tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432689233311329682024-03-05T17:40:47.337-08:00The World According To TaraMusings from the life of a stay-at-home, homebirthing, breastfeeding, cloth-diapering, baby-wearing, homeschooling, co-sleeping, soap-making, AP momma!Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-67868168171643481272010-03-13T06:24:00.000-08:002010-03-13T06:51:45.579-08:00Baby Brynn's Birthday!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxQwdZwO6hrPB_-kjsmdY21kdqN3ULHPehLmDanvQ1EE3iWPdUs8zmJ-7I6GqfiT2a8j6k4JzmJXHNXCEHlgi8CkW6HL0D94_j92E5rkZq3jBrotOvGdhKixQnJoRISOTVFZSMHXPAMtj/s1600-h/102_2145.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448130480531981346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxQwdZwO6hrPB_-kjsmdY21kdqN3ULHPehLmDanvQ1EE3iWPdUs8zmJ-7I6GqfiT2a8j6k4JzmJXHNXCEHlgi8CkW6HL0D94_j92E5rkZq3jBrotOvGdhKixQnJoRISOTVFZSMHXPAMtj/s400/102_2145.JPG" /></a> Brynn NOW!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJubFnBX57WyPo0acHjPQiAJKLdYiM6t3RkspBOJwuAfcQI7C0QItDf-VrY6gqOTr_S0SUG8XTLg2j8T_iMKYYTLxiFBU1Gg_Km0Vy5lHVYZtM-9dfSTCAkeYc0iFQp5gfKZF-253P4bd8/s1600-h/BrynnBrandNEW.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448130237851702226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJubFnBX57WyPo0acHjPQiAJKLdYiM6t3RkspBOJwuAfcQI7C0QItDf-VrY6gqOTr_S0SUG8XTLg2j8T_iMKYYTLxiFBU1Gg_Km0Vy5lHVYZtM-9dfSTCAkeYc0iFQp5gfKZF-253P4bd8/s400/BrynnBrandNEW.bmp" /></a>Brynn (2 hrs after birth)<br /></div><div align="center">Today, my bitty peanut turns one, and my how the time just flew. I know it has been a while since I have updated my blog, but I swear, an update is coming....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For now, it is Brynn's day:).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And in the tradition of what I posted on July 20th(ERIN), August 6th(MAELAN), and November 29th(ABRYA)... I present to you Brynn's Birth Story-<br /><br /><br />I knew from charting that the day I was due was not the 5th of March like my LMP date said, but in fact the 10th. This was the very first baby out of four that we had actually tried for. So when the 10th of March came with a full moon, I was certain that that would be the day. All day long I sat and waited for the contractions that I was sure were on their way. At about 11:30 PM I gave up hope. So I sat down to watch tv on my yoga ball. When my show ended at midnight on the 11th, I stood up to get a drink and my water broke. This was new to me as with all of my other children, my water broke right before they were born. I had heared that once your water breaks it is only a matter of time and contractions start, so I prepared myself for the onslaught.... that never came. I went to bed and woke up the next morning perfectly pregnant-but at least I knew in my head that 'this is the day.' All day long I had really strong contractions, but they were 30 minutes apart and not getting closer. We took our older three kids over to Ed's cousins house, and hoped that with the help of our midwife Laura we could get these contractions going... as something similar to this happened while I was having Maelan and with a little coaxing we had gotten full blown labor to progress. With this birth it wasn't happening. So, with regret, my midwife told me to get some sleep on this SECOND night after my water had broken. She said she expected that the contrax would pick up in the middle of the night and she would be back... and we would have a baby by morning! So I went to bed, but was woken up every 20 minutes with a pretty painful contraction. Morning broke... no baby... I was so bummed that I made Ed get me McDonalds breakfast (I never eat fast food). We went and got the older three girls, and was given full pity of our cousin that I was still pregnant. All day long I was just so defeated... and it was going on night 3 of walking around with my water broken. The baby wasn't moving much either. My midwife told me it was probably because she was tired from all of the stimulation she was getting by this LOOOONNNNGGG PETERING LABOR. Laura came out and checked on the baby, and she was fine. She checked me, and I was 5 cm. I had no fever, no infection... and waiting was the game. She did say that if I did not have the baby by Saturday morning, I should go into the hospital to be induced (NO NO NO NO!) So at her suggestion, I drank some dang castor oil, and Ed and I raked to WHOLE YARD (while my water was broken at 5 cm) as the snow had just melted for the year and we had not had a chance to do it before the snow came. After that, Ed and the girls were going to take a bike ride, but no sooner had I gotten into the house and a contraction came... and another, and another... and I knew they were the serious ones... so I hurried up and yelled to Ed and the girls not to leave, and that the baby WAS coming. We got the girls out to my parents, we got Laura over, and we got serious about having this baby. It was 5:20 when my contractions started and by 9:00 I was pushing. She came quick and fast and Laura knew something was wrong. With all of my other babies I was given them right away, but with Brynn, Laura hurried her away to a corner and started working furiously over her... giving her mouth to mouth and oxygen... trying to force air into her... trying to get her to breath. I had complete confidence in Laura... but I was scared. I got REALLY scared when she yelled at my husband to "CALL 911!" which he did... but thank god Laura got Brynnie breathing before the ambulance arrived. She did not breath almost a full 5 minutes after her birth. Thank God for Laura, my amazing midwife! The paramedics arrived and checked her over, and left. I finally got to hold her an hour after her birth, and of course she was perfect;). She was so weensie:) I remember her little bitty legs, and inchworm sized pinkies:). She nursed like a pro. Brynn is a special miracle... she is and always will be my littlest baby:). Born on Friday the 13th:).<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Brynn Evelyn Rittersdorf</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Born Friday March 13th at 9:18 PM</div><br /><br /><div align="center">8lbs even, 19 3/4 inches</div><br /><div align="center"> </div></div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-35426673851375820502009-12-02T08:43:00.000-08:002009-12-02T08:55:08.886-08:00WHAT is new?<div align="center"> So, what's new in our life? To begin with, the girls were all baptised in accordance with the Roman Catholic tradition on November 14th. Ed and I were so happy. We are even happier that the party afterwards is over. I have really never thrown a party, so I didn't know what to expect. There were quite a few people, and it did get a little busy and confusing, but all in all I think I did a great job.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFb9QQ02ixcTY8NPbC7IrX3y0dIZYpZuixCAIy03qVbG0eyGHBjhHNphHKOQp5Iun1gElccfsw8mn6Ww22pRgrEyEQQBWe0QdqwtMA1Tf45HxuYPQahHYNs9Nu_hS5tebmXIrrwP07rr7/s1600-h/102_1567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410681315830073202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFb9QQ02ixcTY8NPbC7IrX3y0dIZYpZuixCAIy03qVbG0eyGHBjhHNphHKOQp5Iun1gElccfsw8mn6Ww22pRgrEyEQQBWe0QdqwtMA1Tf45HxuYPQahHYNs9Nu_hS5tebmXIrrwP07rr7/s400/102_1567.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is a picture of the girls in their pretty white dresses:).</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">And if you look very closely in the next picture, you might be able to see the glimmer of Brynn's new tooth! That's right, my last baby got a tooth... and before you ask, yes she does use it on me when I nurse her, and no... it's not fun...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0tskpPNWLRjgnJ21uncyigD-1g-WtjuR3C2FxWQdPJ9M_TTYUKu4tKj4ZqOvnSJBR2be0bs1234N-WZJBBOSNB5UHYxbbyEvN3DSJvQIVKVlsnDbF478vwt59KwpiumGl4HjF2UCHIc6/s1600-h/102_1632.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410681115973490258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0tskpPNWLRjgnJ21uncyigD-1g-WtjuR3C2FxWQdPJ9M_TTYUKu4tKj4ZqOvnSJBR2be0bs1234N-WZJBBOSNB5UHYxbbyEvN3DSJvQIVKVlsnDbF478vwt59KwpiumGl4HjF2UCHIc6/s400/102_1632.JPG" border="0" /></a>Just as Brynn's new tooth broke through, my other baby LOST a tooth! Abrya has now joined the 'BIG PEOPLE TEETH' club... or so they say:)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410681521702538978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WcRE17Pj28nm_BN84QtLzgBQT3Z5cw3WOgvImTL3_aDbMpSe1ka7goDrfagLnSt1KdlJF3VgZrYY25souLFBez78kMBYtvVwm_ODP-Nt6l1Rxx8KCCVz7xUOT3f64rMxwRY7WEmX8vpy/s400/102_1579.JPG" border="0" />That is pretty much our life in a nutshell, stay tuned for Christmas, I know I'm ready;). Are you?<br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-61304481882786856662009-11-29T19:44:00.000-08:002009-11-29T20:08:38.244-08:00Abrya is SIX:)<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9WVKfdaYulVBtqppH1vqKqvxx3IlkHYBpMg32ey4OLZo4RoeyKounE8Xhsv_HqwyeTOjfUymLrsyDr8Mroy-6S6sTtl-2tUsAPiIT0nzDuvR-9LWcQLAbgG1CzNbNPKlnMZ8uGAWiZpG/s1600/brandnew.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409737929285846610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9WVKfdaYulVBtqppH1vqKqvxx3IlkHYBpMg32ey4OLZo4RoeyKounE8Xhsv_HqwyeTOjfUymLrsyDr8Mroy-6S6sTtl-2tUsAPiIT0nzDuvR-9LWcQLAbgG1CzNbNPKlnMZ8uGAWiZpG/s400/brandnew.jpg" border="0" /></a> There she is, Abrya Gweneth Rittersdorf, just a day old in her proud Daddy's arms...<br /><br />And because it is her birthday I will keep with tradition and write all about my one and only botched homebirth... she was my transport baby:).<br /><br /><br /><br />Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, and much to my dismay, the 2003 holiday was the only year I had to miss the traditional turkey around the table to wait for my very late baby. Ed and I were certain she was going to make her appearance any time. We decided to go out for dinner on Thanksgiving, which let me tell you, is not an easy feat. We ended up at Perkin's and probably ate some of the worst food possible, but while we were there I started feeling a little crampy... crampy enough for me to have to stop and think about the cramps. I had a feeling that that night might be the night. Thanksgiving was the 27th that year. Anyway, by the time we had gotten our oldest daughter to sleep *ERIN:)* it was late. I layed down and tried to sleep but was woken up repeatedly by contractions. I knew that this had to be "IT." However, the contractions were kinda weak, so I knew I had some time. I didn't bother to tell Ed that I was in labor until 6 in the morning, and he literally JUMPED for JOY at the news (we were waiting for a LONG time for labor to start:)). Well, we called Laura, our midwife. She came out, but much to our dismay, labor was taking forever... and it kept starting for a few hours and stopping and starting again.... you get the picture... and it was INFURIATING! It wasn't until around 8:30 PM on the 28th that labor REALLY picked up for me.... and let me tell you, it was the worst labor I have had to date. The back pain was unbearable. I knew something had to be wrong because with my first labor things went so smoothly that I had no desire to really scream out in pain, but with this labor it was all I could do to breath between contractions. I was bawling and screaming out; I was certain something was wrong. My midwife kept telling me that the baby had her head in a transverse position and that we had to wait for