Where do I begin?!

Alrighty...so I'm sure most of you - okay, not most - but at least LAUREN! - have been wondering if we're still breathing!! The answer is...some of the time! Life has been CRAZY lately! So I'll go from youngest to oldest...buckle your seat belts...5-4-3-2-1-BLAST OFF!!

- Lyla Alana Reece - turned 1 in September but we are celebrating when we get home to NC! ((December 26th is the date for anyone that wants to join us!)) It just wasn't "right" to not have a luau for the princess, so - we are! WOO HOO! I couldn't be more excited! She is just a bubbly cuddly wuddly sugar pie! I love her muchos! She is truly my saving grace through this whole whirl wind! An angel is what she is. I thank my Father in Heaven for such a precious baby. I really have no problems with her - she gets along with the children, and when they are mean to her, she just takes it. It kind of breaks my heart. I wish that she would beat them all up so they wouldn't be so rotten to her! No one ever has anything but love for this chick!

- Allison Jewell Reece aka AlliGATOR has everyone basically scared of her! Even the adults at times! LOL! She is just at a really tough age right now. She is big enough to know what she wants, but cannot communicate it, so it's frustrating for her. She is too little to play with the boys, and too big to play with the baby - so she's kinda stuck in the middle. She's great when she's by herself - but the moment we throw a kid into the mix, someone ends up screaming - and it's not Allison! LOL! She's a tough cookie, but we've been making progress! There were TWO DAYS IN A ROW that she did not bite! That was huge for us! I personally think that losing Amanda is hardest on her. Rex is an adult an can understand the Plan of Salvation, ect. Kody knows she's in Heaven with Jesus, and I think he knows what that means. But I think for Allison she's just confused. She's not sure where her mom is and why she hasn't come home yet. We are just trying to take it a day at a time with her. I know everything will turn out fine, but wish me luck in the meantime! ;)

- Kody Rex Reece just turned three...read two blogs down for more details! Anyways...he's awesome! I love me some Kody-man! There was a day a couple of weeks ago that he woke up from a nap and was all excited! Keep in mind that all morning and a couple days in a row he was so mad and angry - at everyone. So waking up happy was big that day! I asked him why he was so happy, and he said smiling, "My mom take naps with me! She said I LOVE MY KODY-MAN"...my heart was just beating out of my chest and we kept talking. Then he continued, "See, she sleep right here ((pointing to his pillow)) and she hugged me tight and kissed my face! We looked at pictures on my dad's bed."...anyways, as you can imagine I was bawling ((inside - as to not upset him and have him think it was 'bad' to be telling me this)), and just squeezed him so tight. I guess he just needed an Amanda-fix! Sweet, huh?!

- The Don Reece is soooooooo funny! He asked me to promise him that I would go to Heaven with him! I said of course I was going with him, then he says, GOOD! He's been just blowing my mind lately with just the little things he says. I just can't believe what comes out of his mouth! Okay, like when we were talking about John-John ((my baby brother in NC))...I asked Donnie what he wanted for Christmas and he said, "Umm...umm...umm...I want John-John! I want him to come here today!" I told him that John was far away and he says, "Do not say those words to me Mama! O-tay?! Do not say those words!"...I giggled, but my heart hurt for him! I wish I could pick up John and bring him here RIGHT NOW - just for my Don-Don!

- I guess I'm next...Well, read the four previous paragraphs! That is what my life basically consists of! I have taken on the responsibility of Costume Director for a tri-stake Live Nativity program that is put on each year here! It's unbelievable! There are hundreds of Nativity sets from all over the world in the cultural hall - entertainment - refreshments - and a LIVE NATIVITY with real human-beings in it outside! There are thousands of people that come! It's such a rush - especially being so involved! There is one more weekend of it and I am so stoked! I have just kept myself busy when the kids are sleeping with sewing projects, cleaning ((not too much of that crazy stuff though)), and reading. I am trying to have a deeper appreciation for books...so I figured the only way to do that is to actually READ THEM! The days seem long and I'm ready for a trip HOME! I am missing my family some kind of bad. :( I didn't know that being soooo far away from them could actually physically hurt - but I can assure you that it does! Some days I think I'm depressed and then I realize it's just myself delaying laundry duty! I'm making some life long friends - which is always a good thing! They have really been a great strength to me through all of this, and I have really grown to love, admire, and appreciate them!

- Rex is, well, I guess as good as anyone in his situation could be. He is a strong man - spiritually, emotionally, and mentally - and I am amazed by that. I am not sure if I'd be as faithful as he is. If he's just completely a wreck I don't know it. Don't get me wrong, there are the awful sad days, as to be expected. He is an awesome father to his children, he works hard to support all of us, and he's got a Tongan Woman living in his house! I think he deserves a reward!

- Brooks is fun! I love him! He makes me happy and makes me smile! I love when he hugs me because he squeezes me so tight I feel like I can't breathe! I don't know if it's because he loves me and he just doesn't want to let go - or I'm just driving him crazy! He's more patient with me than he should be, and gives me my way more than I deserve! I think the world of him and am grateful to have him as my BUDDY FOR ETERNITY! LOL! ((Props to the in-laws for an awesome son!))

Okay, well it's 1:45 in the AM and I AM GOING TO SLEEP - hopefully!! Don't call me before 10am! HA! Love you all! Hope everyone is well. Have a FABULOUS holiday season...expect some kind of cards from us in January - if they don't come then, well, they're probably not coming at all! MWA to all of you that actually took time to read this stupidly long blog!