The Taits and our Tots

Eight Years and Counting...

2011-05-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, David and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. It was a really great day. We went to a really nice steakhouse for dinner. He treated me to a dinner of melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled portobello mushrooms, and for dessert, a coffee cheesecake with drizzled chocolate and toasted almonds. Wow. Just thinking about it makes me happy all over again. To celebrate our special day, I made him a video with pictures of our family over the past eight years set to music. Eight years! That means our ten year anniversary is right around the corner. Which means... Paris is right around the corner.

You see, I've always wanted to go to Paris, ever since I was a little girl, when I had posters of the Eiffel Tower hanging in my bedroom. I could see myself eating breakfast outside a lovely little cafe, visiting the Louvre, and stealing a kiss with my sweetheart in the world's most romantic city. Throughout my youth, this dream eluded me time and again. So, when David asked me to marry him (and after I said yes and kissed him a million times), I said in jest that he had ten years to take me to Paris or else I was going to leave him. I was kidding, of course! This became a running joke between us (...for our first anniversary, we went to Vegas and went to the top of the "Eiffel Tower" at the Paris Hotel. He asked if that counted. I said NO.) But, over the years, what started as a joke has turned into a real promise, and David has spoken time and again of our running countdown, and our upcoming trip to the City of Lights.

So, if everyone will please set your watches for May 17th, 2013. It's going to be pretty much the most amazing day of my life. It better be, if Mr. Tait enjoys having a Mrs. Tait around.

I kid! I kid!!! :)

Ava's Lesson

2011-05-16T21:43:00.001-07:00

Ava gave the lesson during Family Home Evening tonight. She made these little cards.

The pictures are, from left to right: John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith in the First Vision. Pretty great lesson if you ask me!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-15T22:51:00.000-07:00

Ahhh...I love Mother's Day. I am so lucky to be a mom, and to have a wonderful mom, mother-in-law, and many friends and loved ones to celebrate with on this special day. I'm also lucky to be married to such a stud...the kind of guy that was making me breakfast in bed on Mother's Day before I even had kids. LOVE him. This year, however, the option of staying in bed and enjoying a relaxing breakfast was not realistic. We have church at 9:00 am and three kids to get dressed! But, David did set the table so beautifully, and made eggs, sourdough pancakes with fresh whipped cream, fruit, and lots of fresh juice. So yummy.

To celebrate the mommies I look up to most, I made these temple bracelets for my mom, mother-in-law and sister.

So, all in all, Mother's Day was great. Sweet homemade gifts from the kids, a great day at church, dinner with the family, and the hubs even sent me shopping the night before. Very nice. Can it be Mother's Day every Sunday, please? :) I wish!

Anyways, here's a look at the little bittys and what they've been up to over the last week or two.

Dallin is grabbing for toys all the time now! He really gets excited about batting things back and forth. He also grabs things and puts them in his mouth now. He's just growing up so much!

Ella is getting particularly good at making messes. She is not so great at cleaning them up! We always say that she is a budding little hoarder. She loves playing with her dollies and making them all have little pretend conversations. Very cute.

On Friday, Ava walked on the high balance beam all by herself! She was just playing around at open gym, and hopped up and walked right across...no problem! Thanks to my friend Kristina for keeping a close eye on her...just in case. :)

We've also been doing a lot of baking lately. I always like to have fresh bread on Mondays, so the girls like to help with that, too.

Yes, that's Ella stabbing her dough with a candy thermometer. Silly girl. :)

Last Monday we made crescent rolls. They turned out great. Super delish.

Tomorrow I think we are going to opt for some quick breads. Probably zucchini or banana. Or both.

Probably both. :)

Oh yeah...the Easter Bunny came, too.

2011-05-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

Easter was eggs-traordinary!! (I know, I know..cheesy. I couldn't help it.)

On the Monday prior to Easter, we had a special Family Home Evening about the Atonement and the Resurrection. We talked about why Jesus Christ died for us, and how we can repent and be made clean because of this perfect and eternal sacrifice. We made this simple craft, too.
The girls loved making these...they were so easy to cut, color, and paste together that the girls did them all by themselves. They also crumpled up brown paper bags and used them as stones to roll in front of (and away from) the tomb. I wanted to talk more about Christ and less about candy this Easter. And so we did.

Then, on Good Friday, I took the kids to see the Easter Pageant. David had to host a swim meet that night, so we braved the crowd on our own. The kids were so well-behaved! I know, Ella doesn't look so happy in this particular picture. She bonked her head right before the shot. But this particular picture is the only particular picture from the evening. Blurriness, red-eye, and all. (Dear iPhone, could you please try to take better pictures at night? Geez!)

But, in the end, they were really great. They sat still, and were as reverent as a little 5-year old, 3-year old, and 5-month old could be. I really think they could feel the special spirit that is always present there. We love the Easter Pageant.

Over the course of the weekend, the kids also went to Grandma Ruth's house to dye Easter eggs and have an Easter egg hunt. They loved playing with their cousins and going to the park together.

On Sunday morning, the girls found their Easter baskets in the living room.

They were very disappointed to have to eat breakfast before having any chocolate.

Then, we went to church. David spoke in Sacrament meeting. He always does such a fantastic job when he speaks, but this was really special. He spoke about the Atonement in such a poignant and personal way. I know I've said this before, but I really hit the husband jackpot with this guy. He's such a great dad, and has such a deep commitment to the gospel. He's so fun to be around, and not bad to look at, either. What a lucky lady I am! It's always fun to hear him speak in church, so this made our day extra special.

So, here's the after-church picture. I know I keep giving a disclaimer about these pictures, but really... it needs to be said. Three hours of church, sun in the eyes, and some gusty breezes do not a pretty picture make. Oh well. It is what it is.

But I do love how cute the girls are posed. Way to redeem the picture, ladies! :)

More pics at home. I was trying so hard to get the money shot. The kids had had just about enough at this point.

At least Dallin was a trooper. Look at that smile!

This was a shot I snapped of him in the Mother's Lounge at church. I LOVE HIM!!

After church, we started preparing our Easter dinner. We had my parents, and my sister and her family over to dinner at our home. We had ham, cheesy potatoes, Jell-O salad, green beans with almonds, and rolls. It was pretty delish.

Here's the table before everyone arrived. The weather that afternoon was perfect, too. Sunny with a light breeze.
And Easter Sunday was my dad's birthday, so I made him a special cake. I forgot to get a picture before we started serving it, but...well, you get the idea. YUM.

The cake was a hit with Ava.

So, that was our Easter! Phew. Now I'm ready to kick my feet up and celebrate May. Mother's Day, our 8-year wedding anniversary (including the "surprise" weekend getaway that I totally already know about), and Memorial Day Weekend at the cabin are sure to make for a very fun month.

Now, what to do with all this candy that is still lying around?

You've Got a Friend

2011-04-29T23:46:00.000-07:00

I heard the song "You've Got a Friend" in the car the other day. It is one of my all-time favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite songwriters, Carole King.

As I was listening to the lyrics, I thought about how perfectly that message fit with visiting teaching...and I got the idea to make these little magnets for the ladies I visit teach.

The circular text says, "Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall...all you have to do is call."

I'm not sure why I blocked out my number. My mom is the only one who reads this blog, so I'm sure I'm pretty safe.

Then, and the top, it says, "You've Got a Friend", with my name and number, and the name and number of my companion in the middle. These were super easy to make, and I spent a total of $1.50 at Copy Solutions having them laminated. Not too bad.

I put self-adhesive magnets on the back, and Voila! Cute gifts for my visiting teachees.

Hopefully whenever they see these on their fridge, they'll remember the words to this beautiful song.

And then, hopefully, if they need me...they'll call.

Random Happenings

2011-04-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at what my family has been up to over the last week...

Playtime. Ella having fun with cars while sister is at preschool and brother is napping.

Dress-up. While Ava and her friends chose fancy dresses and tiaras....Ella chose this. This girl blazes her own trail. I love it.

Braids! After 5 years of raising daughters, I finally learned how to french braid. I have been practicing a lot on my little hair models.

And buns! Ava's hair has been in a bun every day for nearly a week straight! Her ballet school had rehearsals every night last week for their performance of Coppelia at the Herberger Theatre.
The performance was on Saturday night, and it was phenomenal. The girls did a great job. And Ava's bun was perfect-o. :) Here's a picture of one proud mommy and her tiny dancer right after the show.

....and what blog post would be complete without a picture of this handsome guy?
Dallin is such a little charmer. He is constantly smiling, and has everyone wrapped around his little finger. I took him in for his 4 month well check last week, and by all accounts he is perfect. He weighs 13 pounds, and is right in the middle of the pack as far as height and weight percentiles go. My D is a very healthy and happy angel baby.

In other news, Ava and Ella both got a Betta fish for their birthdays this year from their friend Ella Katzenbach. Ella K. is super cool...what a great gift! And, in all honesty, I'm kind of obsessed with these little fishies. They are so pretty to look at.

Ava named her fish Marvelous (a not-so-original name, actually. The name was borrowed from her friend Ivy's fish). It is a lot of fun for Ava to say, and I must say, Marvelous is really marvelous. Isn't she pretty? Actually, I'm positive Marvelous is a male, but don't tell Ava that.

Ella named her fish Ariel. See her in the top right corner? Ariel is a really pretty iridescent pink color. A very cool fish, indeed.

So, that's what we've been up to. Actually, we've been up to a lot more than that, but that's just what I have pictures of. Between cooking, cleaning, laundry, preschool, playdates, and performances, it's been a typical busy week. This coming week will be lots of fun with preparations for Easter, the Easter Pageant, and family birthday parties. Ready, Set, GO!

A Very Fabulous 5 Year-Old

2011-04-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday my dear, sweet, precious baby girl turned FIVE! Ava Nicole Tait, where have the last five years gone?

Ava's birthday party was a success, despite the fact that I came down with a knock-down, drag-em-out case of strep throat the night before. Super-Dad Dave and my amazing parents pulled it all off as I watched from my bedroom window, propped up in bed.

Ava has been asking for a mermaid-themed party for months. She also wanted a bouncer. So what's a Mom to do who doesn't really want a big-busty image of Ariel being shoved in her children's faces?
Get a Nemo bouncer, instead! Ava loved it! And the ocean-themed images seemed much more kid-friendly to me. Well, maybe except the horrifyingly scary shark on top. I didn't know he'd be that big. And sharks probably eat mermaids, right? But I'll take sharks over Ariel's boobs any day. But that's just me.

The kids also played "mermaid games", which included a fish-catching game Dave had at the swim school, and potato sack races! Get it...mermaid's don't have legs? Hee hee. Everyone wore their bathing suits for all of the water-related games that ensued. And a good time was had by all....including one very happy birthday girl....who was asking to open her presents about 10 minutes after the party started.

Happy Birthday, dear Ava.

Make a Wish!

I hope and pray that all your wishes come true. Love, Mom.

Family Home Evening

2011-03-28T21:50:00.001-07:00

Want a fun and easy Family Home Evening? Play games! Since General Conference is approaching, tonight we talked about latter-day prophets and how important it is to follow the counsel we receive from our current prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. For our activity, we played "Simon Says", but instead we said "The Prophet Says....". The girls loved it! There were lots of giggles had by all. As a closing song, we sang "Follow the Prophet". I love family nights that are simple and engaging...and tonight was just that. Pure fun with a sweet purpose.

Oh, and we also sang "Latter-Day Prophets", a song that Ava has been learning in Primary. Guess what she thought his name was?

.....Gordon BaHinckley.

The Week in Review

2011-03-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I started teaching very basic piano lessons to Ava. She has been asking me to teach her for a long time, and I just wasn't sure she was ready until recently. So, every Sunday after church, we have been sitting down together for a lesson. At first, I thought Ava was more interested in the uninterrupted one-on-one time with Mom (I really try to make sure I am giving her the same attention I would give to any of my other students...David takes Ella and Dallin in the other room, and we set a timer to make sure they all know it is Ava's time). But about two weeks ago, I started noticing something. She was really learning! In about one month's time, Ava has learned the musical alphabet, can point to any given key on the piano (A,B,C,D,E,F,G), can find middle C, is counting rhythms quite well (i.e. knows the difference between quarter, half, whole notes, eighth notes, and can count them accordingly), and can play a few simple songs while reading the music in front of her. The only reason I dare to be impressed by this is because I've been teaching piano for about 10 years now, to dozens of different students young and old...and my little Ava is among the fastest learners I have taught. That's my girl! Granted, she's no little Beethoven just yet, but I think she is displaying some musical talent, just the same. I'm just happy that she seems to be enjoying it, and sits down to practice her songs several times throughout the week without me having to ask.
For today's lesson, she decided to wear a fancy dress-up.

Meanwhile, Ella played quietly on the computer in the other room. The combination of headphones and Nick Jr. is God's gift to mothers.

This past week it was also my turn to teach Ella's preschool. We learned all about nursery rhymes. We talked about rhyming words, read stories, and then played games that correlated with the nursery rhymes we read. For example, we had a race to "fetch a pail of water", we jumped over candlesticks, we ate "curds and whey" while pretend spiders sat down beside us, and they each got a turn to let Humpty Dumpty (each kid got a hard boiled egg) have a GREAT fall. Oh, and we played with watercolors. What day at preschool is complete without watercolors?
Let's see, what else did we do last week? Hmmmmm... oh yeah. We did a whole lot of snuggling with this handsome little guy.

OOoohh....he was trying so hard to crawl here. He was eying that toy. For sure.

And I finally decided to lay him in his crib at night! Hooray! He has been doing great. He is sleeping from 8 to 6 or so, just like normal. What a champ.

So, here I sit on a Sunday night, with everyone else asleep, and planning for the week ahead. It's strange, because I think I may be the only person in the entire universe that absolutely loves Monday mornings. For me, the dawn of a new week is like New Year's Day all over again. I feel fresh, renewed, and revitalized, with lists of goals to accomplish, and hope for a wonderful week ahead. Call me crazy, but it's true. In my mind, a "case of the Mondays" consists of a clean house, (Monday is always deep-cleaning day) fresh vacuum lines in the carpet, clean sheets, fresh bread, folded laundry, a yummy dinner and a fun family night. What could be wrong with a day like that? Ahhh Monday...I love you so. Okay, okay....enough day-dreaming about tomorrow (I have a serious case of OCD if I'm day-dreaming about cleaning, I admit it).

For now, here's a little look at my 4-year old Beethoven in the making... (sorry it's upside down, I was holding my phone the wrong way when I took the video).

January, February, March...Oh MY!

2011-03-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

What an exciting time these last few weeks have been. Ella turned three in February, Dallin hit the three-month mark in March, and Ava will turn five in April. Between all of the party-planning and Spring Break festivities, I'm just about ready to break my "no daytime napping" rule! I've even had a few creative outbursts, including a diaper cake or two, cupcakes galore, learning to sew, and hosting a St. Patrick's Day party for the kids and their friends. It's been busy, but definitely worth it.

But, most importantly, let me briefly recap Ella's fun birthday! On her big day, we rented an enormous bounce house, and had a Dora the Explorer party. It was great, because we had the party on her actual birthday, which happened to fall on a Friday this year. She was so excited to invite all of her little buddies, including a few of her cousins, neighbors, preschool friends, and friends from church.

