Naughty or Nice?

A lot of these presents are just from mom and dad (Eric and Teresa), but I must have made Nice list. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick holiday greeting to all our family and friends who may actually read this. We hope that you are finding joy this holiday season as you find ways to remember the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ, spend time with loved ones and reflect on another year of blessings and trials. We are especially thoughtful at this time of year of the many sacrifices that men and women around the world make to better humanity and share the ultimate gift of life as sacrifice for principles of freedom and choice. We are so fortunate to have a place to call home, food in our bellies and family and friends who are dear. Family is definitely one of God's greatest gifts and today I am cherishing mine.

My Buddy

Do you remember when you were a kid and there was that doll My Buddy? Well, you probably do if you were born somewhere between 1980- 1986? The commercial song used to go something like this..."My buddy, my buddy, my buddy. Wherever I go, you're gonna go." And, they had a Kid Sister doll, too. Well, anyway, that is the best way I can describe these two! Taft is just like Eric's My Buddy doll. Wherever he goes, Taft's gonna go. This is my favorite thing to look out the window and see!

Happy Halloween!

This year was a low budget year, but thanks to a great neighbor/friend who loaned us this fantastic pirate costume, Taft had a great costume. I wasn't sure if he would actually wear certain things like hats, face paint, etc., but for $.98 (eye liner for facial and chest hair) I couldn't go wrong with this costume. Taft didn't mess with the hat or make up the entire party! Yea for the cutest little pirate we know! When we got home and for the next few days Taft has called his candy his "trick or treats."

If Your Happy & You Know It....

...then your face will surely show it! Taft loves to say cheese for the camera now, and I love to take his picture. He is so content with most things in life and I couldn't even imagine my life without his perfect little smile!

Summer Time Fun

Our summer fun has included, but is not limited to....





Listening to music with "Uncle Krif", chillin' out with the "Queen of Cutes", Boat Riding with some of our favorite people, and driving Uncle Krif's boat while it is still on the trailer and dry land!

B"earth"day Boy!

Taft was born on Earth day two years ago. Eric & I couldn't imagine our lives without this very special boy! He keeps us on our toes, but is truly our greatest joy. We love you Taft.

Growing Up

Tonight Taft is having a sleep over at my mom's house tonight. So, I brought him over there and was just trying to get his stuff situated and such. He gave me a hug and then I stayed for a few more minutes just piddling around, when all of a sudden he sits in my mom's lap, looks me straight in the face and waves/says out loud, "Bye Bye." Guess he growing up, and I had my 1st experience of feeling unwanted. Oh well, I quickly got over it, realizing that it won't be the last time he thinks he doesn't need me either.

When I Look @ You

For those of you who are not privileged to some of the conversations I have been apart of lately might think this post is corny, but to me it is heart-felt honesty and something I wanted to share for myself and my family more than anything else. So either consider yourself lucky, annoyed or whatever else you want to. But, if you are my significant other or my son, then PLEASE continue reading.

Everybody needs inspiration,
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
when the night's so long

Cause there is no guarantee
that this life is easy...


When I look at you I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the starts hold the moon
right there where they belong
And I know I am not alone

You appear to me just like a dream
Just like Kaliedoscope colors that
Cover me, All I need every breath that I breathe
Don't you know you are beautiful.

Yeah when my world is falling apart
WHen there is no light to break up the dark
That's when I look at you.

When the waves are
flooding the shore, and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I look at you.


I know there are a lot of people with mounds of craziness in there life and we are no exception, but today and always, I am especially grateful for OUR problems and that I have some very special men in my life to look to. Thank you for being my rock even when you don't think you are. Thank you for being kind, loving and catering to my sometimes (most of time) needy ways. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a mother and a wife and to fulfill a special part of womanhood that one can't know without experiencing it first hand. Thank you for all of your quirks, idosyncrasies and for being you. You are my loves, my joy, my hope and my favorite guys ever!

All my love,
Your wife and mother

LIfe is short! Tell the ones you love how you feel for we are NEVER guaranteed a tomorrow! Thank God for Eternal Families!

South Texas State Fair (round 1)

The fair comes to town once a year, and it just so happened to open this past weekend. So, we gathered up our strollers, our cash, and my family (along with a few others from Kristina's newly formed family) and we headed out. We had a great time. We got to ride a few rides, courtesy of some very nice strangers who were leaving and passed on some unused tickets. The boys (Taft and Grant) got to ride two rides and see the "exotic" animals in the petting zoo. We tasted a few fried treats (snickers and funnel cake) and got a few minutes of walking in. We had a great time and here is the view from our eyes.

NO Picture for this post

...But I am pretty sure you will be thankful, if you decided to read this. This morning I was folding a few clothes when Taft came to me and said, "PeePee." He uses that word for many things (i.e., pee, poo, and well you can guess the other...). Anyway, he grabbed my hand and took me to the potty. He does this on occasion so I said, "yeah, Taft...PeePee." Then I decided that since he suggested it, I would take off his diaper and put him on the potty. So, off with the diaper and up on the toilet. He sat for a second, said "PeePee" again and then grunted. It wasn't long before I smelled something and realized that my kid had actually poop in the toilet. It was the smallest amount of poop I think possible for one to poop, but it was definitely stinky poop. I was shocked since he had just had a BM about 15 minutes before. Anyway, I am not naive enough to think that he will come get me again next time he needs to go poop, but it was definitely encouraging since we have only talked a little bit about potty training. I have no real intention of starting a fierce training until he at least 2 (April 22nd). I didn't take a picture, because of obvious reasons, but I did think it was worth writing down, because he actually instigated the whole process. So, here is to my little man giving me hope that one day he will take himself to the toilet!

