Wild hair's

It's possible that my husband gets more wild hairs than anyone I have ever known.  It took me a good long while to get used to.  Like maybe five years.  Everyday he has a new plan, he is going to sell this, buy that, build this, or start doing something "on the side" to earn a few extra bucks.  And for a few years it kept me awake at night.  But over the last three years or so I have learned to love all his craziness.  He dreams BIG...  and to him, anything is possible.  I have learned so much from him.  He isn't afraid to try anything and everything.  He is smart about things and never jumps into something without thinking it totally through and doing his homework.  He is so smart and resourceful that I am shocked by it constantly, I even catch myself thinking sometimes that there couldn't possibly be anyone with more mechanical knowledge than him.  The truth is that he just always has to have a project.  Not a small one either.  So when you wonder where his truck is, and then you go to the shop and see these sitting outside, you take a really deep breath and just smile, cause you know it will all be OK.  (at least that's been the case more times than not in the last eight years.)

I seriously cannot even count the sets of tires and wheels I have seen come and go.  I couldn't begin to tell you how many gallons of paint, or late nights.  But it's what he loves, what makes him tick, it's who I fell in love with.  And even though I don't always have such nice things to say about all the time he spends at the shop, I love who he is.  I had also better mention that he is quite supportive of my wild hairs, of which there might be more than a few.  Like maybe a house and children that were neglected for days to sew these...

Or the time I spend on my new wild hair, blogging.  At least I know he supports me because he give me great material to tell y'all about.  And show you...

You see he was racing Ty, who never has even so much as a chance to win, poor kid.  And I'm sure Ally thought the whole thing was awesome, she has a whole lot of her Daddy in her.

Sorry they are fuzzy, it was getting dark and I was running down the road after them, not the time for any adjustments.  I don't mind so much though, my favorite part is when I walked down the driveway smiling and Ben said, "ohhh, I forgot you had your camera, dang it."  I love you so much Punk, and I don't mind your wild hairs so much either. I don't think life gets any better than this.

Salem Hills Prom 2012

My friend and I like to pretend we are photographers.  And sometimes we even turn out a few shots that we think aren't to shabby.  Over the past few years we have done dance pictures for her daughter and her friends.  The first time or two they were really stiff and had a really hard time not feeling awkward with us taking the photos.  But seriously, who of us had dance pictures that looked amazing and weren't awkward???  I wish there was someone around to take pictures like these when we were in high school.  I love that they tell so much more of the story than the awesome gym photos.  Keep in mind that there were two of us shooting, so if it seems like I had a lot of shots of some and not others, they were not neglected, just not who I was in charge of.  I had so many pictures, and please forgive me, I love them all so much, I couldn't pick the ones I love the most.  So beware, lots of pictures ahead...

 Somehow I became in charge of the boys.... (ok, I maybe put myself in charge of them, but look how handsome they all look!)   I left them alone for seriously maybe a minute, and then I hear them yelling for me, they have the perfect idea for there next "boys" shot.  I have to say, it's pretty much perfect, boy all the way.  I would say they have definitely gotten a little more comfortable with me taking their picture.  And no, they are not actually....  But I laughed so hard, thanks guys for letting us pretend to be photographers one last time.

Quilt Bee Tuesday

Today was the second meeting of the new Payson Quilt Guild.  We haven't officially named it that yet, but for now thats what we are calling it.  There were not as many of us today, but hopefully we will keep growing.  It is the last Tuesday of every month from 10am to 2pm at the Peteeneet Museum, so please, come join us if you can.  It is so fun to go sew and chat.  Such a good little out for me.  Hopefully I will also get better at taking more pictures, I almost forgot today, luckily I got a few before I left.  This quilt will get done someday I am sure, just don't make me commit to a date.  I received the kit for my birthday in September from my amazing quilting mother in law.  It is so dang cute all made up, hopefully I will get there someday.  For now it's just a little at a time.

Then I will sew four together to look something like this....

Then someday after that I will put all the blocks together and make a quilt, it will be so cute!  I can't wait.  I am sure it will be cold and snowy by the time it's ready to snuggle under, but thats ok,

it will make me hungry for spring again. 