her to turn her head. Hours went by, and by 11:30 PM I was at the end of my rope. Laura broke it down for me and let me know that I could wait a few more hours and see if she would turn her head and then go to the hospital, or I could go to the hospital right now... either way, I was way too far into my labor for the epidural so I would have to endure the back labor no matter where I went. We opted for the hospital as I was exhausted. Laura stayed with our oldest daughter who had fallen asleep and Eddie took me to the hospital which was only five minutes down the road. I remember everything in just pictures from then on out. I remember walking into the emergency room of the hospital, and the lobby was dead. The nurses were watching television. When they looked up and asked what was wrong, I stated as calmly as possible that I was in labor... "YOU'RE KIDDING!" The nurse exclaimed... To which I said back "DO I LOOK LIKE I'M KIDDING?" They got me in a wheel chair and before I knew it I was in a hospital bed in the emergency room. The doctor on call came in with an ultrasound, and put the wand on my belly. He noted that the baby had a transverse head also and said to me "I am sorry Tara, I know you wanted a natural birth, but this baby needs to be taken by c-section right now!" That's when things really got scary, because not only was I in so much pain, I was about to have a c-section, which was the last thing I ever wanted to have to endure. Ed was very upset also, but we both understood. The nurses and doctors got up and started bustling around to get me up to the OR... but something happened. Abrya must have decided at that moment to turn her head because I got a sudden and STRONG urge to push, so I did. I remember the Doctor and the nurses all screaming at me "DON'T PUSH! DON'T PUSH!" to which I screamed back "I CAN'T HELP IT, SHE'S COMING!" and no sooner had I said that, and her little head popped out. I wish I could describe the look on the staffs faces at that moment, I think every jaw dropped. The doctor basically had time to grab a blue sheet to catch her before she was born. I looked at Ed just in time to see him burst into tears-which is saying alot because I have only seen him cry a handful of times in my whole life, and this was the only birth that he shed tears at... at 12:45 AM on November 29th... she was 8 lbs and 4 oz, 20 inches long. I just remember how small and beautiful she was. Her little hands were so precious to me. I am so happy to have her... my most painful labor brought me my beautiful little girl. She is so full of life and has such a fun personality. Happy Birthday Bry~! I love you:)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409743499858748578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7Blhgn9VmPJmzdchyphenhyphenJkYlbCHwM1bTzUWaWeD_U8nCdRXs422lNq9HLpRsKrhxDPzJD2bBC1g3wJ-6bBuGBzIMgq4Rce_Aq_ZR_DX_OgL-oeg_XI2geKJvGJaO_qMze9-yuAjqg_vfgjj/s400/102_0707.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><p align="center">Abrya now:)</p>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-44064460590192235152009-11-09T18:09:00.000-08:002009-11-09T18:10:05.683-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH-PmawUMzXFq76GBF4KHu8s0dVnbD8nYQo_C75ZTI6tTWhs2mx2T0HRLSqml5nqIN825QDy5QGT6ItVpyDoIA0r-4_Zjv32PVM6G-3j9UPqGhMQ0rIwzKHJZeDXcF5LP4yFf84isQQ_-/s1600-h/BaptismInvite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402291461525079842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH-PmawUMzXFq76GBF4KHu8s0dVnbD8nYQo_C75ZTI6tTWhs2mx2T0HRLSqml5nqIN825QDy5QGT6ItVpyDoIA0r-4_Zjv32PVM6G-3j9UPqGhMQ0rIwzKHJZeDXcF5LP4yFf84isQQ_-/s400/BaptismInvite.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-7809949381471355922009-11-05T20:09:00.001-08:002009-11-05T20:30:41.719-08:00Teenage Tara's Teenage Poetry<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHChWn4rfrBOtk9cgyWLMNp3gqWZ2DMNzQM86Spj38tX6lQzC0zjpaZsQEX-Qh72wSb6YUy9_uWcVANQNittfxyj9kbDCurCL4q6bDOveXzAJdyMMGp9CbkgiWnW52STW99dDVJ9lb_PIo/s1600-h/srpic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400838205153385138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHChWn4rfrBOtk9cgyWLMNp3gqWZ2DMNzQM86Spj38tX6lQzC0zjpaZsQEX-Qh72wSb6YUy9_uWcVANQNittfxyj9kbDCurCL4q6bDOveXzAJdyMMGp9CbkgiWnW52STW99dDVJ9lb_PIo/s200/srpic.jpg" border="0" /></a>Yep... that's me... at 17:)<br />I thought by posting a teenage picture of me it would give people a visual of myself at this time of my life. </div><div align="center">Today I was going through out filing cabinet and came across my book of poetry. I was an avid writer at this age (still am, but I generally write essays these days;)). My favorite was poetry. I wrote enough poems to fill a few books. It was like a walk down memory lane reading my poems. It has been so long since I walked down that road! And my goodness I have changed. </div><div align="center">Here are a few of my favorites.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">*This first one was inspired by my first time getting my heart broken*</div><div align="center"><br />Do I Hurt?</div><div align="center">By Tara Lynne </div><div align="center">Yes I do. </div><div align="center">But someday,</div><div align="center">As by and by I go,</div><div align="center">I will reminice and be happy. </div><div align="center">For as I let in I changed for the better...</div><div align="center">We'll say so.</div><div align="center">As of now, a waste of time it seems. </div><div align="center">But as one molded one, one molded the other.</div><div align="center">As a child drops a toy, </div><div align="center">Shattered pieces of molded shape,</div><div align="center">It can be rebuilt. </div><div align="center">Maybe a small difference in appearence, </div><div align="center">But the general idea makes her happy again,</div><div align="center">As I will be happy again</div><div align="center">When I can honestly realize we cannot be forgotten</div><div align="center">On either part;</div><div align="center">As we grow together, </div><div align="center">Older, Wiser, </div><div align="center">Apart... </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Untitled</div><div align="center">By Tara Lynne</div><div align="center">A butterfly flirting with the wind, </div><div align="center">A delicate sunset.</div><div align="center">The birth of vernal equinox.</div><div align="center">These words, my eyes have met.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">To view autumn painting all the leaves, </div><div align="center">Then mold it into word;</div><div align="center">And once read over I can still taste</div><div align="center">The fall, not seen, but heard.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">They form eternal pictures</div><div align="center">For everyone to see.</div><div align="center">Of a world within mine eye</div><div align="center">Whence my poem they gracefully read.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Thus pondering this notion, </div><div align="center">I have come to find...</div><div align="center">'Tis not the earth so beautiful, </div><div align="center">But the beholder's mind. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">My Love</div><div align="center">*Dedicated to Eddie*</div><div align="center">By Tara Lynne</div><div align="center">A love so pure a love so true</div><div align="center">It glitters like the rain</div><div align="center">And guilds the heart just like a creek;</div><div align="center">Flows within the vein.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">It seeps so deep within the soul;</div><div align="center">Like a fog rolls o'er land. </div><div align="center">That it can be sensed within a touch;</div><div align="center">A slight brush of the hand. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">A love so pure a love so true</div><div align="center">It ignites the day at start.</div><div align="center">And love tastes love in lover's kiss</div><div align="center">As sweet nectar of the heart. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Idle Day's</div><div align="center">By Tara Lynne</div><div align="center">What shall come of these idle days </div><div align="center">And the time wrapped up within? </div><div align="center">What shall come of these glorious moments</div><div align="center">In which lingering we have been? </div><div align="center">Where will all these minutes go</div><div align="center">When today becomes the morrow?</div><div align="center">Will they be filled with wonderful life;</div><div align="center">Or be passed along with sorrow?</div><div align="center">What shall come of these idle days?</div><div align="center">Let today live and tomorrow be.</div><div align="center">What shall come of these glorious moments?</div><div align="center">As we live so shall we see.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">My poems... It's been a long time since I retraced by steps down memory lane. I don't even know why I stopped writing them... You'd think I have all of the inspiration in the world now. Who knows? Perhaps my artist died with puberty... </div><div align="center"><br /> </div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-23073221911308956712009-10-31T10:57:00.000-07:002009-10-31T11:05:22.807-07:00Homebirth Soap~!So recently I sent away for some new scents to make soap with. I picked out a scent called "Vanilla Lavender" because I am a big fan of both vanilla and lavender. When I opened my box full of scents, I happened to grab this one first and the moment I opened it I was brought instantly back to the day each of my children were born. Here is a little backstory...<br />For each birth, I purchased Lavender scented candles to burn during my labors. Each and every one of my daughters was born into a room filled with the scent of Lavender. I bought these candles from the same company every time so every birth had that same wonderful aroma in the air. This Fragrance Oil was the exact match to the scent used in these candles and it brought back so many wonderful memories of homebirth and newborns that I had to soap with it right away. I made a wonderful 'white-with-pink-swirls' batch of soap. I still don't have a name for it, but I whatever name I come up with I want it to pack a little meaning and feeling as this scent has so much meaning and feeling for me. Maybe 'Mother and Child' soap? I don't know for certain yet, but I do know that I now have soap to wash with that will bring me back to the days that I met each and ever one of my daughters.Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-1420595215597438172009-10-27T21:01:00.000-07:002009-10-27T21:09:52.746-07:00Brynnie can crawl!<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dye8eRTOSr-8lgujOxZClTCbcEX7hj7yMeESAvg5PEIWYlJHNDzZhfvKnr288Ucx2Mw1HNUKMFV4ZfQZ4l5HQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>I love my baby girl! She is getting so big so quickly that it is hard for me to keep up with how fast she is changing. </p>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-57499118266363888902009-10-08T18:32:00.001-07:002009-10-08T19:22:05.977-07:00I've Got Some Catchin' Up To Do~!Well, I have been slacking! It has been toooooo long since I have gotten on here and updated everyone on my life, but here it goes... this might take a while, so sit tight:). <div><div><br />To begin with I have been making my own soap for a while, but just recently started making my own laundry detergent. I am so happy that I did! Not only is it so much cheaper, it smells so pretty! If anyone would like my recipe, speak now or forever hold your peace.