During the party, we played games, went on a Dora-style adventure to find Ella's birthday cake, and did a whole lot of bouncing! We even opened Ella's presents in the bounce house with all of the kids inside. I also made Ella a special cake (a yellow cake with lots of yellow icing...per Ella's request. Her favorite color is yellow!). It was a very fun and memorable day.
And, on the very same day that Ella turned three...Dallin hit the twelve week mark. Twelve weeks? Has it really been twelve whole weeks since this handsome little man entered my life?
In some ways it seems like he was born yesterday, and in some ways I can not even remember life without him. He is such a sweet addition to our family. The girls ADORE him. He can do no wrong in their eyes (or ours, for that matter). So, in honor of his three-month birthday, here's a recap of D's life thus far:

Week one: Rough. My milk took SIX days to come in. Which is an eternity. Baby Dallin was totally starving, and I was a nervous wreck. One night he woke up every half hour to forty-five minutes. He was just plain hungry. We even realized that his poor little legs looked like chicken bones. He was losing weight rapidly. Per Dr. Swan's recommendation, we supplemented with goat's milk on day five. I saw a lactation consultant on the morning of day six. That night, thankfully, my milk came in. And when I say it came in, it came IN. Baby Dallin was so happy. He probably ate every hour or two for a while after that, and who could blame him? He had lost over a pound since birth. On the plus side, the love, support, and MEALS we received were beyond fantastic. Love and visitors were in abundance.

Week two: Dallin regained all of the weight he had lost, plus some. I took him in to see Dr. Swan to have him weighed, and was nearly 8 pounds. What a champ.

Week three: Christmas time! Precious baby Dallin was such a sweet reminder to our family of the true reason for the season, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Having a new baby boy in our home during Christmas was nothing short of magical.

Week four: At around the beginning of the new year, once the chaos of the holiday season had passed, we began to regain a sense of normalcy and routine in our home. I am a very systems-oriented person, so finding a new routine that would fit our family's needs was (and is) important to me. For example, we found our way back to our normal bedtime routine, including storytime with Daddy when he got home from work.
Baby Dallin adapted so well to increased times between feedings and naptimes. He started sleeping for longer intervals at night around this point.
Because of his flexibility and easygoing nature, I was able to get out and do a lot of fun things with our family and friends without worrying about him fussing too much. We even enjoyed a nice hike at Usury Pass with the Jones', Britts, and Anselmos around this time.

Plus, around week four, he really started noticing his surroundings a lot more. He started to follow objects with his eyes, and mimic facial expressions.

It's always so much fun when you can really start interacting with a new, sweet little human!

Week five: Blessing Day! Dallin was so sweet on his special day. He did not cry one bit during his blessing...and he didn't even spit up (a small miracle)! On his blessing day, Dallin wore the same sweater that David was blessed in so many years ago.
After sacrament meeting, we had a light brunch at our home with family and close friends. It was a wonderful day.

Weeks six through twelve: This sweet little guy gets more handsome by the day. I am loving having a boy more than I ever thought I would! And who ever said dressing a boy isn't fun?

But even without clothes on, he is still pretty cute...

Oh, and did I mention that he has already been roped into a few tea parties? Poor little man never stood a chance...
To add to all that cuteness, Dallin is already a champion flirt. Over the past few weeks, he has perfected the art of a sweet grin with a mischievious raised eyebrow. He can melt hearts with that smile. Well, he melts mine at least! He is also kicking a lot when he gets excited, easily raising his head, and gaining more control over his arms.
Another thing I've noticed recently is that when I have him sitting somewhat reclined, with his back against my belly, he is always trying to lean forward and sit up on his own! He is pretty strong. He is not rolling over yet, though. Good thing, because I still have him sleeping in the bassinet next to my bed at night. I just can't bring myself to put him in his crib....in his bedroom...all the way across the house! It seems like a million miles away and he is still so little. I had a hard time moving both girls to their bedrooms, too, when they were babies. He is sleeping a solid 8-10 hours every night, though...so the transition will be easy whenever I decide to make it. We usually put him down at around 8:00, when the girls to do bed, and he is usually up and ready for his first feeding at around 6:00.

Needless, to say.... I love this little angel.

So, how do I keep getting so lucky with all of these wonderful children? Each one is a ray of sunshine in my life. I thank my Heavenly Father every single day for allowing me the opportunity to be their mother.

The Birth of our Baby Boy

2010-12-19T12:54:00.000-08:00

On Friday, December 3rd, at 8:57 p.m., we welcomed a brand new little bundle of BOY into our family! Dallin Matthew Tait was born...weighing in at 7 lbs. 12 oz, and measuring at 20 3/4 inches long. We were so ecstatic to finally meet him!

Since that time, many friends and family have asked me to share my birth experience, as it is somewhat atypical for women to give birth naturally nowadays. Primarily, I think the biggest question on people's minds is "Why?". Well, sometimes it is easier to understand something by knowing what it is not.

So let me start by listing the #1 top reason that is NOT why we chose to have this baby at home.

1) To Save Money. A lot of people have the mistaken notion that I had this baby at home to save money. This is most definitely not the case. First off, I don't even clip coupons! So, the idea that I would take such extreme measures to save money is just silly. Granted, an assisted home birth is way less expensive than a hospital birth - but in my eyes (and my husband's), that is just an extra special bonus that goes along with a decision we had already made.

So, now that that's out of the way....here's how it all went down.

On Sunday, November 28th, my "due date" came and went. This was a little bit of a let-down for me (to say the least) since Ella was born 10 days early. So, I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday....these may have been the longest days of my life! Every night I would have very strong contractions, but they never evened out, and always went away in the morning as soon as I would get out of bed.

On Thursday night, the contractions were very, very strong. So strong in fact, that I would have to hold David's hand and breathe through them. They were so intense, but still very sporadic. I was sure that these, too, would probably go away by morning. I was so frustrated, convinced that my body was doing all this work for nothing. The contractions lasted throughout the night, and into Friday morning, but still never evened out! They were 10 minutes apart, then 12, then 7, then 15! It was all very, very frustrating.

Throughout the day on Friday, I would try to walk around and get things going, but it was no use. My contractions were all over the place, and I was really tired anyway from not getting any sleep the night before. At about 11 am, I showered and got myself dressed. David decided to stay home from work and help me with the girls. Mostly, he played with them outside while I rested inside. When I would have a contraction, I would close my eyes and really shut out the rest of the world. David would have the girls be still and quiet during my contractions so I could focus on staying relaxed. I could hear him whispering things to them like, "Your mommy is working really hard right now. We need to be quiet so she can relax." The girls seemed very aware of how important this was.

At around 4:00, I was getting very impatient and frustrated that "nothing was happening". My contractions were still very unpredictable at this point. So, we called Dr. Swan...mostly to ask her what we should do to turn this bout of "false labor" into real labor! She agreed that she should come over just to check things out, and she would let us know what to do from there. I said not to rush, because apparently I was going to be in labor until Christmas.

It seems that the minute we got off the phone with Farra, my contractions started evening out (finally!). They got down to about 6 minutes apart, more or less. Dr. Swan made it to our house at around 5:00, and did a quick exam. "Well, my dear...you are at a 6! Looks like we're having a baby tonight!" Sweeter words have never spoken. I was so shocked! This was actually it!

David quickly helped Farra get her supplies set up. He also took Ava and Ella down to our friends house down the street, where they would stay until Grandma and Grandpa came to pick them up for the night. Meanwhile, I actually started walking from room to room, trying to tidy things up. I quickly realized this was not the best use of my energy, so I retired to the bedroom and planted myself on my warm, cozy bed.

For the next few hours, David stayed on the bed next to me, helping me breathe through the contractions, and helping me focus on staying calm and relaxed. Just being around him - touching him, hearing his voice - has a calming effect on me. Unfortunately for him, this also means he had to do things like holding a bowl and tying my hair back while I threw up three times. But he didn't seem to mind at all. He just quickly and quietly did exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it. He really is the best labor coach in the world.

Then, some time later, Farra told me to let her know when I was ready to push. I figured that walking around a little bit, or at least sitting upright, might help. I walked into our bathroom and sat on the edge of the bathtub for a while. A while later, I felt the urge to push! I sat on the birth stool for a bit, and tried to stay focused on the task at hand. At this point, I still could not believe that this was really happening! Our baby was actually coming!

Pushing took longer than I expected (again, comparisons to Ella's birth were not productive...Ella was born with literally one push). I pushed for about 30 minutes, which felt like forever. On top of that, I was beginning to feel the effects of not getting any sleep the night before. I was getting really tired. David kept feeding me spoonfuls of honey so I could gather some energy. Keeping my eyes open seemed just too difficult, and even keeping my head upright was a challenge. Sitting on the birth stool got uncomfortable after a while, and I decided to try and stand up so my legs wouldn't fall asleep. As soon as I stood in a half squatting position, I could feel so much more progress being made! With a few more very intense minutes of standing up and bearing down, and with lots of encouragement from Farra, her assistants, and David...I gathered all of the strength I could muster, and baby Dallin was finally born! YAY!! I was so happy....and just so relieved to have it all done.

Immediately after Dallin was born, I felt a surge of adrenaline. It was as if I had just ingested 32 ounces of Jolt cola. Tired?! Who was tired? Not me! But I was COLD. I was shaking and shivering like crazy for about 20 minutes after he was born. I couldn't have enough sweatshirts and blankets on. Kai (Farra's assistant) reassured us that this was a normal response due to the rush of hormones my body was experiencing. But I already knew that. This was the one and only thing that was the same as my experience with Ella's birth.

So there I was. In my bed, with my husband, in our dimly lit bedroom, holding our brand new, totally healthy, sweet baby boy. There are no words for that kind of joy.

So, now, let's end where we began. Let's answer that question that everyone wants to know but no one really wants to ask.

Reasons I Chose a Home Birth

Having the baby at home just made sense to me, considering I was blessed with a very normal, very healthy pregnancy, and had already had Ella with no medical intervention. Natural childbirth is not something new, and definitely not something unique to the Tait family. It's been done many, many times before, by countless numbers of women across the world.

I didn't see the need to rush off to a hospital, as I was not sick, or in need of surgery. I think there is a time and place for hospitals and medicine, but for me, that time was not during the birth of my child. That being said, I have never been crazy about hospitals anyway. The awful smell, the harsh florescent lighting, the sense of taking a number, getting in line, and having your baby on an assembly line - and let's not even TALK about the gowns (lol)....a hospital was just not the ideal place for me to meet my new little man.

I believe that the female body was brilliantly designed for childbirth by a loving Father in Heaven. I believe that all too often in this day and age, we tend to underestimate the capacities of the ever-so-amazing gift of the human body. Natural childbirth is an especially fascinating process to me, and one that I am honored to be a part of. There are so many ways that the human body rises to the task at hand, if one will simply let "nature take it's course". There is also something so wonderfully comforting and special about having a baby in your own home. Having experienced a hospital birth and a home birth, I've got to say, I'm never going back.

Fall Break

2010-10-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

Fall Break. What IS "Fall Break", anyway?! It seems like school just started, and the kids already need a break? Geez, Louise.

Well, despite it's obvious uselessness, Fall Break was a lot of fun for our family. Most notably, the girls had a great time playing with their cousins Vanessa and Christian who had come in for a surprise visit from Chicago.

Here's a pic of Ava and Vanessa at the park (...yes Ava has a black eye....and, NO we don't beat her. Do you remember when she broke her little leg on the slide two and a half years ago? Well, she apparently has a knack for barfights with slides. And the slide always wins.)

Sleepover time!

And of course, there was quite a bit of eating out. Between Costa Vida, Paradise Bakery, Rubio's and the food court at the mall, we pretty much covered the whole town. Here's Ella at Paradise Bakery. Seriously, can she get any cuter?

And the week ended with Dave's birthday on Friday. So where did we go to dinner? Famous Dave's of course! Usually, I have objections to eating at restaurants with neon signs of a pig in front. But hey, it was David's day, so he got to choose. And, it was actually pretty darn good. Thanks to the bottle of TUMS I brought along. At this point, I don't leave home without it.

The girls were obsessed with Famous Dave's mascot, Wilbur. He must have been the model for the neon sign out front.

So, there is our week of play-dating, park-going, eat-outing, and birthday partying in a nutshell.

But the best part of my week was this morning. As we were leaving for church, Ava handed me a picture she had drawn of our family.

Our whole family. Ella, Dad, Mom, Ava, Kona...and Dallin. Dallan? Dallen? Whatever. We haven't decided on a spelling yet, and Ava is keenly aware of this... so, she simply writes, "Dall n". With a backwards N. Can you see the blue bundle in my stick-figure arms? That's him. And that's Ava for you. Including everyone, down to every last detail - up to and including the color of their eyes. Including everyone, even they are not born quite yet....and even if we don't quite know how to spell their name.

Labor Day 2010

2010-09-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

When David asked me what I wanted to do for Labor Day this year, my answer was pretty simple. All I said was, "I just want to be outside and NOT HOT...just for a little bit."

So.... up north we went. :)

We decided to take a quick trip up past Payson and camp out for the weekend. As we drove northward, I kept watching the temperature gauge on our dash drop lower, lower, and lower...all the way down to 75 degrees! Woo-hoo!

Sometimes I have to remind myself that Arizona is not all heat and desert. Arizona offers a lot of this, too...
...and this.

The weather was so beautiful! We found a gorgeous little spot to camp out at Upper Creek Canyon, and as soon as we stepped out of the car, I was greeted with soft shade and a cool breeze. The air smelled absolutely delicious...so clean and refreshing. Heaven!

The girls enjoyed exploring all around our campsite. I was so happy to see them get dirty and dig in the mud... and forget about princesses and dress-ups and Barbies...just for a few days.

So, our Labor Day was filled with trees, campfire, hikes by meandering streams, and lots of roasting marshmallows. This made for two happy parents, two happy kids, and one VERY happy dog. All in all, a successful weekend, to be sure. Happy Labor Day!

Well, it's about time...

2010-08-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since I've posted. There's no real rhyme or reason as to why I decided to re-enter the blogosphere today, except to begin the countdown to baby boy Tait and document a few other family-related things. I've realized that my personal journal feels a little scatterbrained sometimes, and this is the best place to keep my family journal.

So, if you are ready to endure the ongoing accounts of all things kid-related, read on, my friends...read on.

First off, I have to relate my favorite portion of Ava's bedtime prayer last night. It sums things up quite nicely as to our state of affairs lately. I'm quoting here. This is way to good to make up.

"Dear Heavenly Father....we are grateful for our family. We are grateful for the swim school and that Daddy got home safe. Please bless the baby to be healthy and strong. And please, please bless Ella to be more flexible and not stubborn so much so mommy doesn't have to lose her patience." Amen to that, Ava!!