I also can't resist posting a few pics of my big man on his bike last night, it was so so so beautiful outside.  One of those nights that I have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming.

All of these pictures are straight out of my camera, I didn't photoshop them at all!

Oh yeah, and Ally had a good time too.

Hope you are loving the sunshine as much as we are.

Ally's 1st Birthday

I would rather skip this post altogether. I am in major denial that my baby girl is 1 year old. Why?? why does is go so dang fast!!! It's rough, I keep thinking "last year at this time, she was...." This year she just hears "NO NO" all day long, and I have a feeling it's going to be something she hears for many years to come. I was much more casual about her first birthday than I was about Ty's. Ben even asked 10 minutes before party time if I was going to put something besides a onesie on her. My answer, Nope, she is just going to eat her cake and get messy anyway. (I know you are thinking bad mom, but I think it was part of my denial) She didn't mind that she was only half dressed, she still had a great time. She was a little shy when it was time for her to eat her cake. She looked around like "I know if I touch that I will be in big trouble, somebody is gonna say "No No" any minute, I just know it." But it didn't take long for her to be all about it. When Ty turned 1, he dug into his cake but never ate a single crumb. He was, and still is, the pickiest eater ever. Ally on the other hand eats anything and everything. I was afraid that we would be up all night after all the cake she ate, but once she finally went to sleep she slept all night long. She must take after me, dessert always makes me sleep better too, ha ha. So because I just started this blog it only seems right that I should post a few pictures of Ally's first few days.

Ally Jennifer 

April 12, 2011

Why all the growing? I miss those first few weeks, so tiny and new. I am sure how I feel is nothing new. With Ty I was so nervous, wondering if I was doing the right things, looking so forward to every milestone, not realizing how fast everything was going. But with Ally, I was so much more relaxed. I enjoyed every minute, tried to soak it all up, to the point that its almost like those first few weeks were a dream. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all roses. I was convinced that Ty would be so excited for his sister to finally be here that he wouldn't be jealous at all. But on our first night home I was nursing Ally in the middle of the night, and I heard Ty crying in his room, which wasn't at all uncommon. I went down the hall to comfort him with Ally in my arms. When I walked into his room, and he saw me holding her, when he was so obviously the one who needed me, his little heart broke. His middle of the night attention cry, turned into a honest and sincere hurt feeling cry, and he said to me, "I want my Grandma Jen". I know the reason he wanted her, because she had given him her undivided attention since the day he was born, which I had also done, but now I had betrayed him. His broken heart instantly made my heart break too. I told him I was still his Momma and I could take care of him, and he just kept asking for Grandma, over and over, not mad or screaming, just soft little sobs of a heart broken and betrayed little boy. The second he uttered those words I instantly started crying just as much as him.  Not because I was hurt he wanted my mom, because I felt like he thought I had replaced him.  I more or less tossed Ally at Ben and gathered my son in my arms and we rocked together and cried and cried until he fell back to sleep. And that was that. The next day we were good again, and he really has never showed any jealously toward her since. 

One day when Ally was about 6 months old, I fed her and put her in her crib for a nap.  I returned to the living room and sat down in the chair with Ty, he asked me "are you going to watch cartoons with me?" By now snuggle time between the two of us had become special, because it didn't happen as often as it once did.  I told him yes, I really wanted to snuggle with him and watch cartoons.  About two minutes later Ally started to cry.  I heard her but didn't move, I stayed in the chair not wanting to upset Ty and knowing that the only thing wrong with Ally was that she wasn't being held.  Ty looked over at me and said, "Momma my Sissy is sad, you need to go get her"  I told him she was ok that she could cry and he said "No, I don't want her to be so sad." I was shocked that he would give up his mom time for his sister, and he did it without hesitation.  What a selfless act from a 3 year old little boy, I was so proud.

