The Meanest Mom

Last year, I threw Reese a huge 9th birthday party

(I admit, mostly out of guilt for all the short changed

birthdays she's had over the last seven years).

So this year, I told her I wasn't doing another party,

she could just have a few friends over to do something.

Big sister Greer and her friend Jaymie decided that

wasn't very nice.

They came up with a surprise party for Reese.

Here's the funniest part.

They went to all this work-- printed posters, made signs,

came up with theme foods and decorations and activities-- all based

around the theme of the Hunger Games.

But get this, Reese's friends hadn't seen the Hunger Games or get any of the games, food or signs.

Thankfully, that didn't put a damper on the party.

They still scarfed down all the food

and played and played in the pool.

I don't know how we'd throw a single birthday party

without Grandpa Bodily's (Gobily's) pool!

Small But Mighty

I am one lucky girl.

First off, years and years ago when I was still in college,

I happened to meet a man who would have a huge impact on my life--

a man who would serve as my mentor and become a dear, dear friend.

Meet David Glodt.

When I met him, he was the Los Angeles Bureau Chief for ABC News,

then he went on to oversee Europe (based in London) and then the weekend

news- including the David Brinkley Show.

I spent several Sundays in the Green Room and the studio

with David- and David Brinkley, Sam Donaldson, George Will

and Cokie Roberts.  

I never made a career move in my television career without

first consulting David.
As I said I was lucky and spoiled to have him in my corner.

And who'd ever think he would make a yearly trek to Boise on business

and I'd get to see him here.

***

We celebrated Reese's first double digit birthday Monday night-

with a night out for dinner and then lots of presents.

 A few highlights:  this sweet hand knitted mermaid blanket

from Greer and Holland....

 this vintage Nancy Drew collector's book (Reese

adores Nancy Drew books)...

 and of course, what is fast becoming a tradition by our Greer girl--

a "candy cake".

I still can't believe my little Reese is the big ten.

She's about the size of a 6 year old-- but sure packs

a punch when it comes to personality and spunk.

We have probably told her too many times "small but mighty".

She sure is....

The Guilty Party

If you have followed this blog for any amount of time

you'll know that Reese often gets the short end of the stick.

I have this Mommy guilt-- if Kean is sick, I'll tell her

to go play quietly while I deal with him.

Her birthday's have followed suit.

We've cancelled a birthday party, held

an extremely small one in an extra room in the hospital

and if I'm being honest, for the parties we have had,

they have been as easy as I could make them.

This year, I decided to try and make up for my

short changing her (and the fallout from Kean's cancer).

We sent out invitations for her friends to come to

Barker Spy Training Academy

(they even had to have a secret password to get in).

Once at the party, they got their "dossiers"

and had to make their Spy Identification cards- complete with

fingerprints, height, weight, photos and an undercover name

(Reese's was Mimi Skyline-- her pet's first name/her street name for her last).

 Of course, they had to get sunglasses, fake moustaches

and explosives (Pop Rocks).

 Once they finished their ID badges, they went into the girls' bedroom

to retrieve the presents-- only to find they'd been stolen!!!

Oh, no!

 They had to decipher their first clue-- that basically told them

if they wanted to solve the Birthday Present Heist, they

had to undergo Spy Training.

 Off they went first for "Mind Sharpening" where they had

to remember as many items as possible on a tray.

 Then it was outside for physical training-- 

 which of course, included a few runs down the "escape hatch".

 Next it was "Weapons Training"-- squirt gun

wars with targets on their backs.

 And finally, Bomb Detonation... where they found

clues that led them to a puzzle...

 they had to put together of a map showing

where they could find the stolen presents.

 You'll never guess who the culprits were!!!

Actually, who was harboring the contraband!

Our dear sweet neighbors, the Bodilys- and they 

played it up perfectly.

 Once the girls found their presents stashed

at the Bodily's, they brought them home,

opened them up

 and had the most delicious spy refreshments you've ever seen.

I got smart this year and traded a gallon of blackberries to 

my friend, Lori Renn (the Cupcake Lady).

She made Salted Caramel and Red Velvet.

Yes, you sure should be salivating.

 Then it was back to the ol' escape hatch

until parents came.

Reese was thrilled.

I'm exhausted -- probably from working off all that guilt.

But it was worth it.

Phew!

"Happy Birthday Cake"

We celebrated Reese's ninth birthday this weekend.

Still trying to figure out how that little munchkin can be

growing up so fast.

She had quite the sweet start to her day-

Reese has been dying to take gymnastic lessons.

A friend of a friend has offered to come over to the house

and teach Reese (along with her own two daughters)

lessons on Saturday mornings.