</div><div> </div><div>NEXT~! our adventure in cloth diapering is going amazinly! I wish I would have stuck with it through my middle two children, the problem is they didn't make 'em back then like they do now. For anyone who is looking into cloth, I have two words for you "BUM GENIUS!" They are by far the best. Hands down, no question! Here is a picture of Brynnie Innie Evelynnie in her lil' pretty panty pants:) Doesn't she look so happy:)</div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390407641208269474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9FDof8Is4tWswsC_q1AO5K4tDvPDamEL8_2e506Cqg0a7vITP7z7LG-dgU-dEwhPr780CXXHRboUsgu8z1gpEykzgUwTa9WjcIuuyTcVk5ynNLkb1-ygWCY8UGzGv3Bj78c8CpSZBRsX/s200/102_1309.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Speaking of Brynnie, this girl cannot get enough solid food, problem being she doesn't like HER food, only mine. She gets really upset when I do not give her bits of my food. It is cute, but it is hard. Oh, it's not so hard to see her eat, it's what it means. She is growing up:(. If money and time were not an option, I would have tons of baby girls:). Maybe I can talk Eddie into a vasectomy reversal... hmmmmm..... </div><div>Maybe I'm jumping the gun on that one. Really I am pretty happy to NOT be pregnant, and let me tell you why! I started a diet about two weeks ago to shed the last of my baby weight once and for all and I am SO impressed with the results. Everytime I look in the mirror, I see my softer curves becoming sharper everyday~! I am hoping by Christmas to be back in my size 7's... we shall see, we shall see:). I have not weighed myself yet out of fear, but will be weighing myself on Halloween... I will tell you all how much I have lost then:). </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390413423912713778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXl8ninyA4OgQTT0fLLo9R-bBysqCJBgBc53UbwLReti1y7rxJgsP6LNRmIksulKsg11Y74aIt0wMWZ8U42TL-Kt9lIEDw36FcL2GdtGUqTlbOXvhh77yE-T1tfzWo-gbuYLMZncgekyF/s200/102_1357.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><div>Here is a recent picture of Maelan. She was dressing up for winter:). It has been getting really really REALLY cold here in Michigan these past couple of days. It is only the beginning of October and I have already had to turn the heat on. I hear it is supposed to be a hard winter and that makes me glad I don't have to walk the girls down the the busstop... which leads me to........</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390413710551647330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mcFMwuHNUyNssmvyDMSGjtxR1E0U3CSAMLJS2U9lHRukAsBdgfAsWpdX9tD6IA8LNNdhkLlj1qfpBvXKf4qvj6jrtGwnUX3Pih_lN37LL-JC-uMLngzkdwOsN59ArqXbWmn_qACs6nxt/s200/102_1361.JPG" border="0" /> HOMESCHOOLING IS AWESOME! I was very nervous in the beginning but I am amazed by my bright girls. We have a daily schedual we follow, and my girls are right on track. Above is a picture of them taken this week. They and their second cousins Hannah and Lillian dressed as Native Americans. They are also homeschooled kids, so we have a learning day once a week (Tuesday's) with them. This week we learned about the Ojibwa Native Americans as not only are the Ojibwa the tribe of our area in Michigan, the girls all have Ojibwa blood:). Anyway, homeschooling is amazing and I am so glad I made this decision. On top of homeschooling, we are also doing Soccer, Piano and Religious Education every week. Needless to say I am so busy running children every which way that I don't even know up from down right now... I can't wait until soccer season is OVER!!!!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390414012965108770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6B2sS0kC5t7BU294-YHR_eJmcdwNN1Z5HorShhLyVftF7INPvCLhQVdiZFp_WoP7isrZEgsq-PUe5ilcargc-ceCd1u6_bh_20rg6zizZiWy_GFY2ebWfLLPHpRSl00Eja9g-JOj04FT/s200/Riley.jpg" border="0" />Anyway, in other news, Ed and I became Aunt and Uncle! Riley Sue (above) was born on September 27th to Eddie's big brother Bill and his awesome lil' german wife Rike:). I am so excited. I was told by Bill that I have been a huge inspiration for Rike when it comes to parenting (aka home/natural childbirth, exclusive breasfeeding, babywearing, cloth diapers, ect). That made me feel really awesome. It makes me feel that I must be doing something right:).</div><div> </div><div>Another thing that has happened is that Ed and I have decided that next July (the first two weeks actually) we are going to be camping and staying in the Virginia/DC area. I am really excited as I have only ever been out west and not east. It is still a little under a year away, but I am so ready for another vacation already:).<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGTDvfHST7vvGUJA0ZF8XV_MBV9PGbN3LWfymXLYUQ3eBhcT1J1ZKT0giar_Pb9ARiPvI2joB4RJjVEObh3jWT7UkZg3s8J9KYDpCdmFct4x1Jukc6hp1gupPex2-uZupqfur2XrTjweX/s1600-h/MotherMary.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390407377244942722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 151px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGTDvfHST7vvGUJA0ZF8XV_MBV9PGbN3LWfymXLYUQ3eBhcT1J1ZKT0giar_Pb9ARiPvI2joB4RJjVEObh3jWT7UkZg3s8J9KYDpCdmFct4x1Jukc6hp1gupPex2-uZupqfur2XrTjweX/s200/MotherMary.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last but not least, we have gone back to our roots... Catholicsm that is. Ed and I were both baptised Catholic, but just have, over the years, let our faith fall to the backburner. In the past two months we have brought religion to the forefront again, and have incorporated it back into our lives as well as the lives of our girls. This decision stems from the fact that we really want to raise our children in the church. We believe that this is the best way to give our girls a very strong moral base and I couldn't be happier about our decision. I love Father Fred, and I love the parish... I wish we would have come back home sooner... but better late than never I suppose... anyway all four girls will be baptised in November, look for pictures and updates:)<br /><br />In closing, a video of my baby girl Brynn Evelyn:) G'night!</div><div align="center"></div><br /><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXsrgEF0yyPaj5epbNKRoDtPy0Ejs0CdcIDvGwRm3vxxCQfE56YS8duSphL0_vXavLY4tiw42klUTzhkfEHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-43837295097657744092009-08-27T15:48:00.000-07:002009-08-27T15:59:47.365-07:00Core Knowledge N' Fluffy Bunned Babies!Where to begin, where to begin! So much has been going on!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgZU1q8ITRHH9dGpy5sHcQ8gusHQfpsC0Azs3I7ht853ek3rta2DKsNotW02D94Ki4Nal_d6K5ZfZ2qY4Y77xERTi5NWRY3NgzwF50tcW-OZlbpSwp2mvboYJqAcx5YqxeD2wOXND9KNd/s1600-h/102_1268.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374780634478963794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgZU1q8ITRHH9dGpy5sHcQ8gusHQfpsC0Azs3I7ht853ek3rta2DKsNotW02D94Ki4Nal_d6K5ZfZ2qY4Y77xERTi5NWRY3NgzwF50tcW-OZlbpSwp2mvboYJqAcx5YqxeD2wOXND9KNd/s200/102_1268.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well, to begin with, we have decided to pull our two older daughters from public schools to homeschool. This is something we have tossed around since the two big girls were just lil' girls. Finally I conquered my fears and just went for it. We are going with a secular curriculum based on the Core Knowledge Of America books (which means that they will be following very closely with their public schooled peers). I am getting NO support from my family which is really hard, but I believe whole heartedly in this decision and know that this will be the best for my children... wish me luck!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7pbmLR9WxmHYGObJL-y7fIik8Vq7l7EHgJ77NMAwGUph6DEGteo8C1MhdzVkDDE4DDL5uCLoO39wSFLPWFYYAGI2U8p34x76MduFjqXWWH_Xv4qfpR_BoO4s4JyyDuQitHoNcDcTvHLs/s1600-h/102_1269.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374780342895283394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7pbmLR9WxmHYGObJL-y7fIik8Vq7l7EHgJ77NMAwGUph6DEGteo8C1MhdzVkDDE4DDL5uCLoO39wSFLPWFYYAGI2U8p34x76MduFjqXWWH_Xv4qfpR_BoO4s4JyyDuQitHoNcDcTvHLs/s200/102_1269.JPG" border="0" /></a> SECONDLY, MAELAN IS A POTTY TRAINED GIRL! She even goes to bed with underware on and USUALLY keeps them dry all night (We have taken to getting her back up before we go to bed to make her go potty, which helps) It is so nice to have the majority of my children out of diapers, which leads me to...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zwfokIqjaFYL_uOe61dhX0jhSoDL7ToE4hyphenhyphenv9fNjhL5P3CdahZas-cWqXCqZobcyzdkgCr-LW8idAdZBPOEC9SYaB1qvSBJbpnOUuyouG4hGmIE5RMBV4yqs3z1IAojTqkWFZHL6YoMj/s1600-h/102_1250.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374780177290213234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zwfokIqjaFYL_uOe61dhX0jhSoDL7ToE4hyphenhyphenv9fNjhL5P3CdahZas-cWqXCqZobcyzdkgCr-LW8idAdZBPOEC9SYaB1qvSBJbpnOUuyouG4hGmIE5RMBV4yqs3z1IAojTqkWFZHL6YoMj/s200/102_1250.JPG" border="0" /></a> MISSES FLUFFY BUNS! We decided to switch Brynn to cloth diapers!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHMZdIaXw4hT2Sun-r55W5yWnFL_YJX3LSLBhQdDUinUIdNj0dtoVc8tgoDMkTk_KukZ3Du14QuGCW4DgJqGy-oq_XOq-P01b99NNM47W4GF11i1x-FmADWtYYZhPN01dON7RxXpt90w4/s1600-h/102_1251.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374780017411627458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHMZdIaXw4hT2Sun-r55W5yWnFL_YJX3LSLBhQdDUinUIdNj0dtoVc8tgoDMkTk_KukZ3Du14QuGCW4DgJqGy-oq_XOq-P01b99NNM47W4GF11i1x-FmADWtYYZhPN01dON7RxXpt90w4/s200/102_1251.JPG" border="0" /></a> Doesn't she look so CUTE?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobkIG1th7BsD9nCoDVmGVEVN89aaZu4T-jEsgRJIphClh37I-SjrsH1U1Isg5MmNEgUcPrNpZlNbsPfSPFzUzkIZnNGD7PIGJTTSNkpHx1_s85_8Fq5QtBEe7jCr1Ed3wTV04FAsSdUlb/s1600-h/102_1248.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374779685811543186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobkIG1th7BsD9nCoDVmGVEVN89aaZu4T-jEsgRJIphClh37I-SjrsH1U1Isg5MmNEgUcPrNpZlNbsPfSPFzUzkIZnNGD7PIGJTTSNkpHx1_s85_8Fq5QtBEe7jCr1Ed3wTV04FAsSdUlb/s200/102_1248.JPG" border="0" /></a> This decision stems from the fact that we just want to be DONE with disposables! We did cloth for Erin, and decided to do disposable for Abrya and Maelan.... now we are going back to our 'roots' you could say:). I am so happy that we decided to do it this way... besides, cloth diapers are SO MUCH CUTER:)</div><div> </div><div>And that has been us in a nutshell... stay tuned!</div></div></div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-7625109752128181262009-08-08T08:11:00.000-07:002009-08-08T08:19:44.661-07:00Mia's Ukulele<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEvBPk1ZNHiq7gOY-wLA9W_WrBaZya6wvTdTOE51ndO6ofj9TaJmPX6PL3Ra2qYD7RKLU56oST9v_pEr8NbXYjdCaswEcyUbK6_qGMdOYRpdavKwgyMmD8nL6OdZABerq0F3LSTgbxC5W/s1600-h/Tote.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367612539410322674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEvBPk1ZNHiq7gOY-wLA9W_WrBaZya6wvTdTOE51ndO6ofj9TaJmPX6PL3Ra2qYD7RKLU56oST9v_pEr8NbXYjdCaswEcyUbK6_qGMdOYRpdavKwgyMmD8nL6OdZABerq0F3LSTgbxC5W/s200/Tote.