Ella is a handful, but she is a cute handful, so that pretty much makes up for it. She is just about completely potty-trained (quick! knock on wood!), and is always saying and doing the most hilarious things. It is not uncommon to see her tromping around in one tap shoe and one Ugg boot, wearing every sparkly necklace she can find with lopsided sunglasses, and a backpack full of rocks. She is mischevious and stubborn, too (as clearly mentioned in Ava's prayer). As for Ava, she is such a sweet little helper, and **usually** willing to share with her sister and help out her momma. She is a busy girl with ballet, swim lessons, preschool, and piano. She is a wiz at folding handtowels, too. Last week she was able to bring home the "Adventure Animal" from preschool and take it around with her. Here are a few pics we took with "Rex".

Baby boy is less than 90 days away.... GULP. Last weekend was our official "Friends Weekend",, which is basically a reunion of a large group of friends from the singles ward days. There are quite a few of us pregnant this year, so I have dubbed 2010 "The Year of the Baby." Can it really be that in just a few months (weeks, really!), I'll be back at square one...nursing, burping, diapers, sleepless nights?! It feels like eons ago that I was in that stage with baby Ella. If it's possible to have pre-partum depression, I may be at risk. Sigh. I'm just not quite ready to face that reality yet! Oh well, at least I am in good company!

So, there you have it. An official bog post. There may be more to come, depending on whether or not I can keep my act together. Until then, I will resume my blurking with the rest of you. :) C'mon, you know you all do it.

Ava's First Preschool Field Trip

2009-10-14T22:24:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Ava's preschool class took a field trip to the AZ Southwest Dinosaur Museum. Here are a few pics of Ava's cute class right before entering the museum. Such cute kids!

Ava's gotta get that pose just right...........

CHEESE!

Thanks to ABC Preschool for an awesome day!

10 weeks and counting...

2009-08-31T22:24:00.000-07:00

In 10 weeks, I am going to be 30 years old. THIRTY YEARS OLD.

Ugh.

Last Friday night, I got together with some girlfriends. As we continued our sugar high into the wee hours of the morning, we got a little crazy. (See more evidence of our kookiness here, here, and here).

So, as for you, Mr. Big 3-0, as long as I can still do this, I feel pretty okay. So there!

So You Think You Can Dance!

2009-07-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

Some of you out there may have heard of a little show called....

Well... a few friends and I are absolute fanatics, and decided to drive out to Hollywood to see the taping this week!!

Sherri, Jen, Leah, and I. Showered, dressed, packed and ready to go at 6:00 a.m. Let the fun begin!!

Uh-oh.... I got a little too excited to get there.

Uh-oh... Jen got a little sick.

(** Please note, this is a dramatic reenactment of Jen's puking. No, I did not take a picture of her as the poor thing was getting sick in the car. That would be cruel. But reenacting it later was just plain hilarious.)

By the way, have you ever sat in a car for six hours? Has it been an enjoyable experience for you? Let me tell you, all speeding tickets and vomiting aside, that was the most fun I have ever had on a road trip. Great conversation the whole way. The hours literally FLEW by. And before we knew it, we were pulling in at the hottest hotel in Hollywood (cue the sarcasm)...

The Beverly Inn.
Okay, okay...so it wasn't the NICEST hotel in town. So there were only ten rooms. So the pool was about the size of our bathtub. So there were a few suspicious stains on the bedsheets and the air conditioning didn't work. It was cheap, okay?! AND... it was just across the street from the studios where the show was being taped. Score!
Do you see CBS Television City in the background?!!?!?

So, as soon as we checked in, we got into line. Here, we enjoyed some yummy pitas (courtesy of Jen) . And we enjoyed a few crazy dance poses for the camera.
Finally, after a few hours of waiting...we got in to see the show! Unfortunately, I have no pictures of this because there were no cameras allowed. Dang it. But, we sidled our way in to the studio, and managed to get right in the front, dead center! We were just about three rows back from the stage, and it was great! We had a little chat with Cat Deeley in between takes (she is even more gorgeous in person), and she made a little joke about us "getting a cocktail" after the show. Should I have mentioned to her that we don't drink? Oh well, we just played along.

I'm pretty sure we're friends now. Don't be jealous.

After the taping of the show, I weasled my way towards where the choreographers were sitting, and I managed to meet Sonya, Louie Van Amstel, Tyce DiOrio, and Tabitha and Napolean. I did happen to mention to "Nappy Tabs" that they were possibly the cutest couple of all time. They laughed. They said thank you. They shook my hand. So, now, I'm pretty sure that I am friends with them, too. Now you can be jealous.

By this time, we were all starving for some dinner, so we went over to The Grove.

After walking around for a bit, we decided on The Cheesecake Factory (YUM).

Guess who we spotted inside?

One Melissa Sandvig (a.k.a. "The Naughty Ballerina")...that's who!!

As soon as I saw her, I blurted out, "We're 29, too!!" She laughed, and we ended up talking for like 20 minutes with her and her husband. They are possibly the nicest people alive (aside from my friend, Cat).

Anyhow, after we spent such a long time talking, we joked with her and said that we should all hang out sometime, considering that we are such hot 29 year olds. At this point, she said, and I am not kidding, "Well, where do you live?" (As in...maybe we CAN get together sometime!) We said that we all lived in Arizona, and then she said to look her up on Facebook, and we could keep in touch that way. SO..... we really ARE friends with Melissa now!! YES!!

**At this point, I am realizing that I might sound a little stalker-ish? It's okay. I've come to terms with it. That's what "fanatic" means.... right?**

Hold the phone, I haven't even mentioned that we also ran into Kourtney from Season Four! She was so adorable. I just wanted to put her in my pocket!

So, we had a fabulous dinner. Too fabulous, actually. I ate so much that I was looking a little preggers. LOL

So, after a few more laughs at the Grove,

we decided it was time to get in our jammies and cozy up at The Beverly Inn.

We did have two beds, actually. But this was the only one with the awesome neon green blanket.

The next morning, we decided to head over to Graumann's Chinese Theatre for some tourist-y sightseeing.

And boy, did we get an eye-ful.

So, after grabbing some lunch (and a few souveniers), we headed back home.

After getting Jen some Dramamine, of course.

We stopped off near Ontario to see my Daddy-o. He still works in Cali during the week. I love him so much! It was great, even just to see him for a quick stop at 7-11.

Thank you to these wonderful ladies for the most fun I have had a long time. I laughed so hard and had such a great time. Show or no show, just the driving and chatting was a blast. Of all the friends I gained during my quick trip to Hollywood, these ones are my favorite!

Sisters

2009-07-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

The other morning while I was making breakfast for the girls, Ava started reading a book to Ella.
It was so cute, I just had to capture the sweetness of it on video.

The picture quality isn't that great, very fuzzy... I was really trying to hide the camera from them so I didn't ruin the moment. And yes, once again you get to witness both of their bedheads in all their glory. Enjoy, :)

Ava Tait - Otter Graduate

2009-07-03T14:54:00.001-07:00

Click on this link to see Ava's latest and greatest achievement...

Ava Tait - Otter Graduate

Posted using ShareThis

A Red-Letter Day

2009-06-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

In the life of a child, there are a few major milestones. A few notable firsts that are so important, so life-changing, they must be documented to the hilt. First birthday. First day of school. Camera? Check. Video camera? Check. Blog, Facebook, Twitter? Check, check, and check.

In the life of a girl, there is one "first" that absolutely can not go unnoticed.

That is...the first dance recital.

For Ava, that day was today!

Ava's gorgeous little cousins put on a musical theatre dance camp this summer, and to say that Ava had fun would be the understatement of the century. She loved every second.

The performance was so great!

The girls all paraded in from the "stage right"... (please note the incredible princess ballroom scenery!)

Ava was a little nervous at first. There were a lot of people there, and I think that caught her a little off guard.
But then she found her groove...

And soon...she was belting out the tunes like we knew she would!

We were so proud of our little girl, and her outstanding performance.

Thanks Hannah and Hallie for such a wonderful dance camp! We can't wait for next year!

WHY?!?!

2009-06-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

Why is it that EVERY single day we have to go from this.... ................... to this....

***sigh***

Summer Fun

2009-06-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Well, our summer is off to a great start.

We kicked things off this year with our annual "camping" trip with the Jones's and the Britt's (Does it still count as camping when you are staying in an awesome cabin and having s'mores on a comfy couch while the kids are happily snoozing in bed? Yeah, I think so, too...) .

While we were there... Ava caught her first fish! (Okay, Mommy caught the fish. Ava happened to be somewhere in the general vicinity. And yes, I was using the awesome Barbie fishing pole.)
And of course.... summertime = pool time. In addition to the weekly swim lessons and such, my girls are really getting the hang of lounging poolside. I love it!

"

Since the weather has been so nice, David took Friday morning off (a small miracle for such a workaholic), and we took the girls to the zoo. They absolutely loved it. And I think they loved spending time with Daddy even more than any of the cool animals they saw.

This summer Ava is also taking part in an adorable little dance camp that my niece has put together. They are learning a bunch of song and dance routines, and performing them for all the parents at the end of the month. Each week the girls in the class have had a little theme to dress up for.

Today was "crazy hair day". So Ava sported a faux-hawk. Still awesome, after getting a little bedraggled during the car ride home.

And Ava is finally starting to smile for pictures! YAY!!

Striking a pose from her dance routine...

So... needless to say, it's been a fun summer so far.

We're looking forward to whatever the next few weeks will bring!

A New Look

2009-06-09T23:18:00.001-07:00

I'm working on a new look for my blog in an effort to rekindle my love for the blogosphere. The header needs some work...but, well... you get the idea.

I'll post some pics soon, I promise (Mom!).

The Curse of the Bumble Bee

2009-04-20T15:15:00.001-07:00

Yes.

Bees.

Again.

I swear, we are cursed.

On Saturday, I took the girls to a little community fair in Gilbert while David was at a swim meet. At around noon, David called and simply said "DON'T GO HOME. There are bees. Lots of bees." (Cue my stomach dropping...)

One of our neighbors had kindly called the swim school that morning to let them know that there was a huge black cloud of bees circling above the ficus in our front yard. David called the exterminators immediately, and when they called him back to let him know the job was done, apparently they mentioned that there were, oh, say....about TEN THOUSAND bees that were exterminated.

Is your jaw dropping the way mine did?

Coincidentally... Ava's little friend had left this lucky little charm at our house the previous day.

Oh, and did I mention that right before the last bee incident, I had just finished reading "The Secret Life of Bees"??

That's it...no more bee-related materials in our house. Period.

According to Pagan folklore, bees entering one's home is a sign of good luck, and killing those bees will bring terrible misfortune.

Anyone have a rabbit's foot I can borrow?

Speaking of rabbits...here are a few pictures of the girls in their Easter dresses. In true Tait-style, neither of the girls would sit still and let me take a really good shot, so I had to catch them on the run.
Ella, half-laughing, half-crying after church.
Silly Ava...
Isn't the back of the dress cute, too?

These dresses are so adorable, I think I'm going to have to get their pictures professionally taken in them. But...that's a chore for another week. **sigh** I don't have the fortitude to make it through another photo shoot for a while.

Oh, and here's Ella's favorite new pastime... welcome to the world of the chatting on the phone, baby.

An Angel Named Andrina

2009-04-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

I was at Fry's Marketplace, picking up a few last minute items for Ava's birthday party tomorrow, which then turned (as it always does) into a full-blown hour-long grocery shopping extravaganza. I spent the time placating my children with snacks, bargaining, promising them some treats if they would sit still for a few minutes, try not to touch anything, "...don't scream, don't hit, don't push!!"...etc. etc. etc. Needless to say, the grocery store is always a bit of an exhausting experience, but a neccessary one, nonetheless. Anyways, as I am at the checkout aisle with my overflowing cart (and a few customers already in line behind me), Ava declares that she has to go potty, "NOW!" Seeing the sudden look of desperation in my face, a friendly customer service lady who had been fussing over Ella tells me not to worry, she'll watch my cart for me while I take the girls to the restroom. So off I went, one girl in each arm, hustling to the restroom as fast as my little legs can carry us.

After a successful (but time-consuming) trip to the potty, we finally make our way back out to the checkout aisle. I was expecting to find my loaded cart to be waiting for me, but couldn't find it, or the girl who said she would watch it for me. Inevitably, my inner-pessimist creeps to the surface, and I am sure that my stocked cart has vanished for good. Just as I begin to heave my chest in an indulgent "poor-me" sigh, I see the customer service girl I was looking for. She smiles and waves me over to another aisle, where she has single-handedly unloaded all of my groceries, rung them up, bagged them, and was simply waiting there for me to swipe my card and pay.

I could have cried. I almost did. I am on the verge of tears right now, hours later, just thinking about it. This sweet girl made all the difference in what could have been a terribly frustrating morning, but what turned about to be a heartwarming reminder of all that's right with the world. This girl didn't even know me. And she didn't have to go the extra mile. But she did. And for that - for her - I am truly grateful.

This customer service lady - her name was Andrina - represents a host of others who have helped me carry the large load of responsibility in my life. My mom, my in-laws, my friends, neighbors, and so many others have shown me a great deal of love and generosity in the times when David is gone, the girls are melting down, and my sanity is stretched paper thin. For the times you all have rescued me from the brink... I thank you. :)

Ella's Big Day

2009-03-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

On February 25th, Ella Marie Tait turned ONE YEAR OLD! :)
I can't believe my baby girl is one year old already!

On her actual birthday, we celebrated with some gifts and cake. Ella was very good about sharing with her big sis.

Then on the following Sunday, we had a fun little family barbecue to celebrate the occasion. Again, she loved her cake, and got lots of cute gifts from her grandparents and cousins.

Now, Ella is officially in her big girl car seat, and loving every minute of it. :)

This little sweetheart has been the easiest, sweetest, most wonderful baby a mommy could ever hope for. I love her to pieces, and just can't imagine what life was ever like without her.
Love you Ella!! Happy Birthday!

Family Home Evening

2009-02-08T22:05:00.000-08:00

While watching the following video, please disregard the following:

1. My garments hanging out of my shirt. Typical.
2. My coke-bottle glasses. Lovely.
3. My veiny arms.
4. My baby trying to reach up and "help" my play the piano.

On the other hand, please enjoy my daughter's rendition of "I Love to See the Temple". The last line is my favorite. She has her own interpretation of the words, "sacred duty".

I give you.... AVA.

A Sad Discovery

2009-01-22T21:06:00.000-08:00

So there I was, at the parking lot at the gym...getting my things together before getting out of the car.

One quick glance in the mirror on my visor to make sure I didn't have any food in my teeth, and then.... and then..... well, at that moment my world came crashing down.

What I found in the mirror, looking right back at me.... was, well...heartbreaking.

What I found has changed everything....

What I found was......

MY FIRST GRAY HAIR!! (Sob, sniffle, sniffle....gasp, wail.... SOBBBBB)

I don't know why, but this shocking discovery really hit me like a ton of bricks today.

I am feeling very sad and old.

So much for being brunette! I swear I'm calling my hair stylist tomorrow. At least grays blend in with blonde...not left out there stark naked for the world to see like on us brunettes. :(

On the left is what I was shooting for with the dark locks, on the right is probably what I'll look like just a few short years from now (cue the sad music and violins, please).

Appalachian Baby

2009-01-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

My baby is officially a red-neck.

I am thinking that from now on, she should only be allowed to wear overalls with no shirt underneath, chew on long droopy pieces of wheat, and be barefoot with dirty feet.

