Yes!

The Jayhawks won....against MIZZOU! Brad and I braved the weather (which in 5 layers wasn't really that bad) and watched a great game with a great ending. Today's game and atmosphere made up for last year's fiasco. I think I might watch the next 4 year's Arrowhead game from home though........one bad year and one good year, I am equal.

Ghetto Blaster: Take Two

This gem was actually used in our bedroom until yesterday. It was left in our house (Brad bought the house from an individual who was selling the home for his father who was in the nursing home....therefore they only took the stuff that they wanted, leaving us with many treasures, not really, junk is more like it.)

Anyways, we had it plugged in for those times when I had not recharged the portables (happening often, sadly). Well one of our other phones bit it, so we bought two new ones. The girls could have cared less about playing with the dead portable, but this baby is like a precious gift to them. Who would have thought? We actually had to take it away from them because they were squabbling over it.

This morning I see Mia in the kitchen talking to her "friends" and was twirling up in the cord, just like we all probably used to do. Oh the good ole days, before the portable phone. Maybe Santa will bring them a rotary dial phone, that would be great entertainment.

Hall of Fame

Last night our family attended the 2008 National College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Here are some pics..........


Aunt, Mom, GB
David, Bry, Moi, Bradley

Ellie Grace

My dear friend Hilary and her husband Joe joined the two girls club with the new arrival Miss Ellie Grace! They didn't know the sex of the baby until she was born, but I bet they were excited! Hilary reads my blog daily and comments quite a bit too! I am going to tutor her in starting her own so we can read about her little girls Molly Jo and Ellie Grace. Congrats Hilary and Joe and BIG SIS Molly! She is a sweetheart!

Wash the dishes Cinderelly, scrub the floor Cinderelly.......

Today I washed the dishes, scrubbed the bathroom floor, folded the laundry and even thought about the fact that a mouse was living in our garage a few days ago, much like Cinderella.

Today Mia decided that she was finally going to watch her Cinderella movie after owning it for two years, but was always too scared.

Today I realized how well I know my daughter. As I was putting the video in the VCR (yes, we still use it) I saw her run to her room. I instantly thought "She is getting her toy Cinderella to hold during the movie." Sure enough she came scampering back with it and wanted to have her lay down until the Cinderella in the movie put on the "fancy" dress like her doll. I told her my thought and she just smiled and replied "You thought that Mom?"

Today my own Prince Charming came home from work and took us out for treats and randomly snuggled Jilli until she fell asleep.

Tomorrow I am going to pick up Mia's new Cinderella dress up outfit, I can't wait to see her face when she opens it for Christmas!

Tomorrow I am going to wash the dishes, scrub the kitchen floor, and fold the laundry, again.

Tomorrow I am going to snuggle Mia and watch "Beauty and the Beast." Wow, she is brave isn't she?

Tomorrow I am going to tell Prince Charming thank you for providing a home and food for us.

Green vs. Red

I love tart green apples. In college my mom used to bring me a bag of green apples in the dorm. I always buy Granny Smith green ones, always. I converted Brad to green ones and introduced them to Mia Kate when she had teeth. Now Mia Kate and Brad eat one, maybe two daily. I take the first bite for Mia and she will eat it whole, we are apple eaters.

Then there was Jilli.

Jilli is a human apple peeler/corer/slicer. No matter how you slice it she puts it in her mouth, chews it, sucks the juice, and then plops out her tongue and dumps the apple out. She then proceeds to take another slice and do the same thing. This results in a huge mess of apple mush bites everywhere. My mom kept the girls over the summer and was amazed at this little trick. It doesn't matter if I give her a peeled slice or little tiny bites, she does it. It isn't that she doesn't like it, because she says "apple" and reaches for them.

Then I went to Costco.

It was here that I noticed a HUGE bag of red apples at a great price. Hmmmm, maybe once, I thought. I guess they could eat these while I munch on the green ones? So I sliced one real nice for dinner tonight and divvied it up amongst the family. After eating for awhile I asked Brad "Is there apple on the floor?" With a smile "No." was his response. Little stink, ate the whole thing just like she was supposed to. Not a single shred of apple was to be found!

