Bringing in the New Year with some Sparkly
Kirby brought home sparklers tonight and the kids had a ball with them. I was nervous Claire's beloved feet pajamas were about to catch fire, but Gwen managed to give her some distance. Claire did ask what I thought she would like on fire. What?
I adore these pics of the girls. Gwen said Claire looked so cute in her feet pajamas that she just had to hug her! This after days of being home together and near death experiences due to scratching and strangling( yes our kids do that too!)
Race missed most of the fire action but he was around for a little bit to say " Oh Wow" in that cute 1yr old way.

A Few of My Favorite Things................this Christmas season

Kirby taking the kids to the beach while Gwen and I made cookies. Just the fact that they CAN go to the beach in December is awesome!

The girls in their dresses


Claire actually singing at her program, after telling me for a month that she was going to run off the stage.





Dancing with my sister in the street

Gwen's Dance Recital



And a reason to get fancy!

more to come.................

Kirby, Kirby and more Kirby......

While in Houston Kirby met another Kirby who just about freaked me out with how much like my Kirby he is. Who in the world is similar to Kirby? Well evidently the name carries unique qualities and interest with it. Seriously ,this dude ( friend of my sister's) pulled up in his truck wearing converse and asking me if I wanted to try some weird juice he was drinking! Come On, if you know my Kirby you know that is just uncanny.
Well with all this, on the way to church we see this sign. So my husband just had to come back and take pictures. My Mom ( always the "on the spot photographer") is delighted and Kirby #2 happily obliges. He named the the photo session " Kirby Unplugged". I cannot tell you how hard I was laughing at these two who had only known each other for minutes.

Happy Reunion!!!

What fun it is to see good friends and feel like no time has passed at all. We crammed in the van, and Kirby chauffeured us to Taco Bueno, Starbucks and then the Zoo. The hours went by way to0 fast, but better something than nothin! Mariah and I almost hightailed it out of there when Kirby dropped us off to run in Starbucks and he had all the kids in the van. We decided that would just be wrong,........ in every way!

Here she is with her big 6 yr old self and her much awaited HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL back- pack. She wanted this back-pack so bad when school started but I made her wait until her birthday so it wouldn't loose it's novelty in seconds. Claire gave her some Hannah Montana hair bands which added to her excitement. This is her class after eating chocolate cupcakes to celebrate with Gwen. I absolutely love this age. Gwen loves Kindergarten and has become such a super helper around the house. She really wants to do what is right and I adore that. My favorite quote of late from Gwen was this, " Mom, even if Santa doesn't bring me the stuff I really want, I"ll be okay and rememer that it isn't about the presents it's about Christmas. " How sweet is that!

Over Thanksgiving break we went to the bookstore. Claire has been in a "bag lady" stage for quite some time now and often carries a suitcase wher ever she goes. When I came out of the bathroom I found her doing this. Is she planning on leaving us?

More New Braunfels pics.

My parents long time friends Jeff and Lynn came to visit and they were hilarious playing with us.
Here's Whit enjoying her java and Claire-Bear in her tiger mask. Gwen and my mom were the referres of the races and Gwen could not stop laughing at Mom's hilarious commentary on the racers.

After Thanksgiving me and the kids headed to New Braunfels where my family likes to spend thanksgiving. We stay in these adorable cabins right on the river. This year it was freezing and a bit rainy but we still managaed to have some fun. The pics are not actually in the snow but us playing in the pool that has been drained of water. Meg had the great idea of sliding on trash can lids from the shallow end to the deep and it was soo fun. When we got bored of that she took out some cooking oil and sprayed the bottom of the lids , then it got REAL fun. We made everyone do it. My fav pics are of Whit and my Mom.

Catching up....

This is Thanksgiving Day. We had dinner at Daniel and Alisa's. Several other couples joined us including our neighbors who just moved away. Gwen fell in love with a stray kitty. Kirby played with Race's hair and took the girls for a walk. I stuffed myself with pie ( no pics available for that one) . And the day ended with two very tired little girls.

Hope your Thanksgiving was exciting!

Race Walks!!!

Well he doesn't look too Sunny here, but I had to show off a shirt Crissy sent Race.

Just had to show the pic of the nicest CAN you will ever see. It was at the wedding which was held outside. The stairs and sign which read Comfort Elite made me curious, but nothing could have prepared me for this. I wanted to sleep in here instead of my tent! It even had a pedal flusher and A.C.

