Do they really know?

Recently I read a blog of a family who unexpectedly lost their mother. She was the blogger in the family and in past posts she had done a post about one of her son's birthdays and what she loved about him. What a treasure that is now.
Even though I plan on being around for a while. I realized that I need to be better about letting my family know how much I love them. I need to tell them those things that I admire about them and the talents and strengths they possess. I am hoping that I can renew my blogging efforts and be able to have some of my thought's and feelings put into words.

Today I will start with my little Bossman. :)
I don't know if it's because he is my last baby - but I love just watching him. He is SUCH a busy and curious little boy! I can just see those gears turning in his head from the minute he wakes up.

He has these cute eyebrows that are so expressive - and GOOD GRIEF - if you have ever seen his lashes?!
Even though he is only 14 months - he already has a sense of humor and likes to tease. He does it with a toothy smile.
I also watch him observe his older siblings (usually when they are throwing fits) and you can tell he is documenting and storing that behavior for later. He is such a smart little guy.

Even though I am old and desperately need my beauty sleep - I have never minded getting up with my baby at night. I truly treasure those moments when I just get to hold and cuddle him. Usually during the day he is much too busy to let mom love on him too much.

Speaking of loving on him..... his CHEEKS!! They are so smooshy and kissable! What makes him even more kissable is how ticklish he is! He has this cute little giggle. When you snuggle under his chin or pinch his little fat rolls his giggles are too contagious.

He also LOVES music and dancing. Every morning while he eats breakfast - he wants the ipod on so he can eat and groove. I have tried to get this on video - but as soon as he knows what I am doing he just stares. :) One day I will prove it. ;)

Boss also likes to be a shadow. As soon as dad gets home he becomes Ryan's puppy dog. :) Especially if Ryan is working on a project outside. (See picture)

He brings such a joyful spirit to our house. I am so grateful that I get to be his momma.

Yep - I am certifiable :)

Most of you reading this post are already completely aware that I am pretty much insane. This insanity is caused by many different factors - but I think the main factor is... (you think I am going to say my kids don't you?) me. I have some filter issues going on in my head. The filter that says "no - you have enough on your plate - lets set this idea aside for another time. Instead - I jump up and say "oooh! fun! ok!!"

So here is my latest project - which I am actually really excited about!
I am now a "Fashion Consultant" for Vault Denim! The short explanation is - a designer jean party!
Granted I am still working on my baby weight (registered for a half marathon on May 7th to get that process jump started.) but my filter failed me once a again and I said "ooooh! fun!! ok!!"

If you live close by I would love for you to stop by and try on a pair. Or I would love even more if you want to have a jean party! These jeans are 100% authentic. Brands you would find in Buckle or Nordstroms and they cost a lot less.

My party is Wednesday April 6th - come anytime between 1pm and 7pm. Feel free to bring your kids - mine will be here too!
Everything is cash (check, charge) and carry - you get to wear your jeans home! Sizes 0- 16. Even if you don't buy - I would love to see you! (Plus I will be cleaning my house for this event - and we don't want all that effort to go to waste!)

This company is less than a year old and doesn't even have reps in every state yet. So if you are looking for a way to earn some extra cash - let me know. I honestly have yet to see how this will work into my daily life - but I do know that I am excited about it. So here I go! Wish me luck!!!
p.s. Don't worry - Uppercase is in the blood now - NOT giving up on that! :)

Merry Merry Christmas!

Tara's late with Christmas jolly falalalalalalalalala
Hope you can forgive her folly falalalalalalalala
Life is good but very crazy falalalalalalalalala
Grateful for our friends and crazies (aka family) falalalalalalalalala.

Just a little harmless ranting

Today as I was reading some of the headlines across the country I came across this one:

Law curbs McDonald's Happy Meal toys

You can read the entire article here.

But if you just want the gist of the article... the city of San Fran has banned kids meals w/toys until they up the nutritional value of the food.

Um really?! This is so wrong to me on many levels. First, I will state I am NOT a McDonalds fan myself. Much to the disappointment to Ryan and the kids. (Infact, Ryan had to organize a Micky D's day at work just to get his fix.) With that in mind it should be obvious that I am not defending McDonald's for their taste or quality of food.

People that go to McDonald's KNOW it's not a health conscious decision. It's pretty much a no-brainer you will consume large amounts of empty calories. We don't need anyone or any government to make us aware of that. I think San Franciscans should feel a little offended that their government leaders see their citizens as unfit parents that can't make good decisions for their kids. 

Does anyone else see this as insulting?

I won't even go into the government trying to run everyone's businesses for them. Good thing the gov't is run so efficiently - otherwise things could be a lot worse..... oh. wait.

 

Halloweenie

So I know I will probably lose some likability by posting this - but I must.
I do not love Halloween. Infact, the last minute costuming and the kids hopped up on sugar causes me great mental pain. (not to mention the hit my hips take with all the sugar laying around the house.)
However, I will post some pics of the kids - because they still love this holiday with every fiber of their cavity filled beings. :)

Miracle of miracles

I have some serious catching up to do! I am not silly enough to think I will every fully catch up but in the attempt to try I will not necessarily be posting chronologically. :)

The next miracle (besides the fact that there is a new post on my blog) is my Bossman. I have yet to blog about him and he is going to be 7 months on Sept. 22nd!