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7282329">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7282329</a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">I should have done this earlier, but I didn't think of it until now. My friends Stacey is probably one of the craftiest people I know, and she makes the cutest little things! She uses really outstanding designs and the fabric is always so cute! I have a sling from her that I use on a daily basis, and my little girls all have Rainbow Tutus:) I plan on purchasing a few more things from her (After my yearly house inasurance payment at the end of this month). She makes awesome totes, and little baby bibs that you can't find anywhere else. Check her shop out! It is worth the click:) I promise:)</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-48530037572908544142009-08-06T15:42:00.001-07:002009-08-06T16:14:37.228-07:00Happy Birthday Maemae!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtUgtMNQVDrhQbsd1a92jqLnF_0E8VekNf5txx3byBYjdq_eajEu-j30d06FnoumVPRONoQ3Mf1n2zuzHlJIQhIQ0MXebcymV9SkBnZNaGYwU0hm23u9c66abP2c_6zj-crB_qQQrMLeq/s1600-h/daddy+and+me.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366985009456131826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtUgtMNQVDrhQbsd1a92jqLnF_0E8VekNf5txx3byBYjdq_eajEu-j30d06FnoumVPRONoQ3Mf1n2zuzHlJIQhIQ0MXebcymV9SkBnZNaGYwU0hm23u9c66abP2c_6zj-crB_qQQrMLeq/s200/daddy+and+me.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Maelan</span> three hours after birth with Daddy</div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">So, today my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MaeMae</span> turned 2, so as I had said I would do, I am going to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">reminisce</span> about the day <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Maelan</span> was born. </div><div align="left"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Maelan</span> was due July 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span>... which passed... as did the 31st. We went into August, which was alright with me because I had already had a July baby (Erin) and was kinda hoping she would be born in August. Well, August came... 1st, 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span>, 3rd getting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">antsy</span>... 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> getting angry... 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> in hysterics. I woke up on the morning of the 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">th</span> bawling my eyes out because I was STILL swollen and STILL pregnant... I was on an online community where it seemed everyone but me had given birth-my baby just didn't want to leave~!</div><div align="left">I called my mother while I was crying just for some support, and she said the same thing she always did "Well, are you feeling any signs?" which just made me cry harder, because no, I was not feeling any signs and was certain I was on the road to being the first pregnant lady forever. I got off of the phone with her and Laura, my midwife, showed up to check and see how I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">progressing</span>. I asked her if she would strip my membranes, and she did. Before she left I was feeling a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">crampy</span> and she said "well, maybe I'll be back tonight"</div><div align="left">"Yeah right..." I replied. </div><div align="left">An hour after she left those cramps became pains, and the pains came at regular intervals. We went to the store to pick up a yoga ball to see if it could help get things rolling. The pains were not very intense and were few and far between which made me feel like I wasn't really in labor. Finally Ed convinced me that he was going to call his work and call his parents so that things would be ready for when the baby came, even though I was still in labor denial. He also called my midwife. The girls left around 9, and my midwife showed around 11. She said she wanted to check me as at this point, my contractions were coming <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">regularly</span> and strong... but I STILL was convinced it wasn't labor... that is until I found out I was already 7~!</div><div align="left">This is when the contractions became really intense, though bearable. Ed filled the birth pool for me, and I was so excited to get into it. I flopped myself into the water, but it was freezing cold... Ed had forgotten that our water heater automatically turned off after midnight to conserve energy:( So he had to empty it and refill it. By the time it was filled again, I was not moving. I got the urge to push soon after that and began pushing. She came out very quickly. I remember sitting up as she was born and seeing a big 5:20 on my alarm clock, so I actually called the birth minute with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Maelan</span>!:) She had a little bit of a hard time taking her first breath, but she came around after lots stimulation. She was beautiful and I fell in love right away. She nursed within the first few minutes of her birth, and we all fell asleep in our bed after a breakfast of eggs and toast. She was 9lbs 12 oz and 21 inches long. She was born during a gentile thunderstorm on August 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">th</span> at 5:20 am. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366985463841670178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLUHtX7mxKgn8UtF1AWO86Rs5aMVgLOIhzLENe9VqFkrEXsQ-rkx1Vf71RuyzDv1fXrGKMlgIX8OnZKnDvKYTgUUIiI236j9XKwMYzRk0u8LoSIieJYWS95fhTBhCAMzGAdJ8lUeAPSbo/s200/102_0257.JPG" border="0" /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Maelan</span> Now!Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-14671743402805230382009-08-03T19:18:00.000-07:002009-08-03T19:27:38.437-07:00Soapin'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDheNisQfSr6lN9YQBX302A6O6BdXVr8005fDTI-yuBc2DgWl_lthlBf9eV7RdM8usS7NVQXMLM8guTOSZ0CBrYiiQR8FLkaG-wkIEKQzEacwpDAeRTCaD9QkzOF4KW3-3oB3sBqxHzlm/s1600-h/102_1062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365928089256195074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDheNisQfSr6lN9YQBX302A6O6BdXVr8005fDTI-yuBc2DgWl_lthlBf9eV7RdM8usS7NVQXMLM8guTOSZ0CBrYiiQR8FLkaG-wkIEKQzEacwpDAeRTCaD9QkzOF4KW3-3oB3sBqxHzlm/s200/102_1062.JPG" border="0" /></a>So, for about a year or more I have been making soap for my family from the Cold Process style of soapmaking... <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365927754009439394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqDN0HrllNc9oy7G7Si6afX65TXgPZ0Esb2FRakrY3pCeNRoikDsdArnDqtlooqZ-ILIqZLLpxxrLYmUIHxdHNaGQfQybjjpKxaMxIKH2AHe75EZiKKSmWXGIpHcmrPYVDu1slikkkYPv/s320/102_1060.JPG" border="0" />I recently decided to share the wealth (with a little push from my friend Stacey:))<br /><br /><p>I OPENED AN ETSY!!!</p><br /><p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7449865">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7449865</a></p><br /><p>I am excited, because I love making soap, so this is a good excuse to make MORE of it. It is like opening a christmas present cutting into a soap block for the first time... you just never know what you are going to get, and are usually pleasantly suprised:)</p><br /><p>I recently found a recipe for homemade laundry detergent also, and I believe I am going to give that a shot too... Oh my gosh... I just realized I AM, in fact, a HIPPY...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365929202315487810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vmvOeFzUESg16saRMFeuwg8aMYwh2ZMIPhpOCGoVksBPbbYljrGts3YoaY5-NF1qULQNnSuAUldFSyfHN6Sla0KotoTRUP-Ev0PfaNqEMl_ap07E5GaN1arZ7DTcHKAIfl1np9mCrGSg/s200/102_1055.JPG" border="0" />Where's my bra? I'm not ready to give THAT up yet.... </p>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-24946271615018462132009-07-20T14:44:00.000-07:002009-07-20T15:23:41.931-07:00Erin is SEVEN:)!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d3e72BNs1JSsYCS6dk3qh8GGZFNiIb8eiCSL-XTe-bnb_fnsTIIxnLovkHfi7Nyj3Zswy4LbMlzEkA07fqufN-sdK2bbSanhIGYmrf9KnrL7WQWzzsVztHPSoHXQlR8ThC3WkBeVxHZi/s1600-h/102_0411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360671402022682994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d3e72BNs1JSsYCS6dk3qh8GGZFNiIb8eiCSL-XTe-bnb_fnsTIIxnLovkHfi7Nyj3Zswy4LbMlzEkA07fqufN-sdK2bbSanhIGYmrf9KnrL7WQWzzsVztHPSoHXQlR8ThC3WkBeVxHZi/s320/102_0411.JPG" border="0" /></a> Erin Today!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzvPNiz6LGQUaMUs5Mk9an2fCcqYuP8Q32xKdhtPExLC-Inbx5veZVWOGMmkYGMmxmVNkIvUCZCpRpaXRC_BNUrFTCw1I-dJeMCt-vkI1EVjVZMy7EV-Jb_mnoQYBPePMBALpV6STHA4C/s1600-h/precious+moment.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360669280506943362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzvPNiz6LGQUaMUs5Mk9an2fCcqYuP8Q32xKdhtPExLC-Inbx5veZVWOGMmkYGMmxmVNkIvUCZCpRpaXRC_BNUrFTCw1I-dJeMCt-vkI1EVjVZMy7EV-Jb_mnoQYBPePMBALpV6STHA4C/s320/precious+moment.jpg" border="0" /></a> Erin and Eddie right after she was born.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">My oldest baby girl is seven today. Wow, how time flies.<br />I found out I was pregnant with Erin in November of 2001. I was a high school senior at the time, and Ed, my now husband, was my boyfriend. At first we were scared because we were so young; Eddie being 19, and me being 18. We finally began to grasp the idea that we were going to be young parents, and at that time resolved ourselves to be the best young parents we could possibly be. Ed and I knew that we would like to learn more about homebirth, and were introduced to Laura. We instantly knew she would be perfect. Nine months went by pretty uneventfully, other than me falling down the stairs and peeing my pants at around 5 months along, and me swelling bigger than I did in any other pregnancy. My feel wouldn't even fit into flip-flops by the end of my pregnancy. I swore that I would never have another summer baby again.<br />The day before my due date was the 19th, and I took that day to do some things I had been putting off, such as get an oil change and such. That night, when Eddie got home from work, we ate dinner and went to lay down in bed. I remember when it hit midnight and my due date had arrived... July 20th... I said to Ed "Well, it's my due date, and there is no sign of a baby!"... which wasn't entirely true as I was having a dull backache. At around 1 am, I had my first contraction... it was painful, but I was not sure what it was. About five minutes later I had another... and then another... I thought I had to go to the bathroom so I headed downstairs to try. That is when I realized I was in labor, as I was bleeding quite heavily. Ed walked in at the moment I realized I was bleeding. I looked at him and said "I think I'm in labor!" He ran and called my midwife who told me that since this was my first baby, I would probably be in labor for a while, and to take a shower and try to get some sleep. I knew the contractions were too close together for my labor to last too much longer, so I told Ed to tell her to come now. He did, and then he decided he would try to get some sleep... while he did that I decided to try to take a bath. The bath felt great, but the contractions were coming harder and harder. It was painful, but bearable. I remember thinking "Hey, this isn't so bad... I don't need pain medications for this..." Every contraction I tried to meet with breathing and low moaning/singing, which really helped me to ride the contractions. Laura arrived, and realized that I was already almost 7 cm, and was glad that we had talked her into coming. She told Ed to go ahead and fill the birthing pool, which he did. When I finally got to get into the pool, it was AMAZING~!!!