Irvine Family

Slacker.

2012-01-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

Good day!

I know, I know, I am fully aware of my slacking off lately. I am rather disappointed in this.
Things just haven't seemed to slow down at all lately.

Where to begin?

In the last six months:

-Tyson has received a raise and has gotten promoted at Morgan Pest Control, He is also still a volunteer fireman and has recently gone on a few "structure" fires. I use to get a little nervous about these fires, but not so much anymore.... He totally loves it. He says it's an adrenaline rush, and beyond rewarding when they have an opportunity to save someone's life. Tyson is going to school this semester, and hopefully will be able to get a degree within the next year or so.

- I have continued to do hair at Salone Sienne and I honestly do love doing hair. It's not always an easy job-- achieving exactly what the client is shooting for, however, when I make someone feel beautiful, it's totally worth it. I am also working for DB Systems in Hurricane. I mostly list items on Ebay for them ( and I get to do this from home) But occasionally I work in the warehouse on random things. I am grateful for this job... it's really nice to be able to do this from home and make some extra money. I am also the enrichment coordinator for church. I have a full-blown love/hate relationship with this calling... but, non-the-less, it's coming along okay.

- Parks is still going to Pre-school and he really loves it. He loves riding the bus, loves his friends, and really loves learning. He has improved on many levels but of course, he IS still 3 1/2 and can be troublesome. I relish the opportunities I have with him where we have full conversations about the new things he is interested in, new friends, new favorites, etc. He often surprises me at how quick-witted he can be for his small size. He adores Scooby-doo, Dino Dan, and Umizoomi right now. I say, right now, because these 'things' seem to change on a regular basis. Parks is such a handsome little boy. He has exceptionally long, thick eyelashes and gorgeous brown eyes. I've wished many times to have those beautiful eyelashes.

- Tracen is now 10 months old and is such a chub lub! I could easily eat him up with kisses all day. He is a total Momma's boy and I have thoroughly enjoyed this. Parks is/was only that way when he is/was tired, sick, hurt, etc. My little Tray-Bug is starting to walk but isn't as steady as he sometimes thinks he ought to be. He has probably gotten way more goose eggs then the average ten month old. I'm sure of it... Poor kid. Tracen loves to eat, and eat, and eat... oh, and eat. He outright loathes bath time and will spend forever playing the bath. Right now he is teething but does have his bottom two teeth already. He is into mimicking right now and will try to mimic almost anything we do... He blows raspberries like nobodies business, and has started to babble. He can say Momma, Dadda, and of course: no. =D Tray has the most adorable dimples ever. Every time he shows off his tiny two-teeth grin his little dimples pop out -- or in. ;) I am crazy about them.

Anyhow, so here's a slight update on what's going on. I will try to work on keeping up a little more.. Especially with photos!!
xoxox

{park says}

2011-11-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

Parks: Mom, whats Maya going to be for Halloween?
Me: A Princess.
Parks: What's Tracen going to be?
Me: A monster
Parks: What's Shawn going to be?
Me: A hippie!!
Parks: OH, I want to be a Hippo, or a Rhino!
Me: No, Parks, a Hip-pie, hippie!
Parks: Yeah, a hipp-o, hippo!

Parks says:

2011-08-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

I dropped my flat iron on the floor in the bathroom...and this is our convo:
Me: Oh, man...
Parks: aw... snap!

Another Conversation with his dad:
Tyson: What's your name?
Parks: Parks Irvine.
Tyson: What's your brothers name?
Parks: Tracen Irvine.
Tyson: What's Daddy's name?
Parks: Tyson.
Tyson: What's mommy's name?
Parks: Mommy.

