Brian Therena Talmage Barrett

Just a few.....

2011-03-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

My blog will soon be undergoing some MAJOR renovations! But since I still haven't managed to get around to doing so, I thought I'd post just a few pics from our wedding!

Annual Post-Christmas Dune Trip

2011-01-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

Every year we head down to the Sand Dunes after Christmas. This year Sarah and Blane came in from Florida and went with us! And, of course, it was Brian's first time! He had a few spills on the quad, but did AMAZING for his first time riding at the Dunes! Talmage is becoming a Pro on his little 50, and will probably need a bigger quad for next year. Even Barrett attempted to ride it this year and did fairly well too!
It was FREEZING there, and we had to stay bundled up. Unfortunately for Bear, the only gloves we had for him were pink!

Christmas

2011-01-13T17:48:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful holiday season this year! It was so fun being with all of our family. We struggled to find a balance between 3 families this year, but it ended up working out great!

This was Christmas Eve at my parents. Talmage and Barrett spent the majority of Christmas Eve with the Candland Family, while Brian and I went to the Taylor Family. Then we hurried and made it in time for the Nativity at my parents.
Christmas morning at my parents

It was our first year with the Taylor Family, and we had so much fun! We love them so much, and they have all been so welcoming and accepting of us as part of their family. The boys LOVE Brian and having him as part of our family.............and having new grandparents, and all their new cousins to play with!
Brian got a tiara as part of one of his gifts! I think he should have let me wear it!

Thanksgiving in Hawaii............and some news!

2010-11-30T20:13:00.001-08:00

I didn't have my boys this year for Thanksgiving, so I decided to go spend Thanksgiving with my brother Stephen, who is attending BYU-Hawaii. It was the perfect way to spend my first holiday without my children. This was my view from the balcony, it was gorgeous!
Stephen is one of my favorite people! He just makes me laugh, and he was such a great sport, and took us around to all the touristy spots, and he even braved Wal-Mart with me in the middle of the night on Black Friday!
His apartment was in need of some major help! So I helped him and his roomies make their place more bearable to live in. They had no window treatments, so we hung curtains, rearranged furniture to maximize the living space, I had them get a toaster, george foreman, vaccum, and some new dish rags (when I got there, the rag in the sink had a plant growing off of it, and I don't mean the mossy, moldy stuff! It was about an inch tall! Nasty) I did all the laundry, fixed Stephen's favorite meal for him, and put some meals in the fridge for him. It was so fun to see where he's been living, meet his friends, and just hang out with him again!
And, well, the news...........as most of you know, I have been dating Brian for over six months now, and a few months ago he decided to join me on my trip to Hawaii (he had never been) and while we were there...............he proposed!!!!!

I am so blessed! He is the kindest, most thoughtful person I have ever known. I am so grateful for him, and the man he is. This has been one of the hardest, craziest years of my life! But I know that all things happen for a reason, and I am so thankful for all the prayers, love, and support from family and friends that have given me the strength to power through the hard times. I am looking forward to starting this new chapter of my life!

Taylor-Made-Baby..........that's me!

2010-11-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

Halloween

2010-11-02T21:19:00.001-07:00

It was just Talmage and me this Halloween. My mom went to Florida for the week, and because she watches Barrett for me during the day, she decided to just take him with her. They were going to Disneyworld for Halloween to do the Trick or Treat Night. I would have much rather been there with them (and I know Talmage was sad to stay home too!) But we had fun! I was in charge of our ward's Fall Carnival, and Talmage loved wearing his Captain Rex costume all week long!
I took the boys to Mother Nature's Farm before Barrett left

Anderson Family Reunion October 2010

2010-11-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

We had a family reunion in Zion National Park over October Break. Only my mom, me and my boys were able to go, so we loaded up the motor home and drove up. I had the pleasure of learning to drive the motor home! But we all had a blast. We did a few little hikes up in the canyon. I was in charge of crafts, and a group activity. We made halloween masks for the kids, and fabric flower headbands for the ladies. Then for my activity I initiated a "snowball fight" (which were really flour filled nylons) but it got everyone involved, and covered with flour!

It was so fun to see everyone, it had been far too long!

My Kindergartener!

2010-11-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

It is so hard for me to believe my Talmage started Kindergarten this year. He is growing up so fast!

Havasupai

2010-11-02T21:03:00.001-07:00

In July I had a good friend invite me to go on a single adult Havasupai trip. I was a little hesitant, since it would be my first "singles" activity, and I had heard it was a challenging hike! But I decided to go, and had the best time! It is so beautiful down there, and the roughly 10 mile hike wasn't even that bad!

Lake Trip

2010-11-02T21:01:00.001-07:00

Fun with Cousins

2010-11-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

My sister and her boys were here for most of the summer. It was a full house, having all of us living under one roof, but I love it, and our boys are the best of friends!

