A Christmas Vacation Better Than the Griswalds Ever Had!!!

We had an absolutely marvelous vacation. Santa Claus dropped a puppy off for us! He filled the stockings with lots of little treats and then was off into the Christmas Eve blizzard of 2008! Grandpa and Grandma Reier made the trek to our house in spite of the very blustery and snowy day. It was wonderful to have a white Christmas that nearly snowed us into our house.

Hannah, Grandma Reier, & Maggie Christmas Morning 2008
We had a yummy brunch with Grandma and Grandpa. The menu included crepes in three varieties: blueberry, apple and cherry. A lovely quiche made by Yours Truly! Fresh grapefruit and clementines, courtesy of Santa Claus. Juice and hot cocoa as beverages. Delicious. I am particularly proud of the crepe endeavor. I have never attempted to make crepes and they turned out just fabulous. Hungry anyone????
We did, however, miss Santa at Grandma and Grandpa Buchanan's by about 10 minutes. Amazingly, nobody had a melt down! He did leave fabulous treats for us in our "cowboy" and "cowgirl" stockings. We had fun frosting and decorating Christmas cookies with the Buchanan cousins in southern Utah. ( Why did we miss Santa? Well, you'll have to ask Matt about that one. Some little car thing following a fit of impatience! He'd just love to tell you the story, I am certain!)

Cait and Grandma Buchanan on Christmas Eve 2008. Venice, Utah.

All About the MOM... and a Little About the Dad

(Disclaimer: The mom conducted the interview so there is an 88.67% chance that the responses of all participants may not be reliable!)

What ingredients are moms made of?
Maggie: Umm… skin, eyes, eyelashes, nose, hair, mouth, teeth, arms, hands, fingers, and love and a neck and head.
Max: They are made out of love and hugs.
Hannah: My mom is made of brains, hugs and kisses!

Why did God give you this mom and not another mom?
Maggie: Because this mom loves me.
Max: Because she loves me. And she is the one that was perfect for me.
Hannah: Because He knew she would be the right mom for me.

Why do you need a mom?
Maggie: To love me.
Max: So I can get fed.
Hannah: To feed me and buy me clothing.

Who is the boss at your house?
Maggie: Mommy!
Max: Mommy! Because you are the one who has the children.
Hannah: Mommy. Because you are better at math than Dad.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
Maggie: She was Shelly. Freckles. Long hair and black hair then cut it short and then went to get your hair trimmed.
Max: A Buchanan. A cowgirl.
Hannah: A farm girl. Very pretty.

Why did she marry your dad?
Maggie: Because he was nice and handsome. And you were like “I like that man.” Then you had a baby then another one, then another, another and another and another. First Bo, then a long time later, me.
Max: Because he was handsome.
Hannah: Because you knew he was the one. I looked kind and nice. He looked like he would be a good father.

What did she need to know before she married your dad?
Maggie: Umm, having a baby. To know that he was nice.
Max: I don’t know.
Hannah: If he was worthy to have children.

What is the difference between your mom and your dad?
Maggie: You put on make-up. He likes snow and you don’t. You like summer. You love your children and don’t like them to wrestle. He likes to wrestle with the children sometimes.
Hannah: Dad has curly hair and you have straight hair.
Max: My mom is a girl and my dad is a boy. My mom has children and my dad doesn’t. My mom likes to ride horses and my dad doesn’t. My mom doesn’t like to go to drive us to school and my dad likes to. My dad is allergic to bulldogs and my mom is not.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
Maggie: You miss us. You love us. You want us to come home. You clean up our rooms and get clothes and toys and stuffed animals and puppets for us. And a hug.
Max: She does her homework.
Hannah: Works.

What would you change about your mom?
Maggie: To be nice.
Max: Umm, umm, ah, to ah umm, to let me have her room because it has a bathroom so I just have to walk a couple feet.
Hannah: Nicer and never yell at us!

Max is a Genius!

