swinging the world by the tail

For Grandma...

2011-12-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

There is NO WAY I would post all 38 of these pics for anyone else!!! ;)
** These photographs were taken by the very talented Alisha Shaw. You can find her on her website One Memory At A Time**

And because I couldn't help myself and you might want one of these of Manning instead, here are all the shots from his baby picture shoot.

Lullabies & Love

2011-10-18T23:17:00.000-07:00

     I have some really great posts planned that include all the pictures that are locked in my laptop for safekeeping. Why you may ask are they locked there? Well, hmmm... sad story is that the mouse button is totally busted. I'm guessing too many little fingers gushing a little love on it when they help out with mom and dad's 'puter!?! I tried to solve the problem, I really did: I googled it, binged it and banged on it. Sadly, I think it is a lost cause. It has an appointment with the Apple store, as soon as Steve can take it there! Ha! The posting issue really is a tragic one, these posts in my head have the potential to really crack you up. One may or may not have involved Manning's hair! ;)
     In the meantime here is a little something I was thinking about while I put my children to bed. (Bedtime Tangent Alert!) Have I ever mentioned that I really love putting my children to bed? Please do not confuse putting them to bed with getting them ready for bed. The whole pajamas, diaper changes, teeth brushing, oiling thing can really get dragged out at my house by being interrupted by the refereeing, tear drying, soothing, helping, cooling down meltdown things. Maybe it's just me, but the getting ready can be a tough job. Once that is done, family prayers are said and all the children scamper off to their beds, things quiet down; then I love to go around to each child's bed and tuck them in. I sing them each a song or two while tickling their backs. Ok, I admit Josie suckers me into a minimum of four every night, but two are really short; and she is in her own room so the other kids don't know! ;) Then I hug them and kiss them and tickle them and tell them at least 10 times how much I love them. Josie is particularly funny right now. She loves to make these silly faces while she decides what songs she wants me to sing. She puckers her lips and roll her eyes to each side, as if she is thinking this monumental decision over very well. They are too funny. I just love getting the chance at the end of the day to look each of them in the eye and see them. Who they really are. To remember. Them. Why I love them so much. What an awesome job I have! How much I love it!
     Tonight Josie fell asleep while I was rubbing her head during song #4. Manning needed round 2. Taryn was asleep before I even got to her bed; I enjoyed hugging and kissing on her in her sleep anyway! And Byron got his usual: 2 verses of Army of Helaman while being tickled on his back and legs with both hands at the same time; same thing he's wanted every night for the past 3 years. They are all so different and amazing and funny.
While I was singing to Manning I saw the baby monitor and wondered if was turned off in my bedroom. Chicken! I hope so, what if we wake up Steve? He'll probably turn it off and go right back to sleep. Not so bad... I remember a couple of weeks ago when Josie paged the portable phones from the base. Unbeknownst to me Steve, who was napping after work, picked up the phone that had been inadvertently left in our bedroom. He could hear everything we were saying and doing. He came down about 45 minutes later and told me that he had been listening for that long. I asked him why he didn't come down earlier. He said, "I was just waking up, so I laid there and just listened to you guys. It was so cute. You guys are funny."
I don't remember what we were doing. The children were singing, or dancing or something and I know that I was making dinner. I do remember thinking that I was so glad that there were happy and joyful sounds for Steve to listen to. That isn't always the case for me. Sometimes I get a little stressed making dinner and getting it on the table. Sometimes the children bicker and I get a little heated too. That led me to think about the fact that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are listening always. I promised myself in that moment, in my children's quiet, dark room looking at their beautiful, sweet faces that I'll remember (at least for tomorrow) that heavenly beings are listening. This isn't to make me feel paranoid or watch everything I'm saying. It will help to remind me that I want to parent the way Heavenly Father does.
     Right now that means this, to me:
~ He loves unconditionally! This really does mean whether or not the dishwasher has been emptied, or I've asked for the 18th time, or I'm being ignored, etc., etc. He loves me no matter what. My children deserve the same.
~ Worth and deserving are not based on a rewards system. I need to remember this one for myself, as well as my children. We are worthy and deserving just because we are his children. Our worth is divine, nothing is going to change that. No amount of work, or lack of work will change that. I am worth the same on days I produce nothing as I am on days that I conquer the longest 'to do' list. This is true of my children too!
~ We are only asked to do what we are capable of, with His help. This has been a bit of an interesting discovery for me. I realized that there were many times as a small child that I felt as thought it was impossible for me to complete a task. Sometimes I was able to get going and do it alone, other times I needed help and occasionally I failed (at least if felt that way). I see this in Byron a lot, and Taryn sometimes too. I just realized that success with my help was still success for my children. Recently when a very dear friend of mine showed up to help me mop my floor and vacuum before my in-laws came for a visit, I realized this is also true for me. I succeeded in accomplishing what I needed to do that day. It didn't matter how it got done, I tasted sweet success. This one applies to so many areas of life!
     Ultimately I've realized that I just want to love my children the way Heavenly Father loves me. I want them to know that they are loved all the time, no matter what they do (or don't do). I know that I am loved by Him that way. I want them to know that I will help them to make up the difference when there are just too many blocks to pick up alone. The Savior does this for me on a daily basis, perfectly.
     These realizations aren't always my reality. But they are my desire. And knowing what I want and how to get it means I'll keep getting a little more of it every day. And until my love is charity, I'll rely on Faith, Hope, my Heavenly Father and brother, Jesus Christ!

Is Big Brother Watching You?

2011-09-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

... because he is watching over Manning!

(Byron has affectionately nick named him "my koala baby!)

Love my boys!

Me, Myself, and Janelle!

2011-08-08T23:36:00.000-07:00

I should be sleeping. I'm not! Steve has a new job. He is delivering for Great Buns Bakery... he had to have great buns to work there. It is kind of a prerequisite. If you are a baker you have to bake great buns, and if you are a driver you have to have great buns... you know so your buns make their ugly brown uniform pants look great too. Not that many people get a gander at my mans buns because he works from 12:30 (yes, a.m.) till around 9-11a.m. He is still training, after he has his new route down he hopes to be done a little earlier. They even have keys to a lot of the establishments they deliver to. I wouldn't want to have to let them in either! The sleep schedule has been the biggest change, oh and having bosses who actually give two hoots about my hard-working, amazing man! He's made a big impression. I'm not surprised, I've been saying for years that Steve is "kind of a big deal!" It is nice for Steve to work with peeps who care and make great buns, and who appreciate his great buns... you know for the running around with their buns that he has to do. I appreciate his buns because they are nice to look at, especially when we do p90x together. That doesn't happen nearly often enough. He hasn't worked his work-outs in to his new schedule just yet, but he better... you know, to keep his buns great. I would hate to see them demoted to just "good" buns!
Enough about buns, their bread is amazing. I'm particularly in love with their sour dough at the moment, we've scarfed down their sesame bagels and I can't wait to try the sweet rolls Steve was telling me about. I have a great NEED to purchase a panini press now that I can get my hands on some ~~great buns~~ great bread now. Oh the ~~sandwiches~~ paninis I will make!!! Steve and I were addicted for a little while when I "borrowed" my mom's new panini press for an extended period of time just after Christmas. There is a really good chance I've made more panini's on it than she has. I even saw a panini press with removable plates that would open all the way into a griddle... Josie pulled/threw my griddle on the floor! So I need a new griddle too, you know for pancakes. That will just feed my need and justification in my purchase. Sometimes justification is necessary for the purchases my practical side deems unnecessary! That is when I like to get out my spontaneous personality, she flies by the seat of her pants and lives on the edge... and I love her for that! Am I talking about myself in the third person? Oh dear, this is turning into a post of me, myself and Janelle! Ahhh, or aha? I think I may have just stumbled across my title! Back to the not sleeping... hmmm, maybe my reasonable, smart, logical personality is sleeping. Don't worry, I'll make more sense tomorrow!
Steve goes to bed really, really early (tonight 4:45p.m.) and I put the children to bed, then I stay up and clean the kitchen (or blog) and I have to get in bed and fall asleep before he gets up. Otherwise I have a hard time falling asleep in my lonely bed on my own. I'm getting used to sleeping alone... I'm pretty sure Steve loves it; I haven't quite converted him to a snuggler just yet! It is a crazy schedule, but the children just love having dad come home before lunch! Steve has really enjoyed seeing them more too, and he loves that I have revamped my 'honey-do' list. So far he has called in repairs for a busted fridge and fixed our dryer all by his little, ~~old~~ amazing self! He just started this new job less than two weeks ago!
I love having him around more too! We have the kind of relationship where we do better the more we get to be together. Some day I'm gonna figure out a way that we can work together! It will be awesome! We used to talk about me getting my CDL (commercial driver's license) and doing long-haul driving around the country together. I would pick up and go in a second, except the DOT has some dumb rule about little children in commercial cabs (even though some of them would rival a nice RV)! Oh well, maybe we'll see the country that way some day. We'll be gran and pop, the oldie but goodie truck drivers! Ha ha! That would be so funny! Well I better run and hop in bed, before he gets up! Goodnight!

What's in a name?

