Tanner...

Well, since I don’t post enough of him, here are a few pictures of our sweet little boy… I told someone yesterday he was 18 months, but it dawned on me today that he will be 20 months November 19th! As I tote the girls around to events, he is often left to hang out with Nana and Aunt Mandy simply because well… he’s just too busy!! Getting him to sit still long enough to do anything besides eat an Oreo is almost impossible.

We were at a party at The Jump Zone last week for a kid in Tessa’s class - and Tanner had more fun than any of them! He can conquer almost all the slides with ease. We did great until some bigger kids arrived making it impossible to let Tanner go through some of them for fear he’d be stepped all over. After an impressive fit, he was content in the toddler area for the last 15 minutes – finally!

Now, if you’re thinking I could have gone up the slides with him… well, you’re right, and I did - several times. But Tanner doesn’t want my help! As I try to hold on to him and assist him while we navigate through the inflated mazes to the slides, he gets very irritated and screams at me. He’s hit quite the independent streak in the last month and is pretty fearless.

In fact, Gracie and Tessa had bunk beds in their room, and in the last few months had opted to share the bottom bunk instead of sleeping separately. It’s a good thing… Gracie came into the kitchen one afternoon to tell me Tanner was on the top bunk. I causally walked in assuming he was just reaching for the top bunk because we had removed the ladder months ago… but oh, no. Tanner had scaled the side of the bunk beds and climbed into the top bunk where I found him in the “taking off position” with his toes at the edge ready to jump. So needless to say I had Trav immediately disassemble the bunk beds…

He is a wild one these days... but is truly precious, a very sweet little soul. And every now and then he’ll even stop long enough to give a squirmy hug… maybe even some slobbery kisses.

I’m hoping we make it through the end of the year with him still sleeping in his crib!

Thought For The Day

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. “They are plans for good, and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

Out To The Patch...

We had our traditional pumpkin patch outing today with good friends and lots of fun!



We left with two gigantic pumpkins, hay in our hair, and ready for a nap (at least I was...).

Where We Are

I’ve been absent lately from “blog land”. A lot going on, and I haven’t had the time to sit down and process anything for my blog. So here are a few updates on where we’re at these days.

Inspired by friends, I started my blog just a little over a year ago to help chronicle “life” for us, and at the time to serve as a “journal” of sorts in my weight loss efforts. My goal had been to lose somewhere between 70 and 80 pounds, and by Christmas of last year, I had shed 40. The good news is I have kept off that 40 for ten months. The bad news is… I’m not finished and there are still at least 30 more to go.




At the ages my kids are (especially Tanner and the fact that the boy does not stop moving unless he is asleep), and with the hours Trav had to put in this summer, June through August was definitely my most challenging season as a mother thus far. And so I’m thrilled to have made it through with my marriage, my kids, and my weight loss still intact. As a wise friend once told me… "it’s all about progress." So keeping that in mind, I’m hoping to see more progress by the end of the year. I’ll keep you posted.

As life in general goes… we are doing okay. Gracie is loving kindergarten and is doing great! She earns a “super citizen” treat every week for her good behavior and loves to do her homework (which I’m sure will not always be the case). Her school is very fine arts focused, and so along with her kindergarten stuff, she also gets to go to art, dance, drama, music, and is learning (sort of) how to play the violin. I went to her “costume ball” yesterday in her dance class, which is called “creative movement”.

There are few dull moments with Tessa. She is certainly blossoming this year into an all out preschooler! She goes to her preschool three days a week, and gets her speech therapy there two of those days. She is really making progress in her speech, and we’re understanding more and more of what she says. In fact, her favorite phrase these days, which is pretty much attached at the end of everything she says she is going to do is “all by myself.” Whatever Tessa is doing… she fully intends to do it all by herself!



Tanner is just pure joy… he is crazy sweet, insanely busy, an always anxious to keep up with whatever his sisters are doing. He says lots of words, and can tell you where his nose, ears, eyes, feet, and of course, his belly are – and always gives himself a round of applause with each correct response. HA! Six months out from turning two, he serves as a constant reminder that life is going by way too fast.

Trav’s had a very, very busy summer. He started his new job in June, and after two months of working essentially all day, every day, he even got a promotion! Woo Hoo! But… as you probably know, there is an economic crisis in our country that has affected many things… and most definitely, the car business. There’s lots of financial stress going around out there. Trav’s dealership is doing okay… but it’s a very “nervous” time in the car business, and I’m sure, in many others.

So… that’s us. There’s much to be grateful for, a lot to pray for, and many things we hope to accomplish. And as we head into the home stretch of the year… as that same wise friend would say, may we all “finish well”. :-)

That's Entertainment!