Barrett's 3rd Birthday

2010-11-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

2010-09-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

Gordon B. Hinckley

Adjusting to Change

2010-05-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

As most of you already know, our little family has been undergoing some major changes these past few months. I am now a single mom. Me and my two boys moved out of our house about two months ago and moved in with my amazing parents, who have been so helpful and supportive. I recently returned to school to be an ultrasound technician. Grandma watches them while I go to school, which has been such a blessing!!! I am really loving it, however, it has been quite an adjustment going from being a stay-at-home mom to a full-time student. But we are doing great!! The boys love living with Grandma and Grandpa, and they have adjusted fairly well to their new home and routine. We have been so blessed, and are so grateful for all the love and support we have received. Some days are harder than others, but we take it day by day, and we look forward to what the future holds for us!

Easter 2010

2010-05-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hunting Trip

2010-04-05T19:08:00.001-07:00

Ok, we didn't technically go hunting. We camped while grandpa hunted mountain lion! Talmage and Barrett enjoyed riding grandpa's mule and climbing on the rocks

Have I mentioned how much I love Disney World?

2010-03-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

We just spent the last two weeks in Florida. Six days (straight) at Disneyworld, and the rest of the time in Ft. Lauderdale at my sister, Sarah's house. Crazy but fun!! Six days straight was pretty rough on us, since it was only us girls and all the kids. But the kids loved it, and it IS the happiest place on earth!!

Plus the trip was just what I needed. My kids have been having a hard time with all the changes that are taking place in our lives, so it was nice to get away. I was desperate to see my sister during this difficult time, and was thrilled to spend time with her. I really didn't want to come home, because now I have to focus on my new life..... and that is a scary thought!!

We're Having a Visitor Tonight....

2010-02-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

Yep, the Tooth Fairy is coming tonight!! Talmage lost his first tooth. He thinks he's such a big boy now, and I seriously can't believe that it's true. He is getting so big!!

I can't wait to see what she'll bring for him....!

Pirate Party

2010-01-31T11:47:00.001-08:00

I've always told my kids that they get a big "friend" birthday party when they turn 5, 8, 12 and THATS IT!!!! (yeah, I'm the meanest mom!) So this year Talmage turned 5!

First of all, I cannot believe that he has been in my life for 5 years. I am so lucky! He is my handsome little man and I just love everything about him. I always say that he is my trial, my challenge but that just makes me love him more. He teaches me things about myself and about motherhood that I am so grateful for. Happy Birthday Talmage. Your "mean" mom loves you!

So back to the party, Talmage wanted a Pirate Party so I tried to make it as big and fun as possible since they only get so many parties!!

Here is the Pirate Ship Cake
Here is my handsome little man patiently waiting for his friends to arrive
I sent the kids on a Treasure Hunt where they got to find swords, hooks, hats, etc. that would turn them into pirates. Talmage was so excited to find the "compass"

Here is Barrett playing pin the treasure chest on the treasure map (he peeked)

Here's Talmage taking a shot at the game.I do have to say that I was definitely dreading the whole party thing, but I was pleasantly suprised by how much fun I had, and I think the kids loved it too. Of course it wouldn't have been the same without the help from Taylor, my mom, and my sister Bethany (THANKS!)

Pictures from Christmas

2010-01-23T14:49:00.001-08:00

Taylor has been wanting this wagon for years, and finally got it!
One of their favorite presents!

I loved my diamond earrings!

Christmas Eve
Decorating cookies on Christmas Eve morning with all the cousins

Taylor-Made Baby (that's me)!

2009-11-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

Mixing Halloween with Disneyland

2009-11-02T20:00:00.001-08:00

Well, we decided to try mixing the two this year. And I've got to thank my sister, Bethany, for finally convincing me to join them. She had been planning their trip for a while, and kept inviting me. However, I am extremely partial to DisneyWORLD! We go there every year, and I was so hesitant to try DisneyLAND. But because we just went to Florida a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a try (a first for my kids). We spent two days at Disneyland/Calif. Adventure, plus we did the whole trick-or-treat thing. The boys had a blast riding the rides and collecting candy in their costumes! Talmage was Raphael, and Barrett was a devil.
Taylor had a lot going on at work and decided to stay home, so my mom came in his stead. She looked so cute all decked out in her halloween attire!
My sister made all the kids matching mickey mouse shirts that they sported one day- so cute!

All in all, it was a fabulous trip. The kids loved it, the crowds were down, and the weather was beautiful. Disneyland is a good alternative when you're in a pinch, but I am still very biased towards DisneyWorld. There is no comparison!

MUD RUN 2009

2009-10-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

Wow, what an experience! A few of my sister-in-laws and some friends all ran in the camp pendelton 10k mud run on saturday. Probably one of the funnest things I have ever done!! It was hot and the mud smelled like a sewer, but I can't wait to do it again next year!

My mom and mother-in-law came out to support us!
These are the aftershots, but they don't do justice to the amount of mud that was caked to my body!

Our Whirlwind Week!

2009-10-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

What a crazy week it has been! My mom decided (the night before she left) to take Talmage with her to Florida. She was going for 2 weeks to visit my sister and to watch her kids while they went out of town. So they left at 4:30a.m. monday morning. So Barrett and I had a fabulous time just hanging out the two of us. We got some great one-on-one time!!But because my mom was staying for so long, we decided that I would fly out on thurday, stay a few days, and fly Talmage home with me. So, I headed to Florida solo (barrett stayed home with daddy) and got to spend a few days there. SO FUN! I love Florida! Talmage and his cousin are best friends, so they loved being together. The only bummer was that I didn't get to see MY best friend (my awesome sister).

