Into The Wild

#24 start a diet to help aaron

2012-01-17T11:35:00.000-08:00

aaron has crohn's (for those of you who i have not informed). we started a strict regiment on january 1st in attempt to diminish the symptoms of his disease. no grains (including rice and corn), no milk, no starches and of course no refined sugars. yes, just as you are wondering now, we also asked ourselves what would be left to eat; lots of healthy foods that come in their natural, God-made form. hooray for us all, he is responding remarkably well:) and i am finally cooking more than once a month. rather, i am cooking multiple times a day and always trying new things so i don't hear complaining that it is chicken soup for dinner AGAIN. this week is sprouted grain sourdough bread. sprouting my own grain on the counter next to sourdough starter from my blessed neighbor.

a few other goals i've accomplished - -

#25 have a game night with gideon and katie (charades...need i say more?)
#26 go to bed before midnight for a week (amazingly difficult, but so rewarding)
#27 drink 8 glasses of water in one day (tap water tastes so gross)
#28 use clothe diapers for a week (three weeks now and going strong)
#29 make a book for my blog 2008-2010 (actually went all the way through 2011 and was a christmas gift to aaron's grandparents)

early christmas

2011-12-23T15:41:00.000-08:00

we gave in and opened a few presents early. we're getting jade ready for the grandparents' house. or, lets be honest, we just couldn't wait to share a few of our gifts. jade caught on so quick she found more presents hidden deep under the tree and started opening. christmas is full of family this year and we wouldn't have it any other way.

watching tv

2011-12-23T15:35:00.000-08:00

despicable me. i don't know what genius mind was behind this one, but jade will sit and watch the movie in it's entirety. i don't have to sit next to her, i don't even have to be in the front room. and it's the only movie that does this to her.

i admittedly confess that this dvd is often found in our player, and it is often playing. i feel the guilt peering over my shoulder if it goes for a third time. at that point i deliberately turn it all off and we go outside to makeup for the brain cells i killed letting her watch the one-eyed babysitter for so long.

we're all happy and smiling in the end.

happy holidays

2011-12-13T11:39:00.000-08:00

i'm feeling the unnecessary craziness of christmas. it's coming fast. the window for ordering and sending gifts is quickly closing in on us.

holiday plans and expectations can easily dominate the real reason we celebrate the season of christmas. though presents, parties and adorable christmas dresses are a source great fun and joy, i'm making commitments to my Savior and taking this opportunity to reflect on how i can resolve to be more like Him and thus show my gratitude and deep testimony i have of His gift to each of us. i love my Savior and hope we all can grow in our relationship with Him as we turn our hearts toward Him this christmas year.

merry christmas to all :)

learning new things

2011-12-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

we're including brushing teeth in our bedtime routine. don't think we're on top of things, the routine has been in effect only two days so far. and for the brushing to be effective i have to wrestle her down and quickly find the few teeth she has in there.

i just can't get enough of that wispy hair and those chubby little fingers. there is so much intensity and focus in that gaze. the learning curve of that little brain moves leaps and bounds every day, it's hard to keep up. and she runs everywhere....it's hard to keep up with that too.

recital mania

2011-12-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

christmas 2011
pictured here (in alphabetical order) me, abby, caleb, connor, eliza, emma c., emma e., grace, jayden, jordan, josh, keaton, kiara, lincoln, mavis, olivia, peyton, sami, shella.

eighteen out of twenty students pictured here (missing mckayla and jared). what a great experience. i wanted to talk to every parent and grandparent personally and tell them what an individual their child is, how much i love and am so proud of each of them. what an immense blessing it is to be part of all these children's lives and get to know them.

i am a very blessed person.

oh jade

2011-12-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

play group

2011-11-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

i hosted play group today. toys were thrown and grabbed, kids crying and learning to share, mom's laughing and commiserating. i found this when i went back to jade's room to put her down for a nap.

i loved it. i loved the tears and the craziness. there were kids jumping like monkeys on the furniture and locking the doors. each having moments of quiet imagination with new toys. a glimpse into the mayhem of multiple children. there is something indescribably beautiful about all these wild little people we so nonchalantly call kids. yes, indescribable. i need say no more.

