Marc & Norm

When we read to the girls we always read the title, author, and illustrator. When Mia Kate was two, she loved the Arthur series (well, she still does). It became a big joke that if you just read the title to her and left out the rest she would say "Um, mom, you forgot to say 'By Marc Brown." When reading to herself she would also say the title and then "By Marc Brown." Several babysitters forgot to read the author and she would correct them by saying "By Marc Brown."

This morning Jillian was reading to herself on the toilet (that is an ENTIRE different post) and I was doing laundry when I heard her say "Clifford and the Big Storm by Norman Bridwell." I spun around and she was just gabbing away, sure enough reading a Clifford book. We then checked out another Clifford book at the library today and in the car I heard her again telling us the author.

I am always amazed at the things they pick up on!

Chandler Bing

If you were to enter my home, you might find many pictures, many pictures of Mia Kate. I know she is the first born, and in some cases the parents tend to take the first born to get their picture taken more. Trust me, I have taken Jillian to get her picture taken MANY times, and MANY times she has been extremely unbehavable.

It is a complete waste of time to go to a chain photographer with her. Waiting in line doesn't work, nor does the patience level of the photographer. So her first year was captured by an extremely wonderful, extremely gifted photographer, with extreme prices, minus her "baby plan." I would take my colicky little thing in to Lea and she would capture amazing shots of a smiling baby? The next photographer I found was okay, but she moved. So time ticked by, tick tock, tick tock. Then I was driving down Pflumm and I noticed an SUV with a photographer's name on the back, hmmmmmm. Once home I looked her up, she got back with me, and here is the wonderful result.........

Go to (www.jlinephotography.com) and click on “Open Menu” right under the logo and then click on “Slideshows.” Find Reuter and the password is Staci. The slideshow will load in another open window.


I love those children to pieces! Bless Jillian's sweet little heart, she is a character, these pictures completely capture who she is. A goose ball, with a big heart, crazy temper, and lots of love for her big sis! Speaking of her big sis, if you can't tell, she is an old pro at getting her picture taken. Thanks Julie for the great photos!

Maybe this will help

make potty training easier?

(and if this is advertising these days, I chose the wrong degree.....)

Something Clicked

Sweet Mia Kate was an excellent baby, one year old, for the most part two year old, and then she turned three. I think three was by far worse than two. We struggled with the whining and sassing, a lot. We have really been working on less of the additude, which has been paying off.

Lately she is constantly looking after Jilli, or following directions immediately. Her new thing now is making her bed. Each morning she does it without being asked, and she does a mighty fine job too! Last weekend she stayed with her grandparents and Cheryl even said, "Mia was so good, she even made her bed each morning." Several days she has even ran into our room dressed and with her bed made immediately after she woke up.

Some say.......

Jillian is going to be a handful when she is older. I say, Jillian is a handful now. However, she has made some comments lately that could foreshadow her teen years....... (and when reading, please remember she said these at her highest volume)

"I DON'T LIKE JESUS!"

-On the way to church, referring to a religious cd in the car.

"I DON'T LIKE UNDERWEARS!"

-In an aisle at Wal-Mart, while getting to choose new panties for potty training.

"I DON'T WANT TO PRAY!"

-At the dinner table, in the 2 seconds between her yelling the sign of the cross and the actual prayer.

M.I.A

Missing In Action..........I have been in and out, celebrating, cleaning, and saving pics from all of my birthday shenanigans for a nice big photo essay!

Am I too old......

to go to the pediatric dentist? I would love to leave the dentist with a cup of ice cream and watch a movie while getting them cleaned. Instead I just lay there saying Hail Mary's over and over while looking at a palm tree covering a fluorescent light, please no cavities, please no cavities........

I was worried about one of my children, meaning Jillian. I said in the car "Jilli I expect you to be a good girl at the dentist." and she replied "Woo Hoo, going to the dentist."