We went to the Lion Country Safari, where you drive through and see all the animals. They get so close to your car, it was amazing! Then, at the end, they have an amusement park and splash park.

Lovin' Seattle

2009-09-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

We LOVE Seattle!! We went for the first time about 5 years ago, fell in love, and haven't been back until now. It was fabulous! We wandered Pike's Market for hours! We loved seeing all the beautiful flowers, eating the yummy fruit, and of course eating the gigantic doughnuts!!

We ate at Ivar's pretty much every day (at least once)! This is Taylor, my brother Stephen, and my brother-in-law Brian just hanging out after enjoying some Clam Chowder.
We took the ferry over to Bainbridge and Bremmerton Islands to pick blackberries and go to the blackberry festival. Definitely a highlight of the trip! It is GORGEOUS over there!
Taylor got all into the picking! He rolled up his pants and plowed through the bushes to get the "better berries"!

First Day of Preschool

2009-09-28T12:51:00.001-07:00

Quick Trip to Vegas

2009-08-17T14:54:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the fabulous Aunt Becca and Uncle Jared, who watched our kids for us, we were able to take a little weekend trip to Vegas with my parents. Vegas is one of our favorite places, and we did the usual: my mom and I shopped till we dropped while the men played around in the casinos! Of course we ate every meal at one of the many amazing buffetts, and squeezed in a show at the end.

The Lion King was amazing!! I am tempted to say it is one of the best shows I've seen. The singing and, oh, the costumes!!! Simply breathtaking!!

Thanks Becca and Jared, we owe you!!!!

Camping for the 4th

2009-07-05T16:53:00.001-07:00

We spent the weekend with family and great friends up in the mountains near Flagstaff. The boys spent most of their time playing in the rain and mud.

Saturday we went to hike some cave, but it was a little too steep and rocky for my boys. Luckily our friend Carrie was there to help Talmage, because I was stuck at the top holding Barrett, who was cold and wet and cranky!

And then poor Taylor hit his head on one of the rocks above him which knocked him out. Other than a big gash on his head, he was ok!Even with the mud, and rain, and accidents, and cranky kids, we managed to have a great time. We are so lucky to have such great family and friends to share our lives with!

What is going on??!!!

2009-06-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

For the past two months, there have been some strange things happening to me. It all started when I noticed that I had been gaining weight- despite the fact that I am doing a fitness bootcamp and watching what I eat. It has reached a high of 10 pounds! But then I started to notice that I felt really depressed (which is very unlike me). I was in a bad mood all the time, always getting emotional. Plus, I went from having insomnia to crashing right after the kids went to bed at 7:00. I am tired all the time, and my body just feels really weak. I kept thinking to myself "I must be crazy!!" My mom finally convinced me to go see my doctor, but I was very skeptical because I was afraid they would just put me on antidepressants. Well, they took my blood to run some tests and then referred me to an endocrinologist. Come to find out- I have Hashimoto's disease!! And I had every symptom in the book! I got this definition for it off of the Mayo Clinic's website:

Hashimoto's disease is a disorder that affects your thyroid, a small gland located at the base of your neck, below your Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's activities.
In Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland. The resulting inflammation often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.

I have to be on medication for the rest of my life, but it's not a big deal. I'm just glad that now I can finally start to feel like myself again, and lose those ten pounds AGAIN!!!

My little 2 year old!

2009-05-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

My baby turned 2 yesterday!! I still can't believe it (even though most people think he is 3!) We had a low key birthday party because my kids have such a "mean" mom, as Talmage likes to say. They are allowed a big party on their 5th and 8th birthdays and that's it!! But we have loved every minute that Barrett has been with us. He is the sweetest little chubster- our little bear-bear! Happy Birthday Barrett!!
People keep telling me that I need to have another baby since Barrett is 2, but instead of having one, we are going to try to adopt our next one (hopefully an older baby or one with special needs). We were officially certified a few days ago, so we are excited to see what happens!!

Summer Haircuts

2009-05-26T14:46:00.001-07:00

My boys HATE to have their hair cut. They fight Taylor and I every time. So I finally had enough of the shagginess and we took them to Sport Clips so someone else could fight them on it. They did surprisingly well (especially Barrett), although neither of them were very happy about it!

It was Barrett's first "0fficial" haircut, and I was sad to see all of his blonde hair go, but he looks so stinkin' cute! I don't know why I waited so long to cut it!

Here's to the Graduates!

2009-05-23T13:59:00.001-07:00

My youngest brother Stephen graduated from Mt. View this year. The last graduation I have to sit through for about fifteen years, and it will be one I won't forget. We sat huddled under umbrellas and ponchos, but still unable to keep from getting soaked as the rain poured down throughout the entire ceremony!! But every minute was worth it, because I just love this kid! Stephen is one of a kind! From his personality to his attire, he is just the funniest person I know, and I love him to death!!!Here's to the die hard fans, the siblings who made it through till the end!!! Daniel, Sarah, Stephen, way to finish strong! Even Taylor had one of his episodes and had to leave early!!