Of course everyone who knows Max, knows this fact. But, if you don't know or believe, here is the scoop. Max had an assignment to create an invention that used two simple machines. He chose a wheel and a ramp. With these simple machines, he built an MXG2 Rated Miner-Forty-Niner! Yes, that is what it is. And it works, at least the prototype of the invention works; well, let me put it in Max's words, "Works like a beauty!" On the way out the door to school with the MXG2 Rated Miner-Forty-Niner I heard Max comment to himself, "This is perfect. Now everyone will finally know what genius I am!"

Bo is home!

Bo is REALLY home. Although he has been working (yes back unloading semis full of tires... it is so good for those biceps), and we haven't seen a lot of him, here is the proof. Oh, and if you check out the empty refrigerator (no, I am not taking a photo of the refrigerator) you will see yet another convincing piece of evidence.

All I Want for Christmas is...

Hannah: A PUPPY and that is all. Oh, maybe a new iPod and a new computer.
Max: Are you going to send this to Santa? I'll tell you, I want 12 bags of marbles and I want a lego Indiana Jones set and my own invention kit and I want a pet puppy, I mean a pet turtle. I have one more thing to add, the clone wars helmet that you can copy into another friend's helmet and a clone blaster like I saw on TV. And, to have my teeth that I have been missing for a really long time, like 8 years!
Maggie: OK (deep breath) Puppy. A flower, I mean Cheetah scooter. Well, make-up and an ice cream shop from you. Remember on the magazine?
Bo: (We may never know.)
Caiti: (Let me guess for her... a car?)
Dad: (I know, he wants he family to be healthy and happy!)
Mom: The van to keep running until Bo gets home from his mission, p-l-e-a-s-e???? (Caiti, I don't care if it is old AND green!!!!)

Maggie Needs a Make-Over!

Here is evidence that school uniforms do not allow for enough practice for children at coordinating colors, patterns and seasons. This one might be hard to beat! Maggie didn't have school today. I left for work very early. She was on her own (well, Matt was home, like I said, on her own) and this is what she came up with for a play day with Zarley!

Just another day...

Maggie is missing her first tooth! Hooray! This one is an EXTRA hooray because it has been infected on and off since March. She had the routine cavity care, three prescriptions of antibiotic, kid-sized root canal, and finally, Dr. Miller gave her the good ole fashion treatment for a toothache...pulled it right out!!! She is thrilled and I am thrilled about the possibility of a little girl who will sleep all night. Last night was the first night in I-don't-know-how-long! When Dr. Miller handed her the tooth in the "special glass box", she said she was going to put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy. I said that we should leave the tooth fairy a note to take that tooth and throw it away since it has been so much trouble. "No, I am going to keep this forever!!!"

Math Attack

I woke up this morning to "2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,20..." Maggie was in bed snuggled right between Matt and I, counting right into my ear. What are relief... she can finally count by two's to twenty at 5 years old. I didn't think she was ever going to get it right! HA HA!!! Do kindergartners usually count by two's and fives and tens before Christmas???

Hannah... Banana... Fee-Fie-Foe-Fanna.... Hannah!!!!

This is Hannah. She is the very much the middle child. She is my only one with dark hair. She is the only one with curly hair. She is very smart. She is very motherly (that is a euphemism for bossy).

What is the most important thing in the world to you?
Hannah: My clothes and my stuffed animals, oh, and my bed.
Are you serious??? What about in the universe?
Hannah: Sorry, the History of Paul Revere.
(Yes, I was hoping for something a bit more sentimental.)
Who do you admire the most of all the people you know?
Hannah: Carlye Webb
(What is this thing my kids have for Carlye Webb. GEEEEEEZZZZ! I've got to get another friend that they don't like more than they like me!)
Why do you admire Carlye?
Hannah: She is an awesome person. When I ask her if I can go over to her house and practice my piano after school, she says, "Oh man yahhhh you can!"
What things are the same about you and your mom?
Hannah: Our hair color. We both like to read this awesome book The Penderwicks. Oh ya! We like to ride bikes. Our bikes are cruisers. Your bike is blue and mine is pink. Both of them have flowers on them.
What things are the same about you and your dad?
Hannah: We both have natural curly hair. We both are crazy about riding bikes. We both love to watch Psych.
What subjects in school are your favorite?
Hannah: My favorite subject is a math test.
What are you really good at doing?
Hannah: Umm, I am really good at writing poems, stories, reports and taking math tests.
What is the best part about being a member of the Reier Circus?
Hannah: I have my own computer.
Tell me about your Grandma Reier.
Hannah: She is awesome because she lets us help put up the Christmas tree. She gives us good-bye treats when we leave her house.
Tell me about your Grandma Buchanan.
Hannah: She is awesome because she invites Santa for Christmas. She gives us our very own stockings. She invites all of our cousins.
I love my friends and family.