Weekend Getaway

Two weeks ago Kirb and I dropped the kids with my parents in Houston and headed a couple of hours north to Kosse TX. Kirby's long-time friend Casey was getting married. It was a "camping wedding," Around the corner from the wedding sight there were acres of land and many of the guest camped there overnight. It was soo fun. As you can see we had a blast and my mom was even gracious enough to loan us her new convertible to make the trip in. I had no idea a convertible was this fun. After my mini-van days are over, I gotta have one. ( I really am turning into my mother!)
The guy in the orange sweater is Kirby's other very long time friend, so no worries he's not a wife or bride stealer.

How do you hold all your candy?

In my day, it was bag, a grocery of some type maybe. Well, being the simple mama I am I try to refrain from extra stuff and Halloween buckets is one of them. After buying costumes to please everyone I stood my ground that we would make our bags. Well, time was short and I ended up shoving brown paper bags in their hands with a couple of crayons to decorate with. Claire , was content to scribble on hers and hold it proudly. Gwen.........different story. I could hear her muttering in the back of the van. " I'm a Princess carrying a brown paper bag, a brown paper bag!" Well, a friend of mine who I dearly love for her opposite approach on these matters, quick runs to her car when she spies Gwen's dilemma. She then presents not just a Halloween pumpkin bucket but a pink princess Halloween bucket! Oh my...........where will the madness end?

So we have a Princess, a Lion , a Baby and a Dead guy. We had a terrific time at the Wagners who host the best parties always! No pics of me in my mid-evil times dress, but it was fun wearing it. I ate a magnificent guacamole hamburger and Race discovered his love for Cheetos. Claire was so happy to have a reason and the permission to carry around a bottle. This was last minute costume as she discovered after our fall festival that she hated the puffiness of her ninja turtle costume. Gwen was the prettiest princess I have ever seen, but I could be a little bias......maybe. We paraded the street of Peseta Court with about 20 kids armed with glow sticks and candy bags. and made quite a showing at every door. This has become a tradition for Halloween, so Daniel you better keep those extra glow sticks for next year, cuz I'm pretty sure we're all coming back!

Tah Dahh..........................

Introducing the newly painted
Reed Residence!!!


Some of you know how long I have been wanting this to happen so you can feel my excitement.

I'm sure Kirby will have better Before and After shots but here is the After. The color is called Honey but basically it's light yellow.
And I have always wanted a red door!


Thanks Kirby......love you

Red heads.

Well maybe completely different color reds, but I feel a little more bonded anyway!
Got tired of keeping up with blond so finally did a color Kirby has been asking for since we were dating.
Here is my 1yr old boy with his mohawk on his birthday. This child is a constant smile. Having 3 has been challenging but having Race has really made me a better Mom. He always has this look on his face, like, " Everything is cool mom, no worries"
I really cannot believe the year has come and gone and my baby is 1. However it does seem eons ago that I only had 2 children, and the girls have grown up soo much in this year. I would say the main theme of this year for me adjusting to three was " It's time to Grow up Sunny you are a mother of three so get it together" having Race really allowed me to see my role as a mother for what it is and love and cherish it much better.

My own rendition of Psalm 142


I cry aloud to the Lord
( I need to be heard over the wails of my three yr old)
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy and pour out my complaint before him
( I'm really not sure I can make it as a mother this evening)
In the path where I walk men, ( little people) have hidden a snare for me.
( on the way to clean the kitchen I find my 11mo old in the bathroom with a bag of gold fish split open and orange mess surrounding him)
I look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me
( I feel like a maid in my own house)
I have no refuge
( not even the bathroom is a safe place anymore)
No ones cares for my life
( this of course is an exaggeration but I'm going to run with it. )
( I feel alone even though precious blond and red heads surround me tugging at my legs)
Listen to my cry for I am in desperate need. Rescue me from those who pursue me for they are too strong for me.
( on a serious note, Satan loves to crouch at my door when I'm tired and frustrated. Only God can take him out)
Set me free from my prison
( my feelings of desperation , imprison me)
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me
( I can still keep my head up around my godly friends because of your good grace God)


Well that was fun to write this morning. Really I'm much better than I was last night. In Kirby's defense, he is an awesome husband and I NEVER have felt like no one cares about me.
Right now we are working extra hard to get an investment property ready to rent so my job has been to do be okay and supportive while Kirby spends extra time on this project. I fully support this project and am soo proud of him for doing this. I just felt a tad stressed the other night and laughed as I read this psalm yesterday morning and decided to share what my thoughts were as I read it.

( this is a picture of the sunrise from
my back yard a couple of weeks ago.....love it!)