This is my sister, Sarah, and I huddled under one umbrella with our very fashionable ponchos

And here's to Talmage, who also graduated from Preschool. He loved Mrs. McClure's preschool and will miss her and all the friends he made there. He is so smart and we love having him as part of our family. Way to go Talmage!!

2009-05-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

8 Things...

I was tagged courtesy of my friend, Christin Trendler! Thanks Christin
Rules of this tag:

Mention the person who tagged you.
Complete the list of eight things.
Tag 8 of your bloggity friends.
Easy peasy!!

So here goes...

8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO:

Christmas

Date night with my husband

Our annual trip to Disneyworld

Dune season

Family Home Evening

Reading to my boys

Bedtime!!

Finishing a project I've started

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY:

Went to Bootcamp

Took the kids to swim lessons

Had the night off, so I went shopping!

Made a Sonic run for my diet coke

Went grocery shopping

Made cookies for T's preschool graduation

Watched American Idol

Played Candyland with the boys

8 THINGS I WISH I COULD DO:

Cook and enjoy doing it

Run a marathon

Adopt a child

Not worry about my weight

Be a better mom

Go back to Europe

Find Taylor a job

Relax a little more

8 SHOW I WATCH:

Amazing Race

House

Greys Anatomy

Americal Idol

Lost

Office

America's Next Top Model

CSI:NY

8 PEOPLE I TAG:

Ashley

Natalie

Bethany

Tawna

Sue

Becca

Carrie

Jill

Making an Impression

2009-05-19T08:44:00.001-07:00

On Saturday we took the boys to the Park of the Canals to have their hand printed on a tile that will be part of a mosaic when they re-do the park in June. I can't wait to see it when it's finished! Talmage loved having his hand painted and writing his own name on his tile. Barrett, on the other hand, cried throughout the whole process!!

Mother's Day Program

2009-05-16T14:01:00.001-07:00

Talmage had his Mother's Day program for Mrs. McClure's preschool. He did such a great job. Talmage is an amazing little boy. He has been my trial since the day he was born, but I LOVE him for it!! I wouldn't change him for the world. He has taught me more about patience and unconditional love than anything in my life. I am so blessed to have him for a son. Talmage, I LOVE YOU!

This was my attempt at being crafty last week. I signed up to bring a dessert for the program, and my sister gave me this idea for cupcakes. They were supposed to look like daisies. They didn't turn out as cute as I'd hoped... but considering how much I hate to cook, at least I made the effort!!

A week of firsts

2009-04-27T09:58:00.001-07:00

Talmage had his first skateboarding lesson. We tried karate a few months ago and he cried every time he had to go, so we thought this would be more his style. He has begged everyday since to go back so we think he'll like this better!!
My sister had her baby. OK, this isn't her first baby, but it is her first boy (so it counts!) He is so stinkin' adorable!
Talmage and Barrett had a friend sleepover for the first time. Actually its their cousin Lincoln who is visiting from Florida. His mom is sick so he came to stay the night. We played games, decorated cupcakes, and had a splashin' good time in the tub!
And finally, I attempted my first dress for....ME!!! I wore it to church and was so nervous that it would fall apart on me, but it held strong. I can't wait to try another one!

Zoo Field Trip

2009-04-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

Talmage had a field trip to the zoo with his preschool. We just love Mrs. McClure- she went all out with the stickers and hat and shoulder bag for all the kids! It was fun to go just me and Talmage. It was the first time I didn't have to push a stroller around. We did the petting zoo (which I normally try to avoid because they freak me out!), we rode the train, and of course the carousel. But I should have looked at the forecast because it was freezing and I didn't pack sweaters- since when is it cold in the middle of April?

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-13T13:31:00.001-07:00

What I Do With My Extra Hours...

2009-04-02T21:50:00.000-07:00

I suffer from Insomnia- no joke! It began when I was in High School, then when I first got married it wasn't so bad- usually I could fall asleep around 1 a.m. But for almost a year now it has gotten really bad again. My typical bedtime is around 4 a.m. My brother and I will sometimes chat online since he suffers from it as well, but lately I have been obsessed with making these.....

And I can't quite figure out why (considering I am the mother of two boys)! The only theory I can come up with is that it's because I can get creative (since I hate and therefore won't use a pattern) and girl's dresses are so easy to make!!

Random Pictures from the week

2009-04-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

Talmage's School Project
The boys rockin' to music

We Are Finished!

2009-03-27T09:36:00.001-07:00

Since September we have been undergoing some major rennovations with our house, and I am so excited to finally be done! No more construction workers knocking at my door at 5:30a.m., no more layers of dust on our furniture. Here are some of the things we did...

We added the part where the middle garage is to connect the main house to the guest house/office. Then we made some little changes to the main house, too.

Taylor has a friend who gave us old theatre seats. So we installed them and they look awesome- nostalgic! Thanks, Chad!!
Game room (still empty, unfortunately!)
We added this because the master closet was too small, so now there are his/her separate closets. This is part of the new one (mine of course!)

