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My Sweet Sour Day!

Taryn here! Reporting to you live on my Wednesday activities!

I had one sweet day with my sour lemon friend. 

And I do mean BFF!

Seriously, we kicked it together all day!

It all started as I watched my dad get out the Bosch and juice his lemons for the day. He is doing some crazy lemonade cleanse or something!?! 

Dad's juicing contraption!

Anyway, I watched him and thought to myself, "I could totally do that just like dad!" So I went to the Bosch cupboard and sure enough there was another juicer in there just for me! I pulled out my juicer, rescued my lemon from the garbage (can you believe my dad threw away my BFF??? Ok, you're right he didn't know we had such a fabulous bond at the time. He's forgiven.) You know what I did next. I loved and squeezed my little yellow friend! ALL DAY!

Just like this! I told you I'm amazing, just like my dad!

Then I squeezed her on the back porch! After lunch I talked my mom into taking off my shirt. When she got distracted cleaning up I ran out in the back yard to be a 'white trash' kid with my brother. At least he has his pants on today! Don't you worry about my little lemon, I took her with me, of course!

I juiced her on our little table that we use to climb on the trampoline!

And then I carted her around the backyard with me. I would have taken her shirt off too, you know, if she had one! I mean really what more could one ask for in a friend? Someone who will go everywhere with you and take all your abuse with a sunny smile? I think I may be the luckiest girl alive! Life is good!

Oh yes, two little more tidbits of information from my exciting life:

I learned how to wink! Byron says its just blinking with two eyes. I think he is full of baloney! Wink, wink! (And despite what you think that is not a perma-booger on my nose! I swear!)

Oh, and last but not least: Byron taught me how to clean my room! Pay no attention to the bed and shelf, but check out my clean floor! My brother may be full of baloney, but he has some great wisdom too -- this only took him 3 minutes! I've got to learn his ways!

Much love till next time -- Taryn here, signing off!

Hiatus? No, God knows us!

So it seems I have taken a hiatus from blogging! Just haven't been able to complete those posts! I have one started about my delightful anniversary and another I think! None finished though! I'm not sure why? Maybe it is time for another dose of realism. You know the nitty, gritty in life! The confession that I am not Super Woman, or Wonder Woman! I know, I know your shocked! However, realizing that yet once again and having Steve's fabulous reminder to 'go easy on myself' I remember that I am amazing just the way I am and God knows me. On that note I'm pasting in my personal journal entry from November 3rd. It's long, so make some hot cocoa and enjoy a glimpse into my inner thoughts! It made me feel better re-reading it!

God Know Us

A week ago Sunday I taught an awesome lesson for my laurels. It was about forgiving yourself. I am after all the hardest person that I have to forgive. The supplemental article was, "The Great and Wonderful Love" by Anthony D. Perkins. It was an awesome article. He spoke about children and how completely they accept Christ and his love, and then as we become adults we have a more difficult time believing. My favorite quote was, "You will experience greater joy in life as you eradicate adult-onset pessimism and substitute childlike optimism. Optimism is a virtue that allows us to see God’s loving hand in the details of our life. A favorite hymn counsels, “Count your many blessings; see what God hath done.”
It seems I know all about adult-onset pessimism, and I have forgotten my childlike optimism. So I challenged myself this past week to remember my childlike optimism. 

