Newsy Little Tidbits

A few updates from Reedland...

Aubrey got braces (top and bottom) last week! She wouldn't let me take her picture for this blog because she had a Kool Aid mustache, but she looks quite a bit like this:

In other Aubrey news, she and her horse, Beau, are competing Thursday in several events at the County Fair. Good Luck!

Liza is on the planning committee for the annual Walk for Awareness for the Psoriasis Foundation in Dallas this November. She is also getting a team together for the walk itself and Jake has been named the Junior Ambassador. If you would like to sponsor Team Jacob or just read more about their story, go here:

http://walk.psoriasis.org/site/TR/2009Walks/2009Cure?px=1123801&pg=personal&fr_id=1430&et=7Jko43XhENXs1mhLqgOIFw..&s_tafId=4310

The kitchen remodel is coming along. Here's where we were on Wednesday:





















We have made a lot of progress since then. The ceiling is in the process of being re-textured and painted and there is still some cabinetry to do, but I can use my new appliances now. It is quite humbling to stand alone in the kitchen and realize that you aren't the smartest thing in there!

Clare has nearly finished Simi's nursery and promises to post pictures when she finishes the mural. You can check it out here:

http://rossettoreport.blogspot.com/

Livvy had a wonderful birthday and is now five. She is a very animated, funny child and highly entertaining. You can see her in action in two recent posts on Emily's blog:

http://web.me.com/ericcwhite/emerican_made/Home/Home.html

Finally, I have saved the biggest news for last. It is not every day that a haircut makes front page news, but when it HAS been SIX YEARS...

Drum Roll, Please...

And in closing, may I suggest that there is quite a similarity between our family rock star and the rockin' star of "Psych," James Roday?

Hmmm...Separated at birth?

Hmmm...I didn't know that!

As the official information officer of the Reed clan, I often lose track of what I have shared with whom. Lately, several interesting tidbits have come my way and I am happy to pass them along, though judging from my comments, I'm not sure anyone will actually read them...

Tonight (Saturday), Sean is performing as Elvis at a 50th high school reunion at a hotel in St.George. He is the lead-in act for the main event--Elder Jeffrey Holland, who is one of the alumni.
Jake is a young man on the go. He has been named the Junior Ambassador for the state of Texas Psoriasis Walk in Dallas this November. He is also playing the cello in his school orchestra and recently joined his school's juggling and plate spinning club.

The Blog Fairy continues to grow in popularity. Recently, Emily did a makeover for a woman in Spain who says that there is a lot of interest in Emily's work among her Spanish blogger friends. She is working with Emily to translate her questionnaire into Spanish.

Carl and Heather have a foster child, John-John, who is almost four years old. They have had him for three weeks and will have him for at least another two. As Relief Society president in her ward, Heather has been coordinating the care of John-John and his three siblings. I know that it has been a sacrifice for everyone involved, but an enormous blessing in the lives of these children.

Clare and Chris are preparing for parenthood by raising two very nutty dogs. This is a picture of Jack. You will seldom see a picture of Brother because he is terrified of cameras...and pillows... and balls...and children...You can read more about their antics by visiting Clare's blog.

We are doing a little remodeling in our kitchen. That's remodeling with a small "r"--not a big "R". There are no granite countertops or hardwood floors involved. That will have to wait until a rich relative dies. Oh, wait--We don't have any rich relatives. Darn!!! In the meantime, we are replacing all of our appliances with beautiful stainless steel and doing a little reconfiguration. Where we currently have a microwave/oven combo, we are putting in a double oven which will involve a little reworking on the cabinetry. Above the range top we are putting in a microwave/vent combo. We are also replacing all of the hardware on the cabinets and drawers. And, if we can squeeze enough blood out of the turnip, we may replace the giant, glowing fluorescent ceiling with can lights. Welcome to the twenty-first century!

Well, that's this week's highlights. If you have any news to share, please leave it in a comment.

Today's Reading Assignment

Living close to Clare as she anticipates the birth of little Simone, I have been able to vicariously re-live the long past days of my first pregnancy. Certainly I remember the swollen ankles, the heartburn and having to map out the location of every public restroom within five miles. But what I REALLY remember is wishing that Bill could be pregnant for just 24 hours.

Over the years, that desire modified itself according to where I was on life's little timeline. When I had four pre-schoolers I wished that he knew what it was like to be up half the night breastfeeding one baby, changing diapers on an eighteen-month old and trying to shush the others back to sleep.

When Bill was twenty-five he was called to the bishopric. We had a two year old and a newborn baby. He served as either a counselor or bishop most of the time until that two year old graduated from high school. Many Sundays I desperately wished that just once he could know what it was like to get five kids ready for church by himself.

Don't get me wrong--this is not a feminist rant. I fully support the goals and ideals of homemaking and motherhood. And so does Bill...in kind of a vague, pat-on-the-head sort of way.

As wives and mothers we are mostly okay with the tepid appreciation that we normally get. But occasionally, we would really enjoy the BIG GESTURE. I think the problem is not a lack of appreciation, but a lack of understanding. The way that we spend our days is kind of a mystery. They know it involves play groups, trips to Target and the regular use of household appliances, but the details are kind of fuzzy. What they need is some actual, hands-on experience to truly appreciate how indispensable we are.

And, of course, it's a two-way street. In return for a little more appreciation, we might consider changing our default settings from "automatic irritation" to "reasonable human being."

All of these deep thoughts have been motivated by an article in this month's Reader's Digest. It's hilarious and honest. I highly recommend it for everyone. (That includes husbands, if you can somehow trick them into reading it.)

Enjoy:

http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/from-the-guinea-pig-diaries-to-serve-with-love/article156365.html






***Bill would like everyone to know that not only does he know how to refill the liquid soap dispensers, he is more conscientious about it than am I.