THANKSgiving indeed

Going home is always really hard on me since my mom's accident. It seems like memory after memory is thrown at me from all sides in Seattle. Which is good and bad. Good because I have so MANY good memories growing up in Seattle and having such an awesome, loving mother who taught me so well. But, also bad because it kinda shoots me back into reality that my mom is never really going to remember who I am again and that hurts more than words can say. She was my best friend whom I love soooo much, I counted on her more than I thought I did for everyday things. An ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and of course I used to call her all the time for recipes. I hadn't realized that this Thanksgiving was the first holiday we had been in Seattle since her accident and I wasn't prepared for the ache in my heart. I don't talk to many people about what happened so I guess I should write a little about the accident. Four and a half years ago my mom was in a motorcycle accident and had a terrible brain injury. She never fully recovered, having lost her long term memory. She is now living in Idaho in a care facility in a wheel chair because she can't take care of herself. I am thankful she didn't die in the accident and I can still talk to her all the time. I guess its just difficult knowing my kids will never know how my mom was before the accident. How selfless, kind, gentle and just wonderful she was. It is extremely hard on me and I know that I wouldn't be this strong without my Lord and Savior and an extremely patient and wonderful family. I love you momma so so much, that will never change. I miss you so much and I promise I will always choose to dance!

On to the THANKS in my Thanksgiving this year. I never said a word to my in-laws about the hard time I was having without my mom this year and I never had to. My mom (in-law) is the most caring and wonderful women (other than my mom) I have ever had the privelage of meeting. And for her to be my mother-in-law I consider myself extremely blessed. I am very thankful to her and all of my in-laws for being so kind and thoughtful. I felt like I was at home this Thanksgiving and that was very comforting. I needed that. I always have such a wonderful time when visiting Jason's family. I shouldn't say Jason's family any more, they are my family. Irma can never replace my mom in my heart, and she would never want to. She is a second mom I never realized I needed and I have to say that I could not imagine a better family to marry into than the one I have. So, thank you so much to them and especially Irma for taking me into your family and loving me. It means soooooo much to me and really helped me through an extremely tough time this year. I love you!

Seattle treck

With the girls being homeschooled it's really cool that we get to take extra long vacations. Although by the end of two weeks the girls are so wiped out that it almost makes me think we shouldn't go for that long. It is just so hard because we get to go to Seattle once a year and we all want to make the most of it while we are there. This year was a little different. Coming home for Thanksgiving we wanted to spend most of our time with family. My dad lives in Seattle so we got to spend time with him, which was so wonderful! My sister Mendie and her two kids Eliza and Daniel came out from Idaho to visit while we were there. I can't believe how much the kids have grown since I last saw them in April. Here is a picture of me, Kansas and Daniel at Starbucks, of course! And also a picture of my neice Eliza.
My brother and his new wife Sonia were also able to come to Seattle over the holiday from Houston. The girls just adore their Uncle Nathan and Aunt Sonia so it was really cool that they were able to come as well. The first picture is Aunt Sonia and Kansas coloring as usual! And the second is my dad and brother.

The girls and I got to spend alot of family time together which was really fun. I got to take them to see my old stomping grounds all around Seattle. We also went to Pike Place Market which was beautiful all lit up with Christmas lights and trees.

I do feel bad we were unable to see all our friends on this visit out. Though I did get to spend time with my best friend Shannon, her husband Brian and their kids Emma and I got to meet baby Jacob for the first time!! I always LOVE going to Shannon's house. It is like a second home to me, no worries, no expectations. Just hangin out and having fun, and of course playing cards! Here is a picture of my girls with Emma and Jacob. So cute!!! We also were able to go to our favorite church back home Eastlake Community Church with our friends Traci and Steffan and cute little Alissa! That church makes me want to move home....almost! Again, sorry to those of you I didn't get to see on this trip. We were trying to keep it low key so we had enough time with our families this time around.

Wow how time flies

It is already almost Christmas and I have been so busy I haven't had time to take a breathe...until now. So, I am doing some catchup from the last few months.

Halloween was soooo much fun! Kansas really enjoyed that I made her costume and she got to help. It was so much fun being able to do that together and then seeing the end product. I still can't believe how fast she has grown, my little girl has turned into a little lady. UGGH. Where does the time go?? I am so proud of her though, she learns so quickly and loves to learn.

