Family Pictures 2014

Dave, Jessica, & Tatum Grandstaff

Yeah, we did it!!  We got our family picture taken for 2014!  I am excited, happy, pleased, and relieved to have this done.  I love the way they turned out and with the minimal editing I was able to get to, they look great!!  My mom, did a great job taking the pictures and entertaining a 2 year old.  She can now add entertainer to her resume because it definitely wasn't an easy job!  I really was worried we had waited too long, but I really like the way our colors were more wintery to go with the surroundings.

Glad we caught a few smiles of my little munchkin.

Saw this on Pinterest....Nailed it!  Pretty sure Tatum was happier upside down.

One lucky daddy

Yip, this fits her to a "T"

Two very happy ladies right here. This little girl is always so happy to see her Nana.

 

 

She kept saying, "Nana's car?" because she loves riding in Nana's car.

Eating better and "starving" my husband (or so he claims)

I had an a-ha moment this week.  As each year creeps by and reminds me that I'm not a teenager anymore, I'm also reminded that I can't eat whatever I want, whenever I want.  There's nasty words like heartburn, cholesterol, carbs, blood sugar, and many more.  What's the first thing I do, when something happens to remind me?!  I get out the Diabetes cookbook to flip through for good recipes.  Yeah, that was dumb.  They don't have very many pictures and nothing sounds enticing.  Next, I go to Pinterest; thank you to the wonderful inventors of this app!!  I type in a few words and poof, I have a whole list of wonderful looking recipes to try and again my faith is restored that I can eat healthy without having to get rid of all the food in my pantry right now.  Yes, I will have to add a lot more fresh fruits and vegetables, but for the most part I can start right now.

Dave covering the homemade chili because he had picked out all the tomatoes and kidney beans.
This is why he tells everyone I "starve" him, because he is so picky I can't remember what he doesn't like anymore. 

My toddler may have to make some adjustments for this too and I'm sure my husband will continue telling people I'm "starving" him because I put tomatoes in recipes like chili or spaghetti sauce, but this is a good thing.  I will one day look back and be grateful I started thinking and eating more healthy and not focusing on all the desserts and goodies.  Oh don't think those will go away!!  I will have to put more moderation into it.

How can you not give her whatever she wants...yikes.

How am I going to do this? Some anxiety, a few panic attacks, a lot of hard work and a lot of breathing in, breathing out in order to stay on track.  :)  This will be worth it.  My future children will be so thankful and the main point....there will be future children one day!!

Fall Back Friday for Fall

A little Fall Back Friday since it's Fall. :)  As I was combing through pictures and organizing them, I came across this gem.  This was the last time I went on a vacation with my dad and may have been the most recent picture I have with him.  I've seen him a few times since then, my younger sisters wedding and when my brother left on his mission before that.  What great memories I have.  I'm glad I have a few pictures from when he was still involved in my life.  Although when Dave was driving to Vegas in June this year he stopped to get gas in Beaver, where these pictures were taken about 12 years ago, and saw my dad there.  He never talked to my dad but took a picture and sent it to me asking if it was the same man.  Pretty weird coincidence.  For a little humor, here's the conversation between Dave and his co-worker who was in the truck with him at the gas station.

Dave: "I think that's my father-in-law."
Co-Worker: "You think? You don't know who your father-in-law is?"
Dave: "No, not really.  It's complicated"
 

Disclaimer...this is not a pity post, just reminiscing and wanted to share.

Jackson Trip in September

Every year we look forward to the annual trip to Jackson, Wyoming.  This year was no different.  We went on a lot of walks, enjoyed the beautiful views of the Tetons, went shopping, swimming and went on a hike around part of Jenny lake.  As I looked through my pictures, I realized there were a lot of pictures of Tatum and I, but very few of Dave.  Our trip this year was filled with a lot of Dave going golfing and the girls doing all the fun stuff. :)

Tatum had a lot of fun with a lot of hands to keep her busy.  She even slept in a big girl bunk bed.  She really is a joy in my life. Since she's turned 2, she doesn't stop or slow down much.  Oh boy does she pick things up quick.  She loves walks so much at home, I knew she would love them in Jackson.  She is a lot better with car rides and not getting so anxious since this trip.  It's a daily question from her, "walk? car?"  I love it!  Winter will be interesting, but luckily we have some more fall weather to enjoy first.