The pantry was tiny, so we blew the walls out to make it bigger

2009-03-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

I've got to say, as fun as our cruise was, and as nice as it was to get a long break- I could hardly wait to get home to see my little dudes! I mean, who wouldn't be with faces like that...

Cruisin'

2009-03-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

For Spring Break Taylor and I went with my parents and a bunch of friends on a Mexican Riviera Cruise. It was so nice to get away for a week! The weather was great- Mexico is Mexico, but I was just glad to be on that ship (I love cruises!)
We went scuba diving in Cabo. I have never seen so many colorful fish in my life- it was beautiful! As was Taylor while he sported his wetsuit!!
This is me and my bro Daniel hanging out in the dining room- isn't he handsome!
In Puerto Vallarte we did the zip line. Every cruise we have been on before this one I've been prego, so this was the first time I actually got to do it- and it was by far the funnest thing we did all week! (But don't look too close at Taylor, it's a little graphic:))
Here we are just hanging out at the beach in Mazatlan.

Talmage turns 4

2009-02-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my little Talmage turned 4! It just doesn't seem possible! Well, my little 4 year old is obsessed with Monster Trucks- thanks in part to his best friend/cousin Lincoln. So for his birthday we took him to the Monster Truck Jam. We first took him to the pit party and we got to walk around and see all the trucks up close. Talmage HAD to touch each one! He was loving that two of his favorites were there: TMNT and Blue Thunder.
I don't know why we bothered with any presents beforehand because all he has played with since is the TMNT pillow we purchased for him at the show!
He was very serious during the races. Unfortunately neither of his favorites won! But the show was awesome, Talmage loved every minute!

For My Husband

2009-01-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

I know that everyone is biased and thinks this about their own husband, but I have the best hubby in the world. He works so hard and does everything he can to make me and the kids happy. He just graduated from the Carey program at ASU and I am so proud of him. It took him six years because he worked full time while he went to school full time, so that I didn't have to work. He always thinks of himself last. We just celebrated our sixth anniversary. We always try to keep our anniversary low-key because it is a bittersweet day for us, especially him. Not only is it the anniversary of our marriage, it is also the anniversary of his mother's death. But this year he suprised me with an overnight stay at a Scottsdale resort. He arranged everything, from the dinner reservations, to the babysitter. And on top of that, he had the diamond in my ring replaced with a much nicer one!!!! I have just been thinking about Taylor lately, and I am so grateful to have him, not only as my husband, but my best friend. I wouldn't be who I am today without him. Taylor, you are the greatest and I LOVE YOU!

Our Internet is Back

2009-01-06T18:15:00.001-08:00

So, our internet has been down for about six weeks now, and this is why..... we started construction on our "project", and during the construction something was cut (a wire or something) I'm not too educated on this kind of stuff, but today it is back working!! The project is connecting the main house with the "barn".
This picture is the original house
This is what we like to call "the barn". The people that built the original house added this a few years later. It was a separate garage, office, and apartment. Because it was very strange the way they had it set up, we are converting the inside of the barn into a game room and a theatre, and adding another 4-car garage to connect to the main house, and to make it all one functional house! It has been a little crazy, but I think it will be worth it!

Christmas

2009-01-06T17:57:00.001-08:00

We had a fabulous Christmas this year. Talmage was so cute and was so excited to get his "computer"- the only thing he asked for. Barrett didn't quite know what was going on, he was just thrilled to eat candy for breakfast. Taylor and I had decided not to get each other gifts because of the trip to Disneyworld, but Taylor is such a sweetie and got me a wii and wii fit anyways! I was also in charge of the gift for my parents this year (all of my siblings pool our money to get them one nice big thing) so I decided to have Randy Walker (the guy that did our wedding video) put all of their old home videos onto a DVD and put to music with about an hours worth of clips . It was so much work and extremely stressful, but my parents both loved it-of course they cried watching it. I love the Christmas Season, being together with our families, and remembering how much we have been blessed.
I made the boys these horses, but instead of turning out cute, the ended up being a little creepy...

Trip to Disneyworld

2009-01-06T16:47:00.000-08:00

We took the boys and Taylor's parents to Florida to go to Disneyworld. Taylor's parents hadn't been in almost 20 years, and it was Barrett's first time. We had a lot of fun, and it was great for the boys to get so much one on one time with their grandparents!

Talmage loved the "pirate"
One of the days we drove over to Cocoa Beach, but of course it was FREEZING, so we didn't stay long!