Parks is starting pre-school today and I am really really excited for him, but I have to admit, I am a tiny bit sad that he's getting so big already.
He is one of the most stubborn kids alive. I'd bet on it.
He still carries a toy with him quite often, and doesn't want to ever leave it's side.
He tries to "wrestle" with Tray quite often, and I have to remind him that he's being too rough with his brother.
He loves to jam out to music in the car.
Sometimes he'll walk around the house on all fours and pretend to be some kind of animal.
He has recently named his favorite dragon, Camden, Camden the Dragon.
His favorite color is red.
He has conversations out loud to himself quite often : "Guess what? We are going to Gammy's house in a little while to play.... dat will be so fun, huh? Okay.. go get your shoes"
He loves to watch cartoons in the morning.
He'll only eat cereal if it's dry... no milk in it.. and pretty much only golden grahams.
I often call him P-Monkey, because he can and does climb everywhere.
He loves to take showers.
Wants me to sing "Silent Night" to him STILL every single night, AND prayers with mommy & daddy.
His prayers usually go exactly like this : "Dear Heavenly Father, in da name Jesus, Amen" -- nothing in between.
He likes to be in charge.
Favorites: Busses, Rv's, Diesels, Planes, and of course Tractors!
Parks is a lot of fun, but such a little handful, and I'm so excited to see what this school year will bring with him.

Silly kid.

2011-07-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, this little sunshine is so very special. =)

Lake Naci, CA

2011-06-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

Lake Naci for Memorial.
It was a ton of fun. We invited some friends-- and all ended up having a blast-- minus the cold weather... =/ Parks loved it, he was in his own element for the most part and overall behaved really well. Tracen was a perfect baby. He does really well for the most part and seems to only cry when he's tired and/or hungry. I've been blessed to have good babies.

My goofy dad! ;)


Parks and Kade


Our dock is the furthest one, with the slide.

It's a party! Parks is 3!!!!!!!

2011-05-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

Parks had a birthday party at his Gammy's house with lots of family. It's so fun for him to have so many cousins. We had pizza, pasta salad and cake/ice cream. It wasn't anything to exciting, fairly simple.. but I think he felt special-- which is what counts the most!! =)
Parks is my little challenge, but I am so grateful for him and I do love him very much. He's taught me a lot about being a mother.... and I am excited about this next year of pre-school and such. He's so big now... and very busy... but it would be very boring if he weren't around. ;)

Tracen Taft Irvine

2011-05-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

Tray has now been blessed with a name. We blessed him just recently. It was a really beautiful blessing that his dad gave him. I was grateful that much of our family was able to be with us to celebrate his day.

Brotherly Love

2011-05-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a lot of fun having two boys. Parks is still getting use to having a sibling. He get's a little jealous ~~most~~ **some** times. It's a work in progress. Tracen is growing like a weed and it makes me sad to see him get big already!! =)

Tray Bug is taking a bath in the above photo... and I know, from his face he looks like a total Grump. But I prominse, he actually LOVES the bath. =)

The aquarium in Salt lake

2011-05-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Parks loves animals and insects of all kinds. So I went up north to visit my brother, some friends, and go to a hair show with my mom. So here are a few photos of us at the aquarium... and Parks is in HEAVEN! he loved seeing everything.

Swimming.

2011-05-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

Swimming time in the back yard.
I try to find things to entertain Parks while I'm cleaning and with the baby...
So here he is.. playing in the backyard.
He did have a swimsuit on, I promise...
But he took it off and decided to be a nudist.

Jumping Jacks

2011-04-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

Parks LOVES going to Jumping Jacks, so we met our friends there to play.
Here's a few pictures of Parks and Hudson on the Merry Go Round..
Hudson is 3 or 4 weeks older then Parks and Hudson's mom, Jacy, and I grew up together.. so it's been neat to have boys the same age.

Surgery

2011-04-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

Parks has problems with his ears... we are doing different things to try to fix the issue. This is his second time getting tubes in his ears.. We went in on the second week of April, so right after Trace was born. But things went okay and Parks did really well. He kept telling me that these little socks he had on were his "Dino Feet" and he would act like a Dino stomping around the room. I know, he looks utterly exhausted in these photos.. It was early.