2011-08-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

So you may have noticed I changed the title of my blog. How very observant of you! ;) That was me being Captain Obvious for a moment, a funny game we like to play at my house (maybe one day it will make for a moment worth sharing?) Just naming my blog after my dear little family caused me to feel as though all I could share was stuff about my dear little family. I want more than that... so much more. You see I admire many blogs and bloggers who share many different things, and I want to branch out a bit. I'm not nearly the photographer that NieNie is or the storyteller that cJane is and I don't quite have the knack for humorous honesty like Ann, but I've got a lot to share! I don't make up all my own recipes or design and decorate amazing things for my home... yet! However, I do know a whole lot about little people and ice cream! I just know that every one wants to know more about children and ice cream!
So changing the name is like declaring my freedom to change it up a bit with what I share. It may be humorous stories about children I've worked with over the years. Children are definitely good for funny stories... and messes! Could be just about anything!
Like my thoughts on the eternities, because the world lost another good man to cancer far too young. It really puts things into perspective. Like my Taryn drawing a TV on the wall next to her bed with a dry erase marker (did you know those are harder to clean off walls than permanent?), not such a big deal--that's what they made paint for, right? Or my children pulling all the couch cushions off the couch for the 37th time today, no sweat! At least I have three sweet little munchkins to provide that service while one more looks on! My man Steve is with me, right now, in this life! I am blessed! In the eternities the messes and stresses won't matter, but the snuggling and reading and ice cream will! Life is precious and sweet, and I want to savor it! And share it, more of what makes me tick, gets me thinking, and gets my creative juices flowing. Of course the posts about Manning's hair and my other children's antics will show up here too! I KNOW I won't maintain more than one blog... I struggle enough with this one!
So when life hands me lemons, wall drawings, flowers, treats, stress, love, laughter, tears, hope, joy, sadness, charity, doubt, faith... I'll be swinging the world by the tail! And posting about it here when I feel so inspired... and the stars align. :) That's how I feel a lot... I'm just taking what comes and swinging it my way, bringing joy and fun to it whenever I can!

*Inspiration for my title came from this song:
Killing the Blues by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant

The Whole Hairy Story!

2011-06-25T23:06:00.000-07:00

My name is Manning, and this is the saga of my hair. It is a bit long and full of pictures! 26 I think... still working on my numbers, but hey I can type! :) You need all the pictures to see how adorable me and my hair are, and as proof that my family is mean when it comes to my thick, luscious mane! My mom keeps saying something about "lots of black mail pictures" to use when I'm a dating teenager?!? I'm so lost!

Hair, now that is something I know a bit about! This is me a couple days after I was born. I look a bit milk-drunk I think!Totally adorable new born fuzzy hair!

I affectionately call this my "chia pet" hair style!

The classic part! A bit long to be a missionary hair cut I think!

Byron gave me a faux-hawk, so I could look just like him!
He is one cool dude and I want to be just like him when I get big!

Ummmm, hmmmmm?? Not sure what to say about this one? Taryn had her turn combing my hair!?! Then I started to cry... I mean, come on people! I am not a doll here! Real boy!
I am a real boy, just ask Gepetto, he'll vouch for me! :)

Here my hair looks like a dandelion, and I need a nap!

Crazy Hair! Crazy Eyes!
"You say one mean thing about my hair and I peel you!!!
Like a carrot!"

You makin' fun of my hair??? Take this, "thpfllt! Neener neener!"

Bed Head!
Nuff' Said!

Mom called this one the "President Howard!" He ran the country? Or ate steak? Or was the president of steak? Something like that!

Boo hoo! I told you they're mean!!! They made me look like Donald Trump! Waaahaaahaaaa!

I mean, come on... no one looks good when they start combing their hair from way over here!

Now even I've got Bieber Fever!!! Just call me Justin!

That stuff on my head has a mind of it's own... or maybe a lot of little minds, one in each hair? Whatever, you know you want to be on my team! ;o)

My mom kissing on her cute little baby girl! What? Wait a sec, me again! I told you they were mean! Brace yourselves it only gets worse!

Just my normal, wild-haired self! Wait till you see what the do to me next...

Pigtails!?! Who do you think I am? Cindy Lou Who? Aw man, I look like a really cute little girl!

I kinda like this one! Does that make me weird. I think I look like a human water fountain! I mean that is like eight whale spouts. "Thats right my little 7 month old, female counter parts! Count them and weep!" (Except you Jules, only cry a little!)

Coolio?!? Rapping?!? WHAT THE???

"You give me one more crazy hair-do and I'll tell you what I'll do to you..."

"I can't believe they are doing this to me! Will some one come and rescue me? Please? I think my whole family is...

TOTALLY NUTS!!! And I'm gonna get them for this!!!"

Be afraid little Mann! Be very afraid! "What are they going to do to me?"

Good thing Josie loves me, because I think she is a little jealous that my hair all fits in one pony tail and she still has to wear two!

Taryn says I'm her unicorn! I wish I had wings so I could be a pegasus unicorn, ah well we just have to work with the things God gave us!

When Josie softly, okay not so softly removed my horn, this is what happened...

POOF!!! Is my dad laughing at me?

"I make all this hair look good!"

It's been a long day, can you leave a poor baby's hair alone??? See even dad feels my pain!

If you want to play with awesome baby hair like mine you'll have to pray that your next baby (or baby brother/sister) has hair like mine! Do me a favor and pray she is a girl too, for the baby's sake! Or buy yourself a troll doll!
Since these pictures were taken I've had two haircuts, and the torture continues! :) I'm sure the hairy story isn't over yet!

The Dino-Whore Park!!!

2011-05-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

I hope no one is too crushed when I inform you that there aren't any Dinos in my pictures... or whores! I stole my post title from Elijah, my adorable nephew who calls all dinosaurs, dino-whores. It is my favorite. Sometimes I ask him questions about T-rex that I already know the answer to just so I can listen to his cute little voice as he tells me all about his beloved dino-whores! Someday he'll say that word perfectly, and I'll be a little sad... until then I'll love it & him!

We love the Dinosaur Park out in Alliante, but it was too hot for me to take pictures of Byron's 5 minute-at-a-time dino digs in the sand box! The too hot part of that last sentence is a little entertaining, because the high here is 68 lovely degrees tomorrow! :o) That said, it was lovely to watch the children run amuck at the splash pad there. One crocodile was even so kind as to spit a large amount of water on the back of my pants while I took pictures... I just wish he'd done it earlier, it was cool! Here are some fun photos of our day at the Dino-whore Park!

Taryn would not commit to getting her hair wet... funny girl! I guess I understand, we did spend 42.5 minutes getting her to look that good in the morning. Who wants to waste that kind of hair-do dedication?

On the other hand... or should I say foot? Josie was totally dedicated to getting her feet wet. She had a lot of fun jumping in puddles, and doing this!

I think the little boy running through this shot is too adorable! Taryn is thinking, "I think I'm touching the water! Am I touching the water? I'm not sure... what am I trying to do here again?"

Like I said... funny girl!

This is my favorite shot of the day... quite possibly one of my all time favorite shots! I love the action I caught and Kaitlyn's expression. That girl was even more hard-core than Byron in her commitment to the splash! Too cute and made for a fabulous photo!

Chelsa is such a gorgeous, hot mama and Griff is such a handsome little guy! He is getting so stinking big! Love her hat!

I LOVE these 3 munchkins! This is the spitting crocodile being questioned in the wetting of my pants! Ummm, that didn't come out right!?! ;o)

Josie loved the crocodiles with the same passion that Eli loves his dino-whores! She did however prefer them when they weren't spitting.

Taryn too! What a gorgeous cheeser this girl has on her!

How fun is that park!! You should see the baby dino's coming out of their eggs, and the enormous Triceratops head! Fun to be had by all!

California Dreamin'

2010-10-01T15:26:00.001-07:00

*I have tons of photos that I have finally uploaded to my computer, so I'll do a bunch of posts before I re-date them chronologically! I'm so excited I finally learned how to do collages, so I can share more pics!*

In August we went to California with my family for our summer vacation. My parents own a time share in Newport, and we love to go with them. There is a lot for the kiddies to do, and Steve and I always love escaping the Vegas heat for Cali. temperatures any chance we get. In fact, we looked at these photos and dreamed of escaping the lingering summer temps here and running back to California. For now memories will do.

Swimming in the pool!

Chillin' on the beach, burying kids, building sand castles and fun stuff like that!

Exploring the tide pools, climbing rocks and Josie was really good at stalking the sea gulls!

Catching hermit crabs and putting them right back where we found them. Playing 'king and queens of the mountain'!

It was a great trip. A great mix of hanging out with extended family, and just chilling with our little gang! We all had a lot of fun!

What a mug!

2010-04-06T22:30:00.000-07:00

Could she be any cuter?

I don't think so! What a smile!

She is getting so big, and she loves to feed herself!

Such a cute little mess!

I love her hair that sticks up all the time!

Oh, the enthusiasm! She is quite a character!

I wish I could read baby minds!

I bet it would be entertaining!

I love to nibble on those luscious cheeks!

I love the Josie B!

Truly, Josie B living the good life!

*These pictures were all taken within the past month!

The need to ramble...

2010-03-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else ever feel that need? It is not that I think to myself, "I just need to ramble to someone right now." It just happens. Usually I call someone, then I begin to tell them a story. It probably doesn't have anything to do with nothing that is or is not important. 5 to 10 minutes later I have to think really hard as I near the end of my story to remember the point, you know that little thing that made me think that it was important to share it in the first place. 30% of the time I realize that the only importance in sharing was just that, the sharing. Just because I got to talk and connect with someone I love! I'm sure there are at least ten people who will read this and chuckle to themselves, because they've experienced that with me.

