting thing the right way it this that puts a smile on your face and gives you that reassurance...THanks for being such a great Kid Mae and putting a smile not only on mine and your daddy's face but Donna's too...
http://ourlifewithalex.blogspot.com/2010/03/really-touched.html

If your crafty give this one a try...

This will save you Hundreds and Hundreds of Dollars!!!! I saw this on another friends blog and I was amazed because so many people get rid of these because they can no longer be used and little kids are always wanting to play pretend and cook just like mommy...a great way to make something and make it your own and then you can put a little more into the dishes and food....KUDOS!!!!

http://stakerfamilycircus.blogspot.com/2010/03/arias-play-kitchen.html

Best Friends.......

Abigayl had the pleasure of Seeing her BEST FRIEND Eden Quick this past weekend.....Eden's Mom Eirin and I met 9 years ago when our older children were in sports together and our friendship has grown leaps and bounds from there...We were thrilled to find out we were expecting our last babies together 4 1/2 years ago and that our due dates would be close....but when Abigayl had problems and had to be delivered early it through our plans a little out of order...But low and behold Eden was born the day Abigayl was released from the NICU to go home after staying in the hospital for 6 weeks...I thought it was a great sign...and boy since that day these girls have grown inseperable they played together as babies and toddlers and they even attended Preschool together...but then the sad day arrived when Eirin broke the news to me that not only was I losing my best friend to a move but abigayl was as well...and not just within driving distance they are all the way in California...it has been very difficult at first but over time and with a few visits one last summer that abigayl had to throw a loop in that visit (silly girl) and then this past weekend...Eirin and I were just sitting there watching them they hugged as soon as they saw each other like they had missed each other sooooo much....on the other hand over the next few minutes it was amazing to see that even though they are only 4 1/2 years old they have such a bond and friendship and they play together like they just saw each other a few days ago....it breaks our heart yet makes us happy to know that even though they don't get to see each other that often that when they do it's very fruitful visits....I can't wait to see how their friendship grows over the years...god definitely has a hand in this one....;o) 

Who says you can't have popsicles in the morning...they were 100% fruit juice bars....:o)

Our Two Giggle  Monsters...I found these jammies at Carter and just had to have them for our girls....

A true friend doesn't care if your house is untidy, your car makes funny noises, if you only have $5.00 in the bank this week, or that your family is not perfect. They love you for who you are. A true friend can go long periods of time w/o speaking & never question their friendship. May you be blessed enough to have at least one best friend like this...I know abigayl and I do.....Thank you Eirin and Eden for your friendship it means the world to us and I have been so blessed over the last 9 years to have you as my dear friend....Hugs XOXO

First Day of Spring!!!

Well Today was the first day of spring and this year it actually acted like it and thank goodness for that because we had alot planned for today....We started our day off bright and early meeting K-love at the Ronald Mcdonald House....We have wanted to explain to Abigayl what she went through as a Baby but were waiting for a good age and time....so a few weeks ago when a friend had asked to see her scrapbook her daddy then sat down and looked through it with her and explained it all to her....I wanted us to be able to find a way to give back to CHKD and while we as a family are not able to volunteer there Ronald Mcdonald house is tied to them and houses families that live a distance from the hospital who have a child staying in there....So when we heard on K-Love that they were going to be there we jumped at the opportunity...we arrived and we happy to jump in and start cleaning baseboards, soda machines, wiping down cupboards and the elevator....many other people and families were also there to help out and it was great to see a community that cared so much for these families...We also brought home a list of needs for the house and K-love will be there each month and we plan on serving right along side them....the kids were so excited about what they had done when they left and I was happy to have planted a seed in them....

We then had the pleasure of going to Pations End of the year Ceremony for Basketball there team did such a fabulous job this year putting forth all their best efforts and they placed 3rd.....Pation also made a basket every game WHOOHOO!!! He was so overjoyed to receive his first Trophy ever...CONGRATS Pation You Da Man!!!

