short and sweet

Posted on January 14, 2014 by tara

The weeks go by so quickly… and the weekends seem to pass by even faster! I only wish we had more time to rest and enjoy time with family and friends.

This weekend was filled with TONS of baking- these muffins (with some health-conscious modifications), this bread, and these cookies!

Jax got busted for eating crayons… again. He does have a pretty cute “I’m sorry” face, though 🙂

I was asked to take some newborn pictures of a friend’s sweet new baby boy. It’s so easy to forget how tiny and helpless they are before they turn into laughing-dancing-climbing-on-everything toddlers.On Sunday morning, I received a suprise text from my dad-in-law.

“What’s for dinner?”

They live five hours away, so it’s not like they randomly come over and eat our food. They were coming to visit! We ended up having delicious Chinese fake-out and playing games at Jeff and Lelia’s place. It was a short, but sweet visit. I love spending time with family.

_MG_0959

(and yeah, that’s Jax trying to wrestle Dad, because that’s pretty much what went on the whole time they were here)!

five on friday: lollipops and arctic temperatures

Posted on January 10, 2014 by tara

ONE. Kaya had her first lollipop ever this week. Cotton candy flavor is a big hit! (Also, I had no idea how messy a lollipop could be. She definitely should’ve worn a bib for this…)

TWO. I can’t even believe that this was our weather from Monday night into Tuesday morning. I know that some northern states had it way worse than this… but still! We survived (and obviously I missed a run because I was not going outside in it)! I’m grateful that we had power and hot water, because I know that some people across town did not. One of the pipes at our church actually burst and flooded half the building.

THREE. Does it get any cuter than babies in winter hats? Kaya was such a trooper this week and was well-behaved for a meeting I had that lasted almost three hours. I just won’t tell you how many cheese crackers she ate.

FOUR. This dog… I love him to bits. But Jax, here’s a newsflash: crayons are NOT food.

FIVE. I love her happy morning smiles.

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

our first christmas morning at home

Posted on January 2, 2014 by tara

We knew we wanted to spend Christmas day at home, just the three of us. I was a little nervous that we’d be bored, it wouldn’t “feel like” Christmas, or my holiday dinner would turn out awful.

As it turned out, this was the best Christmas yet- and it had nothing to do with the gifts or the food.

I definitely teared up on Christmas Eve, wrapping gifts and lovingly placing them under the tree, on the very same tree skirt that my parents used when I was little.

Our tree was somewhat bare this year (with a toddler and a puppy, I just didn’t want to undergo the hassle of trying to keep ornaments on it), but its glow was perfectly magical.
Kaya came into the living room on Christmas morning and couldn’t stop staring at the tree. She happily squealed when ripping the paper off her gifts. Her big surprise was a play kitchen! She immediately answered the phone… Kaya gave her daddy a remote-control helicopter just like Grandpa’s!

I think she likes it even more than Michael does… as evidenced by this kiss!Jax had a whole stocking full of treats. We gave him a big ole bone that he ate in probably under two minutes!
We had a simple, festive breakfast (m&ms for noses and buttons, mini chocolate chips for eyes and a smile)!
Powdery lips 🙂 I made pot roast in the crock pot, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and my mom-in-law’s famous rolls. Photo-bomber.

I was so worried about ruining our Christmas dinner, so I was surprised when everything tasted amazing. It might have been the most delicious meal ever, actually. (Kaya used her broccoli to eat her potatoes…)

It was the perfect Christmas. So much food, so much fun, and so much love.

project 365: 14/365

Posted on December 7, 2013 by tara

November 8: I’m thankful for my talents that allow me to create things for other people… November 9: …for a Daddy to help with bath time… November 10: …for Daddy cuddles when she isn’t feeling well… November 10: … for all the silly things she does (like putting “makeup” on Michael here)! November 12: I’m thankful for date-nights in and Pillsbury cinnamon rolls… November 13: … for this goofy dog who will snuggle with anything. November 14: … for this mess, because it means we have someone to make it (and toys for her to play with).

sometimes, it’s the little things

Posted on November 13, 2013 by tara

I know my last post was kind of on the down side, but I’m happy to report that we are all doing so much better than we were a few days ago.

This sick little face is finally back to being herself. We had a couple of rough days and nights, but it really wasn’t so bad.

This week, I’ve really been appreciating the small, meaningful moments. Sure, Kaya didn’t feel well, but that just meant that we got to snuggle and watch a million episodes of Baby Einstein. We even had a family slumber party in the living room at 4 am because she didn’t want to be alone (and being propped up instead of lying flat seemed to help her rest better).

Michael and I had a late dinner date to Wendy’s. We ate in the car while Kaya slept, and the radio played all our favorite songs. It was so fun to do something spontaneous together.

Kaya took a super long nap, and I was so grateful after those late nights and early mornings we had. I took full advantage (and as usual, Jax takes any opportunity he gets to be on the bed and smother me. I actually love that he’s so cuddly).

I still miss Juni, but Michael lovingly cleaned up all her things so that I didn’t have to. I’m so thankful for him.

My thoughtful visiting teacher left a treat at my front door just to let me know she cares.

If you know me, you’ve probably seen me wearing Christmas socks all year round. I can’t help it- I just love holiday socks! I was so thrilled to find these (on the right, the ones on the left are from Michael’s Arts and Crafts) for $1 at Target today. Bring on the Christmas season! I also bought sprinkles for decorating gingerbread cookies… I want to do it all now, but Michael is making me wait until Thanksgiving is over!

