Crave The Wave

Vacay 2011!

2011-07-15T06:21:00.000-07:00

Totally just saw that I posted the last post on the wrong blog!! haha I wondered what happened to that post! It is supposed to be on my Eye Give a Hoot blog ;) Silly me.

SO VACAY! YAY! We decided to do the exact same trip we did last summer and I loved every minute of it. I will never pass a trip that I get to see my Waco and Ft Worth friends. It's the best ever. It's like we just pick right back up where we left off. So blessed to have friends like that!! :)

So we left early Friday and took our time traveling. We did our usual stop at Cablea's to let the kid's run around. They were super excited about seeing the stuffed polar bear. Silly kids :) We made it to Waco and they absolutely couldn't wait to be at the hotel. They LOVE hotels. It's hilarious. We couldn't figure it out because there was nothing to do in the room but yet they asked to go there all the time! Another thing is Chris and I forgot our bathing suits. :( Of all times to forget...So we ran to Target and I'm just gonna say that was not a fun trip but we got over it and had a blast anyways even if we did have bathing suits we didn't love :)

We had dinner with our friends the Sealey's and the Ward's. They each have two little girls and the kids had fun playing in the backyard while we ate YUMMY chicken shish ka bobs, grilled pinneapple and couscous. Um HELLO. That's a definite new keeper meal. Chris actually came home and is doing the chicken and couscous diet. haha It's awesome. But seriously the grilled pinneapple was off the chain! And it was SO good to catch up and fellowship with friends. Oh how I have missed them!

The next morning we went to eat breakfast with the girls while Chris golfed with the guys. We also went to the zoo (LOVE) and a splashpad. The kids and I had a blast with our sweet friends. We then went swimming in the pool at the hotel (which was WAY too chlorinated and turned Teagan's silver bracelet black. That can't be good!) And then had dinner with Chris' friend from work and his wife and little girl. AT NINFAS. I LOVE NINFAS. The end. ;) We ended up heading back to chat with the Ward's and our kiddos played. It is CRAZY how our kids are so alike. The two oldest are quiet and thinkers and the two youngest are WILD ANIMALS. :) It was awesome and there were MANY laughs!

We left early the next morning to drive to Fort Worth and meet the Phillip's and the May's at the Fort Worth Zoo. Again LOVE! These two zoo's rock! But word it was HOT. We were all soaked with sweat and tired but ran and ate super yummy tacos at Fuzzy's Tacos before kiddos took naps. We then when to check out our flippin' AWESOME hotel, the Gaylord Texan. I got a sweet deal online for a night and we were NOT dissapointed. It was AMAZING and the kiddos still say we went to a gigantic hotel. :) We met back up for dinner and hung out before calling it a night.

The Gaylord Texan is an indoor hotel and it's like no other hotel I've been to. It's HUGE and amazing and so beautiful. They also recently just built Paradise Springs which is a pool resort that has a lazy river and kid pool that was awesome. So we woke up and I was feeling rushed and asked Chris "Hey should we stay another night?" We went back and forth and ended up calling to see if they would give us a deal for one more night. They did and we were pumped. It was such a great day hanging out at the pool and then going to Grapevine Mills mall and driving around Grapevine and seeing a working train. Gauge was in heaven. We will have to go back and actually ride it next time! And yes there will be a next time. We LOVED every minute. Gauge kept saying it was the best vacation EVER. :) I love kids. They just LOVE life and have fun. The hotel also had a minature train track with trains and a little town. Gauge literally would have stood and watched it FOREVER. We had to go twice or three times a day. He was sad to leave and we had to go say goodbye to them all.

We drove home and had to of course stop for a Blizzard and Dairy Queen. That's what I like about Texas. Right? ;)

It was such a great vacation! A little harder this time around because the kids are more daring about getting into EVERYTHING and being super loud and jumping all around but it was so fun and full of memories. I'm so thankful we were able to take that trip and I can't wait to go back! Here are some pics...

Possibilities are endless!

2011-06-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

8 Years...

2011-06-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

June 6, 2003

8 years ago today I married my bestest friend. My partner, my compadre, my love. I have actually saved most of the cards and letters we wrote when we dated up until now. I love how silly and young in love you are at the beginning. I love that it grows into such a stronger more solid love as time goes on. It doesn't fade but just takes on different changes at different seasons. All of them being perfect in it's own way. To look back at those cards and see our 1st anniversary note to each other and we were like "Whoah! It's been a year! Crazy!" hahaha Oh just a year??! It's been 8 now! And then will one day be 20! I honestly can say I CAN'T WAIT to see what it's like at 20 years married. From what I hear that my parents say is that it just gets better. And you know the older I've gotten I've realized my parents were always right. (Man if we would just believe them when we were pipsqueaks!) So I'm pumped! They will be right! And at 20 years in we will have had even more fun, more adventures, more highlights and I'm sure lo lights that only make our love stronger. God is good. He is so good to bless us with relationship. Not only with Himself but with our hubbies or wives for guys ;)

So Chris, Yay for 8 years! I know the next 8 are going to be full of laughter, joy, bumps in the road but oh so sweet. I'm so glad God gave me you. You are such an excellent husband who loves me tons and spoils me. You are such an awesome dad who loves to be with his kiddos and hot wife (oh did I just say that? hahaha) more than anything else. I am so blessed that you would rather come home and see you kiddos and spend family time rather than eat out. We can eat our any ole day or week but you, my amazing hubby, want to be with your wild and crazy family. And THAT is a blessing.

I love you to the moon and back Pookie!

Night my love ;)

Word...It's been a while...

2011-05-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

Teagan Kaye!

Homie Gauge

So I just started following some of my friends new blogs and it made me realize, "Tara! You have neglected your blog again!" Oops! And I saw two posts ago was about Duke who we haven't had in a long time. He is at a new home with loving people who love animals. I don't HATE animals but I don't want any REAL live animals. My kids can have the Fur Real cat and that's about it. What a bummer of a mom right? haha Oh well maybe later I will let me have a fish ;)

So summer is here! I have high hopes and aspirations for all that is going to happen but I'll be happy if I can just get a little done. The organizing OCD side of me has high hopes for a new cleaning schedule/ chore charts/ calendar/ organization/ cleaning out junk, etc...BUT every since having two kiddos I'm lucky to still get places on time and vacuum twice a month. Ugh did I confess that? But I did get a NEW VACUUM and I think I will bump it to vacuuming once a day!!! Ok maybe once a week. Let's start small ;)

We are going to start planning a little family vacay again. Since last summer our trip to Ft. Worth/ Waco went SO well, we are going to try it again!! :) The kids are just pumped to go stay in a hotel and swim. Haha. Kids. But I'm excited. I miss my Waco and Ft. Worth peeps and I need to hug Natalie and Lisa!

So I'm not promising posts but I know you love them Layne so I will work on it. Again. ;)

And since I'm on an old computer I'm gonna post some oldies but goodies pics! FUN! :)

Excited!

2011-02-20T19:35:00.000-08:00

I'm super excited here these days. Because any day now I will be an Aunt again to sweet little Anaya Hosanna. Oh my heart is so happy and absolutely can not wait to hear updates and to be able to see that sweet face on Skype!

You know me, very little emotions due to hormonal changes after Teagan. Well I have been 'cryey' (that would be a made up word) lately. And I have a feeling more tears will come. Many from utter happiness of sweet girl Anaya being here. And a few from wanting so very much to be there to hold that sweet chubby (you know she will be ;) ) girl. I think we have been spoiled by not having any of us too far away as family. We have been close. I can remember Layne leaving to Arizona when I was big and preggo with Teagan in August and then my preggo self loosing it and the floodgates opening just wishing she could be here to hold Teagan. To come up to the hospital and see us. Layne I will be 'there' in spirit! :) I am rooting you on! I'm so excited! With pink bubblegum cigars and goober pink stuffed bears! ;) I will be praying and waiting and so proud to announce and show pictures of my niece Anaya. It will be wonderful!

So Anaya,

Your Aunt Tara Lou says come out! It's about time now girlfriend! We want to see your sweet face and I'm sure your amazing head of dark hair ;) And I want to ooh and ahhh over you on Skype! So hurry on now! My phone is waiting! :)

I love you Layne! Can't wait to hear your amazing and I'm sure hilarious birthing story. Write a book girl. Let's write a book ;)

DUKE

2011-01-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

pointing a cat

SO. Over the holidays we fed and watched our neighbors dog across the street. The kids looked forward to feeding Hershey every morning and evening and always wanted to let him out to play with us. Chris has been wanting a Vizsla for a while now and I finally caved. Mainly because I knew the kids would be in heaven with a dog. Ah what you will do for your kids ;)

So last Sunday we made our trek to Houston to pick up our 8 month old Duke. He had been at field training school. haha funny right? He does point though! Birds, cats and I'm sure other things. He is a SUPER amazing dog. He rode the entire way home with me in the back seat like a baby. All he ever wants to do is lay in someone's lap and be petted. Well I did the first two days but like Layne said life has to go on :) He sleeps right by my bed at night and hasn't ever had an accident in the house. He is amazingly calm and gentle with the kiddos. They love him. Vizsla's are known as Velcro dogs and I believe the ride home from Houston made me the other half of his Velcro. He is also great on runs with me. We have run 2 miles several days now and he stays right by my side. He has his quirks that erk me like being all up in my buisness but he really is a great dog. We are lovin' our Duke. I called him ding dong Duke the other day and Gauge looked at me and said "No mom it's just Duke." haha

Christmas 2010

2011-01-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas this year with family! Chris' sister Tara and her hubby Robert were down along with his brother. The kids had a blast seeing them several different days and playing. We went to service at QTM Christmas Eve and then over to the Craver's for tamales and queso and chili. YUM! I let the kids take bath over there and get in their Christmas jammies. We had also made a birthday cake to Jesus so we sang Happy Birthday and had cake. Christmas morning we had our family time and then went back over to the Craver's. They got the kiddos one of those 2 seater little gators to drive. They LOVE it. It was hilarious to watch them. When they opened Gauge smiled and said "You got to be kidding me!" Priceless. We also had a fun gag gift game. Then we napped and headed over to my parent's for dinner. I had taken a Mucinex earlier that morning and apparently I took the DM which makes you drowsy. I was so out of it that night! I felt like I had been run over by a train! I couldn't wait to go back to bed. Needless to say I didn't even eat any dinner which I was sad about but I did take a picture of it :)We had a great time and can't wait till next year when Layne, Jon and Anaya will be here! YAY! Gauge asked me when I took all the decorations down why I was doing it and then sadly said "Mom I don't want Christmas to be over. Turn it back on." :) Gotta love kiddos.

New York

2011-01-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

Outside our hotel window

Massive room! Loved it!

For reals?! It was only midnight and the tree lights were off?!

Serendipity's-This placed reminded me of my mom. I knew she would love it. It was all old school :) One day mom, girls trip :)

Bliss! That hot fudge sundae was out of this world!

Musuem of Natural Science and History

What the bride arrives in. Where was mine when I got married?? :)

We loved these minuature scenes

Chris dreaming he shot this...

FYI they need to dust. I checked :)

Oragami tree

Subway

Blue Man Group. The marshmellow was thrown into the audience and actually smacked me in the head. Good times :)

World Trade Center

Had to get a pic. It was the subway back from Staten Island Ferry and it was empty. haha

I wikipediaed the Staute of Liberty and gave us our own little info tour :)

Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill Burger. Killer. With french fries seasoned with ancho chili season. Whew!

Shrimp Tacos. He almost licked the plate clean.

World Trade Center

These tombstones had dates like 1781. CRAZY.

Church on Wall St.

Our killer meal at Toni Di Napoli's

View from our window. With some hot tea. I was freezing.

Dinosaur in Toys R Us

SO...I got behind again. :) Here comes major posts....

NEW YORK.

Aw lovely New York. It was fabulous. It was the coldest spell of the winter right when we got there and even the locals said it was cold. So if they thought it was cold then it was double or triple cold to us! Seriously FREEZING. I had to get a hat right when we got there or I wouldn't have made it! Our hotel was amazing and huge. A few highlights of the hotel (It was the Double Tree) was the hot fresh cookie you got when you checked in. I wanted more. Badly. The huge room with the Times Square view. Two flat screen TVs with a little sitting room and a bedroom and a coffee station with microwave. My favorite was the hot cookie. You couldn't guess that could you? ;)

I gotta fill you in on one thing. It was not cool. The night before we left I got the largest fever blister of my life right under my lip. I couldn't believe it. It was so big and so gross that I couldn't believe it. What the heck. So just FYI there is no photos of myself this whole trip. It's sad, I know but it was not cool at all.

So I had planned out this trip (ok mainly food) so we would get more done and not be wandering. We knew we were going to try the subway and thankfully it went so well and was so easy! Super smart way to get around and fast. When we got there is was about 1 in the afternoon so we walked down the block and shared a pizza at this little place called Crave. Funny right? Cravers at the Crave. Ok not funny. Anyhoo it was awesome. We did some shopping at the massive Toy's R Us and the M&M store for the kids. That night we had the most awesome meal. Probably our favorite meal of the trip at Toni Di Napoli's. It's family style so we shared this beef plate with pasta. WHOA. It was awesome.