I guess I will bring bags of RED apples to her dorm room.

Pilgrim Hats

Last week Mia and I made these little treats, which are supposed to resemble Pilgrim hats. She enjoys fun little cooking projects like this. I found this in my Taste of Home magazine and thought it would be neat for her. We have been talking about Pilgrims and reading Thanksgiving books. I completely recommend Thanksgiving with the Tappleton's a slightly crazy story, but reveals a nice Thanksgiving message.

Pilgrim Hats

1 package Striped Cookies

1 bag Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Frosting (I used white but added yellow food coloring).

Orange Tic Tacs (The magazine said Orange Chic-lets but I couldn't find them.)

Lay cookie chocolate side up. Place a blob of frosting on the cookie. Push the p.b. cup onto the frosting and add the tic tac.

So I personally didn't think they tasted that great. Don't get me wrong I LOVE sugar, but these were way too much. It was funny to see how we each ate them differently, I ate mine the right side up, Brad took his apart, and Mia Kate ate hers upside down, and Jilli somehow crumbled hers and got it everywhere.

I think we will try these Turkey cookies to take to our feast on Thursday!

Ta da

Last night Mia and I had a little date to the KU basketball game. Right before we left Brad mentioned that we better be in our seats early to see the unveiling of the Championship banner. We made it in time and enjoyed the video montage of the championship game and the big reveal.

Mia is quite the little fan and knows just when to clap. I love taking her to games, she is a treat.

Celebrating Daddy!

I think Brad secretly enjoyed my little tribute to him last week and was smiling when he told me thank you. We started celebrating his day the night before by having dinner with friends at Ponak's. It was really good and the Margarita's were really, really good.

On Friday night the girls were able to decorate his chair (Our ritual balloons/presents duo to surprise the birthday person at breakfast). This was Mia Kate's first time to help decorate and she loved helping me out. Usually it is Brad helping with the girls' decorations. She is really into theme parties and so we asked him and he went along with it and said Jayhawks.

On Saturday we spent some time in Lawrence. Brad and I snuck away for lunch at my favorite place to eat/drink there, Quinten's. Yum! He also got to nap for his birthday, lucky.

On Monday we celebrated with his parents and brother's family. Whew! Plenty of celebrating for our dear Bradley! Here are a few highlights!

Mia tries out Dad's new "Perfect Pushup." These are quite challenging, Brad could do them, I will master them soon.

Jilli plays with Cousin William and Uncle Aaron.

Brad blows out candles on the cake Cousin Emma made.

Mia helps Mom decorate with the Jayhawk theme.

Pajama Pirates

A new game invented by Miss Creative, she also named it this name and added an "Argh" at the end when she told me. Apparently you raid your pajama drawer and put pieces on in silly places. Pants on your head and tops on your legs, etc. Jilli was working on it..........I think she just liked getting to throw all of her clothes out of her drawer. Usually I would not let her do this, but did this time to go along with the game. The girls are starting to play well together and it is so sweet to watch.

Oh Bradley

I believe I was right on this one. Now, where did I put those ski goggles?

M.O.U.S.E

and not M.I.C.K.E.Y! I am blogging about this to keep my mind off of the little mouse I just saw scurrying across my garage floor. I went to the garage to put my grocery bags back in my car. I opened the door and saw this little thing run across my floor and went under the bike buggy and around my strollers.

Being brave I went over there and started moving stuff around and it never came out. I then ran inside, emailed Brad, and am sitting here grossing out. We have NEVER had this type of problem before (okay well we did have a SLOW raccoon on our deck last winter, but that is a different story).

My only thought is that it ran in yesterday when Brad was working in the garage and possibly had the door open? Whatever..........I am still not liking it. This would be a good time to have a cat, oh wait, Brad is allergic. This is gross, period.

UPDATE:
1) Brad trapped the mouse, I wasn't seeing things.

What a guy!

On Saturday my dearest turns 31! I am posting this today, because he only reads this when at work and he took tomorrow off to play. Here is what I love about him, you just have to know him, he is just Brad, often sporting what I refer to as a "Bradittude." I love him to pieces, why else would I sit around dreaming up this list?