Then it was Free Ice at Rita's and Boy what a GREAT day for that...last year the kids wanted me to take them and we went but the temperature was anything but nice...it was around 48 degrees...so when we awoke and the sun was shining and we all ended up in shorts and capris with t-shirts we made sure to squeeze in some sweetness in our day....they had fabulous flavors our kids all had something different there was mango, root beer, chocolate brownie, strawberry margarita and a new flavor Peeps which Mackenzie really enjoyed....it was so nice to just sit outside and enjoy each others company...

we then went home and enjoyed a movie together and walked together over to Harris Teeter to return it and grab some dinner and there was more great conversation and laughter we then put the little ones to bed and the older girls and I played our favorite game of phase 10.......I LOVE BEING A MOM!!!! I wish everyday could be like this...

My thoughts lately...(stepping up on the soapbox)

This has been weighing heavily on my heart lately and I haven't had the courage to post it lately but have prayed about it and I feel it needs to be said....I follow alot of different blogs and have found lately that even with having my own that I don't feel comfortable posting on different topics...Now why is that?? why is it that we have the freedom of speech and yet we get attacked for saying what we feel....Some people start blogs for different reasons...some for prayer for different health concerns, some for making connections, some to keep in contact with long distance friends or family, some just to put information out there that they feel would be helpful to others..none of this I feel is grounds for people to come back with cruel comments...they sometimes do not even know these people personally....I think people should really think about what they are going to say before they say it because it could really end up hurting someone really bad...no matter what age we are words can be very damaging to a person...we try and try to not let things like that bother us but deep down we sit and analyze what someone has said to us and say "well am I that person or am I that way?" God made us all different for a reason...I was in my lifegroup the other night and we were all discussing our gifts....we are a couples group and going around the room it was neat to see that no two of us had the same gifts which means god made no two of us exactly the same...each of us is special in our own way and he did that so that we can each add our own special gift to the world and with one another....I will now step off my soapbox and I will be continue to pray for all of these people who continue to belittle others whom they do not even know...they have challanges in their life that they have chosen to take a HUGE leap to share with us mostly for us to Pray for them so please let us do that....May god bless each and every one of you and I pray that I haven't offended any of you that I just put a thought in your head to change your way of thinking before typing or speaking...god loves us all and he wants us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves....T

The Idea Room: Reward Points System and Home "Store"

The Idea Room: Reward Points System and Home "Store": "www.myjobchart.com"

My favorite things....

Some people have favorite things that help make their lives easier well these are some of mine...I as you know am the mom of six and I love a clean home...I don't always have the time to spend hours on chores with running the kids to and from different activities and also giving myself a little time in my sewing room ( My bliss AHHH! :o) ) This Steam mop is quick and easy yet I know that my floors are being cleaned with a high hot steam along with a cleanser and in less time than with a mop and bucket....SCORE!!!

 

Another one I stumbled upon at the grocery store was this one...I was super excited when I moved into our new home and it had a glass top stove....but after a few months we were no longer friends...I was on the lookout to change that and the look of my stove...so I found a coupon in the sunday paper ( you all know what a coupon queen I am ) and off to the commissary we went on a mission to find this little number...I am happy to say it is one of my BEST FRIENDS!!! this thing is great no matter what I decide to spill on my stove it always comes through and removes it...YEAH!!! now I can be happy again....if you know of someone else who is no longer friends with their stove pass this info. along....

Lastly are these....I love a clean toilet and that means in between the days that I clean the bathroom...they come with an attatment that hangs on the back of the toilet on a little hook (very convenient) so when you notice that the toilet needs a little scrub you just hook one of these little numbers on scrub the bowl and then drop the used scrubber in the toilet...bowl is sparkling fresh and clean and you can go about your happy day only using a few min. of your time....YEAH for scrubbing bubbles!!!

Slip sliding away.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSyCLJU3O0&feature=player_embeddedThe days seem to be slipping away from me...not that I am home sitting on my couch wasting the days away on facebook...No I have been making some great fashion creations (pics to come) for my girls and family members for this spring and summer...and running kids to their various activities and in between trying to spend some quality time with my husband who has been working really hard lately or should I say as usual...LIfe for us is anything but laid back but we really did choose that lifestyle back when we started having children we enjoying being on the go watching our children learn and grow...we now have kids in soccer, basketball, ballet and ice skating one who is trying her hand in modeling, one who still loves theatre and one who loves to spend time at church...I love my children and their different personalities and watching them grown into young men and women...I can't wait to see what they grow up to be...