Easter

2011-04-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

This year we spent time with Tyson's family for Easter.
Parks was pretty unsure about the egg hunting. He didn't really care to much for it...
We also had a BBQ with Tyson's Grandparents and his Grandma's sister.
It was a beautiful Sunday and very nice to spend time as a family.

Tyson's grandma Zachreson.

Bath time!

2011-04-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

Parks LOVES bath time. He practically lives for it.. =) One day I put him in the bath, and came back to check up on him--- and I found him with a ridiculous amount of toys in the tub, toys that did not belong in there... what a goof!

Tracen @ 3 weeks or so.

2011-04-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

Still so tiny! But starting to fill out a little more.. he's a slow grower and oh so tiny. BUT a really good baby!

Confused?!

2011-04-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

Parks will often put on our shoes and walk around the house. Here is a few photo's of him in my heels. He trips often in them.. but LOVES to try to balance in them. We laugh about these moments a ton at our house. BTW: Don't mind the goofy pajamas ~~that his dad dressed him in.~~ =)

Papa's Birthday

2011-04-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

My dad turned 53 this year, and we had a small family birthday party for him. Here's a couple photo's of our celebration. You can tell the grand kids all want to be the one to blow the candles out! It's crazy to me that my parents are already entering into there mid 50's.... But there marriage is stronger then ever and they are both very happy. Cheers to them!

Tracen Taft Irvine

2011-03-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

Caution: If you don't like to read about birth, you may want to skip this post... and huge post.
A few photos at the end.

I haven't been able to sit down and write Tracen's birth story out. It's been really busy around our house and I finally have a couple of minutes. I hope I can write most of it out today.

When I originally found out I was pregnant I decided I'd try to do as much reserach about labor and delivery as possible and found out more about how the female body worked, etc. I wanted to be much more prepared this time around.

About a month ago I started to pray for a quick delivery, healthy baby, if possible to not be induced, and also to go a little early. I can say that I was very blessed to have recieved ALL of the above. I was so grateful that things happened the way that I had desired for them to happen. "Ask and ye shall receive":)

On Wednesday, the 23rd of March I had a doctors appointment. I went in and he checked me to see how much I was dilated to. I was a 3+, almost a 4, and 70% effaced. He then swiped my membranes and told me that if I kept busy, then by the end of the day, I should easily be a 4. This was motivating for me.. I was going to be 38 weeks the following day and I couldn't wait to meet my son. I went home and started rocking and bouncing on my yoga ball immediately, even though I was starting to contract and felt like I just wanted to lay down, I felt it was my job to do my part if I wanted the Lord to help me on the other side of things. I continued working with my body for hours, trying to encourage it along.

Tyson finally came home and we decided to order some Cafe Rio. He told me he didn't want me to go into labor yet because he "had a big morning at work the next day" (Thursday) and I laughed and told him good luck..... and that I was hoping I was not having 'false labor'.... because I was really starting to feel contractions. Tyson and Parks went to bed and I slept for about 2 hours and then was up feeling uncomfortable all night.. so I continued to bounce and rock on my yoga ball.....ALL NIGHT LONG.. and then finally at 6 am I fell asleep for a little while... Waking back up to contractions two hours later!

Thursday:::
I knew I was probably in full labor at this point, but still was afraid that I could be having false labor... so I continued all day long.. walking outside, bouncing on the yoga ball, and cleaning my house. Tyson got home at about 3, ate lunch and showered--- and then kinda hung out.... till' I told him "We're leaving!!" haha. He thought I was doing "fine" because in between contractions I was acting completely "normal". haha. I had to tell him that they don't hurt in between, and I do feel fine 'in between'.

So, finally we packed everything into the car and took Parks to meet Tyson's mom, and then headed to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at about 5:15 pm and I explained that my pain in my contractions had intensified but they still weren't a 100% consistent in timing, and that I was about a 4 and 70% effaced. The nurse decided to just check me and admit me. I was now a 4+ but still 70% effaced.