Thanks for all those that went this year.  We had a lot of fun and definitely enjoyed the break from our normal routine.  Get ready for picture overload!!

 I'm not sure what better view you can wake up to than this.  I love it!  The air was so fresh and the scenery was so beautiful.

Someone...(great Grandpa) taught her how to throw rocks, twigs, and leaves into the stream and on the road. She was pretty proud of herself.  She is getting so big!

 Leaf races with Great Grandpa.

 Great Grandpa and Nana playing games. I'm really glad I didn't get involved because those two are super hardcore competitors. 

Although they look pretty normal here, they soon would be galloping like horses and flying like airplanes.

The rain came too quick to avoid, the walk was more important than the threat of rain.

My little slice of heaven, the Grand Teton.

Farmers Market band

This is one super happy Mama that found some really smooth local honey.

This really should be a postcard or at least hanging in my house.

4 hour trip home.  She was invaded by ....well everything. :)

One of three pictures with Dave and it's sideways on my blog.  :)  Oops.  Hiking around part of Jenny Lake

Memories of my Grandma

My Memories of my Grandma

The world lost a wonderful Grandmother, mother, wife, daughter, and sister today. I am so thankful for the gospel and the knowledge that I will be with her once again and be able to enjoy spending time with her.  She loved the gospel and would share stories of her mission on Temple Square and the many wonderful people that had affected her through it. I'm thankful she was able to be in my daughters life and as I heard today that Grandma had passed I was able to explain to Tatum why mommy was sad and who she was sad about for losing but happy to know my Grandma will be in heaven lifting up others with her uplifting spirit and dancing to music whenever possible. Tatum is the reminder of my purpose and what the most important part of my life is. Tatum kept saying "mom sad.... Okay?" Each time brightening my mood so I can tell her "mommy's okay."

Watching Grandma slowly decline in health and losing her memory was very sad to watch. She loved music and I remember her telling us about the roadshows she use to put on. I am thankful for that love of music she gave me.

My grandma was a lover of the written word and of writing it. I have shared that love with her and am thankful for it.  I learn, grow, and work through my emotions through writing (cheap therapy). Hence the long blog post...

I loved having sleepovers at her and Grandpa's house when I was young. We would watch tv shows, because they had cable that was cool and work on household chores.  It may not seem like much but I looked forward to the quality time with them and I knew they loved spending their time with me.  We loved going on drives where they would show me the beautiful homes and neighborhoods in Sugarhouse and Sandy and always take the long way to go to dinner which always included ice cream.  She was so thoughtful to always point out the RM waiters. The last few years my Grandma didn't have to hold back...ice cream with every meal or sometimes for the meal.  I definitely got my love of sweets from her!!  I hope I get to do that when I grow up. :)

Grandma loved Ogden and telling us stories of when she lived there. Every time I told her I lived in Roy, I had to clarify...near Ogden and Riverdale Road. Her face would instantly light up and she's say "I lived there!" She proceed with giving me directions to where she lived which is now a fountain by Weber State.

She loved birthdays and holidays so we could get together as a family and remember all the great memories. I'm thankful for those times! My family is so important to me!!

For now, until I see you again Grandma, I will keep my eyes open for the little things that remind me of her and "God Be with You Till We Meet Again."

God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you.
God be with you till we meet again.

 Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus' feet,
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
When life's perils thick confound you,
Put his arms unfailing round you.
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love's banner floating o'er you;
Smite death's threat'ning wave before you.
God be with you till we meet again.