I am not saying they don't have their moments.  She yells her little yell at him and I hear him say "Ally, No No, stop that!" Almost everyday. But he also kisses her everyday and they hug each other everyday. She looks for him every morning, and he delights in making her laugh. Sometimes when we are driving in the car I hear her giggling in her car seat, and Ty will tell me, "I am just telling her some jokes Momma." Other times I catch him frantically looking for her pacifier when she is crying or upset. They truly do love each other so much, I am amazed by them, they make my heart so happy. When I was pregnant with Ally I asked a friend, who's kids are grown, how to raise my kids so that they would be best friends. She of course told me to teach them to help each other and show respect to one another. I am not sure it's all up to me though, I am know a lot of it is up to them. Even though they only have one year down, I am so proud of both of them and the friendship they already have. I hope they never ever take it for granted. I know that sounds pretty cheesy when talking about two kids who are four and one, but it's true, and I will never be able to explain how much it means to me.

Enough rambling, Ally the stage is all yours.....  mostly

Notice the very sneaky finger stealing himself a bit of frosting.... 

Oh Ally girl, you are definitely our sunshine.  Not one of us could imagine our lives without you.  You are sweet and sassy.  You smile at me when I tell you No, and do it anyway. You are so dramatic when you get your feelings hurt, that we just can't help but laugh a little.  You ALWAYS have a smile for your Daddy, and trust me, it means the world to him.  You are fearless, and I just know that when you get big enough, you are so ditching me to hang out with your Dad and Brother.  As long as you are happy little girl then I will be happy to.  Thank you for all the smiles and love you have brought to our home. You will always be my baby girl, Happy Birthday.

Easter 2012

Easter is a holiday that is near to my heart.  Four years ago it was in March.  The 23rd to be exact. It was the day before Ty was born, I was.... large, you could say.  And it was cold, but to me it seemed like an amazing temperature.  I was looking back at pictures from past Easters and realized that it's quite a temperamental holiday, weather wise anyway.  Some years we have on coats other years we are in shorts.  I secretly love weather like this, I love those few weeks where everyday is a mystery.  Anyway, (I am a rambler, I am pretty sure most of you already know this) our Easter was awesome.  We started out with an egg hunt and Grandma Jens and Grandpa Jeffs on Saturday.  I am not sure who was more excited, the kids or Grandpa.  He is so awesome, he loves his grand kids so much and loves to play with them.

Ready, Set, Go!!!!

 I love taking pictures of kids, all looking different directions with different expressions.
We weren't sure exactly what was wrong with Kennedy....

the contents of a few eggs seemed to help....

Mason and Ty counting their eggs

On Sunday we had our DeHart Family Easter Extravaganza, I just came up with that, but I am sure it will stick.  They have the best egg hunt ever.  They hide eggs, but it's the sixty cans of soda that are hidden in the yard that are most prized.  Trust me, they are not just laying in the lawn.  You have to work for these babies.  They are in some pretty treacherous places sometimes. The best part to me is when someone finds one and Dad says "Dang".  You see, he always hides a few hoping they wont be found, so that when he goes to mow the lawn he will have a little refreshment.  So funny, I love that man.

Aww, grandpa, how generous, you must know the ones that share.

This is our brother in law, his name is Ty also,
Yes Ty, that is a plastic egg, its what normal people hunt on Easter.
But maybe you should look for some more, your bag doesn't look quite full.

Ty and Emmy's pretty baby girl, Izzi.

Poor Bear and Floss were locked in the back of the truck, they have been known to eat
a few eggs, and cans, that might be enough to call the pound around here.

 We ended the day with a little trick bike show.  Ben was teaching Ty and Maddie how to leave blackies on the drive way by skidding to a stop.  But the best part was most definitely when our brother in law Brian tried it out, he is the funniest guy you have ever met.  We are so lucky, we have lots of really awesome family.  I am not sure how I didn't end up with a good pic of Maddie.  But then again her and Ben are quite competitive when it comes to things like egg and soda hunts, so she was probably somewhere far ahead of where I was. 

I know that there is far more to Easter than an egg hunt or two.  And we really did have family night and talk about what Easter is all about, on a four year old level of course.  I was reading a friends blog the other day (ourpursuits.blogspot.com) and she had the most beautiful, true and sincere things to say about Easter, I figure that if I am not very good at putting things into words, I am at least glad to know some one who is. I can say that I am so grateful for our savior and everything he did for ME, so that I can live this beautiful life that I live.  I am so grateful for an eternal family, And for the opportunity to repent and be forgiven.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have such amazing family on both sides, I am so grateful for each and every person.  Thanks everyone for making our Easter so special!