My mom, and older sister then came to the hospital and right about this point Doctor Lunt came in. He checked me, tried to open my cervix a little more, and broke my water. I then had 4 contractions that were KILLER. My pitocin hadn't even started flowing yet, and my contractions were at most 45 seconds a part. After about 4 of them, and no relief in pressing pressure points or anything, my nurse, Pearl, checked me and I was already a 7!! I asked Pearl to hurry and get me an epidural!! I originally wanted to try to go all natural, and I, overall, I was able to handle the pain till' this point. I never wanted to assume I could be super woman, but I wanted to try to do it with out the pain meds.

The anesthesiologist came in and hooked me up!! I still had 3 or 4 contractions till' the epidural kicked in!! I was trying to relax between them but was feeling like I was unable to breathe... and then finally.... relief. I could still feel my legs, even move them a little, I could feel pretty much everything....just none of the pain. This was something that was very exciting for me.. I wanted to be able to feel.

At 8:15 p.m.Pearl checked me again... I was now dilated to a 9, and she told me that I would be having my baby with in the next half an hour or so. I was now super excited/nervous/anxious. Tyson started perking up a bit and I could tell he was feeling the same thing as I was. My mom called my dad, Tyson texted his family... we were about to add another member to our eternal family and I was feeling really grateful, blessed, and excited for this.

8:30 p.m.
Doctor Lunt came in and said he was sure I was ready. He checked me and sure enough, I was now dilated to 10!! Nurses started coming in and I got ready to push. Doctor Lunt asked me to take a big breath in the push one big push. I pushed once, and Doc Lunt told me we were almost there. At this point I could feel Tracen dropping into the birth canal and coming out. Doctor Lunt asked me to push again as hard as I could... and in the middle of the push, he asked me to stop pushing, and he pulled Tracen out the rest of the way..... and then set him on my belly. It was so neat. I started to tear up when I saw him..... I looked up at Tyson and we both smiled. Tyson was a little teary eyed as well as we both were in awe of our new gift, our second son.

It's an amazing experience to give birth and to have children. I am really grateful for it, and feel blessed that I'm able to be a mother. I am so glad that everything went so well, and I know it has a lot to do with my diligence in praying for all these things. It was a better experience this time around, then when I had Parks. I knew more, was ready for more, and was more then willing to experience giving birth. I wasn't afraid of anything, in fact, I almost feel like I welcomed the contractions because I understood there importance.

Thus far, Tracen has been a really good baby. We've had a few rough nights, but he came out of the womb practically sucking his thumb. He's a very good eater!!

Parks is learning about what it's like to have a sibling and has adjusted a little bit so far. I can tell he's jealous and needs attention at certain points. He also is still learning that Tracen is fragile... but with time, I'm sure it'll all be fine. It's a lot of work to have a newborn and I feel very complete at this point with children. I know eventually we'll have more but I am happy with my 2 little boys right now.

Over the weekend

2011-03-01T07:09:00.000-08:00

Tyson and I wanted to do something fun and different, and since he had Friday off of work, we decided to go head down to Vegas.
I don't particularly love Vegas. It's super dirty and very congested, but I figured a weekend out of town could be good for all us before the baby comes.
We took Parks to the Lied Discovery Children's Museum. It seemed like it was in the "hood", but once inside, we had a lot of fun.
Parks was in absolute heaven touching and playing with everything he could imagine. He really loved the "bubbles area" and the airplane. I was glad we got an opportunity to take him to do something he's never done. I only wish they had more kid oriented activities here in St. George.
We also went down to visit our friends, Mary and Kelly, whom just recently purchased a home on the west side of Vegas. We went to dinner with them at Buffalo Bills and spent time with them. It was a lot of fun to go out just as adults. We wish they lived across the street again, but are excited for them and their brand new purchase!
I didn't take as many photos as I wish I would have... but here are a few.

I've Decided.

2011-02-24T09:56:00.000-08:00

I've decided that I really do need to work on making our blog a book and writing more things on here that I need and want to remember.
So I'm going to continue to work on that.