~ The pain lifted so much. Before I knew it, I was fully dialated (except for an anterior lip). Laura told me to go ahead and push, and she would try to hold the lip back so that the head could pass... this was my first baby so I wasn't really sure how to... and I had no urge, but I did it anyway, and let me tell YOU, that hurt so badly, but at least it helped the head to pass through. Then, I pushed her shoulders through, and she was placed on my chest. I cannot explain how I felt at that moment. For nine months I 'knew' I was growing a baby, but it was never real until that moment... She was mine... I have never had that feeling since, only with my first... She was beautiful... Hardly any hair, born with stork-bite birthmarks between her eyes and on the back of her neck. She had an odd placenta with a velamentous insertion of the cord which happens in only 1% of babies. It is when the cord is attached on the side rather than through the center.<br /><br />Erin Melody Rittersdorf was born 8lbs, 20 inches, on July 20th 2002 at 7:22 a.m., just as the sun broke over the horizon.<br /></div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-32250358500271082072009-07-14T11:16:00.000-07:002009-07-14T12:43:02.205-07:00We Just Got Back From Da' YOOPEE!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7qgEtn-5Rx2JJDE1mx7jHjn3jnsSOQ9Bwo0EEQWNdGo6cIAbTXcyJ0s9d5zsoRAnhx1-CAnRczSFrc4auYh8p0UNsZQwZDO5CofYPicUEXDSVofPye7HUeTypbxQtLxV_nrYNk3znuYk/s1600-h/102_0855.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358387105895468514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7qgEtn-5Rx2JJDE1mx7jHjn3jnsSOQ9Bwo0EEQWNdGo6cIAbTXcyJ0s9d5zsoRAnhx1-CAnRczSFrc4auYh8p0UNsZQwZDO5CofYPicUEXDSVofPye7HUeTypbxQtLxV_nrYNk3znuYk/s320/102_0855.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E_M8lgaa__v7set-TW2LTeRm3lRWpCJoWl44Yv8GwX1VDKHC6xKWkgf_FU9YBdaCaJsQ4W4fL33pfl5A2Pw-VvJv7eJI2dSvO1vH3Vjx8cv24thyCKQe8McwLLIS-IwWBktMoOFIYgNT/s1600-h/102_0882.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358386891003724258" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAH3C22LcXyb9KFJbqyn40DOS_VmlzkFfxP0cHS5x1fOG15Bz5q6LYmN_my8TT68GmF8Yu0N3SxTY2J54KmMcOUA-uvecYv3svfXes0t8H1-2tgo50xkXX0VVAGde5-RRs6FLGrB4dvhl/s320/102_0703.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qZ8-P-GtTUCgoK4ejKyzenFmpQZ6tuUkNsjEgodobw5rkthVt0uMQTGCx1OaPh8I0UdR-ND95KuUbBzCWbyZ4VB_pzW2Mn7NV98MdU3iAnKeXCNhMbwUSnFsbl70QjfYP8O4HKcNXDFF/s1600-h/102_0692.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358385430330091602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qZ8-P-GtTUCgoK4ejKyzenFmpQZ6tuUkNsjEgodobw5rkthVt0uMQTGCx1OaPh8I0UdR-ND95KuUbBzCWbyZ4VB_pzW2Mn7NV98MdU3iAnKeXCNhMbwUSnFsbl70QjfYP8O4HKcNXDFF/s320/102_0692.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qFYjB_Km5DgAPlcR0TOq7l-85ZseOQO8nd-xeNg3GYCS2S-rx05616xkcJmz2yDU3Ckd_N7I9SJcIYZzubLN9U3vNw_B0A9qWD5f2olp-0pzcmkHy9oQD9MZRbg14OSbM7zLXUkCMYac/s1600-h/102_0693.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358384452353405714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qFYjB_Km5DgAPlcR0TOq7l-85ZseOQO8nd-xeNg3GYCS2S-rx05616xkcJmz2yDU3Ckd_N7I9SJcIYZzubLN9U3vNw_B0A9qWD5f2olp-0pzcmkHy9oQD9MZRbg14OSbM7zLXUkCMYac/s320/102_0693.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJcMYb5H7NetJTGFGhv2bP0nqWYRukaLP0K9noSoWbUMnSbzn3fk4xeQZxCHMbD1yGTwyFn8PgA5fw3k0IrhT3H4PyXDVUteNcWbY9q4R1ZKc4fLdtfMqsVCGXuYpFwLwjKAlJ3UHJfeb/s1600-h/102_0639.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358384186817404994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJcMYb5H7NetJTGFGhv2bP0nqWYRukaLP0K9noSoWbUMnSbzn3fk4xeQZxCHMbD1yGTwyFn8PgA5fw3k0IrhT3H4PyXDVUteNcWbY9q4R1ZKc4fLdtfMqsVCGXuYpFwLwjKAlJ3UHJfeb/s320/102_0639.JPG" border="0" /></a> We had so much fun. First we stayed in St. Ignace for the fourth of July and got to watch the Fireworks over Lake Huron... it was great, though cold... The Upper Penn seemed to be about 10 degrees colder than the Lower Penn at all times. We moved on to Tahquamenon Falls where Maelan became a dirt monster withing ten minutes, and we practically got carried away by Mosquitos... but we did get to see the Upper and Lower falls on the Tahquamenon River, plus we got to see a Snapping Turtle laying her eggs, which was very neat. We then decided to skip the Pictured Rocks and go into the Porcupine Mountains... It was beautiful there. We decided to then stay there most of our trip. The shore of Lake Superior was absolutely GORGEOUS. The woods out there are untouched and amazing. I was hoping to see a bear, but saw very little wildlife... except of course the three baby skunks who decided to basically roast marshmallows with us one night... that was a little frigtning, but they didn't spray at all... they were completely unafraid of us... one was sitting right under my chair.... I will tell you that was an uncomforitable place to be:). We moved on from the 'Porkies' as they are called up there and returned to St Ignace where we had Pasties (Google Pasties, they are delicious:)) and bought famous Mackinac Island Fudge for us and the rest of our family. We then moved on and stayed in Petosky Michigan for our last night. We found at least 14 Petosky stones on the Lake Michigan Beach up there:) (BTW, if you don't know what a Petosky Stone is... look it up:) They are VERY interesting). We then returned home, just in time for our 4H fair... so we are still rather busy. Above are a few of my favorite pics from our trip. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-35532668863918015832009-06-29T10:39:00.000-07:002009-06-29T11:03:23.841-07:00I'M BACK!Sorry I have been MIA lately, we have been so busy getting ready for our camping trip up north and our 4-H fair. To begin with, I will tell you all about our awesome tent camping trip we are taking to the Upper <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Peninsula</span> Michigan. For those of you who aren't from Michigan, I will start with the basics. Michigan is split into two <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Peninsulas</span>, the Lower and the Upper. The Lower Penn is where I live. It is generally more Urban than the much more Rural Upper Penn. We are going camping from the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> until the 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span>. We are staying right outside of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mackinac</span> Island on the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> to watch the fireworks over the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mackinac</span> Bridge. We are then going to Castle Rock and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tehquamenon</span> Falls... Then we are going over to Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior for two nights... then we are staying in Fayette and the Copper Ghost Town, then down to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Petosky</span> and home... JUST IN TIME to start our 4H fair... needless to say I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">exhausted</span> getting things ready for both... just look at the bags under my eyes in the following pic....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWUKDgSjjRn88Dv6yhlMVjZXIO5qnppHE7pp3vyXoo7Ei3TYPxb4Uxn2zXOMx42k0WOfA0mbVdnrwlzhmubqZq3-6tYRIcBG22gXCN84XOYNcPoAc1pb5nkbnkS0pXZXkVwA0u6iWNIdQ/s1600-h/102_0527.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352807044591211410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWUKDgSjjRn88Dv6yhlMVjZXIO5qnppHE7pp3vyXoo7Ei3TYPxb4Uxn2zXOMx42k0WOfA0mbVdnrwlzhmubqZq3-6tYRIcBG22gXCN84XOYNcPoAc1pb5nkbnkS0pXZXkVwA0u6iWNIdQ/s320/102_0527.JPG" border="0" /></a> The girls have been working nonstop for their showmanship at fair. They work with their bunnies every day to make sure they know all of the steps to showmanship. They are only <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Cloverbuds</span> this year in 4H, but it still is good practice for when they are real 4H-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ers</span> and compete <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">competitively</span> against everyone else at the fair... Below are pictures of the girls and their showmanship bunnies this year... Erin with Marco, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Abrya</span> with Tater Puff. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O82_wnYl-GzyqtNAZm9SM9lIh9bLkVG6yFtjmSJY2idp0nzfa0wczSdUHd4m3TyG9uAzxNrtd_hNXR-uUYWWqAkKUrHzPwmWlutg6RC_S8TNA4r6U27h_rM4Gp7Dj-YUsS83EFT7VOvk/s1600-h/102_0570.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352806893024925682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O82_wnYl-GzyqtNAZm9SM9lIh9bLkVG6yFtjmSJY2idp0nzfa0wczSdUHd4m3TyG9uAzxNrtd_hNXR-uUYWWqAkKUrHzPwmWlutg6RC_S8TNA4r6U27h_rM4Gp7Dj-YUsS83EFT7VOvk/s320/102_0570.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnAUPlRv1kfdz2m1oHWRBrnZwAZUdf6C4UGgN2ohERI2UkIs6qh7K9bP6vwsADLyFmGjWTZn5HsF4LzxhAJwRNJ7GRvqmozsdqY0e6NM-P3TON4tV_lrZRSMiooQNEJKNHwCPpxYiXV92/s1600-h/102_0567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352806689742865090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnAUPlRv1kfdz2m1oHWRBrnZwAZUdf6C4UGgN2ohERI2UkIs6qh7K9bP6vwsADLyFmGjWTZn5HsF4LzxhAJwRNJ7GRvqmozsdqY0e6NM-P3TON4tV_lrZRSMiooQNEJKNHwCPpxYiXV92/s320/102_0567.JPG" border="0" /></a> We also decided to donate a little bunny for the 4H youth auction this year. This gives 4H kids an opportunity to get a really nice show bunny for very little money. It is our feel good project for the year... below is our auction donation bunny, a little Chinchilla <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Netherland</span> Buck:)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352807452918827938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rkfo3HnlkCq_YYARNKNbdlXtGMjx50q3_dYmh1Im4rJ2eBwYeCCnLhDVG5rgBUbZVjqAVqxx5U11XPyRY_MWN3HVhg_JbrABNsBTr-wH3xhoHCFgVoqqegNAU3NRoHE9VFl8dZgaAqS8/s320/102_0603.JPG" border="0" />This past week we also got a rare visit from Eddie's older brother Bill. Bill is in the Army stationed in Germany. He has done a few tours in Afghanistan, and is an outstanding man. His wife, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Rike</span> was born and raised in Germany, and is probably one of the sweetest women I have ever met:). They are expecting their first baby in September... its a girl:) Here is the picture of them meeting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Brynnie</span>:)<br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2QoopMAxde7KeGfIG7swDkJaZ3no93HTkvn7DhwCM67Y68IYmWfd8l_qXQe254xskr7Kbzr0lVPXB3zglf7YXezAiRlXYoaQD1qItopgOzIYWnGNH_BXlsD7lAnI7xqIaPjrJed0IC9P/s1600-h/102_0442.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352806486649829458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2QoopMAxde7KeGfIG7swDkJaZ3no93HTkvn7DhwCM67Y68IYmWfd8l_qXQe254xskr7Kbzr0lVPXB3zglf7YXezAiRlXYoaQD1qItopgOzIYWnGNH_BXlsD7lAnI7xqIaPjrJed0IC9P/s320/102_0442.JPG" border="0" /></a> This past week we also expanded our animal family by one. This is our new kitty Solstice... Isn't she pretty? The girls love her, as seen in the picture of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Maelan</span> below... that is TRUE LOVE on her face!