A Little Princess

Reese was invited to a princess party for the 8 year old girls at church, hosted by one of the young women.

As I helped her get ready, she and I both became very aware of how rarely she plays dress up or princesses anymore. If was a little sad to see that my Dolly has outgrown what was once a favorite pastime/obsession of hers. She still had a wonderful time at the party, obviously. But I can't believe how much my tiny princess, who once spent 2 weeks straight in a Snow White dress, has grown up!

The party was awesome, and the theme was how all the girls are princesses because they are daughters of our king.  I'm thankful to sweet rylee for hosting such a fun party for the little princesses in our ward to remind them all of their individual worth. 

Discovering Talents

Reese has discovered poetry and came up with this little gem this afternoon.
I know I'm her mom and all, so my opinion is biased, but it's her first poem.
...and it is sort of totally incredible.

Halloween Fun
by Reese Willardson

Halloween is time for fun.
We go trick or treating. 
To get more candy you can run
to all the houses that are waiting.

We dress up
like a cat
or a ghost 
or a bat. 

We go to a house.
Look out for the witch! 
We go home but guess what? 
Count our candy, we are rich!  


Um, yeah.  She is seven years old, folks.  Seven. 
I'm very impressed, and can't wait to read what she comes up with next.

Chameleon

On the last day of school, Reese brought home a watercolor that she painted during art hour at school at some point during the year. 

It is really good/beautiful/interesting/pretty/thought provoking and we just can't stop looking at it. 
We had it framed last week and humble Reese was flattered when she saw something she had folded and shoved into her backpack now matted and placed in a frame, but it really is a fantastic piece and we are all happy to see it hanging it in our home. 
I love this painting because my Reese created it.
I love that she chose to paint a chameleon.

This year, Reese has developed an ability to make herself fit in and be useful in nearly any situation.  Adaptation to change used to be very difficult for Reese, and in one year she has taken this weakness and turned it into a strength. She isn't needy, require a lot of attention, or focus on herself.  She chooses to blend in---not to hide, but to be helpful and use her gifts to help others shine.  She has compassion and a great desire for everyone to be happy and comfortable.  This gift could not have come at a better time for our family, and as parents, Aaron and I recognize what a great blessing Reese is to us.

 
I love my sweet chameleon.  She is just the child I need her to be.
I am hanging her artwork to let her know that she isn't forgotten, but appreciated and valued for all of her colors and the many things she is and can be.  Reese has a big personality, yet she chooses to be totally selfless.  She inspires me to be less stubborn and to give more of myself to my family.  I want to be more like her and serve with everything I have to give, even when it means sacrificing to make a change that requires more work or makes make me less comfortable.  I hope that showcasing her artwork will serve as an expression of gratitude to Reese for her talent and as a visual reminder to all of us that when things are hard, we can find a way to adapt and make the situation better. 
I am so grateful that God created Reese and gave her to me.  I'm sorry that the cell phone quality photos are absolutely terrible, but take my word for it when I say that both chameleons are magnificent works of art. 

True sign that summer is here

 

 Um....she did shower, last night, I promise.

The Best Part of My Day

On Birthdays and the Christmas Season

"Another December Birthday?"

If only we could all be so lucky.
This girl: Turned seven last week!
When I was pregnant with Reese and would tell people I was due in December (Christmas Eve, originally), the reaction I got about the due date was almost always a negative one ("too bad it's so close to Christmas...").
Unfortunately, I believed those many comments, and developed a fear that her birthday would always be overshadowed by the holidays and she would feel less special, less important, and less appreciated.

Those people were wrong. Dead wrong. If you have a December birthday, and you aren't enjoying it, then you is missin' somethin'.
If you don't love Christmastime, you are also missing something.

The entire month is dedicated to celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. There is hope, love, joy, gratitude, tradition, charity, and holiday magic in the air.

Reese is one of my greatest blessings. She has given me the one thing I have wanted more than anything else in my life. On the day Reese was born, I became a mother. Her life is a gift that brings me so much joy and fulfillment that no other gift could even measure against it, save the gift of my Savior.
So it is only fitting that we celebrate her during the wonderful Christmas month.

