Notes to Self...and anyone that might need it.

Notes to Self (and anyone that can use it)

Orange juice in sippy.... Ever wondered what happens when you leave orange juice in a sealed sippy for 5 days. Well I do now. Note to self...if you open it before throwing it away, make sure to point away from face and towards a sturdy container,  like a sink, or bucket, or garbage bag. When opened it will spray all over...this includes, but is not limited to, the ceiling, wall, blinds, window, floor, face, hair and sink. This procedure will guarantee and very confused look on your toddlers face.

Blankies in laundry...When its time to clean your child's blankies,  do NOT put both in the laundry no matter how easy it seems. The second it starts your child is sure to notice the lack of the soft comfort nearby or accessible. :)

Neglecting my feet...yes I have been ignoring them. I now know if I want to have young feet and not old crusty feet, they need to be pampered. At least moisturized at the least. Stop ignoring them!

Patience and trust..If I had to describe my life so far in one sentence it would be "Forever a student of patience and trust."  I am wondering if it is possible to learn everything and apply them in my life when I'm young or if it's something that will continue and grow over time.  I'm sure the apostles have figured these things out. Right?!

Love this face!  She is so sweet and my little angel, but has the talent of hitting every one of my buttons. :)

Me and My Eternal Best Friend

Before I got married nearly 8 years ago I thought I had learned all I needed to know about patience. I was so very patient with the dating process and what felt like a lifetime of torment and a lot of patience was only a summer compared to the rest of my learning needs.  Having a child that depends on me and a husband as my partner in crime has taught me more about how to be more patient and that it may never be fully learned in this life.


That best friend...I lost (no they didn't die) one of my best friends about 9 years ago and have missed having them in my life to be able to talk to and spend time with them.

Dreaming they will be able to come back into my life reminds me how impossible it is. I sure miss that loving feeling from them. It seems they left a hole that is hard to fill with how odd the size and shape is. I wouldn't trade the time I had with them for anything. They are memories I cherish and have learned many things from. But wow how wonderful it would be to have them back for a day, week, month, or year, even if it were only temporary!! 

I'm so thankful for Dave and the wonderful companion and confidant he is to me.  He has been so wonderful in helping me figure out how to trust again.  He has been a huge blessing in my life and I couldn't have picked a better husband for me and a father to my daughter.  Hoping he will be able to meet those that I lost friendships or relationships with someday, whether in this life or the next.

Highlights of 2014 of our year together

Top 10 Highlights of 2014
with Dave, Jessica, and Tatum Grandstaff

1. Dave is a great impromptu jungle gym for Tatum. He is great to run around the island in the kitchen after work with her. Especially after Jessica has been doing that all day with her. He took a little break after he herniated a disk at the beginning of the year but after many doctor and chiropractic visits, an epidural injection and NO surgery (YEAH!!), he was able to regain full strength in his back and is now a lot more careful about what he does and knows his limits.

2. Dave is a Journeyman Electrician and has been working in Salt Lake at Easton Archery by the airport, in Idaho for a couple weeks, Las Vegas for almost 2 months, and now Clearfield Cold Storage this year. He goes wherever Salmon Electric sends him.

3. Dave’s favorite thing to do, besides spend time with his family, is watching movies in the Man Cave. He practiced hunting Elk, golfing, and watching football games. He’s getting really good at all three.

Jessica's favorite game!!  Go Aggies!!

4. Jessica definitely does NOT like cooking, but LOVES baking anything from cookies and desserts to bread and rolls (new addition to her collection this year). We are a family that loves the sweets! She still loves to scrapbook, read a good book, edit pictures, write on the family blog, and be a mom every day. The last one has proved to take the most time with continually finding new activities.

Dave's favorite new recipe

5. Tatum has reached the Terrible Toddler Two’s. She’s an angel 90% of the time and can switch when mommy or daddy say no in the blink of an eye. We’ve almost got past giggling at how silly and ridiculous these are. 2014 has brought a lot of new firsts for her; first haircut, first Temple Open House (in Ogden), first airplane ride (to Vegas), first time to Hogle Zoo, first fireworks, and first time going to Lagoon and riding the kiddie rides (which she absolutely LOVED).

Loved the Sea Lions at the zoo.

Loved the merry-go-round at the zoo (and Lagoon)

 6. Tatum’s favorite words – Mommy, daddy, run, and car. She loves to run and go on car rides. Sometimes that is the first thing she says when she wakes up, “car?” Her vocabulary is expanding all the time and she is constantly surprising us with what she has learned.

Ready to say a prayer

7. Tatum asking well into November to go “Trick or Treat” in her costume. She loves this new tradition and holiday!!

This was November 10th!

8. Dave, Jessica and Tatum went on their bi-annual vacation to Las Vegas, NV in April and saw everything from Shark Reef to the Hoover Dam. It’s so much fun to watch her as she explores all the new things for the first time.

9. Jessica and Tatum were so happy to fly to Vegas to see Dave while he was working down there during the summer and used it to go on a mini-vacation together and check out the family-friendly activities and sights that we had missed the first time. Particularly the “fish” (actually dolphins) at the Mirage and lots of swimming.

She was so excited, I couldn't ever get a picture of her face.

10. Our annual trip to Jackson, WY included beautiful Tetons, a Jenny Lake hike, a little shopping, and many walks to get us out into the open air and wonderful scenery.

You know it'll be a GREAT vacation when the first evening gives you this kind of sunset over the Tetons.

1st morning and went on a walk in this beautiful weather with the Tetons as our backdrop. 

Started raining...no more like a downpour during one of our other walks.

Hike around Jenny Lake in Teton National Park.

Sitting on top of a BIG rock