More of Max

Max is just the funniest kid. I made this deal with him on Saturday. We have a friend, Ben, who was turning thirty and having a birthday party. I needed a great gag gift for Ben and Matt reminded me that Ben loves to watch "Dexter" (If you haven't ever seen Dexter, this won't make any sense, but keep reading anyway...). So, Max has/had this horrible knife that only a grandmother would ever buy for him (Grandma Reier of course, only she will tell you he made the purchase... yah, yah, yah :)). When you turn it up and down, blood drips across the blade. Yah, I know, bad grand-parenting (so glad I am blameless in this situation). So, the deal was that he would trade the knife to me in exchange for a new cap gun (yes, yes it is a gazillion times more appropriate than a "Dexter" knife! It is!!!!) So, I took him with me to buy the gun, get pizza for dinner, and dog food for Chewie's dinner. I secretly hoped that the dollar store would have a gun so I wouldn't be forced to Walmart. Listed below are the funny things he said to me tonight:

Me: Max, if we go tomorrow night to get your gun, we will be back in time to watch "Chuck".
Max: (Silence as he goes to his room. Five minutes later...) Mom, I have at least 101 Mondays left until I die.
Me: I think you'll have a few more Mondays than that. Why are you worried about how many Mondays you have left until you die?
Max: I'll get to see "Chuck" again and we can just watch it online anyway.

Max: Mom, why are we going to the dollar store, they won't have the gun. I already located it at Walmart with Dad on Saturday.
Me: Max, let's just check (hoping for either a cap gun or something else that would captivate his interest and distract him from the Walmart mission).
Max: Really Mom, what is the difference, the dollar store over there or a couple of blocks down the road to Walmart?


Me: Hey Max, look at these tree-toppers. We need one. They will go perfect with our Christmas tree ornaments.
Max: Yeah, and since I am a blue kinda guy, I think you should buy the blue one.
Me: I don't think blue will be stunning on our green Christmas tree. Let's get this red one.
Max: Ok, you are right. You don't really see blue for a Christmas color much any more.


(We are waiting for pizza at Little Caesars.)
Max: Mom, don't you think Pizza Pizza Guy should be in his Christmas pose?
(I asked him what a Pizza Pizza pose would look like. He modeled it for me. Very funny. I asked him to draw Pizza Pizza Guy in a Christmas pose. Keep checking! We'll have a copyrighted print of Pizza Pizza Guy in his Christmas pose up soon!)

Max: What does vaporize mean? (We found a gun that is motorized and blows bubbles... better than the cap gun because he can play with it in the house... and it is called a Bubble Vaporizer.)
Me: Well, it means to turn something solid into a gas like water vapor.
Max: Oh ya, I know about that. Soldiers at the Pearl Gates in heaven need that to keep the demons out.