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9sqduuDWp3dg67UBhIBtzOMJ1UUbxJiXkXkJJQhDrOdDG7Um8vg0OldhHfF2n69nDCyqRUe9SwxJv_lehn72X-3y3VdoOfzlO0li7NLRI3K7YB8s-YGwtmOrJsWGtfiBkGttE8vTUf7Z/s1600-h/102_0509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352806325747628770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9sqduuDWp3dg67UBhIBtzOMJ1UUbxJiXkXkJJQhDrOdDG7Um8vg0OldhHfF2n69nDCyqRUe9SwxJv_lehn72X-3y3VdoOfzlO0li7NLRI3K7YB8s-YGwtmOrJsWGtfiBkGttE8vTUf7Z/s320/102_0509.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKlMUm1SKdse-iWg2tU2Uy82xbNWN6ySO2y2SisxgSKTOR-TbJcUZ8OCJumyjnQyWL5EE3Qo49ZTj2AwjzrX6DPZQDuZDeHQEXEYXKkdwiuqQKaIFZgVCz_wL67zAeW4YBnuI7V4O0gJ4/s1600-h/102_0538.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352806124102797554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKlMUm1SKdse-iWg2tU2Uy82xbNWN6ySO2y2SisxgSKTOR-TbJcUZ8OCJumyjnQyWL5EE3Qo49ZTj2AwjzrX6DPZQDuZDeHQEXEYXKkdwiuqQKaIFZgVCz_wL67zAeW4YBnuI7V4O0gJ4/s320/102_0538.JPG" border="0" /></a> And last but not least, this week, one town over, a BIG MISTAKE was made. There was a huge concert being put on at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Ionia</span> County Fairgrounds. The concert is located right next to the Grand River in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Ionia</span> Michigan (one town over from me). We had gotten some seriously torrential rain over the weekend, and the river had began to flood. Well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Ionia</span> county, without informing ANYONE at the concert released the flood gates, and look what happened....<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3KbZzK2sWv-XYq_cFIxD2mFzO_Ls7oZeHvVUzL6ONk0v3_xd1Lu_s9mKHQo__CIM-rj3A2if-n112CCIp7AQgxPW0iz2T7Q1qQk0QKBQA5nbIAVQSxek8qhiCALd-8sGYws5tliOBDEx/s1600-h/bbash.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352805901009225282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 97px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3KbZzK2sWv-XYq_cFIxD2mFzO_Ls7oZeHvVUzL6ONk0v3_xd1Lu_s9mKHQo__CIM-rj3A2if-n112CCIp7AQgxPW0iz2T7Q1qQk0QKBQA5nbIAVQSxek8qhiCALd-8sGYws5tliOBDEx/s320/bbash.jpg" border="0" /></a> Those are CARS you see in the river... When they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">released</span> the flood gates without letting anyone know, they didn't take into account that the Concert staff was using the flood plane as a PARKING LOT:)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3GqEaDUowHiABeZ68cdNCqO2IuTennW7oGgSFSK3Dp4n2z7GtTt-jqqwZ1uUtDbkEF8njAP3ca4BzyrAwAHY588A2CPR4mw0GBiMVEkdB5fiM4qeE1B6A1j6diD2P5nIu7NzhNXfCywe/s1600-h/Free+Fair.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352805805139544722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3GqEaDUowHiABeZ68cdNCqO2IuTennW7oGgSFSK3Dp4n2z7GtTt-jqqwZ1uUtDbkEF8njAP3ca4BzyrAwAHY588A2CPR4mw0GBiMVEkdB5fiM4qeE1B6A1j6diD2P5nIu7NzhNXfCywe/s320/Free+Fair.jpg" border="0" /></a> There are over 1000 cars in the river!! We have a few cousins that were at the concert, and we are being told that because of a disclaimer on the tickets reading 'We are not responsible for any damage to your vehicle during the concert' they have released themselves from any legal responsibility.... </div><div> </div><div>I smell a class action lawsuit o'er here:)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-11855081753127121732009-06-21T09:34:00.000-07:002009-06-21T09:55:32.625-07:00Happy Father's Day Eddie<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw-rGkk6wk7Suj_6VWSQFoQxT1cOHW9Jh2m3qmisFL2a9KWi7ZF4F6SZqZu6UqT9kYBvMXjfBkHXrKHX4ubjnYHFyvyiiP9rHRq3vPuSMXyGU2kEoOfHTJ6dy8VLtTh_bABFkI1zrBrAG/s1600-h/102_0006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349823335224212434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw-rGkk6wk7Suj_6VWSQFoQxT1cOHW9Jh2m3qmisFL2a9KWi7ZF4F6SZqZu6UqT9kYBvMXjfBkHXrKHX4ubjnYHFyvyiiP9rHRq3vPuSMXyGU2kEoOfHTJ6dy8VLtTh_bABFkI1zrBrAG/s320/102_0006.jpg" border="0" /></a> Eddie, Abrya and Erin<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfJmAXHgnzfGIuu-zQHv89vhVwWKphv-QGB7L9oaaT99pO10MlXrxfUZOP_YSDeGjZbi7e56l8XYUkcnYRaDX5WEtnVrgYH8OcNb3KzEzrSDQUegxSw2zR8e8VUbifTeTk5JznsLMELFy/s1600-h/world.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349823032143065410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfJmAXHgnzfGIuu-zQHv89vhVwWKphv-QGB7L9oaaT99pO10MlXrxfUZOP_YSDeGjZbi7e56l8XYUkcnYRaDX5WEtnVrgYH8OcNb3KzEzrSDQUegxSw2zR8e8VUbifTeTk5JznsLMELFy/s320/world.jpg" border="0" /></a>At the museum in front of the world (Erin, Bry, Daddy w/ Mae)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi1PXQs8b5OYn8WLr9LomZHSVrieQXmxjT2F-eVP6s_UnaxXK9UXmCzrJwSMYxnCcYLQkGd9FIzfU8vOpZdjvE2ActkalvxoByCKtGy8OnXkiOY7nWZUjNNPI_UGnrumJU8V7p5nmMJbj/s1600-h/tha+fam.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822945555546802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi1PXQs8b5OYn8WLr9LomZHSVrieQXmxjT2F-eVP6s_UnaxXK9UXmCzrJwSMYxnCcYLQkGd9FIzfU8vOpZdjvE2ActkalvxoByCKtGy8OnXkiOY7nWZUjNNPI_UGnrumJU8V7p5nmMJbj/s320/tha+fam.jpg" border="0" /></a>BLAH!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkXTHiv5z1apORgPs73wSZ9LK-x2Bu9NWIuQ83VyJ8bM3AoeqX8X4vlB6BUZ9pc0um6EgYQJuBZB66kMGnId8hYy-LKu6a9kcmU1DzhGF5DyNOaU464OMAZ3LQEVzRI_XX8scCxtfLWeX/s1600-h/Shoulder+ride.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822840943207218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkXTHiv5z1apORgPs73wSZ9LK-x2Bu9NWIuQ83VyJ8bM3AoeqX8X4vlB6BUZ9pc0um6EgYQJuBZB66kMGnId8hYy-LKu6a9kcmU1DzhGF5DyNOaU464OMAZ3LQEVzRI_XX8scCxtfLWeX/s320/Shoulder+ride.jpg" border="0" /></a> Brya has the best seat in the house<br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5f0re8ithy0gGYV-AwxkfCAUejcCEOnoo2aNYtiO-MaDPy82y3X45C-IJ4KWkhyKKqzte-Xc5usqHbiPLyKXWP_7CKJ9l5v67UnQ9xfW3j2JLKd-BeUHpe3z5q6gRB5Albcvcwlehvjt/s1600-h/precious+moment.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822769860574994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5f0re8ithy0gGYV-AwxkfCAUejcCEOnoo2aNYtiO-MaDPy82y3X45C-IJ4KWkhyKKqzte-Xc5usqHbiPLyKXWP_7CKJ9l5v67UnQ9xfW3j2JLKd-BeUHpe3z5q6gRB5Albcvcwlehvjt/s320/precious+moment.jpg" border="0" /></a>Daddy N Baby Erin<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW382hP9kOZs80y_gScTxYhVEpG4dUh30PmMmPfs8xeZMhZFHPuA-Ww69OuP1oTYXxGRrs29oxGxaeqkrlUC_INfjMZOeEwWPlhbL61tpvvNhJ5kNAlHjRWmN3fIs-Jkfq3t5icuRjD8QK/s1600-h/nosies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822686574855202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW382hP9kOZs80y_gScTxYhVEpG4dUh30PmMmPfs8xeZMhZFHPuA-Ww69OuP1oTYXxGRrs29oxGxaeqkrlUC_INfjMZOeEwWPlhbL61tpvvNhJ5kNAlHjRWmN3fIs-Jkfq3t5icuRjD8QK/s320/nosies.jpg" border="0" /></a> Erin and Eddie nosies<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhApQpK42Pkef4ssfIcx_pkU6DmypNrsK5ur0qBhjN61-M0nWQJ0fIYKHSPnTUmSElYlzYvDjfw-Gf967RHS_3m3f3SDR6jNYQaX1vKW-acb3oImpoIIi7t3bOZbcHQM-zpHQaSPUW0JX/s1600-h/my+fam.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822591474034354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhApQpK42Pkef4ssfIcx_pkU6DmypNrsK5ur0qBhjN61-M0nWQJ0fIYKHSPnTUmSElYlzYvDjfw-Gf967RHS_3m3f3SDR6jNYQaX1vKW-acb3oImpoIIi7t3bOZbcHQM-zpHQaSPUW0JX/s320/my+fam.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ed and 3 of the 4 girls<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57POzq8z24ReDGyDw-P5aXca4oQ-Zuu-6jJKYOqV8HTzyXGOr2YdHj5nZ2ecmDihfwNtvjLLYtO1FRQTnDxzQt0XoS8G0TLhwMib6e4fK-hQ9yzQ4wkrU9Sp6JBoskJ76frxkOCxSY1sj/s1600-h/kiSSY.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822496285633634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 277px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57POzq8z24ReDGyDw-P5aXca4oQ-Zuu-6jJKYOqV8HTzyXGOr2YdHj5nZ2ecmDihfwNtvjLLYtO1FRQTnDxzQt0XoS8G0TLhwMib6e4fK-hQ9yzQ4wkrU9Sp6JBoskJ76frxkOCxSY1sj/s320/kiSSY.jpg" border="0" /></a>Erin N Daddy<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgzc1GEM586nkLAt0mPrK3V8Ea0FJVqtxQUxVpKjKLgG0QedqFVKqwqAGnrJQVF8WDAn9V0PhTfeNjQpes834D1I4SxKDp3UHI8tu4HAIGNkWLvdkWDkeSo7YyrjfG3ydgECzNfDl6fae/s1600-h/IMHospital.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822356433143186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgzc1GEM586nkLAt0mPrK3V8Ea0FJVqtxQUxVpKjKLgG0QedqFVKqwqAGnrJQVF8WDAn9V0PhTfeNjQpes834D1I4SxKDp3UHI8tu4HAIGNkWLvdkWDkeSo7YyrjfG3ydgECzNfDl6fae/s320/IMHospital.jpg" border="0" /></a> After Abrya's emergency birth at the hospital (We were transferred from home)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HVCE68cx_gc4RwtdmJwl_O8cOBKBodsw0-Pm1c6O2uJiVLZ5n5XykELFMTlEeOtiVPwYM-ymV1Yp3y-0YlV0uHel1CdzuIQzvlCsypuqWl1ZH9aHagJzgANmeHwWMhUW2dR0kXCsDuTZ/s1600-h/Horsey+butt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822250651573986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HVCE68cx_gc4RwtdmJwl_O8cOBKBodsw0-Pm1c6O2uJiVLZ5n5XykELFMTlEeOtiVPwYM-ymV1Yp3y-0YlV0uHel1CdzuIQzvlCsypuqWl1ZH9aHagJzgANmeHwWMhUW2dR0kXCsDuTZ/s320/Horsey+butt.jpg" border="0" /></a> Maelan's first halloween<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72WzAUw5CIgK52yY8i3aS1Kh9tp8gOzxiGFeDHG-pohY6jXAGfHluXYme3YhE7yPBIsJmUeokbkX83xC6-mLplVvKa4uDmms6BKeoYH0EFqi-pmrnlLWeQQbFMmkBuLClbvE5-_Qv9Tpy/s1600-h/GRRRRRRR.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822131852103154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72WzAUw5CIgK52yY8i3aS1Kh9tp8gOzxiGFeDHG-pohY6jXAGfHluXYme3YhE7yPBIsJmUeokbkX83xC6-mLplVvKa4uDmms6BKeoYH0EFqi-pmrnlLWeQQbFMmkBuLClbvE5-_Qv9Tpy/s320/GRRRRRRR.jpg" border="0" /></a>GRRRRRRRRRRR~!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe0NzcZvMYwic0bvQ2BqWZZOVNECpsLIP7RAuKeBJlU5a6mXJJtDw0XFitmwPaYjrnuzGedLZ5AkyOsm2arcSogKiFgiK454FweKnvv99T0zYfJOx6Hh4Eud5zaknPoKmVtSIYXFq4F6e/s1600-h/digiframe3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349822010137243634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe0NzcZvMYwic0bvQ2BqWZZOVNECpsLIP7RAuKeBJlU5a6mXJJtDw0XFitmwPaYjrnuzGedLZ5AkyOsm2arcSogKiFgiK454FweKnvv99T0zYfJOx6Hh4Eud5zaknPoKmVtSIYXFq4F6e/s320/digiframe3.jpg" border="0" /></a> First born Brynnie<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1D5rQLF45_1dOlpjaUxIWcENUqUMU9-Lnqyv-CyOW8ewXfPb5jw-DXlh2iFLPhh2grk4S5TjsM94NI29t3hfbfKsfDuC7h7iGY0s_bdJa7CYL3GH7pHONopfaySZFQ4Bi937EUwzeaGQ/s1600-h/102_0299.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349821873307783554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1D5rQLF45_1dOlpjaUxIWcENUqUMU9-Lnqyv-CyOW8ewXfPb5jw-DXlh2iFLPhh2grk4S5TjsM94NI29t3hfbfKsfDuC7h7iGY0s_bdJa7CYL3GH7pHONopfaySZFQ4Bi937EUwzeaGQ/s320/102_0299.JPG" border="0" /></a> Daddy and Brynn relaxin'<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOytBWMKPMTdFW0E5ijxA1BOZmcsPa-l8h9Fp14g6IXwU4n65uNjcgPeR1dHsurgmr7YEKb_xOmCT7P-79mp4crGmn6ZuJIVbIpR_Dm0eLE8DZHPUaEQGKw5qJS-K6FrBfwnUG-WVK52YN/s1600-h/brandnew.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349821362996733986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOytBWMKPMTdFW0E5ijxA1BOZmcsPa-l8h9Fp14g6IXwU4n65uNjcgPeR1dHsurgmr7YEKb_xOmCT7P-79mp4crGmn6ZuJIVbIpR_Dm0eLE8DZHPUaEQGKw5qJS-K6FrBfwnUG-WVK52YN/s320/brandnew.jpg" border="0" /></a> Daddy and Brya relaxin'<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAjXsKcJgnBrFObDoq8ZAWwoYGf8LRcOT-cWZwdRAQyKGExYZseg4_QMikUzeU8LCuVhGRFJpAyk_9uhRLpleL_-8e4qa1srBdpizslCOb8xzSsGZcDdqOw52N2qS6NfJmziPSKrFLt46/s1600-h/bitebitebite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349821283828689666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAjXsKcJgnBrFObDoq8ZAWwoYGf8LRcOT-cWZwdRAQyKGExYZseg4_QMikUzeU8LCuVhGRFJpAyk_9uhRLpleL_-8e4qa1srBdpizslCOb8xzSsGZcDdqOw52N2qS6NfJmziPSKrFLt46/s320/bitebitebite.jpg" border="0" /></a> Brya eating Daddy's ear<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tyuFeSHmajj5FroBfgW_wmudM3CcBWzlDLPReVdFzGeGgyuhbR8tE3_OCBvzXyGxw1gd4Dm4ZCXRoHwBlEjrkmYWoxrdXgb8IN_0aq2FUp6iKQldDK34Gkmby3uwf-Q5fLYlwMA0BxR5/s1600-h/BabyErinnDaddy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349821170880257954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tyuFeSHmajj5FroBfgW_wmudM3CcBWzlDLPReVdFzGeGgyuhbR8tE3_OCBvzXyGxw1gd4Dm4ZCXRoHwBlEjrkmYWoxrdXgb8IN_0aq2FUp6iKQldDK34Gkmby3uwf-Q5fLYlwMA0BxR5/s320/BabyErinnDaddy.jpg" border="0" /></a> Mad Erin, Happy Daddy<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZJySYU9eEXd5Tb-1kVbiflfNQnHxKNqKc-QiN_9BJrt8TW4xAHfr4FoDQlYHPFC8CmuGXvjFgNJSf-li0eoTObewSD1GK3Fn90tnWjgcSsr7Un1k1GUUMALBBtdtDGJT0ShbWaRlZ74E/s1600-h/102_0352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349820911898443602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZJySYU9eEXd5Tb-1kVbiflfNQnHxKNqKc-QiN_9BJrt8TW4xAHfr4FoDQlYHPFC8CmuGXvjFgNJSf-li0eoTObewSD1GK3Fn90tnWjgcSsr7Un1k1GUUMALBBtdtDGJT0ShbWaRlZ74E/s320/102_0352.