Last Night's Scare

2008-12-31T09:29:00.000-08:00

So, I know I haven't posted in a while, and I have a lot to update when our computer is up and working again, but I have to mention the incident that happened last night. It was about 8'oclock in the evening when this all happened. Taylor had gone over to the "barn" (which is our separate guest house) to play video games. I had put the kids to bed and was watching a movie in the family room. All the lights in the house were off. Suddenly, I see a light turn on behind me- I could see the reflection in the window next to the tv. There was a man standing there in our hallway. I jumped off the couch, turned around and started asking "who's there? what are you doing in here?" He flipped the light back off and ran back to the other side of the house (of course the side where my kids were sleeping) I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, then the phone and dialed for Taylor- he came as fast as he could and ran straight for where I had seen him. We have a door that leads to the back patio from our master bedroom- it was unlocked! So Taylor grabbed the gun and went to the backyard while I checked on the kids and called 911. They were at our house so fast, and made us get the kids and get out of the house. Luckily we have great neighbors and we stayed with them while the cops did their thing- there were so many cops, there were dogs, csi, everything! Of course they didn't find the guy, but the scary thing is that we never-ever use that door, but earlier that day we had a dish network guy putting up our dish, and he used that door. I don't know if it was him, or if he left it unlocked on purpose, or if it was just coincidence that it was unlocked for someone else to get in- all I know is that it terrified me to know that someone was in our house. I took the kids and slept at my parents house. I am just so grateful that my children and my family were not hurt and everything turned out ok. The guy didn't even grab the new wii that was sitting in that same hallway!

Baby Jersey

2008-12-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

Taylor's cousin Chris Anderson and his wife Heidi had a baby girl, Jersey, on November 25, 2008. She was born with no pulmonary valve and a hole in her heart. On December 2 she underwent surgery to repair her heart and put in a donor pulmonary valve. Currently, she is in critical condition. They have a blog that they update frequently (you can find the link under "Andersons" in my list). If anyone is able to donate to help out this sweet family, just click the button at the top of my sidebar. They are in need of all the help they can get. Please keep them in your prayers!

Thanksgiving at the Dunes

2008-12-01T22:56:00.001-08:00

It is becoming a tradition in our family to spend Thanksgiving at the dunes. We can't get enough of that sand!!

Here is Taylor enjoying our traditional turkey feast

My boys loved riding on the new Razr with their dad

Talmage has gotten really good at riding the little 50 quad. They have a kids track that he liked to ride around. He gets very serious when he sports all the gear!

New Family Pictures

2008-12-01T22:49:00.001-08:00

My mom thought it would be cute to have our family pictures taken at the dunes, so she was the designated photographer, and I must say she did a marvelous job- we love how they turned out! Here are a few more of our favorites. Thanks Mom!

I've Been Tagged

2008-11-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

Rules: People who are tagged need to post these rules and 8 random quirks, habits or facts about themselves. Choose 8 more people to tag.

1. I talk to myself. I have daily, double-sided conversations with myself OUT LOUD! Talmage has asked me before who I was talking to, and I've had to respond "myself".

2. Talmage, who is almost 4, sleeps with us every night- and I love it!!! He usually crawls into our bed at about 2 a.m., and I can't sleep well without him snuggled next to me!

3. I hate food with any kind of saucy substance. I'll eat a hamburger as long as there's nothing on it, I'll eat a salad, but I hate dressing, etc. (I even struggle with butter on toast and syrup on pancakes)

4. I am addicted to Diet Coke. Not any diet coke, but Sonic diet coke. Their drive-thru line is a daily ritual. Its just not quite the same if it doesn't come from Sonic.

5. I'm obsessed with crafts....need I say more!

6. I hate to cook. The thought of having to cook depresses me. Not only do I hate it, I'm horrible at it. So I have an extremely short list of meals that I am willing to prepare, and my family gets those same meals cooked over and over. (poor dudes!)

7. I rearrange furniture and decor in my house all the time (once a week, at least). I am never satisfied with the way things look, so I move it again, and again, and again. Most of the time, after a few months, it ends up back in its original position- its a vicious cycle!!

8. I love just watching my kids. I love to watch how they eat, how they run, what they play. I love to listen to them laugh, and the funny things they say. I just absolutely love my kids!

ok, I tag: Sarah, Natalie, Jackie, Tawna, and anyone else who wants to share their "quirkyness" with everyone!

Halloween Pictures, of course!

2008-11-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

This year for Halloween we decided to have our boys be their "grandpas" (as a joke and a compliment to them). Talmage dressed up like my dad, and Barrett dressed up like Taylor's dad. It was so hilarious! But the most amazing thing was how much Talmage really looked like my dad!! It was almost scary! I didn't get a pic of both of them, but if I track one down I'll post it.

This first picture is from today when Pappa (Taylor's dad) came over. And yes, Talmage and Barrett both wore their costumes again.
We did have to shave Talmage's head (so sad!) I spent almost an hour gluing a bald cap over his hair, but after I was finished he tore it off because "it was itchy", so we resorted to the clippers.
This is Talmage at his Halloween Parade for school. He wanted to be a pirate in the parade, not Grandpa, so he had a pirate costume too!

Bargain Shoppers

2008-10-16T15:29:00.001-07:00

Yes, me and my mother were in the Arizona Republic newspaper yesterday. The article was called "Bargains: Always in Style" on the front page of the business section. Aren't we big time celebs now?! But if you read the article, it is 100% us- we are definitely bargain shoppers! This picture was taken the last time we went to Last Chance- one of our favorite stores!! They had interviewed us, and taken our picture- but it was more than a month ago, so we had forgotten all about it, until Taylor gets a call from his brother, saying "Did you know your wife is in the paper?" We all had a good laugh over it!