I am glad that she already recognizes what a special and sacred time of year this is. I am grateful for fun holiday traditions, for holiday cheer, for Christmas carols, for charity drives, for warm fires, for hot cocoa, for shiny presents, for inspired sacrament meeting talks and Christmas devotionals, for glowing trees, and for selfless giving.

I am grateful for fattening goodies and egg nog, for exchanged gifts, for thoughtful musical numbers, for ugly sweaters, for naughty elves, flying reindeer and magical folklore, for decorations both ridiculous and sentimental.

I'm grateful for live nativities and Handel's Messiah sing a longs, for elves and gingerbread, for lists that need to be checked twice, for funny Christmas movies, for the Almond Box, for white Christmases, for sleigh rides at the square, for pretty downtown toy store window displays, for Christmas pageants, for school parties, for Festivus, for people dressed up in robes and bath towels on Christmas Eve, for the threat of coal in stockings, and I am especially grateful that through all the chaos and shiny hubbub, that I can still recognize that there is a reverence to this wonderfully busy season.

If there is one word I would use to describe the atmosphere shared between Aaron and I in the moment when we met our baby girl for the first time, it is reverence. Overwhelming reverence radiated from the newness of our baby girl and hushed the adrenaline driven chaos of the doctor and team of nurses rushing around us. She hushed our world.

I am not trying to be blasphemous and compare myself to Mary, or anything, and perhaps only the mother of a December baby can really appreciate the experience I just described.
I honestly feel that my first December baby gifted me a very real understanding of what took place on the most important night in the history of time, when a baby came to earth and hushed the entire world and reverence fell over all mankind.

I am grateful for December Birthdays.
Happy Christmas Birthday to my Reese. On the 14th, we celebrate you, and may you always enjoy your special birthday season. You are thoughtful, eager to please, obedient, organized, compassionate, funny, brilliant, beautiful, appreciated, and oh so very special.

You are a light in our lives. You bring us closer to Christ.
You are our Christmas Star and a breath of heaven.

We love you to the moon and back.

Purple Pinkie

Reese proudly marched herself to the rotary counter today to donate her dollar to the purple pinkie campaign at Cooper Elementary, today. Her purple pinkie represents a life of a child across the globe that she spared from the horrors of Polio. Way to go, girlie!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

She has the gift.

I Was There.

I guess Friday night wasn't a total failure.
This week, Reese's backpack has come home filled with it's usual stack of papers and busy work. On the backs of many of them are little drawings like these:

The house, a campfire, a tent, the moon, and sleeping bags for everyone in our family.
(I can only assume that the blue represents ice, because it was so dang cold.)

Summary:

Kids don't remember if you were perfect.

They remember that you were there.

"Eye on the prize, Violet. Eye on the prize..."

I confess: I am a pageant mom.
Ok, not really, but I was last weekend.

Reese was asked to participate in the Miss Bentonville High School Pageant as a "Future Miss" escort for Hannah Gibson (a senior at BHS).

This pageant was not for the faint of heart.
It was the real deal and the contestants were in it to win that $1500 scholarship.

Refusing to spend a dime (thanks for the guilt trip, Dave Ramsey, I will thank you again when my house is paid off ahead of schedule.) on a pageant dress, I helped Reese choose a "gown" from her closet. She wore her favorite church dress. I curled her hair, let her wear some lip gloss, painted her nails, and called it good.
I was happy to see that my friend, Jeddi, had reasonable dresses on her daughters as well.
Here is Reese with her friends, Megan and Hannah who were also Future Misses for pageant contestants. Reese was the ONLY future miss with no make up on.

Wholy-moly there was some seriously hard core Toddlers and Tiaras going on in the future miss dressing room. Big hair, white gloves, expensive satin gowns, heels, eyelashes, and a lot of make up.

These. girls. are. 6. Crazytown.

Don't even get me started on the mothers. Wowza.

Reese spent the week after the dress rehearsal practicing her "hand the flower, curtsey, kiss, and wave, then walk across the stage".
In that order. Or the pageant director will give you the ugly stare.

There were 20 girls that made it past the interviews and preliminary rounds (BHS is a very big school). Reese's Hannah was Contestant #9 (third from the left).

