Never Again!

So this past Saturday I did something for the first time and most likely the last time! The race I thought was a 5k, which turned into an actual 3.5 mile trail run was Saturday. Now I am not saying I will never do another 5k...who knows, but I will NEVER do another trail run! It was awful!

(Cory and I before the start)

I knew it would be a trail, but I wasn't expecting so many winding turns, mud, water, stumps, etc. It was pretty rough and the other girls that ran it agree with me! Cory finished in 37 minutes and came back to find me! He is so sweet. He thought I might be dead, hurt, crying, begging for him to take me off the course...but no, there I was still jogging along slowly but surely!

(The studly guys!)

This was physically the hardest thing I have ever done besides giving birth...seriously! But I am glad to say I did it! I would advise not running a race like that pregnant though! I took Tylenol every 4 hours for the next two days just so I could get out of bed and walk!

(Mandy and I)

So I finished in 55 minutes, 47 seconds...under an hour! Wahoo!

Thank you to Lacy for bringing your camera to document the event! Note all of these pictures were before the race, before we were all complaining, etc. The other girls got top 3 in our age division, and Cory and Chad each got gold in their divisions...I didn't medal, but I didn't come in last! I was 17th out of 24 or so...good enough for now! Thanks to Mandy for suggesting this and to her, Sally, Donna, and Cory for all the encouragement to keep training!

Valentine's

Here are a couple of quick pics from Caden's valentine party at school. We made these cute little caterpillars and had some snacks! A great morning at school for any kid right!!!

Also here is one shot of Cole enjoying his valentine candy from Grammie and Papa! Thanks!
Hope everyone had a great day! I was surprised with a cute OSU t-shirt, flowers, a balloon, and some chocolate! Loved it!

Arranging a Marriage

Do Baptists do this? Is it still a common practice? Well we are hoping to arrange one for Cole...

Sally and Bert have the cutest little girl! Sally has always had a soft spot for our boys, particularly Carter, but he is a little to old for Miss Heidi! So when Cole came along, and then Heidi only a year later...it was meant to be :)

Carter is my nurturer and loves to hold babies, so we let him hold Heidi first. Cole wanted to hold his girl, so we obliged! He loved every minute of it!

Aren't they cute

He was trying to love on her, not sure she liked it yet! She didn't smile too much!

So maybe it will work out, who knows...how funny to have these pics if it does!

Big Boy Haircut

I have been after Cory for weeks to cut Cole's hair, really months. Every time he cuts the big boys' hair, Cole literally climbs into the tub before Cory can wrangle him on the counter, so we keep putting it off.

Well last Friday it was driving me nuts, so I begged and Cory obliged! He said that Cole actually did great. I think he looks all grown up now! Yeah!

I came in to take a picture and Cole sees me and says "tees", already knows how to pose for Momma...love it!

All his lovely locks, so fine and pretty, but not for a big boy!

Looking more like Daddy everyday!

Winter Wonderland

Old Man Winter is hitting us hard, although not as hard as some...my sister has over 3ft I think...crazy!

Here are a few shots of this past week's snow, pretty but I am tired of it! READY FOR SPRING!

Seriously Slacking

I know I told most of you in my Christmas letter that I would be better at blogging...and I was for a couple of weeks, right?!?! Well I really have a good excuse, I promise!

But first to summarize our happenings since mid-January...

Soon after my last post, the stomach bug hit the house in full swing! Cole started it and then Carter got it. Cole still has remnants of the bug, Carter's only lasted a week or so. We assumed Caden managed not to get it...we were wrong! So most of the last few weeks have been changing nasty diapers, cloroxing the bathrooms and toys, giving lots of baths, and lots and lots of laundry! FUN STUFF!

If that wasn't enough, we also had to juggle our schedules so that we could serve in our usual capacities at church, work, and other responsibilities. Lots of communication between Cory and I as to who was covering what, when, where, etc.

I have also been training to run a 5k! This was supposed to take place Saturday, Jan. 30th but with the lovely "winter wallop 2010" happening it has been postponed. This is both good news and bad...I am so glad I didn't have to run in Jan. 30th, but I really don't want to wait two more weeks to run! I am not a huge fan of running! But I am determined to do this!