The next day we went to the World Trade Center, Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and then we had our Blue Man group show. We also had reservations for lunch at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. That was one killer lunch. We did some shopping at Century 21 and sight seeing. Just walking around and checking everything out is so cool. For dinner we went to Junior's. Oh you know we LOVE us some Junior's. Then off to the Blue Man Group show. It was awesome! The theatre it was in was tiny and more personal. It was a really fun show. Then we had dessert at Juniors. DUH. :)

On our 3rd day we went to the American Musuem of Natural Science and History. That place is MASSIVE. Halfway through we decided we would leave and eat lunch. We ate at the Shake Shack and it was super yummo. HECK everything we ate was awesome. We went back and finished up and then that evening we had reservations at the Capital Grille. Super yummy steak and the mashed potatoes were out of this world. We went back to the hotel and at 11 decided to take a subway to Serendipity's for the famous hot chocolate. I was freaking out about riding a subway that late but it was totally fine. It is the cutest little place ever and the ice cream they use is out of this world. Reminded me kind of Katies Custard! The only wierd thing to me is that their whip cream was not sweet. I like me some SWEET whip cream!

Our last day we made our last stop at Starbucks, which we did every morning for a coffee and muffin. YUM. And headed home. We were so ready to see the kiddos. We missed them so much! The reunion with them was the BEST.

We left saying the same thing we did last time we went. That we probably wouldn't go back anytime soon. And then a week later we were watching Home Alone 2 lost in New York and both of us said we would go back soon! Hahaha. There is just something about New York!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

So Thanksgiving is in 2 days. I'm so scatter brained right now that it takes a lot for me to focus. To sit and really think. I always call and ask Layne to help me sort through things in my head and emotions because I have a hard time balancing. Balancing life.

Layne and Jon have been posting and updating on a 13 year old boy Marcelino. He is suffering immensely right now and I can't even imagine what it is like to be in Layne and Jon's shoes and to be witnessing this pain and heartache in such a real way. I cry every single time I read one of their posts. I can't help but want to immediately sell everything we have here, pack up and move to live with them. They are doing such an incredibly hard thing yet incredibly beautiful by loving these people through some of the hardest and most painful times of their lives and ushering them into heaven with prayers and tears and most importantly the love of Jesus. They are physically being the hands and feet of Jesus to these brave and precious people. Oh how I want to just go...

And then I see my parents. I see them doing the same thing but here. I see them serving those who need the love of Jesus just the same as those in Africa. I see them going to Driscoll children's hospital and shining the light of Christ to everyone they speak to. I see them investing in people's lives and being strong enough to hang in there when it seems as though nothing is changing. Still serving and loving and going beyond themselves. Putting others first. I want to serve...

This Sunday we heard from a man that my dad grew up with. He played professional baseball and gave that up to take his family and be missionaries in Africa. He said something that really hit home. He said, " God isn't going to send you off to another part of the world if you aren't already doing something right where you are at here." There are so many things I need to work on. Areas I need some major pruning. I want to be faithful and diligent to serve right where I am at and to stop wishing to be somewhere else. People are hurting and dying all around us. I thank the Lord for people like Jon and Layne who are answering a call on their lives to serve in Africa. I just know that I want to be faithful right now. No matter where I am at. I want Jesus to look down and say "well done." I want to radiate Him through every part of my life. I have so much stuff and self in the way that I need him to help me remove it. But I'm going to keep praying. Keep pressing in. There is SO much more to life than the here and now. So much more than vacations and lifestyles. I want to change...

Lord Jesus I ask you to prune what needs to be pruned. To take away and refine the ugliness of self and sin that are so in control and to replace it with your love. Your light. Your truth. Change me Lord. Don't ever stop sending things in my life to change me. You are what life is all about. Help me to keep You as my FOCUS.

So this Thanksgiving I am going to try to do what is hard for this scatter brained mom to do. I'm going to focus. I am going to spend time praising and thanking the Lord for the blessings in my life that I so don't deserve. I am going to pray and interecede for those who can't. Those who are serving selflessly. I want to truly be

THANKFUL.

So it seems silly posting some of these pics right after writing that but I can't figure out how to copy and separate the two. So here are some pics of what we have been up to.
:)

I got this flapper style band for new york. I thought it would be fun :)

The flapper style I think is so FUN!

I painted her nails and toes. She was very happy about it and it's the most still she has ever sat! I was impressed!

One of my closest friends and her husband opened up a new ice cream place called Camille's. She has a sweet little one year old that needed a shirt and bow for opening night! I had a blast making this! And if you are in Corpus ever. Go check it out. It's some YUMMINESS!

My little hams. :) Our turkey's I should say ;)

2010-11-19T05:01:00.000-08:00

Yay! I'm blogging again! And with pics!!

Yesterday was our Thanksgiving Feast at Mother's Day and it was YUMMY! Of course my picky child Gauge started crying because he does not like chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, green beans or corn. For reals? The child eats peanut butter crackers everyday. And raisins. So I had to sit with him and tell him I would get him some when we left. PB crackers that is. So now we have a week off from Mother's Day Out and I have plans of catching up on my crafts and cleaning!! :) Maybe a little organization if there is time. Ha probably not. I can dream eh?

Then we go back for one week at the beginning of December and then Chris and I are off for NYC!!!!!!!!

I'm so pumped. It's coming up so fast! I haven't had time to really grasp it or to think of how much I'm going to miss the kiddos. We both have to not talk about it or we get super sad. That's life right? You can't wait to a little break and vacay and then when it gets here the only thing you want to do is be back with the kiddos! My mom is just told me the other day it was going to be a lot easier this year watching them than it was 2 years ago when Teagan was only 4 months old! No night feedings! haha! She just may need a vacay when we get back where she can rest a whole week after they poop her out!

So you know how I was talking on the last post about getting up before the kids to spend time in the Word. No slacking. Start seeking Him harder. Yo. Dropped the ball! I would have to get up at 5 or 5:15 to do this because my kids are early birds that think they get a worm and man 5 comes around fast! I feel like I've been hit by a bus every morning. Anyhoo I haven't done it this week but I'm going to work on it. I told my mom the other day they woke up at 5:20 and I was complaining about how I just want to sleep till 6:30 or 7 and then it hit me. I'm supposed to be getting up anyways! I'm going to pray that He will give me the strength I need. And I know He will. Keep me accountable peeps! I need someone to come over here in the morning and yank me out of bed! :)

Here are some pics!

The first two are from Mother's Day Out and our costume parade. I made the kids Mickey and Minnie. Their favorites :)

The other is my class and I made the 4 of us 4 year old teachers and tutu and matching shirt and headband that said our names with a frog behind it because we are the frog class. :)

Then I thought I would post some preggo pics for Miss Layne! The first one is end of May so I am about 6 months preggo and then the last one is the morning I went in to have Teagan. Just wait for that one Layne. The belly is amazing. You think there is no possible way to get bigger. And then after one week of having sweet Anaya you won't even remember what that belly was like! It's craziness. The only think that helps me remember is my little pooch with elephant skin that is there for rememberance ;) hahaha

Whoa. Where have I been???

2010-11-14T18:59:00.000-08:00

Seriously! That was one long break! I have been going non stop for a while now. I guess that's how it is with life huh? The kiddos and I have added Tues and Thursday at Mother's Day Out and I feel like whoa! It's taking me a bit to get used to it. Not that the job is hard. It's not. It's loads of fun and the kiddos are doing so good in their classes. It's just that I lost two days from 8:15-3pm to do anything else! Why do we always have to be making multiple trips to the grocery store? And cleaning?? Oh good golly. I keep it 'neat' but as far as CLEAN. Hmmmm not so much. I'm an all or none person so when I clean I gotta do the whole house. :)

BUT! With all that said, I'm going to start getting back to writing on the blog. Keeping updated. I read back through my xanga from 2008 and really enjoyed being able to see pics and read how life was and what God was doing. It's such a great way to document life ya know? I can look back and see how faithful God was and is and all He has brought us through. With that said I am also going to start being diligent in my quiettime with the Lord. Kids make it harder but I am going to push through and make it priority like it should be. I know that He is the only One who can get me through each day and give me the strength and power to do it all in joy and in Him.

So Lord, I'm ready. I'm ready to go deep with You. No more slack. No more complacency. I miss Your prescence and power in my life and heart. I want to seek You and find You and to do that I must do it with ALL my heart. So here we go Lord. I'm ready!

"For I live only to see Your face, to shine on me...."

Our First Family Vacay!

2010-07-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

That's right! We went on our 1st family vacation this last week. We left Monday morning for Waco and stayed in Waco until Wednesday, drove up to Ft. Worth for the night and came back Thursday to eat with some friends before we drove home that night. (We decided to drive home that night so that the kiddos would sleep for the long drive back. Teagan did. Gauge slept about 2 hours and then stayed up watching for hotels all the way home.)

Right before we left, while we were filling up gas at the Sam's Club, Chris and I shook on that we would be ducks for the week and let everything roll off our backs. Well it worked! :) I think taking on the attitude to be laid back and not worry about anything such as naps and eating and all that made for a really fun trip. (Good thing I'm learning early huh? I'm sure my kids would appreciate this mentality more often at home too! ;) )

Anyhoos we did stop at Van's for some killer breakfast (which I totally want to enter them in for Diners Drive Ins and Dives!) and then kept trucking until Buda so we could let the kids run around at Cabela's. Layne, they were super interested in the animals from Africa and kept saying "These animals are where Aunt Layne and Uncle Jon are!" :) We finally made it to Waco about 3:30ish. We had dinner at the Pizza House with Chris' friend from work and his wife and little girl and also drove by our old house and Chris' work, to which his boss actually walked out when we were turning around and he tried to get his job back ;) Then it was back to the hotel to see how sleeping would go! First night I had to sleep on the floor with Teagan. Second night I had to start off down there and then moved to bed. Third night they slept together on the air mattress fine and dandy. I believe they were POOPED! They really didn't ever nap but occasionally would fall asleep in the car so we would try to drive around for a while.

Tuesday we got up and went to the Waco Cameron Park Zoo to meet up with our friends the Ward's and the Kleins. The zoo was awesome and it was so fun catching up with our friends and watching everyone's kiddos together. We all grabbed Bush's Chicken (which was a must and did not dissapoint) to take back to their house and meet up with the Perry's. We had half of our old LifeGroup back together and there were 7 kiddos altogether. None of us had kids when we were in LG together so it was so fun to see everyone again and their sweet munchkins. I wish we would have had weeks to spend together but we had to all go since our kiddos were getting to the end of their ropes and needed naps. So glad we got to see the Perry's and the Klein's before they left back overseas. We ended up swimming at the hotel later that afternoon with the Ward's and then went to eat at Ninfa's (another one of Chris and I's favs).

The next morning the headed to Ft. Worth to see the May's, the Phillip's and the Boatman's. We met up at the Chuck E Cheese and then decided to go to the Ft. Worth Zoo since it was half price day. It was so stinkin' hot but the zoo was awesome! Both zoo experiences were amazing and I'm so glad we did them. I'm going to make the kiddos one of those photo books of our trip so they can look back through all we did. They absolutely LOVED the animals and definately the hotels! ;)

We had dinner at the Phillip's house with everyone and it was such a good time laughing and catching up with everyone. It had been over 3 years for some of us to see each other and we definately said we wouldn't wait that long again. Wish we all lived closer!!

The next day we headed back to Waco so we could eat dinner with the Ward's and Klein's and so Chris could see Dustin. We had a blast and the kiddos were pretty exhausted from the whole trip that we decided to drive home that night and let them sleep on the way home.

The trip went so well and so much better than I expected. We really bonded the 4 of us and the kids are going to be sad when Dad has to go back to work after having him off on vacation for 12 days! It was such a great and fun experience and I can't wait to keep having fun times with the fam! It was SO great to catch up with all of our friends. We left sad because we so badly would love to be back in Waco. We miss it. It's such a great little place and we miss our church peeps. The one year we were there for so impacting and impressionable that we love it so much and it hold so many great memories and relationships. Maybe one day we will be back there. :)

We sure loved coming home and seeing family again though. The kiddos missed everyone and they were super excited to see their NiNi! ;) And of course everyone else too!

I'm praying God would just use that time we had as a family and catching up with friends as a refresher and to give us a little push to go deeper with Him. We hit roadblocks sometimes and it's nice to have that encouragement from people you love and respect.

So here's to next summer! We will see where we go! I think we might just be a vacationing family now ;)

The Kleins
River

Nat and Vik. LOVE THEM!

Olivia

Lucy

River

Noah loves to dance. He is such a cutie!!

They got along nicely! ;) And Amy was sneaking them her amazing Smore brownies :)

My Owls!!

The habitats here were awesome at the Ft. Worth zoo!

trying to buy ice cream with his tokens :)

He has some amazing faces. He cracked me up!

The Perry's

Gauge jumping into the pool for the first time! Brave boy!

Maya

Chris and MJ

LOVE hotels :)Katies custard

So important I posted it twice ;)

And the winner is....

2010-06-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

REBECCA!!

Rebecca, send me your address (you can Facebook message it to me) and I will send it to you asap! :)

I put each name that was in the comments and then prayed over them. I really wanted the Lord to bless the person He knew needed it.

And for the rest of you! Go over to amazon. $8.63 and it ships FAST! It is such a good book. We are actually going to use it as a small group bible study for our girl's group that meets. I know we are all excited about starting it and it is also a great gift!

Thanks for all the comments!!

I'm liking this giveaway thing. I might start doing more!! :) Stay tuned!!

Book Review!! Jen Hatmaker's "Out of the Spin Cycle" Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load (BONUS! Giveaway!!!)