I think it looks like Taryn is choking Josie in my new header picture. I still think it is stinkin' adorable. She is also wearing a panty on her head. Kids are great, and hilarious. I cannot believe how big my little Josie is. I need to post some pictures soon, but that requires uploading and there is trouble with space in macland, well my little macland anyway. Josie thinks baby food is for the dog, and that she should be allowed to eat everything we do. What happened to my baby? She is growing up. Byron is getting his adult set of teeth. He just finished wrestling and had a great season. Taryn is so tall that people think she is 3, and that's been going on since she was just over 2. I've heard that if you measure a boy when he is two years old and a girl when she is 2 1/2 years old, they will double that height by the time they are full grown. Taryn will definitely be taller than me. She wears 3T clothing and some 4T stuff too. The sun rises and the sun sets. March is following February at a ridiculous rate. Time goes on. I don't want to miss anything.

Sometimes I miss things because I am living in the glory days of the past, others times because I am so worried about the next thing on my list. Ashley told me about this article by Jeffrey R. Holland. It is titled "The Best is Yet to Be."

"As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."

Both living in the past and worry about the future show a lack of faith on my part. I love my life. I love every day. Life is good. I'm learning and loving. What more can I ask for?

So I'll continue focusing on living in the NOW! Enjoying life and accepting it. Even when I'm working on making something better of myself or my home. I have so much more fun when I accept where I am currently. Life is amazing, beautiful, hard, wonderful, challenging and awesome!

"You can remember just enough to avoid repeating the mistake, but then put the rest of it all on the dung heap Paul spoke of to the Philippians. Dismiss the destructive, and keep dismissing it until the beauty of the Atonement of Christ has revealed to you your bright future and the bright future of your family, your friends, and your neighbors. God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."

So I suppose it isn't so much rambling after all. Just the way my funny little brain works, thinking, talking, rambling, reading, listening, talking and rambling some more. Then it clicks, and I've learned something new or had an 'aha' moment!

"Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11)."

Mr. Funnyman

2010-03-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

Byron: "What's wrong mom?"

Mom: "Well it's 7:00 and I haven't fed everyone, so I'm feeling kind of like a bad mom."

Byron: "Well I can tell you how to be a good mom!"

Mom: "Oh yeah? How is that?" (chuckles)

Byron: "Well you have to act like a big spender. But, if you don't really want to be a big spender, you can take us to Cici's!"

Mom: HAHAHAHAHA! & HAHAHAHA!

Byron: (shy grin) "I just said that to make you laugh!"

Mom: "Well it sure worked!"

Byron: "Yeah, that is why God sent me down here, to make people laugh and be happy!"

*I love that kid!*

My Heroes!

2009-12-14T22:17:00.000-08:00

We bid a sorrowful farewell last night to my dear, sweet brother-in-law Robert Kenneth Ashworth. He returned to his loving Heavenly Father at 9:20 surrounded by his family, Ashley and our family. We sang the hymns, "Be Still My Soul" and "God Be With You"!

Though he is gone, Robdob will forever be one of my greatest heroes. His memory will forever challenge me to strive to live an exemplary life, as he did. He inspired. He fought. He loved. He loved my sister Ashley. I love him, and I am so grateful to know that through their temple marriage he will always be a part of my family! What comfort this brings, to know that I will see him again, because of my dear Savior, Jesus Christ. I celebrate this Christmas season with more gratitude for His atonement, and in particular His resurrection. My life is so much more for having known Robert!

Ashley, my amazing little sister. She is my hero! I know this is so difficult for her, yet her strength is . . . is beyond my ability to describe. She is beautiful and wise beyond her years. She will continue her whole life to set an example for me to follow. She is stretching, and I want to stretch with her. I want to grow with her, to become better with her. I want to scoop her up and put her in my pocket and carry her around for at least the next two years and take care of her. Since I can't I will ask my Savior to do this for her. He already is. She knows Him. She is strength. She loves. She loves Robert eternally. I love her.

Those two know more about true love, and really loving another than most couples learn in 50+ years of marriage. They inspire me to work for a marriage like theirs. I love them both so much.

For more details go here.

For Steve...

2009-10-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

I made this video for Steve, to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary

October 23, 2009

I thought it would be fun to share here!

Man time flies when you are having fun.

And I can't believe what baby faces we had!

*Many thanks to my 'lil sisters Brittany, for her fabulous technical skills, and Karalee, for her keen scanning skills!

**Music: "You and Me" by Dave Matthews

Workin' It!

2009-09-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

Is it October 1st? Because we are getting into the Halloween Spirit. Ya, we're workin' it! Karalee, Tyler and Elijah came over and the four kiddos made the cutest ghosts!

They were super easy, all you need is a couple paper plates, a garbage bag cut into strips, a construction paper or marker face, and some glue! They also glued some jack-o-lanterns!

The picasso on the left belongs to Elijah, lucky pumpkin got two noses! And Taryn's is on the right! Speaking of Taryn, she was workin' the peanut butter at dinner. (We had an easy meal since Steve got home from work too late for dinner!)

Peanut butter paws, then "get in my belly!"

Oh, and Josie, well she is workin' the burger...

See, I told you so!

(Hat and picture courtesy of Byron. He put it on her and then announced, "we have to take a picture of that mom. It is so funny!")

Enough is enough! Taryn STEALTH Mode

2009-08-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

So I just can't take it anymore!!! I have been waiting and waiting... and WAITING for my mom to share all of my glorious cuteness, and now I'm taking matters into my own hands! What can I say? My public needs me! Don't worry my peeps--I have an excess of 25 photos of yours truly! Enjoy!

Don't worry about my posting making my mom feel eternal guilt for not being on the ball and getting this posting done herself. I engaged my special stealth mode, she won't even know this post is here. So please be discreet and only post comments for me on this post, thank you! ;0)

Lets see... where to start? I'll just go in chronologic order. (I know my use of large words has completely impressed you!)

Hmmm, well this is an old picture (11/08) but I would like to share one of my new and favorite skills: vacuuming! I just love this little vacuum, it is just my size. My mom will get this vacuum out to clean the floors and I quickly let her know that it is my vacuum. She hands it over and gets the big one, or the broom! As you can see I've had this skill for almost a year, and I'm still rockin' it!

I am also developing my musical talents with Rock Band! I totally rock the guitar, and I'm working on my drum skills too... I can't wait to start singing (I've been working on the vocab for that skill!)

Oooooh, I just love water. No really, it is divine! I love playing at the sink and washing dishes for my mom. She is so lucky, because the day she took this picture she got a 'two for one' because I cleaned my hair too! No bath tonight!

I just need you all to know how adorable I am in animal print! Cheeks for days, my mom says!

My dad said that we have to move away from Vegas?!? I don't understand why. I love dancing on the table...

And taking off my clothes. Sometimes I even swing my shirt/dress around in circles when I get them off!

Dad said something to mom about 'table dancing' and 'stripping'? Oh, and there was some reference to 'cage dancing' when I climbed on the dugout fence at Byron's t-ball game and started shaking my bootie!?! My dad keeps saying that this city could bring about a demise in my choice of vocation. Ummmm?? I don't get it. (Please leave a comment with explanation if you know what on Earth my dad is talking about!)

And speaking of t-ball, don't I look cute in a batting helmet? Can't wait till I can play! I just ate a lot of fruit snacks and dug in the dirt during Byron's games. That was fun too, I guess!

After my little sister Josie was born, I thought being the baby looked like a lot of fun, so I tried it out and Byron took pictures! (Psst, it's not all it's cracked up to be--been there, done that!)

Okay, okay... this is it! This is definitely the skill that is going to make me all the big bucks! I now know how to put on my own make-up! I love it! I love it! I love it!

I have radar for the stuff too. Found this red-hot lipstick in Nonni's purse, and I just know when mom leaves hers within my reach in her bathroom! Don't I look amazing? You just let me know when you're getting ready for prom, or getting married--I'll run right over and do you up right!

Lucky is our dog. I just love her. She licks me and tickles me and makes me laugh. In turn I have learned how to feed her and take care of her! See, one for Lucky...

one for me!!

(Mom says I'm gross, and that I smell even worse later! Whatever, its fun!)

Oh blessed sparklers! I have a new found love for the 4th of July! God Bless America... and the man who made these little things!

All the other kids were scared, but I thought sparklers were the bomb! Haha!

Mom couldn't keep 'em coming fast enough for me!

Oh, and homemade peach ice cream is another reason to love the 4th!

I'm totally a 'daddy's girl' right now! He is my favorite guy in the whole wide world! He is also my jungle gym, horse, trampoline, face-maker and more! We are a silly pair!

I love my little sister Josie. She is so cute. I snuggle her, sometimes mom calls it 'mauling'--I'm just so excited!! Aren't we cute?

I teach her all my funny tricks. Mom will sometimes do this thing where she'll say, "who's the cutest Taryn in the whole wide world?" And I'll raise my arm and wave it around and mom will say, "me, me, pick me! I'm the cutest Taryn in the whole wide world!" I think it is hilarious! So I taught Josie...

"Me, me, pick me! I'm the cutest baby in the whole wide world!"