Woo hoo was right, this place rocked and Jillian was a hoot! Wore her sunglasses in, upside down, high fived the dentist and hygienist, answered several questions with her usual "I don't know." Mia was great, opened wide like an old pro. For the past two years she has just been toughing it out at my dentist, probably wondering why there was a palm tree on the ceiling, or maybe she saw the parachutes. Anyways, change of insurance means change of dentist! Might as well take advantage of the kid friendly perks of living in a city.

They made out like bandits!

Getting ready for her cleaning.

Waiting for the dentist.

The lobby.

HSM

Our cable provider hosted a night at Theatre in the Park featuring High School Musical. We have never seen the movie, but my niece and nephew are fans. So we invited them along and we had a great night! Mia Kate's favorite part was getting a glow stick. I always enjoy watching the singing and choreography of any musical. The best part was that I told Mia that if she wanted to go she had to actually take a nap, instead of just laying down and reading. She was lights out in 5 minutes, which meant I was too! I love naps, seriously love them.

4th of July Photographs

Mia, Jilli, Suey, and Brad shop for fireworks. Yes, Jilli named her.

Heidi, do you recognize the dress on the doll?
I didn't notice that day, but check out festive Frank!

Of course my kids were festive too!

Jilli's first corn on the cob.

Our Low Country Boil!

6 adults ate this entire pile! I love the hand sneaking in for a little shrimp!

Cousins

I wonder if Brad will allow this suit in 10 years?

So innocent?

Miss Mia's first fireworks shopping trip. She likes to shop for them, but definitely doesn't like to watch them. Fireworks, thunder, and dogs aren't a good mix for our Reuter girls. Once the first one was started, screaming began and we took them in. We put our girls to bed and Mia said "They are amazing through the curtain."

The Fishers invited us over for some playtime.

Looks fun!

It is fun!

Especially after you drank an entire batch of Summer Beer by yourself.

"I have Summer Brew energy!"

We hope you had a great Fourth! If you would like some of THAT energy check it out.....

Summer Beer

1 can frozen pink lemonade

1 can water

1 can vodka

2 beers

Mix and serve.

It goes down so easy you might just drink an entire batch too!

By the way, they do not sell cans of vodka, you just fill the empty lemonade can. ;)

Kabobs

I decided to make Fruit Kabobs for the 4th of July weekend and intended on Mia Kate helping me. I was trying to do a few before I put Jilli down so I could get a headstart. She caught wind of it and insisted on helping. Little did I know she did a great job and it was great fine motor practice. Mia Kate enjoyed making patterns with her fruit. They were a hit with the kids prompting Brad to comment "They are so much fun they don't even know they are eating fruit." I think he was being sarcastic. ;)

Unbehavable......(and this is long)

It is a good thing we didn't have major plans today. I was putting on makeup to go to Costco and the girls were hanging around. Jilli decided she needed her toothbrush and she left the room. Next, I heard a noise and asked Mia to go check if she needed help. Mia returns "Mom, Jilli is locked in the bathroom."

Of course Jilli locked herself in the bathroom, would this surprise me? A couple of months ago it was locked and then someone pulled it shut, but nobody was inside. I tried and tried to get it but Brad unlocked it in seconds.

So, remembering this I grab the phone and call him to ask how he did it. As the phone rang I remembered seeing his schedule for the day with a meeting at 10:00, it was 10:05, nice. So I grabbed this little screwdriver and was trying to get it open, meanwhile telling Jilli to "Turn the key" because she thinks it is a key. She responds by yelling "I AM DOING THE PUZZLE!" which is a step stool with Mia's name in it. Mia is next to me and she says "Mom, if I were in there I would just turn it and come out." Glad she is so practical?

After more attempts I hear Jilli talking about the puzzle saying "This is an A." At this point I am laughing, had taken a picture, called a couple of friends, destroyed my junk drawer looking for a tool, and texted Brad

"CALL HOME! JILLI IS LOCKED IN THE BATHROOM AND CAN'T GET OUT!"