2010-06-13T18:06:00.001-07:00

Ya'll momma's out there!! Have I got the book for you! I have always said "Can someone write a book and like 'keep it real'?? Ya know, tell it like it is. And then give encouragement to back it up. Well good golly ya'll, she did it!

Jen Hatmaker has written "Out of the Spin Cycle" Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load.

The title alone hits the nail on the head! I have a serious Mother Load that I would like lightened every once in a while :)

Jen is the wife of Brandon Hatmaker, who was youth pastor at the church we were involved with. Unfortunately I didn't get to know her that well since I was on my way out of youth and onto college but I so wish she still lived here! I would love to crack my head off with her while drinking some Sonic Route 44 drinks. :)

I have devoured this book! It is hilarious, insightful, right on, encouraging and did I mention HILARIOUS and exactly RIGHT ON?? Oh yes ma'am. RIGHT ON. I would almost finish what she was about to say because it is exactly what we momma's are going through or have gone through. I would say ANY woman should read this book. Ladies without kiddos, Momma's, Grandmomma's. Read it. You won't be dissapointed. I have read many of them to my mom while saying "It's awesome, right?!" It validates everything you are thinking and going through while at the same time encouraging and uplifting you to want to be an even better momma who serves and reflects our precious Jesus to our children and husband.

Here is a question and answer from Jen with an excerpt from the book. I had such a hard time choosing my favorite because literally every single chapter I underlined at least 5 things and earmarked probably every other page!! But here is one....

What is the link between a mother's spiritual health and her parenting?

It's probably more acurate to ask "what is the link between a mother's spiritual health and everything else in the whole world?" Good grief! The more of a mess I am as a carrier of the Holy Spirit, the more of a mess I am as a mom, wife, friend, and - let me just say it - driver. (I have road rage issue. Thank you for understanding.) I put it like this in Out of the Spin Cycle:

Scanning my bookshelves, I see about a billion books on parenting. I read eight books on babies before I ever gave birth to one. I've taken Lamaze classes, Babywise classes (don't start), parenting classes. I've joined discussion groups on raising tweens and facilitated book studies on balanced motherhood. I've downloaded helpful sermons and read countless websites. I've made lists and plans on how to balance summer/chores/homework/discipline/sleepovers/houserules.

And then there is real motherhood, which wrecks out half this stuff.

Because sometimes despite your careful strategizing and planning and reading and organizing, your two-year-old takes his diaper off in the middle of Target and and runs up the ceral aisle while you scream after him like a mental patient. And sometimes after you have planned the perfect playdate, your daughter bites your new friend's baby and flushes her phone down the toilet.

And sometimes, when your precious first-born son-the one you read all the baby books for and raised lovingly for ten years- opens a fresh, sassy mouth to you when you are already idling high, you accidentally tell him to get a shovel, go in the backyard, and dig his own grave. This, I don't have to tell you, is behavior Ted Tripp would frown upon in "Shepherding a Child's Heart."

Not suprisingly, when I made that shockingly horrible statement to my son, I was exhausted, stretched out thin, out of the Word, and in a prayer slump. I was running on spiritual fumes. My only intake was whiny children, mountains of laundry, a Suite Life of Zac and Cody marathon, and four hundred thousand pieces of correspondence from Elm Grove Elementary to attend to.

There is a simple explantation according to Jesus:

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man bring good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

(Matthew 12:34-35)

Motherhood is like a pitcher with a whole in the bottom; a constant drain on our energy, patience, and tolerance. Every mother that is telling the truth would attest to that. Add another layer like a child with Autism, single motherhood, a financial crisis, or a crumbling marriage and it's a wonder we have anything left to give.

Our only hope to speak with kindness, to lead with patience, to not threaten our children with homicide is to ensure our spiritual reserves are not bone dry. Moms are the middle of the flow chart; the arrows of exertion flow constantly out from us, but when no arrows of strength, grace, and peace and flowing in, the whole mechanism is in danger.

Goodness in = goodness out.

No goodness in = no goodness out.

This is the simplest truth, recognized by Jesus and every other parenting expert, but one most moms don't take seriously. We're too busy for the Word. We're too tired to pray. We have too much going on for small group. Under the banner of selflessness, we neglect our own spiritual health and sabotage the very service we wanted to render.

When God's Word is flowing through my life, my baby can spill his fourth drink of the day, and I can say, "It's just a drink." When I'm dry, I could literally lie on the soggy floor and bawl over it. When Jesus has spoken peace into my life, I'm able to discipline consistently when my toddler pitches her third tantrum of the morning. If my pitcher is empty, I might lock myself in the bathroom and scream at the top of my lungs.

Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

I mean, obviously, none of us struggle with empty spiritual reserves or Mommy Meltdowns or anemic relationship with the Word. But our friends do. Let's pray for them.

It's good right?!! And that's just ONE of 40 short devotions! Be prepared, you might not want to put the book down and will read straight through it like I did. And I'm just going to start it over again and again because my mommy brain needs all the reminding and help it can get!

Go on over to Amazon. They are $8.63. The best $8.63 you will spend this summer!

And guess what? I have one to give away! I loved it so much I thought, man let's give one away!!!

So leave a comment in the comment section and I will draw a name on Friday to give one away to one of you special peeps! And if you don't win, I would highly suggest spending $8.63.

I'm just sayin'.

Man I've been a bad blogger!

2010-05-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

So my lack in posts is not just because I am a slacker. Our computer broke and was in the shop for several weeks. I like my Iphone but boy am I happy to have the laptop back!

This week has also been VBS and let's just say I didn't get a whole lot done other than VBS! Next week I shall resume back to being somewhat normal! And going on a diet! Man those peeps fed us good this whole week and I ate, uh just a little ;)

I have had these pics uploaded for a while and just now getting around to publishing the post! Teagan has been without her cast for about 2 weeks and it's oh so nice for it to be gone! We have spent lots of time in the baby pool and slip n slide :) She favored it for maybe 10 minutes and then went right on like nothing ever happened :)

I will have to take a pic once Chris and I go on our date for our anniversary! It's been 7 years! Amazing! I can't believe how old we are getting ;) He had to work lots of extra nights so we are going on our date this week. I have loved every bit of the last 7 years and can't wait to spend 70 more :) hehe

I will be back with more pics and an exciting book review next week! You won't want to miss this review!!!

It's all good...in the hood....

2010-05-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks girls for all your encouraging words. It actually does help just knowing I'm not the only one loosing my mind out there ;) I am going to try a few things and I'm 99% sure it will help....
I'm going to start cutting back on my computer time and TV time and start being in the Word during those times instead. I'm also going to start playing worship music all the time, even off the computer when we are home. I know it's all about priorities and I'm ready to get mine in order :)

In other news, we had a playdate today and I think if I counted right there were 6 toddlers and 5 babies altogether. It was crazy but super fun. We ordered in Jason's Deli and the kids just played and had fun while the moms attempted to chat while semi watching kiddos :)

Also my early mother's day gift that Chris brought me home yesterday is a new embroidery sewing machine! I'm so pumped! I'm a little overwhelmed because it is massive and I gotta find a place to put it but I'm super excited because burp clothes and onesies are gonna get cuter!! :)

And Happy Mother's Day to all you momma's out there. Even in the tough times there is nothing better than settling down, hugging your kiddos and seeing their smiles. I wouldn't trade it for the world....

Wowee and Good Golly...

2010-05-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

So...seriously....I'm losing my marbles. I didn't have many to begin with so the ones I'm losing now are valuable! I'm having a slump of a time here with the kiddos and well myself for that matter. I'm ready to start trekking up that mountain and get out of this valley but I fear I'm still near the bottom.
I'm going to venture out there and make a statement that might just be crazy but hey, I'm crazy right? Here it goes... I think I would trade back the teenage hormones for this emotional hoopla I now have! It's like a cross between pre-menopause, crazy lady and wack job all in one. Oh and part man since I've reverted back to the can't cry stage again...Sounds fun huh?
I'm starting to wonder if my kids are thriving on watching me go crazy...I have seriously never been this stretched and this disappointed in myself in all my 27 almost 28 years of my pea pickin' life. I feel like I'm a record player that keeps going er er...er er...er er... or whatever sound a record player makes when it gets stuck...It's like I know the answers and I know how I should act and respond and be but I keep failing at it. And sure it's not down in the dumps all the time. Some days are worse than others. Some days I feel like Whooo! I think we are turning a corner. And then BAM...Back to square one. I don't like that I know I should start my day in the Word and cling to Jesus in these times of poopiness but it's like I'm bummed in the fact that I know I still stink at it and I feel like when I do start off good and then fall later that day then I'm so disappointing to Him. And again, I know the right answers...I know that's not how He views me and I know He loves me but good golly I'm having a hard time loving even myself!
And then there's the wave of a million emotions that comes on right after I start feeling down. It's the "Suck it up Tara, You are so Blessed, Get a Grip" emotional trip I get on. It begins by all the above feelings like I'm just failing and blah blah blah and then flips to...I have it so good. I'm so blessed and what a loser I am for acting like this is so hard and not embracing this time of my kiddos lives. (During this trip, mind you, I also go through the how I need to be reaching out to others and serving and giving more of my time and money to things that matter and taking my kiddos along while I do it) And then I wind my trip up with the whole dust it under the rug and smooth out my crinkles in my skirt or shirt and pick myself up and forget about it and go through the motions and get right back to where I left off.
I wish there was a book. You know a child raising book or heck a pill would be awesome! You know one that tells you what to do with kiddos from ages 18 months-4 and 5 years old. Most the books I have found are pretty much how you deal with kids who are like 5 and up. You know that understand and communicate in full sentences. Who when you say No, they either stop doing what they are doing or you put them in time out or spank them once and they learn the lesson. Hmmm...Not mine. I am going to be a pro when I have 6 and 7 year olds who I will give one of two choices and they can choose. If they don't do it then I take away something the enjoy or their toy. Seems like it will work. But this age...the age they are at RIGHT NOW...come on peeps! I need a BOOK! Or at least figure it out so I can write a book and tell all the other moms who are going crazy with me that you are not alone! Let's be crazy together! But hang on, I want to be sane!! Not crazy!! You know what I mean? I mean what the heck do you do with two kids who once you tell them No or spank them or whatever you do and then they follow you screaming at a decibel that is hurting your sensitive ears and then proceed to follow you around the house when you are trying to ignore them and go into another room. Heck I've tried putting them in their room and they can get out! I need a lock on the outside or what? I've locked MYSELF into my room and they just bang and scream even louder and that doesn't help either of us.
So...all that to say...Yeah....I don't know what it was all to say. Maybe just to get it off my chest. Maybe if I could just cry and eat a whole pint of ice cream and not feel fat afterwards.
All that to say....I guess...Pray for me. I'll pray for you other moms too. And if you have any tips or magic you have aquired that you want to share...please do. If it works when I try it I might even pay you. ;)
Whew...
I need some chocolate....

Gauge is 3!!

2010-04-26T06:34:00.001-07:00

(Another post after this one too)

Bonus for the siblings! A birthday means new toys all around! :)

Pappy putting together the train set for Gauge after the bday...

Happy Birthday Bud! (why oh why do I have to make the face like I'm blowing them out too?? Thanks Chris for this photo...)

Yay for garbage trucks!

Mr. 3 Year Old!

Present time!

They loved pushing the trains on the track which I didn't even think of. He is so smart!

Decked out in their Thomas outfits...

I made these trains out of boxes with beanbags so they could throw them in the middle...

He LOVED the tracks!

Yummo! I finally found a yummy icing recipe!

How did this happen?! I have a 3 year old?! Whoa!

My sweet Gauge Garrett is three! He isn't a baby anymore! He is a big boy! A potty trained big boy I might add! (Well perfect on the pee but still refuses to poop...oh well, soon I hope!) We had a fun Thomas the Train birthday at my parent's church. (Thank you dad and mom for letting us use it!) It was perfect because they have a playroom and I wanted to do the track on the floor with tape so on carpet is was easy! And they have big tv so we could play a Thomas video. It was perfect! I went the night before and decorated with my mom and dad and the next day we baked our cookie cake. (Gauge's request) Which was so yummy so good job Gauge! :) We had fun just playing with the other kiddos and I love how excited he was this year. He was thrilled when he walked in and yelled Thomas!!! He loved every toy and was so into it. He loves his garbage truck and trains and trucks! Three is a fun age that everything little thing is so exciting to them :)

Gauge I love you! You are the sweetest boy a mommy could ask for. You love to hug and you are so fun. You really enjoy each new thing in life and I love having you as my buddy. Who's Gauge are you? Mom's Gauge! I pray you always stay so excited about life and that you would grow into a wonderful boy who loves God with all of his heart. You are so special bud!

Today is his real birthday so we are going to go to Chuck E Cheese to play and then exchange a present at Toys R Us. Oh the life of a kid! It's grand!

Teagan and her Cast...

2010-04-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

Good times with Pa!

My dad started this little game and they don't ever want him to stop! Talk about a work out!

Gauge will probably never break a bone. He is NOT a dare devil...He is his momma!

Painted her toes for the first time :)

I put a sock over it to keep dirt, food and junk out of the cast as well as keep it dry and clean from food. Works like a charm!

With her soft cast...