#21 buy a meal for a homeless person

2011-11-30T11:17:00.000-08:00

i did it. it felt good. but i have to be honest that it just felt weird. there are so many opportunities to rise above begging for help on the street corner. there are programs, opportunities, groups, and agencies that are available so that we don't have to go hungry in this country. i'll be honest, my main excuse for not helping people is because i assume they want money for some type of substance abuse. people don't have to go to a street corner to beg for food.

but despite the undeniable doubt i hold in respect to these persons need for real help, i gave help because it was asked and i wanted to do it and experience it. i may hope that reaching out will change people's lives that may be in need, but if not them, i will have changed myself in the least.

so, for what it's worth, let's change the world one heart at a time. even if it only ends up our own.

one year

2011-10-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

October 6, 2011

12 months

18 lbs

27 inches

a lot of love, keen sense of humor, curiosity to compete with any cat.

it's my birthday and i'll cry if i want too.

grandpa ric. guest of honor.

lots of wonderful presents from loving cousins. elmo has become her new best friend.

strawberry cake with strawberry frosting. so yummy! jade didn't eat much of it. she mostly wondered what the substance was, and why it was sticking to her fingers.

balloon drop. kayla's face says it all.

grandma hone.

rich and nina.

jade, we can't believe you have been with us this long. you are the most beautiful, charming, hairless wonder of our universe. you make us laugh, you make us cry, you've turned our lives upside down so we are finally right side up. you better quit the cuteness or we'll be saturated with it! we love you with all our hearts. mommy and daddy.

thanks to everyone that came to celebrate and shared presents. jade didn't know what to do with so many loving faces in the room! the highlight of her evening was running through a room full of balloons at the end. all our love to you all!

happy halloween

2011-10-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

#20 bike 100 miles

2011-10-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

july 24th, 2011

looking back across utah valley from the 400s springville exit.

looking south on the road going around west mountain.

looking back north from the same road. timp on the right, the granite cover of lone peak on the left.

the dang-blasted culprit (there was more than one) of four patches and three flat tires. set us back two hours having to stop five times.

half way point just west of goshen. this is the southern end of redwood road. finally turning back north.

jared with y-mount in the background. you can see the y just to the right of his mouth.

the end.

96.9 miles

4 patches

3 flat tires

11 hours

priceless bonding experience

#18 no tv for a week

2011-09-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

i did it. i made an exceptional only for the byu vs utah game saturday night. i even waited on the season finale of america's got talent!

i loved it. i finished one book and started another, got lots of things done, and most of all enjoyed the quiet. i also cheated and let jade watch sesame street a few days when we were struggling and i needed something to distract her.

all in all, i didn't miss it one bit and it will be easier to turn off the tv from now on and do something more fulfilling!

next is to go a week without pinterest....that will be harder.

summer misses

2011-09-18T00:15:00.000-07:00

moments we caught this summer and didn't want you to miss.

fishing/camping with the medley's and smylie's at strawberry.

not puke. milk and cereal she spilled on the floor from my bowl and began to slurp it up herself. always so creative.

seven peaks with jared and lynn.

stuart falls with jared and lynn, gideon and katie.

watching elmo. her new best friend.

jade and finn. 5 months apart, not an inch difference in size.

the mountain man showin' her the ropes.

happy birthday to me

2011-09-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

amina took me on a lovely hike up to stewart falls. thunder accompanied us. crazy dog.

then, sadly, amina took a spill and twisted her ankle. if you can't tell from the following picture, she was not all that excited. so, we hobbled ourselves back to the car and went out to eat. on the way down the canyon, amina iced her ankle in the river. indian style!

then...aaron used his own play money (play means money that comes around that we get to use for fun things) and got me (and himself, of course) a mountain bike!

then, to top it all off, sarah put together a post of everyone's memories of me. it was so thoughtful of her and i loved it. it made me feel so special. though most of you have read them, i'm going to add them on to the end of my birthday so i have them here forever:)

thanks sarah and everyone. i had a great 26th birthday!