She is incredibly outgoing and makes friends wherever she goes. She is excited to have finally found a friend her age here. She met Taylor through soccer and they get along so well. I was commenting to Jason how amazed I was that they were all playing together (Kansas, Ysabella, Taylor and her sister Olivia who is almost 2) for about three hours and nobody wanted to leave, there was no crying or fighting. Taylor keeps asking if Kansas can come spend the night. It makes me so happy to see her making friends. I thank God that all of these moves that we make don't hinder their social skills, especially adding homeschooling on top of that. I honestly believe these moves has had the opposite effect than my worries. Of course having Jason as a dad probably has something to do with them being so talkative and outgoing :) It just amazes me, I can't even count how many churches alone we have visited in the last nine months and we always put the girls in their classrooms whenever we visit a new church. They are so very comfortable in new surroundings with all new people. It makes me laugh, because I am the complete opposite. I am very shy when I first meet someone, it takes me a little time to warm up and open up. Not my kids though! Thank you Lord for that!

Kansas my pretty

As promised I have taken some pictures of Kansas today and here they are. She is such a trooper. I made her put on like four different outfits and it was really windy out so we had to wait till the wind died down.....oh and we got locked out of the house, by Ysa. Yep, I said that right. Kansas and I were right out the front door for literally 2 minutes. Ysa was watching us from the window, apparantly she knows how to lock the door. I didn't even know she could reach the top lock. What a shocker. I had to sit there on the other side of the window asking her to unlock the door. She kept just laughing and saying "mommy just sit down and play with me". She thought it was hilarious and she kept putting her little dolls against the window and asking me to kiss them. Good thing Jace's work is only two minutes down the road. I have learned a few very valuable lessons today....either take keys or the garage door opener with me or put Ysa in the stroller next to me. And, never underestimate a 2 year old! Most frustrating ten minutes of my life....this far!

A beautiful day with my two beautiful girls

I love to take pictures and the girls looked so cute today I decided to seize the opportunity. Besides, it was an extremely beautiful day. Most of the pictures are of Ysabella because Kansas was with daddy most of the time. So I am going to try and take Kansas out soon to take pics of her as well!

Ysa loves to watch me get ready.

Some close-ups

Heading out the door Kansas was just smiling at Ysabella, it was adorable.

Kansas decided she was going to pose for the camera. Ysabella tried to copy her and pose too.

These are my favorites! We stopped to smell the flowers before going to the car.

My girls

Kansas has started playing soccer this year and I don't know who enjoys it more, me and Jace or her. She has met some really nice kids and she gets to run around and laugh for an hour, it is so cute!

Kansas and Ysa LOVE to play dress-up, they do it almost every day and usually that involves a tea party. I love having girls! Ysabella's favorite part is finding everyone's shoes trying them on and walking all over the house in them. Kansas' favorite part is putting make-up and princess dresses on and pretending she is getting married. SO NOT MY FAVORITE PART, LOL! Tonight they were both dressed in their little aprons and hats. They were taking our order and then going to their little kitchen and making it for us. So adorable! Ysa just follows Kansas around and copies her, it's so nice they get along (most of the time). Here are some pictures of the girls playing dress-up. I think daddy secretly wants them to be pirates all the time, okay maybe not so secretly!

Here we go...

I have finally joined the blogging world, YAY! I probably should have started a long time ago to record all the cities we've lived in, all the amazing people we have met and all the beautiful places we've seen in this very busy life we Reed's have had so far. But, you have to start some where so here I am. We have been living in Sarasota, FL for about 8 months now. Seems like just yesterday we moved here. I love it in this beautiful town. The beaches are breathtaking, the community is very warm and we have found a church I really enjoy. It's no Nashville, but it's getting pretty close! The girls seem to be making friends quicker than I or Jace, but in time it will also come. I am a stay-at-home mommy and loving it. I love my Lord and Savior and am excited to see what he has in store for me and my family.

Kansas is 5 1/2 and a bundle of energy. She is so outgoing and confident. We started homeschooling this year for Kindergarten and are really enjoying it! She loves to read and is so excited when she learns a new word. She is extremely independent and doesn't want me to help much. On the other hand she is extremely loving and affectionate. She makes friends so effortlessly and everyone just loves being around her!

Ysabella is 2 years old and my little ham. She does the funniest things that make you laugh till it hurts. She has an amazing smile that brightens up your day and just like Kansas she is extremely loving. She adores her big sister, following her around everywhere and repeating things she says. She loves to read anything and everything! Anytime I can't hear her I know she is in her chair reading a book.


They both adore their daddy and can't wait till he gets home to play pirates or jail ball or some other fun world they escape into with their papa. Jason and I started our journey together on June 8, 2002 and it has been nonstop ever since. We met in Seattle, moved to Oregon the day we got back from our honeymoon. From there we have lived in California, Idaho, Tennessee and finally here in Florida. He is in radio and had to move us to move up. We are pretty confident that Florida will be our home for some time, unless God has other plans! For now I am just praying that I can continue to learn how to be a Godly wife and mother and that we can make some roots here in Sarasota.