So yes...My little Teagan has a cast. You know it really shouldn't surprise me right? Anyone who knows or has met Teagan knows that she is a wild monkey. She is Teagan Evil Knevil...The child has NO fear of anything. She walks straight off slides (who needs to sit right?), she runs with no fear any and everywhere, and when she falls (which is often) she bounces right back up and keeps doing the same thing she was doing! If she ever cries it is only for a second and she finds something better to do than cry...(normally it's doing the same thing that got her crying in the first place! Good golly!) We all know the story of Teagan falling down the 15 stairs at the children's musuem without one bump or scratch. Well Saturday was the day...April 17th....

The goober fell off the side arm of the recliner (which mind you is not high AT all) and landed on her arm just right and fractured it. I knew she was crying a little odd for her and her arm seemed limp so we grabbed her and ran up to the Dr office which is right next to the Children's hosptial. I didn't want to go through ER and then have it be nothing but sprained and thankfully on Saturdays the Dr office is open until 12. This happened about 10:30am...So we run in there and there is no wait, walk right in and they send us immediately to the Children's hospital for xrays. There was no wait there either. (funny note: As I am registering her, my mom is playing with her over by some video games and she is using both hands on the controllers and acting like nothing is wrong...I almost made the decision to leave but thought no we are already here lets just do this) We go right up, get the xrays, run right back over to the Dr office which is closed but they go ahead and see us for the results and bam. Two fractures and she needs a soft cast until Monday when she can go get a cast at the Orthopedist. Awesome. Only my Teagan. :)

So we barely make it through the weekend with the darn soft cast because the child likes to take it off and it also comes unraveled. I wait and wait Monday thinking surely they are going to call any minute so we can go get this hard cast. Well 4pm rolls around and I'm starting to get mad. They finally call after me leaving message after message and say that she can get in on Wednesday morning. I'm thinking, the kids hand is broken and you are gonna wait till Wed?! Are you kidding me. So I call and call and at about 5 I get a PERSON (not a machine) and say if you can get a Dr. to look at the xray and tell me she is fine until Wednesday taking the soft cast on and off then I will wait till Wed. Otherwise I want an appt. for tomorrow morning asap. I sit on hold FOREVER and then she comes back and says...Ok tomorrow 7:55am come in and by the way, don't let her take that cast off. Duct tape it if you have to because the fracture is clean but if she falls once with the soft cast off it will break all the way through. Oh wonderful. So thank you ding dong nurses who want to make you wait until Wednesday! For the love! I learned you gotta annoy a lot of people to get answers and get the right thing done! I did ask her at one point if her arm was snapped in two would they make me wait till Wednesday? I also left a kind message during the day that said if I don't get a call back that says I have an appt tomorrow then I will be sitting in your office at 7:45 and I WILL make the appt myself for right then. I should have been an orthopedic pediatric dr since there are only 2 in the whole stinking town and how many kids break bones? ALOT!

So there you have it! Miss Teagan isn't even 2 and has her first cast, I'm praying it's her last cast. But I will take a cast over blood and stitches anyday. Ok maybe not. We have to have this thing on for 5 weeks so May 25th she gets it off. Try keeping a kid who is a monkey out of water and clean for 5 weeks. Tough I say...But ask Teagan about it, and she could care less she has one arm. This didn't stop her one bit. She even stills likes to be her daredevil self and hang by the one good arm on the bar over the slide...Awesome.

Are you ready for a major picture post?!

2010-04-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

Whoa....This is gonna be a lot of pics but we took a lot during Easter and I just love their cute little faces and expressions that I couldn't just pic one or two! :)

About two weeks ago Chris' mom (MiMi) came over and helped me and the kiddos plant some in the back. She got them each a strawberry plant. They are pretty little plants and I haven't killed anything yet! But unfortunately Gauge brought me a nice little handful of green strawberries the other day. I'm trying to explain that we can't pick them off or they won't finish growing...Tricky! I also planted some Roma tomatoes, Chives, Rosemary and Jalpenos. So far so good! Nothing is dead and I am super ecstatic. I even see a little bud coming out on one tomato plant. Woo hoo! :)

I also painted and clean up the back so we could enjoy more time there. The kids LOVE being outside so we just needed to get it done. Basically I just wanted bright colors so I would smile when I walked out :)

On to the next set of photos....I was working on some flower bows and the kiddos were in the courtyard where they play alot. I heard water running and lots of squeals and giggles. Sure enough I look out to see to soaking wet children playing with the hose. My first thought was I'm not stopping anything that the two of them are laughing that hard at because I love when they have a blast together. My second thought was get the camera. My third thought was, they are going to want to do this all the time now....;)

We had a great Easter. We had both sides of the family over for a little egg hunt and BBQ. It was so nice to sit outside and the weather was wonderful. Good times all around!

Now if I could just get my hiney motivated to finish painting our room that I half started! Goodness! I'm too engrossed in Food Nation with Jamie Oliver right now though! hehe

The kiddos strawberry plants...

And the sad green strawberries, whose lives were cut short ;)

Freshly painted backyard with plants and veggies!

I love this pic. You can tell he is really laughing a good laugh :)

Those pigtails are hilarious...

Singing their favorite "This little light of mine"

This looks like a pose I would do...."Oh my beloved cookie! How I love thee!"

Mom! Mom! Let's see the goods! They picked through the goldfish and cookies and went straight for the jellybeans :)

Teagan running to give her great- great grandpa, Papaw a cookie!

Wow! A cookie!

Gauge refused to go a get all the eggs to fill his basket. Instead he found it better to just open each one as he got to it and eat what was inside. Ha!

My silouhettes of the kiddos! I love how they turned out :)

Going to church on Easter... Bummer dad was working...

2010-03-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Oh so am I ever going to get back at a regular posting schedule? Hmmm... I think what makes me not do it is that I have to resize my pics and that makes me lazy! ;) I've been better at posting pics off my phone onto my facebook so I feel like I'm giving a pic update there too! hehe

We have been enjoying our wonderful weather and going on lots of walks, wagon rides and bike rides. I just figured out the other day when it was close to dinner and they were getting fussy and whiny that I would just pop them in the wagon and go walk the neighborhood. GENIUS! They are so happy doing that and just in sweet mood while we walk. So I get rid of the whining, stretch dinner back a little and get exercise while saving my sanity! I love it! :)

I've still been busy crafting and sewing. I am getting a little faster which is nice when I decide to do gifts last minute! ha!

We have been sort of potty training Gauge. I started with the undies and all but got real tired of that fast and it was like he just didn't get it. I figured oh well I'll try again in a month but literally like two days later he asked to go on his potty and went! I made a huge deal out of it and we have a sticker chart. Once he gets a row of stickers he gets a prize out of the prize bucket (which he has only been picking suckers! ha!) Anyhoo. I've just kept him in diapers but he asks at least 3 times a day to go and I just consistently back it with praise. He even pooped last Sunday before church! I was blown away! So here in the next few weeks I am going to start weaning the diaper a few hours a day until we are all out of diapers! I'm still worried about how to take him in a public restroom! How do that sit? And all that jazz...boo! I'm so proud of him though! And Teagan is even more interested which thank you Lord that child will really help me once she is! ha!

I'm also busy brainstorming ideas for Gauge's birthday...I'm so excited but I still can't believe he is going to be 3!! It's going so fast!

I also love at night when we read books. I am reading him a book about Easter and it says Jesus loves all the boys and girls and moms and dads too...So I told him, " You know Jesus loves you so much and He made you perfectly!" And he said 'No'..."Ok well He does I said, He loves you and so does mommy!" Well the next night when I got to that part I said "Who does Jesus love?" And he said "Gauge!" and then he began listing everyone else too..."And Teagan, and Daddy and mommy and on and on..." I just love that boy! I heard on our Christian radio KLOVE them talking about praying with kids and that we should pray like we always pray. Pray powerful and big prayers with them and let them know we serve a mighty God. I loved that! We pray every night so I just started praying like I would pray and one day I can't wait to hear him praying to God!

Here are some pics!

I'm loving the headbands now that her hair is getting longer!

Sweet girl!

Never got around to remembering to get her to wear it for Valentines day! Oh well next year!

Princess!

YoYo Headband

My new favorite!

I've been sewing kitchen towels now!

My first try at a ruffle hiney onesie! I wish I had a newborn myself to put one on! This was for sweet Eloise Jane! Isn't that name adorable!

My little goobers!

Sportin' the side pony! Love it!

My little cupcake!

Ok so Chris took Gauge and got his haircut and now they are really twins! I made them both smile their 'chris' smile and whoa...like father like son!

We have had many picnic lunch and dinners because of our beautiful weather! We are loving these times!

Picture Update :)

2010-03-15T12:11:00.001-07:00

Thought I would post a quick picture post. The beach pictures are from when I went on my women's retreat. Chris was super dad and took them to play in the sand at the beach both days and included a stop at Sonic for a treat. What a good dad! Since he did so well I think I should schedule another get away! ha!

Many Blessings!!

2010-02-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

So! We have been busy and God has been moving!

For those of you who haven't heard, this past week we went to Houston for Chris' 6 month Dr. appt for his AS. We knew it was the 2 year check up that we get xrays with to see any progression. We were anxious going because we didn't want to see that his AS and spread or gotten worse. Well many people were praying for us and God is in the buisness of miracles people! The Dr.s (these are the top AS Dr.s in the world!) called us to come look at the xrays and they were all stunned. Chris' bad hip that was really bad and needing and total hip replacement has reversed and gotten better! And there were NO signs of any progression of his AS fusing. Can you just say we were blown away?! Chris and I couldn't stop smiling and telling everyone that God has heard our prayers and answered! I am really believing God to heal him completely and that it will be a testimony to those Dr.'s that God is alive and active!

Lord you are so good to us! We praise you for working in Chris' life in this way and we are humbled. May you get all the glory, honor and praise!!

We also had a special treat and had Chris' sister come down to see us for a few days!! It was so fun! Gauge and Teagan loved having her here and Gauge would run around yelling "Aunt Ta!! Play cars!!" He had such a blast with her :) We love you Aunt Ta!!!

I have been busy with all sort of crafts and just started a new bible study at church, "Believing God" by Beth Moore. Was that not perfect during this time of Chris' Dr?! I am believing God!! It's an awesome study...

I'm also leaving tomorrow for our church's women's retreat in San Antonio! I'm excited about it and praying that Chris has a blast with the kiddos. He is keeping both of them for the next two days and I'm praying that don't drive him nutty! He is such a great dad though and I'm sure they will have a blast.

Enjoy the pics!

I'm such a posting slacker!

2010-01-29T10:37:00.000-08:00

Well my emotions are all over the place! Yesterday I cried like 3 times and people, I don't cry! Or at least I cry very little these days....(still hormonal wackiness I believe) But I just wish so badly I could hug my sweet Layne. We saw her on skype yesterday at my mom's and she started to cry talking about the day and there go me and my mom...I wanted to reach out through that screen and hug her hard! If you haven't been reading her blog, you are missing out. She and Jon both have a gift of writing and it feels as though you are right there with her in Africa.

www.africangypsy.blogspot.com

Anyways. I cried reading her post, cried when we chatted and then I got home and there is some new show on and it was about giving these lifetime adventures to people (kind of reminded me of Extreme Home Makeover but without the home...) Anyhoo. Last night was a father who had two little boys and was diagnosed with Lou Gherigs disease which you usually die within 3-5 years diagnosis. Well it got to the end and Chris was looking over at me telling me not to cry and I let out that little high pitch let out when you hold tears in on accident! Ha! I was holding it in too hard but it was so sad and good at the same time! I can't remember the name of the show but it was excellent. Anyways...emotional day! And it's not even 'that' time!! Ha!

Well not much else has been happening...Just staying busy, staying inside now that a cold front decided to come thru and trying to stay organized but not doing very well!

Teagan is a little under the weather. Slight fever and just not herself but I'm thinking it's all the teeth coming in. Poor girl. You can just see it in her eyes.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend and good golly it's almost Feb!! Time is flying!

Washing the car with dad. They REALLY like this!

What a goober face!

So excited about the water squirting!

Cool girl...

Big helpers...

Pigtails!!! Didn't last long ;)

Daddy's girl...

After I get home from the grocery store this is what happens! It's like Christmas!

50% of all sales from my etsy from now until Feb 14th will go to Compassion International for Haiti Relief Efforts

2010-01-18T17:30:00.001-08:00

From now until Feb. 14th I am giving 50% of all my sales on http://www.eyegiveahoot.etsy.com/ to Compassion International for Haiti Relief Efforts.

Check out KojoDesigns at http://www.kojodesigns.etsy.com/

They are giving 100% proceeds of sales sold this Thurs Jan. 21st. They have some CUTE stationary!

Most importantly let's continue to committ to praying for the people of Haiti, that God would bring peace, hope, comfort and healing during such a devestating time....

Lots to do=Nothing getting done...

2010-01-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this every happens to ya'll but whenever I have like an abundance of things to get done, it's like nothing gets done and I have little motivation. But the times I only have a few things and absolutely nothing I'm all ready and raring to go. Hmm....Need to work on that. I am keeping a spiral with an ongoing list of things I need to get done and then things I want to do. It's helping a little being able to mark off the things I do...I always love me a good list, notepad and pen ;)

I'm a secretary at heart... But I guess secretaries get stuff done not just look at the list...

Wanna know another wierd thing? I like go crazy with planning ahead and thinking I need to get everything even if it is a month off. Yeah...retarded I know. I'll always stress out and tell Chris I gotta get all this stuff and he will ask me when it is and then I will say oh in about a month. So your telling me I don't need to get it now? hehe Oh! Gee whiz...