Tyson and I have felt that ever since Parks could walk and talk he has had a few different anger issues. Which are very hard to deal with some days. Extremely overwhelming. We didn't understand where they were stemming from or why he would act out in the ways that he does... in fact I just wondered if that was "normal" because he is our first child. We recently started looking into all of this and discovered that Parks might have ODD (Oppositional defiant disorder) it's where your child has a persistent pattern of tantrums, arguing, and angry or disruptive behaviors toward you and other authority figures. So we are going to look into all of it and see if there are different ways to help us parent and help him to overcome his little battle.
Here's a few picture of him in the last little bit.
He drew all over his self.
Little turkey.

Photos of him and Maya in the bath tub. They love to play together...

Parks says:

2011-02-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

The funnies.

Last week I layed Parks down to take his nap... and through the wall we had quite the convorsation.
Parks: Mom...?
Me: Yes Bubba?
Parks: Mom 'ome ere (come here)
Me: Nope.. It's nap time..
Parks: Well, It steents (stinks) Mommy.
Me: Why?
Parks: I faw-ted. Gwoss. Ewww... steenty. ( Farted, gross)
Me: (laughing) Go to sleep "P".
Parks: Otay.

-------------------------------------------
In the car driving home from My mom's house.
Tyson and I were talking about random things.
Out of no where Parks pipes up.

Ky-it ( quiet) ssshhhh... No talk.
Tyson and I laughing.

Again Parks says: Ky-it ( quiet) ssshhhh... Ky-it Dude!!!

Such a goof.

-------------------------------------------------

Parks.

2011-02-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

I have been home with Parks a ton lately.

He has been really really ~~wild~~ fun for me. :)

He is, in no doubt, two.

I thought I better update a little more about him while I have the time to do it.

He is still very much a momma's boy but LOVES to play & wrestle with his daddy.

His speech has improved tremendously.

He understands [slightly] that I have a baby brother in my belly and he has felt the baby move.

When he says "I love you", it sounds more like "I ruv roo" Which we call his "Scooby voice"

He carries things with him EVERYWHERE.

Things like: his favorite car, Gator boots (his favorite alligator), blanket, Sippie Cup, etc. He'll take these things to the store, to his grandmother's houses.. wherever we go.

AND

If he happens to find something at their house that he wants to carry he'll HAVE TO add it to his collection that he's got to carry around.

Some days he'll have three items he's got in his hands-- and then tries to juggle eating, or drinking, etc.

Such a goof.

He dances. Shakes his "tail feather".

He loves to read a book at night at sing "Silent Night"... however, he calls it "Sigh-ya-nigh"

He is learning to spell his name out loud, but usually will only say "P-a-r".

It's a work in progress.

He loves animals and would live at the Zoo if we had one here in Southern Utah.

I take him to see the ducks and horses at least once a week.

He also really loves Diesels and tractors and Tyson and I joke that P will be in construction or a Truck driver one day because he has an obsession.

He tells me that "Tractors dig dirt" every single time we see a tractor. =)

He enjoys looking at himself in the mirror and checking himself out... He'll dance in front of the mirror, check out his backside, and smile at himself.

Such a little turkey... makes me laugh every time.

If he could, he'd live outside.

He really enjoys being outside.

He loves the Park, dirt (even eating dirt =/ ), rocks, riding his bike, swimming... anything that he can do outside is amazing to him.

He loves to go to nursery at church and is currently learning more about Jesus and praying.

He's been a lot of fun at this age. I really love being a mom.

It's a hard job, but at the end of the day I wouldn't want any other job. :)

I remember.

2011-02-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of Parks when He was one month old.
It feels like he has grown into a crazy two year old far to quickly.
I remember these sweet moments though, when I would hold him close and he would just curl up in a tiny ball on my chest.
*sigh*
Heaven.

Now, I'm about to have another one month old.

Wow.

I'm excited, nervous, anxious.....
8 more weeks & I will be a mother of two boys.