I'm sure you've heard by now that I turned 2! On July 17th! It was the best birthday ever. I blew out candles all weekend!!! What more could a toddler want? Candles in my bagel for breakfast, and I opened all my cards!

Making a wish!

Candles in my Chinese food for dinner!

My dad was at scout camp on my birthday, so we had my party on Sunday! This is the rockin' cake that my Aunt Brittany made me. In case you can't tell, I'm in love with Nemo! I would find him every day if my mom would let me!

Mom, me and dad! I just love my family!

And of course, candles on the cake! More wishes...

I blew them out first try! Oh joy! No really guys... what is with this picture? I had to throw this one in.

I loved opening my presents! I got the goods! Clothes, a bubble machine and a xylophone!

I'm such a big girl now!

Last, but not least! I really heart the bubbles! Love them! I'm getting pretty good at blowing them myself too!

Was I excessive? Who cares! Mom always says, "go for the good things in excess!" And I, my friends, am a good thing. Come on, I'm 2, I have a fabulous self esteem!

I hope you enjoyed all of the great things I've been up to. Now that I know how to post, I'll steal the blog a little more often, maybe. Cut down on the excess!

P.S. Would someone please teach my mom how to do those multiple pictures in one to post? Then I can watch her and know too! Moms... where we learn all our good tricks!

Cookbook for a Cause

2009-07-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

My fabulous sister Kristin is putting together a cookbook as a fundraiser for Robert. For those of you who don't know my family very well we take our food very seriously. We love to cook, bake and eat. We did introduction questionnaires on all of Ashley and Robert's family members on their blog and Robert's sister Alycia answered the question: What is your favorite food? Anything the Squires make! She's got a point! We are really humble about being good cooks and having great recipes too! :) Ha ha!

To order a cookbook, get more information or just donate check out our fundraising blog http://supportforrobdob.blogspot.com Thank you so much for all the support, love, prayers and faith you have shared with my family!

Sweet Sisters

2009-07-10T22:10:00.001-07:00

A Talk on Prayer and Faith ~ Re-post

2009-07-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

*This post was originally posted on Robert and Ashley's blog. I wanted to re-post it here.

Most of you probably know that we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons. The children in our church attend primary. They spend part of the time in a big group, and part in smaller classes. When they are all together the children get the opportunity to give talks. Byron was asked to speak on 'How Faith and Prayer Bless my Family.' He was excited to prepare a talk, so we started off with a conversation.

Mom: How do you think prayer and faith bless our family?

Byron: Well, um prayer is good. (puzzled expression) What exactly is faith?

M: (new approach) What do you pray about when you say family prayers, or your personal prayers?

B: I pray for the food . . . and I pray for Uncle Robert every night.

*Could you ask for a situation that could be more perfect to teach a child about prayer and faith? I think not.*

We had found the subject for his talk. We continued our conversation about praying for Robert and Ashley, what faith is, etc. While I put the words down on paper for him, Byron came up with the content of his talk. As he shared these words tears appeared in a few of the primary teachers and leaders eyes, mine included. I thought it would be fun to share it again here.

Byron showed this picture while sharing the following:

This is my Uncle Robert and Aunt Ashley. Robert is bald because he is sick. He has leukemia, a type of cancer. He is in the hospital a lot and he has a lot of doctors helping him.

He then showed this picture (original coloring by Byron) while sharing:

Prayer and faith have blessed my Uncle Robert. Every night when I pray I ask Heavenly Father to bless Robert to get better, and to bless his doctors to help him.

Children can't visit the cancer wing of the hospital, so I can't see him until he comes home. So, when Robert is in the hospital I pray that he will be able to come home soon, so I can see him and Ashley again!

Then I use my faith.

I have faith and believe that Heavenly Father will help Robert to get better and be healthy and strong again. Then he will grow his hair back too!

He then showed the first picture again and finished with:

There are a lot of people all over the world who are praying with faith for my Uncle Robert and Aunt Ashley. Prayer and faith bless my family by helping my Uncle Robert to get better.

May we all pray with the faith of a child!

Peace & Quiet

2009-06-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Sitting on my bed I just finished breast feeding Josie when I hear a banging. It sounds like it is coming from Byron's bedroom. There is a war going on in there you know. He can't pick up all his toys yet because he doesn't know who is going to win. I holler, "Byron stop banging or you are going to wake up Taryn."

"Mom, I am just playing in my room.

I am peace and quiet!"

That was his response from his room.

I got a big kick out of that! I then realized that Taryn was awake and making all the noise in her room!

Byron and Josie! He is a great big brother!

I also have enjoyed some much needed peace and quiet this week with my little newborn. Breast feeding hasn't been easy for us. After two desperate nights in a row I called Tami, a lactation consultant, to come over for a visit. I got an education on Josie and her early arrival. She is considered premature because she is earlier than 37 weeks.

--Funny story here. I was a little surprised she was considered premature. When Tami told me that I said, "Really?"

Tami responded with, "have you seen the hair on this child? You could brush her!"

Now while you may think that sounds a bit rude, I tell you it is funny and true! She has the hairiest back my midwife has ever seen. That is saying something for delivering around 800 babies! (I think that number is right!) Not only does she have a hairy back, but her arms and thighs are hairy too. She even has a hairy chest and tummy but it is really blond. She was also born with a lot of vernix on her face and head, and she didn't have any foot prints. Babies get their foot prints in the last 3 weeks in utero!--

Here is an up close picture of the hairiness! Check out her arms. The pictures of the hair on her back don't turn out this well, but you can picture this all over her back too! Too cute! It freaks Steve out, he's afraid she got it from him!

Premature babies are very sleepy babies and don't always register their hungry tummies and wake up to eat when they should. So then they are ravenous when they do wake up--not good for mom's equipment!

We are also having a little mouth vs. large equipment issue--also painful!

Premature babies have a more difficult time learning how to latch on to the breast.

Josie is pretty much always dressed like this these days. I just uncover her when she is sleeping and she wakes up enough when she cools off to realize that she is hungry. I love looking at all of her!

I promise I am going somewhere with all this information! After a visit on Saturday and another from Tami on Monday we are doing much better. Josie is on a feeding schedule. She eats every two hours and can go for three hours 2-3 times in 24 hours. Let me tell you I went from tired to exhausted in the first 24 hours of this schedule. We will keep this up until at least June 10th when she would have been full term.

That is where the peace and quiet comes in. I have been so fortunate to have my blessed mother, Aunt Lara, Karalee, Brittany and my friend Stephanie help out with my children this week so I can get sleep during the day. If I wasn't getting naps during the day our nights would be miserable again! So a big thank you to all of them. This whole experience is helping me to learn how to better take care of myself and ask for help! Asking for help is seriously difficult for me. I'm much better at offering help!

Josie is currently sleeping in my lap! We're due for another feeding, so I'm gonna run! I'll try to post more when I get the chance. Breast feeding, sleeping and eating come first, and in that order!

Loves!

Josephine Claire Gratteau

2009-05-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the beautiful baby girl today!

Bright eyed Josie yesterday!

We are so excited and pleased to announce arrival of the newest member of our family. . .

Josephine Claire Gratteau

Born Saturday May 16th at 8:04pm

7lbs. 12oz.

20 1/2 inches

Her birth was a very exciting and fast experience. I started labor at Robert's Luau Fundraiser, and Steve had been at the hospital to relieve Ashley for the day. I knew it was the real thing around 6:55. My mom drove me home from the luau, and I called the midwife as soon as we left. Steve was told to go straight home when they got ahold of him. He arrived about a minute before my mom and I did. Josephine arrived so quickly that she beat the midwife by about seven minutes and my mom ended up 'catching' her! It went well all things considered. I think it was nothing short of an 'act of God' that we made it home and Steve was there for his daughter's birth!

Belly Catch Up!

2009-05-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

So this first picture was taken on February 6th. It is in a draft on my posts somewhere! Figured I might as well share it now!! I was around 20-22 weeks or five months then. I remember thinking I looked so pregnant! Ha ha!

This picture was taken on Mother's Day, two days ago!

Now that is what I call really pregnant! I should take another picture in jeans, really makes the belly stand out! So this is what I call progress!

They think my little baby girl is at least 7lbs now. I think she is trying to pass up her sister and be 9lbs. 5+oz.!!! That will be fun!

No bare belly picture here! Mostly because of my heparin shots. They leave bruises on my belly! We're considering naming her Renesmee. What do you think??? Ok, ok totally joking on that one, but there has been the family joke that I just might be growing a baby vampire in there. Good thing I don't crave blood . . . gross! Had to share the funny side of my shots!

I feel like Humpty Dumpty! Not so much because of my shape, although I'm sure you see the resemblance. No, I feel like a egg sitting on a wall, about to fall off! Or maybe I'm already all cracked up, and all the kings horses and men are trying to put me back together again! Life is crazy madness and time is flying by! I can't believe I'm so close to giving birth to this little girl in my belly! I'm excited and want her to come right now and I'm feeling like I need more time! Well I'm going to go to bed now! Maybe, just maybe this is the beginning of some new posts! I am having to take it a little easy these days, so that may lend a little more blogging time! Who knows!

