Memorial for Baby Cohen

I just came across this blog today from another blog I follow, Kelly's Korner.  I know how blessed I am to have my beautiful, healthy baby boy, but it never fully sinks in until I see something like this.  This family just lost their tiny little boy who was born with a congenital heart defect.  As I look at the pictures of their tiny little miracle, I wonder what God's plan really is.  Perhaps through the faith of these two parents, someone will be touched.  I just pray that the parents who waited so long to hold their little boy in their arms will find comfort and peace in knowing their child will be waiting for them in heaven!  God bless them!

Be Still My Heart!

Oh, here's another beautiful shot!

I just can't help it!  I can't get enough!  I am so ready for Eclipse...next week!  I feel like a little teenie bopper again!  ;-)

Had to add this last picture.  I so want this for my future daughter! 

7 years!!!

That's right, folks!  We have been married 7 GLORIOUS YEARS!  While not all our days have been blissful, the rough patches have been more than worth it.  Our family has grown in size and love since that day we said "I do" and became one.  Take a look with me at how we have changed:

2003


2004




2005


2006


2007


2008


2009


2010


More in love now


than we ever were then.

Fun Times with Dinosaurs

This weekend was another fun one in the lives of the Reeses.  On Friday night, we took Evan's favorite teacher, Ms. Carol, out to eat so she and Evan could spend time together before she moves away.  He is really going to miss her!  He has loved her since his days in the infant room, and he will always be her "snooka wooka."  We gave her a cute little framed picture of her and Evan together to remember him by.  At dinner, Evan started running a little fever (he had played outside in the heat at school and had gotten wet during water play).  He didn't want to eat and just wanted to lay his head down and close his eyes so Ms. Carol cuddled him and rocked him to sleep.  Awww!


On Saturday, Evan still wasn't feeling totally up to par, but we had promised him we would go see Toy Story 3 (the Woody movie).  He has watched the first two movies and loves them.  He has a little stuffed "Rex" (the dinosaur toy from the movie) that he has been sleeping with and just doing everything with lately.  "Rexy" had to go with us to the movies, of course!  We all enjoyed the movie and thought it sweetly portrayed the joy of little boyhood.  Andy's imagination is reminding us more and more of Evan's.  Read to the bottom of this post, and you will get a taste of that imagination.

Today, we kept Evan home from church because of his fever.  We were scheduled to do nursery duty (and actually recalled that we had it last year on Father's Day which was also our anniversary).  I braved the duty alone and was very glad I did.  A couple of parents didn't show for their duty, but I had 5 of the cutest little toddlers.  They were so good.  I also had a good helper...the nursery director! 

Here are some of the pictures from our fun weekend:


Evan gives Ms. Carol a present.



Poor little baby doesn't feel well.  :-(



But Ms. Carol will make it all better!



Evan and Mommy having a little computer time.  He wanted to play a game he got from his Wendy's kids meal. 



Evan and Rexy are heading to the movies.



Evan and Rexy watchin' the movie!



Evan and his dinosaurs at the volcano (or balcano as Evan calls it).



Oh no, dinosaur fight!

To the best Daddy in the whole world:

Yes, I have a fantastic Dad, and I do wish him the very best father's day, but this post is actually dedicated to my wonderful husband!  He is so patient and loving to both of his babies...me and Evan!  I love love love to be babied, and he graciously obliges me at every available opportunity.  His arms are amazingly big enough to cuddle both me and Evan at the same time, and I am pretty positive he could squeeze a few more babies into that warm embrace!  I love him so completely.  The last year, he has proven even more than ever that he is extraordinary.  He has worked full-time, been a "single" dad on many occasions while I attended school, and been so patient and understanding to me when I was just tired or needed to study.  I do plan to make it up to him one day for all of his sacrifices. 

To my husband:



When I dreamed of the man that would father my children and share my family, I never dreamed he would be quite so perfect as you.  I hoped he would be kind, gentle, and support me in all my endeavours.  I also hoped he would be handsome and strong.  But baby, you are a beautiful man, inside and out!  You are more than strong enough to stand up for me and what you believe in.  You are more than kind, more than gentle, and more than supportive.  You are above and beyond all my expectations of what a husband and a father ought to be.  As a dad, you are truly the best I have ever known!  You don't just play with your son because you think that is what you are "supposed to do."  You truly enjoy your child!  I love to see you two playing together!  Your smiles could light up the darkest night!  I know that I wouldn't love our son quite so much if he didn't remind me so much of you!  He is like your little twin...from his adorable smile and cute little ears and nose to his cute little legs and feet!  And he loves me like you love me...unconditionally!  I hope I will never let either of you down!  On this Father's Day and the eve of our 7 year anniversary, I feel like an eternity just isn't long enough to show you how much I love you! 

With all my heart, I am
Your loving wife and best friend




To my Daddy:



Daddy, I love you
For all that you do.
I'll kiss you and hug you
'Cause you love me, too.

You feed me and need me
To teach you to play,
So smile 'cause I love you
On this Father's Day.



Love,
Your little boy, Evan

A Birthday Wish for a Special Lady

So who is this sweet little girl?



She is many things to many people.  She has been a true Proverbs 31 virtuous woman who has not lost her faith through many immense challenges and disappointments. 


A DEVOTED AND SUPPORTIVE WIFE

"Excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
Rare, precious.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
Trustworthy
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life."

"Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land."

"Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
'Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.'"




 
A LOVING MOTHER

She loves children and was always a devoted Aunt to her many nieces and nephews.  So what did she do when she couldn't bear children of her own?  Did she just give up and pout and scorn the rest of the world?  No, of course not!  She became a mother to many children who needed her! 





"She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens."

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet."

"She looks well to the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness."

"Her children rise up and bless her."




A TEACHER

"Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."



"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

Mom, you deserve to be praised everyday!  Thank you for all you are and do! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

Love,

Your Daughter

Making a Splash for Emma's 6th Birthday

Cousin Emma's birthday in early June has always been one of the hottest days of the year so we are very thankful that Emma likes to have pool parties for her birthday and that she has a pool in her backyard.  This year she wanted to kick things up a notch and add something different.  She wanted a BEACH!  The girl loves the beach.  She now has a beach house too!  Lucky girl!  Her parents hauled in some sand and set up a cute little sandy beach in their backyard.  It turned out great, and the kids loved it! 

Here are some pictures of our backyard beach fun:


Emma Beach is the coolest place to be!  Who needs Hawaii or the Bahamas?



Evan and Lanny hangin' out at the beach.



He's got his feet in the sand.



The birthday girl



The birthday girl pretending she's a mermaid.



Showing us how she is swimming by herself now!



Cute lil' surfer dude!



Emma's little brother, Lanny, is so happy.



Emma can also jump off the diving board with no floaties!



Emma and her best buddy, Ava ~ They have been friends since their first days in preschool at 2 and hope to keep up the friendship even though they go to different schools now!



The cute lil' cabana.  Aunt Jessica painted all the little surfboards.



Emma's cute beach cake



Evan would swim around holding onto a ring float and is really getting good at kicking his legs.



My two boys having fun in the pool.



Pretending he's a rocketship!



Blastoff!