BUSY!!! Need to catch up.

2011-01-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

December was a pretty busy month and really flew on by.
I haven't updated for quite some time so I really need to get on the ball.
I've been trying hard to spend some one on one time with Parks, as I know, he's going to be an only child for just a little longer and then he'll have to learn to share time with his little brother.
I'm a little worried about how that adjustment will go. I'm sure eventually it'll smooth right out.
Parks isn't one to love to share... something we'll have to work on even more.
I've also been working with him on potty training.
It's been a slow process.
We just work on it a little at a time. I'm hoping that if I don't force him, he'll take hold of it better.

This year we started a new tradition of doing a ginger bread house together.
I really wanted Parks to do the decorating on his own.. I just maneuvered the pieces together so it looked like a house. :) So here is a few pictures of that event.

Right around Christmas we went with Tyson's side of the family to eat at Pirate Island.
Parks thinks it a little bit scary in there.. but loves the play area and arcade.
He thinks he's a big boy and can play all of the same games as everyone else.
You can tell he did not want me to hold him. He wanted to run around and play...

Christmas Eve Parks was really sick with croup. It was horrible. He was on antibiotics though, and the doctor approved us taking him outside to play, regardless of his cough/cold.
So, we went to Brian Head and did went sledding/tubing.
Parks was falling asleep in his little tube because he was so dang lethargic...
BUT when they'd push him down the hill in his tube he'd look up, smile, and say "fun! A-din!" (Again)
I was a little worried about how high the hills were that they were pushing him down on..
But the people that worked there, assured me that it wouldn't be a big deal to get a refund if he hated it, and that even a 16 month old had gone down it....
P monkey ended up loving it!!

Christmas morning Parks was still sick and a little lethargic still..
Once he saw what Santa had brought him tho, He was as happy as a clam.
He played.... then laid down... then played.. then wanted to cuddle.. then play again.
We were happy that it, at least, put him in a little bit of a better mood. Poor guy.. =/

Tyson and I both had a great Christmas together.
It was really fun...and Tys spoiled me rotten..
He's terrible at keeping on budget when it comes to Christmas time.
You can tell we're both a little tired and out of it still.
None-the-less, still taking pictures and enjoying these moments.
It's so much more fun to be a parent, and observe how much your kids are loving the toys and the spirit of Christmas.
I love the giving part of Christmas, and seeing how excited people get when they see what you've made/purchased for them.

I try really hard every year to get people gifts that are more on the thoughtful end, and that have meaning. So I gave my parents a quilt that I had made.. and my mom a necklace that has all her kids' names engraved on it.
This is a photo of my dad's face when he saw what my mom had purchased for him for Christmas. He's in shock. He had no idea.

New fishing boat.
Parks was out there wanting to get in and play in it.

My mom with the quilt and her necklace.

My dad with his new rug for our lake house.

Stacey, Tyson's mom, with a necklace I got her as well.

Tyson's dad, With his new hunting backpack. :)

Trevor with his new shades.

December was a great month. We had a really good time and stayed busy.
NOW I'm at 29 weeks pregnant and SOOO ready to be done.
We're getting close, and I've been doing some preparing here and there.
I really don't love to be pregnant.
I'm having Braxton hicks as I type this and I'm feeling a little bit large lately....
But I love that I'm more aware of our little monster in this pregnancy and I can feel his little limbs more often and when he turns.. It's been fun to watch my belly wiggle around and feel him move.
I'm excited to meet him...
We have two names FINALLY picked out, so we'll see what he ends up with.

Thanksgiving.

2010-12-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year. We played a bunch of games together. This is a photo of the kids playing the "Snowball game" aka Vaseline and Cotton ball game... and my mom playing along with the grand kids. It was super funny to watch. =)

My cousins, Joy, and Josh (and Josh's wife, Melody) came down from Provo to join in our festivities. We're glad they came. It's nice to have a big dinner with lots of family all together.