Dear Janelle,

2009-05-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to start by saying that you are fabulous and funny and I miss you! Ok, now that said I have to get this off my chest. I couldn't help but notice on your dashboard that Ashley and Roberts blog has 67 posts (and I'm pretty sure none of those are drafts) and a start date of February 10, 2009! As for myself I was created on March 24, 2008 and I have 65 posts (at least 8 of which are unpublished drafts). Hmmmm, just some food for thought!

I am not a jealous blog, as you said before I am patient and waiting--and better than a dog! Just wanted to be sure you noticed, and tell you that I've missed you! Hope to see you and some cute pictures soon!

Sincerely,

Your Blog

Dear Blog,

2009-04-09T14:41:00.001-07:00

Again I apologize for the lack of sharing. I have been galavanting around the countryside in the past few weeks. First Texas, and now I'm in Utah. We have been visiting Steve's brother Curt and his wife Emma, also his Grandma Aleen and his Aunt and Uncle. We have also been visiting two families of my Aunts and Uncles and cousins! I would just like to share that Byron asked me, "Mom, can we buy a farm like Severin's?" (They have chickens, ducks, a turkey and a horse on an acre of property! I'm sure he would like a couple of slides like Landon's to put on his farm too!)

The exciting news is the Steve is with us this trip! We have been having a good time, eating good food, hanging out with family and eating Neilsen's Custard in Bountiful! Yummy! I really do love to eat, I think that is probably obvious!

I really need to share that Karalee has posted our second auction to benefit our adorable bro-in-law, Robert Ashworth on her blog here! Please go and check it out! There are some really beautiful things on there! Some amazing people have generously shared their amazing talents! The auction will be open until next Wednesday!

Oh, and I am getting an enormous belly and growing very excited for this little girl's arrival! I'm really nesting too and hope she holds off until I get a couple of things done first!!!

I miss you adorable little blog, and hopefully I will actually follow up this post with real news and pics of our trip. I have a post started about Texas, does that help?

Well know that I miss and love you little blog, and I'm just so glad you are a blog, which is even better than a dog when it comes to unconditional love and patience. Thanks for waiting for me!

Love,

Janelle

How to control time!

2009-03-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

So I think I may have figured out how to control time! Well at least slow it down a little! Have one of your children get so sick that they need you to sit around and hold them, watch movies, snuggle them, drug them, feed them, let the house fall apart around you, and remember that you have been wanting an excuse to not feel like Jo-jo this past week.

Then just as your child has been diagnosed, medicated and is starting to feel better, get what she has and need to stay in bed for 2-3 days (at least as much as possible)! It will be the longest, slowest week of your life! Now in staying with my change of perspective I have tried very hard to enjoy motherhood, and not let the overwhelming amount of things I will have to do when I feel much better tomorrow get to me! I do well to remember that about 80% of the time! I have to say when I was feeling well myself it was nice to just snuggle on the couch, watch another Land Before Time and know that the house will get cleaned eventually (always does!) Being sick myself isn't nearly as much fun!

I've tried to appreciate the calm before the storm! And by storm I mean that the nesting need is kicking in! I have a query: why do we nest when we are in our third trimester and our energy is waning? I would really have like to nest in my second trimester when I still had some energy left! Such is life, and according to the little ticker I have 71 days to complete my tasks and projects before our little girl's arrival! So this is how you speed time up again! Working very hard and being very busy!

Then I will slow time again after the birth of this little girl, because that is what happens when caring for a newborn! I will enjoy just sitting and holding her, breast-feeding, napping and all the slower activities that come with a little one! The truth is I just know that time will take off with me again and fly ever faster! (Have you seen Taryn lately? She's huge and thinks she should do everything herself!) Yes time is a weird, strange little beast! I just hope all my little tricks keep working!

P.S. Now on to some posts I've been meaning to get to for awhile! Full of cute picture and funny stories! That is the only way I know to freeze time--take a picture and blog or journal about it! Then you can go back and enjoy that time, anytime!

The Perfect Pair

2009-03-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the Bible Story of Mary and Martha? I've often thought about that story and wondered, who should I be? Christ says Mary chose the better part, but someone has to cook and clean at my house (and that is definitely the more time consuming part!)

Well at our Relief Society Birthday Dinner on Tuesday I had the opportunity to see this story through a different lens, a different light! Martha was doing a needful thing, and she was serving Christ. Someone did need to make a meal for Christ and those who were with him. Mary needed to visit with Christ, she needed to be fed with his word. Where Martha went wrong in this story was by judging Mary and assuming that she was doing the better thing and Mary should be doing it with her. When I heard this version I realized that Christ didn't say that Martha was choosing the worse part. She was still being of service to Christ!

Another story was told. There was an older woman who lived alone in a ward back east. She became house bound and was unable to care for herself independently. The ward decided to help her so she could continue to live on her own, with a little assistance. Two women were assigned to help her. They would take turns going into her home every other week to help with cooking and cleaning tasks and attend to this woman's social needs. One woman was a go-getter. Her week the house would be left spotless and 6-8 meals left in the fridge and freezer. The other woman was a social, heart person. Not much cleaning and cooking happened her weeks, but the older woman was filled emotionally and spiritually at the end of their visits. Unfortunately these two sisters didn't see the big picture and understand that they were the perfect pair to provide service to this older woman. They complemented each other beautifully and yet the judgement started that the other woman wasn't doing what I am, and of course I am doing the right thing. They ended up being pulled from the assignment because of their problems and progress halted on the Lord's errand they were on!

In essence isn't the first woman Martha and the second Mary? Doesn't this offer such a beautiful view of the story of Mary and Martha. They were each doing their perfect part! Which are you?

For me I know that a lot of my life I am Martha, I believe most mothers can relate to this. I also know that I have my days and moments when I am Mary. When I am Martha my house gets cleaned, laundry done, bills paid and dinner is on the table for my husband when he gets home. For some beautiful thoughts on how being Martha feeds the Savior read this. When I am Mary I feed my soul, I read, I visit with family and friends (in person and on the phone) and I strengthen my relationships with family, friends and my Savior. So you see I am the perfect pair! Especially when I see myself and my life that way!

So the moral of the story is: don't judge. Not even yourself! See what you're accomplishing for what it really is! Love others, love yourself! And that is how we will find Joy in the the Journey!

Come On Over. . .

2009-03-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

Click on picture to enlarge

For a great way to save $$$

Stephanie Davis (from my ward) and I

Are hosting a Coupon Class

At my house!

Thursday March 19th

6:30pm

It has revolutionized the way that I grocery shop,

and I'm well on my way to having my 3 month food supply!

I took this class just 5 weeks ago!

I love grocery shopping, and better yet saving at least half on my bill!

So come on over and bring a friend, or two, or three!

Email me at jandsgratteau@yahoo.com for my address

or call me at 302-8509 for more info.

Hope to see you there!

Dear Blog,

2009-03-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

Oh how I miss you! But I am too busy having fun, catching up with family and being a super hero blogger for RobDob and Ashpants to pay you enough attention! I hope you will keep waiting for me as lovingly and patiently as ever while I eat Texas barbecue and ice cream cake.
Maybe I'll get back to you again tomorrow after the baptism and bbq with homemade potato salad, coleslaw and rootbeer. Or after taking a dip in the heated pool and soaking my tired legs in the hot tub.
I just wanted to thank you for keeping tabs on my pregnancy. I'm sure you noticed the second that little ticker dropped below 100 days!!! I sure did. I planned on dedicating a blog just to that subject, but like I said too busy having too much fun! Did you catch that? I have less than 100 days till I get to meet my beautiful baby girl!!! Ok, it still might be a little more than that, but who cares--the counter says its getting closer and I'm excited.
I love you little blog! Take care and I'll be back soon, I promise!

Love,
Janelle

Auction, Adventures & Airplanes!

2009-03-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

First and foremost let me announce an online auction to benefit Robert Ashworth here. If you haven't been there yet, check out RobDob and Ashpant's story here. Karalee Garber, our dear sister is hosting the auction on her blog and I would like to acknowledge all her work putting it together! We are fundraising for Robert's ongoing medical care as he fights leukemia for the second time! Check it out, there are some cute hand made items available! We were planning to close the auction tomorrow night. We may keep it open a little longer to allow for more bids!

About those adventures we've been having in the Gratteau Family! Well this past week we have had the exciting opportunity to hang with these awesome people . . .

Eric, Alison and Lynne Crabb.

Lynne is Steve's sister and they flew out to visit us from Pulaski, Tennessee (which is about 45 min. south of Nashville). We had a lot of fun just hanging out with them and going to the park on Monday and Tuesday!

With the help of Taryn's sunglasses Byron turned Alison into a Rock Star! Both my children loved having Alison around. She was so cute, and so much fun!

Taryn would hug and kiss Alison until she cried or yelled. Then we knew she had been loved enough!

I thought this picture of Byron and Alison was so cute. He had so much fun showing her everything. He wanted to offer her every kind of food we ate too, but pretty soon he would say, "she can't eat this because she only has one tooth!" I can tell already that Byron and Taryn will really loving having a baby around in June.

On Wednesday we hung out at the zoo. The amazing 3 acre Las Vegas Zoo, definitely picking up on a little sarcasm here. There are two lions, a cougar, an alligator a chimpanzee, goats and lots and lots of chickens, pigeons and a few peacocks. I had heard Las Vegas had a zoo, but we had never been. It is not an amazing zoo, but it was a fun, cheap activity and all the kiddos had a blast feeding the birds.