Strawberry Hill

2008-10-14T12:11:00.001-07:00

We had our Candland Family Vacation this weekend up in Strawberry. The kids had such a blast!!!! Each family had their own cozy cabin, and the common area had a fire pit, ping pong table, basketball court, and playground. Taylor's parents are amazing. They always put so much effort and time into planning our annual trips to make them so fun, especially for the kids. I just want to thank them so much, we had the best time this weekend!

This is Talmage having fun on the bounce house.

Aunt Chris had the best idea- she took nylons and filled them with flour, and everyone had a "snowball fight"

This is Barrett at the goat and llama farm. He loves petting the animals! Talmage wouldn't touch them (I don't blame him!)
Grandma and Pappa treated everyone to Out of Africa. We had never been before, and the boys loved the tiger show!

...and feeding the giraffe!

This is me and Talmage hiking at Rainbow Bridge. Talmage only made it halfway down, but the view from the top was beautiful!

Talmage and his bff (cousin Eva) painting snakes back at the cabins.
more fun on the bounce house!

The Mess I Made

2008-10-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

So this is what I get for allowing my child to pick a fudgesicle instead of a candy. Talmage is my son that teaches me patience (EVERYDAY). Every time we go to the grocery store I want to rip my hair out. So, being the horrible mother that I am, I bribe him. If he is a good boy, then he can pick a treat at the end. His teeth will probably rot, but it is worth my sanity!! And even though Barrett is 16 months old, I still forget that if I say "yes" to Talmage, then it means "yes" for Barrett too. Today Talmage eyed one of those small freezers near the checkout counter and immediately wanted an ice cream, and to avoid a meltdown I said yes right away, not even thinking of the consequences of this. And this is the mess I got to clean up when I got home. So while I was wiping away (thanks to clorox wipes), I wondered if it was worth the mess to not have Talmage throw a tantrum in the store..... I'm not quite sure yet.

Bike Ride

2008-10-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

Taylor went to the doctor the other day, and the doc told him he HAD to lose weight- for medical reasons (which is definitely a good thing because he does have some serious health issues!) So he bought a new bike, and took Talmage on his first "bike ride" around the neighborhood. Talmage was just loving it! They even had matching helmets!
There they go!!!
Poor Barrett felt left out. He stood there like this and watched them go!

The "Alien"

2008-09-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

About 6 months ago my parents came home with this "thing" for my boys. They begged me to take it to our house, but of course I refused! Who would want that? Well, we of course moved in with them a few months later, and when we moved into our new house a few weeks ago, it MAGICALLY made it into one of our boxes and ended up at our house.

Talmage has been a little scared since we have been in our house, which is quite understandable. He tells me he is scared of monsters. So the other night I'm trying to show him there are no monsters in his closets or under his bed. But there was no comforting him. I was about at my witts end, when he asks if the "alien" could sleep with him. WHAT??!! My child, who is afraid of monsters, wants to sleep with the "alien"? So I get the alien, and Talmage settles right down into bed. He has slept with the thing every night since then. If it were me, I'd be afraid of the "alien" sleeping next to me, not imaginary monsters!!!!! Kids do the funniest things!

Weekend in Sedona

2008-09-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

I have never been to Sedona before, so we took the boys for the weekend. I had always heard Sedona is kind of an "old person" place (no offense grandma and grandpa!) But it was fantastic! The boys absolutely loved it up there! We went to Slide Rock, but the water was so cold nobody would get in, and then we rented a jeep and went off roading! It was so nice having it be just the four of us. With all of our amazing family around we don't go on trips with "just us" very often. We had a great time and it is so beautiful up there!

Both of our boys fell asleep on the jeep ride, but Taylor was having a blast driving!

Our Life Back on Track!

2008-09-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

We are officially moved in to our new house (finally!) There were definitely some problems when we moved in. Because it had been empty for awhile the yard was a disaster. Plus, there are three ac units for the house, and we had problems with two of them, including an air handler that leaked through the roof. But we've managed to get everything under control, and the kids have settled in quickly! The only thing I think my family will struggle with are the scorpions!! We have gotten so many in the house and they freak me out!!!! Taylor thinks I'm paranoid and OCD because every night I take a black light to our room and our boy's rooms to make sure there are no scorpions anywhere near that could attack us in our sleep!!

Talmage started preschool with Mrs. McClure and is absolutely loving it. I don't know what it is, but for some reason he is such a happier little boy when he is in school. Maybe its because it adds more structure to his daily routine, maybe its because I feel more sane, I don't know! All I know is that I finally feel like my life is back to normal again. Taylor and I even managed to sneak away for a quick trip to Vegas without the kiddos (thanks to Taylor's amazing parents!)

Camping Trip

2008-09-08T00:06:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures from our camping trip a few weeks ago. We went up to the white mountains for a few days with my parents and my sister and her family.