Dad

Backpacking was and is a favorite Medley past time. Mirs got her introduction when she was about 11 years old. I look at trips as a whole - that is you have a bad one and 3 good ones to make up for it. Unfortunately, the first one we took Mirs on was one of those "bad" ones. I guess none are totally 'bad" but when we hike for 4 or 5 hours in the dark with flashlights and the wind is blowing about 25 miles an hour (all night) and Hannah almost gets blown off the cliff. I think we freaked poor Mirs out! Sorry Miriam - I should have been a bit more sensitive to your tender young self-esteem. I guess after that trip you decided you did not like backpacking and hence wondered how you would ever fit into the Medley's! I'm glad we had a bunch after that that were great - hopefully they made up for that first one... Years went by - too quickly of course - and Mirs found her self near the end of her senior year of high school with an interesting dilemma. She was an outstanding piano player, but did not have the grades or units to get into college. Hence began her "endless summer" between her high school senior and college freshman year. It was seamless - you started CR before school ended and byu online english ended just as HSU started. I'll never forget going down to the bay area for that Shostakovich or Rachmaninov stuff and hearing you play with some hoity- toity orchestra. My kid! Ya rock mirs. I love how you can always count on Mirs for a deep conversation - she's a thinker. Love ya mirs - you treat your family well - you are a good example - keep up the good teaching too! love Dad

Mom

My fondest memory of Miriam is how she kept changing in and out of her clothes all day long. She must have changed at least 50 times from the time she woke up to the time she went to bed most of her childhood! She was excessively fashion-conscious. She had to wear certain little dresses with foo-foos and frills (in an athletic way). She had a pair of “tappy shoes” that she wore to school. Mrs. Piland called me and asked if I would please have her wear tennis shoes so that she wouldn’t slip! Tennis shoes were safer! I told Miriam the news and we decided to leave the tappy shoes at home. A few days later, Mrs. Piland called me and said that the tappy shoes were becoming a problem! I told her Miriam had left them at home! She just laughed and said that Miriam would change into them when she got to school (having smuggled them in her backpack). Happy Birthday Miriam!! I feel like you always live your life in your tappy shoes!!!!

Rachel

The first memory I thought of was a recent one, when you and Aaron came to visit and how much fun we had. It is so rare to get one of my siblings completely to myself and I had you for like 5 days! I loved all the conversations we had and all the reminiscing. And getting to hang out with Jade and get to know her too, what a fun time! Love you little sister. You'll always be little MIriam to me!! Love, Rachel

Sarah

Oh Miriam. I have so many memories of you. I want to do something different. I want to tell you all the things I love about you now. You have an innate sense of people. You are someone who can almost always finish my sentences. We have had deep conversations where there are pauses, and we look at each other, and there is electricity in the air. You get me, I get you. I love it. Your becoming a mother is a stage that has been beautiful to behold. You are so gracious in the way you accept and take advice from us, even when I'm sure you're sick of hearing it. You have a mother-bear relationship with Jade and it is so beautiful to see, especially since you were so worried that you would not be the best "baby person". Get real!! You possess more musical talent in your pinky than I possess in my whole brain, and I've always been jealous! Thank you for being an amazing woman, Miriam. I love you with all my heart.