Uncle Eric and Byron feeding the goats in the petting zoo.

Taryn and Byron feeding the peacock, chickens and pigeons!

While Alison eagerly looked on. I'm sure she was wishing she could join in the fun!

Thursday we went to the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay! It is a great aquarium. I think Byron enjoyed it the most!

He listened about every species on my wand and would then turn to me and give me the recap. Here I think he is telling me that, "starfish can grow to a trem-trem-tremendous size mom!" He was so excited and enthusiastic about everything.

And when your down on the strip you have to go to see the fountains at the Bellagio!

Our family in front of the Bellagio, waiting of the next water show to start!

Friday we took the Red Rocks loop for a fun drive and stopped to hike the Lost Springs trail. At this time of year they have a great little waterfall. It was really fun! A trip to Luv-It Custard that night rounded out our fun!

As for the airplanes! Well on Tuesday this week Byron, Taryn and I flew out to Houston, TX (where we are now)! We came out to visit the Bakers and celebrate Shayla's 8th birthday and baptism on Saturday. We are loving catching up with all our family!

Change of Perspective

2009-02-13T22:06:00.000-08:00

So I've been thinking a lot this past week, about a lot of things. I was feeling a little stressed, weighed down and really busy. Then a week ago I heard the news about Robert and everything changed. Why? Because my perspective changed. Suddenly the things that had seemed hard and heavy in my life didn't look like such a big deal anymore, because my husband wasn't in the hospital fighting for life! One of my favorite talks from conference this past October was Pres. Monson's talk titled Finding Joy in the Journey. My favorite quote from that talk is:

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

I've been thinking about this quote for months now. The different meanings it has and how exactly to apply it to my life. The application has been the tricky part, because it is not something that I do. No it has to be applied to thought and emotion. I have realized this past week that this quote is simply talking about my perspective. How I choose to perceive things. Do I see life as hard? Or do I see life as Joyful? I has to be applied to my thinking, the way I see things!

I taught my laurels a lesson on Finding Joy Now this past Sunday. It was so interesting teaching it only two days after Robert going back into the hospital. I realized that no matter what our circumstances this quote is still true. Robert and Ashley are such an amazing example of finding the joy in their experiences. They laugh at the funny things Robert says when he is 'high' on pain meds, or revel in the love and support from family and friends. We really can always choose to see the joy and good in each situation in our life.

So for me, suddenly this week I felt lighter. Nothing changed. I still have the same to do list I did a week ago, in fact it is growing with fundraising things to do too! I still have the same challenges and busyness in my life. It just all looks so different to me. I've learned a little more deeply and clearly what it means to tend the secret garden of abundance in my life. I think abundance might really be rose colored glasses, of sorts anyway! And for that I am grateful!

Sheer Blogger Genius . . .

2009-02-10T23:15:00.000-08:00

Occurs for me in the middle of the night. I'm awakened by a painful kick to my bladder, as the little girl in-utero politely requests more room. I drag my sleepy body out of bed and head for the bathroom. As I lay back down to drift off to the bliss of dreamland, I am excessively thanked for the new room with acrobatic adventures by the afore mentioned, little girl in-utero. Now, I'm grateful that she has not yet reached the pinnacle of her strength, when she will surely awaken me from a dead sleep with her karate moves. But her active somersaults and jumping jacks have just enough power to prevent me from slipping into the desired bliss of dreamland.

So instead, as I encourage the madness in my belly by playfully pushing back, to which she responds with more kicking and pushing; my mind wanders to blogging and my next fabulous post. The problem is that generally speaking I conjure up the perfect words and most hilarious funny only to give in to the blissful dreamland. There my blogging posts become my dreams and fairyland, only to be forgotten in the fog of the alarm clock and the morning. It is bittersweet, as I remember that I had such a perfect idea that led to such a wonderful dream and now it is lost! Even if I can remember the meat of the post, gone are the fabulous side dishes of perfect words and the dessert of the most hilarious funny!

Well last night I said, "Enough is enough! Self, get out of bed and write this one down! It is perfection!" And so I did! Now I'm sure this is where you think I add in that perfect post, but alas all you shall get is a link. Because you see, Robert is back in the hospital fighting leukemia again, with Ashley at his side and Karalee and I are going to blog on their behalf. So the perfect post I conjured up at 1:00 a.m. last night wasn't even for my blog, but if you would like to read it you may go here.

And please visit their blog again, often, because we are beginning fundraising efforts very soon as Robert's first round with leukemia nearly wiped out his insurance policy. And of course we always request prayers! Besides, if you are lucky you just might score some more sheer blogging genius from the middle of the night!

25 Random Things About Me!

2009-02-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

So about 6 months ago I was tagged by Crystal to do a blog post with 6 random things about me! I did this after being tagged by 3 people on Facebook and figured I would let it count for double!

1. I considered not doing this, but I feel like a challenge!
2. I can't think of anything to write now, but I thought of lots of things while I was folding my laundry!
3. I think Steve is the bees knees! And I love being married to him!
4. I'm pretty sure that I have the two funniest children alive. There is never a dull moment at our house!
5. I've ridden an ostrich, but not very well!
6. Blue has always been my favorite color, but I currently think that yellow is rather cheery--not a color that I've ever worn though, don't think that it looks good on me!
7. I come from a family of 7 kids (6 girls, 1 boy), and I would like a family of six kids (guess that would make us a family of eight!) I have yet to convince Steve that six is a good idea. He currently holds the number at four. We're cooking #3 so we have time yet!
8. I love adventure, especially when I feel totally out of my element for the first little bit--it always turns out fun and I love having a new experience under my belt. I have to admit that has changed some since I've had children. Not so fun to be out of your element and feel responsible for others at the same time.
9. I'm terrible at lying, but I can embellish the truth with ease at times!
10. One of my favorite adventures was travelling to Australia with Steve. We had no idea where we were staying when we got there! There was also scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef and skydiving in Harvey Bay!
11. I was crushed that the only BLIZZARD to occur in the 7 years I lived in Denver happened while I was in Australia! I would love to live in a snowy place again, and get snowed in to my house for a few days!
12. My first big adventure was travelling to visit my grandparents in South Africa on their mission. We got to see Victoria Falls, and drove the garden route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town. Flying overseas for 14.5 hours ALONE was a big adventure when I was 18! (That is where I rode the ostrich!)
13. Like my dear friend Lori, I too wonder if blogs and FB connect or disconnect us?
14. I love food! Especially when someone else makes it and cleans up. Ok, that is only true when I"m not pregnant (the clean up part is ALWAYS true). I love to cook and bake, as well.
15. Some of my favorites are sushi, orange chicken, tamales, salads, homemade cookies, 5 flavor cake, and pretty much any flavor of ice cream!
16. I still get sad sometimes when I go down the ice cream aisle that Dreyer's quit making Dreamery Black Raspberry Avalanche (and I'm pretty sure it has been at least two years!)
17. I wonder what my children will be when they grow up! Which causes me to wonder if my parenting is always up to the challenge!
18. I love words and defenitions, but I don't use a large enough vocabulary on a daily basis. I should work on that!
19. Someday I'm going to rock climb and snow board again, when I'm not pregnant and the weather for both is good. The problem has been these event occuring simultaneously. You don't rock climb in the summer in Vegas! Or snowboard anywhere then either!
20. I would really like to know what the appeal for eating toilet paper and tissues is for Taryn. The chalk and rocks with Byron I understood a little better. I can remember thinking that they tasted good as a kid too! Did you ever lick a rock so it would smell like it just rained? Or was that just me? Paper products I just don't get!
21. I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka. Mormon. I also love having friends of other religions--religion is fascinating!
22. I love folding laundry, but don't really care for the part where I have to put it all away!
23. Netflix has made it fun to check the mail again!
24. Homemade Italian Cream Sodas are my favorite treat right now. And sweettart hearts!
25. Being a mom is the biggest adventure of all. I feel totally out of my element at least once a month! It is in those moments that I should remember I have a strange fondess for the experience!

Just Call Me Jo-Jo!

2009-02-05T17:26:00.001-08:00

Jo-jo is the affectionate nickname I have for myself when I bounce all over the place, rather chaotically. Lucky for me J0-jo worked for me today! I think I originally got the nickname from a Saturday Night Live skit with Jo-jo the Idiot Circus Boy! I just changed out boy for girl and it works for me! This is the personality of mine that presented herself today. (Bet you didn't know I had more than one personality!) I bounced around my home rather chaotically and magically things still got done. I was upstairs enough to collect laundry, and downstairs enough to keep it running through! I cleaned most of my kitchen, only to reappear in there to find cold soapy water to clean my fridge out, warmed it up! Job done! My closet is almost clean (I'm really hoping Steve lets me get rid of a bunch of his stuff that he never wears anymore!) And my kitchen has been clean all day between meals! I'm getting ready to make dinner right now! I even managed to vacuum my kitchen floor with Taryn's help!

With all the bouncing, chaos and accomplishment I had to sneak in a nap--even my nap felt like I bounced in and out of sleep. You know when you wake up wondering if you ever really fell asleep in the first place?

Most of my Jo-jo days I just have to laugh, so I don't cry because I bounce (now when I say bounce I don't really mean skipping, joyful bounce. No, it is more like the ball in a pinball machine!) through my day and don't see any results at the end of it! Then I just say to myself, "Self! (Because thats what I call myself back home) It will be better tomorrow!" I wouldn't even mind if Jo-jo came back tomorrow, as long as she finishes everything she started today!