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sleepy girls<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGRkBgKOt-ULzG6vsYzfSv_zJvNahlTcm0deWmCG9HBD759VEmd1cZcH2ALPhXC14sC624sc40GRLv2frL1X3Hm2HbokLPCSwUwl_YiBtyS0JAx8cFCeC3RvyVamC4vAJssRUvWfaHTU3/s1600-h/102_0234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349820682858651634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGRkBgKOt-ULzG6vsYzfSv_zJvNahlTcm0deWmCG9HBD759VEmd1cZcH2ALPhXC14sC624sc40GRLv2frL1X3Hm2HbokLPCSwUwl_YiBtyS0JAx8cFCeC3RvyVamC4vAJssRUvWfaHTU3/s320/102_0234.JPG" border="0" /></a> Daddy, Brynn and Maelan<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRILHgz1Bv2Qpt7PXLIrLkyWMFXYoWdM1kceUfhp6rhuZyepSZVBWkA__JmFdsXtOqajie-GNeVHnvEOtBgApgOOGtxphjKauqv6uEj_qt-_qNhCKXTRYvnMbc9MZ6STrXInfPjhQLlao/s1600-h/12-2-2007+12%3B56%3B26+PM.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349820476756209394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRILHgz1Bv2Qpt7PXLIrLkyWMFXYoWdM1kceUfhp6rhuZyepSZVBWkA__JmFdsXtOqajie-GNeVHnvEOtBgApgOOGtxphjKauqv6uEj_qt-_qNhCKXTRYvnMbc9MZ6STrXInfPjhQLlao/s320/12-2-2007+12%3B56%3B26+PM.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>Daddy and Baby Mae</div><div><br /><div>Eddie I love you, and I am thankful every single day that you are the father of my four beautiful children:)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-54912718365230219582009-06-15T11:23:00.001-07:002009-06-15T11:26:40.577-07:00No More Newborns:*(<div>On saturday, Brynn officially became an infant and no longer a newborn... meaning I will no longer hold another newborn baby of my own in my arms...:***( </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347622367059117906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrw7lRy-MrqdAcLFmZvawRjJ3P3ft_oESVH5OgTix5vp2hlxA8Os3Gt5MoR2xM8_P9zI98F2UI5gdvSH5xSvcpCXWKGtnKR5huhoK13iJ2xAz7eMQRcW3fQ_CdfYIp4Ipy1kb_mXKvMJu/s320/102_0258.JPG" border="0" /></div><br />I will never get used to them growing up so fast....Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-80032027318493511832009-06-07T14:38:00.001-07:002009-06-07T14:48:11.607-07:00Finally a day to rest....We have been running and running and running lately. We have had some of the busiest weekends I have ever had to endure. We do 4H with the girls, and since fair is coming up, we have been working so hard on our crafts, and rabbits, and fair booth and blah blah blah... on top of that, this weekend Erin came down with strep throat...<br />Did I mention that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Maelan</span> has taken to making my life EXTRA hard?;)<br />Two days ago, I was doing the dishes, and within ten minutes of starting the dishes, these are all of the phrases I had uttered...<br />"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Maelan</span>! Don't eat things out of the garbage!"<br />"Please don't poke the baby in the eye, be gentile"<br />"Spit that out of your mouth"<br />"Don't paint the bathroom <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mirror</span> with my makeup"<br />"Put the plunger back!"<br />"Get DOWN!"<br />"Get out of the Parmesan Cheese!"<br />Sometimes she is so exhausting.... I love her so much, but my GOD it takes alot of patience to be the mother of a toddler...Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-38077962515511243212009-05-28T14:57:00.000-07:002009-05-28T14:58:46.865-07:00I'm HOW old?!?!So, my birthday is on Saturday, and I woke up today not sure how old I am going to be. After I realized that this is my 26th year, I asked myself;<br />"Where did 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 go?!?!?!"Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-43794769795991685062009-05-26T16:11:00.000-07:002009-05-28T15:46:43.983-07:00Tuesday Randoms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GCdVClqj-UkKUQHPzF1qHl7XQgaO7w9oEfwuGAIrKYJH5XGrmJHBweZ6qxNqQ4sB2jF6IyI1efsBme34_PT4OJOGwLekWV9ZUAStJdpFksrn2ZRVHfnWd-gULVcF2HpfRyH0wn9mgVSK/s1600-h/102_0352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340279293200746386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GCdVClqj-UkKUQHPzF1qHl7XQgaO7w9oEfwuGAIrKYJH5XGrmJHBweZ6qxNqQ4sB2jF6IyI1efsBme34_PT4OJOGwLekWV9ZUAStJdpFksrn2ZRVHfnWd-gULVcF2HpfRyH0wn9mgVSK/s320/102_0352.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj_PSog688Ze9VoUTgk0xBmhh_9GTwh78efF-W5KhPOmd9PGzsFC7SIrGU6iE3CljZefRVaU_KSISBLMloN5cgLwP-0PjpSzluwHne0BwVz3nCegcZeDG1bCgKcUs8zQq8FDduFtvn_Pa/s1600-h/102_0339.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340279081425720370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj_PSog688Ze9VoUTgk0xBmhh_9GTwh78efF-W5KhPOmd9PGzsFC7SIrGU6iE3CljZefRVaU_KSISBLMloN5cgLwP-0PjpSzluwHne0BwVz3nCegcZeDG1bCgKcUs8zQq8FDduFtvn_Pa/s320/102_0339.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuNg_Axv-e0P66GxJItbQNfR7iN0auxcJzNpT4n9rZK42G0Nb9dYRIpghfTAvCVoklU7uwrf8FmJl4EoT9i5KRpYf99OaJUEPPwsm1FJzat_VE5phsiqly0hZ126RBhQRTlR8oM5sE_4r/s1600-h/102_0320.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340278930456125506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuNg_Axv-e0P66GxJItbQNfR7iN0auxcJzNpT4n9rZK42G0Nb9dYRIpghfTAvCVoklU7uwrf8FmJl4EoT9i5KRpYf99OaJUEPPwsm1FJzat_VE5phsiqly0hZ126RBhQRTlR8oM5sE_4r/s320/102_0320.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsh43N2YFOvOHWvY8H88cGAabWX9FZiQHDNJPiwm-yUF6wNUQq9Ax7epcVwrjBrz0hEX_OmdX999Mwxcdv-ajy3LvtHlwG1Ilv2RMU1SgQY1Z5uU9YUH_toXDYkcQxX_jwlQb76Gfue6G/s1600-h/102_0330.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340278700155337666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsh43N2YFOvOHWvY8H88cGAabWX9FZiQHDNJPiwm-yUF6wNUQq9Ax7epcVwrjBrz0hEX_OmdX999Mwxcdv-ajy3LvtHlwG1Ilv2RMU1SgQY1Z5uU9YUH_toXDYkcQxX_jwlQb76Gfue6G/s320/102_0330.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdqH8SXShY3ZzHuOKH2ltB6BJRv8QefO_r-JoK3UcwKT5VEjFqlp31XIl9wAUEtb4mMAEIzjQe0zZtbf7vQoky6-artQ1mal-oIIvsFXU4WmyhV0vXz7_15_GjVs3g4KFzwjHl8mE3QYk/s1600-h/102_0328.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340278459276206162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdqH8SXShY3ZzHuOKH2ltB6BJRv8QefO_r-JoK3UcwKT5VEjFqlp31XIl9wAUEtb4mMAEIzjQe0zZtbf7vQoky6-artQ1mal-oIIvsFXU4WmyhV0vXz7_15_GjVs3g4KFzwjHl8mE3QYk/s320/102_0328.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2ZsntI7QvornXIqiCa_TKAZB5i6onkVKh4PnbMRLgTcKOh79lNkEhLJN6RuIbzJwjS2k1la01tj-n7k5AEuImHQKBUB6NC945MVJe40nqvfEgcwu92Z-_FkeO_PhL4c9rAXUborkHq02/s1600-h/102_0325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340278210590199314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2ZsntI7QvornXIqiCa_TKAZB5i6onkVKh4PnbMRLgTcKOh79lNkEhLJN6RuIbzJwjS2k1la01tj-n7k5AEuImHQKBUB6NC945MVJe40nqvfEgcwu92Z-_FkeO_PhL4c9rAXUborkHq02/s320/102_0325.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUN6bpohODLWD-gD3hwY1UlVE1FnHqDeWvcYf8E9evV_srV1YgJvlIGlATg-orwW2_sc7S59Qaasz38gJl8bXlum7S4Lvl-SCRQsXgvCxKH6uH-RWoRZXooDdQs5BfFjiopUlXvD2n2bh/s1600-h/102_0355.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340277945707626434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUN6bpohODLWD-gD3hwY1UlVE1FnHqDeWvcYf8E9evV_srV1YgJvlIGlATg-orwW2_sc7S59Qaasz38gJl8bXlum7S4Lvl-SCRQsXgvCxKH6uH-RWoRZXooDdQs5BfFjiopUlXvD2n2bh/s320/102_0355.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOuCdhKbI1Kmmg8mGi8Bo0mxYZB_MDNDW7GY8EXHSRPjduyveBvbLf-Q1BKVrNmdbFQnYa5ZoCG-WiYvtdzdubuDOd3LMXQDN2xxGVJZuvdj3JkdnlR34E43hCRH_om0CMOlxZ8tf9_X8/s1600-h/102_0356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340277655386061154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOuCdhKbI1Kmmg8mGi8Bo0mxYZB_MDNDW7GY8EXHSRPjduyveBvbLf-Q1BKVrNmdbFQnYa5ZoCG-WiYvtdzdubuDOd3LMXQDN2xxGVJZuvdj3JkdnlR34E43hCRH_om0CMOlxZ8tf9_X8/s320/102_0356.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9avujBK2nCOZuRsuzsn9IqGuUTV62GdK3637bl-EfQnrSodMNZhCvQSzUfIImy70RVxvQYeup75GG6WJ93_TWaKbVifCSZuwhRQPoWaxekRfmxEG0MOMpT_itAilN99ONv5VsAmWKkmy/s1600-h/102_0354.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340277390023952562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9avujBK2nCOZuRsuzsn9IqGuUTV62GdK3637bl-EfQnrSodMNZhCvQSzUfIImy70RVxvQYeup75GG6WJ93_TWaKbVifCSZuwhRQPoWaxekRfmxEG0MOMpT_itAilN99ONv5VsAmWKkmy/s320/102_0354.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56WD-6BT6yT_uFbMsbQXgR9R0Zb73tdzscQF-OcRCCwBMzAwv70L3_UHQrZeW2A582uwD3OGWmqPo5LXvpMnzCHIRYHq2NdtO6XahP6Ok4mJThzRg7DIR7O9G7XMv5-ZVUsuQWkOP_-qK/s1600-h/102_0340.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340277169554570882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56WD-6BT6yT_uFbMsbQXgR9R0Zb73tdzscQF-OcRCCwBMzAwv70L3_UHQrZeW2A582uwD3OGWmqPo5LXvpMnzCHIRYHq2NdtO6XahP6Ok4mJThzRg7DIR7O9G7XMv5-ZVUsuQWkOP_-qK/s320/102_0340.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-82228242766237024822009-05-20T08:26:00.001-07:002009-05-20T08:44:07.421-07:00OverwhelmedI am just finding myself overwhelmed yet again by the task of raising four daughters in this world. Generally I get through the days with my girls without fretting about such an arduous thing, but some days, I just become completely consumed with the fear of protecting my babies while giving them room to grow into the women I hope they grow into. Now I am not saying that raising a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">respectable</span> son isn't a task to be taken lightly (and to be honest, I pray that mothers of sons are raising their sons to be respectable, considering someday my girls will be dating these boys), but it seems that to bring forth a daughter in this day and age is almost as if a special kind of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">burden</span> (good <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">burden</span> of course) is placed upon the shoulders of her parents. With <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">over-sexualized</span> ideas and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">under stimulated</span> self confidence in many young girls today, it is not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">surprising</span> that we see people going down destructive paths. I have taken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">a lot</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">psychology</span> in school, so I am too aware of the fact that in just a few more years, my oldest daughter is going to begin to pull away from me to find herself out there somewhere. This frightens me beyond belief. To me she will always be that wrinkly, beautiful little baby born as dawn broke on July 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> of 2002. As a matter of fact I feel this way about all of my girls. Their birth minutes imprinted in my mind as to keep them my babies forever. I protected them inside of my body, and nurtured them from my breast, taught them right from wrong as I see fit... and before I know it I am going to be sending them to the wolves of society hoping that I taught them well enough that they stay on the path and not stray too far from it. Gosh, sometimes I wish I could just hold their hands forever. I just pray that they hear me when they are too old and too cool to listen to me anymore. At the end of the day, all I really want for my wonderful daughters is for them to be as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside, and I pray everyday that I am helping build a foundation that shows them that they are worth much more than they could ever imagine. But until the day comes where they begin to spread their wings and step away from me, I will relish in the little things that make them my little girls... the kisses and hugs, the lap sitting and book reading... picking me a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers (most of them half-wilted)... the way they sometimes say the wrong thing thinking it is the right thing to say... their innocence at encountering new things... I will hold onto these minutes as long as I can, and while I'm at it I will throw in some life lessons also and pray to god they are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">listening</span> hard enough to take something with them when Mommy is no longer their best friend.Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-61278741445244491592009-05-16T13:37:00.000-07:002009-05-16T14:34:25.200-07:00Now you see her, now you don't...I took this video yesterday... and though I didn't laugh at the time, not I cannot watch it without laughing a little now:).<br /><br /><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQvjd9o-biGefav6wc1tUBjzfZ6oHthUfiWhH-rNk7wSoqJDhT2_f2F1rcf6gWDoRxEXnrWfzUbG33xGlh7Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>It helps to understand my lack of total and utter sympathy to know that she practically dusted herself off and kept on going:). No biggie, but solid film gold America's Funniest Home Video style.;)</p><p>So yesterday was not such a good day for half of our family... we were immunized. I have not had a shot since the year 1987, and I had to get three of them yesterday for school (to clarify, I have been going to school part time since 2003, taking classes just to keep my head in the game, waiting until my kids are older and in school so I can finish my nursing degree.) Anyway, back to my shots... I have not had them since 1987, and BOY let me tell you they sting! I am also not feeling so hot today with achy joints, a headache, a fever and my arms cannot extend over my head. No wonder they give them to kids when they are little, as my husband put it "They seem to bounce back better and complain less... well less than you do:)" Brynn had her two month shots yesterday and took them like a pro. She practically slept through them. She is doing well today. Maelan also had a couple of shots that were delayed as we were waiting for our insurance to kick back in. She took them just fine, but then about three in the morning she woke throwing up with her heart racing, a high fever, and she kept itching her tounge. I was so scared. After giving her Tylenol to try to bring her fever down, I tried to get ahold of my mom (who is has a bachelor in Nursing... you see I'm keeping the family trend:)) and I couldn't get a hold of her. So we called our Family Doctor and woke him up at 4 am. He told us just to keep an eye on her and that he was not convinced it was an allergic reaction considering those usually happen within the first 20 minutes, though he was a little worried about her itching and chewing her tounge. Anyway I gave her a little Benedryl to ease MY mind, and we settled in finally at around 5 in the morning... to say the least it was a long night. She is 100% today, so I figure that it was a fluke reaction to her fever. Hopefully I never have to see a reaction like that again with any more of my kiddos. Hope everyone else had a better night:). </p>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-67007892052654233962009-05-12T14:19:00.001-07:002009-05-12T14:39:33.160-07:00My House<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9WoK3-c8NGNqdzdbSHYZjGfQgpCoPACqX-n9rNlsiQ09WZgolpe8Uf8IhaBvC6wSQ6kUk6p52rXFW9kvAfxrIVcOzR8c7XZkqY-aV-kVA_Osp1VfFdxpfMgHryoaYK6kl-59gfDEs1in/s1600-h/102_0290%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335050418037688514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9WoK3-c8NGNqdzdbSHYZjGfQgpCoPACqX-n9rNlsiQ09WZgolpe8Uf8IhaBvC6wSQ6kUk6p52rXFW9kvAfxrIVcOzR8c7XZkqY-aV-kVA_Osp1VfFdxpfMgHryoaYK6kl-59gfDEs1in/s200/102_0290%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a> Today, in an effort to capture things about my life, I am going to show pictures of where we live. This is my (our:)) house in Belding Michigan... We bought it in 2004.<br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335051186606178658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0QP6sksrBy2qzHJpnROMYDhThea4gNRUpC66wz9HitvIiQYWd1iXx_rCxenoJfRWx4y6d-octFv3981o-0V7z9t5jyKBOezr4fl2-SVrcwuv8QwL156LEkn7mQUwL2chBcNB-L848PHq/s200/102_0289%5B1%5D" border="0" />This is the bluejay that nested on our house this year... You can't see it, but her head is popping out of the top of the nest:).<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335051956058351874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc03kIVDNv6ll88bhDRsowV9M4zI07pb9olUd3MJQnU7vqPTmW_-PTHxGA4g9STKgPxQl8UGFYRAspfRcmPCuNSunKsr_zpQJqCRxxgZ4qUgS1aYbOO9TJpR9CtAHhtuhOvxMkOHt0pA0/s200/102_0291%5B1%5D" border="0" />The Garage up front and the Bunny Barn in back<br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335052730715979586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5gNB8N86I2slZdqbzWXKqJNJwQuxcEboln4NvzQbx3n5_0zzF96kyycGrhiMFQSvhyphenhyphenOYjdfpHnUcH6HH15ebUbiW4VaSmULq0icpTIzMWn_DvubIMSLUe6qbVuQDNl0WNU3mcdqfXkpR/s200/102_0288%5B1%5D" border="0" /></div></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053169739830018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7l2Xdw1wX8r9Dwj4rQntrQK-OhQFnTKIA3uu4XGcpN0WqiaJ6D2s9mmXuv7ItsTC8PY-RnFoxFiELviULaDZIg9lT5uKE5aZSvRIhR3Jz9LaZIeWrcKYOTQQssXP1ErTRkcPql4hO7ET/s200/102_0287%5B2%5D" border="0" />Our Backyard<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053563725357298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDO7m0YGMKA89XapavQ_DNq4m4mZ2LNiq1QCQ2PGZa78Dv37lUOLDSZMcJvtxw7-ck8LLmRaS4zZ5LnI4ct7m6JOySP2W-80gicBU0vP-zu9IZqJwuaoNfBZMYa0fTYgQAoE5nwS_2I9L/s200/102_0295%5B1%5D" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053892919039458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGyfcmb_ri1dUekSY7U3bw_6Ll3a21-Dg_rFloBctziXQEIvovmnJS8WonGa1HscaH_ExRI1Mjj0JPmRU_xOPtC-GFaXYJZggA-UfmOX7Ip5F2_7LnXmlvd4gOyDBIXKakXc1unl0Urvi/s200/102_0296%5B1%5D" border="0" />Our Downstairs<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335054181686780242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCN1k2m1TNwD2dcC_fvAKNO8yK_-Sp1XFrkWLhWzmMSp5qe-huC3b7cXWx6jsh-zB4qH6oXJl5fyMxTHbhYef9HE2PVD78eUyS0dh-a1SfdLSLxmmkAPrCtUKdzvTsUTv0pnRil1fQiz7/s200/102_0297%5B1%5D" border="0" />and Our Upstairs (excuse the mess). The 'Big Girls' room is straight (in Pink), the 'Little Girls' room to the left (in Lavender), and the office door is to the right done in green. The door to the walk-out porch is in there. </div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-22804887717998017322009-05-11T11:00:00.000-07:002009-05-11T11:03:42.121-07:00P.S.) OH YEAHToday, I quit drinking my beloved Coca Cola in an attempt to drop the rest of my baby weight. I have picked up running again also (I used to run long distance in High School... it has been a while since those days...) It's not that I am TOO disgusted with myself... it is just that I have a closet full of size 5 pants that I do not have a prayer of fitting into right now... it is quite depressing... I am hoping once I drop those pounds that it will be like acquiring an entire wardrobe:) Let us hope that this blog helps keep me accountable for -Coke +running:).<br />Wish Me LUCK!!!Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143268923331132968.post-59413617990222367692009-05-11T06:37:00.000-07:002009-05-11T11:18:45.217-07:00Hi! I'm NEW here!<span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1Nm_7wOv6GNd-F2xvuSfqRRgYOdDIZ-mYXnncoXgc4NxIK9wTFZg3PxnYhENov5Zgt4QRl5UjA8pCusph7iOiyO40r0LfVZ35WbqgmQyNuLHncA1yAyzV6Lq9M2_Fis9NNujqcz38kxp/s1600-h/t-ra.jpg"><span style="color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334573689658234946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1Nm_7wOv6GNd-F2xvuSfqRRgYOdDIZ-mYXnncoXgc4NxIK9wTFZg3PxnYhENov5Zgt4QRl5UjA8pCusph7iOiyO40r0LfVZ35WbqgmQyNuLHncA1yAyzV6Lq9M2_Fis9NNujqcz38kxp/s200/t-ra.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#663300;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="color:#663300;">So, I have noticed lately that alot of people have started blogs. Since I love to write, and talk about myself... and since I have so much time on my hands I have also decided to give blogging a try (anyone who has any suggestions on blogging, it would be greatly appreciated.)<br />I suppose that I can start by letting people know a little about myself and my family. My name is Tara Lynne born on May 30th 1983. I am a stay-at-homer with my 4 adorable little girls;<br />Erin Melody who was born Saturday July 20th 2002 (on her due date) at 7:22 a.m.<br />Abrya Gweneth who was born Saturday November 29th 2003 at 12:45 a.m.<br />Maelan Brenna who was born Monday August 6th 2007 at 5:20 a.m. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffkAYxbvlbPNDpSbP2gXsnG7HTNfyr2nlHRWMIAPStUOOqc09FMRl7E_heAblqkbOa5yH940WR3v_0y3a5u7rjINuS4pbaksq9W4lGcTsGREOMHm_d3xBjG6e_LopxmhOKoXDhyoTgWTp/s1600-h/102_0108.JPG"><span style="color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334573769076181058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffkAYxbvlbPNDpSbP2gXsnG7HTNfyr2nlHRWMIAPStUOOqc09FMRl7E_heAblqkbOa5yH940WR3v_0y3a5u7rjINuS4pbaksq9W4lGcTsGREOMHm_d3xBjG6e_LopxmhOKoXDhyoTgWTp/s320/102_0108.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#663300;"><br />Brynn Evelyn who was born Friday March 13th 2009 at 9:18 p.m.<br />I am really proud of the fact that all of my girls have been breastfed, co-slept, slinged, and homebirthed! (I am not really a hippy, just someone who things that women should take their births back... wait, that was a really hippy thing to say!!!:) LOL)<br />My husband of 6 years who is also the father of my 4 beautiful babies is Eddie. He and I have been together since I was 16 years old, and he was 18. I cannot imagine my life without him, as we obviously grew up together and have made so many memories already.<br />Well, I have so many things I could say about myself, but I will save some for further blogging;).<br />Iam so excited about starting a blog!! </span><span style="color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334574023515781442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwnbmWuRuKtiLJVmZQg0bfsymsO45Uwfx4G77-TUlhhn0Khmy4Ujv1pq__pzTdevfLnSpD17IJj9SOSMY1Eituusm-dGOeAmPYqBWkrMDLIY806OmA3Ahszicx7Vnf1qdj6It92QULWDc/s200/ustwoagain.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div>Tara Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197431791248329317noreply@blogger.com0