Hannah

Miriam, the fancy little girl with the star shaped glasses, pink dresses, and full of attitude. I have always loved every little thing about you Mirs. From the imaginary lines in the house to the continual need for crutches, what a fantastic person you have always been. Suddenly, before I left on my mission we somehow became very close. Writing back and forth for the time I was gone, we seemed to become even closer, a type of kindred spirits. Thank you for all your fantastic letters while I was out there. Your testimony helped me go and teach everyday. For such a young girl, you had an amazing testimony of the Savior, who you are and where you came from. Your love for your family and for Heavenly Father gave me so much strength. Then to see it full circle was to travel down to San Antonio and see the great work you had done in your time served there. You really did (and continue to) let your light shine. I will forever be thankful for that Miriam. Now, seeing you as a mother is awesome. Little Jade is so lucky to have you and Aaron is one fortunate guy to have you. Now it is a treasured treat each time I get to spend time with you. I love how we can just sit and chat with nothing else planned, it is a blast. You deserve an awesome gift and one day when I am rich and famous, I'll get you that gift. I am so happy we have each other. Love you and Happy Birthday!!

Jared

One day we were at home and Mom and Dad were gone. There was some kind of altercation in the living room in which Miriam became the focal point of some aggressive energy. She went outside, slammed the door behind her which we all thought was the end of the altercation. Just then, the door flew open and the toilet plunger went sailing over our heads and we watched in slow motion as the handle of the plunger impaled Aunt Fran’s family portrait that sat on the piano. Miriam looked petrified. It was hard to tell whether she felt that her anger had been sufficiently released, or she was terrified of what she had actually done. There were probably thoughts going through her head of regret/terror/ psychological dominance over everyone in the room. I don’t remember anything after that, I’m not sure what kind of punishment ensued (if any). What has always stuck with me is my awe of Miriam’s ability to accomplish the seemingly insurmountable. Sometimes I still think about the figurative toilet plunger flying through the air over my head...

Happy Birthday Miriam!!

Gideon

My best memories of Miriam are from about 6 years ago when I moved to utah. She lived a mile or two away, and we saw her often. I loved driving down and spending time at her apartment or giving her a ride. Miriam was such a good friend to me when I started out on my own. She set me up on a date or two (bad idea when your brother is 18 and clueless) and was always down for a climb at the quarry. Miriam has always been so happy and enthusiastic and encouraging. She always is excited to see you. I have lots of memories too of hanging out with Miriam in high school (also a bad idea when your brother is 14 and clueless) and when she was at HSU. Miriam has always been such a good friend to me. Thanks Miriam, and we love you.

Gideon.

Naomi

There is so much about Miriam that I would love to say. I remember when she was in high school, she asked me what I thought about something. I didn't respond. "Do you think about anything?" "Not really." I have changed since then I assure you. But there is one thing in particular that Miriam and I will always treasure in our hearts. That one summer. Miriam got off her mission around April and two weeks later played the piano for my cello final. That summer was the best summer we had together. I had grown so much since she had left on her mission and I felt like we were the same age. We drove the volvo everywhere, went everywhere together and had a blast. It wasn't until I ran out of money that we even thought about getting jobs. We worked for two and half months and saved up enough to take a trip to Florida to visit Sarah for two weeks. That summer, we headed the Humboldt Branch Relief Society, broke down on the way to Utah, Miriam met Aaron while he was on a date with me, bought way too many hand me down clothes, and we both got awesome tans. That summer allowed Miriam and I to become closer sisters. She knows now that I do "think" and can even articulate what I am thinking. I love you Miriam. Have a very happy birthday.

Bethany

I remember when we were sharing rooms and she came home one night from college and it was really late. We were both in our beds and the lights were out. We tried to make the funniest noises we could and most of them were fart noises! We stayed up for hours making funny noises!!! This next memory has to do with farts, too, but ya know, we are the Medleys... Me, Miriam and Naomi were staying the night in one of the high schooler rooms and I farted, they laughed and my excuse was it just kind of “wheezed out”! They started busting up laughing and we spent the next half hour coming up with different names for different kinds of farts! I also remember this one night I woke up and had a ear ache. I woke up and the light was on and Miriam had just come home and was working on homework. My ear hurt incredibly bad. Worse than I had ever felt. I couldn’t move my head and I was sitting there crying. Miriam went and got me some medicine and some water and carried me upstairs to Mom’s bed. She sat with me while I cried and hurt so bad. She stayed with me and made things so much better. Love you Miriam!