Other little things have been bothering me lately too. The earthquake in Haiti is really on my heart lately. We sponsor a little boy named Alias in Haiti and I have just been so sad about it. I looked up info on sponsor children in Haiti and they say as far as they know all sponsor children are ok at this moment. They will contact you otherwise. I just cannot even fathom the chaos, fear, saddness, anxiety, uncertainty and on and on of what those people are going through. My heart breaks for each one of them. You know the one thing that stuck out from going on all of our mission trips with Teen Mania was a video clip I saw there. It had pictures of people all over the world and written on each clip were things like "They cry like you cry" "They hurt like you hurt" "They love like you love" and I have never been able to get that out of my mind. Especially when you watch the news and see these people's faces who are hurting and crying and scared and it makes me so aware that they are the just like me. We are the same. We hurt the same, cry the same, fear the same....They are just like me. And I hurt for them. I want to hug them and let them know God sees them. He is there in the midst of such catastrophe and He hasn't left them. He LOVES them. And so do I. I will pray earnestly for them and I will send money to help. If you haven't given please think of it. I know it was so easy to just text the number 90999 and write "Haiti" and they would bill you $10 towards the Red Cross on your next phone bill. $10. That's it. We can all do $10. And if we all do a little it adds up to a lot.

I guess my other thing I'm struggling with right now correlates to the Haiti thing. I have such a hard time with BALANCE. I'm reading "A Hole in our Gospel" by Rich Stearns who is the CEO of World Vision. It's an AMAZING book and I would encourage ya'll to check it out. It will challenge you like no other. I have such a hard time living the day in and day out life here and wanting to drop all of this materialistic, self absorbed, worldly junk and move overseas and love on people. Now don't get me wrong, I KNOW that it is HARD overseas. Probably harder than here but at the same time the draw of doing something to help those who are helpless and hopeless pulls so hard at my heart. I feel like here we are overwhelmed and bombarded with the world. It pulls you every which way. Even as a mom I guess because it's just the daily ins and outs of waking up, cleaning up and entertaining little kiddos that I feel like I'm not doing much for Christ. And yes I know that my mission field is my children and my home and those I meet but ya'll, can I be real? I stink! I stink at it so badly! I'm so not a shining reflection of Christ and I want to put what I know in my head and make it real. I want to know that this is my mission field and really see I'm giving some sort of glory to God. I'm only halfway through the book so I'm hoping Rich Stearns is going to tell me what to do....haha just kidding. I am going to seek Him harder though and I've really got to commit to READING His Word DAILY...Good place to start huh?? ;)

Well enough blabbing...Here are some pics!

Made some "Look what I did Today" clips for the kiddos art work

This boy loves him some Disney movies!

She is growing up way too fast ya'll....WAY TOO FAST. She is my little darling!

And I want an outfit to match ;)

Nursery letters for a good friends precious new baby, Miss Hadley. Doing these letters made me want to re-do Gauge and Teagans! Hmm.....

Bow Holder! Girls have gotta have some hair accessories!

What a little goober girl! Her hair is growing so much!

My sweet friend Natalie made these for the kiddos. They have a verse from the Lord. I LOVE THEM....

The same exact eyes! Hilarious! I think he looks just like his mommy! ha! Yea right!

She literally was in this pose for like 5 minutes watching a movie. Silly girl!

Saying "I love Kung FUUUUUUUUUUU!!! From Kung Fu Panda :)

Teagan's new thing. CLIMBING ON EVERYTHING!

Matching Mickey Pj's from MiMi and Pappy!

Had a Holly Jolly Christmas....

2009-12-27T06:02:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! We did! We are so very blessed and that's all I kept thinking of this Christmas. God has been so good to us!

We had a great time with both sets of families! Many laughs and smiles all around :)

I think Gauge and Teagan got enough Mickey stuff that we should be good in the Mickey dept. for a while! ;) Oh how they love their Mickey!

We even got to talk with Jon and Layne that evening as a family and pray with them. I'm bummed I didn't make cinnamon rolls like Layne because after seeing her picture of the ones they had Christmas morning, I am still drooling and dreaming of them! It was just fun to have them 'here' with us :) We love you guys!

Other than a wonderful holiday season I am in serious need of taking this dead tree down but I really don't even want to go there! It is so dead ya'll! The needles are going to be everywhere! But I gotta do it today...Today is the day....

But I think I will go to Hobby Lobby first, a little bright spot before unloading all of Christmas down... :)

Major Merry Christmas Picture Upload...

2009-12-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

Yeah so where have I been since November?! Very busy I say! :)

I have been doing some "Keep Calm and Get Crafty" galore! Maybe not calm all the time but I did have a lot of fun working on so much stuff for some awesome peeps! Thanks for thinking of me all you lovely peeps! I hope you liked it!

So is it just me or did Walmart, Target and my home away from home, Hobby Lobby not purchase as much to sell for Christmas this year? I'm shocked with the little they have left! I know it's basically Christmas but my little sale mode mind is thinking day after Christmas sales and what the heck is gonna be left?! The stores already seem bare! This I know because I have slowly added many things on sale just in the last week. Wreaths people, wreaths! They were $1.99! So I took my mom's idea and hung one on the outside of each of our bedroom doors. I love me some wreaths! All I know is that when I take all this stuff down my house is sure gonna seem bare! I will miss my cozy lights too! I guess that is what makes Christmas all fun and cozy every year though huh?

By the way did I tell you our tree is DEAD?! Deader than dead. It's past dead. It's just saddness. We still have to make it to Friday and it's not looking too good or smelling too good. I'm tellin' ya, artificial is the way to go right?! I'm afraid to touch it our turn the lights on! It is hard as a rock. Again I tell you, saddness....

So I'm wondering if you think I have enough pictures posted? Got a little behind and then got a little carried away but eh that's the way I'm rollin' tonight.

And on another note I just want to give a Merry Christmas shout out to the amazing Jon and Layne. I miss you peeps. I'm sad I don't get to eat more cookies with ya'll but Skype us so we can see your awesome faces on Christmas. You'll want to see the super duper excited faces of Gauge and Teagan when they show you their matching Mickey Blankets and Pillows! Shh keep that on the down low though because they don't know they are getting it...hehehe....By the way I asked Gauge if he is getting anything for Christmas and he said yes! From Santy Clause...And I said is mommy getting anything? And he said no...hmmm... But what's even better is when I ask him what the real reason of Christmas and he smiles real big and says "Baby Jesus!" Ahh I love that boy! I pray we teach them to have giving hearts and to always put others first and to know that the best gift we get is Jesus.

Hope ya'll have a Merry Christmas and remember that Jesus really the best gift! Let's love like Him!

And now for the MAJOR PICTURE UPLOAD!

Our two Mickey Mouse fanatics in the Mickey jackets...

One of the many faces of Teagan...

A little glimpse of what Teagan does while awake...Climbs and stands on anything she can!

What Dad?! It's just my paci's!

On eof my favorite things of Christmas...the cards!!

Made this ornament wreath....more complicated than I thought!

Keep adding to it! But it's dead as a door nail already! Uh oh!

Wearing dad's Russian hat mom got for him in Russia. Why doesn't Chris wear this often??

Teagan trying the hat on...

More Amish Friendship bread....the end of it. I threw the starters away! No more bread!!

Some of my favorite ornaments...

LOVE this one from a sweet friend at our bible study ornament exchange. By far my favorite on my whole tree!

Mom made Gauge ornament for 2009

And Teagan's....

Oh my sweet Teagan is getting so big!

Gauge with his new golf club to match daddy. They love 'golfing' together :)

More signs....

This is classic...This captures our life right now...two wild munchkins ready to run!

Made some cards for a sweet friend...

These I made for Aubs for shower gifts...Thank you Aubs for this AWESOME prayer! I love it!

This is my favorite color combo!

Finally pics from our little trip...

2009-11-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

So I have to resize my pictures to get them to upload now. Bummer! That's what took me so long posting these! A week ago we took our first little mini vacay with the kiddos to San Antonio for the day. (just the day mind you, I didn't want to try to spend the night! whoah!) We went to the zoo and the children's musuem.

When we used to go to San Antonio our thing was to definately eat something we don't get in Corpus. Well when you travel with kids, you are just lucky to grab something to eat. So we got there about 10:30 and I got a Whataburger biscuit and Chris got a Subway and we all ate it at the zoo. Yeah that's what we got in San Antonio to eat...ahahaha sweet right?

They had a blast at the zoo! Gauge's favorite animal was the giraffe which he still talks about today when he sees it in a book we read. The lion and tiger and bear were out so we got to see them which was fun. And Miss Teagan dropped her snack cup into the rhino's pen. Of course we would be the family that would drop the snack cup into the rhino pen! I freaked thinking, what else, that we would get kicked out...ahaha but I raced to find a worker to let them know. She said she would tell someone but if I wanted I could wait and they could get it back for me. Ummm nah...That's ok. The rhino pen was the one that smelled the worst! The rhino can keep it :)

I thought for sure they would be pooped and sleep but nope! They stayed up and we went straight to the Children's musuem. It was nice because everything is kid sized and just for them and Gauge was in heaven! Teagan just wants to be free and independent. She doesn't really care about anything there just being free to run! They had a small kids HEB where they get to push a shopping cart and get boxes of food and fruit and such and then check out. Teagan just wanted to push the basket forever!

Then the unthinkable happened. It is a three story building so there were stairs on each floor. Chris and Gauge were up ahead and Teagan and I were following. I had the camera on my shoulder and bent down to get something for it out of the stroller, glance out of my eye at Teagan and she is on the edge of the stairs going down. My heart stopped because I knew she was going down. Sure enough she fell and rolled down about 10-15 stairs. I was screaming "chris!" SO LOUD and running down as fast as I could but I was always like one step behind her. It was awful. The worst day of our lives we have had so far. I threw my camera off and finally blocked her to stop with my foot and swooped her up thinking something would be broken or bleeding. Chris got there right when I got to her and I just picked her up and immediately started showing her things on the walls for kids to take her mind off of it. She stopped crying pretty fast and we checked her all over. She had one tiny red mark and a slight bump but NOTHING else. And she went back to playing like nothing happened! Chris and I on the other hand were not ok. I was shaking so bad and I hadn't cried but I just lost it. I also didn't ever want to put her down or be far from her. She is just too fast, too busy and I thought I watched her like a hawk. Well that was a wake up call! With Miss Teagan you can't leave her for a second! Chris just kept saying that the scream I screamed was the worse thing he has ever heard and sounded like death. Get this though...There were people there and no one came to see what happened or if we were ok! If I would have heard someone screaming like that I would go check! Praise the Lord though, He had his hand on her and thankfully she rolled length wise across each step down. I think that helped her. God is so good! I prayed that night as I held her that He would always have his angels around her because she is a wild one!

Thank you Jesus for keeping my sweet Teag safe!

Other than that! We have just been having a nice time with Chris being off for vacation. We had a lot of family time and it was so nice. He had to go back to work today and we were all sad!

Now for Thanksgiving!!! I'm sure you know what I'm thankful for! God's protection, family, health and my sweet babies! I'm also thankful for internet and web cams so I can communicate and see Layne so well in Africa! I'm so blessed and I want to always have a thankful and joyful heart. What are you thankful for?

Teagan's Thanksgiving dress with matching bow :) Yeah I had fun with this! Chris' least favorite was her leggings and those were my favorite! He swore it didn't match and I said brown zebra is a neutral! :)

Check out this hair! Whenever my mom twists her hair up in her clip it always comes out like this later when I take it out! haha!

Gauge loved this part! He is in love with 'big trucks' as he calls them!

Miss Teagan and her shopping cart. Post fall! She looks a little ruffled right?

Flying his plane!

Digging for fossils. I have one CLEAN kid! He doesn't like sand all over him...hehe where did he get that?!

Such a cutie!

Loved these fish!

The snack food rhino pen

Roaring at the lions!

I thought they would love the goats and to pet them! Well I guess we are doing 4H and raising goats. They didn't care for it!

Flamingos!

Such a big boy! Nice a chilly morning!

Big girl looking around!

How did this happen so fast??

2009-11-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

From this.... to this....

From this..... to this....

They have grown up right before our eyes! I dressed Teagan for MOPS yesterday and thought the first little dress I made her might make a cute shirt now...It did :) I wanted one for myself when I saw hers on with jeans! But it made it reality of how fast they really do grow!

It seems like yesterday Gauge was that little with his thin hair growing in and his love of vacuums...And now look at him with his thick hair and sweet big smile and big boy shoes!! Still has a love of vacuums though ;)

Some new signs...The John Wayne one was for Steph's bday. She loves John Wayne...We thought the saying was cute :)

My little raggamuffin! This was right when she woke up from nap :) But I LOVE this bubble dress! Again I want one for myself too!!

Poor guy! His nose bobo...He was running out to see Gee when she dropped me off and he fell off the porch. He told us for DAYS over and over..."Gauge bobo...on nose...see Gee..." so cute and sad at the same time! He looked like Rudolph for a few days :)

Our little harmonica player. She loves this thing! Cracks us up how serious she gets!