Morning with Maggie

Who is your favorite person?
Maggie: Carlye Webb
Why is she your favorite person?
Maggie: 'cause she loves me. She likes me a lot when I do silly things.
Who do you look like?
Maggie: I look like Maggie, just who I am supposed to be and just what I am. This is how I am.
What is your grandma Reier like?
Maggie: She is always like nice and good. She is so silly. I just love her. She is just like clown.
What is your grandma Buchanan like?
Maggie: She is like fun. She loves that I love Maddie and Brecklyn. She let's us ride horses. That is why she is one of the best grandma's in the whole wide world. She is only a little bit like a clown.
What is the best part of school?
Maggie: Well, my teacher laughs at me. She is funny.
What are you good at in school?
Maggie: My best subject is writing letters, oh, and doing math and learning to write in cursive. I just love learning to write in cursive. My favorite letters are "m" and "a".
Tell me about your daddy?
Maggie: He missed me when he went to the, I can't remember it. But he got me a bracelet and marshmallows. That is a nice thing to do. That is always nice.
Tell me about your mommy?
Maggie: My Mommy is so proud of me and she loves me sooooo much. It is so comfy in her bed. Sometimes they let me in and I snuggle with her. She is a grateful thing for Maggie Jean Reier.
Tell me about Bo.
Maggie: He misses me a lot, especially when he is at the toaster church. We had to go see him at the toaster church. He is actually Matthew Reier Bo.
Tell me about Caiti.
Maggie: Caiti is so great. Sometimes she helps me. She is starts with a "C-c-c-c-". She is always sweet about people. Caiti, I love you. You are definitely a "c".
Tell me about Hannah.
Maggie: She is a great sister. Sometimes she helps people when they get hurt. She likes blue colors. That is all the story there is about Hannah.
Tell me about Max.
Maggie: He is a great brother, even when he gets mad. He gets mad at me when I done something bad to him. But I still love him.
Who is Santa Clause?
Maggie: He gives us presents. He is St. Nickolas. He wants us to be good and get a present. We love him soooo much. He lives in the south pole.
I thought he lived in the North Pole?
Maggie: The north pole breaks because it is not strong ice and it starts to break down. The north pole is above the arctic circle. The south pole is Santa's pole and it is strong so people won't get hurt.
Where is the south pole?
Maggie: It is in Antarctica.
How does know if you are being good or bad?
Maggie: Well, because his elves tell him. He had elves all around and they are invisible. He comes and checks out the invisible elves. He can see us if the elves tell him to. And he can X us off or on the bad list.
What happens if you are bad?
Maggie: You get X'ed on the bad list. You don't get a present.
What does Santa do after Christmas is over?
Maggie: He goes for a little trip. He goes to the beach. He swims. He plays in the sand, and sometimes gives more presents out.

Quote of the day...from Max, of course.

While we were at church Max said, "Maggie has now had over six mints." I reassured him, "You have had at least six mints." Max defended himself, "But Maggie has had more. I have been calculating this."

An Evening With Max

Me: What should I ask you?
Max: What is a thousand plus a thousand?
Me: Sure, what is thousand plus a thousand?
Max: My knowledge is in my brain, the brain of a wise man, 2000. You can ask me what 4,000 plus 3,000 is because it is 7,000.
Me: How did you get to be so smart?
Max: By doing 28,000 math problems on kid planet. Twenty-eight thousand is a lot and I knew if I did that many, I would be rather smart.
Me: Well, did you have to go math class on kid planet?
Max: No, I just made my own math problems and went to work. I was the first one on kid planet to ever do math. People said it was only for humans, but I said it was for everyone. That was before my family became the royal family on kid planet. I would usually be the type that other kid planeters wouldn't do math with.
Me: Why wouldn't they do it with you?
Max: They said it was lame and just stupid kid planet drawings, which they do look like, but they really aren't. They are numbers. I am talented and I like to do art.
Me: Tell me some more about kid planet. Like what is the most interesting thing about kid planet?
Max: The most interesting thing is the great stone beast. Well, we do have one of the greatest museums ever. The first magnetic sword made out of a giant meteor that can attract iron objects.
Me: Is the sword located in the that museum?
Max: Yah, the Museum of Iro.
Me: What else could you tell me?
Max: We have a bug called the beetle tracker. The bounty hunters use it to track down people. It is pretty useful. Is that good information?
Me: What would I think was the most cool thing on kid planet?
Max: I have never told you about this mountain that was carved by the giant creature Romehome. Do you know how to spell Romehome? It is easy, just Rome plus Home. I can tell you about it.
Me: Why would I really like Romehome?
Max: He was the one who created the Milkyway galaxy. He's is pretty powerful and is made of stardust. I can't believe you are asking me about modern Kid Planet. This is interesting stuff, don't you think?
Me: Let's change the subject. What is the best part of earth life?
Max: Earth life? We are all born with a little baby pet dragon to protect us. That is really the best part.
Me: I haven't ever seen my pet dragon.
Max: For heaven sakes, you have forgotten about it. After you become a grown up about your age, you forget about it. It just disappears. I have spent many years learning about the history of dragons. Would you like to hear some of it?
Me: How about this... what is your favorite part of living with your family here on earth?
Max: My mom's great food. My brother, sisters, mom, dad, and all my friends. I really do know a lot of kid planet secrets.
Me: Yeah, what is your favorite time of day?
Max: On kid planet or on earth?
Me: One earth.
Max: Lunch time.
Me: Tell me why.
Max: Because whenever I eat I can remember the blessings of food that the great dragon put on this planet. Hey, what are we going to do if those two girls keep running around and distracting me???
Me: Thinking... What really goes on in that head of his???

