Mystery Solved!

Within two days of the last nap time escape Taryn was opening pretty much every door in the house! Luckily the locks on the pantry and office doors are still there, so she can't raid the food or splash in the dog water on a whim (and occasionally eat dog food, ewww!) Since we don't lock Lucky up during meal times, Taryn still feeds her on a whim, but that's another story!

Maybe I owe Lucky an apology for assessing door opening blame too hastily? I'm sure she's already over it! She's a dog!!! 

Well on Wednesday night things got really interesting. Taryn is cutting in all four molars at the SAME time! Needless to say she wakes up in the middle of the night in discomfort (pretty much every night this week). Do molars know that the best time to push through the next painful little tooth bump should be between the hours of 3-5a.m.? Are all four of her teeth in cahoots to cause as many sleepless nights as possible in the process? Or is there plan to drag it out as long as possible? I'm onto you molars!

PROBLEM: Taryn wandering around our downstairs crying, LOUDLY! And saying, "Mommy, mommy, MOMMY!?!" Why is this a problem? It was 4:30a.m. and dark! I have a monitor in her room, so the only thing I can figure is that she happily and quietly left her bedroom! Then out of routine turned herself around and slid downstairs, only to find it void of any life! SCARY! When you are 14 months old. When I came to, saw her open door, scanned her room and finally figured out that the crying was downstairs; I found her in the front room halfway to the front door! SCARY! When your the mommy!

SOLUTION:

This little diddy was created on the spot with the only bungee I could find without going out to the garage, hence the hanger to finish off the job! I thought we might use it just to keep her in while she falls asleep, but you better believe it was on her door ALL NIGHT last night! Dad took it off in the morning so she could open her door when she woke up! I need to know I'll find her where I left her in the middle of the night!

SAFETY first you know!

TOP THREE!

So here are our top three fun activities of the weekend! We usually don't get weekends packed with so much fun! But this one sure was!

3. The Gilcrease Orchards. I didn't believe that an orchard could exist in the lush, green city of Las Vegas, but alas it is true! They even have a vegetable garden and a pumpkin patch (unfortunately that didn't open until Oct. 1st).

Taryn on Steve's back, Byron and me walking down the empty apple aisle!

Byron couldn't believe so many pears grew on one tree!

Taryn wanted to get a pear out of my bag to eat right now!

Hunting under all the huge leaves for zucchini.

"Can you believe how big this zucchini is mom?"

We had a lot of fun at the orchards with the Garber family! We should go earlier in the year next summer. I guess the peaches are ready for picking in July. And that means that we should go earlier in the day too! Saturday was a warm day for September.

2. Mater. From the movie "Cars". We had the joyous, exciting, amazing opportunity to see him at the Henderson Auto Show! Byron said, "See mom, I told you he was real!" And he was impressive. I have to give some love to whoever restored this truck to it's original 'Mater Glory'. You made our day! My personal favorite was a delicious funnel cake. The boys go to the car show for the cars, I go for the food!

Byron with the world's most beloved tow truck!

1. A visit from Grandma Kathy and swimming with her at the Bellagio pool! Byron summed it up in one word, "Awesome!" Taryn had a great time too, she loved 'jumping' in the pool while holding on to my thumbs, then she would turn right around and climb up the steps to do it all over again! She did it at least 25 times! It was so much fun to see Grandma and visit with her!

The 'wave' from Byron, Steve, and Grandma Kathy is holding Taryn!

Another shot, we thought Taryn deserved to show her cute little mug!

The shade helped this time!

I have no idea what Byron is doing, but thought this picture was very funny!

Taryn loved Grandma's visor and her friend Bonnie's hat too!

We are so happy that Grandma came for a visit, and even happier that it won't be long before we get to see her again! Grandma & Grandpa are coming out for Christmas! 

Who Let the Taryn Out? Who? Who? Who?

I love those dimples!

So I hope you heard the music in your head! Evelyn is over for the day, and she has been singing it ever since I did. This may be a fact about me that you do not, or may never want to know (at least not in person) about me. I make up random, silly songs about my children, or anything really to popular, or not so popular tunes! The song of today's title being of course "Who Let the Dogs Out?" So what led to my query you may ask.