So my parents got us a web cam so we can talk and see Layne and Jon and I'm hoping in a few days we will be able to do that! I love getting updates from them every other day or so. So I am getting better posting on here for her too! :)

MOPS was fun this Wednesday! We did our Operation Christmas Shoe Boxes. I absolutely love doing those. I can't wait for a few more years and Gauge and Teagan will be able to help do them :)

Seriously we are having a baby boom right now. Monday night I went to dinner with my Bible Study gals and three are currently pregnant and due soon and three just had babies like 2 months ago. Then at MOPS we have like 4 ladies who just had babies and 2 more very pregnant and 3 just announced yesterday that they were pregnant! Holy Smokes that's alot of babies! If I were a teenager I would get on the babysitting bandwagon right there!

I'm looking forward to a relaxing rest of the week and Chris took vacation so he is off all next week! YAY! We are going to go to the San Antonio Zoo and Children's Musuem I think Tuesday. That will be an adventure since we haven't traveled further than the 40 minute drive to Bishop. Oh I think I will load up on prayer the night before we leave ;)

Can you believe how fast time is flying?! I can't

believe we are almost at Thanksgiving and then Christmas and then Janruary 2010?!!

Saying Goodbye is never easy...

2009-11-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

"He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with them."

Psalm 126:6

So today we took my sister Layne and brother-in-law Jon to the airport to see them off to Africa. They are going to give their lives to the people of Africa and to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Can I just say first, I really don't like goodbyes. And I know it's not goodbye but more like see you later....but still....goodbyes, especially to ones that you hold so close and love dearly just is plain hard. It brings out the 'ugly' cry. The one that you really shouldn't try to hold in because it will just sound even worse...

But even with it being hard there is still joy...and we still praise Jesus because He has found Layne and Jon worthy to go and give their all to those who need Him. That is JOY...

This morning I woke up trying to just keep it together...but the moment I turned on the TV there on the screen were all these sweet African babies and kids. It was a show about those who hunger and need food and how we need to help. And right there pops up on the screen Angola and Mozambique. Right where Layne and Jon are going....And as a sat and watched those poor sweet babies and kids who were eating dirt by the handfuls because they were so hungry, made me stop and say Oh Lord thank you so much for Layne and Jon. I am so proud that they are giving up their comfortable lives here and giving up family to go and love those people. To show them they are so loved by Jesus and to bring peace and healing. I love that God brought that straight to me right before going to see them off so that I would know how important it is that they go. I admire them...I pray maybe one day we will be there serving together. Until then I will pray daily for them and I will take joy in knowing that they are right where the Lord has called them.

And thank you Lord for technology! We will talk via web cam and we will never miss a beat in each other's lives! We will see them and we will show them all of the new dance moves Gauge and Teagan learn ;) and I can't wait to see those sweet African faces and tell them how precious they are to Jesus and to us.

We had such a sweet time with them the past 2 1/2 weeks and I will treasure those memories forever. I praise Him for giving us that time as a family and I know there will be more....

So Layne and Jon, we love you deeply...We are so proud to be your family....and we cannot wait to see all that the Lord does in your lives because you went out with weeping but oh the JOY that will come with the work He does in and through you...

And He will say "Well done my good and faithful servants..."

New Etsy Site! Stocked full! Take a look!

2009-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

I renamed and stocked my new etsy shop! It's called 'Eye Give a Hoot' and I added alot of new hair clips, flower headbands and a few canvases. Go take a look at the super cute logo my amazing and talented friend Natalie made!

www.eyegiveahoot.etsy.com

Pass it on to anyone you think would be interested!

Layne, I haven't given up on my blog, I promise :) I will get back on the ball. We have just been staying busy with who knows what! My memory is horrible these days and I can't ever remember what I did the day before! ha! I do know that we have probably watched Mickey's Three Muskateers about 80 times. Gauge and Teagan are hooked. I mean HOOKED. It's almost a tad scary! ;)

Gauge is starting to talk up a storm! He tries saying all words, has been putting multiple words together and knows his colors and numbers up to 4! He also loves to sing but he just sings the last word of every stanza and drags it out. It's super cute :) He is growing up so fast!

Teagan is cutting multiple teeth! Both front two teeth have started coming in and many more are on the way. She is also still going 90 to nothing and climbs on any and everything she can. You can't leave that girl alone for a minute!

The big thing we are waiting for is MONDAY! Layne and Jon get here and stay for about two weeks and leave from here to go back to Africa with their one way tickets. Sadness....We are going to have a blast and cram a ton of time in with them and I am just holding off thinking of the whole one way ticket thing. I gotta get a web cam so we can see them when we talk on Skype.

Pics of sister time to come!

Ugh! I love that sweet chubby face!

He carries his juice like this in between his teeth. Talented that he can smile at the same time!

Yes now Teagan is a big girl and sits at the table too :)

Yummo! I made the little cake stand and these are the only things that have been on it...sad!

Coconut Creme Cake. Let's just say YUM :)

It's beginning to look a lot like FALL :) or sort of...

2009-09-25T05:19:00.000-07:00

So at least we did have a few days that were cool and 'fall' like! So I have decided since the first day of fall has passed then I will break out the fall decor! I spruced up my fall wreath that the people who lived here before us left and added a gold 'C'...

My mom and I made some pumpkin signs as well as some for Christmas...She is a whiz at the jigsaw and I had a lot of fun painting...

I have been in the works of re-painting some walls in our house. First I did the living room and I am going to work on the kitchen. Mainly because I didn't save the paint cans from the first time we painted and we were in desperate need of touch ups and I didn't have the color! Oh bummer I gotta pick new colors ;) You know I love that. Although I don't LOVE painting. It can be a pain but feel oh so good as you look at the finished wall :) Pics to come!

Yeah! Layne comes home soon! We are so excited to see her and Jon and we can't wait to have a blast and eat yummo food and laugh alot :)

I also finally finished the monogrammed 'C' canvas I had made to hang somewhere in the house. I loved it but just never finished it off but I did and now it is finally hanging. It's one of my fav! I'm pretty much in love with the 'C' :)

My poor bubba has been sick the past few days. He has a runny nose and a fever. I thought the fever was gone but this afternoon it started creeping back. He has no other symptoms so I am just watching him and keeping him on motrin. We actually already had an appt. for Monday morning so that works out good...They are due for their flu shots so I hope his fever goes away so he can get his...

I will say this, as soon as he gets well we are taking the paci's away...those things are on my last nerves and so yucky! :) Pray that goes well!

One other thing...We are doing a fundraiser for Layne and Jon's move to Africa through Arbonne's Lipgloss for a Cause. There are 6 lipgloss to choose from and each are $11 a piece. 52% of the profit will go to Layne and Jon. For example, if we sell 500 they will recieve $2800! It's a great fundraiser and while you support two wonderful people to spread the love of Christ to Africa you also get a great lipgloss in the process! Can't beat that! Let me know if you are interested and email at taraprescott@hotmail.com if you want to order. We are taking orders until Oct 15th...

Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to fall!

my wreath

yard signs! yay!

they were sitting right together and then started to move as I got the camera!

another sign

what a sweet face! Her hair is getting longer!

loves that doorbell

Catching up....

2009-09-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

Teagan and her new Keds...She likes them! :)

Ahh cute little feet!

Always trying to escape! And now with big kid shoes...I'm in trouble!

Are these not the cutest Crocs?!

I just love this face!

Handsome boy with his cakepop...

Cake face

I love that face. Her lips are all like "Hmmm...what should I do?"

Our sweet girl is ONE!

Sweet pea

A good picture with all of us looking...Whoa! :)

Cake pops! I wish I had one right this very moment!

Girly girl party :) I didn't have fun doing this or anything... ;)

New sign for a cute boy's door for his room

I love these colors!

Keeping the tradition with the pancake with a ONE for bday morning :)

And little man got a 2 :)

Teagan's faces crack me up...this one she looks perturbed with me for taking so many pictures!

This is one of her favorite spots! ha! I went out to the laundry room and just found her chilling in her seat eating a snack and happy as can be...

Is this swimsuit not the cutest! We got it for her baby shower from a sweet family friend and I'm so sad she can't wear it next year!

Swim beauty! On her way to a pool party :)

He LOVES the water....Really likes to "swim" and splash on his belly :)

Well August has come and gone...a little fast I might add! Whew! But no complaints since it means we are closer to 'cooler' weather meaning low 90's :)

Teagan's birthday was so fun and I had a blast getting it all together. The kids had fun playing and Gauge I think had the most fun because any toys Teagan got, instantly became toys for him to play with and oh how he played! His favorite for the first few days was a tea party set that makes noise....He is moving on back to his trucks now :) I like Chris, he would tell him to pour coffee not 'tea' because he said coffee is for the boys and tea is for the girls...Well I like both! :) She did get fun stuff like a new doll that giggles and blocks and and purse! :) She also got cute clothes and shoes, the Keds being from Gee. I should have known but I had no clue! Gee and her Keds...she must have all girls wear Keds...Hilarious :)

Other than that we have stayed busy dancing to kid songs which "If your Happy and You Know It" and the "Hokey Pokey" are on the top 5. Unfortunately I galloped around the house with them when "She'll be coming around the mountain" came on so now they want to do that one over and over and over and whew! I'm tired after 2 times! I think I will tell them that is Daddy's favorite song :) hehe...

MOPS starts up again this next week and we are exited for that! I am actually on the comittee and doing the kids curriculum. I'm trying to get it all together because you know how I like organization!

Enjoy all the random photos! We are having good times :)

Happy Birthday Teagan Kaye!

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

My sweet baby girl is ONE! Oh how time seems to have flown by even faster! I sat here tonight and rocked her (which if you know Teagan, is a huge thing since that girl doesn't like to be held long at all) and I savored every sweet minute of it! She is absolutely a joy and bright spot in our lives. Her personality is hilarious and she sports a 'tude' often! I love how she is one tough cookie and I call her my Weeble Wobble because when she falls she just rolls over like a weeble wobble and goes about whatever she was doing... Although if she is upset because her brother has something like a snack and she doesn't, then she definately lets you know and will even attempt to steal his while clinging tightly to his bowl and he drags her around as he is trying to get away. There is never a dull moment in our house and I would have it no other way!

Teagan Kaye, your mommy's hearts desire was to have a little girl. I love your brother so very much and love that he is my little man but I knew I would cherish having a daughter. I think I wanted a girl mostly because me and your Gee are so close and I wanted that special relationship with a daughter. God is so good because he blessed my heart and gave me your sweet little self. You are perfect in everyway and I am so thrilled to be your momma and to watch you grow. I pray I would be a godly example to you and that we would have a blast together. You are my sweets! I love you to pieces mieces....

Happy Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

Houston Trip...

2009-08-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

Lobby- I was totally digging those awesome curtains!

Where the elevators where...

The hall way....creeped me out at first but then I got used to it. Maybe because it was so dim?

What Chris and the kiddos did right when we got home. Chris played with Buzz while the kids jump up and down on his back...This is a favorite of theirs :)

I didn't do good on picture taking but we did set up the camera to get one of us!

Sweet archway right?

Really unique colors and oldschool wood cabinets and doors. I'm pretty sure it's all original...

Sweet! Look at the rubber ducky! I saw on the price list it was $5...ahaha! Along with a Snickers that was $4.

Shower and bath! And black and white floor!

Cool huh?

The chairs and a chandiler light...

It was actually a really comfy bed! You never know! The colors I thought were odd but maybe they were going with the old? Peach walls, baby blue wood trip and cabinets, strip carpet and funky gold and maroon bedding and curtains... Everything is mix matched which is kind of fun to me! It grew on me by the end!

My mom took this because she thought it was rather funny how many notes I have for being gone just one night! What can I say, I'm OCD?

Bow holder I made...

Well we had a wonderful quick trip to Houston and we are glad to be back. I'm so thankful God gave me someone who misses our kids just as much as I do and would rather be home with them. We talk about them the whole time and miss them and just love getting home to see them. Not that we didn't have fun together not having to rush eating or shopping and just relaxing but I think one night is plenty :) Although today I believe they were testing me to see how far they could push me. It was like they were tag teaming me! And no naps= no fun. Seriously it's rough with no naps. I am starting tomorrow with 'rest time'. Most of the time he naps but occasionally he will skip one or two but I am enforcing a new rule....He must stay in there for rest time. He can do whatever he wants in his crib but it's gonna be rest time by golly :)

So Chris' Dr. appointment went well! No real news is good news and as Layne told me...We thought we had xrays this time but he won't get those until Feb. (that worked out perfectly so we could enjoy our trip and not worry) We did ask if his measurements were getting worse over the last four visits or staying the same...kind of getting idea of the fusing going on. Most of them had gotten better than the first visit! Praise the Lord! Funny note: The measurements he does are like bending down to touch your toes, standing straight against the wall and bending side to side and bending his neck side to side. The Dr. was measuring when he bent side to side with his neck and he said his neck looks awesome and that if he bent it any further it might fall off! ha! Maybe you would have had to been there but anyhoo that's really good since one concern of AS is fusing of the neck! Other than that we are still just fighting the battle of getting Chris motivated to either ride bikes, swim and walk. Those are really the three exercises that are recommended for AS and or arthiritis paitents so they stay mobile and flexible but not hard impact. Well, as well as I know Chris, I KNOW he isn't going to swim, he walks a good amount at work but it's not power walking or anything so the last thing is biking....We will see. The ball is in his court. The only other thing is to have his hip replaced so he won't have any pain in the hip when working out. (that's were his pain comes from) He isn't going to do that anytime soon so that boy better start riding bikes! We were doing so well riding with the kiddos after dinner but with this dern heat, we aren't doing anything outside! Soon we can start up again :)

The hotel we stayed at was called Hotel Icon down on Main street. It was super sweet. It was so old school and everything was so mix in match but really old style and unique. We really liked it. They even turn down your bed at night and give you a chocolate. They only gave us one chocolate?! So who ate it? Yeah, me..for breakfast! ha!

