2013-2014

2013 has been a good year.  I'd do a "top posts" of the year post, except I am way behind!  I think I left off in July or August, sometime this summer before school started again, before I got pregnant again, and before I got sick.  In 2014 I hope to get all caught up again and to make and share our new family memories.  I really can't wait until May when our new arrival will be here and our family will be complete.  There's been lots of things I've wanted to do for our family (home décor, mother's jewelry, sentimental journals, etc.), but I've been waiting for all of our family to get here.  I am so excited that soon we will be!  After I had Hiram I knew I wasn't done having babies and I really hoped that I would feel that closure eventually.  I am happy/sad to say that I feel that this time.  I am happy to have another baby, and happy to have our family complete, but I am also sad that this will be our last baby. Babies are fun!  But I'm getting old and you have to stop some time.  We have to get a new 8-seater vehicle, and we're hoping next summer to break it in with a cross-country road trip to visit all of our extended families and to do a church history trip too.  I'm really looking forward to that!  The last time we saw everyone was May of 2012, so we are long overdue!  And as always, if anyone wants to check out the capital city of Canada, you are always welcome to come and stay with us!!  Happy New Year All!

Lucky 2013 Highlights and Merry Christmas!!

Lucky Leonard got to visit Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, & France.

Lucky Jennifer gained 20 pounds.

Lucky Kaleb taught himself how to read and write hieroglyphs.

Lucky Noé is continuing in lyrical dance and is taking ballet again.

Lucky Gavin is playing basketball with his Daddy and brothers.

Lucky Teague started Junior Kindergarten.

Lucky Hiram has Mommy all to himself during the day.

Actually, we're not lucky, but blessed. We're so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and love celebrating His birth at Christmas each year.

We wish you and your loved ones a lucky holiday season

and a blessed new year!

Love,

Leonard, Jennifer, Kaleb, Noé,

Gavin, Teague, Hiram (& Baby #6) Reil

 

*to learn more of our beliefs of Jesus Christ visit:

www.mormon.org

10 Ways to Change the Atmosphere of your Home

1.  Light a candle.
2.  Turn on soft or upbeat music.
3.  Declutter for 15 minutes.
4.  Bake brownies.
5.  Put flowers in the kitchen.
6.  Smile at your family.
7.  Say an encouraging word.
8.  Give a back rub, tickle, or hug.
9.  Play a game together.
10. Pray.

*My aunt posted this on facebook from the book "Women Living Well" by Courtney Joseph.  I had to share!

Kindness begins with me

(I normally keep track of the books I read on my Creative Pursuits blog, but I'm behind on that blog as well and felt this story was worth mentioning on here.)

After reading glowing reviews of this book on two different blogs, I decided I wanted to read it.  There was a huge waiting list at my library, but I got in line.  I'll admit I was a little sad at first when I got the notice that it was ready.  In December I like to read Christmas books after all.  However, I picked it up and read it in one afternoon.  It's juvenile fiction, but very well written.  I loved it and think it should be required reading for all middle-school students.  I'm going to have my two middle-schoolers read it!  Anyway, one of the teachers in the story shares a precept with his class each month of the school year and then he asks his students to share their own precepts with him via a postcard during the summer.  I wanted to remember his precepts, so I'm recording them here and I hope you'll find them uplifting as well:

 

"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." -Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

 

"Your deeds are your monuments." -Egyptian tomb inscription

 

"Have no friends not equal to yourself." -Confucius

 

"Audentes fortuna iuvat/Fortune favors the bold." -Virgil

 

"No man is an island, entire of itself." -John Donne

 

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers." -James Thurber

 

"Kind words do not cost much.  Yet they accomplish much."  -Blaise Pascal

 

"What is beautiful is good, and who is good will soon be beautiful." -Sappho

 

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." -John Wesley's Rule

 

"Just follow the day and reach for the sun!" -The Polyphonic Spree, "Light and Day"

 

I also want to share a couple of quotes the principal shared with the students:

 

"Shall we make a new rule of life...always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?" -The Little White Bird, JM Barrie

 

"It was at moments such as these that Joseph recognized the face of God in human form.  It glimmered in their kindness to him, it glowed in their keenness, it hinted in their caring, indeed it caressed in their gaze."  -Under the Eye of the Clock, Christopher Nolan

 

And last, but not least I want to share the main character's personal precept:

 

"Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world."  -August Pullman, Wonder, RJ Palacio

 

By the way, I think this is a great read for December.  What was Christ's message?  Be kind to others.  Yep, this book goes well with that message.