31 Things I Love About My Husband

HE ...................

1. reads my blog and enjoys it.

2. goes to help a friend in need whenever they call.

3. can water ski AMAZINGLY well, causing me to beg him to do it each summer, he is good.

4. can snow ski EXTREMELY well, possibly he was born on skis?

5. sits by me each Sunday at church.

6. mows my yard often, leaving perfect lines, and edges it just the way I like it.

7. plays board games with Mia Kate.

8. is a JAYHAWK!

9. is honest.

10. swings the girls really high on our tree swing, resulting in loads of laughter. (Plus climbed the tree and hung the swing while sitting on the branch, it was a TALL tree!)

11. finishes a project efficiently, like remodeling a house in 6 months.

12. laughs out loud, really loud, when watching stand up comedians on t.v.

13. is a hard worker, no doubt.

14. can sew (we're talking window treatments, upholstery, bean bags) really well.

15. does not find it IN. ANY. WAY. funny when a baby poops in the tub. ( I do laugh a little.)

16. believes in family and obviously enjoys his.

17. values Catholic education and enrichment activities for the girls.

18. is never wrong ( What? How did that get in there?)

19. prays, sings and reads stories to the girls each night.

20. loves the lake, doesn't know what to do with himself on summer weekends at home.

21. is the only person I know who can "dominate" entire bags of candy like myself.

22. sleeps at bars.

23. believes in living debt free. (see #13)

24. does not procrastinate.

25. gave me two beautiful daughters.

26. is practical to a fault.
27. decorates cakes ASTONISHINGLY well.

28. cleans the kitchen floor daily and ALWAYS cleans our shower.

29. finishes all of my crafting/cooking projects (leading me to learn about #14 & # 27)

30. thinks I am crazy, but that is what he secretly loves about me, I think anyways.

31. is easy on the eyes, in my opinion.

I can think of many many more reasons but hopefully have many more birthdays to add to my list! Also, I am expecting a phone call soon, from him, "Take that off!" He too is my blog adviser/editor.

Happy Birthday Bradley!

Ghetto Blaster

Last night Bradley dug out this beauty........................

Re-read, "dug out" this beauty. I am pretty sure he got this to take to KU with him??? If you are curious, we packed this old girl away several years ago when Brad bought me my laptop. Honestly, this would not be comfortable while laying in bed or lounging on the couch would it? What a pain, ha ha! I always tried to have him get rid of it at the local E-cycling event, but he never did. Anyways, he had to retrieve a document off of it last night and we decided that we could leave it out for Mia to use. She only gets to type her name on my computer if I am sending an email, or last week on this blog.

Our Parents as Teachers guide recommended at her 3 year screening that she should work on using the computer. I was actually astonished that she said this, but kindergartners actually do use computers at Mia's future school. Once I read a great article (given to me by Parents as Teachers) about good and bad rectangles for kids; good being books, games, and puzzles and not so good (or should be limited) t.v. and computer screens. I agree, but don't get me wrong Mia does watch t.v., she just has "tickets" and when they are gone, no more for the day. Looks like I will be making her a computer ticket tomorrow.

Back to the computer, the only game I had for her was Arthur's Birthday (she is a huge Arthur fan). Brad spent about 45 minutes last night showing her what to do and how to use the mouse. This evening I made her wait until he could help her again and after a few minutes she was acting like she had been using a computer since birth. She has always been a quick little learner.

I am sure that your kids all started using the computer long before they were pushing the ripe old age of 4, but this was a big deal at the Reuter household!

Serious thinker.

Mouse Mastery

Computer time in her "footies."

"Up Up" says the Bug. My guess is that this girl's mom won't make her wait until she is almost 4! to use the computer.

Beach Party

This afternoon Mia Kate asked if she could have a beach party. A couple of weeks ago she started doing this in her room during her "quiet" time with her Barbies. Today's party was going to be extra special along with her sister, mom, beach towels, and a "pool." Jilli sported her suit and we dug out the towels and a toy picnic basket. The girls then made a pool with pillows and jumped in from our bean bag. Quite creative I thought and a great activity when it was raining outdoors. I was the ultimate party pooper and didn't wear my swimsuit to the party, therefore informed that I could not dive into the pool, bummer.