Right after the Dr. appointment we stopped and ate at the Goode Company BBQ (since we looked it up on Food Network because Chris is addicted to Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) and that was so good! Then Chris wanted to drive to Hempstead and go chat with a guy who makes his fishing rods and get some decals for his boat. Chris is what you call a 'purist' in the fishing world...and so is this guy who makes fishing rods, so you can only imagine how long they chatted fishing and rods and reels and yada yada yada. I had fun scoping out the rods he had made and wanting to design my very own that would have pink and turquiose on it...Hmmm I should do some designing for him :) He was extremely friendly and showed us everything and how he does it all step by step. I thought I was going to be bored to tears but I actually enjoyed it because I like tedious things and making those rods is just that, tedious. But seriously, Hempstead is beautiful! I wanted to move there! So green and country and trees! So since I went with him there, we went to the Galleria Wed. And OH MY. I haven't ever been there and I was shocked. We both said it reminded us of New York. Actually the whole hub bub of Houston reminded us of NYC. It was crazy to see the stores in there like Jimmy Choo, Tiffany's, Barney's, Neiman Marcus and so many others I can't even believe! And the store I went too and bought stuff? MAC. Yup MAC makeup, the same thing I could get here at our Dilliards :) But I did get cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory! YUMMO!

So on the way to Houston and home we kept seeing these billboards along the highway advertising for this gas station. They raved about their restrooms and food and such. Well on the way home we stopped. It's in Wharton and it's called Buc-ees. And it's mascot is a beaver. Can I tell you it was amazing?! Their bathrooms were something to rave about! So clean, nice, big, toliet sanitizer and hand sanitizer IN the stalls, beautifully straight, clean and perfect rows of drinks, candy, chips. And then TONS of their own candy and food and such. We were amazed. And we shall now always stop and give Buc-ee's our buisness and if you are ever going through Wharton, check it out! :) ha!

So this is long and I am pooped and there is one last piece of mint chocolate chip cake and I am going to eat it and savor it :)

Tootles for now....

I heart my children...

2009-08-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

What?!

Let's just say I can't get this girl to be still to take a picture!

oooh Baskins cake!!!

My lovely Fiesta pitchers! I love them!

One cute kid!

One cute girl!

Her face cracks me up!

Yeah this is my chair and I am cool :)

Classic Teagan face!

Yup! I do! I heart my kids! They are the best thing ever. They seriously crack me up daily. Their personalities are hilarious and I love how different they are from each other. Spices things up a bit ya know? :) Seriously though, we have some major sibling battles happening. Teagan thinks her job in this family is to a.) be one stinkin' cute kid and b.) try to steal, push or get into her brother's things. No matter what the poor boy is doing Teagan will get this look on her face, run over to whatever he has, steal it and run (well her run is a little slow but its a run for her). Then Gauge will either a.) take it back and have to dodge her swinging hands because she is ticked off or b.) pushes her down. Yes ma'am we have some sibling rivalry right here at the dern ages of 2 and 1 year old. Mmmhmmm, I gonna have to nip this one in the bud although my mom and sister reminded me last night that for some reason that is what siblings think their job in life is as kids, to drive their other sibling crazy. As Stephanie reminded me that Layne and I would try to get into her locked bedroom and figured out we could use our library card and slide it in the door and open it. Hahaha. I said it was probably because she had a sweet purple radio that played "Walk like an Egyptian" and what sisters would not want to break into that room to get jiggy with that awesome song?! Good times...

My family came over last night to celebrate my birthday a little early and brought Macaroni Grill and my all time favorite cake...a Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip ice cream cake! That right there = an awesome birthday to remember. Yeah I have a severe obsession with mint chocolate chip ice cream from Baskins....but moving on...they also started me on a collection of Fiesta pitchers for my shelf, which is incredibly awesome now with that addition. My favorite thing is when I put them up, Gauge walked in and did like this gasp and pointed and was definately liking the new addition. He liked it so much that he woke up the next morning and pointed again very excitedly while saying 'gee, papa, nini, boog) since they are the ones who gave me them. One smart observant kid if you ask me! I like that he appreciates fabulous additions such as Fiesta pitchers to a kitchen shelf. I love that boy :)

And since Chris doesn't read this blog I will confess my secret here. Teagan was up early this morning and instead of being bummed that she was up earlier than normal, I was thrilled because that means I snuck eating a piece of BR mint chocolate chip ice cream cake for breakfast. (did I mention it was Baskin Robbins?!) If you don't eat cake and ice cream directly the next morning after a birthday, you are seriously missing out. It is by far one of the main reasons I love birthdays. There my secrets out and I feel like a weight has been lifted....My name is Tara and I am a Baskin Robbins-aholic :)

And lastly, Chris and I are going to Houston Tuesday for his semi-annual Dr. appt for his AS and we decided to go ahead and stay the night and kind of do a Dr/birthday trip. We really never go to Houston and stay longer than going to the Dr. and eating lunch and coming home. Any good things to do there? We are staying downtown and I am planning on the Galleria. Because good golly have I not been? I don't think I have! Sadness. So I'm excited about that. Pray that we have good results from his appt and that we have a safe trip.

I'm actually going to take my camera in hopes to get some pictures of the two of us on a 'vacation' :) haha. Until then, enjoy these hilarious photos of our extremely funny children who I will miss even just for 2 short days!

Aunt Tara, Dresses and Baby Showers...

2009-08-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

Well I'm a little behind on posting only for the fact that I tried twice to upload pictures to post and it messed up twice! Sheesh. Once it messes up, and because it takes forever, I get flustered and end up moving on to something else. SO! Finally it worked today :)

Aunt Tara went back home to Virgina, which we were sad to see her go, but excited for her to see Robert, who is coming back from Iraq this week! Yay for Tara and Robert! Now we have another Aunt and Uncle that will keep us posting more regularly so they can see what craziness the kiddos are up to :) We love you guys and we are so thankful for your serving our country!

I met the neatest family through etsy (if you have never been on Etsy.com, check it out...they have awesome stuff and it's all handmade) Laura and her daughter Mily have two CUTE CUTE shops and I bought a ring (super cute and vintage style) from her daughter Mily, who was raising money to go on a mission trip. Her mom makes some of the most fabulous dresses EVER and we got one...(Many thanks Laura!!) and I am so eager for her to grow into it. It won't be long because girlfriend is growing up fast! Check out their esty shops...You won't be dissapointed and they are a wonderful Christian family :)

http://www.icandie.etsy.com/

http://www.foidesigns.etsy.com/

SO many people are having babies!!! Seriously I have like 10 people I know having babies! Which means lots of baby showers :) I love baby showers! Well any shower really! Here is a sign for a friend and a couple of burp rags. I can't wait for her to meet little Carlin! Babies are the best gifts from God ever! So amazing and such miracles.

Well! I am busy painting some more signs and I'm doing a new thing this week...a bow holder! I'm excited about that one :) You know how I like bows!!! :)

I better go get some orajel for miss Teagan. Girlfriend is getting a mouth full of teeth since she waited until 11 months to start! Her first one in is the side tooth which is kind of like a bubba tooth right? I mean normally they get the top two or bottom two but Teagan likes to keep us on our toes so she got the side one in first. Ha! That girl is hilarious! I will be glad once they are all in though and she starts feeling better and not so cranky...poor thing!

Fun times tomorrow! Lovely Tiffany is taking me to get a pedicure at Woodhouse spa for my bday and then we go to dinner with the MOPS gals. That sounds like a terrific Tuesday if you ask me!! :)

Sign for Mr. Carlin's baby shower

Oh my love! She is so funny!

Is that not the best packaging ever?!

Like Father Like Son

2009-07-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

I love how Gauge wants to be just like Chris. We go shopping for shoes or clothes and if I just say "You want some like daddy's big boy shoes? or big boy shirt?" He gets a huge smile on his face and gets excited. So he loves Chris' visors and we think he looks good in one ;) See below...

We are in bow training with Teagan right now. She has figured out that I put them in her hair and quickly tries to pull it out. I have to just continually put it back in over and over but I will not give up. She will wear bows!

Paul Washer

2009-07-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

If you have never heard of Paul Washer you should 'YouTube' him. Heck 'YouTube' "sermon jams" I have watched several and they are so powerful for such small snippets. To think if we could just show these in church on Sundays, man people would be seriously convicted and maybe we would start living radically like Jesus did instead of living for ourselves and our own comforts. After all aren't we supposed to be like Jesus? Watch this video. It's only like 3 minutes. Watch it all the way through. It will make you cringe and possibly aggitate you but I will guarentee when it is over you won't be the same. I need to watch it daily... because this world IS NOT MY HOME...So why am I living like it is? Like it's the fiber of all we say and do and have....Lord change me...CHANGE ME...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYsClDclvf0&feature=related

Papi's and Blankies

2009-07-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

Those two things are like gold in our house! I can't tell you how many paci's we have lost and I search endlessly until I find and how many times I have to sneak blankies away so I can wash them :)

The new funny thing is that Teagan gets a kick out of stealing Gauge's papi and blankie! She will tun over to where ever he sits them down, snatch them quickly and take off running as fast as she can, which is really slow but oh so stinkin' cute! She will also do a giggle like she love's him to come chase after her. It's such a cute thing to watch.

Other than that we are just again trying to stay out of the heat and in the AC! I am counting down the end of summer! I can't wait for just a little relief from this heat!

My little man is going through some attachment things wanting only me most of the day and I am the only one that can rock him at nap and bedtime. But I sure do love the loving from him though. I know it's just a stage so I am just soaking up the time he wants to just have me cuddle with him. He also is giving real hugs. He will run up to Chris or I and give us a squeeze hug and it is so cute! And it melts your heart!

I gotta start thinking of things for Teagan's birthday! I can't believe in a little over a month she will be one! My goodness time flies when you are having fun :) I know I want to do a "Tea" party for Miss TEAgan....hehe So I am planning and thinking and of course Googling!

If you don't read the Living Proof blog that Beth Moore and her daughters blog on you should go check out this post from one of her daughters Melissa. It was such a good one! http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/07/oh-yes-jesus-loves-me.html

Lovin' her new blankie from Aunt Boog!

Teagan LOVES the silky side and Aunt Boog gave her this big silky Little Girraffe blanket and that child is in love...(and so am I when I cuddle in it when she is not using it! ha!)

So handsome. This face makes me break out into the biggest smile!

Grabbing blankies!

Notice she has his papi in one hand and his blankie in the other! Stinker!

He has a double cowlick and how do you like that Dennis the Menace hair! Ha!

This happens after nap! :)

Haircuts and Double Stroller...

2009-07-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

Whoohoo! We got our new double stroller in and it is a dream! I am going to sell the Double Sit and Stand stroller I had orginally bought because it wasn't working out for us. I love my friend Tiffany's stroller and went on an internet search for it and found it for a super bargain! I love bargains! As you can see in the pics below, Teagan loves it and so does Gauge because he sat in it while I read him his bedtime books... :)

We also took Mr. Gauge to get a 'real' haircut today. Chris and I thought maybe I should stop butchering the poor child's hair with my craft scissors :) Well I watched closely as they did it today and I can totally do it ;) I just need some hair scissors and a razor thingy majig. Sally's here I come! He did SOOO good and sat there with the funniest face. He throughly enjoyed looking at his handsome self in the mirror the whole time. When he was all done he was just smiling away as we told him what as handsome big boy he was. Such a cutie! (these pictures are backwards. I'll get it right one of these days!)

And then of course there are some pictures playing on daddy's new boat. They love playing on that thing! So funny. I guess it's like a fort to them. That's one expensive fort! ;)

Enjoy the cuties being cute. It's what they do best!

OH I could just eat him up! I love that sweet face!

Mrs. Big Stuff...

Loving those sweet legs in her cute sandals!

Good times...

A classic Teagan face. My little goober!

Good golly I love that child! Note the world's tinest clip in her hair. I know it's a shocker! They are usually huge. But I like variety!

Yup she approves of the new stroller!

Seriously! It's been since May 30th since I posted?!

2009-06-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

Well! That's a long time! Let's see if I can recap what been going on...

The biggest news is that Miss Teagan is walking! And not just a little, but like she doesn't crawl anymore. And that little girl is fast! Within three days she went from a few steps to almost running and going from sitting to standing and walking all by herself. She definately keeps us busy now! Good thing is I always know where she is at, right by Gauge. She just wants to do everything he does. I finally got her walking sandals so she can walk outside but you won't believe what happened....While in the mall she dropped one! So now we only have one and let's just say they weren't cheap. Dern it. I am praying that it will show up in the lost and found at the mall by tomorrow....And it didn't so Target shoes are now our friend :)

Gauge is really trying to talk alot! He will repeat or try to repeat most words you tell him to say and he is a pro at the sounds of each letter in the alphabet. He recognizes and says the sound...I'm one proud mama! His new thing is his cars. Chris took him to Toys R Us to get him a little Hot Wheels suit case thingy to carry them in and they had one that rolls like a mini little suitcase. Let's just say he is in love! Rolls and carries his cars=one happy boy! I am also so proud of how he is becoming such a little book worm! I thought the day might never come! He loves to bring us books to read and his favorite (well right now that is) is The Wheels on the Bus. Can I just say you thought the regular song was long...well you should read this one. Holy smokes singing through that book is exhausting! ;) But I can't resist his little smile so I read it over and over.