Please refer to Exhibit A, and pardon the pieces of slimy banana on her jammies.
In case you missed it... that's a serious snaggle-tooth I'm a referring to.

And this was too funny not to post, check out the pick of David trying to pry her mouth open for a picture to document it... Too funny!

She's not ALL country ALL the time... but if Ella's first word is "AIN'T", then I am seriously going to wonder...

A Brand New Year

2009-01-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

I have realized why I love the holiday season more and more each year. Check out the pattern:

1. Recognize and be grateful for the blessings in your life (Thanksgiving).
2. Turn your heart towards Christ, and impart of your substance to others (Christmas).
3. Resolve to be a better person (New Year).

My resolution is to keep this pattern alive and well all year long.

Happy New Year!

6 Crazy/Weird Things...

2008-12-21T22:40:00.001-08:00

I may have done this tag before, I can't remember... but here are 6 crazy/weird things about me that you may not know:

1. I absolutely can not stand long fingernails. And by long, I mean any white at the end...at all. I cut my nails (and my girls' nails) probably twice a week at a minimum. Clean and short, that's how I like it. I also get physically sick if I see anyone chewing their fingernails, or actually just putting their hands in their mouth at all. This is the most disgusting habit I can possibly imagine. SO unsanitary. YUCK.

2. When I got my wisdom teeth out a few years ago, the doctor hit a nerve or something, and I still can't feel the right side of my tongue. For a few weeks/months afterward, I would find myself biting my tongue all the time, and causing it to bleed without even knowing it (if that isn't weird, I don't know WHAT is...). I have learned to compensate by only chewing my food on the left side of my mouth.

3. My knees crack really loud EVERY time I bend down. Although it sounds like this might be annoying, I actually like it, like a person likes cracking their knuckles. It's like it releases tension or something.

4. I absolutely must clean my kitchen from top to bottom every night before I go to bed, or else I can't sleep.

5. I wake up every morning at 6 am so I can get showered, dressed, and get one load of laundry started before the girls wake up. If I wake up any later, I honestly feel like my entire day is shot. I would love to be the kind of person that can be more laid back about their morning routine, but I just can't. I get all panicky if I feel unproductive by 9 am or so.

6. I am completely addicted to Carmex. I can not sleep without putting it on right before bed.

Like Crystal said... I tag anyone who can relate!

I crossed over to the dark side!

2008-12-13T13:10:00.001-08:00

What do you think?

Princess Pre-School!!

2008-12-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Question: How do you teach a group of 5 two-year old girls about the Nativity?

Answer: I'm not sure I know...but I sure had a lot of fun this morning trying to figure it out!! :)

First, we watched the "Joy to the World" video. The girls really loved all of the animals, the angels, and of course....Mary and the baby Jesus!

Then, we all sat down for a little story-time to learn the Nativity story a bit better...

..and then the girls each got a turn to dress up like Mary, travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem on a donkey (yep, that was ME), and lay their baby in a manger.

Then, we had a few more lessons on "swaddling"... which Ivy turned out to be especially good at!

Then it was coloring time!

Look how well Tatum holds her crayons! Amazing!
Honestly? Could she be ANY cuter???
Shy Miss Claire... (oh, and Xan...she spilled the beans on the baby's name (I think), and I love it!)
I know what Ella is thinking here. "Why the HECK do I always get stuck in this high-chair?" lol

Nice work, ladies!

Then we played games, like, "Find the Star", sang Christmas songs, ate a lot of snacks and apple juice, and then...it was FREE PLAY!

And I know what Ella is thinking here, too... "What? Did someone say CARMEL CORN?" lol

The girls went home with a little foam Nativity kit, a star ornament, their colored Nativity pictures, and some treats in a candy cane.

...and here's the next generation of Princess Pre-School, rearing to go!

I'm just waiting on Aimee, Sara, and Amanda to get on the wagon and populate this group with some more girls! Xan's doing it...why shouldn't the rest of you? lol

So, again...I'm not quite sure if the girls actually learned anything today...but we sure did have a blast trying!

Oh, and here's that carmel corn recipe..., it's SO easy, and SO good. I HIGHLY recommend it!

1 bag microwave popcorn (I like it extra chewy...if you don't then use 2 bags popcorn)
1 stick butter
1/3 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Pop popcorn and remove all unpopped kernels. Microwave butter, Karo syrup, and brown sugar for 4 minutes - stir after 2 minutes and again when it is done. Add baking soda and vanilla to hot carmel. Mix well and pour hot carmel onto popcorn. Work quickly and use a plastic spoon to coat all popcorn. Pour onto waxed paper to cool.

Enjoy! I know we did! :)

Uuuughh...

2008-11-30T16:11:00.001-08:00

Kim Tait is NOT feeling so "goooooood" today....uuuuuuugggghhhhhh (groan).

Sick. Very, very sick.

Room spinning. Must....lie.....down.

Let the Christmas Season Begin...

2008-11-29T15:51:00.001-08:00

Christmas cards ordered? Check.

Christmas lights hung? Check.

Christmas tree decorated? Check.

Christmas CD's in car / "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" in the DVD player / Ava singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" from beginning to end? Check, check, and check.

Christmas lights at the temple adequately viewed and appreciated? Check.

Christmas shopping completed? Check, baby. CHECK.

Let the Christmas-ing begin. Kim Tait is feeling gooooooooood.

Fitting In / Standing Out

2008-11-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

So I went to the Australian Pink Floyd Show last night...

I know. It's not like me.

But hey...why not try something new, right? And I actually gained a real appreciation for how prolific that band is (was?), and the artistic nature of the music they wrote. And, I got to spend a fun evening with David and some friends in the meantime.

But, I started to realize as soon as I entered Dodge Theatre that I simply did not belong among that band's demographic. I, Kim Tait, stood out like a wide-eyed, blonde little sore thumb.

Maybe I would have felt more at home if any of the following statements were true:

1. I own (and wear regularly) tie-dyed clothing.
2. I have long, curly/frizzy salt and pepper gray hair.
3. I am in my mid to late 40's.
4. I am male.
5. I enjoy the occasional doobie...
6. I can passionately sing every word to every song from "The Dark Side of the Moon" to "The Wall" (I learned both of those album names last night thankyouverymuch)
7. I am not a young mid-twenties little blonde girl wearing my bangles and ballet flats who couldn't name one Pink Floyd song if her life depended on it.

It was pretty entertaining at one point to just take a look around during the concert at all of those mid-40's, graying men, wearing their tie-dyed shirts from college and reliving the glory days. Closing their eyes. Swaying to the music. Rockin' out when the music got intense.

And then there was me.

Well, the next time I see some scrubby older man wearing a tie-dyed shirt, looking bewlidered at a Sarah McLachlan concert...I just might have to give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, as if to say, "I've been there, my friend. I've been there."

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

Now that I have kids, I love Halloween! Playing dress up and loads of candy...how could you not love that?!

Here's a recap of the Halloween extravaganza...

Last weekend, we went to Boo at the Zoo. We didn't want to ruin the Ava's real costume just yet, so we made use of her fairy princess costume from last year. Her friend Payton made a super cute Ariel, and Ella looks like one tired chick. Poor Ella was being dragged to the zoo during her morning naptime...but did she complain? Nope. She just kind of hung out in the stroller for a while, then drifted to sleep.

Then, Thursday night was Trunk-or Treat, and our baby chick was reborn!

(I love Ella's big toe in this picture...lol.)

Friday morning we went to Mother Nature's Farm with Ava and Ella's cousins, Kate and Jake.

This is the pumpkin of Ava's choice...

....plus a few decorations. :)

The kids loved seeing all the animals...especially the pigs.

...and Ella was there for moral support, if they needed it.

Finally, Halloween night came! After a fun little neighborhood cookout, we made our way out to do some major trick-or-treating! We decided to give Ella a break from the chick costume, and she hung out at our house with my mom to pass out candy. But Ava was rearing to go, and here she is..... as Cinderella!

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween, too! Let the Holiday Season begin!

And the "Mother of the Year" Award Goes To.....

2008-10-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a recap of our day at church today. One of those days where you just have to laugh and roll with the punches, I guess...

Made it through Sacrament Meeting with no major catastrophes....phew.

But then all the fun really begins....

Ella is sitting on her blankie in Sunday School at our feet, between Dave and I. We are in the front row, of course (don't ask me, Dave makes us sit in the front every stinking week!!!), when Ella starts to tip over, and before I can catch her, she falls over and hits her head - hard - on the corner of the piano. There is a huge thud, and a collective gasp from everyone in the room. I scoop Ella up as she starts to scream and I make a beeline out of the room.

As I get into the hallway, I see the nursery leader walking down the hall with Ava. Ava has apparently just sneezed - big time - and there is green snot all over her face. The nursery leader was taking her to the bathroom to wipe her nose, and didn't seem all to happy about it (which I wouldn't be either). As I am relieving the nursery leader of wiping my child's snotty nose, with my poor crying baby in the other hand, a member of the bishopric comes down the hall to make sure that Ella is okay, because he had heard about the "piano head trauma incident" from two different people in the hall. Great.

It is at this point that I also realize that I was in such a rush to get everyone to church on time that I have forgotten to feed Ella since she woke up from her morning nap! It has been nearly five hours since she has eaten. So I send Ava back off to nursery and head straight to the Mother's Lounge.

Then, as we are leaving church (and people are still coming up to me, asking if Ella's head is okay), I go to pick up Ava from nursery. As I give her a quick little hug, I also notice that her diaper is completely full and wet. I figure we'll just wait until we get home to change it. Besides, my hands are full anyways. I am holding Ava's hand, the diaper bag, my scriptures, Ella, Ella's blankie, and pacing the halls, trying to find David. Meanwhile, Ava is jabbering on about something (as usual), and I am kind of tuning it out, just trying to quickly find David and get home. Then, a little tap on my shoulder from my friend, Staci.

"Ummm...Kim, you might want to know that, ummmm... well, see, Ava...is....ummmm....."

I stop and slowly look down at Ava.

Her wet Pull-Up is around her ankles.

Yes, we have been walking down the entire length of the hallway with Ava shuffling along as her Peed-In Princess Pull-Up was dragging along the floor. I now realize that she has been saying "Momma, my di-dee! My di-dee!"

Sheesh.

So, please refrain from calling Child Protective Services if you see any sick, bruised, starving children walking down the street in soiled diapers. That's just us leaving church.

Odds and Ends

2008-10-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

So, of course we all know that the weather was beyond gorgeous last week, so we had to take advantage by taking several trips to our favorite park in the neighborhood. Lots of green grass, big, beautiful trees, a huge lake with lots of ducks, a fun playground, and weather that actually didn't feel like we were roasting in an oven.

It was heaven.

Time for some bubbles!

Ava kept chasing after the ducks, saying, "Hi ducks! How are you? What is your names?"

It was pretty funny.
And here are just a few more random pics that I just downloaded....

It's funny, people ask me every now and then if I belong to a gym (which I do, I just never actually go there...lol). But, as all you moms know, this is the best workout there is.
Oh, and yes...we finally got Ava into her "Big Girl Bed" in her own bedroom!! YAY, Ava!

The transition was actually not that bad at all. She still waits in her bed for me to come get her up in the morning and after naptime (shhhh.... we won't let her in on the fact that getting out on her own is even an option...). She loves her new room, and Ella now has full reign of the nursery.
Finally...David's 32nd birthday was last week! Happy Birthday, honey! We love you a ton.

Here's the Happy Birthday song from two of your biggest fans.

AAAHHH!!

2008-10-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

I am so out of my mind excited about my new photographer and our little family photo shoot last week. YAY!!

She has a few more of our family pics on her blog, too. Check it out: http://nikaelacurtis.typepad.com/

I highly, highly, highly recommend Nikaela if you are looking at having some family pictures taken! She made us feel so comfortable and captured such incredible moments (isn't the lighting cool?). She had such great, unique ideas, and was just basically AWESOME! (okay, okay, I'll stop gushing now. But I mean every word, and every exclamation point.) :)

(And she was unbelievably reasonably priced... I think she could charge 3 times what she charged us and it would be worth it...)

Thanks, Nikaela!

Oh, and P.S. Emily and Alison, if you happen to go to the website, and happen to notice that I am wearing your shirt and accessories... ummm.... you know I had to rock the Forever 21 ensembles as long as they were in my possession. lol Now it can truly be documented Forever.

IV REAL

2008-10-08T22:32:00.001-07:00

So last night I went on pretty much the most amazing girl's night of all time...

We went to see the So You Think You Can Dance concert!! FOR REAL!

"But, Kim...is that all you have been doing since the last time you blogged..." you ask?

And to that, my reply is simply, "Read on, my friend...read on."

At the end of September, we went on a kid-free trip to Chicago to take in a Bears game. We also took some time to go on an architectural tour and do some shopping.

Here's a shot of yours truly on the Chicago River. The weather was so perfect!

"Well, Kim...what did you go shopping for in Chicago?" Good question. Keep reading.

I bought my little satin dress for my TEN YEAR HIGH SCHOOL Reunion!!

Last weekend we went to good old Hermosa Beach for my reunion, and had a really great time. I am so glad that I went!

We also just basically enjoyed yet another kid-free weekend, this time at the beach. The weather wasn't exactly perfect...but it was cool, and I wasn't complaining one bit!!

And now, of course...no blog would be complete without a little update on the girls, right? Well, check it out....

I have been trying for months now to capture one shot...both girls, both looking at the camera, good lighting, and no red-eye. And....I finally got it! Not once, but twice! Here are my favorite pics of the girls thus far:

Ava has also been very interested in make-up lately. Here she is, working on getting her mascara just right. That's a trip to the hospital waiting to happen, I'm sure.

Ava also got a little house in the backyard. She is always inviting me to come to "Ava's house".

And Ella..... sweet, sweet Ella. All I can say is, I'm ruined. I can never have another baby again because it's all downhill after how easy this baby has been. She's just an absolute angel.

And, I know this is a random way to end my post, but I have been playing with Play-Doh quite a bit lately. Here is my latest and greatest creation. Feel free to be impressed. Or, to think I'm crazy and have way to much free time on my hands. The nose is my favorite... lol.

Addicted

2008-09-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

I successfully ate an entire bag of these chips in two days flat. I am considering making a trip to the store for the sole purpose of buying another bag.

...and with two kids in tow, making a trip to the grocery store for just one item? Well, that is one SERIOUS addiction.

Picture Update

2008-08-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay....

I know I haven't posted pictures in a while since Dave lost our camera cord at the Olympic Trials. So, I borrowed one for now, and here's a quick little re-cap of the last few weeks at the Tait household.

Since we are stuck indoors most of the time (honestly, when is the heat going to let up?!), we have had to be pretty creative with our use of time...otherwise we might end up watching "The Little Mermaid" 15 times a day. So, here is Ava crafting a frog out of Play-Doh.
...and here is Ella looking on. I just want to eat her up.

Ava still loves her swim lessons with Daddy. Here is a pic from a few weeks ago when her cousin Vanessa (far left) was in town. Ava's friend Brooklyn is in the middle, and Ava at right. This was the official "Lesson of the Tiny Toe-Heads".