Seriously, I was trying everything. I had this little tool and was jiggling it around trying and trying. I called my neighbor but he didn't answer, so I called our friend who also works with Brad. He said "Yeah, he is in a meeting in Louisburg, just get a little screwdriver and it will work." After several phone calls from others offering help and suggestions he calls back and says he will come get her out. At this point she had realized that she was not getting out and started crying, so I accepted help. If you know Jilli, she is stubborn and once she starts crying it lasts awhile. I could see her feet under the door stomping as she sat on the step stool. So Mia and I slid three yellow skittles under the door for her, which she didn't take, clearly she was mad.

Don't forget, all the while I was trying to get it open. Finally, the skittles were gone and we heard her say "I want a paci." So we got her a paci and shoved it under the door, followed by "I want my blankie" so in went the blankie. Mia decided she needed books, so in went some books.

Ring ring, oh the phone, and Mia says "Please be Daddy." It was and he started laughing "She has been in there an hour? Just put the little screwdriver in there and turn it." Oh really? I hadn't thought of that....

Ding Dong, Aaron is here. He seriously walked in, took "the little screwdriver" had it open in 2 seconds. AAUUGGHH! I am obviously not fit for either motherhood or home ownership, probably both. After an hour and 15 minutes in the bathroom, poor Jilli was red faced, her hair was sweaty, she had a booger on her face, and a poopy diaper. Of course the toilet paper was rolled out (because what 2 year old can resist that alone in the bathroom?). The rug was all jumbled and she was sitting on the step stool sucking her paci and holding her blankie. I picked her up and she just buried her head in my shoulder. Once I cleaned her up I just sat and held her for another 45 minutes.

1 Hour Later

Back to the junk drawer. I decided that it was probably time to clean her out, especially since I had messed up the "order" that allowed me to shut it. I thought it would be a good nap time project. I was wondering when the last time I had cleaned it and then I pulled out this little square of paper with some highlighting.

"The next time your toddler pelts you with Cheerios at the Sign of Peace, just smile and ask for a bit of help from St. Matilda, patron saint of misbehaving children."

God works in mysterious ways! My mother-in-law had torn the article out of a magazine when Mia was two (The worst thing she has ever done was whine, which she has down pat). It was hanging on the fridge for awhile and I must have tucked it away. St. Matilda better get her ears ready, she is going to be busy!

While we were trying to free her, Jilli stuck her toothbrush out the door.

*Unbehavable. Is it a word? I don't know but Brad made it up and it seems appropriate.

National Blueberry Month

I just read in my Better Homes and Gardens magazine that July is National Blueberry Month and what do you know, I have pictures for it!

Last Friday the girls and I went to a The Berry Patch, which is south of the metro area. I wasn't sure what to expect but on the car ride there Mia Kate told me that they would be in rows, glad she knew!

It was ridiculously hot, but I had packed water bottles and hats. MK and I found a good bush and started picking. Jilli picked (oops, very unripe berries) and then about 3 minutes later I saw her strapping herself back in the wagon announcing "I'm ready to go home." She was a sweaty little thing but managed to entertain herself while we finished picking our 6 pounds of berries.

Throughout the morning Jillian was insistent on riding this train. Mia Kate has ridden one before but she announced that she wasn't going to ride it. Finally, she decided she would ride and Jillian got in and was so proud. The train left the station and was gone for at least 20 minutes far beyond my eyesight. I even loaded my car while they were gone. Once they returned Jilli proudly stated that "I DID IT MOM!" and Mia informed me that they went in the woods, by a pond, and to the farthest blueberry patch.

Jilli had enough!

MK was determined to fill her bucket.

Happy to pick the first minute.

Water break!

Overall we had a great experience and will make it a tradition. Jilli has been devouring the blueberries for snack and I have plans to make something with the ones I have frozen.