Beach Party

Let's have a picnic too!



Jilli had an important call to take.

Sunbathing!

French Silk

Growing up my Mom and Grandma Betty used to take us shopping at Towne East Mall in Wichita. We always shopped at Dillard's and sometimes headed north to Younger Duds and maybe Hobby Lobby. I often remember taking this journey on rainy Saturday or Sunday afternoons. I thought it was so cool to watch the rain drops race horizontally across the windows of our boat, I mean car, but they were boats back then, as we traveled down the turnpike.

After shopping we sometimes ate out at Tippin's, which was in the parking lot of the mall. I would order a grilled cheese sandwich and finish it off with a piece of French Silk Pie! I love this pie, it is my favorite, hands down. Tippin's closed in that location long ago, but it was even more upsetting when the whole Tippin's restaurant chain shut down several years ago. Then I learned that Tippin's pies are still sold at Hen House. I don't shop at Hen House because Brad and I don't "do" stores with cards, weird, but we don't like them on our key chains and various other reasons. However, today was the first day you could reserve a pie for Thanksgiving, so we took a little field trip this morning to reserve my beloved FrEnCh SiLk PiE!

Dear Jillian,

I love you because...............



you wake up in the BEST mood and hang out in your crib "reading" and playing dolls for at least 45 minutes

November 2008

you sit in the shopping cart peacefully while we do our weekly shopping, just sucking on your paci, for at least an hour

you "run" (fast waddle) to the door when you hear Daddy come home

you knock on closed doors and bang on windows to wave goodbye

you say "pone" each time the phone rings

Yes, I had this scared face for many months. 8 weeks

you cried for a year but are now a happy little hoot

Jillian E. Reuter 6 months

you sat like such a big girl today when you got your first haircut at the salon, again just sucking on your paci

you are my sweet, sweet baby. Don't grow up too fast, those chubby thighs and sweet soft cheeks are too cute!

Photo compliments of Mia Kate Photography.

I love you Jilli Bug!

p.s. In a rare change of events I DID not have my camera with me to document the first salon experience. I was in a TiZzY because my house was getting a new RoOf and my main concern when leaving was to avoid the whole hammering, flying shingle situation which could be another blog entirely.

Superstitious

Has anyone noticed that Wal-Mart and Target have an ABUNDANCE of snow bibs? I have never noticed this before this year. My bet is that this is a sure sign that we will NOT have snow. I refuse to buy brand new ones for the girls because I am superstitious that if I spend money on them, it will not snow. I want snow! Instead I picked up a couple of pairs at a consignment sale for 2 bucks. In all my days as a mother my children have never lasted out in the snow for more than 20 minutes anyway.

But..............I told Brad that if gas hits $1.75 we are loading up and going snow skiing. At this point I WOULD buy her some matching bibs and coat, you gotta look good on the slopes! Brad swears that this trip will not happen because he says gas will never get that cheap, I disagree, you know they are practically giving it away up at Quik Trip.....$1.97. Twenty two cents baby........do you think it will happen?

Mismatched and lovin' it!

Scary snowman with mulch eyes.....nice Brad!

MK 2007

I'm gonna clean the house today do dah do dah....

This morning was the first time I have vacuumed without holding a child in about 44 months. Why? As babies I would vacuum with them in a sling or front pouch, we will call it multitasking. Then as toddlers both FREAKED out like I was going to vacuum their little toes up. I commented on this to a friend and her response was "No wonder your back hurts all the time."

Grampie Ron gave Jilli a toy vacuum for her birthday which Mia Kate used while I vacuumed, thus holding Jillian. Today Jilli didn't cry and seemed cool with the toy vacuum. So who does that leave us unoccupied?

The junior "tutographer" as she refers to herself. Trust me, I had to delete about 20 others off of the camera before downloading. Does anybody have recommendations for a kid's digital camera?

Sidenote: The "tutographer" just climbed up on my lap saying "Mom, you put animals on there?" Then she said "Can I spell my name?" So here is her first blogging experience

mia