On Wednesday night Karalee and I were running to Wal-Mart. For me, a last ditch effort to find Byron a Spiderman costume for Halloween and pick up a couple of things. I was also going to pick up a couple of frozen lasagnas, because I was taking dinner to a family in the ward on Thursday who just had a baby. Well lets just say that the adult-onset pessimism started kicking in as it took me forever to get out the door. Byron came with me to pick out his costume. Karalee was painting at their old house for Savannah, so we ended up bringing both her children too so Todd could keep painting. Not what either of us had planned.
As we were getting out of my truck a young girl, I'm guessing just 18, walked up to us with a tear-stained face. As she spoke she began to cry openly, "I'm not looking for a hand out, but I need $13.00 to have enough for a hotel room tonight. My dad kicked me out of my house and I don't have anywhere to go." Karalee and I told her we didn't have any cash. She said, "God Bless You" and started to walk away. Karalee and I looked at each other. I said, "I can run in and get some cash out." We stopped her and she came back and hung out while Byron and I ran in for some cash. We had to wait for a very slow couple who were getting a money order, but finally made it back outside. When the money came out of the machine Byron asked if he could take it to her. So he carried the $20.00 the whole way back to the truck. On the way he said, "you and dad have never kicked me out of the house!" I replied, "you are right we have never kicked you out of the house and we never will! We are so blessed because we have such a great family. That is why we help other people when we get the chance." It was touching to see him process that.
It turns out this girls name was Ashley. Her dad's girlfriend had told him just that day that Ashley was 18 and had a job and she should be taking care of herself. The girlfriend said that one of them had to go. So her dad asked her to move out. She has one brother, but he lives in Salt Lake City and wouldn't be able to help fly her up for a week or so. Karalee gave Ashley her cell phone number, but as far as I know she hasn't called. She was going to work the next day, so I'm hoping people there helped her out too. It is just so sad that people get treated that way, especially by family! The very ones who are supposed to protect and care for you.
The story continues as Karalee and I are a little more leisurely than we needed to be, and Byron and Tyler ran amuck in the store. On our way to drop Karalee and crew off at their home we remembered that I didn't buy the canned pumpkin that we needed to make pumpkin cookies with for Byron's Halloween party the next morning, or the lasagnas! I decided to run by Fresh & Easy and pick it up. Well they didn't have any canned pumpkin, so another stop was necessary at Albertson's. Byron and I picked up the pumpkin and some ice cream, just buying it was a comfort.
As I'm checking myself out and letting Byron help me I felt a tap on my shoulder. It took a moment to recognize Winter Henrie as her hair color had changed, again! She gave me a big hug! 
Ok, Winter is one of my girls! My laurels! I teach the 16-18 year old girls in the Young Women's program in my ward. I love my girls! I hadn't seen Winter in over two months!

Winter had a cell phone in her hand! 

Now to truly appreciate the significance of her cell phone you must understand that texting is one of the prime ways, possibly the only way that I can communicate with my dear laurels! She was the only laurel who didn't have a cell phone, so she didn't receive any of the activity reminders, etc. that I send out. I hadn't been good about writing her letters or calling her in the past couple of months either and it had been about that long since I had seen her at church! You know you feel responsible for any girl going less active on your watch! Especially when you aren't doing much to prevent it or remedy the situation! It was so good to see her!
So as I climbed in my truck I teared up. I realized that God's hand had been in my life, pushing back our arrival at Wal-Mart and causing the forgetfulness that made my stop at Albertson's necessary. He was orchestrating help on behalf of two of his precious daughters. I had a sudden and overwhelming patience for life and myself. I knew in that moment that Heavenly Father knows Ashley and Winter, and for that matter me! My adult-onset pessimism that provided only frustration gave way to the perfection of childlike optimism as I saw the beauty in the perfectly orchestrated events of my evening. Then it didn't really matter that Byron wasn't getting to bed until 10:15! Heavenly Father loves him too! Life is beautiful and so worth LIVING!

P.S. Byron beautifully acquiesced to being a fire man when that was the costume we did find!

Itch Scratched!!!

So my trip to Arizona was successful! I scratched the itch, and don't feel so much like moving anymore! So that is good news, right? I really didn't want to sell my house or pack anyway! Scratching the itch was much, much easier! I even ended up being gone long enough that I am really excited to be back home! There is no place like home!

Here is the top five for the AZ trip! What is with my current list fetish? Who knows, I'll keep you posted if I figure it out!

1. Wedding reception fun and visiting!  Carley's reception was beautiful! She was beautiful, and her Dylan was dashing as well! They are now Dylan and Carley Hushka! Too fun. I really enjoy that weddings are impromptu family reunions of sorts! It was so fun to see some family that I hadn't seen in a long time! Too sad, I didn't get any pictures at the reception, I think I forgot to lug my enormous camera out of the car. Sadly you don't get to ogle at the wedded bliss! (Ooooh, I'll pull a wedding picture off an email from my aunt Lori instead!)

Talk about a dream wedding on the beach. Gorgeous!

2. Staying at our 'Arizona House'. Byron has given my cousin Tonya's home this delicious title! Byron is a spoiled boy there. Playing video games and watching shows to his heart's content! Tonya's dear husband, Daniel, was the crew behind Byron's fun! Steve and I both love to visit there, hang out, chat, and the 'big boys' also enjoy their video games! Many thanks to Tonya & Daniel for providing us with an 'Arizona House'!

3. Aunt Tammy's House! aka. the party house! No really, this is where all the magic happens! Always has been! She has a pool, trampoline, two T.V. rooms (to facilitate older and younger audiences), a swing set, a merry go round, a pecan tree (do you have any idea how much fun it is to crack nuts?), a basement full of cars, dinosaurs, train tracks, a pool table and a basketball arcade game! Oh, and did I mention that this trip there was a never-ending supply of Swiss Miss Bars? Magic I tell you, pure magic! Really, the Whitings are magic. Byron said, "mom, do you know who are my two cool guys that I like?" He then pointed to my cousins Trent & Tanner! They did an awesome job babysitting Byron and Taryn while we were at the Hushka's reception. They were impressed at Byron's ability to keep himself awake! P.S. Uncle Trey was taken in for consideration, the jury is in and he is a cool guy too!