Here is a recap of highlights of his first 7 months of life. :)
He was born on Feb 22nd via c-section at about 9:30 am. (It would have been earlier but the dr slept through his alarm.) He was 8lbs 15 oz (pretty much 9 pounds) and 22 inches long.

6 weeks

 He like Maddy had to be under the lights when he came home.  It is always stressful for me after my babies are born. I worry - a lot. In this case the dr said if his #'s went up any more he would have to return to the hospital. So I did my best to keep him under the lights and feed him every 2 hours. The next day some how his points had dropped from just over 18 to 12!!! I know it was tender mercies of the Lord that allowed that miracle to happen.
We blessed Boston in April. His full name is Boston Seth Tanner. Ryan gave a beautiful blessing - he is such a good dad.

Boston started sleeping through the night at 2 months. IT was so nice to get real sleep again! Until.... he was 4 months and was lucky enough to have croupe and a double ear infection. It completely RUINED his sleeping and he hasn't gotten back to sleeping through the night since. :(
Part of the problem is that he shares his sleeping space with Maddy and I can't let him cry it out like he needs to. Guess it's time for a bigger house.
Boston has already flown twice! The first time was in May to California.

Cardon is gone...

We took our family vaycay to Disneyland. I thought it would be doable with a young baby that could sleep most the time..... well not so much. He did NOT miss a feeding first of all. (Good thing Disney has a nice little nursery place for babies and moms.) It was a little crazy with 4 little ones and only 2 adults. More about that for a future post.

His next flight was to St. Louis MO where I went to my Uppercase Living convention. Again - a little chaotic. He did get to meet lots of women who were very supportive while I was pregnant with him.

Boston in Downward Facing Dog position :)

Lately he has been VERY busy. He is great at sitting - infact too great. I expect him to crawl any day now. He also loves to pull himself up on things and cruise around the sides. I am SO in trouble. I do love this little guy to pieces though. We are so glad he is a part of our family!

Still alive

So I am a pile of crap. I am. I have yet to blog about our newest family member (who is now 3.5 months) or our trip to Disneyland. I promise I will catch up.... as soon as I finish my latest project.

See this "baby ticker" to the side?

If you look to the side of this post (atleast while this post is first). You will see a baby floating in a bubble with the countdown at the bottom.
It is so deceiving. They should show a picture of a baby totally cramped into a ball and kicking and spasming every so often. That would me much more accurate - and more interesting to watch.
I haven't really done a good job about recording my thoughts and feelings about this pregnancy and baby.
I am excited to meet this little guy. I already have hopes and dreams of what he will be like and what he can become. I also worry about him and his health. Not that there are any indicators - but I am just that way. I pray every night that he will be born strong and healthy. (Here's hoping that the fact that he likes to re-arrange my innards daily as he is still quite active - is a good sign that he is healthy and alert in there.
He is also measuring 3 weeks bigger then average. This is why I have c-sections. Big babies and surprisingly small birth canal. (I always thought I was blessed with great "birthing hips" but apparently the outward appearance is not a determining factor. Go figure.) Atleast this pregnancy - nobody has asked me if I am having twins. I guess there is still time left.....

As much as I love my little newborns - I really do NOT enjoy pregnancy. If I were to allow a picture to be posted of me here - you would see why. I don't really wear it well. I get big - everywhere. I waddle. I breathe heavy because my lungs have no room left to expand. I also feel very guilty for being neglectful of my responsibilities at home - such as food prep, cleaning, laundry etc. I am so blessed to have a husband who is willing to pick up so much slack. I love him so much. Not only does pick up the slack - but he quietly listens to my complaints and whining. Thanks sweetheart. :)

I try to remind myself of the miracle of life. It truly is. Somehow my body is sustaining TWO people right now. How does it just know how to do that? How can anyone who has ever carried a child or held a newborn question if there is a God? It really is an amazing thing.

Sometimes I wish that I could share this experience with Ryan. I know you are probably laughing right now - and for good reason. Yes, it would be interesting to see how he would handle pregnancy. However, I feel like I have already formed a bond with this little guy as I have become familiar with his movements (and bouts of hiccups every hour or so) - and so it seems more familiar with him and his personality. Every time I try to "introduce" him to somoneone but letting them feel him kick - he gets shy and hides. Infact, both ultrasounds I have had - he has been hiding with his face towards my back. How long do you think will last once he is taught by his older siblings?

Two weeks from today is his scheduled entry into the world. While I have plenty of items on my "To Do" list - I would be just fine if he decided to come earlier. ...... please?! Maybe later I will post some pictures of my swollen legs and feet. For posterity's sake. I know this is a rambling post... probably as good as it's going to get for a while. :) Thanks for letting me ramble. Can't wait to meet you baby Tanner #4!!!

It was finally warm enough to play in the snow!