but I still worry those days are slip sliding away too fast for me...because that means one will be out of the nest too soon for me...some people get excited for a child to grow up and move on and become an adult...while I am excited for that to happen I am the mother of 6 children( I am sure you have noticed that already...LOL) and they all have very different personalities and add different things to our family and there will be a hole something missing from our family when each child moves away changing the dynamics of the family....It will definitely be something I will have to get used to and most of the kids too...some say they won't miss one another but wait until that day comes......

so that is where our days have been we are still here all around Virginia Beach and then some...I will leave you with some pictures of the kids to place a smile on your face as they do mine each and every day I just wish I could record some of the things ms. gayle has been saying lately this girl is going to be a stand up comedian....I love her humor...be blessed everyone...

What a fabulous Idea!!!!

http://www.vinylreadydesigns.blogspot.com/






They have a great contest going on right now and I am so excited to see if I can win....what a fabulous easy idea to revamp your house around the house....check out there site and enter to win maybe we both can...I am already going around the house looking to see what I could revamp....;o) have a blessed day.....

I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!!!!

Where were we 20 years ago without all of this technology...I feel ever so grateful not only that it exists but that I have the resources to be able to use these as a means to communicate....We were attatched to the US Navy for 22 years well 17 of that I was with him but we have moved around and I have made some really good friends, but the downside of the military is you don't stay in one place for too long....That always bring lots of tears and sadness....The other day I had the honor of skyping with My dear Friend Eirin whom I have been friends with for 9 years...she moved to California (not a miltary move) a year ago and this was one of the most difficult for me as our youngest girls have the cutest, closest bond with one another.....It was so awesome with her camera on her computer she has been able to give me a tour of her new home, and we were able to chat with the whole family :o) It felt like we were in the living room together...We plan on doing this again soon...I also loved at christmas being able to see my niece and nephew, parents and grandmother online christmas day even though we couldn't be together....Then there is facebook which has brought not only a closer bond with friends I have had other the years but reconncetions with old high school classmates....I am just in Awe of the way technology is able to do this for us....I cherish all of my relationships friends and family and I thank god for bringing them all into my lives but I am also thankful for the knowledge of some people in what they have created for us...I can only imagine what my children will have 20 years from now...WOW how exciting....

A Great new DIY site....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omfq50SdtGo&feature=player_embedded

If you are like me and Iike to Craft but sometimes hit a roadblock and need new ideas well here is a great new site that has that and more...they also will give you other tips and will test out products....check it out....Also starting this month they are registering people to win a Janome Sewing machine & a Janome Embroidery machine....what could be better....and if you don't know how to sew or embroider this will just give you even more of a reason to learn if you win....check it out!!!

Did I wake up in Michigan????

Well the talk friday night at ladies bunco at my house was is it going to snow...we have had many threats of snow over the past month or so and none of them have produced anything to make any excitment over so we were thinking why would this one be any different...as the evening progressed everyone was checking their blackberries and such for weather updates and placing bets on if it would actually happen...by the time the ladies left my house around 9:30 we had heard of the possibility of 12" ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? So I went to bed thinking if anything I would wake up to a dusting or an inch or two of snow on the ground since our weather men haven't always been too accurate...WRONG!!! I was quite happily surprised in the morning when we were able to wake up and take the kids and the cat...yes you read that right Meeko wanted to join us for a romp out in the snow...and boy since then he keeps wanting to go out for more snow adventures....it's too cute...but I suddenly feel with all of this snow sitting on the ground and the roads that I am back in Michigan again...it takes us alot longer to get out the door since we have to bundle everybody more and also on the roads because of them being so slick and just because you grew up driving in crazy road conditions doesn't mean the person coming at you also did they could have grown up in California for all you know...we have so many military personal living in our area it's hard to tell where everybody is from just because their license plate says Virginia we can't assume anything....We enjoyed the snow while it was here but it put a damper on school keeping us out two and half days so now I click my heels like on the Wizzard of Oz and wish for the snow to go away or I will just huff and puff it away....it was nice while it was here but it has out stayed it's welcome....and from what I hear from groundhogs day we have 6 more weeks of winter in our forecast I hope there isn't anther crazy snowstorm in there somewhere...I am really looking forward to the tulips blooming and the sun shining on a daily basis......