During Ava's swim lesson, Ella hangs out with her bestie, Peyton.
And in case you didn't already know it, I am a nerd. I started taking violin lessons from a friend of mine about 3 weeks ago. Here is Ava imitating mommy playing the "Vi-Yah-Linnnn" (and no, that's not my toy violin. I use a real one, thank you very much. And yes, I still sound like a screeching freight train when I play. But I'm working on it.)

...and Ella playing the piano. And smiling. Always, always smiling. :)

Did I mention that she is always smiling?

Ava started her first dance class this summer (I may have already posted pics of this...can't remember). She is always singing the songs that she dances to, and loves prancing around in her tutu. Needless to say, this is one of the major highlights of my week.

And this is the highlight of my day, all day, every day. Still smiling... :)

These girls are growing so fast! But now you are officially updated...

UGH...

2008-08-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else watching this season of Project Runway?

If this guy says "Whack-a-doodle!" one more time...I swear...someone is gonna get hurt.

Too Good to be True?

2008-08-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Did anyone else see this last night?!

It took us quite a few replays on DVR last night to convince ourselves that this race was not rigged in Phelps' favor. Still....one might wonder?

Two photos showing Michael Phelps of the U.S., left, and Milorad Cavic of Serbia in the moment before (top photo) the final touch (bottom photo) as Phelps throws his arms forward to out-touch Cavic by 0.01 seconds to win the gold medal in the men’s 100m butterfly final, Phelps’s seventh gold medal win, equaling Mark Spitz’s 1972 Munich games record. (EPA/Patrick B. Kraemer)

I've Seen it ALL

2008-08-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

I swear...this is one for the record books.

And...for all the LDS blurkers out there, this is a pretty small world, and I apologize in advance if this is someone you know. But if it is...let's be honest, you've had a good laugh about it, too.

My parents spoke today in sacrament meeting in their new ward, and Dave and I took the kids to go and support them. (They did a great job, by the way...way to go, Mom and Dad!)

But what we saw in that ward...we shall never forget.

In the row right in front of us (mind you, we were sitting only three rows from the front), an older (40's-50's maybe?), rather large woman proceeded during the opening hymn to LAY DOWN on the pew (mind you...this woman is probably almost six feet tall...), and rest her head on her husband's LAP.

Now... let's review the facts here. I witnessed this type of behavior (albeit to a much lesser extent) ad nauseam in the old singles ward days. You know, the whole "19- year- old-female- head- cocked to a ninety-degree angle on her fresh-off- the- mish boyfriend's shoulder" type of stuff. But I have never before witnessed anything even close to this. This was a grown woman. This woman probably had grown children! But not only that...she was fully equipped with a pillow to lay in between her rather large legs (which...did I mention, were sprawled out on the pew nearly six feet away from her head?).

Okay. So I am probably going to be struck by lightening because I am sure this poor woman has some serious medical malady that makes her so...tired? But still. The front row? A pillow? Come on, people! I will roll a cot into the chapel for you myself, but please, please do it in the back of the chapel, at least!!! Don't expect me to sit behind that and keep a straight face for an hour and ten minutes!!

My Ex-Computer

2008-07-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

It’s official. My computer hates me.

Last week my evil ex-laptop finally gave up the ghost. I’m pretty sure that Windows crashed. For a while, we haven’t been getting along so well …my computer and I. We had little spats here and there…a meltdown or two…and eventually just stopped communicating with one another. She had a total breakdown on Wednesday and completely stopped speaking to me. And, to be quite honest, I came very close to slamming her against a wall on Thursday. I think we are going to need some kind of mediator to work things out between us, if there is any hope for our future together at all.

In the meantime…I’ve been hanging out a lot with David’s computer. I think a beautiful new friendship is blossoming between us....

In other news, David and I went out yesterday afternoon with the girls to try and find a new “Big Girl Bed” for Ava. Frankly, she doesn’t seem too keen on the idea. Every time we would ask her if she was excited about it (trying to muster up as much enthusiasm as we could), she would just pout and say, “NO.” **sigh** Actually, for as outwardly optimistic as I appeared, as the day progressed, all of my own concerns about this “Big Girl Bed” idea crept to the surface.

“What if Ella wakes up Ava in the night, or vice versa?”

“What about naptime? They are on different schedules in the afternoon?!”

“What if Ava tries to crawl into the crib with Ella and suffocates her?!?!?!"

“How on earth are we going to fit two beds in that tiny bedroom, anyway?!?!?”

I’m not ready for a Big Girl Bed!!

Needless to say, by the end of our (unbelievably unfruitful) shopping trip, I was pouting just as much as (probably more than) Ava, and begging David to be reasonable and buy some furniture for our living room instead. That’s a logical alternative, isn’t it? After all…it’s not like Ella is totally too big for the bassinet (yes she’s still in the bassinet…and yes, I know….it’s crazy). I mean, her toes only kind of touch the end, and her head just barely brushes the top, and even that is probably just because she has so much hair anyway, and she really doesn’t completely roll over in it, just onto her side…kind of. **sigh**

Well, I would post some pictures to go along with my post…my mean ex-computer dumped them all out of the Windows… and after we had so many memories together....

WHAT?!

2008-07-27T00:04:00.000-07:00

It's a joke, right? C'mon...seriously. Tell me it's a joke/bad dream/ratings ploy.

Is it bad that I am hoping either Twitch, Mark, or Brace-Face (a.k.a. Joshua) will break a rib sometime this week? I mean...if Comfort can make a comeback...then somehow, some way....

Memories...in the corner of my mind...

2008-07-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

Found this one on a few friends blogs and decided to play along since it sounded fun...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, (or if the memory is as recent as last week) anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

So They Think They Can Dance...

2008-07-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

In honor of "So You Think You Can Dance" Wednesday, here is a little clip of Ava and her friend Payton dancing their hearts out. Notice how they both have to be wearing pink tutus. Such girls!

**Notice how I've turned into an overbearing stage-mom already, barking out orders! Sheesh!And yes...for the time being, we have two TV's. Don't ask. *shaking head*

This is how Ella rocks out. I think she's got some rhythm!!

(You may want to turn your speakers down considerably, as this particular vibe-chair music is just about as nice as poking your eardrums out with an ice-pick. Sorry.)

So You Think You Can Dance

2008-07-10T15:26:00.001-07:00

Ok...ok....I'm completely addicted. I've watched last night's show a few times (yes, more than twice), and the judges are obviously trying to rub out Comfort and Thayne (which I don't have a problem with...I don't really care for either of them). But does anyone get the feeling that the judges talk beforehand about who they don't like, and then, no matter what the performance is like, they just BASH on that person?

And does anyone else think that the judges have been WAY too hard on Jessica? I want to cry for that poor girl! She's really not that bad, and they are SO mean to her!

Anyhow, here's my pick for who will be in the final four:

Will*
Chelsie
Katee*
Joshua

*These picks are no-brainers. The judges worship the ground they walk on. These contestants could fall flat on their face and the judges would worship what they "added to the routine".

Summer Fun

2008-07-09T21:49:00.001-07:00

Okay, okay...I have been slacking on my blogging duties. David lost our little camera cord thing in Omaha, so I had to borrow one from a friend in order to download these pictures. So...let me catch you up on what's been going on with the Taits.

A few weeks ago, I enjoyed dinner at a great little place called the "Tortilla Factory" in Scottsdale with my good friends Aimee and Sarah. Oh yeah, our husbands were there, too. But we were having too much fun chatting all night to notice them too much. You like how we all wore long necklaces? Great minds think alike!

Our ward's Quarterly Primary Activity was open to kids in nursery, too...so I took Ava and, therefore...Ella came, too. Baby Ella was quite the attraction...all the little girls wanted to sit by her during snack time!

I mean...really...how am I supposed to get anything done around here with this much cuteness going on???

On thing we have been doing around here is a lot of swimming and water activities. My friend Sarah got Ava a Little Mermaid Slip 'N Slide for her birthday back in April. Sarah has a little daughter named Ella, too. So here is Ava and her friend Ella chillin' in the water. (Notice how cute Ella's swimsuit is, and how Ava is hanging out W.T. style in just the swim diaper. Great.)

Over the fourth of July weekend, we had my parents over for a barbecue, and this is the cake I made! How cute, huh?! I know, I know...I'm so domestic!

Ava thought it might be a little more fun to sleep in the bassinet. Somehow, she crawled in this thing all by herself!

And Ella is officially able to sit in the Bumbo! YAY!

Has anyone else had problems posting videos on their blog lately? It just takes FOREVER to process them, and after a while, I just give up. But I have videos of Ella laughing, rolling over, and grabbing for toys that are just too adorable not to post. Come on people...you NEED to see this stuff! Tell me what I am doing wrong over here! lol

I'll keep working on it...for the sake of the blog! :)

Trials

2008-07-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

David and I are enduring two different types of trials this week.

For David...he is enduring the Olympic Trials in Omaha.

I say that he is "enduring" them, because...well.... the swimmer that he is coaching there isn't doing so hot. On Monday, she added over 1.5 seconds to her 200 meter breaststroke. In the swimming world, this means that she may as well have decided to doggy paddle for the whole race.

I, on the other hand, am enduring trials like tantrums at dinner, a depressed dog that hasn't been given any attention all week (that's David's job), bathtime and bedtime routines without daddy, and a sweet little two year old that keeps asking, "Where's Daddy go?" It's funny though, because Ava's little friend Peyton asked her where her daddy is, and Ava clearly answered, "He's on a TRIP in OH-Ha". Funny.

Oh yes, and I took Ella in for her four-month well check on Tuesday. She is in the 75th percentile for height (I forget exactly how long she is...), and she weighs in at 13.5 pounds and is somewhere in the 55th percentile for weight. She is reaching for toys, standing up with help, smiling, laughing, rolling over, and continuing to be just about the happiest baby on earth.

David took the little cord that transfers pics to the computer with him to "Oh-Ha", so I'll have to wait until next week to post some new pics and video. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a Happy 4th!

What the Girls Are Up To...

2008-06-22T23:03:00.000-07:00

At the risk of sounding like one of those parents who endlessly brag about their child's "talents"...I'm going to be real honest with you here, because there are just no two ways about it: Ava is a fantastic singer.

The amazing part about it to me is 1) She will actually sing when asked to. Candy might have to be involved, but when push comes to shove, she is ready and willing to belt it out, and 2) She remembers the words to so many songs! I am not going to lie to you and tell you she has perfect pitch, or that she is the next "American Idol" (although I do secretly have dreams of her winning American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance...back to back in the same year)...but let's face it...for a two year old she just knows a ton of songs. Primary songs, Disney songs, songs on the radio...Ava retains it all. So, without further adieu (I have NO idea if I spelled that correctly...what is "further adieu", anyway??)...here is the latest and greatest rendition of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Ava Tait.

**Note: If you do not have a two year old girl in your house, you may not know that this is the song at the beginning of Cinderella. And when she is singing the song, Cinderella is taking her hair out of the braids she has slept in. Hence the fact that Ava MUST be playing with her hair while singing the song. Oh, and I missed Ava singing the first line of the song...but...you get the idea.

I also have a really cute video of Ella...but for some reason it isn't uploading. Check back later for some Ella action. :)

A Belated Shout Out to My Baby's Daddy

2008-06-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

So I've been slacking on my blogging lately...but I wanted to give a little belated Father's Day shout out to my stud of a husband.David is such a great daddy! He pitches right in with diapering, bathing, feeding, burping, reading, snuggling, and of course, lots and lots of tickles and playtime. But beyond that, I am so grateful that my girls have him as a male role model to look to in their life. He is so honest and upstanding. He embodies the meaning of the word integrity. Oh, yes...and he has also endowed my daughters with their amazing blue eyes. I am just so proud to have him as my baby's daddy.

Love you, hon!

I Heart Books

2008-06-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished this book, and absolutely loved it...

It took me a while to finish, because I actually started reading it shortly before Ella was born. But when David and I took our little anniversary weekend at the Buttes and I had some kid-free time, I enjoyed being able to finish this book and really appreciate it for what it is. At first, I thought my inner feminist was at odds with the premise of the book because the main character, Janie Crawford, seems to be largely defined by the men in her life. But, I came to appreciate Janie's grace and resilience, and eventually, her strength. In the end of the book, Janie tells Phoebe something like this (I am paraphrasing here, because I've already loaned out the book...) "Love is like the ocean, it is different at every shore." This really wrapped up the book, as nature (and the ocean in particular) are metaphors for various stages in Janie's road to self-discovery throughout the book. There are just too many great quotes to name here, but let's just say that Zora Neale Hurston has such an amazing way with words, that I often found myself savoring her words as if they were a bowl of hot soup on a cold day.

Now, I am reading this book, and really enjoying it so far. I'll let you know what I think when I finish it. That is, if I haven't packed up and run away to Italy.

Tagged....kind of.... :)

2008-06-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

No, these aren't more before and after pics.... this is the latest and greatest tag. Actually, I think it's secretly a plot that Jenn designed to show off how super organized her pantry is. J/K :) It's just basically a little peek of what's going on in our house right now....

What my kids are doing:

Playing! This is basically what happens in between viewings of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid.
What's in the pantry:

Vitamins, vitamins, vitamins....some snacks, cereal, baking stuff, and a bread maker that I've never used. Not even once.

What's in the fridge:

Hmmm....not much right now. Juice, produce, eggs, bread, milk (skim), the Brita thing, and leftovers - chicken cordon bleu, salad, and roasted veggies - from last night.

What's in the closet?

A whole lot of nothing to wear. That's what.
What's in the guest bathroom:

The gigantic mirror and broadway lighting that I wanted to get rid of...but couldn't because the rest of our reno cost too much. Oh well...

What's in the sink:

Ava! (This was from yesterday morning actually...if I were to take a pic right now, all you'd see is some dirty dishes I haven't loaded yet)
Laundry room:

Cleaning supplies, etc. And a washer and dryer that are probably older than I am.

Favorite room in the house:

Is it weird to say that the nursery is my favorite room in the house? It is so bright and colorful and inviting...and I really like hanging out in there with the girls. We like to party here.

Favorite pair of shoes:

These are just some ballet flats that I got from GAP a while ago. But I love them and wear them all the time and they don't even smell funky yet. They always add a fun splash of color.

Okay, now I tag Aimee, Lanae, Leah, and Alison. Let's see it, ladies!

Uh-oh

2008-06-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

We may have a plumber in the family...

I Believe

2008-06-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Bryan did this on his blog a while ago, and I loved it. So, here's my list.

I Believe

-in being able to laugh at yourself
-in telling someone when they have something in their teeth
-that women and men are meant to be different...and that's what makes it great
-in reading rather than watching TV
-that heaven smells like baby powder
-that music is the language of the soul
-that Christ lives
-in human potential
-self-righteousness is the most abhorrent sin
-in free agency
-in responsibility for your own actions
-in mercy and compassion
-in the Plan of Salvation
-in eating a good breakfast
-in friendship
-that all truth may be circumscribed in one great whole
-in being confident about who you are
-keeping a journal makes life meaningful
-in fresh-sliced deli meats and cheeses
-in reading the newspaper
-in giving people the benefit of the doubt
-in being willing to try new things
-most career politicians are corrupt
-most business owners are Republicans
-in being honest with yourself (and with others) by living within your means
-that Baby Einstein is a big hoax (but I use the stuff anyway...)
-in going to the temple regularly
-nothing beats the sound of waves crashing on the beach
-in yoga
-chocolate can actually make life better
-learning about other cultures is important for young children
-feminism, in its purest form, is the recognition and celebration of all things feminine
-meals taste better when shared in good company
-that happiness is the object and design of our existence

Ava's First Haircut!