This past weekend the temps were finally out of the negative and single digits. Infact they were in the high 30's! In celebration we decided to have a picnic!
Ok not really - but the difference in temp was enough to motivate Ryan and the kids to go out and build a snowman! (Complete with a hotdog nose!)

I being slightly immobile and not fitting into any of my winter snow clothes took pictures - from INSIDE. :)

Ryan is such a good dad - and the kids and dog had a blast!!


p.s. The snowman was a 5 ball snow man. :) ;) :)

Bedtime for Bozo's

Cardon will probably hate me for making this public knowledge. Really I should probably be ashamed of myself for making this public knowledge. However, if you don't cry for poor Cardon you will for sure be laughing.

As you know - we have a new one on the way. His arrival will be here in a couple of months. We have been meaning to get Luke a real bed for many months now but it has been put off for other things here and there.

One night Luke had a nightmare and from that point on he refused to sleep in the crib. Instead, he preferred to sleep with Cardon in his twin bed. Poor Cardon - he and Maddy shared a queen bed for a couple years when Luke was born. It was just this past summer that he finally got a bed to himself again.

Then a couple of weeks ago - Luke woke up with croup. I had never heard a sound like that before. I didn't want him and Cardon sleeping in the same bed while he was sick. So I got the idea to take the front part off the crib. The part that slides up and down. Hoping that would make his bed look like a "real" bed. He would still have nothing to do with it.

I got the great idea to ask Cardon to pretend he was going to sleep in Lukes bed. Luke didn't fall for it. So I told Cardon - why don't you just fall asleep in his bed and we will move you back into your bed. (One thing I failed to mention is that they kept each other up another hour after we tucked them just dinking around.) So atleast they would get some decent sleep.

Well, one night we forgot to move him and what do you know! They weren't up at 6:15 am!! We actually had to wakt them up at 7:30. And well... we just kept asking Cardon to sleep in Luke's bed! :(
It was time to quit putting it off - we HAD to get these guys bunk beds.

So..... after searching on ksl.com for a deal - we made the purchase and promptly put them together. Cardon gets the top bunk - and we left the ladder off. Neither Maddy or Luke can climb up there and poor sweet Cardon who NEVER complained about his sleeping arrangements FINALLY has a space/sanctuary of his own!

Cardon's Special Day

This weekend I re-learned some important things:
- I am getting old and rounder by the day. :)
- I am blessed beyond what I will ever deserve.
- I have an awesome husband who respects the priesthood he holds.
- I have an amazing son who is an example of faith and goodness to his mother.
- Our family is loved and supported by wonderful and caring family and friends.

Thank you to all of our family and friends who came to support Cardon as he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Thank you to those of you who sent your love through phone calls and emails and letters.
Here are some pictures (I wish I would have taken more).

Cardon's baptism was a special time. Maddy opened the meeting by singing a solo "Joseph Smith's First Prayer". I have to say - she did a great job singing by herself infront of 30+ people.

Cardon's two Grandma's gave talks about Baptism and the Holy Ghost. Cardon was baptized and confirmed by Ryan with uncles, Grandpa McEwen and friends standing in the circle.

Cardon had two GREAT Grandmother's present as well. I am still kicking myself for not getting a 4 generation picture. Cardon also had cousins and aunts and uncles who had made the 5 + hour drive from Colorado and Boise. Good friends from the neighborhood were also there.
'
After the baptism we had a birthday luncheon afterwards with cinnamon rolls instead of birthday cake. MMMMM Aunt Rachel makes a mean cinnamon roll! Cardon's cousin Jaydn was thoughtful enough to bring a pinata full of candy and toys. It was a little nerve wracking trying to keep the kids away from a swinging metal bat but we all came out unscathed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARDON and congrats on your decision to be baptized. We love you!

Halloweenies

This year I had my fill of Halloween.
According to my mom and dad it used to be one of my favorite holidays. Um, that couldn't have been true past the age of 8. Even in college I think I dressed up once - and I was a farmer with a flannel shirt and braids.
Well, this year was filled with THREE days of costumes and the gathering of more and more sweets. Thursday at school (because they had Friday out of school - joy of joys). Friday was the Omniture Halloween party complete with candy and real midgets dressed up as Smurfs. (I was a little nervous to take pics - is that politically correct to as a smurf midget for their picture?) Then on to the ward "Trunk or Treat". I personally think trunk or treat is a fabulous idea. You hit a bunch of people with in 50 yards and you are done. However, if not done on Halloween creates 2 dilemmas. Apparently for my kids - it didn't count as trick or treating because it WASNT on Halloween - and the second issue ofcourse - is all the kids that went around trunk or treat 2 or 3 times come to your door on Halloween too.
To remedy these 2 issues we went to Grandma's house and let the kids go around her neighborhood. Leaving our house dark and candyless - and luckily no tricks.
Here are some pics from our adventurous weekend! Bah Humbat!! ;)
Oh and incase you need descriptions:
Cardon age 7 (almost 8) as Anakin Skywalker
Maddy age 5 as Violet (NOT Elasti Girl)
Luke age 2 elephant with a big bum
"T" age 2 (cousin) Rudolph.