chris.reese.girls1.2.3.4

Last year after completely missing the strawberry harvest window, I promised myself I would be more on top of things this year. Last Friday I took the girls to a U-Pick farm. Paige chatted more than picked, and Brynn wasn't feeling well, so we didn't last as long as I thought, but we ended up getting enough to make plenty of freezer jam. Honestly, I was nervous...Pectin scares me. A few calls to my sister and to my mom and I think it turned out okay. We have a nice stock in the freezer, plus some to give away. It's delicious...I'm making homemade bread today. There is nothing better than fresh strawberry jam and homemade bread. crazy eyes... ...yum...

Since I posted pics of my 10-year reunion, I thought it would only be fitting to post some of the pics from high school. Oh my...we look like babies!

We were home from OBX for three days before I packed up and headed to Vancouver for my ten-year high school reunion. It was fun to catch up and visit with my close friends. It was also fun to spend time with my SIL, Becca, and her fun boys. They taught Paige how to wrestle while we were there. FELIDA PARK (Meades, Richardsons, Goodwins, SIL) Courtney and I babysat the Goodwins back in high school. Thomas was a preemie and we were entrusted with his care when he was super tiny. He's SO big now! ZOO TRIP (SIL, Richardsons, Rekows) We didn't get a group shot, mainly because we all left in groups as the downpour hit. My sister-in-law and I were soaked by the time we got to the car. That rarely happens in the Northwest...and I'm being serious when I say that. REUNION PARTY! Pearson Air Museum Me, Court, Kristen, Jordan, Brooke (and cute tummy!) Me and Matt V. He's an uber-successful lawyer in San Fran now Jaime, Beth and I...the Seattle-crew! Gymnastics memories...Shirl...

Our heavenly June vacation was just that...heavenly. We were at OBX for the SNOW family reunion. It was great seeing my grandparents, and aunts and uncles we don't see often...we miss them so much! We enjoyed a giant beachfront house complete with pool, hot tub, and private beach access. Here is our list of favorite things, complete with (lots!) of pics: My cute grandparents! PAIGE: - Sand fun: castles, digging, and trying to get water in her bucket without getting devoured by waves - Wearing a life jacket most of every day - Swimming in the pool until I dragged her out - Playing with GIRL cousins: Addy and Cameron, including hiding in the kitchen cupboards - Craft projects from Aunt Amie - Kite-flyin' on the beach I might have to take this pic off later...but, I cannot resist it...especially since my blog is private now. Doesn't Paige look like she's wearing a white swimsuit? BRYNN: - Learned to crawl - "Prison" at the beach (confined to a pack n' pla...

I'm so behind...but soon I'll get our recent adventures on here: Outer Banks Family Reunion...the most amazing week, plus my 10-year high school reunion and the slew of activities that went along with that. Plus, I have the most amazing videos of Brynn giggling to high heaven. Oh, they are hilarious... But for now, I'd like to officially announce that I have graduated from physical therapy and my bi-monthly checkups with my orthopedic doctor. He gave me a pat on the back for all my hard work and congratulations on my almost-full recovery. My arm is still on the weak side and I still have about 20 degrees to go on my outward rotation (this means nothing to you, but in 20 years, I'll remember and say, "That dang outward rotation took forever to get back!!"). Yay!! So, for all my mom-friends in close proximity....this means you won't have to watch my kids for a while. Thanks!

Once I got the okay from my physical therapist in April, I started running again. I'm happy to say I just finished week 8 of the "Couch to 5k" program. It does exactly what it says: gets you from sitting on the couch to running a little over three miles in nine weeks' time. It feels so good to be semi-in-shape again. And the icing on the cake is that I will complete my 9th and final week of the program in this gorgeous setting: Outer Banks, North Carolina. Vacation, baby....oh, yeah! Catch you in a week.

For those that don't know, the last week in Seattle has been unseasonably hot...by about 20 degrees. We've had temps in the 90's for a few days. Our daily routine resembles something like this: (1) Get up early and clean before sweating to death, (2) Throw swimsuits on and flee the house by 11am, (3) Lube up with sunscreen galore; reapply, reapply, reapply, (4) Eat picnic lunch; stop at McDonald's when we can no longer stand PB&J day after day, (5) Drag ourselves home and enjoy the ONLY place with a/c (our car), (6) Lie directly in front of the fan and figure out how to make dinner without turning on a stove or oven...the microwave is even pushing it, (7) Pretend we've been super busy and productive when husband comes home and promising him we'll be ready for our approaching trip... Tricky, huh?! So, yes, three days in a row we hit three different sprinkler parks...and the days before that, just regular parks. Paige loves guessing where we are going to go e...

It seems Brynn is growing faster with each passing day. We are loving her to death around here!! It would be great if she could get her teeth to come through, but they are taking their time. Enjoy these adorable pics...and because I have no filter when it comes to baby pics, you get a lot! Exhausting days in the sun lead to this in the early evening. Life is rough sometimes. Don't you just want to squeeze that cheek that's hanging over the lip of the swing tray?! I put Brynn in Paige's room while cleaning their bathroom, hoping Paige could entertain her. Paige is fascinated with Brynn's hair and this is what I found them doing. I came back 30 minutes later and Brynn was soaking wet from that spray bottle. Gosh, they were having a ball. Girls are sooooo fun!!! Brynn was crying in her swing. I asked Paige to giver her a toy...but Paige thought more was better. I don't think Brynn agrees, do you?! Paige giving Brynn her first sips from the sippy cup. Split...