2008-08-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

So, it has been awhile since my last post- this summer has just been crazy! We are still living with my parents, but we are supposed to be closing on our house this week. My sister Sarah was in town for about a month so it was a full house, but I taught her how to sew and we worked on all sorts of projects- while our kids drew on the walls (among other naughty things!)
Also, my brother Daniel came home from his mission last week. He was sick for three years before his mission, and miraculously got well enough to leave, but was only able to serve for 10 months before he got sick again. We are hoping we will find a way to get him better so he can return, but we are grateful he was able to serve as long as he did. He has such a good attitude and outlook on things, and we are loving having him home!

Ok, we had such a blast on our trip to Yellowstone. It was so beautiful, and my kids absolutely loved it. Right before we left, I was really dreading it- I kept thinking "what have I got myself into" It was a long drive in the motor home. Plus, we were in the rental car all day while we were in Yellowstone. But, I was pleasantly suprised at how great my kids were. We saw so many animals and the weather was amazing. We had to follow a herd of buffalo for about a mile on the road before they ventured off into the trees. Talmage was freaking out having those buffalo right in front of us. My parents are great people, and we are so glad we got to spend our vacation with them also. We also stopped in Idaho Falls for a few days to visit some old friends, the Pentelutes. It was fun to see them, and Talmage became best buds with one of their little boys, Bostin.
But as fun as this summer has been, I am excited for Talmage to start preschool, and to move into our new house so I can finally feel like my life is normal and in order again!

Rainbow Bridge

The Falls

Taylor getting dangerously close to a black bear- the ranger yelled at him!

The Geysers

We're Moving!

2008-06-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, Taylor and I have been married for almost six years, and we are moving for the fourth time!! It really stinks. Taylor likes to call it our "two year plan"-whatever that means!!! I am devastated to have to leave our home and neighborhood, I have made great friends here that I am going to miss, and we have just loved it so much. And it has been a whirlwind weekend. We put an offer on a home in Mesa, so we have had our house up for rent. We signed a contract on Saturday at 2:00 and the people needed in by the 12th of July. Well, normally two weeks is enough time to get moved out, but we have had a trip planned to Yellowstone for almost a year, and we leave THURDSAY!!! So we spent all day Sunday packing boxes, and then decided the best way to move would be to pay someone to do it for us- so that is what we did. As expensive as it was, it was sooooo worth it! But to add to that, nothing has been finalized with the house we put our offer on, we aren't even in escrow yet, so we are going to live with my parents until then. It will be a little crazy, but we are so fortunate to have amazing parents who not only let us live with them (two kids and all) but welcome us with open arms!!! Thanks Mom and Dad- We love you!! So it is back to Mesa for now, who knows where we will be in another two years!

Trip to Florida

2008-06-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

This past week I went to Florida to visit my sister and see her new baby, and to help her out a little while she adjusts to having two children. We didn't do a whole lot, we got some shopping in, but we had such a blast. She has been my best friend since we were little, and I have missed her so much since she moved to Florida, so it was great just to spend time with her- without my own kids (luckily I have an awesome husband who watched them while I was gone)! Anyways, I was sad to leave, but I missed my kids more being there than any other trip I've taken without them. I think maybe because I was there with Sarah's kids, rather than on a cruise where there's no kids around! But Sarah and her family are coming to AZ in July for a few weeks, so it will be fun to see her again so soon! I can't wait!

Barrett turns 1

2008-05-30T20:42:00.001-07:00

Barrett had his first birthday this week. I cannot believe how fast this past year has gone. I don't know if it is a second child thing, but the first year of Talmage's life seemed to last forever! So it is just crazy for me to think that Barrett is already 1! We had a good time singing birthday songs and eating cake. Barrett, being the little oinker that he is, had to eat every last crum of cake off of his high chair. When I started to wipe up he just shrieked! I have never seen a one year old so interested in actually eating the entire piece of cake!!!

Graduation Party

2008-05-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

Talmage and I participated in a Joyschool this year, and he had his graduation party yesterday. The party was such a blast! We have had so much fun this year, and Talmage is going to miss seeing all of his friends. Thanks to all you moms, everyone did such a good job!

the Slip & Slide is always a big hit!

Even Barrett had a good time!

My Sister's Baby

2008-05-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

My sister Sarah had her baby! They named him Preston Blane Hamilton. Sarah is so brave, Preston came so fast that the nurse delivered the baby, and they didn't have time to give her an epidural. GO SARAH!! Anyways, she lives in Florida so I haven't seen him yet, but I get to go visit in two weeks! I can't wait to see the little cutie!

Talmage's Trip to the Lake

2008-04-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Taylor and Uncle Bryan took Talmage to the Lake. He had so much fun! He loves to feel like one of the "big" boys! Taylor just had knee surgery, so all he could do was drive the boat, but Bryan is such a good sport and took Talmage on the tube the whole time! Talmage loves his uncle Bryan, and he loves to be a daredevil!

Our Family

2008-04-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is my first official post. These are our most recent family pics. I am having so much fun being a mom to my sweet little boys! This is Barrett. He will turn 1 next month. He is so happy and easy going!

This is Talmage. He turned 3 in January! He is so much fun. So full of energy!

Fun at the dunes

2008-04-04T23:44:00.000-07:00