When it was Hannah's turn, Reese joined her on stage. Instead of a curtsey, kiss, and wave, then joining the reigning 2010 Miss BHS across the stage, Reese handed Hannah her rose, then stood there hugging and clinging to Hannah's satiny gown while her little bio was read:

"Hannah's Future Miss, this evening, is Reese Willardson. Reese is 6 years old and is the daughter of Aaron and Meg Willardson. She lives in Bella Vista and is in first grade at Cooper Elementary. Reese has five pet chickens that she takes very good care of. Her favorite part is collecting the colorful eggs every day. Reese plays soccer for Team Freedom with Bentonville Parks and Rec. She loves spending time with her younger sister and brother. Her favorite food is broccoli."

This is when the emcee asked Reese to go join last year's Miss BHS while Hannah was introduced. Reese gave Hannah a big hug, whispered, "I hope you win it all" in her ear, and went to her spot. It was the cutest thing ever.

Before intermission, Hannah was announced to be one of the Top 5 contestants.
The future misses got to join their parents and we sat together with out friends on the 2nd row for the second half of the pageant.

Reese loved every minute. Talk about a little girl's dream! How cute is she?

It was such a fun night. Aaron was out of town, so Auntie Kasey saved the day and stayed home with Corbin and Quincy so Reese and I could have a date. We ate fried chicken and fries for dinner, and Reese got a pink cupcake that said Miss BHS on it. She also received flowers and a goody bag from Hannah with a pillow pet, a game, candy, stickers, a cinderella cup, and a silver necklace that says "future miss" on it.

Reese was obsessed with Hannah and talked about her all week. I was happy to hear that Hannah hadn't spent any extra money on the pageant, either. She wore her prom dress from last year and her mom did her hair and makeup.

The talent portion was next and it was pretty incredible. Not your average high school talent show. These girls were actually quite amazing! One of the girl performed a contemporary dance to Regina Spektor's Eet (Reese's latest favorite song) and it was beautiful. Reese mouthed the words to the song and watched with amazed eyes.

Hannah tore it up on her guitar and sang Adele's Rollin' in the Deep.

And later....

She was crowned Miss BHS.

Reese couldn't have been happier.

When Reese joined Hannah on the stage again, she said, "I knew you would do it!"

I'm so happy for my little future miss. Reese is such a sweet, thoughtful girl.

Reese

is singing in the shower.
I love that girl.

1st Grade

Look at how brave my girl is.
She tried so hard to hold back the tears on her first day of school. We gave her a hug and a kiss and reminded her that she can do hard things, and then we left her at her desk. (Obviously) I went back and spied through the window by her classroom door. She continued to cry quietly for a few more minutes, and then a girl from her class last year went into the room and said, "Hey Reese!". I knew she'd be ok, so we left. This morning, Reese was all smiles when it was time to go to school. She happily got on the bus and blew us a kiss from her seat. Great improvement from last year. Watching her cry is difficult, but I'm not going to lie...I love feeling needed. I miss her so much more than she misses me. We had chocolate sprinkled donuts (what else?) after school, and dinner (cut into star shapes) was served on cafeteria style lunch trays.

The school year is off to a great start! We are proud of you, Reese!

Commencement

Hey beautiful girl,
You did it! Little Dolly, today was your day! You got to leave school early for a picnic with Mom and Dad at sissy's school, see your old preschool teachers, go out on a special date to a restaurant (Atlanta Bread Co-your favorite!) with Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Pumpkin, then come home and have the computer all to yourself for a whole hour! You kept saying, "I can't believe it! I can't believe I'm graduating today!" I loved the special time we spent together curling your hair and getting you dressed for your big performance. When you were ready to go, you asked me if Daddy or your friends would recognize you, because you looked so different with curls. It was so funny. Of course they'll recognize you! Who could mistake that great smile and those little freckles for anyone else? You did a great job singing with your friends in the program tonight. My favorite part was when you waved to me from the risers and threw kisses to the crowd like a pageant queen on a parade float.

I love you so very much Reese Olivia. You are a good, kind girl. You are a smart girl. You are a brave girl. You were once my teeny tiny baby, so helpless that you needed me for everything. You are growing more independent every day and have become quite a responsible young lady. You have a very mature mind for a 6 year old, and I love that about you. I value your ideas. You are a funny girl. You are a hard working girl. I am so proud of you for your determination and effort this year.

And now, you can read!

Way to go! You are "first grade bound" and I am so happy for you and your accomplishments.