Faith Promoting Stories?

Last night Eric went to the Stake Dance to chaperon for our ward. So, I helped myself to some time at my mom's house for a visit with her and an aunt that is in from Utah. About an hour or so after the dance started, I decided that since it was at our local chapel I would run over and hang out with Eric for a little bit. When I got there Eric proceeded to tell me about an assignment he was given for a "mini" youth conference that the stake is having in March. Being the organizer that I am, I found a member or the Stake YW pres. to get more details. After I got my details, I was content to leave the room and continue my hanging out process, when I got stopped! No big deal, President Newton (the stake pres.) just wants to say hi. WRONG! He wanted to help me out with my calendering. He started to tell me about stake conference which happens to be on the 6th, and 7th of Feb. Thanks for the reminder Pres. I am planning on attending and I am even gonna sing in the choir on Sunday.:) Nope, not what he wanted. What he really wanted was to give me an early b-day present. One that requires me to speak for 10 minutes at the adult session of conference. FOR REAL!? You sure? Well, I guess he was sure. So, here is the question I have for you. What stories in church history are faith promoting to you? I have to speak on a faith promoting story from church history. Seriously? There are a million in one faith promoting stories....how do you just choose one? So, if you have a good one please leave me a clue to it in the comments section, because I am really freaked out about having to pick a story and then talk on it.

The Bacon Monster

This morning Taft had already eaten a waffle, some blueberries and had a little orange juice. When Eric sat down to eat his eggs, waffles, and bacon Taft snuck his way into his Daddy's lap and helped himself to some bacon. But he didn't stop with half a piece. When he was done he helped himself to a little more...and a little more until it was gone. Eric didn't really mind though, because it meant a little snuggle time with his little man. So, we made Eric a little more bacon, and guess who helped him eat that, too...none other than the bacon monster! Guess the little guy is just going through a spurt.

GQ or Nerd?

Taft loves cell phones, shoes, and glasses. He will wear any kind of glasses, and today the glasses of choice were his Grandma Simpson's (aka Pa).

Making Music

The cabinet door with the pots and pans got let open, and Taft decided to do nothing else, but make music. I am convinced that some things come naturally to kids, like making lots of noise,because we have never taught him to do this. Not that Taft is the 1st one to think of using the lids to the pots and pans as cymbals, but kids are so creative. They never provide a dull moment.

Future Fireman?

Before today I never seen Taft have enough attention span to play with something for more than 3 minutes at a time. Today he played with his fire station that his Aunt Kim & Uncle Spencer gave him for Christmas. He played with it for about 10 minutes, so I was able to get some pictures, so we hope you enjoy them Spencer and Kim. He loves it.

2010 Resolutions

I am going to make my resolutions public for 2 reasons. #1 if forces me to think about them before I actually commit to them and then also they are written down and therefore must be accounted for. So, if you are not interested in reading about my personal goals for the next few days, weeks, months and years then please feel free to read at a later time when I post something else. Resolutions are an interesting concept to me. I know it isn't likely that I will achieve all of them, or maybe not any of them, but I love what they stand for....CHANGE! They are an effort to realize where we are, a self-check if you may, and then an opportunity to decide what to do to change what we are or to decide if we are accepting where we are at in our lives. For me, I am not unhappy with my life, but I definitely long for MORE...peace, happiness, and improvement. So, today I am writing down some goals that I think will ultimately bring me more peace, happiness, and improve my life.

DAILY:
1. Compliment Eric and Taft. These two are the greatest joys and frustration in my life, but definitely bring me more joy in my life than anything I could imagine. I am not very good at complimenting them on the joy they bring me, so here is to a sharing of positive feedback!

2. Sincerely talk with My Heavenly Father. I am always in need of something. I think I must start a thousand prayers a day, but this year I want to learn to really talk to God. He is the reason I exist, He is the reason I am so blessed and even the reason I experience trials, but ultimately His approval is what I want at the end of the day, so I guess I am going to have to learn to talk to him sincerely and then learn to listen for His response.

WEEKLY:
1. Journal the experiences of our lives. Family history is not one of my loves, but I do think it valuable for people to understand the experiences that mold and shape the lives of their ancestors.

2. Learn something new. I want to learn something new in three different categories...Spiritual, Historical, and Professional. This is probably going to be a little challenging for me because it is going to force me to have to read more. I am not very good at reading for the purpose of gathering information. So here is to getting more informed on things that might actually help improve myself.

Monthly:
1. Increase my temple attendance. Since I am horrible at this, I am pretty sure that I can only get better at this. I am looking forward to scheduled trips with my husband that will give us time to spend together and remind us the promises we made at marriage to ourselves and to God.

2. Family Fun Night. I want to start planning evenings with our little one that helps enrich his life as much as he does ours. We are really good at playing with Taft individually, but as a family we don't do much to create fun times and memories. Some of that has to do with the previous inability of Taft to really follow instructions and do anything structured. He is getting to an age where he can cooperate to a degree with activities that are fun and attention getters for him. I am hoping that once a month we can find the energy, time and creativity to give our son the love, attention and opportunity to make fond memories with his immediate family, extended family and even friends that we consider family!:)

YEARLY:
1. Work towards a healthier me. To me this includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. So, of course this means exercise, better eating, a better sleeping schedule and less stress. So, here is to picking the battles, enjoying the moment, and and capitalizing on moments that will allow me to learn to laugh, smile, sing and love more!

If you have any ideas on how to help me reach my goals, or want to share yours with me, feel free to do so in the comments section! Happy New Year and hopefully IMPROVED year!