Isaac

I remember once when she was having a concert and she was playing the piano. When she was done, I ran up there on the stage and I was in my black pants and light blue button up shirt. I gave her the bouquet of flowers. Mom made me do it!! Happy Bday Miriam.

11 months

2011-09-14T17:03:00.001-07:00

25 inches
18 pounds

falling asleep on my birthday hike.

she's walking like a champ.

#15 wax my armpits

2011-09-14T14:23:00.001-07:00

yes. i did it. not that exciting sounding but it was one of my goals and i did it! bonding time was priceless with katie. thanks for helping me out katie!

#14 email dave ramsey

2011-09-08T22:38:00.001-07:00

not much to say other than i emailed dave ramsey with an awesome financial question. we'll see if i get to be aired on the show!

standing

2011-08-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

and taking her first steps.

there's a lot of flesh there to love. and boy do we love it.

my bunkin

2011-08-16T07:00:00.001-07:00

bummy rash and birds

2011-08-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

jade had her first severe rash so we spent some time airing her out. and she provided very animated commentary as she watched a flock of pigeons circle the house.

since taking the bottle she's turned into daddy's girl. she cried when he walked out the door to run some errands and she was more than happy to leave mommy at home to accompany him on his adventure.

more family time

2011-08-06T21:52:00.000-07:00

hannah had her twins and it's brought lots of family around to enjoy. grandma mary brought a book for jade and read it to her before bedtime. then rachel organized an awesome hike up grove creek canyon to the spring on her last day here in utah. i don't have pictures of the twins because i want hannah to be able to post them first but she did post some on facebook for those who haven't seen them yet. you can never have enough family time and we welcome the twins to our party!

10 months

2011-08-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

not much heavier, a bit taller, but %210 smarter and %500 cuter - if that's even possible.

all her 10 month photos are action shots because she won't sit still if i get within a 10ft radius.

a few new things - she cuddles, got her first tooth and DRINKS FROM A BOTTLE. i don't use caps so it goes to show how excited i am about it.

reach for the skies

2011-07-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

it's over...again. i'm pretty sure i've used that line before here. next is walking, then talking, and pretty soon driving. it's the zeal of life they are born with that pushes them to always do more. let's hope i can remember that when she's sixteen.

pool party

2011-07-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

sun screen, sun, water, girl talk, baby talk, crying babies, wrinkly toes and so so much fun.
she's just growing up so fast. her personality has always shined (like her adamant crying when i walked into a dim lit room when she was only a week old). life is just too much fun with her.

crackers and cuteness

2011-07-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

she has a new found love for crackers. she's very happy, and so am i. she found the little bag of ritz in the diaper bag, with much effort pulled out two, threw a fit when i took one, dived after it with an open mouth so i gave it back, and after a morning of nonstop complaining and whining, she was more than content for a good 15 minutes with those two treasures she found.

what a gem.

#13 paint my nails

2011-07-20T20:23:00.001-07:00

yes, lime green. and only after a few days it's chipping like crazy. it was a burst of stylish energy which has quickly faded...obviously i'm not big on painting my nails and dolling up since one of my 101 goals is to simply 'paint my nails'. i knew i'd never do it otherwise. fun, nonetheless. maybe next i'll venture to my toe nails...

#12 have isaac over for games with aaron

2011-07-20T20:17:00.001-07:00

i didn't shoot picture the whole four days i had bethany and isaac. so sad.

isaac and aaron went shooting, four-wheeling, and topped the evening off the transformers 3 in 3d. grateful for my little bro and my loving husband. great duo.