 Her name is Summer Nielsen and she couldn't be kinder--

or better at teaching.

We were all amazed to see how much Reese improved

in just an hour.

She loved every second but pretty much wore herself out.

 Then it was birthday party time.

Byron's cousin and his wife were in town for dinner

so that was a treat.

Silly me forgot to take any pictures of them or dinner--

just Reese with some of her presents.

 I'm not sure what she enjoyed more--

presents or phone calls from our family or...

  Kean telling her "Happy Birthday Cake"

when she went to blow out her candles.

We sure adore this little girl

and all the joy she brings to our family.

Happy 9th year, little one.

Curtsy

Before church, Byron took Reese outside to snap a few

of her in her Baptism dress.

 Our little one is growing up.

Introducing...

It is official, Reese is the newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter Day Saint's Eagle 8th Ward.

Today she chose to be baptized.

 Here is a picture of Byron and Reese standing in front of the 

baptismal font before they changed into their clothes.

 I just thought this was awfully sweet.

 Reese confided she was quite nervous but you'd never know it.

 Byron baptized her and it was perfect.

Afterwards, we all gathered for her to be

confirmed a member of the church and to

receive in a blessing by her father

the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

We believe that when you are baptized you then

are entitled if worthy, to be prompted and receive

guidance by the spirit to make the right choices

and be protected throughout your life.

To receive that blessing, her father is joined by other

men who hold the priesthood in our church to gather in a circle

around Reese as Byron said the prayer.

Just look at how many friends were there to share in Reese's special day.

 Our entire family felt very loved today

since we had so many dear to us and dear to Reese

come to the Baptism.... including Byron's mom, Grandma Kay.

I'll try and get a better picture of Reese in her special dress

tomorrow before church-- but she picked out the fabric and 

designed it with her Grammy-- and then my mom made it.

Reesey looked beautiful.

Then of course we went back to the house

for ice cream...

 and yep, you guessed it:  fresh blackberries

to share with those we love dearly.

It was a great day.

Back on the Bike

Ahhh, life is back to our normal hum...

Reese is healthy- bouncing around.

She opened birthday presents last night

and was pretty thrilled with her bow and arrows.

Get this, she won the top medal at Camp Rainbow Gold

in archery for her age group.

Who knew?!?!

(Holland did too).

 She also felt good enough to tear into her maple bacon donut.

 And back to normal for Kean means... yep, cycle ride time.

I made the mistake of telling him Motorcycle Jeff was coming.

And as you can see, he couldn't get here soon enough.

 Life is good.

And as it should be....

we are all back home.

The girls are healthy.

And Kean is back on the bike.

Birthday Healing

Phew!

The girls are home with their mountains of dirty laundry,

their greasy hair, filthy feet and non stop jabbering and

telling of stories from Camp Rainbow Gold.

 They had a fantastic time and had lots of goodbye hugs

from all their old and new friends.

 The best news is they are all healthy and so far have dodged the gunk.

Reese, after feeling a bit better last night, had a horrible night

and was up again several times running for the bathroom.

Thankfully, by this afternoon she seems to truly have turned a corner.

(I'm quite certain since she's back to her old habits of changing her clothes

every few hours).

We've had kind of a low key birthday-- we've promised to celebrate

in a day or two when she's feeling 100 percent.

Meanwhile, the girls brought her a gift from her cabin mates--

a signed pillow case.

And if that wasn't enough, there is a bacon maple donut

that was hand carried from camp just for her.

It's a Camp Rainbow Gold thing!

So Not Ansel Adams

Mister Grumpypants is still struggling...

which makes for an awfully long day.

I almost bagged his horse therapy session this morning but thought we'd try.

Thank goodness.

In spite of feeling lousy, he made it about 20 minutes with his horse Reba.

 He even... clear as a bell... said "hi" to some folks watching just outside the arena.

That was worth the trip for that alone.

 Here's cute Emily who led Reba while Candice and I walked on

either side of him.

 Then this afternoon, we threw a big ol' birthday bash for Miss Reese.

Last year we totally cancelled her birthday party due to Kean's diagnosis.

Remember, we had a little family shin dig in one of the hospital rooms-- anyway,

this year, I told her she could invite a ton of friends-- we played water games,

went swimming at Grandpa Bodily's and did the cake and ice cream thing.

But look at how every single one of my pictures turned out. 

Clearly there is a reason I was in front of the camera in my old news days

instead of behind it.

Sure don't know what in the world I did.

But the party turned out much better than the pics.

Elly Moomey saved my bacon once again by helping out...

and sweet Lindsay Pennington hung out with the Keanster

to keep him segregated from all those little germ factories--

I mean, all of those little kiddos.