I love the person you are,
-Mom

The KGB Will Ask the Questions!

Last night, Aaron and I cracked up laughing over a rerun of The Office where Dwight, Jim and Michael are telling knock knock jokes about the KGB. Funny stuff. I hadn't heard a knock knock joke--that actually made me laugh out loud-- in a long time (maybe ever?), but leave it to The Office to make it funny.

The conversation that unfolded moments ago proves that either my standard of knock knock jokes has lowered, or my kid is disgustingly awesome.

Reese: Hey Mom! Knock Knock!
Me: Who's there?
Reese: [giggle. giggle. bigger giggle. HUGE FART. explosive laughter]

totally gross.
but also kinda funny.

Catch Me Lucky Charms

This is to make up for being such a Debbie Downer in the previous post.

About once a month, Reese's teacher sends home a "family project".
The assignment this month was to design and build a leprechaun trap together.
We kept our design pretty simple.
1) Leprechaun is lured in with rainbows, shiny stickers, and a tiny bowl of Lucky Charms cereal. (just the marshmallows, Reese decided that was the only part of the cereal a leprechaun would be interested in. Sounds familiar...)
2) Lepprechaun steps on trap door to get the free food (like Reese's sign? hahaha)
3) Leprechaun falls through trap door into a popcorn chicken container.
We thought he might like it if we went "green" and made him a prison from recycled material.

Reese wanted to include dollhouse furniture, and food and water for her leprechaun. I pointed out that he wouldn't be imprisoned for long, so the lucky charms would be enough. Also, leprechauns are very smart and very tricky and if we gave him furniture, he could stack it up and use it to climb back out.
Instead, she made a finger puppet leprechaun friend to stuff down in the hole with the leprechaun, so at least he won't be lonely. How thoughtful of her.

She has a list a mile long of all the things she plans to buy for herself when the leprechaun gives her his pot of gold.

Item #1 is a dog.

Sympathy

Reese threw up on the bus, today.

It was stopped at our street, and she threw up on a half dozen benches as she tried to hurry and make it up the aisle to get off.

If only she could have lasted 2 more minutes. 1 more minute, even.

My heart is broken for her.

Everyone has a school vomit story. If it isn't your own, it's about that kid that threw up on your bus that one time.

It's been 15 years and you haven't forgotten. I know I haven't forgotten about the time it happened to a kid on my bus.

I am holding onto hope that this won't be the case for my little Reese.

When she goes back to school, I plan to drive her for a few days to ease the sting of the awkward social recovery. I know I can't protect her from every bad experience, but if there's anything I've learned in 3 pregnancies, it's to have compassion for the girl with puke on her shirt. She knows it's there, go easy on her.

Anyway, she isn't really getting any better, either. No fever, but she's thrown up 5 more times in as many hours, each bout as bad as the one before. She can't keep even a tiny sip of water, gatorade, or a bite of soda cracker down. She begged me to put her to bed at 5:30, but came out covered in her own mess at 7.

Praying that she will feel better soon, and that the other children will not get sick.

Did I mention Aaron is in Orlando all week? We miss him.

***The photo is from earlier this month. The kindergarten classes held a big wedding for letters

Q and U (since they're always together). The boys dressed as quarterbacks and the girls dressed like brides. So cute! ***

Today

1) I taught preschool this morning, and consequently, I keep forgetting that it is Friday, and not Wednesday. It was a great day, as always. I'll post pictures and curriculum later.

2) When Quincy woke up from her nap, she playfully crawled into the kitchen, pawed my feet, nuzzled her head and neck against my calves, and made an animal-like whinny.

Me: "Hi, you're awake! Are you a kitty or a horse?"

Quincy: "I'm a Quincy!"

3) Miss Reese was awarded as Terrific Kid at her school assembly today. The assembly was first thing in the morning, so Aaron surprised Reese and drove her to school, then stayed for the assembly. Reese was really excited. We are proud of her for being selected as a Terrific Kid!

4) I took both her and Corbin to the doctor yesterday. I was pleased to hear that Quincy's ears are clear, without a lick of infection. This is big news in our house, since we often wonder if her ears ever even heal 100% between one infection and the next.

Of course, both of Corbin's ears are infected, but hey, at least I have a reason for why he wasn't sleeping at night.