Amazing!!!! Stupendous!!!!! We just won (well Max did) the contest for the world's worst school picture. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was trying not to blink. If I was an anal mother who took school pictures totally seriously (I should since my children never get any real pictures even though their dad is a real photographer) I would be livid, yes???? These were just too great to send back. We are going to have retakes, but will have to pay again since we just can't give these up. Shshsh, though, he is very sensitive. We won't break these out again... until, well, maybe his wedding.....

Yesteryear!

It has been 14 months since we lived at Primary Children's Hospital for 3 weeks. Max was amazing and we did have some fun along the way since we met some really fun and wonderful people. Max just charmed them all like he always does.




Caiti had a "goiter" from November 19, 2007 until January 14, 2008 to grow new skin to be grafter over her scar. Knarly, huh!!! She was so proud. She took photos each week when we went to the hospital for a "fill-up" of saline.





We are Dr. Kristen Carroll's biggest fans! She saved Caiti's foot... literally saved her from not having one! God bless her always!

Visiting Species

We came home from school on Thursday of last week to find a visitor in the back yard. Chewie was all sorts of excited as were Hannah, Max, and Maggie. After posing for a photo, the sweet thing walked over to the back fence, glanced back at the wildlife photographer (me), and then, in a single bound, over the fence she went! Hope she didn't dig up and snack on any tulip bulbs!

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a grand time celebrating the season with Halloween!!! Caiti as Beetle Juice?? Maggie was Belle, then Kitty-cat Belle, then Belle again. Hannah was Madeline and then Dracula's bride. Max, started as Indiana Jones and finished out as Indiana Jones (whew!). We did a fairly good job with the exterior decor; all of which stood up to rain and wind. We made a substantial sweep of the neighborhood and made it to three parties (one was our own!). Did you see what I saw... in Walmart... at Smith's... Target???? Christmas not only on top of Halloween and long before Thanksgiving, but even before the Halloween "stuff" went on sale for 50% off. What is with that?!?!?!

Matt's Birthday Celebration

Check out the partay!!! The guests...Me, the lovely hostess, Heather the party consultant/wedding planner, Obama and his lovely wife (AKA Tom and Tiffany) and Indiana Jones as Obama. Check out the heat waves from all those candles on the cake!

A funny thing happened today....

Matt has agreed to help me document the funny things the kids do and say. My dear friend Brooke once kept a list of "Caiti-isms" which comprised a collection of funny things that Caiti said in art class at school... and she had a lot of good ones on a daily basis: like calling the Dalai Lama a Hoochie Momma! So, this will sort of be the same idea. I thought about calling it "Max-isms" because he is quite a funny kid, but this will be inclusive of all my kids.

11/6/08 Parent teacher conferences... Max had to "redo" a writing assignment because (I could hardly believe this could be true Ha ha) his handwriting was atrocious and could not be deciphered. He argued with me (I could hardly believe that could be happening ha ha) and insisted that he didn't have to do it. When I informed him that I had already talked with Mrs. Oz, Max's reply went like this: (gruff voice) Will you please stop talking to Mrs. Oz???? And I MEAN it!