Since it’s the first official day of fall… I thought I’d get around to an update here. I’ve been away from my blog busy with sick kids, having a belated anniversary celebration (14 years!) with the Eagles (thanks, Dad) who were still getting it done on what Glenn Fry jokingly called “The Eagles, The Assisted Living Tour.” HA! And then, of course, I’ve been catching up on all that needed to be and hasn’t been done this summer (with several items still pending on that list). And now, finally, after being derailed by the writers’ strike and then waiting all summer, it is finally here – PREMIER WEEK!



Woo Hoo!! Those of you with children who, like myself, have both limited expendable funds and time, are rejoicing with me at the return of our long lost TV friends. After all, we depend on these beloved characters and shows to provide us with the only form of entertainment we can both afford and partake in without a sitter! God bless the DVR!!



I jump around with some shows and just watch enough to know what is going on occasionally… but I’m loyal to several. And in particular, I’m going to be giddy to see Dr. Derek Shepherd return, along with my favorite Hero, Peter Petrelli. I’m anxious to pick back up with Lipstick Jungle and Private Practice, and I might even manage to figure out what in the world is going on with Lost this season. I still watch ER, and am really enjoying the new 90201 (although, I don’t know how long that will last if they can’t seal the deal on bringing back Dylan for a few episodes).



Side Note: If you know me and you’re surprised I watch Heroes and Lost… well, remember I’m married to Travis. He watched those shows and I latched on as well so we’d have something to watch “together”. (I gave up hope on him ever caring about Grey’s Anatomy… although he does fake it for me occasionally).



So anyway… speaking of entertainment, Gracie also started her first official “extracurricular” activity this year and is taking dance lessons! I pushed swim lessons first, thinking she’d get more out of it… but the outfit and its accessories (in particular the skirt, shoes and hair bows) sealed the deal on her wanting dance lessons. So, oh well…



We decided not to put Tessa in lessons because we didn’t think she was ready. But it became obvious the night before Gracie’s lesson, this might be a problem. So I went out and spent $12 bucks on a leotard and tights for Tessa to wear the first day so she wouldn’t feel left out. I was without a sitter that morning and worried Tessa would scream the whole time that she wanted to take dance too. Luckily, when we arrived they told me she could “try a class” and see how she did. Great! Problem solved.



Gracie was next door with the five year olds, already “shuffle stepping” her little heart out, while Tessa attended the 3 to 4 year old class. She flitted and floated about the room, completely ignoring the teacher and his instruction, refusing to stand on her spot, or to even remotely partake in anything the other little girls were doing. After about 10 minutes of Tessa showing off her freestyle ballet moves around the room she walked up to the teacher and impatiently asked, “Hey… where is the music?”





So needless to say, we were right, and we’ll be putting off dance, and probably any other lessons, for Tessa until next year. I’m hoping she’ll want to do swimming...

So Long Summer...

Oh, No!!! Summer is over???

I don't know if the calendar says so, but to me the passing of Labor Day marks the end of summer. I was trying to explain that to Tessa yesterday (who didn't understand why the swimming pool would be closed), and she just kept saying, "No, I want summer to stay here."

We had a good summer with many ups and downs... but we made it, and did so much stuff! We went swimming... A LOT! Gracie joined the swim team, and got lots of ribbons... and learned to swim "floatie free".



Tessa perfected her spin jump off the diving board... and wants to "race with swimming" next year too!




Tanner developed a great love for the kiddie pool...


And luckily... Aunt Mandy came along to help chase him around a few times.


When we weren't swimming... we ate at our favorite restaurant (perhaps a little too often).



Or went to the park for a swing.




We stayed home and read books...



We played hide and seek...



And had snacks with friends...



And some days we just dressed up and danced around... all day.



Whew... I'm exhasuted! And on top of all that we accomplished abandoning Tessa's pacifier, and Tanner's bottle... Woo Hoo!! I tried to take a few pictures today... Tessa was in such a good mood, of course, until she saw the camera in my hand. Bless her!

Closing out what I feel has been my most challenging season as a mom since I became one... I am sort of sad to see it pass... my kids have grown up so much this summer, and it just goes by so fast! But on the other hand, I'm thrilled to be moving on and starting new things.

September looks a lot different for our family this year than it did last, for a variety of reasons, and I'm so very grateful for all of them. :-)

Mother's Day Out!!

Tanner has his big day today... his first day of Mother's Day Out. He was too busy this morning to cooperate for pictures... of course, but I tried.




I finally got him to sit still long enough for a picture in the car... only to have him immediately remove his shoes (which he only just started wearing like two weeks ago...).




This will be his first "organized childcare" experience. He wasn't thrilled when I left, but... I watched out the window for about 10 minutes, and soon he was playing and having fun. The teacher in his class had Tessa when she was his age, and I was pregnant with him... she kept saying she couldn't believe that much time had passed. I know... oh, sigh....




I will miss his sweet face today... but for the first time, in what seems like a long, long time... I'm going to have ten whole hours a week all to myself! Happy... Joy!! Be advised long lost friends... I'll be calling you for lunch and adult conversations! HA!