Somehow in all of my chaos, my children even picked up on the fact that 'things are happening around here today'! So they pitched in and helped! Here are some pics to liven this post up a bit! Loves!

Taryn cleaned the washer while I cleaned the fridge!

Byron picked up all his dirty clothes and took the sheets off the bed for laundry day!

And this is just one to make you laugh! I don't think Byron had figured this out yet at 18 months, but she does it every time she finds the q-tips!

Two Tales of Taryn!

2009-01-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

So Taryn was particularly funny this past Sunday morning! She has decided that she loves showering, even more than baths! So when I hopped in the shower before church, she just had to join me! I've learned my lesson with Taryn and cleaning up the floor, so I told Taryn to go get a diaper out of her bedroom. She stayed in the bathroom, so I just watched her for a minute as I was brushing my hair and getting ready. She went straight to the cupboard under Steve's sink, pulled out the bag of maxi pads, got one out and unwrapped it! She then proceeded to try to diaper herself with it! She looked so puzzled when it just fell to the floor when she let go of it. She picked it up and tried again at least three times. After laughing hysterically in my closet, I finally slipped off to her bedroom to collect a diaper, dress, tights and shoes!

While putting on my makeup I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Taryn was attempting to put on Byron's underwear. Over her tights and dress shoes! I had the thought, "Ewww, I think those are Byron's dirty underwear that he took off when he took his bath. I should really take those away from her!" Alas, time won out! I was in a hurry, I was singing in the choir for ward conference and had a practice 30 minutes before church started! Beauty above all else I say! Besides, she wasn't having any luck getting those whitey tighteys over her shoes anyway!

I told Steve to load the kids up in the car while I grabbed a couple food items for the diaper bag (a necessity to get through 1:00 sacrament meeting, as anyone knows!) When I walk up to the truck I hear Steve say, "well this is very interesting! I'm glad I saw these now, and the nursery teachers didn't find them later!" Of course I had to look into the backseat for confirmation, but sure enough there were Byron's whitey tighteys around the middle of Taryn's thighs being held firmly in place by her very own tights! That is, until daddy so timely noticed them while buckling her in to her car seat and removed them! We just looked at each other and cracked up! Apparently Taryn has developed dressing skills I didn't know that she had on Saturday! I've always known she was that persistent! Maybe next time 'appropriate outerwear' will fall into my 'beauty' category, and therefore be bumped up into the 'important: demands your immediate attention!' category. In the meantime laugh with me at the hilarity that is raising children! Taryn in particular this time!

Just Wondering . . .

2009-01-25T00:37:00.000-08:00

Why the little baby counter I got on the side counts the time that has passed in weeks, and the time to go in days!!! Does this seem unfair to anyone else? I would like it to say, "MORE THAN HALF WAY THERE! WAY TO GO!" or "144 days down, only 19 weeks 3 days to go!' That sounds so much more impressive, doesn't it! Loves!

The Great News!

2009-01-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

The GREAT news is . . . (drumroll please)

We are having a baby . . .

GIRL!!!

Can you believe it? I have to admit I was a little surprised myself! So was Steve! Apparently if I have strong feelings that we are having a child of one sex, I should go against my gut instinct and tell everyone I think it is the opposite! I was sure Byron was a girl, and sure my girls were boys! Go figure!

This pregnancy has felt much more like my pregnancy with Byron than my pregnancy with Taryn! The nausea, but no throwing up, break-outs--I'm talking Pizza Face here! (When I got pregnant with Byron I was pretty sure that whoever said pregnant women glowed was full of shiiiicken, I mean chicken! We curse animals around our house instead of four letter words, mostly cows and chickens. Try it--it is fun, breaks up the tension a bit because saying "what the cow?" or "holy chicken!" is funny!)

I have gotten a strange side effect during each of my pregnancies too. When I was pregnant with Byron the hair on my legs stopped growing in patches and really slowed down. A beautiful thing for the shaving American woman! While pregnant with Taryn the grease producing glands on my gourd slowed down significantly, allowing me to go 4-5 days without washing my hair if I wished! Both awesome side-effects. I haven't figured out what estrogen induced side effect it will be for this little girl though, since neither of the afore mentioned side effects has returned! I would prefer the hair one this time, since she is due in June and I won't shave as much until summer anyway!

So there you have it folks! We are having a girl, and more information on my pregnancies than you ever wanted! Awesome!

Ok, everyone wants to know . . . what does Byron think about this??? Well, as I was showing him and Steve the first 8 of the 9 pictures I brought home I snuck in a couple, "here is her hand. This is a picture of her face, can you see her mouth open in this one?" Byron caught on, "did you say this baby is a girl?" I showed him the crotch shot at the end and said, "yes, this baby is a little sister."

"But I said this baby was a brother. I want it to be a boy."

"Do you see anything between her legs?"

"No."

"That makes her a girl."

Big sigh!!! "Ohhh."

Dad asked him, "are you okay?"

"No, I am a little sad!"

I'm a mean mom, and I made him tell his Baker cousins what we were having. In a monotone voice, just above a whisper he said, "I'm having a sister." (Little sigh.) Didn't say goodbye, I love you, nothing. Just handed me back the phone and went upstairs. They thought that was kind of funny!

We decided to go out to dinner to celebrate! Byron picked In-N-Out for dinner, so we got to hang out with Aunt Brittany since she was working last night! Then I picked Dairy Queen for dessert--what pregnant woman doesn't want a cherry dipped cone? Ahhhh, delicious! (Thanks Jenna for reminding me how amazing those are!) Then we went to our favorite little spot by the airport to watch the airplanes land! Just when we had given up 9 planes lined up to land! Always a fun family night!

On the way home I asked Byron if he was excited about having a baby sister. He replied, "Yes, but still just a little bit sad!"

"Well you have to help us come up with a name for this baby girl." (A boy's name was in the bag--girl? We've got nothing! That we agree on anyway!) Byron got a bit more enthusiastic at the idea of naming his baby sister.

"I know!" He shouts, "we can name her Cord!"

I grinned at him and asked, "isn't a cord what you use to plug in the vacuum or the toaster?"

He stuck to his guns and said, "I think Cord is a beautiful name too!"

We'll keep you posted on his other creative ideas. He was sure we should name his little brother Byron Gratteau Bradley. That would be different from his name because the middle name came after the last name! He is pretty funny that one!

So that was our Great News!!! Now if you would like the news scroll down.

P.S. So I finished this post yesterday and thought I would add a couple of the ultrasound pictures, like the cute one with her mouth open! Alas, I'm having scanning issues! So here it is anyway. Besides, she doesn't really want a crotch shot on here forever! She told me herself--modest already! What can I say?

P.P.S. Byron still wants to name her Cord today, although he is considering Zelda as an option now too! Then we could name the brother who is coming next Link (you guessed it. . . just like on his and daddy's video game!)

The News!

2009-01-21T15:21:00.000-08:00

So I've started receiving a few emails and facebook messages of concerned folks wondering what has happened to me? Sorry for the extended absence! I'm doing very well, and as you saw above so is the baby! Now to update you here is what you missed!

The Wednesday after Thanksgiving Dr. Roberts office called. I had done lab work the week before and my results had come in. They had me come down to the office that day! Never a great sign. One of the things they tested for was Factor V Leiden, a clotting issue that my Grandma Bev discovered she had last year. They informed her that it was hereditary and can cause problems with pregnancy so all her daughters and granddaughters should get tested. Well I'm positive for it. Because you already clot more when you are pregnant (to help with the not bleeding to death during childbirth), having factor v just compounds the clotting and can cause me to throw a clot or cause a clot to form in the placenta or umbilical cord, resulting in miscarriage. The solution to this is to do heparin (a blood thinner) injections twice a day. I've gotten to the point where I prefer to give them to myself, although Steve is always willing when I need him to. The injections are given in an insulin syringe with a very tiny needle. In the moments, at the beginning ,when I felt bad for myself I just thought of my dear friend who has diabetes and the fact that he gives himself 6+ shots a day! Two--piece of cake!

The rest of the time between then and now looked something like this:

1 week researching Factor V Leiden

1 week spent finding out that my insurance wouldn't cover enough of the Lovenox (the better, newer option to heparin) for me to use it, then research heparin (because of a recall of contaminated heparin from China), finally to fill my prescription at one of the two pharmacies in town who still had it!

1 week to help help install and paint baseboards! They are gorgeous, my brother-in-law Todd is my current BFF!

Shop for Christmas and get ready to have Steve's parents visit us!

Taryn and Grandma!

Taryn and grandpa!

Christmas festivities!

New Year's Festivities!

1-2 weeks to recover from said festivities!

Do more clotting blood work--aka thrombophilia panel (they took 34 little vials of blood!!)

1 weekend to recover from said blood work!

1 week to catch up on reading all my favorite blogs!

(Is that the right amount of weeks yet?)

1 week to vacuum/mop my floor! (Just in case I need another week, and sadly it's true, although I think I get other stuff done too! I'm just happy to clean my own floor, thanks to the amazing vacuum mop my mom helped me locate, so I can clean the floor and still follow doctor's orders to 'not over-do it!') Does it take anyone else 1 week to clean their floor?