2008-06-01T16:59:00.000-07:00

Ava got her first haircut on Friday, and yes...you guessed it. She cried the whole time. It was sad, but pretty dang funny at the same time.
You would have thought we were cutting off her limbs instead of her hair.
But just moments earlier, on our way out the door, Ava had given a big smile to the camera...she had no idea what she was in for.

During the haircut, Ava pulls out her "blank-leee" and finds a happy place

LOL... as soon as I ask her to say cheese, she starts crying again...but tries to smile through the tears. LOL

Next in line for a haircut... little Ella! With her head full of hair, I'm sure it won't be long until she needs a trim, too!

Aaaaaaarrrgh!!!

2008-05-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

My 2 year old daughter has officially turned our nice, quiet home into Tantrum Central.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHH!!

Anything and everything warrants a severe meltdown nowadays.

For example:

Ava drops her spoon at breakfast. Meltdown.

I pick up her spoon, put it in the sink, and get her a new spoon. Meltdown continues.

We turn off Sesame Street to get dressed for the day. Meltdown.

We go for a walk. A car passes by. Meltdown (Ava has apparently developed a serious fear of ALL motorized vehicles)

We have lunch. I refuse to let Ava have any fruit snacks until she finishes her sandwich. Meltdown.

We take Ava to get her first haircut. MAJOR meltdown.

Please help me!!!! Or just at least tell me I'm not the only one. I'm dyin' here!!!!!!! I swear I am losing my mind. And my patience. Aaaaargh.

Channel 12 at EVO!

2008-05-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here's the truck at EVO this morning...getting ready for the live interview!

Lance and Erik did a phenomenal job this morning as they showed off their swimming
skills on Channel 12. Both of them proclaimed that it was indeed, "the best day of their lives."

And David is a natural! He was so calm and easy-going in front of the camera...his live interview(s) went off without a hitch.

AVA, on the other hand...was more, shall we say, "high maintenance"? Yes. That's the nicest way to say it. High maintenance. Let's just say that:

9:30 p.m. bedtime (crazy day...long story) + 4:50 a.m. wake-up + no breakfast (big hurry to get there in time...another long story) + bright lights + chlorine in the eyes + being a two year old girl = CRYING.

Yes. Ava cried for her entire TV debut. After making her mommy put on a swimsuit and get in the water with her, and after 15 minutes of happily playing in the water and doing a great job, just as we were about to go live, Ava had a meltdown. Isn't that just sooooo befitting of a two-year-old? Luckily, she did not have a mic on. Luckily, the cameraman panned away from her when it got pretty bad. Unfortunately, some of it was caught on tape. I'm sure I'll look back on this and laugh someday, right? I hope so. (big sigh) This was how Ava looked on the way home (notice the contrast between Lance and Erik above)...

Conked OUT!
So, the next time your kid has a meltdown, just be thankful that you are not on live TV. Seriously. Be very grateful. Sheesh.

Oh well, hopefully the swim school got some good exposure from it all. Next time we'll know better, and no two year olds will be allowed on camera! lol

Oh yeah, and here are some pics from our camping trip over Memorial Day weekend with the Jones's and the Britts (and a few extras from when we got home). Fun times!

Ben, Luke, Jeff, Hendrix, and Ava

Me and the girls...roughing it!Hiking at the Tonto Natural Bridge
Ella...all bundled up for the cold weather up north

Ava in her heels as soon as we got home

Happy Ella...always smiling!

Lance, Ava, David, and Ella (okay, this one was from a long time ago, but it was too cute not to add on the blog...don't Lance and Ava look like brother and sister? )
Sleeping beauty

Set Your TiVo!

2008-05-28T14:25:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow morning (Thursday, May 29) 12 News is going to do a piece at EVO Swim School for their morning news show!! YAY!

It will be very early in the morning (probably between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m.), so set your TiVo or DVR and check it out later in the day!

Ava will be making her big TV debut... doing some water safety demonstrations in the water with her daddy and some of her cousins.

Be sure to check it out if you can!

-Kim

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus

2008-05-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay.....the cries for renovation pics have been heard (Jennifer). :)

We're not completely done yet, but here's a quick look at what has been done so far.
First and foremost...let's talk about the carpet. I have to say, I had second thoughts about posting some of these "before" pictures, because it was just SO bad that it was embarassing. This carpet was gross when we moved in five years ago, and it just went downhill from there. THIS is what I was living with before (below). Can you believe it? GROSS!
WHO puts white carpet in a house? Who does that?!?!?!?!

But, THIS is what we are enjoying now (below)....HALLELUJAH!!

Not a single stain....yet.
Yummy.

And check out the wall color, too. We had the whole interior painted (Thanks for your help Alison! You like it?).
Now, let's talk countertops. To say that we were living with substandard countertops is an understatement. Bye-bye laminate being held together by scotch tape!!
Hello, granite. :) Ava loves it! LOL
(I think it's safe to say we won't be needing any more tape.)

Now, on to the fixtures...

Here are the brassy exterior lights before.
...and the exterior lights after!
Ugly and dated dining room chandelier before...
...and the new dining room chandelier!

This is just wrong. Check out the hard water stains...yuck. I can not tell you how much I hated this faucet. BYE-BYE ugly faucet!!!
Hello, my love.
Bye-bye shallow, ceramic sink.
Hello, you beautiful single bowl 10-inch deep 18-gauge stainless steel Lovello sink. I love you.

We're not quite finished yet. The painters are coming back tomorrow to do some touch-ups, and we still have window treatments to hang. But we are getting there. And no, we're not moving. Yet. :)

Just kidding! We're really not moving, I swear.

Gratitude

2008-05-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Ava's prayer this morning went something like this:

"Father....grateful...cereal...grateful...bowl....
grateful...spoon....grateful...yogurt...grateful...
Ella...grateful...day...grateful....Jesus....grateful...
strawberries (mind you, strawberries are nowhere to be seen)...grateful...Elmo...AMEN!!

A Shout Out to My Mama

2008-05-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is now officially one of my favorite holidays. I love celebrating women and motherhood. In honor of this special day, I wanted to highlight a few of the attributes of my own mother that I hope to emulate. I probably don't take enough time to honor the female role models in my life, so....here goes nothing.

First and foremost, my mother instilled in me a love of reading and a genuine reverence for books. I carry this with me all the time, and to this day, I can not enter a library without thinking of my mom.

My mom is endlessly optimistic.

One of the best descriptors of my mother's personality that I've ever heard is this: she lives her life in Technicolor.

My mom has experienced every kind of trial in her life, and she has never ever become bitter about it. From a really tough childhood to a rocky first marriage...from breast cancer to heart attacks to a liver transplant...from losing both of her parents to losing her firstborn son to a tragic accident...my mom has pretty much seen it all.

The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to prepare for the future by learning from the past. I've learned a lot from my mom, my sister, my mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, women in my ward, and especially from my friends about what it means to be a mother. I think I've learned a lot about what is important (and more specifically...what is NOT important), and to let go of unrealistic expectations and enjoy living in the moment. I am so grateful for my daughters and the joy they bring to my life. I can only hope that someday they too will enjoy the wonderful blessing of motherhood. It is one wild ride.

So, Happy Mother's Day, to all of you mothers out there...especially you, Mom. You deserve it!

This Old House

2008-05-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

Well... our little home improvements are coming right along. The granite countertops were installed on Thursday, and the painters finished the exterior of the house on Friday afternoon. The plumber installed our new sink and faucet (which are my very favorite improvements so far!!), and the electrician put in the new light fixtures on Friday as well. This week, the interior of the house is being painted, and the new carpet goes in at the end of the week. Phew. Let's just say, it's been a crazy, stressful, chaotic couple of days.

Soooooooo...right now, everything we own is piled into the garage and David and I are staying at his parent's house until all the work is finished. For some people, this might be considered a trial...but my mother and father-in-law are so easy to live with. It's actually felt kind of like a little mini vacation. Is that weird? Yeah, that's probably weird.

I'll post some pictures soon...Stay tuned!

Smiling, Sleeping, Singing and Storytime

2008-04-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of sweet little Ella doing what she does best:

Smiling...
Sleeping...

More sleeping (always with her arms up!)...Listening to Ava read her a story at bedtime...

And now for a little taste of what Ava does best...

As some of you might know, little Ava is turning out to be quite the singer. Here is the latest and greatest rendition of "I Am A Child of God" (even though it took some major bribing to get it). Notice how she holds me to it at the end of the song. (Quid pro quo, Mommy!!)

YUCK.

2008-04-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

So I decided to try this really great and very effective diet...otherwise known as the 24 hour FLU.

I came down with some very strange and very violent bug quite suddenly last night, and it has sapped all of the life out of me.

I was throwing up ALL night last night, and into this morning. Now I am huddled away in my sickbed, with nothing to do but blog, blog blog.

And even in my delirious state, all I can do is feel a foggy sense of gratitude that David is the guy that he is. You wouldn't always know it from afar, but he is the BEST at taking care of people when they are sick. I kid you not...this guy could have been a male nurse or something.

For example, every time I got up to throw up in the middle of the night, David sprang out of bed to help me to the bathroom and hold my hair back while I threw up. I'm sorry...I know that is gross and probably too much info, but it was just so sweet and reassuring to have him there. He would tell me to relax and rub my back, and then get me cold water and help me back to bed. Mind you, this whole sequence happened like 8 times last night. Neither one of us was able to fall asleep until about 4:00 this morning.

This morning, David took Ava to my sister-in-law's house so I could get some rest. Little Ella stayed here with me, and she has been such an angel. She has just been sleeping and contentedly hanging out with me in my little dungeon here. She is so smiley all the time. I swear, I love this little girl like crazy. And to make things even better, when David brought Ava home during his lunch break, he carried Ava here into the bedroom where she proceeded to give me a hug and say, "Mommy playing on laptop. Ava tired. I take a nappy now." I'm not kidding. What little sweethearts I have been blessed with.

At least if I am going to feel like crap, I am surrounded with a really awesome family. That's what I keep saying, anyway...to make myself feel better. YUCK.

New Look...

2008-04-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

I, too, have decided to give my blog a new look.

http://cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com/

I am in the mood for renovations lately...because we are finally doing some much needed home improvements! YAY!!!

Starting next week, we are having granite countertops installed, new fixtures throughout the house (no more BRASS...YAY), new flooring, and a fresh coat of paint, inside and out. If you've seen my carpet recently, you are probably just as relieved about this as I am. It is in pretty sad shape.

It's going to be kind of busy around here, because we basically have to move out of the house for a few days...but I can not WAIT to post the before and after pics! I have been waiting for so long to make these improvements...I won't even know what to do with myself when I'm not secretly cursing at the 80's Broadway lighting in my bathroom.

Wish us luck...

Ella's Blessing...and more

2008-04-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

I got so caught up with my bee story that I forgot to post a few pics of the more blog-worthy event...Ella's blessing! I didn't take enough pictures...but here a a few, at least.

I also included just a couple cute pics of the girls that I haven't had a chance to post yet.

This little chub-a-lub is so precious...

And...should I be worried by this?!?!!? LOL Ava fell asleep while apparently gouging out her doll's eyes. Ummm... weird, right?

The No-Good, Horrible, Very Bad Morning...

2008-04-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

I want you to imagine the worst possible thing you would want to have hovering over your precious, sleeping infant.

Africanized Bees, perhaps? Please...read on.

Yesterday was Ella's blessing. We had everyone over for brunch at our house after sacrament meeting, and everything went great. Well, after everyone went home, I noticed a couple of bees flying around in our bedroom. So, naturally, I completely freaked out, and made David kill them.

Great. No more bees, right? Wrong.

This morning, just as David was leaving for work, I was getting ready to get in the shower. I heard a familiar buzzing, and my stomach dropped. I saw a bee just above the window in our bathroom. I scrambled to catch David before he left for work, and made him kill the bee. We both thought it was just a straggler from the day before. So, with Ava watching Sesame Street in the living room, and Ella asleep on our bed, David left for work, and I proceeded to get in the shower.

(Cue the scary music....the Jaws theme perhaps?)

So, I turn off the shower, and what do I immediately hear?

BuuuuuZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz.....

My heart stops.

I slowly step out of the shower, and there are BEES EVERYWHERE. But mind you, I don't have my contacts in, so all I can see are little block spots all over the place. I am scrambling for my glasses like a crazy person, and all the while, the incessant buzzing is growing louder.

So, I race to the telephone and call an exterminator. My conversation goes something like this:

Exterminator: "Good morning, AAA Exterminators. How can I help you?"
Me: "You have to get here right NOW there are bees in my house and I have a baby and a toddler and I think there is a hive somewhere in my bedroom and they are flying all around me and I don't know if they are aggressive, but did I mention I have a 2 year old and a BABY sleeping right here and I need someone here right away because my husband just left for work and I don't really care what I have to pay, but someone needs to get here NOW..."
Exterminator: "Umm, ma'am, can I get your name, please?"
Me: "My name is Kim, and I need someone here right now because I have a toddler and a baby."

You get the idea...

So, after I get off the phone, I realize that I must army crawl back through my bathroom for one very important reason. Well, two important reasons. First and foremost, I must rescue Baby Ella from the bees swarming overhead. And second, remember how I had just stepped out of the shower? Well, I was still naked. And blind. I had to put some clothes on before the exterminator got there, and find my stinkin' glasses. So I proceed to army crawl - while squinting like crazy - on my bathroom floor to my closet. I throw on the first items of clothing I lay my hands on. Then, I slowly crawl towards the bed to rescue my sweet sleeping baby...and retrieve my glasses. We make it out of the bedroom, slam the door, and I proceed to line the bottom of the doorway with several large towels.

Phew.

The exterminator came and saved the day. 500 bucks later, and we are officially bee-free.

However, while I was looking over the invoice after he had left, the following boxes were checked under the "Scope of Work" section:

Africanized Bee Colony? Check
Newly Arrived? Check
Aggressive? Check

EXCUSE ME??? Aggressive Africanized BEES? In my freakin' HOUSE?

Sheesh.

So....how was your morning?

Happy Birthday, Ava!

2008-04-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that my baby Ava is two years old today! Where does the time go? We had some of her friends over for a little party at Peter Piper today, and I'm pretty sure by the amount of pizza and cake that was encrusted on her little body by the time we got home that she had a good time. :)Ava's birthday booty...
Ava rode the carousel approximately 387 times in a row. She could have stayed there all day.
Playing Skeeball with Peyton.
Riding the train with Luke Jones. I don't think Lukey was diggin' it too much.
This is Ella's way of taking in all the party action. She slept through the entire thing!
Cake time!

And really, what's a birthday party without a little pizza up your nose???

Well, here's a quick look back at the last two years. Love you, Ava Babes!