Why I love Christmas

There would be no Christmas if there had not been an Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby.  But He was not, He is my Savior and yours. He has redeemed us and that is why we celebrate His birth. That is where we find joy and peace.
(President Thomas S. Monson and
Sister Mary E. Martin)

A lovely little thought

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. 
~Jane Goodall~

Christmas is in the air!

We've got snow outside and our house is covered with ornaments both inside and out!  I love Christmas time!

(This photo is not of our house, but I can dream!)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I love today!!  We'll be watching the Macy's parade while we're preparing our yummy menu: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls, pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream, and some sparkling cider.  Of course, we'll also watch Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving and Miracle on 34th Street.  Hope your day is wonderful too!!

Hello there, baby!

Yesterday I had my second ultrasound, but it was the first one where my tiny 6cm baby actually looks like a baby.  Here is a little profile of six laying on its back.  You can see its little leg bent, tiny fingers waving hello, and its little face that I can't wait to shower with kisses.  It's crazy that I'm just 13 weeks pregnant tomorrow, but I already love this little one so much!  Now if I could just speed up time and make it May now I would be one happy momma!!

A true friend helps you become your best self!

My friend, Leslie joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints twenty years ago.  She asked me to share some photos from that day and I found a few.  This one is my favorite with my sweet friends, Leslie and Gina; my husband (who was my new boyfriend then); and my four darling little siblings.

 

I met Leslie on the first day of school in 7th grade.  She sat behind me in Mrs. Stonner's Science class (yes, Mrs. Stonner was as awful as her name!).  We became fast friends and over the years spent lots of time together on the dance team, cheerleading, school trips to California, parties, and sleepovers.

 

I was a new freshman at BYU, when Leslie called me to tell me she was getting baptized.  At first, I started laughing- I thought she was teasing me since I was at a Mormon school and all.  When I realized she was serious, I started crying.  Luckily, I was able to catch a ride home for the special event (and bring my cute boyfriend home for the first time too).

 

Twenty years later and Leslie has stayed a true friend.  We sent our boyfriends on missions and made them cute scrapbooks.  We tried to have summer flings with some other cute boys in the singles ward.  (I married my missionary, she married her fling- tee hee!).  We are both the mothers of twins.

 

Leslie has a strong testimony and is a wonderful woman.  She gets what is most important in life.  She is such a good example to me as a wife, mother, professional, and daughter of God.  We joke that even though she didn't go to Young Women's camp as a teenager, she has been more times than I have as a leader.

 

Just wanted to say thanks Leslie for being such a fabulous part of my life!

Gimme a Number

I posted this on facebook and thought I'd share it here too.  14 things you might not know about me.

1.   I am a water baby.  The summer I was 2 we lived with my Aunt & Uncle in California, who had a pool in their backyard.  After being rescued a few times from jumping in the deep end all by myself, I had to wear a lifejacket 24/7.

2.   My pet peeve is when people use "your" in place of "you're".

3.   When I was 8, my best friend and I shoplifted My Little Ponies.  We got busted and thrown in the store jail.  It was so scary and my only brush with the law.

4.   When I was in college, I joked that I was going to marry Brad Pitt.  I'd then hyphenate my name and become Jennifer Pittl-Pitt, ha!

5.   Silence is hard for me.  I'll turn on the TV and not watch it, just so I don't feel alone.

6.   I used to have a lead foot.  I caught myself going 110 mph (180 km/h) on a BYU road trip once.

7.   I shaved all of my hair off when I was 23.

8.   I despise my nose.  Although, if I could afford plastic surgery I'd fix my deformed mother of twins and soon to be 5 c-sections tummy.