11/2/08 Matt had to repair a leaking faucet outside yesterday. He asked Max and Maggie if they wanted to come with him and help. Of course they did!!! I heard Max call out to Maggie, "Come on Maggie. We have to go with Dad to 'deactivate' the water to the house. Let's go!"

10/26/08 Matt turned forty this week. Wah Hooo! We gave him a surprise part on Saturday night. After all the guests left, Max said to his dad, "Dad, just think, you are now one year closer to death!" Happy fortieth Matt!!!!

10/17/08 Bo described to Matt his frustration with 5 room mates. Would you believe that Bo is the only one who cleans up after himself in the kitchen? He washes the dishes straight away. Puts all ingredients away. And then he even puts his dishes away; all in one visit to the kitchen. (?HUMMMM?) Matt suggested that he ought to do that here at home too. Bo's reply, "Nah, I really don't live here anymore. I think I'll just do that at my own place." Tongue in cheek... I hope.

10/17/08 Bo, Matt, and Max were watching the latest Indiana Jones. Max tends to get a little into the movies sometimes and forgets he is really watching it, not living it! Suddenly, he burst out at the monkeys swinging in the trees: "Come! Attack my little minions! Attack!"

10/18/08 Maggie, furious with me for not allowing her to paint with the real paint brushes and the real paint (yes, the kind you paint wall in your house with and I wasn't painting she just saw the fun she could have on a shelf in the garage), finally, exasperated, called out to me, "You are just a STEP MOTHER!" Well, I haven't been called that before!!!!

One day a couple of months ago, I could hear Max and Maggie getting a bit agitated with each other over some coloring issues. Max yells, "Maggie, you are breaking my focustration!"

Fall Outing

Bo came home this weekend from school. He actually went with us on an outing! Before-hand, we made sugar cookies and marshmallow-carmel popcorn. I added pecans and successfully sifted out the "old maids". We made some sandwiches and took a pile of apples with us along with a few light jackets. Matt finally gave in an bought a new version of the digital camera he bought and lost in about 8 weeks time this same season last year! We took the new "toy" out of the box and actually snapped a few photos as we picnicked and hiked in Millcreek Canyon. Gorgeous weather. Happy kids.

I have had shingles, again. I caught it early and got a prescription from the doc. So after about Thursday, I was feeling a lot better. I have gone without makeup this week since the left side of my face is so sensitive to touch. I am not feeling as much a leper today as I have all last week.

Be sure to take a look at the pics!!! I am the photographer, not Matt, so they are just so-so. Matt has decided that he really doesn't like the digital world so much and has taken his Hasselblad out and loaded it with film!!!! Can you imagine... film?

OK. Now, I need easy Halloween costume ideas. I am so not good at the idea thing or how to put it together. Maggie is going to be Belle. That is handled thanks to the Disney Princess assortment of dresses in the dress-up trunk. Then it is time to start thinking about Christmas. After cleaning Maggie's room and then Max's, in succession, the other day: THERE WILL BE NO MORE TOYS COMING INTO THIS HOUSE!!! Did you hear that Santa Clause... and Grandma Reier??? So, I need some great ideas for Christmas. A sub for Santa sounds good and then go somewhere as a family... but where?

Bo turned 18 in January... Still wondering when that all happened. Didn't I just graduate? So he graduated and went off to Utah State University. He loves school. Probably he mostly loves being away from the circus! He came home for a visit last weekend (of his own free-will). It was fun to be with him. He actually (again, of his own free-will) hung out at home with Caiti, Hannah, Max, Maggie, and me all weekend. Matt was working conference. Oh, by the way, my super hot husband got the cover shot for November's Ensign. Be sure to check that out!

I ran my 10th marathon with my dear friend Jennifer Park 20 September 2008. She is ready for more. I think I am done! Half marathons sound great to me. I guess I am getting old and wimpy! Can you see the finish line? I can!

10 October 2008

OK, I am starting my doctoral program at USU.  Thinking that a blog might be a great idea to keep in touch (sort of) with all of my favorite people whom I don't get to see as much as I want and as I anticipate time will become an even more precious commodity!