#11 have a sister sister date with ari

2011-07-20T20:15:00.001-07:00

bikram yoga.

free for first-timers in sandy. click here for the website.

amazing. changed my life. men, if you want to know a taste of the stamina it takes to push through labor, here's your chance. it's a life size crucible that reveals the real person within you.

ari, thanks for being so freakin awesome!!!!!! she made it through the whole class; me on the other hand...i realized the person within me is kind of a wimp.

teething

2011-07-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

there it is. the tiredness in my hair, the tenderness in her cuddle, the pain in her furrowed eyebrows, and the enduring love in the moment.

she's cutting her first tooth - 3 days after she started sleeping all night. great timing little one.

#10 go to the zoo

2011-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

we saw lots of cool looking animals and managed to stay cool in the heat and not get run over by the crowds. we might have got more pictures if jade wasn't doing this for most of the adventure...

but we still had a great time on our family trip and had to snap a picture of this guy's shirt. i hope no one's offended but we thought it was witty:)

mortality

2011-07-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

there are two aspects to mortality; the physical and the spiritual.

i go back and forth dwelling on the vulnerability of the two. sometimes, i realize the frailty of the physical- it's limited duration, it's complicated and easily thwarted system, the ever-changing and unexpected. other times, i realize the frailty of the spiritual; the emotional ocean, the unrelenting weakness, the doubt.

these passionate and fickle spirits lie at the helm of life. "life is 90% mental and 10% mental."

a photo essay of one man tells the stories of women, thwarted by the unexpected storm of physical pain and mutilation, who's spirits soar above the physical limitations of this mortal life. we are forever beings and the strength that is seen through suffering is testimony enough for me.

the scar project

the link below is life changing
young girls with progeria

day of independence

2011-07-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

i was humbled this sunday when in relief society i confessed i had never participated in a political vote in my long 26 years. i confessed with the profession that i had made a goal to vote in the next presidential election and that in order to do so, i realized the importance of being involved, informed, doing my part and trying to look for the positive. there are many people who do not take pride in our country but we have a rich heritage and there is plenty of which we can be proud.

afterward an elderly sister approached me and schooled me on the importance of being informed and doing the best we can to support our country. she was raised in a political family and knew how important it was to vote. she ended with "i've always liked you and thought you were a cute girl." that is, until i had admitted my failure to my country!!

the fourth for us was full of fun and family. we took a drive through American Fork Canyon to the Cascade Springs and on through to Midway on a dirt road. (we love our subaru!) ate pizza where aaron first met hannah and sean (we had been dating only a few weeks and sean was grilling us for a marriage date. oh sean). then spent the evening at the johnson's with lots of friends and neighbors.

i'm grateful for our country and every human being that has sweat blood and tears to make it what it is today. politics or military service is not my calling in life but i greatly revere those that choose to make sacrifices in the name of all our country stands for. happy independence day!

9 months

2011-07-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

16.5 pounds
25 inches

crawls, pulls herself up to stand, says 'mama', sleeps without being wrapped up, slept for 8 hours for the first time!!!!! and eats enough solid food to feed a small army. she's in bed right now and i miss her.

the doo-rag is a sleeve i cut off of one of my shirts.

her first tu-tu. ah :)

helping mommy in the kitchen like a big girl.

she laid here for half an hour watching sesame street. it was so precious.

with the right motivation

2011-07-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

look at that beautiful face. it's hard to admit my life is over now that she's crawling. it's amazing to watch the tiny little ball of flesh crawl around like a big girl. she sees what she wants and she goes and gets it. may this be the model of your life's ambitions.

inspiration

2011-06-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

there are many talented and awe-inspiring women - mothers rather - who write about the experience of motherhood and say it in such a way that thousands of women read their words for comfort, motivation and inspiration. i wish i could be one of those women.

i've been reborn; i've experienced the 'awful' and the elation that accompanies the calling of motherhood. and every time i read an entry that illuminates the secret perspective we have as mothers, i'm touched to the very depth of my core and reminded why this trying bundle of flesh is the most beautiful object on earth.

she is only 8 months and i only have one. there is much yet i have to learn and experience - the age of two, discipline, the age of teen:) but from the moment that baby arrives, there is a divine realm within each of us that awakens to fulfill the most noble role on earth.