IF you haven't heard, we're having another BOY. In this photo I'm about 21 weeks. So, just over half way. I can feel him swimming and kicking a TON! I really enjoy feeling him move, but I'm starting to think he's more of a wiggle worm then Parks was. ;)

Parks.

2010-11-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

Just a photo of him crashed out. I thought it was cute because his little bum was hanging out. =) Crazy how fast he's growing up.. =(

Halloween

2010-11-13T16:13:00.000-08:00

I love Thriller... so every year Tyson and I go and see the show here in St.George. This year I didn't think it was as good as in years past. But, It was still a fun date night. These scary little people totally walk around limping and sniffing people. =) I would love to dress up like them and join in on the scaring. ;)
Parks was a Pirate this year, and I was a *scary* witch. Tyson doesn't love to dress up, so Parks and I just did. We went to Gammy's and Ma'mma's house and a few neighbors to trick or treat. Turned out to be a fun Halloween.

I'm behind.

2010-10-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted much of anything lately. It's hard for me to have the time to get on and post about our life.

Tyson and I both recently celebrated our birthday parties. Tyson turned the big 26! and I'm now 24... our birthdays are only 4 days apart so we usually do joint parties every year. I didn't take any photos because I forgot my camera and wasn't doing my job... =/ But we had a great time. On my birthday we went to a movie together, then to dinner with our friends Mary and Kelly. Tyson and I hadn't laughed that hard in quite awhile, so it was a much needed night out.

This last weekend I went with my mom and sisters to Las Vegas to see "Time Out for Woman". Let me just say, IT WAS AMAZING. I really loved the entire event. They had amazing speakers, and awesome music! I am glad that I went, it was nice to spend time with just the girls.

Eating his first fudge Popsicle::

I haven't written much about Parks for quite some time, so I thought I better update about him as well.

He now is talking a ton and starting to form a lot of sentences.
He's been making us laugh a lot more lately.
He STILL loves cheese, chicken, and funions (spellings?) more then anything else.
He drags his "bankie" [blanket] around with him everywhere.
He LoVeS to take showers.
His best friends are Sammy [Tyson's mom's dog] Casen [ Little boy across the street] and Maya [Shawn, my sister's daughter].
He really enjoys being outside and riding his bike.
He has ridiculously good motorskills... sometimes makes me worried.
He likes to pretend he's asleep and then jump up and say "I'm funny."
He hates taking a nap and going to bed at night, but he still needs a nap.
He loves to watch Tractors and Diesels and often will point out a "Dies" when we're driving.

I really enjoy being a mom to a little boy, it's been a lot of fun and I am sure there is a lot that I'm missing to write down about him, but he's trying to play with the printer now, so I have to go.

Salt Lake

2010-09-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

This last weekend it was Tyson's family reunion in Salt Lake, So we decided to plan an eventful weekend for Parks while we were up there anyhow.

On Friday night we stayed at my brother Adam's house. It was nice to spend time with him and see his kids. We don't get the opportunity to see him very often.

Saturday morning we took Parks to The Historic Wheeler Farm. We went there with my good friend Nykel, her husband, kids and sister. My Mom and Brother also came along with my brothers wife and kids. Parks LOVED the animals there. He fed the ducks and pet the goats. It's free to get into the farm [which I was stoked about] and It was a really pretty morning to spend with friends and family.

After the Farm experience we went to the Park for Tyson's family reunion, and here's a few photos of Parks playing on the the playground.
That night, we met up with Nykel and her family to celebrate her husbands 28th birthday. We went to Texas Roadhouse in Sandy. It was a lot of fun and we totally surprised CW when they came to sing to him! =)

On Sunday we decided to take Parks to the Hogle Zoo. I hadn't been to a Zoo in YEARS and Parks is obsessed with animals lately, so I knew he would be in heaven. He was so excited to see the Elephants and the monkey's and kept repeating the word "monkey" all day long. It was really fun as parents to introduce him to animals and get to see his reaction when seeing some of them for the first time.

Being a part of a delivery.

