Just to remember

My post today is just to remember these times as they are. On a day when I am home and able to watch and play with the girls and appreciate my life the way it is right now. How lucky and blessed I am to have this life! And I get to write to my girls about my girls so that when they grow up they can see what they were like and if and when they have kiddos of their own someday they can look back and see.

Stella-Oh Stella, my sweet and spunky little girl. You are 3 right now and so independent. You push me to the limit sometimes with that independence and wanting to do everything on your own ALL. THE. TIME. But I wouldn't have it any other way for you. You wake up on your own everyday and are the happiest little girl in the mornings. You always get up and run to me and hug me and ask to go play in the playroom. Getting you to leave the playroom is a challenge sometimes, but eventually you do. You go in there in the mornings so you can play with Nora's toys while she is still sleeping :) Getting you dressed isn't always the easiest. I have to offer you choices because if I come in with one outfit it is not usually good. And you always get dressed yourself! You are in preschool every day all day. You really enjoy going to school and everyone at school thinks you are a doll. You know your colors and how to spell your name. You are learning your shapes and how to write your name and you are a lefty! You crack me up with some of the things you say and you know it and sometimes try to make me laugh on purpose. You are always questioning things as well and are very curious. You love for us to read to you at bedtime and prefer me over daddy, which makes it hard on me sometimes, but when I really think about it I know it will fly by and that I need to enjoy you wanting mommy all the time. We do give you melatonin to help you fall asleep or else you would be up until 10:00 every night! You love your gymnastics time and are not afraid to try anything they ask of you. Recently you started dancing and you love that as well. We weren't sure if you were going to be able to last the whole class, but you have been doing great. We think you are going to be the athlete.  I love you so much Stella K!

Nora-Where to start Nora. You are my serious and snuggly girl. You are 6 right now and in first grade. You like going to school to socialize with friends and go to specials. You do not care for the learning part of school. You do well in reading, but math and writing are hard for you. You are not very independent and want help doing everything, but with enough encouragement you will try stuff on your own. You are our sleeper! If you didn't have to get up you wouldn't. You let me pick out your clothes in the morning and get you dressed. Not many six year olds are like that, but i don't mind. We usually read in the mornings before school and you rock at reading! I love when you read to me, it makes me feel so proud. You are getting much better with sharing with your sister. I wasn't sure if that would ever happen because everything you have is 'special' to you. And this is a more recent development and makes me realize you are not going to be young for long. You are so much like your dad. People say you look like me, but you act a lot like your dad. You are quiet, can be shy if you don't know people, don't mind playing alone, don't care to be out in the heat or the cold for that matter. You do not care for sports except for volleyball. You dance because I want you too, but it seems that you have a little more interest now that Stella has started. You like gymnastics, but do not like when they push you. And we have recently started PSR and you love it. You talk about Jesus and God and that warms my heart more than you know. You are great going to bed. You have recently taken over the reading part of bedtime to earn allowance. You have two really good friends and I love that the three of you get a long so well. You love cats too! If only our cat were a little more cuddly, but she has come a great way since you were born and now lets you pet her. You do like other animals, but cats are your favorite.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store for you!

I am just so lucky to live this life and have the husband I have to be by my side through this adventure. There are days he drives me crazy and I am sure there are days that I drive him crazy too. But wow, what a guy I have. He is so supportive and loves all of us so much. I hope that the girls realize how much he loves them and they show him that love back instead of asking for me all the time. 2015 is our year!

Two Irish Dancers!

Stella started Irish dancing!!!!!! That is really all I have to say about that! And Nora started PSR (parish school religion). I have had an overwhelming feeling that she needs to learn about the Catholic faith as well as the Methodist faith. I also want her to receive the same sacraments that I did, so she attends St. Catherine Laboure on Monday nights to learn.

Good bye 2014

2014 was an interesting year for the Reid family. I do have to say I am not sad to see 2014 go!! The beginning of the year was not too bad, but as we got into the year that changed. Something with being diagnosed with cancer might have something to do with it. April 24, 2014 will be a day that is etched in my memory forever, it is just something you never forget. But it also showed me what a truly fantastic support system that I have. Friends and family pulled together to support me in so many ways and I am truly blessed!
All of the Reid girls did visit the hospital this year too, which was not great. Poor Stella busted her head open by falling out of the pool and Nora had her tonsils taken out. Nora and Stella also both started a new school this year. Nora is now attending Long elementary and she is doing good. She is making friends and her first two report cards have been pretty good! Stella started at Affton Early Childhood Center. She is thriving being in a school setting and learning so much. I am so impressed with how much she has learned.
I am also continuing to work on my doctorate and still have my job as a counselor at Gotsch. Peter is still at Express Scripts.
Overall we had some ups but I am looking forward to 2015! It is my year! I am going to lose weight and get a new job!

Happy New Year!

We celebrated NYE over at the Flemings again this year. We had a great dinner and played minute to win it games and celebrated and early new year with the kiddos. I have to say that the minute to win it games were hysterical! We played junk in the trunk, face the cookie, suck it, penny hose and tear it up. Junk in the trunk was too funny. You had a kleenex box of ping pong balls attached to your behind and you had to shake them out. The adults did it and the kids did it and we all laughed and laughed! Karin set up a photo booth, which was fun as well. We had a cookie and milk toast at 10 to celebrate.

Friends

While we were in Chicago we were also able to visit some friends. We haven't seen the Cook family for quite some time and it was so great to be able to hang out and catch up and let the kiddos play! We also had one of my all time favorites for dinner (Lou's)! I wish we lived closer so we could see them more often.

Christmas

We headed to Chicago for Christmas this year, but not before Stella put a quarter in my CD player 3 hours before we left!!! I was in a complete panic, but thanks to my friend, Jeff, our salesman and his team at the dealership we were only about 45 minutes later getting on the road then we had planned.

We had a great time in Chicago and had 4 celebrations! Christmas Eve with the Reid side, Christmas morning, Christmas morning with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Tim, Aunt Candace, Naomi and Isla, and Christmas night with the Harrigan side.

The girls had such a great Christmas morning. They received Kindles from us. They receive four things from Santa and we are pretty good with sticking with that (something you want, wear, read and need). Nora got an American Girl doll from Grandma and Grandpa and Stella got a Sofia castle and scooter! Lots and lots of stuff! We are so lucky and blessed to have such wonderful families who give so much love!

Christmas Eve-St. Louis

We celebrated Christmas a little early in St. Louis before heading to Chicago this year. We celebrated with my mom on Sunday and my dad on Monday. We did brunch with my mom so we were able to stay in our jammies and that was awesome! We stayed in them all day. The girls had so much fun opening presents. It was a great time and my kids are spoiled!