the words of tara thayer inspired me to write this today. her words were featured on a blog someone linked through facebook. i hope it lifts you in some way as it did me. i highlighted my favorite lines.

i began as the mother of babes.

and i mean that, for i was born then, too.
all of the me that had begun,
the wonderings and wanderings of my first three decades,
melted away in the faces of those new babies
and i was born anew.

i spent the next decade tending.
and tending, i did well. it was my thing, apparently.

i grew into it, and i loved every minute.
well,
you know that to be a gentle lie.
there were quite a few minutes of awful. of anguish, even.
and so much comedy, uncertainty, dishevelment.
you know.

but now...
some of my babes are almost grown.
do not kid yourself about how quickly that happens.
do not kid yourself and do not miss a second wishing those
wonderfully intense, delicious early years away.

for it happens even as you are watching them.
they grow.

and as much as you need to lose yourself to care for those newborn babes, those littles-
when they have grown to your size almost-when their feet may be as big!-
it is then that you need to find yourself again.
you need to grow.

for then, as they come upon ten; at twelve maybe...fourteen certainly;
then you must find yourself in order to know how to guide them. you must be the you
that you want to be,
so that the you they are growing up against and alongside, is the you that you want them to know.

for here's the thing:

in the end,
what you want for them most of all is to leave you.
to leave your house to become who they will be.
and when they are gone
who do you want to be left with?

my wish is that my own answer
is the me that was born out of mothering them.
and the man that's loved me all along the way.

8 months

2011-06-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

too close to 20 pounds
almost able to stand up and have her inches marked on the wall:)

special play time with daddy in the bedroom while mommy was teaching piano. jade is close to crawling and she knows how cute she is. enjoy the prison pictures at the end. we've been trying to have happy time in her crib. psychological warfare tactics for the bedtime battle.

happy birthday grandma

2011-06-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

we surprised grandma mina with a trip to cupcake chic and some friends for dinner.

amina, you are such a beautiful person inside and out. you gave me my wonderful husband, the happiness of my life, and you never stop giving to us your love and care. i am so lucky to have you in my life and you have taught me many things. thanks for being a wonderful mother-in-law. i couldn't ask for any better.

love, us.

and thanks for getting thunder. i think jade loves him the best out of the whole family! look at that kiss. that's dedication:)

love at first sight

2011-06-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

yes, i am posting a picture of a rocking chair i bought. i've been dreaming of it for a long time and i met it in a garage for $40. couldn't let her go. she's beautiful and i'm so happy she's part of the family.

this? -not love at first sight. yes, a garder snake in our house. i chased it out all by myself. aaron was at work. poor little guy was scared but i think i was more scared. you try walking out of the back bedroom to find a snake stretched out across your living room floor. what, do i live in florida???

#9 grow an herb garden

2011-06-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

thyme, rosemary, mint, dill, oregano, parsley, cilantro, sage and, my personal favorite, basil (pictured above). i haven't mastered the full sunlight photography as of yet. it requires a few more tricks than i have up my sleeve.

here are a few pieces of eye candy i enjoy on my front porch.

101 goals in 1001 days

special friends

2011-06-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

karla stirling, kimberly fitzgerald, rae lake, spouses, children, babies and the wonderful, edifying company of special friends. it was a beautiful sunny day that peaked out of the rains and storms that had been baring down for weeks. and we all got to sit around and enjoy our own 'rae' of sunshine right in the front room. thanks for bringing us all together again, rae. even though it took you coming all the way up from texas to do it. we love you!

#8 buy something from ikea

2011-05-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

lynn, katie, finn, jade and i all ventured to ikea this weekend. i had never been. along with the quaint vase, i bought some white baskets and finger puppets for jade.

though the place was amazing, the time spent with the sister-in-laws was the highlight. lynn and katie are beautiful and strong women. they are shining examples to me in so many ways and i feel honored that we are all such good friends. the world really is a beautiful place full of wonderful people.