9.   When we were visiting France in 2000, an unknown man came up to me and kissed me.  I barely had time to turn my face so he only got my cheek.

10.  The shortest job I ever had was at Gymboree.  I worked there for ONE day and then quit.

11.  I dream of living on each continent, except Antarctica.  I still want to take a cruise to Antarctica though and take some pictures of the cute penguins.

12.  When we were in Taiwan, my kids did lots of modeling.  One time I was asked to model with them.  So, if you ever see a witch, or pirate, or devil costume with a face that looks like mine on it- it just might be.

13.  Baby #6 will be our caboose, but if I could I'd have 2 more babies!

14.  I love the tradition of sending Christmas cards.  I send over a hundred each year and I am so grateful for the friends and family that remember us and send us cards too.  I've saved every single one!

If you took the time to read all 14 of these, please leave me a comment.  If you have a blog or are on facebook, please share 14 unknown things about you- and then let me know so I can read it!

Need Home Remedies Please!

I am one sick momma!  I have had "morning sickness" with all of my pregnancies.  Although for me, it lasts all day, all night, the whole pregnancy.  However, I think this pregnancy has definitely been the worst ever.  I curled up in a ball on Friday and pretty much didn't move until now (only because I had to get the kids ready for class picture day at school).  In Canada they actually have a prescription drug "diclectin" for pregnancy nausea.  I have taken 100 of those puppies over the past few weeks and they have not done a dang thing!  Last night I had a dream about durian fruit (its smell would make anyone nauseous) and that it was an anti-nausea remedy.  That's how desperate I am- I am dreaming about home remedies to cure my nausea!  I would even eat a durian if it would help.  So please, help this momma out- if you have any home remedies for nausea please share in the comments!!

A witch and all her little monsters live here

When witches go riding
and black cats are seen
the moon laughs and whispers
'tis near Halloween

I feel like doing...

...NOTHING!  There are so many things I have to do as a wife, mother, and homemaker.  There are so many things I want to do as a wife, mother, artist, friend, dreamer.  But I am growing a person.  And even though I am so happy about that, I am extremely nauseous 24/7.  So I am actually doing the bare minimum to run our household, giving lots of hugs to my kiddos and honey, and that's about all.  I hope to get back to getting caught up with this blog soon, but it may take me 7 more months!

Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat

This is where I went to high school, the original Las Vegas High.  It is the oldest high school in the city with the first graduating class being from 1931.  I was in the class of 1993- the last of the legacy!  After we graduated a new high school was opened that took on the name of LVHS and all of its traditions while this school became Las Vegas Academy, a magnet school for International Studies and Performing/Visual Arts.   This weekend is our 20th reunion and I am so bummed that I can't be there!  Tonight they're going to the Homecoming Football Game at the new LVHS, then tomorrow they're touring the old LVHS and having a family picnic, then in the evening they're having a formal dinner & dance.  For all of my friends who are going, PLEASE take lots of pictures for me!!

 

I haven't changed much in 20 years, right?  Ha ha!  I loved high school!  I had wonderful friends, great teachers,...

...and lots of extracurriculars- Cheerleading, Spectrum, Dance Festival, Student Council, Honor Society.  We had good times.  In fact, watch THIS VIDEO by one of our famous alumni to get a taste of what I was doing back then!

 

I have to give a shout out to my handsome hubby too.  It's also his 20th anniversary of high school graduation, but we haven't heard of a reunion or anything.  It's too bad because one of his classmates is quite famous now.  Watch THIS VIDEO to see where Len went to school.

Six Years

Just wanted to mention that today is my 6th anniversary to blogging.  What?  How has the time gone so fast?  This is the first time I'm not doing a giveaway, sorry.  The morning sickness hit hard so I haven't felt like doing anything besides lay on the couch.  I did get some diclectin from the doctor yesterday, and I'm hoping that soon it will actually start working for me.  Anyway, if you read my blog I would love for you to leave me a comment.  Happy Wednesday!

