Break Down

I had a total and complete break down the other day.  I was down stairs exercising and Elleree came down and said, "mom we made bubbles".  What? Yeah!  I went up stairs and was confronted with a mess.  One of those messes that you just think "how am I ever going to clean this up."

 My daughter and son had taken the bottle of body wash that I just bought and emptied it all over my house.

 All over my carpets, tile everything.  Cleaning it up took hours.

 It just kept foaming and I just kept pouring water on it.  I swear I cried the whole time I was cleaning it.  I talk to other people and their kids don't do things like this!  They don't draw on walls and poop on floors.  All I kept thinking was what am I doing wrong as a mother.  I mean REALLY!

 Mean while I really do love my kids.  Even the monster.  He has this pig (from If You Give a Pig a Pancake) that my friend gave him, he loves the thing.  It is in the drawer with him.

 Being the awesome mom I am, Dillon wanted cupcakes, so I made cupcakes.  He didn't want just any cupcakes, but Grinch Cupcakes. 

 I am pretty proud of how they turned out. 

His class didn't really eat them which was really great.  I hope you are catching my sarcasm there.  I don't even know why I bother.

 Most Christmas's I try and do something everyday before Christmas.  It kind of keeps the kids excited, I know like they need that. Right?

 I've been really bad at taking pictures though so I finally took some.  We made gramcracker houses.
 Beckett just ran around creating havoc. 

It was really just a chance for the kids to make a mess and eat frosting and candy.  Their houses turned out okay, but they got frustrated because they kept falling over. 

 Elleree just embraced the fallen pile of crackers and decorated it.

I think they had fun. 

 Some of the other things we have done are make cinnamon ornaments, shop for ornaments, watch the Christmas Story, make goodies, pass goodies out to neighbors, look at Christmas lights.  I just want to have traditions that my kids look forward to every year.  I am afraid it may turn in into another one of those things where I put a ton of work into it. And the only thing they remember is how I threaten them, that they better have fun, or I'm going to hurt them.   So we shall see.

John Reading

John Michael Reading

    April 20, 1950  -  December 5, 2012

Life Legacy

John Michael Reading, 62, of Blackfoot, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at his home.

He was born April 20, 1950 in Chadron, Nebraska to John William and Betty Jean Feldhousen Reading. John was raised and attended school in Chadron, Nebraska.

On July 7, 1973 he married Kay Marie Larsen in Rexburg, Idaho. After their marriage they lived in Nebraska for two years, then moved to Pocatello for a year and a half. They moved to Blackfoot in 1977. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 17, 1979.

John was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in the Branch Presidency of the Young Single Adult Branch, as Elders Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader, High Counselor in the Stake, and Ward Mission Leader.

He worked at Basic American Foods for over 30 years and had previously worked at Bucyrus-Erie in Pocatello.

John enjoyed backpacking, photography, gardening, fishing, and hunting. He was a member of Cedar Hills Gun Club. He liked watching sports especially when Nebraska was playing football.

His children and grandchildren were the joy of his life. John loved his family, most importantly his wife. He was happiest camping, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors with his family. Floating the Buffalo River always put a smile on his face. John, husband, father, grandpa, son, brother, friend, will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his wife, Kay; children: Jeff (Michelle) Reading of Clinton, Utah, Jason (Desiree) Reading of Jerome, Idaho, Clint (Jill) Reading of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Kimberly Reading of Jackson, Wyoming, Kristy (Matthew) Rust of Pocatello; his mother, Betty Jean Reading of Chardron, Nebraska; brother, Steve (Arlene) Reading of Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Joanne Schulte of Rogers, Minnesota and ten grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, John William Reading.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 10, 2012 at Blackfoot 3rd Ward Chapel with Bishop Richard Fowers conducting. The family will meet with friends and relatives from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, December 9, 2012 at Hawker Funeral Home and again for one hour prior to service at the church. Interment will be in the Darby Cemetery near Driggs, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Kay Reading for the John Reading Memorial Fund, Westmark Federal Credit Union, PO Box 806, Blackfoot, Idaho 83221.

Christmas tree 2012

The weekend in Mackay would not have been complete without going shopping for a Christmas Tree.

 It snowed while we where there, so everything was white. 

 Luck, Beckett had a new coat right.

 The kids played outside with the dogs, my parents got a new dog Mazy, she is also a Mastiff, but a ton nicer than Rufus!

 My dad got out the four wheeler and took the kids sledding.

 My mom and I went to a craft fair in Arco.  I was supposed to be making jam this weekend too, but when I got  back from the fair my dad and Jason had finished it all.  They are amazing!

 Looking for a tree just means going sledding for the boys.

The snow was too deep for Beckett, so we had to carry him.  That got old real quick!  I took him back to the truck and he stayed there for the rest of the time.  He even locked us out, with the keys in the car at one point.  My dad said some choice words as you can imagine.  

 Jason had to drag the tree all the way up the hill.

 Meanwhile my dad thought it would be fun to throw snowballs at Dillon while he was trying to get up the hill.  Fun for him, not so much fun for Dillon.

 Jason finally got the tree to the road.

 The tree was....well it was from the Mine Hill, what do you expect.

 We then took it home and fixed it up.

 The question: How many branches did I drill and stick into this tree to make it look not so bad?

 If you answered six you are right.  This is our tree.

 In all it's glory.  Someday I will talk my kids and Jason into shopping for a Christmas tree.

Here is my annual Christmas card. 

Beckett is 2

My baby is a little man.  He turned two at the end of last month and I can't believe it.  

 We took him out to lunch and he got Lighting McQueen balloons.  We then drove to Mackay so he could do his usual and eat everyone's food but his own.

 My mom made him a birthday cake, so I didn't have to.

 He cracked me up trying to blow out the candles.

 He knew he was supposed to do something, but not exactly sure what.  Dillon videoed the whole thing.  I'm not sure I want to see it considering I was yelling at him pretty much the whole time.

 We were, are, super lame parents, we didn't get him any fun presents. 

 The big hit was the big truck my parents gave him.

We got him a coat.  Practical, but not real fun.  

Beckett my little man, I love you so much.  You complete our family so well.  You are a monster, and are all boy, but I would not change you for the world!

Thanksgiving 2012

 I've been putting it off and now I am really behind.  There is nothing for it but to forge ahead, so here is Thanksgiving of this year.  

 We spent it with Jason's family.

 We rented a condo in Park City, Utah.

 All of Jason's family was there, except one brother and his family.

 We had a good time, the food was great and the company better. 

 Grandma came with a little project for the kids.

 They made little thanksgiving turkeys.

 The boys watched football and the girls went shopping.  The kids played board games, and video games, football, and played in the hot tub.

 It was a good time with family, a time we will never forget.

 We went to the Olympic Park museum.

 They had some fun things for the kids to do.

 Mostly it was just another excuse to spend more time with their cousins.

 None of them are the same age really, but they all get along well.

 Josh and Dillon are like best friends.  I love seeing them together even if they are a little naughty!

  They are a good group and we are lucky to be so close.