#8 on my 101 List

high school

2011-05-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

i found these in my box of papers from high school.

i obviously lacked a bit of personal responsibility. good thing jade screams when she's hungry or i might forget to feed her like i did my rabbit. i should do time for animal cruelty.

#6 go to north carolina

2011-05-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

jade's first flight. three legs both ways. the first leg on the way to north carolina i was cringing my way through any bumps, holding on to aaron with a death grip. by the last leg on the way home i was sleeping through the turbulence. face your fears and you will dominate them!

ralph. she made herself right at home as jade's personal entertainer. jade loved her and she loved jade. we would have brought her home with us but her owner loved her too much.

it was hot (for us utans anyway), so jade decided to show some flesh. she's just so darn cute.

oh, that thumb. it is here to stay. like mother, like daughter.

rachel performing her farm duties. that goat was jade's REAL best friend. sorry ralph, mr. marbles made jade laugh every time she went outside.

that's rachel. that's why she's so awesome. she's done everything and she always does it well. she looked so good in the tunnel and showed jade the ropes like a good aunt.

golden knight's new mascot.

love you.

perks of having friends in the military. yes, i pulled the trigger...eventually.

the ralph-anater. i'm sure she's suffering withdrawls.

rachel and jared, thank you for having us out for the week. it was priceless time spent in a cozy cabin in the woods, never short on enlightening conversation, farm animals, yummy food and good times. rachel, i miss you. but i'm so happy and lucky that we had this time together. i'll cherish it until we can do it again. hope to see you both out in the west to visit soon! ralph and mr. marbles are more than welcome to accompany you:)

#6 on my 101 List

Ode to the mothers

2011-05-08T23:24:00.000-07:00

my mom and then the day i became a mother. i don't have anything too deep to say this mother's day. i'm tired and worn out. jade's always throwing me curve balls but i see into her spirit more all the time. it's secretly rewarding. some days the rewards stay secret, very secret. other days your eyes open to see what it is you are really taking part in. "mother, i love you, mother i do. Father in heaven has sent me to you." -sung by the primary children today. the love is unfathomable.

i finally have a little shelf for my treasured dolls made by grandma jeannie. they sit just above jade's crib. a thousand dreams and fantasies of a little girl reside in these dolls. now i play house with a real baby:) i just wish she didn't have to scream the few hours before she went to bed every night. grandma, you are such a special lady. i miss you a lot.

7 months

2011-05-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

a few more rolls than 12.5 pounds can handle
outgrowing so many clothes!

mommy's mess

2011-04-10T22:16:00.000-07:00

we all agree something sweet needs to go into that rice cereal. she's losing interest...

a few of my favorite things

2011-04-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

the rolls.

the chunkies.

the playful toes while nursing.

those arms, oh those arms!

(watching tv)

the faces.

the eyes.

the tongue.

the love.

daddy time

2011-04-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

and you laugh so hard.
today you cried when daddy left the room because you love it when he plays with you. i'm no match for yours or daddy's energy.

for megan

2011-04-07T20:23:00.000-07:00

6 months

2011-04-06T10:44:00.001-07:00

14 pounds

24 inches

squeals, laughs, snuggles

doctor's favorite patient of the day award for her big smiles (none of which i was able to catch. mom isn't as exciting as the doctor).

first sewing project

2011-03-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

"mommy gave me this long, white and black plastic thing that looks so interesting and amazing, like nothing i've ever seen before."

"maybe it's edible"

"nothing i've eaten yet has killed me. add this to the list"

"i don't know. it's not going down easy."

"yeah, this is too emotionally traumatic for me. dang measuring tape!"

and that's what mommy did after she began sewing the two pieces of material together the wrong direction ... not a hopeful start for the intended long-term relationship desired for the her and the sewing machine. maybe tomorrow.

that's 'things to do' #32 completed. use my new sewing machine!