Niagara Falls

We arrived in Niagara Falls at 1 o'clock in the morning.  We went up to our room and went straight to bed.   The next morning we marveled at our gorgeous view of the falls.  I didn't realize that Niagara Falls is actually made up of two waterfalls- the horseshoe falls are the Canadian falls and the other ones are the American falls.  Our room told us that enough water passes over the falls each minute to fill one MILLION bathtubs!!  Our room had a huge bathtub that all 5 of our kids fit into, so I would guess it would take at least 3 times the amount of a normal tub to fill, ha!

 

Unfortunately, Niagara Falls has become a huge tourist trap.  There are so many hotels, casinos, and attractions that it gives Las Vegas, Orlando, and New York City a run for their money.  We just wanted to see the falls, so that's what we did!  Here's another view of the Canadian falls from ground level.

Posing in front of the American falls before we got a little wet.

Grandma and Grandpa spoiled us and we decided to put their generosity to good use and ride the Maid of the Mist.  I couldn't believe that it's been around since 1846- it's possibly the oldest attraction I've patronized.

 

An up-close shot of the American falls. 

I couldn't get a very good close-up of the Canadian falls because there was just too much water!  Do you see how SOAKED Len and Hiram are?  We didn't just get a little wet, it was seriously like we just jumped in the shower with our clothes on!

Kaleb called us blueberries in our rain ponchos.

Yes, we were completely drenched, but it was definitely worth it!

Historic Kirtland

We drove all day and made it just in time for the last tour of the Kirtland Temple.  It's marvelous to be able to walk through this sacred place where much of the gospel was restored.  I believe this temple received heavenly visitors- Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias, and Elijah.  Our church no longer owns it, but it was nice to visit with the people of the Community of Christ faith.

Our family in front of the its big green doors.

After the tour we visited some more important places in history.  The kids were ready to go to the school!

In front of the Newel K. Whitney store where the revelation on the Word of Wisdom was received.

I love seeing all of their merchandise inside!

The Whitney's lovely home...

...and flower garden.

The town hotel.

The darling sister missionaries that were our tour guides- in front of the potash factory.

I love the old tin lanterns!

Sweet Home Indiana

After I was born, I left the hospital and arrived at this sweet little home sweet home on 5 acres of land.  I lived there until I was about a year and a half old.  We left Indiana and I've only been back one other time in my life (Christmas 1984).

For this trip we stayed with Clint and Lacey's lovely family.  However, we were on the go all day!  Our first stop was to the park for a barbeque.

Clint, Lacey with Chloe, and Conner.

Wyatt with Kolton, Karlee, and Keegan.

Grandpa and Grandma with baby Levi were visiting from Idaho.

Our little fam was so excited we got to see more of our extended family!

After lunch we cooled off at Cataract Lake.

Teague didn't last for long in the water, but the rest of us found it quite refreshing!

Baby Kolton is just 3 weeks younger than baby Levi.

Grandpa and Grandma love their babies!

Hiram was asleep before we even left the parking lot.

I loved driving through the corn fields, but I also have to admit in some places I felt a little claustrophobic when that was all that we could see.

  

We had to see some of Cataract's old famous sites, like the General Store.  There was also an old barn and a one room school house that is being renovated to become a museum.  The school house also had the girls latrine still standing.  It had 2 "toilets" in the tiny space that faced each other.  I think that would be just a teensy bit awkward, ha!

We also walked through the beautiful covered bridge...

...and peeked at Cataract Falls.

I would love to live in Clint and Lacey's home.  They have this gorgeous HUGE tree (with a swing) in their front yard...

 

...hayfields and hay bales for the kids to climb on in the backyard...

...and cornfields in the side yard.  Conner thinks it's a swell place to live too!

And Keegan loves to visit often!

The kids went across the street to visit Clint's grandpa's donkeys.  Noé was so excited to go back to school and tell her class she hand fed donkeys during her summer vacation.  She must have a little bit of country in her heart like her momma!

Lacey's beautiful tiger lilies.

Uncle Keith and Aunt Gloria joined us for dinner.

Grandpa and Grandma with 10 of their 12 grandkids.  We sure missed you Tyler and Jacob!  And Lana, Adam, and LaChele!

Before we left we had to visit the bell graveyard.  I swung a bell, made a wish, and hoped we'd be with all of our extended families again soon!