My cousin Trevor Whiting playing with Taryn and Tyler! He is so cool!

My cousin Mandy's daughter Ava Morris, devouring one of the afore mentioned Swiss Miss bars! Check out those beautiful baby blues!

4. Driving down and back with my dear aunt Marie! It was so fun to catch up and visit with her. In many ways we are two peas in a pod! I love the way she thinks, what she knows and who she is! Maurin, the 6 year old baby of Marie's family, was the best 'backseat babysitter' one could ever hope for!

The gorgeous, spunky Maurin Chase!

5. Girl time & makeovers! My mom is embarking on a new business venture called Dressing Your Truth, more about that later. She got to use her newly acquired skills to teach Grandma Jean Squires, Aunt Tammy Whiting, cousins Tonya Whiting & Mandy Morris and CIL Megan Whiting & Jenna Whiting! It was so much fun to play with them and have a good time. I got to take the class with my mom back in March and I love the information, it was amazing! They are all amazing ladies! In addition I also got to hang out with Karalee, Brittany and Aunt Marie playing and being girly! So important! I should really do it more often. It is good for the soul!

Here are Megan's before and after pictures! Hope she doesn't mind being the lucky one!

Before

After

Eclectic

So here is a post because I haven't posted for awhile, and I have really wanted to! Let's see how it turns out?!

The ITCH! I always get the itch to move pretty much from September 15th to October 15th EVERY year! Steve gets the itch too! I think the biggest part of the itch is that the HOT weather just seems to drag on. Don't get me wrong, 90 degrees on the way down feels so much better than 90 degrees on the way up in April/May, but I just want cool, cold weather! I miss the leaves changing colors on the trees, on the mountain. I miss Fall Sunday drives, just to see the golden aspens! I miss the random, early snow fall sometime in October. I miss seeing Eric, Lynette, Adam and Lauren Gratteau! I want to move back to my Rocky Mountains! But that would mean leaving my family! 

So we will scratch the itch with a trip down to Mesa, AZ to my dear cousin Carley's wedding reception. I don't believe we will find much cooler weather there, but it will be fun to be a part of that event. We didn't always make it to fun family events when we lived in Denver! I would really love to scratch the itch with a trip to my beautiful Colorado! Maybe early next year.

5 Things I Love in Las Vegas

1. My family.

Poppi & Nonni

Brandon & Chelsa

Karalee & Todd, Tyler, Elijah

Ashley & Robert

Elyssa

Brittany

2. Sister time! Sister service! Girl's nights out or 'in'!

3. Double dates with Bro and Chelsa!

4. Taking over Nonni & Poppi's house for conference weekend!

THANK YOU!

5. Luv-It Custard! If you come to visit I will take you there. 

If you live here and you have never been?? Sinful! 

Call me and we will make a date of it! 

Every one should go there at least once in your life time!

Two words for you: Banana Luv!

I love the Fall! There is something about it! I don't spring clean, I fall clean! I don't know if it was the fresh start of a new school year? Maybe here in Vegas the reason could be that the weather has finally cooled off enough to go outside; trim the trees, clean out the garage, etc. I have been FALL cleaning! And I love it! Yesterday I exploded! Literally bombed my house with the contents of my closets!!! It was awesome! Sometimes it just has to get worse before it will get better! I'm looking around at 'worse', but I couldn't feel better! I have three garbage bags, so far, of things to take to D. I.! Yeah! I love to purge! Throw things away! Pare down to only the needed items in my space! I love to see organized closets with empty space, room to grow! This is my week project! I have a ways to go! I love progress!

Introducing . . .

Alison Aleen Crabb

Born Monday September 15, 2008

Lynne Gratteau Crabb & Eric Crabb are her proud parents!

Isn't she so stinkin' cute? She is a week old in this picture!

Byron concentrating very hard to put together the 

Transformers puzzle that Grandma Kathy brought him!

He loved it! THANK YOU!

Last, but not least

(((((DRUM ROLL PLEASE)))))

My absolute favorite picture of the week!!!

Taryn sleeping in the rocking chair for her afternoon nap!

You may have figured out by now that Taryn does not sleep in a crib. She never has. It is a Montessori thing. She slept in a bassinet in my room until she was 4 months old, and then slept on a futon mattress on the floor in her room!

During nap time these days, she rarely sleeps on her futon mattress! This is the most creative place I have found her yet! She is hugging her baby doll! Too cute!