Multiplying and Replenishing...

2008-04-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

10 years ago, I was living in the dorms at ASU, and dating the hot Gospel Doctrine teacher from MCC 2nd ward. My next door neighbor in the dorms- a person who had more influence on my life than she will ever know - Jenn Ellis, bought me a pack of "Get Lucky" gum (which I was positive I would be chewing when that hot guy, Dave Tait, decided to kiss me for the first time). Our mutual friend, Mary Snyder, was a regular around the dorms. We walked to classes together, and all ended up living together in an apartment during my sophomore year.

Wow, how times have changed....

Today, I am married to that one and only Dave Tait...toting around 2 of our children. Jenn Ellis is no longer Jenn Ellis. She is Jenn Rees, and a mom to 3 adorable girls (only 1 of which made it into this picture, unless you are counting the ever-so-slight glimpse of the carseat on the far right...lol). Mary Snyder is Mary Woodman...also a mom of 3. That means, that between the 3 of us girls, we have a grand total of EIGHT children. HOLY COW, right?! Aren't we supposed to be going to YSAP parties and Tee-Peeing Dave's truck? While I am so glad that I have progressed and matured a little in the meantime, I am so grateful for those fun college years. It was a time to be fun and spontaneous. It was a time that I truly got to figure out who I was. Now that being "spontaneous" requires almost and hour and a half just to get everyone fed, dressed, and out the door, it just feels good to look back and realize that I truly enjoyed that previous season in my life. I wouldn't trade those years for anything in the world. And I wouldn't trade the friendships either. Even though I am really bad at keeping in touch, I want Mary and Jenn to know that I cherish their friendship still...even if we only see each other once in a while. They will always have a special place in my heart. :)

Meet them at the door laughing...

2008-03-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

These pictures capture the essence of life in the Tait household right now.

Actually, with regards to the pictures below, it's the imperfections that say it all. One thing I have learned is to embrace the imperfections, and "meet them at the door laughing." (Google the poet Rumi if you have some time...).

Our first real picture as a family, right after church on Easter. Can David keep his eyes open for even one shot? Nope. He sure was trying, though! Oh well...lol
The progression of these next three pictures is just hilarious...watch Ella, and the corresponding look of "Oops...did I do that?" on Ava's face.

She's trying to be like mommy. Minus the whole "clothes" thing...

Granted, David has to work a lot these days. But Ava has already learned...if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And finally, it may not be perfect, but that is one legendary head of hair! Cowlicks and all... :)

Who needs perfection, when the flaws are so much more fun?

Opposites Attract

2008-03-25T22:09:00.001-07:00

At this point, Ava and Ella are alike in only two ways:

A. They share the same gene pool
B. They are both stinkin' CUTE

And - for now anyways - that's where the similarities end. Period.

Difference #1: HAIR

You've seen the pics. Enough said.

Difference #2: SIZE

I took Ella in for her one month well check today (I can't believe it's been a month already?!), and she is a certified CHUB! :) LOL

She is NINE pounds, TWELVE ounces (and yes, that completely warrants the numbers being formally spelled out). Let me reiterate, she is nearly TEN pounds. To put this in perspective, Ava did not reach the ten pound mark until she was nearly 4 months old. While Ava has never known the luxury of life outside the 10th percentile (for weight, anyway), Ella weighed in at the 85th percentile today! You go, girl!! I love nuzzling with my chunk-a-monk!! She is quite a healthy little girl, and never misses a meal! lol

Difference #3: SKIN TONE

Ava= Fair
Ella= Practically Native American

I have a feeling that Ella will never have a problem with getting (and keeping) a tan. I'm already jealous. She's got some major olive tones going on. However, sometimes I wonder if there is a family currently living on the reservation that is questioning why they left Chandler Regional hospital with a fair-skinned, blonde baby girl?

Even if that was the case, I'd be hard pressed to trade little Ella for anything in the world. She is just so sweet and easy to love. Ava continues to be a stellar big sister. She loves to kiss and sing to the baby.

We'll see how all the differences and similarities pan out over time. For now, I get to have the best of both ends of the spectrum...and I'm lovin' every minute of it!

HOLY CRAP...I'm going to have nightmares about this for a very long time...

2008-03-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

So, I'm thinking to myself:

A. This woman obviously needs to clean her apartment (excuse me, her FLAT)
B. This is the creepiest news story I have ever, ever, ever heard.

Yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck...yuck.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2008/03/20/bayles.uk.rat.tiolet.itn

My feet are permanently curled up on my chair now. Thanks, CNN.

Did I say, YUCK?!?!!?!?!??!?!?!?! Oooh, I have the creepy crawlies. (Shiver...)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2008-03-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

A St. Paddy's Day wish from our little leprechauns...have a great day!!!

Ava's Favorite Sunglasses

2008-03-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

So, Dave found these glasses on the pool deck after a swim meet a while ago. Gross, I know. But we cleaned them up and kind of forgot about them....until recently.

Ava has decided that wherever we go, whatever we do...the sunglasses must be on. What a diva. :) Take yesterday, for example:

Breakfast...

Tempe Town Lake...

The glasses are still on...

Finally, this pic is a little older (notice the cast), but just too hilarious not to share. (BTW, that is my stuffed dog from when I was little!).

Tagged Again, and it's a LONG One....

2008-03-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7 am

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds

3. Last movie you saw in the theater? Some cartoon movie with Jenava and our girls...that was almost 2 months ago!

4. What is your favorite TV show? "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance"

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Eggs, toast, yogurt, O.J. (Most important meal of the day!) :)

6. What is your middle name? Sue

7. What food do you dislike? Rice pudding, pickles, radishes

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Ummm..I don't know. But I really like that "Love Song" single that's on the radio a lot right now.

9. What kind of car do you drive? 2008 Toyota Highlander...my first new car ever!

10. Favorite sandwich? Dilly's Dilly from Dilly's Deli

11. What characteristics do you despise? Self-righteousness and insincerity

12. Favorite item of clothing? Citizens Jeans

13. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go? China or Italy

14. What color is your bathroom? White

15. Favorite brand of clothing? Banana Republic and J. Crew

16. Where would you retire? Montana...somewhere with lots of trees by a lake near Yellowstone

17. Most memorable birthday? Ooh, I had lots of fun birthday parties growing up. I had a 50's party, a Luau, and for my 10th birthday I got to ride around town in a limo. Fun times!

18. Favorite sport to watch? Football

23. When is your birthday? November 17th

24. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning person, for sure

25. What is your shoe size? 8

26. Pets? 1 Dog- Yellow Lab

27. What did you want to be when you were little? A journalist

28. What are you today? A mommy

29. What is your favorite candy? I have eaten 2 boxes of girl scout cookies (Samoas) in the past 2 days. Does that tell you anything?

30. Your favorite flower? Pink roses and irises

31. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Easter. I love Easter!

32. What are you listening to right now? Ella snoring

33. What was the last thing you ate? Chick Fil-A after Ava's swim lesson

34. Do you wish on stars? Nope

35. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Violet

36. What is your pet peeve? Long, dirty fingernails

37. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My father-in-law

38. Do you like the person/people you are sending this to? Of course

39. Favorite soft drink? I don't like soft drinks, really. But I LOVE strawberry lemonade.

40. Favorite restaurant? Kona Grill

41. Hair Color? Currently blonde

42. Favorite day of the year? Mothers Day and Thanksgiving

43. What was your favorite toy as a child? Popples, My Little Ponies, and Rainbow Brite

44. Summer or winter? Winter...more holidays..not quite as hot

45. Hugs or kisses? Hugs

46. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla

47. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Sure

48. When was the last time you cried? Last night. I attempted to fly solo and give baths to both the girls before David got home from work...it was a fiasco.

49. What is under your bed? Carpet

51. What did you do last night? Made dinner, Gave Ava and Ella a bath, had a minor meltdown (see #48), Watched American Idol with David, Bed...such an exciting life (Jenn...do you see the similarities here??? lol)

52. Favorite smell? Clean skin after a shower

53. What are you afraid of? Someone kidnapping my kids

54. How many keys on your key ring? 2 - car and house

55. How many years at your current job? 2- as a mother

56. Favorite day of the week? Sunday

57. How many states have you lived in? Utah, Wyoming, California, Arizona

58. Do you make friends easily? Yes

59. How many folks will you send this to? This was a long one...whoever is up for the challenge!

What's New...

2008-03-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

So, I've decided to add a new little sidebar entitled, "What Kim Accomplished Today." Originally, this was meant to be a joke...as I thought of this on a particular day that I had managed to shower before noon. This was a big achievement! :) Then, I realized that - if for no other reason than my own sanity - I needed to document the little things that I had done so my days don't all feel like a complete waste. Granted, I will probably only blog about the days that I really have accomplished something, so don't go thinking that I am some Superwoman or something. I just need proof once in a while that I have done something besides, well...nurse the baby. You know how it goes....

Tagged!

2008-03-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

My friend Jenn tagged me a while ago, and I am just now getting around to it. Here it goes!

5 Things I did today:
1. I got my hair done! YAY
2. Took my sister to lunch at Costa Vida...YUM
3. Started reading the new book that I bought on Wednesday, "Their Eyes Were Watching God".
4. Watched a re-run of 90210....It's been a LONG time since I've seen an episode, and it was so nostalgic for me!
5. Nursed Ella, and then had a Dance Party in the living room with Ava. We dance a lot around here.

5 Things I need to do:
1. Finish Ava's baby book. I want to have it done by her 2nd birthday in April.
2. Buy more PJ's for Ava. She is growing so fast!
3. Write Thank-You notes for all the gifts we've received since Ella was born.
4. Go grocery shopping...or should I say, make a list for David.
5. Take Kona to the groomer.

5 Things I'll do when I strike it rich:
1. Move into a much bigger house. I've been watching "House Hunters" on HGTV way too much since the baby was born, and I'm feeling trunky.
2. Buy lots of interesting art.
3. Buy a baby grand piano.
4. Go on a vacation somewhere exotic.
5. Re-vamp my wardrobe. It needs some help right now...

5 Places I've lived:
1. Redondo Beach, CA
2. Tempe, AZ
3. Mesa, AZ
4. Chandler, AZ
5. Oh, and I was born in Salt Lake City. Does that count?

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Graduating from high school.
2. Getting ready to come to ASU.
3. Dating a marine. Wow that seems like a lifetime ago....
4. Dancing with my dance team.
5. Preparing for a cheerleading trip to London.

5 of my bad qualities/habits:
1. I am compulsively tidy. I am always cleaning up. I can't stop, and sometimes I wish I could just relax and let things slide.
2. I get frustrated with my dog a lot. I need to stop though, because Ava has started to yell, "KONA! NO!" all the time. I feel so bad when I hear Ava say that...
3. I brush my teeth too hard. My dentist gets mad at me and says that, while I don't have any plaque, I am basically destroying my gumline.
4. I rarely answer the phone. If I am busy doing something else, I usually just let the machine get it. Then I forget to return calls sometimes.
5. I sleep with my contacts in. For like, weeks at a time.

5 Things that people probably don't know about me:
1. I couldn't keep a plant alive if my own life depended on it.
2. If I wear flip-flops during the day, I can't get in bed without washing my feet.
3. I had my belly button pierced in high school. Twice. The hole looks pretty funny now, after two babies. It's kind of like a little horizontal line.
4. I never did a single load of laundry until my freshman year in college at the dorms. That is kind of a funny story in and of itself. Let's just say, I had no white shirts after that. Only pink.
5. I am very attentive to people's hands. If David had ugly hands, we probably wouldn't be married right now.

I tag anyone who wants to do this!

Did I Forget to Mention...?

2008-03-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

It has been brought to my attention that I have left out pictures of Ella's most prominent feature... her HAIR! Never fear! I have have devoted an entire post to pictures of Ella's 'do. Check it out! She has a full head of dark hair, and (for now, anyways) those pretty blue eyes. What a combo! :)
Apparently, the Tait girls come in two distinct flavors, Vanilla and Chocolate :) (...and it seems that Ava has recently morphed into a GIANT compared with Ella).
A few of Ella's cousins came over to visit...

Ava Babes and Elle-Belle, getting in some serious snuggle-time with Mommy (Note how Ella's hair seems strikingly similar to Mommy's roots...???) lol

Baby Ella is Here!!

2008-02-26T21:52:00.001-08:00

The newest addition to the Tait family has arrived! Ella Marie Tait was born on Monday, February 25th at 5:23 p.m. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and measured at 20.5 inches.
Ava is already turning out to be a great big sister. She especially loves singing to the baby....make sure to check out the video below for a peek at her awesome singing skills.
**As for the delivery...I'll spare you all the details for now, but let me tell you, it was amazing! I can honestly say it was the most exhilarating experience of my entire life. It was extremely intense, but well worth it. David was the best labor and delivery coach that a girl could ever hope for. Poor little Ella was a little bruised on her face because she came out so fast, but other than that, we are none the worse for the wear. :)

So.... now we can start this new chapter in the Tait household. Wish us luck!!

Growing, Growing, Gone....

2008-02-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

The belly is growing and growing...and yes, the tan is long gone.

While I'm sure most of you are doubled over (for one reason or another....hopefully laughing and not something worse) from the sight of these pics, part of me felt the need to record it for posterity. Just try not to look too closely at that belly button. It's scary.

But on the upside, the baby is healthy, head down, and she is quite the little kicker. David and I toured the birth center at Chandler Regional the other night, and the facilities seem pretty nice (for a hospital...). This Friday will be my last OB appt. before my due date...crazy! And last weekend, the Chandler Fire Dept. re-installed my infant car seat in the car. I now have two car seats in the back of my car, and all those Eddie Bauer mirrors so you can see your kids in the backseat at every possible angle. Hello?!?!?!?!? I am officially driving a mom-mobile. Help...

And to make things worse, I was talking to a girl working at the Clinique counter today who just had her second child. I asked her, "So...how was the transition from one kid to two?" Her reply has haunted me all day! She simply said, "Well, honey...you seem nice, and I don't want to scare you right now. But good luck!" Thanks, lady. Sheesh. It's all downhill from here.....

Pretty much the most hilarious thing I've ever seen...

2008-02-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

The other day, David and Ava and I went for a little hiking trip out at the Superstition Mountains. It was gorgeous outside. As we were walking, I kept noticing Ava squatting over the bushes... and much to my surprise, she was saying "POTTY!!" as she was squatting.

WHAT THE......?!?!?!?!? Was this girl a camper in the pre-existence, or what? I am quite positive that she has never witnessed this typically "outdoors-y" behavior from David or I. Well, actually, I am positive she has never witnessed it from ME, anyway.

Oh Ava....will the wonders ever cease?

A Look Back...

2008-02-14T07:09:00.000-08:00

So I was showing Ava some pictures and videos of when she was a baby, and I came across this little piece we had put together documenting her first day at the beach.

Hope you enjoy! (Make sure your speakers are on...)

Poor thing, I don't think she enjoyed the day as much as we did. But all in all, it was fun to remember when Ava was so tiny. I can't believe we'll have another little bundle so soon.

100 Things About Me

2008-02-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

Well, my friend Aimee issued a challenge to tell 100 things about yourself. It seems like a lot, but I'll give it a go. Then, you do it, too! It's so fun to get to know you.