I’m so thankful for tiny tender mercies, no matter how trivial some of them might seem. God is good.

crayons flying, puppies lying, costume trying

Posted on October 25, 2013 by tara

ONE. I know I already talked about this pumpkin bread a couple weeks ago… but seriously. I have been wanting to make it again ever since we finished the last batch. I finally succumbed to my sweet tooth (it usually wins, anyway) and made some on Wednesday night. Luckily, Lelia and the sister missionaries came by and helped eat some of it! _MG_9695 TWO. While I was baking, this little princess was coloring ~~and throwing crayons all over the kitchen~~. I love having my little pal right at my feet. (Speaking of feet… aren’t her little toes just precious?)THREE. We’ve all been super sleepy this week. Kaya’s naps have been longer, and I even got an ultra-long one on Tuesday. I’m so glad to have my own personal space heater…FOUR. We still haven’t decided on Halloween costumes… I am seriously slacking as a mom. Hopefully I figure it out soon because I only have a few days to make whatever it is we choose! Although, I did procrastinate last year, too… and Kaya was so cute. And TINY. Let’s reminisce for a moment: FIVE. My baby is craaazy. Don’t wear ear buds for this because she will make you hard-of-hearing (and please excuse my congestedness)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0iaqd_H8I0

Happy Friday! Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

my dog is a photobomber

Posted on October 18, 2013 by tara

Happy Friday! This has been one of the most relaxed weeks we’ve had in a while, so here are five of my favorite “simple” moments:

ONE. Her eyes. Have you ever seen any more beautiful? It’s the number one compliment she receives. (and yep… she was coming after my camera here…) TWO. She loves playing in the bath, until I start the actual washing part… good thing Daddy was there to save her (with the most adorable little lion towel)!

THREE. These awesome new $1 socks I found at Michael’s (the craft store) and FOUR. My photo-bombing dog. He’s clingy (just a ~~little~~ lot). Most of the time, I’d rather not be squashed by his over-affectionate tendencies, but I can’t help feeling flattered. FIVE. I made this mac ‘n cheese on Tuesday. It turned out decently good… except that I don’t know what on Earth I was thinking when I made an entire box of pasta for three people (Kaya refuses to eat it… which is odd. She eats any other kind of pasta with cheese…). We still have a TON of it left and it’s Friday. Lucky for me, Michael never complains about eating leftovers for days (although I could definitely go for something else… like pizza *cough Michael cough*…)

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

waffles, conference, and a whole bunch of crazy people

Posted on October 8, 2013 by tara

As I posted over the weekend, we spent Saturday and Sunday relaxing and watching General Conference. I was also craving chocolate-chip waffles… Luckily, I have a super-awesome husband who tends to want to eat the same things I do, so ~~I put him to work in the kitchen~~ he graciously whipped up these whole-wheat waffles on Sunday morning.
He kinda messed up the first one (just a little)! Jax didn’t care what the waffles looked like because they smelled heavenly. Newsflash for my dog: chocolate kills. Much better 🙂 Baby Bird slept through all our clamoring in the kitchen, so she had her waffle (which was actually 1/4 of one) for lunch. That’s the smile of one happy girl!

We took a family picture, which is something we try to do on or around each conference weekend (every six months).In the afternoon, we had friends over to watch the last session. We had a potluck dinner- chicken ‘n dumplings, rice, veggies, and my favorite homemade brownies topped with ice cream for dessert. It doesn’t get any better than that! I love all these crazy people and I’m so grateful to share these memories with them. (PS- the babies have the best expressions… and Jax looks pretty insane too).

my dog might be more popular than me

Posted on September 30, 2013 by tara

We went for a 6-mile run on Saturday, and six distinct sets of people said hello… to my dog. That’s more greetings than I probably get in a whole week while out exercising (although a cute, cuddly puppy is a little more inviting than a sweaty girl wearing her hair like she just took a ride through a clothes dryer…)

I’ve been thinking about Greek food for weeks now and we FINALLY went out for some on Saturday night. Mmmm gyros. Of course, Kitty had to come along. Lelia and I spent some time planning out all the details of our Halloween party. Halloween festiveness got the best of me, so I went out and bought burlap that very night to make a special craft (hopefully I’ll have it completed and on the blog soon). Check out those candy corns!

My baby has also realized that she can walk without holding on to furniture, walls, or my pants… so she made it all the way down the hallway yesterday while carrying Kitty and her music radio. She just keeps practicing since then, but I never seem to have the camera right at those exact moments. Mom fail.

And just because… a shameless selfie (with Michael’s computer in the background, of course). I love my best friend (and I love that he let me sleep in two days in a row. If there were an Ultimate Husband award, he’d win, hands down.)

friday favorites

Posted on September 20, 2013 by tara

Our family is coming into town this weekend for Kaya’s birthday party! Of course, I still have a million things left to check off my to-do list, so I’ll just leave you with a short post of this week’s highlights 🙂

Fall weather has arrived and we are loving the cooler temperatures (although I might not be loving how dark it is when I go running in the morning)… Kaya and I took a walk and she had fun pointing out all the trees. She even wore a hair bow! 🙂

Kaya has learned to “throw” the ball for Jax to fetch! As always, here he is kissing her right IN the mouth. My two crazy kids… I stripped our bed down to wash the sheets, and someone made himself a little too comfy on our pillows and comforter. He does have his own blanket, you know… that he ripped to shreds. We gave Kaya a cupcake last night to celebrate her birthday, and she barely touched it! Michael had to encourage her to taste it. She seemed to like it but only tried a small bit before she was bored with it. (C’mon Kaya… it’s chocolate!)

I’ve been crazy busy this week making all sorts of things for her party tomorrow. I made fondant for the first time ever and had so much fun playing with it yesterday… here’s a sneak peek of the cake!Happy Friday!

Michael and Tara

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