So after all this blah, blah, blah...the real reason I have been slacking on the blog is because I just haven't felt like doing much at all the last two weeks. I have been SOOOOO tired and really nauseous. Thought I might be getting the stomach bug, but alas that wasn't it...

the culprit is
BABY REID #4! Can you believe it?!?!?! (this is not our ultrasound, just one off the internet) I am sure some of you are rolling your eyes right now and thinking "man, are they crazy or what?" But this is truly another miracle from God! After years of infertility struggles, God has once again provided another blessing for us! And before you ask me, "are you hoping it's a girl?" NO I am just praying for a healthy happy baby! I am excited to see what God has in store for us! Cory, of course, thinks he needs a daughter, but will be equally pleased with a son. The boys think we need another boy and Carter says baby girls are "nasty". We will just have to wait and see until the big ultrasound! Be patient folks...

So that is what is going on at the Reid's! I will try to do better I promise! Just pray I don't get as sick as I did with the boys, and seriously pray for some motivation! I have got to get it in gear...Cory can't do much more of this alone! We will of course keep you updated on all the exciting news to come!

Dinosaur Madness

The boys are quite into dinosaurs these days. I think it began in August with the new cartoon Dinosaur Train on PBS...check it out it is great! Then we got a book or two, started memorizing names, etc. Then over fall break I forced them to watch Land Before Time. Carter was all for it, but of course Caden and his movie phobia had some issues. I made him watch the whole thing, I mean physically held him on my lap reassuring him every millisecond that it would be okay. Think what you will but that boy needs to not be scared of movies...anyway, I digress.

While away for fall break we received some hand me down toys from our friends in Houston. There were all sorts of dinos but the best were these massive T-Rex's that roar and move and their eyes are red and light up...FABULOUS! So this began the obsession. We watched the movie lots of times, watched Dinosaur Train over and over, and read every thing we could on dinosaurs.

So for Christmas I get this great idea to put a few in each boys' stocking. I can handle 6 dinosaurs in the house...right. Well Grammie got the same idea then we got Carter a Dino Mountain thing that came with dinosaurs (I didn't read the fine print!) So now we seriously have close to 40 total dinosaurs! WOW...

The boys know them all by their correct names and how they fight, what they eat, etc. Caden plays with them often, but really loves to read about them. He also got some great books on dinosaurs for Christmas and keeps checking one out each day from the school library. He is like his mother and gets bored easily and moves on to different toys constantly. Carter on the other hand is ADDICTED! He will line them up in an army, fight with them, tell stories with them, and all sorts of stuff. Today he had me playing with him and he kept instructing me on what my dinosaurs could say and who they could kill...he really knows his stuff!

Here are a few pics of Carter the other day. He must have stayed at the table for close to 45 minutes playing with his dinos...so precious!





Before you go, I must also explain the horse. Carter is also obsessed with the horse at Wal-Mart. He affectionately calls him "Old Paint". We have to talk to him every time we are there. Caden found this horse for Carter and wanted to get it for him for Christmas. Carter named the above horse "Old Paint" and wouldn't you know Old Paint can even fight dinosaurs! This boy did not get his imagination from me that is for sure!

Cabin Fever

Here are a few of the pics from the cabin. We spent the entire week after Christmas there! The kids loved to sled down the driveway, climb the mountain behind the cabin, go tubing down the ski mountain, and most of all play with their cousins! They had a great time!

I wanted to snap a few shots, so I had the kids push each other at first...didn't work so well!

Brooklyn was really trying to get Carter down that mountain!

Mya and Brooklyn

Caden and Carter

5 of the 7 cousins...Cole was napping and didn't get to sled today and Jada stayed home :)

Proof that I was out there! Caden snapped this picture of Carter and me.

Tate being goofy and climbing the mountain.

Tate and Caden

Cole really loved being out there! He was only out there about 10 minutes before we left to go tubing and that was not long enough. He screamed and kicked the entire time to the mountain!

Look closely and you can see a few deer on the mountain to the left of the cabin. They were right next to the driveway where the kids were playing, while the kids were playing...WOW!

Cory and the boys ready to go tubing down the mountain!