1. I have lived in 4 states in my life: Utah (0-2 months), Wyoming (2 months to 8 years), California (8 to 18 years), and Arizona (18 years to present).
2. I miss living in California. Being land-locked really gets to me sometimes.
3. I have been dying my hair since I was in the 6th grade.
4. I have really short toes.
5. I can not stand long fingernails. On me or anyone else. YUCK.
6. I used to be a dancer, and often regret not having been a dance major in college.
7. I write a lot of poetry in my journal.
8. I usually don't share the stuff that I write with anyone but David...and even that is on a pretty limited basis.
9. I am almost legally blind without my contacts.
10. I sleep with my contacts in most of the time...much to my sister-in-laws dismay. She always reminds me of a friend of hers that went blind from doing that, or something...lol
11. I love yoga.
12. One of my goals in life is to have an unmedicated childbirth. I think the female body is just such a miracle, and is perfectly capable of performing the task on its own.
13. My life is pretty much a constant contradiction in terms.
14. I am a stay-at-home mom that makes sure dinner is ready for David when he gets home.
15. But I am also kind of a "closet feminist".
16. I like to think of myself as deeply creative.
17. But I am extremely routine oriented and regimented about certain things.
18. I studied communications and broadcast journalism in college.
19. But I am so annoyed by the media nowadays.
20. I love being a mom.
21. But I am so afraid of what it will be like to have TWO kids!
22. One of the best days of my life was a few years back when I took the entire day to walk around Washington D.C. all by myself. I went exactly wherever my heart desired, and spent however much time I wanted to seeing all the sights. I was in awe the whole day.
23. My belly button turns into a major "outty" (sp??) when I am pregnant, and it totally grosses me out.
24. I never remember to charge my cell phone.
25. One of the things I love about David the most is his incredible work ethic. I really admire that quality in him. He tries to be the best in absolutely every aspect of his life.
26. My Dad also has a really strong work ethic, and that is one of the reasons I think I notice/appreciate it so much in David.
27. Nothing grates on my nerves more than a TV that is turned on too loud.
28. At 9:00 a.m. every day (after a little bit of the Today show and Sesame Street), the TV in our house gets turned off. It doesn't get turned on again until after dinner.
29. I get migraine headaches every once in a while. They are pretty lame.
30. I have grown to enjoy cooking. I actually feel like it's kind of a creative outlet for me.
31. I love to read.
32. My favorite book is "The Red Tent". A very empowering book for women.
33. Having a daughter motivates me to be a better woman.
34. The only thing truly keeping me from considering getting a nose job is the message it would send to my daughter(s). Oh, and the $5000 it would cost.
35. So far, it has taken me almost 45 minutes to think of these 35 things... this is hard.
36. I love watching NFL football.
37. I hate watching baseball.
38. I don't remember the last time I ran at a full sprint.
39. I go to the gym at least 2 or 3 times a week.
40. I enjoy working out a lot more when Sarah is there.
41. I love chatting with girlfriends. There would be a pretty big void in my life if I couldn't relate with other women. Especially other mommies.
42. My favorite time of day is sunset.
43. One thing that made me love Arizona was the sky at sunset. No other skies compare with the colors you'll see here.
44. One thing that I don't like about Arizona is the fact that there are no gorillas at the Phoenix Zoo. What is a zoo without gorillas?!?!?!?! They are my favorite to watch.
45. When I was in the 5th grade, I did a science project on gorillas.
46. When I was in 1st grade, I did a science project on volcanoes and won first place. I think my sister was a judge...so it may have been rigged.
47. Growing up, I always wanted to be a cheerleader because my sister was a cheerleader.
48. I was a cheerleader all through high school, and was captain of my squad during my senior year.
49. I went to London in '98 to cheer in their New Year's Day parade.
50. I also went bungee jumping in Mexico that year.
51. The only two countries I have ever visited outside of the United States are the U.K. and Mexico.
52. I take that back.... David and I went to the Bahamas on our honeymoon.
53. David also surprised me with a trip to Hawaii as a "babymoon" just before Ava was born, and it made me realize what a lucky girl I was (am).
54. I love the fact that Ava has David's blue eyes.
55. The smell of gasoline gives me a headache.
56. I do at least one load of dishes and one load of laundry every day. I don't know why, but it's like a compulsion.
57. I love feeling productive.
58. For this reason, no matter how tired I am, I absolutely can not take a nap during the day. It makes me feel like a complete bum.
59. I would really love to go to China, Italy, and Egypt someday.
60. Maya Angelou is my all-time favorite poet.
61. I took a writing class last year and loved every minute of it.
62. Having a dog like Kona in the house makes me feel safe at night.
63. I look way better when I am tan. But then again...who doesn't?
64. I am not very good at applying make-up. I do the same basic thing every day.
65. I really miss my brother Gregg. He passed away when I was 12.
66. I hate birds.
67. I hate clowns.
68. I have a lot of nightmares. Our family watched scary movies a lot when I was growing up, and I am pretty sure this has something to do with my hyperactive imagination.
69. I am the youngest child in my family by ten years. I always wanted a sibling closer to my own age.
70. I cried tears of joy and relief when I found out I was having another girl. I'm not ready for a boy yet.
71. I don't like having my feet massaged. I think it's gross. I know I wouldn't want to rub anyone else's feet. Why would they want to rub mine???
72. I think my best physical feature are my arms.
73. I learned a lot about life from the piano teacher I had when I was growing up.
74. At around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, I absolutely must have some sort of chocolate. Usually a mini-Snickers (or 10).
75. Other than that...I don't usually crave sweet things.
76. I am absolutely positive that that only person who will read all 100 of these things is my Mom. :)
77. Somewhere, my Mom is laughing.
78. I just realized how much I use the word "absolutely".
79. One of my favorite quotes is: "How you do anything is how you do everything." Think about it for a while. It's so true.
80. I also like the quote, "We don't see things the way they are, we see them as we are."
81. That quote is from another one of my favorite poets, Anais Nin.
82. I became interested in Anais Nin when I heard her name mentioned in a Jewel song.
83. Jewel used to be my favorite musical artist, until she became everything I hated with her last CD. She sold out, big time. I even wrote a complaint letter, but didn't know where to send it.
84. I was able to manuever into the front row when I saw Jewel in concert.
85. The first concert I ever went to was Tori Amos concert. This was during my freshman year in college. I can't believe I had never seen a concert until then.
86. Since then, I have seen Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan, Weezer, Incubus, Rage Against the Machine, and Counting Crows...to name a few.
87. I can't throw a frisbee to save my life.
88. But I rule at ping-pong.
89. I consciously keep a little bit of a distance from the swimming world to try and keep our family balanced.
90. I have never put much effort into decorating my house, because part of me is just waiting it out until we move into a bigger one.
91. I like to read scriptures every morning while I eat breakfast. It starts my day off right.
92. I get teary-eyed whenever I hear the National Anthem. I am such a cheeseball.
93. I kind of make it a point not to read "princess" fairy tales to Ava. I don't like that they teach girls that they must be rescued by a man in order to be happy. It's the closet feminist in me coming out (see #15).
94. Playing the piano is a way for me to vent my emotions.
95. Practicing yoga regularly helps me feel grounded.
96. I don't like the new Sesame Street theme song. The one from when I was growing up was WAY better.
97. I really enjoy our family's bedtime routine. David gives Ava a bath while I clean up the kitchen from dinner, then we all get together on the couch for storytime and prayers. Then David and I take Ava into her room and sing her a bedtime song. It's such a happy and peaceful time of day. I just love it.
98. I have never seen a scorpion.
99. I have a scar on my right leg from the last time I tried to go skiing. I haven't been since.
100. This is probably the last time I will ever try to think of 100 things about myself.

Wow! That was hard. If you read even a few of those things...then I hope you feel like you know me a little better, and it wasn't a waste of time. So, now write 100 things about you!! I'd love to read them...`

Nesting, Nesting....1...2...3...

2008-02-08T13:22:00.000-08:00

Baby clothes dutifully washed in Dreft.... check.

Baby gear sanitized, sterilized and ready to go.... check.

Every closet, drawer, and corner in the house organized and rearranged for maximal efficiency.... check.

Mommy with apparent symptoms of OCD.... check.

I can't help it. It really is a compulsion. I can't stop cleaning. Every fiber of my physical body is telling me to stop and take a break...but I can't!!! Must...keep....cleaning.....

One Hit Wonder

2008-02-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

So Ava has entered the world of singing.

She is quite good at it, except for the fact that she will repeat just one line of a song approximately 200 times in a row...ad nauseam.

For example...the Barney song.

So I Took Some Random Quiz....

2008-01-21T15:03:00.000-08:00

....and apparently I have more conservative political views than I thought! LOL

I have really been riding the fence lately, so I thought it was pretty interesting how these results panned out.

David is pro-Mitt for sure, so I think he'll be happy to see this.

2008-01-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

81% Mitt Romney
76% Mike Huckabee
75% John McCain
75% Fred Thompson
72% Tom Tancredo
65% Rudy Giuliani
58% Ron Paul
43% Bill Richardson
42% Hillary Clinton
39% Barack Obama
37% Chris Dodd
36% John Edwards
27% Joe Biden
21% Dennis Kucinich
19% Mike Gravel

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Tagged

2008-01-18T21:41:00.000-08:00

1. What two things do you always have with you? Diapers and snacks
2. What is your favorite TV show? "Project Runway" and "So You Think You Can Dance"
3. What is your middle name? Sue
4. What characteristic do you despise? Superficiality
5. Favorite item of clothing? Citizens Jeans
6. If you could go anywhere in the world for vacation, where would it be? Italy or China
7. What color is your bathroom? White
8. What did you want to be when you were little? A TV news journalist
9. How are you today? Feeling very balanced and calm
10. What is your favorite candy? Twix
11. What is your favorite flower? Irises and pink roses
12. What is your favorite thing to do? Yoga
13. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Pink
14. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My sister-in-law Kristen
15. Hugs or kisses? Both, for sure
16. What is under your bed? Carpet
17. What is your favorite smell? Jergens Cherries and Almond Lotion, and David fresh out of the pool
18. How many keys on your key ring? Two and the clicker thing
19. What are the top three qualities you value in a friend? Honesty, thoughtfulness, and loyalty
20. Who is your favorite friend from high school? I don't really stay in touch as much as I should...but Susie Q was my fave by far.

Tagged!

2008-01-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

MY HUSBAND....
What is his name? David
How long have you been together? This May will mark our 5th anniversary
How long did you date? SHEESH...forever! Almost 4 years
How old is he? Just turned 31
Who eats more? He does. He eats like crazy!
Who said I love you first? He did.....but he wussed out and wrote it on a note and left it on my car. Cheater.
Who is taller? He is
Who can sing better? Neither one of us is all that great. But he sings LOUD in church. LOL
Who is smarter? I'm book smart, but he's more street smart, for sure.
Who does the laundry? Me. He is so spoiled.
Who pays the bills? He does. If I did, we would be in financial ruins by now.
Who sleeps on the right side? Me
Who mows the lawn? David. I don't even know how to turn on a lawnmower.
Who cooks dinner? I do. Again...David is pretty spoiled this way.
Who drives? David, most of the time. He thinks he is the greatest driver known to man.
Who is more stubborn? Wow...that's tough. I think he is though. I'd never admit it, anyways. :)
Who kissed who first? He did. And then he pumped his fist afterwards. What a nerd! lol
Who asked who out first? He asked me out...but only after he found out I already had a crush on him.
Who proposed? He did...twice. :)
Who is more sensitive? Me....by FAR. He is too rational for feelings.
Who has more siblings? He does.
Who wears the pants? (Mary has the best answer to this question...by a long shot)Depends on the situation. But I'd say that David does....as much as I hate to admit it.

Thanks Mary... now I tag Karen E., Lanae, Leah, and Alison. Go for it, ladies!

Final Score: Ava = 0 ; Playground = 1

2008-01-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

Well...... for those of you that we haven't seen or talked to in a while, let's just say that our new year didn't exactly get started on the right foot.... LOL. Let's just say, there was a slight incident at the playground. Basically, Ava was going down the slide with David on the afternoon of New Year's Eve, and the sole of her shoe got stuck underneath her - and underneath Dave's...uhh... leg - as they were sliding down. Needless to say, it was an unpleasant experience for the both of them. We spent that night - ringing in the New Year - getting x-rays at the Mayo Clinic. Fantastic.

The x-rays didn't show any fractures at the time, but the doc said to come back in a week if things weren't completely better. So, Ava couldn't walk for a couple days, and then she started walking, but with a really sad little limp. So, I took her to the pediatrician for another check-up and more x-rays. She suggested I take her to a specialist, which I did this morning. The specialist was PHENOMENAL. She immediately showed me on the x-ray a hairline fracture that had been overlooked on Ava's right tibia. I was so relieved to finally have an accurate diagnosis!! The doctor gave Ava balloons and stickers and sang the "Elmo's World" theme song as she casted her leg. She was the best doctor ever! Ava was smiling and happy the whole time we were in her office, and even said"I love yooooou" and blew kisses to the doctor as we left. So, the cast only has to be on for about 2 weeks, and then her sad little leg drama will hopefully come to an end! Here are some pics and video of the bubs in her "purple sock".

2008-01-13T15:49:00.001-08:00

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart

Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome

Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand

And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

We're Baaaaaaaaaaaa-ck!

2008-01-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

10 days of relaxation + snow + friends + family + Christmas = ONE HAPPY TAIT FAMILY

Ava LOVES the cold weather! Who knew that an Arizona baby could withstand such temperatures?

Ava and her cousin Vanessa playing with Nessa's nanny in Chicago. They had a great time together!

Christmas Eve dinner at John and Jenava's. Jenava outdid herself! And yes, we are all wearing paper crowns. We were forced against our will. Some crazy Australian tradition, I guess. :)

Reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" in our new Christmas jammies.

Then the fun really started!!

2007-12-11T21:13:00.001-08:00

Did anyone else have this experience while taking pictures for your Christmas card????

Poor Kona!

2007-12-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

Kona got spayed today. I can not even explain how sad I was all day, just thinking about her lying on the operating table, all drugged up and unconscious. Now she is home, and my heart is absolutely breaking because she is obviously in a lot of pain, and still very groggy. Ava and I have been keeping vigil with her, and Ava is very good at being gentle with her and giving her lots of hugs. She is such a great dog. The world needs more dogs like Kona.

Ugh...

2007-12-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

So I am helping out at the swim school right now, and I am currently covering the front desk. By "covering" I mean I am checking my e-mail and blogging and listening to KTAR. Little did I know that in the few months that I have been away from the front office consistently, my sisters-in-law have gotten this place running like a well-oiled machine! So, basically, there is really nothing here for me to do besides take roll every half-hour and answer the phones (yawn). But there is a very heated debate on the radio that I am listening to (they are talking about whether or not a Mormon should be in the White House) and I keep trying to call in to the radio station. It's been busy for quite a while now. So that is keeping me kind of busy. Oh wait! It's ringing!!! Oh wait...I dialed the wrong number. Oh wait...there's a customer. That's my cue to start doing some real work. lol