Layne and Jon are here in town for the week and then they are off to Portugal for language school. We are super excited to be able to spend some time with them before they leave for several months. And having them was extremely fun! We already miss you guys!

Other than that we are just trying to keep cool and stay indoors because of this dern heat! My goodness it is hot!

Here are some pics for fun!

Aquarium fun and some new signs + craft room in progress!!!

2009-05-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

So we went to the aquarium with my fun and great friend Tiff and her kids (whom I love to pieces mieces too!) Gauge had a bit of a rough start with some tantrums but then we had a blast. They absolutely LOVE the play area outside...Gauge likes it probably more than the fish. Teagan could care less as long as she is anywhere people are and having a good time!

I'm so anxious for my craft desk to get here! I have the room painted and some decorations ready but I need the darn desk! It should be here Tuesday and then I will post more pics. I can't wait! I just love organizing and to have everything crafy in one place and a place to work on stuff will be heavenly. I have been working on a lot of signs and really having a blast doing it, so to get it more oragnized will be nice! Maybe I can actually start scrapbooking for my kiddos! I'm way behind!

Other than that we are just staying busy and having fun.

Enjoy the pics! They are growing way too fast for me!

Kaylenn being tickled by her mama. She has a great little squeal :)

My little man is growing up. He loves parks and playgrounds!

Homies chillin'...Look at their legs! Talk about maxin' and relaxin'!

I love this one because he looks like a little monkey and he is wearing a monkey shirt and that is one silly face!

Again buddies just chillin'. I mean does it get any better than this? Oh to be a kid again!

Teagan all sunshiney!

She loved the fish and that is one massive fish!

Good times

How cute is this? He is in a huggy stage. Love it!

A new sign and my favorite colors!

Waaaahhaaahahaha My fake Coach. I just love knockoffs! Who can tell the difference? It's craziness!

My $380 frame that I got for $12 at Hobby Lobby...I heart you Hobby Lobby!

And the new wall colors for the laundry room/craft room....just waiting for my big black craft desk!

So handsome...

Some signs I did for a friend....I love how it came out so now I want some! :)

He loves to peek and greet people through the mail slot...

We couldn't not post Teagan and her crazy lizard tounge. That's only halfway out! She is a messy eater unlike her brother!

Another sign...

And another...

And another!

Mother's Day...

2009-05-10T18:45:00.000-07:00

What a blessed mama I am. I have the sweetest two babies ever and I couldn't be prouder to be their mama. Thank you Lord for my sweet blessings!

Chris worked nights and he is so sweet, as always, to have my cards and gifts laying out for me to find when I wake up in the morning. He also does a great job on getting a card for me from him and then one from the kids, which that one always cracks me up :) He got me the James Avery stackable birthstone rings for each of their birthdays and since Teagan and I share the same month I have a peridot for us, a white sapphire for Gauge and a blue sapphire for Chris. I had to have them ordered so I can't wait to get them sometime this week :)

I also must give a shout out to my wonderful mother. I have the best mama in the world and God couldn't have given me a better role model. I am who I am today because of her. She is an amazing woman of God who so graciously loves and at the same time pushes you to be a better person and to live in a way that makes God smile. I love you mom. Again I pray I can be just like you for my kiddos...if I can, then I would say my kids have the best mom in the whole world ;)

They just love each other! So sweet :)

This girl has my heart!

Killer shoes...

Concentrating on his watering job...

What? I can handle this... :)

Sign I made for a lady with cancer...

She likes to clap now :)

It's hard to get a photo of the three of us looking forward!

I had to add this one because of her tounge. My little lizard!

2nd Birthday, dedication and randomness...

2009-04-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

Fun times in the Craver household!

We celebrated Gauge's 2nd birthday on Sunday the 19th as well as Teagan's dedication that morning at my dad's church.

Teagan got to wear her beautiful dress that the Heath's had given her before she was born and I was saving for her...She fit perfectly in it for her dedication and of course looked like a little princess. We are so blessed to have two wonderful, healthy and sweet kids. Thank you Lord!

We then went home for naps and while the kiddos napped I swung into bday mode. I had so much fun skipping around and decorating this year. I loved this new year because he understood more actually knew he was about to have a fun day with his Mickey Mouse birthday.

With some gift cards from Aunt Boog and NiNi and the Brandley's I was able to get a little toddler table for him that he is loving feeling like a big boy in.

He also has chipped a tooth! His front tooth! I don't like sounding like a superficial mom but I will have to tell you I was quite sad when I saw it because I thought of all his pictures until he is like 6 are going to have this little chipped tooth! I am going to call the dentist though and just see if it needs a little filing because that little booger is SHARP! Anyhoo, I guess a boy is a boy....Hopefully he won't bust anymore out! Oh! And it happened by just slipping in the shower with his father, (note: his father, NOT me...) I actually was playing with him after bath and looked at him and freaked out. Chris was like "Oh. He must have done that when he slipped in the shower..." Well HELLO! He really didn't even cry so it was a freak accident.

Other than that we have just been now staying around the house because BOO for swine flu....I just rather not get into that!

What's that? Oh yes my chipped tooth...

So it's not hugely noticeable I suppose.... :)

I love my big boy table!

Oh good golly mom! This humidity is awful on my hair! ;)

Playing his guitar from Papa and Gee...Like mother like son :)

Teagan getting in on the icing action...

Playing with her girlfriend Jordan :)

He got so tickled that everyone was singing to him. It was precious!

Coloring with his new pad and triangle colors...And of course his mickey ears!

Playing!

Party time! Oh how I love this courtyard!

The 4 Mouskateers!

Hey I'm 2! :)

Cupcakes for the adults...

Cupcakes for the kiddos...easier to hold!

What to pick....Hmmm

Teagan with her dress my mom made her to she could coordinate :)

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse :)

Dedication....I love my family!

My sweets!

All dressed up!

God requires change...

2009-04-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

So God doesn't really give out the 'Easy' button does He?

He called us to take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow Him. It's the dying to ourselves part I'm always battling with. God is in the buisness of change. He never wants us to stay right where we are at. He is always refining and purifying us; molding and shaping us; smoothing and chiseling us, into the image of Him. And can I tell you that is one heck of a process. For me, that's a lot of chiseling...

You see I have this little problem with this person, Tara. Yes me, Tara. She is the most stubborn gal I know. She really really doesn't like releasing control and letting God work. No she has this little problem with wanting to control everything herself. But like my mama has always said, "Tara you better learn the lessons God is teaching you the first time around, or else He will have to keep bringing up those problems until you give and learn the lesson."

Well, I give.

If you haven't ever listened to JJ Heller's music, you should. She has wonderful talent and the words to her songs hit home...Here are the lyrics to "Only Love Remains"....God brought this song fresh to my mind as I sang Gauge to sleep and it is where He is calling me to be...

Scenes of you come rushing through You are breaking me down

So break me into pieces That will grow in the ground

I know that I deserve to die For the murder in my heart

So be gentle with me Jesus As you tear me apart

Please kill the liar

Kill the thief in me

You know that I am tired of their cruelty

Breathe into my spirit

Breathe into my veins

Until only love remains

You burn away the ropes that bind

And hold me to the earth

The fire only leaves behind whatever is of worth

I begin to see reality For the first time in my life

I know that I’m a shadow But I’m dancing in your light

Teach me to be humble

Call me from the grave

Show me how to walk with you upon the waves

Breathe into my spirit

Breathe into my veins

Until only love remains

Keep changing me Lord...keep changing me....

Until only LOVE remains....

And of course I don't like leaving a post without pictures!! Here are my sweets doing what they do best, being stinkin' cute!! :)

New 2T Pjs from Aunt Boog. Yes that's right 2T!!

Painting a canvas for mama with his new finger paints...Note he isn't into the finger part, rather uses a brush...Did my OCD rub off??!?! :)

I went to lunch while they napped and came home to see this...That will melt any mommas heart! Teag and her daddy had spent quality time while brother napped :)

This child LOVED the water hose...But be careful...He squirts you!

Lovin' his leap frog speller. He really just likes to push the button that sings the ABC's for him while he dances around!

And I can't leave a post without posting one of my girly! Here she is eating Gauge's raisins wrapper...Yes she follows behind him just waiting to get whatever he leaves...Little booger!

Oh! Good golly I almost forgot I gotta post about Mr. Gauge's 2nd birthday!! I will do that with photos on his real birthday coming up this Sunday...Stay tuned!!

A little behind on the pictures for Layney Poo...

2009-04-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

He had to open every single one, one at a time and eat the goldfish or rasin out and then move to the next egg...Let's just say that took FOREVER! :)
Raisins!!!

Ridin' together :)

Playing with the train table...yea we aren't very good about waiting till birthdays huh? :)

Easter pic with the fam

Peekin! She really wanted Gauge's! Of course!

Ooooh! What's this?!

Gummy! Isn't she the funniest?!

She went back and forth from silly to gummy! She is always this happy in the morning! It's loads of fun!

My pretty girly girl

My sweets!

Buds!!

No, I'm not having any fun dressing this girly! :)

Bff's! :)

How cute is that hiney! Cute hiney courtesy of Gee...

All dressed up for church....Earrings-check, braclet-check, cute sandals-check, dress and hairband-check....I'm good to go mom! :)

She has a fascination with her hand...so silly!

I love this happy girl!

What? You taking pictures of me? Yeah I'm cute, I know it ;)

My Etsy Store!

2009-04-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Yay! Check out http://www.marlataviano.com/ (she is one of my favorite Christian writers). She mentioned me in her blog today and on her sidebar she has my etsy store! Tara Lou's! I have started trying to sell my signs I paint. Thanks Marla!

And check out Marla's books. I have read 3 of hers and LOVED them. She is hilarious, down to earth, right on the money and her books will have you laughing and totally encouraged!

Crib time...

2009-04-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

So it seems the crib is the newest hang out place in the Craver household. No not for sleeping, though I just want to praise the Lord for having such good sleepers!...but no once these munchkins wake from nap they want to play in one of the two cribs together! They don't care which as long as the are rolling around laughing together :) Chris just said the other day, "I'm glad we had them this close; they are buds!" Me too. This short (but sometimes seems long) season of craziness will soon pass and they will be to buds skipping around together. Love it!

So ya'll wanna know what I dream about when I sleep? I dream I am telling the kids, "Hey kids! Ya'll wanna go to the library? Sweet! Hop in the car with your library bags and we are off!" Here they go sweetly with their bags and open the car door, buckle themselves in and smile happily that we are going to the library where they are going to quietly get lots of fun books....lol yes my dreamland...no it's not a vacation to Hawaii or even a huge chocolate cake...hmm wait there might be a chocolate cake when I get home...but alas it is having two kids who understand, talk and get in the car on their own!! hehe Now I know, I know this may not be how it goes exactly or even everytime but a girl can dream right?!

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my babies, I LOVE these stages they are in but I can't help but think of the greatness coming one day. Which is nice to think right? I'm seeing greatness coming! :) I do have to say that there is nothing better than seeing a gummy smile when Teagan wakes up or Gauge yelling all kinds of mumbled words because his voice and words are a new thing to him.

You know what I am most thankful for? That God doesn't ever change. He always is the same. He loves us no matter what. Good days, bad days, dull days....He looks down and sees us in every stage and says, "I love her!" What is even more amazing is that He loves us so much He sent His ONLY Son to die just so we might live. Maybe I need to plaster that on post it notes everywhere and then every single moment I live I would live in a way that shows how thankful I am to my amazing Father...

So what are you thankful for and what helps you remember all God has done for you so that you live a life of gratitude everyday? You see I know the truth and I desperately want to live it, just seems its hard sometimes to reflect that in my life, my true gratitude and love for Jesus...What helps you?

Crave The Wave

Vacay 2011!

Possibilities are endless!

8 Years...

Word...It's been a while...

Excited!

DUKE

Christmas 2010

New York

Thanksgiving

Whoa. Where have I been???

Our First Family Vacay!

And the winner is....

Book Review!! Jen Hatmaker's "Out of the Spin Cycle" Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load (BONUS! Giveaway!!!)

Man I've been a bad blogger!

It's all good...in the hood....

Wowee and Good Golly...

Gauge is 3!!

Teagan and her Cast...

Are you ready for a major picture post?!

Picture Update :)

Many Blessings!!

I'm such a posting slacker!

50% of all sales from my etsy from now until Feb 14th will go to Compassion International for Haiti Relief Efforts

Lots to do=Nothing getting done...

Had a Holly Jolly Christmas....

Major Merry Christmas Picture Upload...

Finally pics from our little trip...

How did this happen so fast??

Saying Goodbye is never easy...

New Etsy Site! Stocked full! Take a look!

It's beginning to look a lot like FALL :) or sort of...

Catching up....

Happy Birthday Teagan Kaye!

Houston Trip...

I heart my children...

Aunt Tara, Dresses and Baby Showers...

Like Father Like Son

Paul Washer

Papi's and Blankies

Haircuts and Double Stroller...

More frequent posts for Aunt Layne!

Seriously! It's been since May 30th since I posted?!

Aquarium fun and some new signs + craft room in progress!!!

Mother's Day...

2nd Birthday, dedication and randomness...

God requires change...

A little behind on the pictures for Layney Poo...

My Etsy Store!

Crib time...