Very Thankful

Well, the weekend came and went, along with Dave going back to Vegas for work.  Yes, that's right, he's back there again for the next two weeks.  Although it's hard being away from him, Tatum and I have learned how to get things done during the week so we can enjoy him on the weekends, or whenever he is home.  I am so very thankful for the support I get from family and friends to make this easier.  I am so lucky and thankful for the relationship I have with Tatum.  I know that it is such a blessing to be able to be with her each day.  I've had a lot of negative comments from a few people lately about what we are giving up by me staying home and taking care of our child.  I know those aren't going to go away, but I want everyone to know what a blessing it is and how worth it is for US to give up the monetary things to give my daughter the home life I always wished for her.  It's not for everyone or all situations, but for us right now it's happening. We still have trials and are far from perfect, but this time I have with her, I wouldn't trade for the world.  I am so thankful for my little family of three. 

Okay, wow that was a lot of heart in one post... Here's some lighter moments...

1 month away from being 2 years old (23 months).  She loves the slide

The swing is her favorite, but playing in the sand is good too.

Yes, we're AGGIES!!!  Teaching her young, thinking she needs to go to a USU game soon. :)

Today is the day

Dave has been working out of town a LOT this month.  He started out with working 4 days in Idaho Falls and then home for 3 days.  He did that for 2.5 weeks then left for Las Vegas for a week.  He's coming home tonight for a 4 day weekend (so very thankful for Pioneer Day).   Tatum has been asking me every day, "daddy?"  It breaks my heart to keep telling her, "no, daddy's at work."  She must be so confused because he's been gone for so long, but I haven't found any other way to tell her that she'll understand.  Thankfully, Nana and Papa were a good distraction over the weekend.  This mom has missed Dave too, especially how good he is at wearing our toddler out in the evenings after work. 

Tatum is growing up so fast! She's only a month away from being 2 years old.  She's really into baby dolls and taking care of them lately and pushing them in strollers.  She is so kind to give me one of them to take care of too.  We can't have one of them feeling left out or uncared for.  One of my proudest mommy moments had to be when she saw someone crying and ran to me saying, "sad, sad, sad."  I was amazed at how she can pick up on people's emotions so easily.  She went right back to them to give them a hug and loves.  

I'm not sure when it happened, but all of the sudden Tatum started telling me the letters of the alphabet.  Whether with the foam letters in the tub or the magnetic ones on the fridge, she knows a lot of them.  She is showing me every day how much of a sponge she is in learning new things. She's been picking up new words left and right.  The other day she said water, but it came out as "wader."  I was so excited and kept asking her to say it about 10 times later and a few high fives, she was on cloud 9 with me.  She loves going swimming and water in general, so is shouldn't have been a surprise she picked up that word so quick.  She's loved swimming at Nana and Papa's this summer and is our little fish.  It doesn't matter if the water is in a pool, bathtub, or sink.  

With Dave being out of town, I have a lot more time to talk to a toddler and think about things.  I have started scrapbooking a lot more lately which has helped.  With that brings along the reminiscing about when we were younger or first married.  One of the ideas we had when we first got married was that we wanted our kids 2 years apart and we wanted to wait 2-3 years to start our family.  Well, we met those and exceeded each one of them.  We were married for 5 years before having Tatum and our 2nd child will be AT LEAST 2 years apart from her.  We have figured out that having another child is so very out of our hands and can't be controlled.  With Dave working out of town and me being diagnosed with PCOS 3 years ago, having a baby isn't so easy.  Tatum was a miracle.  We really don't want to think about fertility treatment options at this point.  So I've grown a hard exterior to protect the pain it causes and there are days the pain leads me to think Tatum will never have a sibling.  Faith and hope are keeping me away from that. 

Going back to when Dave and I first got married, we were so strict on using birth control and still worrying each month if we had an "oops baby" (thanks to my PCOS).  Think of all the money we could have saved if we had known it would be so hard to get pregnant.  Hindsight is 20/20, right?!  This has all given us so much more knowledge and experience.  I'm thankful for that.  We wouldn't be who we are and know what we know if it weren't for those first few years of our marriage. 

Well, that's all the sharing I'm up for right now.  Hope you enjoyed a snapshot of our personal lives.  :)