Now I'm finally posting again! And it is good to be back. Maybe, just maybe this trend can hold up and I'll even post some pictures! Who knows!

Daddy's Girl

2008-12-05T23:27:00.001-08:00

Byron's Birthday Bash!

2008-12-03T13:02:00.001-08:00

Byron here to tell you all about my amazing birthday!

For starters I was the boss of all the other kids for the whole day! It was after all my birthday, and I let the kids know that is the way it works on your birthday. I was a little embarrassed when my Aunt Lara overheard me filling the kids in! That is confidential 'kid information' after all!

Anyway, I had a DINOSAUR party!

It was pretty much the coolest party ever! My mom and dad got me a dinosaur bounce house for the whole day (even the day before for Thanksgiving) just for my birthday! When my friends arrived we decorated our treat bags and jumped in the bounce house for a long time! It was pretty rockin'! I took full advantage of the bounce house time to shoot the girls, and then they tickled me!? I thought people usually die when you shoot them. Pretend bullets have a strange effect on 5 year old girls! What is that all about? Sorry, I digress!

Here is a picture of my awesome Triceratops Bounce House!

I totally loved every minute of it!

My mom is a genius! This may just look like a pool full of shredded paper, but it is actually a 'dinosaur dig'! Buried inside was candy, dinosaurs, cars, army men and paratrooper guys! It was so awesome. My mom had to help the little kids.

The big kids were so fast though! We got lots of stuff (and paper) in our bags!

I had a moment when I nearly lost my nugget because Jack got the color of paratrooper I wanted, but I found another one 'with a little help from my friends'! So my nugget stayed in tact, mom said that was a good thing since I was the birthday boy!

Poor, cute, little Taryn! She thought the object of the game was to take the paper out of the pool! She didn't get very much candy, so I shared with her at home!

Present time! I really got into it! My friends rock! I got some awesome gifts! Hotwheels, legos, superhero walkie-talkies! So cool!

Jack and Severin were my faithful gift-unwrapping sidekicks!

My Aunt Brittany and her team of cake decorators made me the most amazing dinosaur cake ever! It had an erupting volcano, flying pterodactyl and everything!

The dinosaur carnage was my favorite part of the cake! T-Rex totally got the brontosaurus! He's dead for sure! I mean, look at the blood! No dinosaur bleeds that much and lives!

Dallin is my hero for coming up with the dinosaur carnage and death!!!

Then I blew out my candles of course, and made a wish! I can't tell you what my wish is, or you'd have to end up like the brontosaurus! Ha ha! I'm just kidding, if I told you my wish it wouldn't come true!!

Jessica, Kaia, Abby and Tyler eating birthday cake! We're missing Evelyn because she took her cake 'to go'!

Maurin and Chloe with their grub!

And me of course with my sidekicks Jack and Severin eating our goods! Don't worry about my boys, I took a turn being the sidekick on Saturday!

I put this picture in because mom said I had to! Ok, and I do think my sister is pretty stinkin' cute! I love to squeeze and tickle her! So here's my shout out to my one true homegirl!

To conclude my picture adventure I though I would throw this one in, so you knew what my dad was doing during my party! That's right, playing Rock Band! He does a pretty good jam on the guitar! Someday I'll be that good! Oh, and mom said he 'supervised' the dinosaur dig! Whatever that means.

And last but not least, here is Taryn, my mom and me! Aren't we cute? Ok, I'm a bit of a cheese. I was just so excited about my fabulous day! Birthday parties are killer sweet dude!

Thanksgiving!

2008-12-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

I love Thanksgiving, it competes closely with Christmas for my favorite holiday! I love the food, the family, visiting and relaxing! We had a great Thanksgiving this year. My Squires Grandparents, and Aunt Marie and her 10 beautiful, fun children joined us. All in all with the missionaries my mom fed 39 people on Thursday. Grandpa Jack told me my mom is "an amazing lady" last night, and I just have to whole heartedly agree! I really enjoyed having so much family around! We hung out the whole weekend, it was great.

Here are some random pictures of all the fun! There are a lot of pictures! Enjoy! They are in no particular order. Oddly enough I don't have any pictures of food! Too bad, as usual it was amazing!

Taryn and Ava checking each other out on Nonni's lap. Ava is my cousin Mandy's little girl. These two aren't always sure what to think of each other. They are pretty funny!

Oh the intensity of Rock Band! We jammed all night! Always entertaining, especially when the little kids get into it!

Cute cousins! Mandy, Brittany, Emma, Eden and Elyssa.

I always love the Thanksgiving 'sleeping' pictures! Isn't he scrumptious when he sleeps? Sounds like I'm talking about about one of my children! Ha ha!

The Ashworth version. Didn't even flinch when I took this!

A raucous game of ping pong! Todd is crazy and competitive!

So is Jarrod, Mandy's husband.

This one just had to make the cut. 'Nuff said!

Taryn checking out Grandma Jean. Decided she was A-0k, and hung out with her for a bit!

This may be my favorite picture of the day! The smokin' hot ladies in the kitchen making all the goodness happen! I'm just bummed my mom walked out of the shot before I took this!

Funny cousins! Hamming it up for the camera are Clayton and Brittany!

Uncle Mike, Dad and Grandpa Jack. The OG Squires men! Good looking to boot!

Fun in the bounce house! Maurin, Byron and Tyler.

Byron LOVED the bounce house!

Maurin's crazy action shot!

Taryn adopted Liberty for the weekend! She glued herself to Lib as often as possible. Sometimes we had to force Taryn to hang with someone else and give a girl a break! They were too cute!

I am grateful for FAMILY, FUN, AND FOOD!

Miracles Happen Every Day!

2008-11-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

Some are just bigger than others! And yesterday brought a huge miracle for our family. Our little baby is doing just fine. I got to check the little bugger out at Dr. Roberts office, for about 30 minutes with Julie, the ultrasound specialist! What a cute and spunky little fetus! And oh the RELIEF I felt when I saw him and that blessed heart beat!

Dr. Roberts now has a very dear place in my heart. He does do some deliveries, of very high risk pregnancies. You could tell he has seen a lot in the years he has practiced! He was very kind and informative, one of those doctors that makes you feel like you are the only patient he has to see that day! Loved him!

So the news is that there is a blood clot between my uterus and placenta. Dr. Roberts thinks that I must have had a placental abruption (meaning that the placenta tore away from the uterus wall), that may have pooled blood. Causing all the fear and concern on Friday. The good news about it being a clot is that means it is healing now! He anticipates the clot healing completely within 4-8 weeks. I am not considered high risk at all and he sees no reason that I can't go forward with my plans to deliver at home with a midwife. Yeah!

I am still under orders to 'take it easy' which means: rest a lot, don't over exert yourself, and don't lift anything over 10 pounds. That is hard to remember when Taryn falls and bumps her head. I'm doing my best to sit on the floor and comfort her in my lap. Taking it easy goes against my grain! It is not my personality, but I'll do anything for the cute little bugger to show up safely in June!

Hopefully Taryn will guest post again soon and lighten the mood of our little blog! Byron saw this picture and really could see the nose, eyes, mouth this time! Even the hand I told him had been waving on the screen, but he couldn't quite figure out how that little blob at the end of the baby was really the foot, when it doesn't look like it is attached to the baby's body! Then he said, "did you find out if it is a boy mom?"

I told him it was still to early to tell. Then I said, "do you think it is a sister this time?"

Byron replied, "I hope not, because I have been waiting for a brother for YEARS!"

Home Again!

2008-11-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

This is the second Sunday in a row that I have had to ready the children and send them off to church with Steve. The second Sunday I have had to call and say, "sorry, I won't be making it to church tomorrow. Can someone else please teach?" The second weekend in a row that I am spotting! It started Friday night this time and was much heavier. Has slowed to nearly stopping again. I haven't miscarried yet, and so tomorrow morning I will call Margie, who will call Dr. Roberts (an OBGYN who specializes in high risk pregnancies). We are hoping that he can figure out why I am threatening to miscarry after the 'safe' date of three months pregnant. Most women are totally out of the woods then, and it feels like that is when the trouble begins for me. I share to asks for prayers! We are still counting on a miracle!

Not to worry. We are still full of faith and hope to see this child arrive.

swinging the world by the tail

For Grandma...

Lullabies & Love

Is Big Brother Watching You?

Me, Myself, and Janelle!

What's in a name?

The Whole Hairy Story!

The Dino-Whore Park!!!

California Dreamin'

What a mug!

The need to ramble...

Mr. Funnyman

My Heroes!

For Steve...

Workin' It!

Enough is enough! **Taryn STEALTH Mode**

Cookbook for a Cause

Sweet Sisters

A Talk on Prayer and Faith ~ Re-post

Peace & Quiet

Josephine Claire Gratteau

Belly Catch Up!

Dear Janelle,

Dear Blog,

How to control time!

The Perfect Pair

Come On Over. . .

Dear Blog,

Auction, Adventures & Airplanes!

Change of Perspective

Sheer Blogger Genius . . .

25 Random Things About Me!

Just Call Me Jo-Jo!

Two Tales of Taryn!

Just Wondering . . .

The Great News!

The News!

Daddy's Girl

Byron's Birthday Bash!

Thanksgiving!

Miracles Happen Every Day!

Home Again!

Enough is enough! Taryn STEALTH Mode