We arrived home from the water park at 12:30. Ate a delicious lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches (gouda on home made bread, I might be bragging here) and grapes. Taryn was tucked into her bed at 1:15. I came down stairs, ignored the two cuties in the front room and finished my sandwich while reading some blogs. To my utter astonishment at 1:32 I hear Taryn laughing. Byron and Evelyn are still playing happily in the front room. Lucky is upstairs. Taryn is getting ready to head down the stairs when I get to her! Still giggling every time Lucky licks her face. 

She sees me coming and makes a mad dash to my room to get away. I make chase, more peals of laughter follow! When she is caught and tickled until breathless I scoop her up and head back to her room. On the way I make a quick stop to peer downstairs into the front room.

Mom: "Who opened Taryn's door?"

Byron: "I didn't do it." This line is well used.

Evelyn: "I didn't." (With a genuinely confused look on her face).

Then the singing/rapping begins. "Who let the Taryn out? Who, who, who?" And Taryn dances. I admit my curiosity is still piqued. Taryn can reach her door handle, but was unable to pull it down enough to unlatch her door when I just tested her. Besides I think that she would just keep shutting it, rather than understand to pull it in to her room.

We have had a sneaking suspicion for awhile now that our dog can open doors. Did Lucky take pity on the poor Taryn who was knocking on her door and yelling for rescue? I never saw Byron or Evelyn leave the front room (although they did not have my undivided attention). So can Lucky open doors? We have never caught her in the act. But I swear doors are open when I get home that I shut before I left. I have even taken to locking my bedroom door when I leave, because Lucky loves my bed. My bed is OFF LIMITS! So where was the dog hair coming from? Afternoon snoozes alone?

A true mystery!

Taryn can reach the door handle!?! She is getting so big!

These two are the best of friends. 

Taryn loves Lucky!

Lucky tickles Taryn with kisses. Can you hear her giggles?

Self Esteem!

On the way to church this morning:

Mom: "Byron what is your line for the primary program?"

Byron: "Uh, . . . Heavenly Father loves me!"

Mom: "Yes he does. But remember your line goes, 'I am thankful to be a beloved child of Heavenly Father.'"

Byron: "Oh yeah, the program. I had pizza at my practice the other night. What night was that?"

Mom: "It was Friday night." (Byron desperately wants to know every day of the week by name.) "Will you tell me your part now? You know it. You got tired of me asking you to repeat it this week."

Byron: "I am thankful to be a beloved child of Heavenly Father."

Mom: "Will you say it again?" (Byron repeats it two more times).

We arrive at church and duck into the bathroom to tuck in Byron's shirt and wet down his hair, dad forgot before he loaded the kids in the car. Byron walks up to his seat on the front row. After the sacrament he takes his seat right behind the wood stand to the left of the podium. His first move of the day, licking the top of the wood stand in front of him! He ate his tie. Made faces at one of Steve's deacon that he knows on the second row in the audience, and polished the wood his finger that he kept wetting down. It was entertaining to say the least. That said, he also sang way more words to the songs than I realized he knew, and the other half of the time he was pretty reverent. Then the time came for the CTR 4 class to go to the microphone and say their parts. Byron was closest and was to give his part first. So he waited at the microphone. When he was told it was his turn he turned and looked at audience for 20-30 seconds. Right before the primary president was about to give him a cue. . . 

Byron: (with all the confidence in the world) "Heavenly Father loves me because I am good."

So there it is, a beautiful example of pure, fresh, not yet crushed by the world SELF ESTEEM! Confidence at its best! I just love that little guy! Steve and I cracked up after he said his part. Steve leaned over and said, "where did he get that line from?" Only heaven knows that adorable boy's brain! 

Floods & High-waters!

FLOODS!!!

HIGH-WATERS!!!

(Not to mention he's worn the knees out!)

How does this happen? They fit one week and don't the next? Sad and happy all at the same time! My babies are growing up! My babies are growing up? The mixed-up emotions of a mother! I would consider developing a growth-stunting kool-aid concoction, but alas I don't want my son to be called a shrimp in 5th grade!

MY BABIES ARE GROWING UP!