8 Years and Counting . . .

We didn't get a picture together today, so I thought I'd post a wedding pic.  I love anniversaries and the chance to reflect on how long we've been together - all that we've experienced and what it was that brought us together in the first place.

There is not much to report this as far as this year's celebrating (all we really did was have dinner at a Korean restaurant without the kids - good enough for me   : ) So, I thought I'd share something of our courtship.

I actually remember the moment I decided that I wanted to marry Kyle.  We had been dating for several months and had talked about getting married.  I went over to his apartment one evening to spend time with him.  I can't remember if I knew what the evenings plans were or not, but that night he had gotten together something to wash my feet in and some lotion or oil to give me a foot massage.  I remember thinking as he took care of me - that if I married him, he would always be there to care for me and make sure I was comfortable and pampered.

There was a second part to that thought later in the evening.  I wish I had been better at keeping a journal (the memory isn't all that clear), but from what I remember, in a prayer offered at the close of our evening, Kyle talked about his gratitude for his priesthood and the opportunity to use it to serve.  Again, I can't remember everything - but I remember thinking that he had a good heart and would use his priesthood to serve others and to serve me.  I remember thinking I could really marry this guy.

Well, the past eight years of marriage has proven to be just as I thought it would be.  Kyle has cared for me with as much love, respect and concern as any wife could ever hope for.  He has been faithful in honoring his priesthood to serve our family and others.   I am grateful I made the choice to marry him.  Thinking about celebrating eight years is a happy thought.  Happier is knowing we still have a lifetime of wonderful memories yet to be experienced.  I love Kyle Anthony Reyes with all my heart.

Happy Birthday Daddy :)

We celebrated Kyle's birthday quietly at home with just our family.  I did everything my tired, pregnant body could to help Kyle feel loved today.  I hope he did.  Being a Sunday, all we could really do was let him take an extra long nap and make him a yummy dinner.   The boys and I created homemade cards and gave him a couple needed gifts (like a new belt and tie).  And below was my best effort at a yummy cake.  It didn't turn out as I hoped - guess I am not meant to be a baker.  Luckily, Kyle isn't a sweets guy anyway.  Happy Birthday Kyle - we love you so, so much!

First Day of School

It was a big day, well anticipated by the two older boys for weeks now.   The first day of school.  Kekoa started 1st Grade, his first experience with all day school and Ikaika started preschool.  Kekoa did great, caught the bus with such excitement, he forgot to say goodbye to me.  After school, the first thing he said was, "I'm exhausted."  Good.  Hard work is good for the soul :)
Ikaika's experience was a different story - he froze up and clung to me like I was trying to push him off a cliff.  I ended up staying with him the entire time.  Thankfully, by the end he warmed up and said that he'd stay tomorrow on his own.
It has been a long summer, way less productive than I'd ever hoped it would be (due to my being so sick with the pregnancy), and I look forward to routine and the boys getting their minds going.
I'll be doing a simplified version of Joy School for Sepa to help him not feel left out from the whole school experience.  I look forward to spending some one-on-one time with him.
So, early in the morning before the bus came, we all went out side and I took some pictures of the kids to remember today.  Here are my darlings:  )

The two school boys of the day : )

Try, Try Again

After a lovely lesson in Relief Society this past Sunday about the importance of family history and doing your own personal history, I have recommitted to get back to my blog.  I also want to just get back to my journal where I can write things I wouldn't put here.  I am so grateful for the season of life in which I live, I want to remember it i the years to come.
So, to finally follow-up with my post on the 5 monkeys - yes, I am expecting number 5 and couldn't be more thrilled.  It has been a rough summer with All-Day Sickness (why is it called Morning Sickness anyway?)  But it is finally subsiding and just in time - the kids are back at school and I need to be a mom that does more than lie on the couch ready to throw-up.  Baby comes in February and we will find out in a couple weeks what gender it is.  So exciting :) 
I actually wanted to post a lot earlier my announcement, but being in front of my computer, especially at night, is agony and seems to heighten my feeling of being sick.  I always wonder why I wait so long to announce my pregnancy, when if people only knew, maybe I could get more help when I actually need it.  In the height of my sickness I felt like I sure could have used a visit from some angel who would help me cook or clean, 100 times more than after having the baby.  I usually feel pretty good after baby comes. It is these first few months when I am non-functional and desperate.  Oh well - it's past for the most part and we are on to the next phase.  (Oh, for the record, my angel sister was here in Utah County for part of the summer and helped me so much with cleaning my house and taking care of my kids - a god-send in every way.  And my dear friend Sarah brought me dinner - made me want to throw up - as all food did - but my kids loved it.)
So, I have many posts to catch up on that I will fill in with the appropriate dates.  So, look for those.
And here's to getting back to doing my little Reyes Family History :)

5 little monkeys

With a private blog and not posting for weeks, I am not sure if anyone even checks this thing anymore.
But, for fun, I wondered if anyone wanted to guess why I would post a picture of 5 little monkeys?