5) I just made 2 loaves of white bread to go with the gumbo I'm making for dinner. Like WHITE white bread. Rolls in loaf form. Though I am normally a big fan of the nutritional benefits and nutty taste of wheat bread, the babys cooling on my stovetop have got to be the most absolutely delicious, fluffy, wonder bread of breads I have ever made. I feel like I have conquered the world. I feel like a rockstar. I feel like Betty Crocker. ---
which is sort of cute because it is a Betty Crocker recipe.

I wonder if Betty Crocker still has yesterday's laundry piled on top of her bed, waiting to be folded.

{six}

Pieces turned 6 last week.
Six.

She's so grown up, all of a sudden.
I blame Kindergarten for that.

Six is a big birthday in the Willy house, because it is the age when you are allowed to chew gum.

Reese began her special day wearing pajamas to school for a field trip on the Polar Express. She was given a crown, sung to by her class, and her teacher let Reese sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" into a microphone, and the kids joined in and sang along. She was impressed that Reese knew all the words.

When she got home, she opened her gift from Quincy: A big fat package of bubble gum.
AKA "the best birthday present I've ever had!"

She also received a Magna Doodle from Aaron and I, a Tangled polly pocket from Grandma Lynda and Grandpa Rob, a Snow Cone Maker from Grandma Lynn

and Grandpa Punkin, and a wrapped gift from a boy in her class.
presents. from a boy.
Listen up, "Tanner-from-school" I've got my eyes on you, buddy. Keep it friendly.


He had made Reese a darling little beaded necklace, and had it wrapped with a tiny bowling set. Above, is Reese's thank you card, which she sat down to write right away. She got stuck in the middle, and asked what else she should write. I offered the suggestion that when writing a thank you card, it helps to think about what you like best about the gift. You'll notice that Reese's favorite part of the gift was her own name.

What a little narcissist. I love her.



Reese has been planning her "Snow Party" birthday for about 11 months.
Mother Nature has yet to deliver the snow, this year, but a Snow Party we delivered!

As the kids arrived, they painted 2 blue button eyes and 3 black coal mouth pieces for a snowman kit. I added a carrot, a cork pipe, and fabric scarf to each of their party bags. When it does snow, they will be ready for some serious snowman building!

Lack of snow didn't stop us from having quite the snow party!

My parents and sister sent a package of InstaSnow for the party. For those who don't have access to real snow (and even those who do), this stuff is SO rad. The kids watched it "grow" from granules in the tubs, and had fun playing in the "snow".

(Alayna, Jackson, Madison, Addison, Reese and Quincy)

After snow play, the kids gathered back around the table for hot cocoa with snowman marshmallows and Snowman Bingo, using mini marshmallows as square markers. Each child got a snowman pencil when they got their first Bingo.

We sang happy birthday and Reese blew out candles on Snowman cupcakes (made with rainbow chip frosting...so they kind of looked like adolecent or chicken poxed snowmen, oh well!) I used chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth, candy corn for the carrot noses and gum drops on toothpicks for the pipes. They were a hit, and thanks to the rainbow chips, they were pretty yummy, too.

Reese had a great time playing and celebrating the fun of turning 6 with a few of her closest friends. I read a snowman book to them while they waited for parents to arrive.

Snow Party=Success!

That night, Aaron "pulled a surprise present from the closet", and gave Reese her very own microphone. She's been handing out orders and belting Christmas carols at top volume since she opened it.

Pieces,

I have so much love for you, I can't accurately put it into words. You are a very special girl, with a unique personality and gifted mind that will get you everything you want out of this life. I am lucky to be your mother. You bless our family daily, and I appreciate how much you help out around the house with chores and caring for your sister and brother. Six is going to be another great year for you.

I love you, Dolly. Happy Birthday!

Field Trip

Reese with her class at the Veterans Wall Memorial

Flat Reese is on the Go

In case you are wondering...

Flat Reese arrived in Alabama this week! She is sporting a new hat and coat, compliments of Geno and Shelly, and is going to hit the town and go to a craft fair this afternoon.

Cute, right? I know!
Reese LOVES hearing about what Flat Reese has been up to. I've gotta say, I'm a little jealous, I want to go play in California for a week with my sister...and crafting with Shelly is a blast.
Thanks for showing Flat Reese a fun time! You guys are so awesome.