2010-09-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have a really good friend that lives across the street, Mary, and we've been friends for quite some time now.. and have grown really close. She's a mother now of 5 boys. All of them, 8 and under. She is such an amazing mom, and very patient with her boys.
Mary called me the week before she gave birth to her last baby boy, Krew, and asked if I would like to be a part of the delivery and be in the room. I was so excited, as I had never seen or been a part of a delivery.
So, on September 2nd Mary called me and said that she was dilating quickly and to come to the hospital. She had decided to deliver this baby with out any sort of pain medication. So, her husband, sister, and I all pitched in to push on her pressure points and reduce the pain she was in. It totally worked, and really helped! She was so calm and a huge trooper. She did SO well!! I stood up behind the bed and filmed the entire delivery. It was really really neat to be a part of. Krew weighed just over 8 lbs, and was perfectly healthy.
Thanks SO much Mary for allowing me to be a part of such a neat miracle.
I love you guys!

If you haven't heard yet.

2010-08-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

Tyson and I are expecting our 2nd child.
We are both really excited to expand our family.
Nervous.
But excited.
This baby is due the first week of April... and even though April is only 7 months away, it feels like much longer.
I'm thinking about doing an all natural birth.. possibly a home birth. It's a big step for me. So, I'm looking at my options and feeling them out a little more then when I had Parks.
Now that I've been through child labor I am not as nervous as to what to expect.
I will be attending some classes on child birth, Bradley Classes, and then from there I will decide further, as to what I want to do.
I do already have a doctor in place as of right now. I'm using Doctor Lunt, the same Doc that I used with Parks.. and I liked him quite a bit, I just never really saw him, as he's SO busy with SO many other deliveries.
Tyson doesn't really care what I decide to do. He supports my choice either way.
So, I suppose we'll see what we're going to do when we get a little closer and we've attended some classes.

Sportsmans with daddy.

2010-08-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tyson and Parks were at Sportsmans yesterday, and Parks saw a cot.
Parks *pointing to the cot* : "Whats that daddy?"
Tyson: "That's a bed"
Parks proceded to lay his head down on the handlebars of the cart and pretend to snore.

Today Parks was in our shower taking a bath while I was getting ready for the day. I looked in the tub to check on him, and found him pretending to shave his legs with his leg up on the side of the tub.....
hmm.. wonder where he learned that? =)

Parks says:

2010-08-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today Parks was playing on the back of the couch. Semi standing on the coffee table..

Parks: Daddy, I falled. I hurt. I falled.
*Parks still hanging on to the sofa, hasn't fallen, but has lost his grip on the cofee table*

Yesterday:
Parks walks up to me holding the tweezers, smiling, and trying to tweeze the center of his brows.. mostly just poking himself.
___

Parks jumping on the bed in the master bedroom.
Parks farts.
He says "oh, faw-ted momma"

Well said Advice.

2010-08-17T07:47:00.001-07:00

Jarica had this on her blog, and I really liked it, and thought I would share it as well. Enjoy.

Lake Powell and such

2010-07-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

We went to Lake Powell with Tyson's side of the family, and were invited by the Kraupp family. We all had a good time. Parks really loved the water this year, as well as the dirt. I think, simply put, he just loved being outdoors all day long. Here are a few random photos of our vacation... my camera died.. sad, I know. So I was unable to load up on my usual 100's of photos.

The boys had "tube wars" everyday.. This is a photo I captured of Tyson jumping to the next tub.

Summer Photos and Journal Writing

2010-07-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

Love this tantrum^^ makes me laugh.

To be a mother is a huge chapter in any mother's life. One that I am so blessed to have in mine. I may or may not enjoy all the lessons of motherhood though, some days it's a breeze.. other days I can't wait to go to bed that night. =) I suppose in life there are many other trials that feel this way. Some days just are plain easier then others. In a book called the Peace Maker There is a line that I love. It reads: "Love and salvation are gifts. How grateful we should be to receive them at any measure." To experience the love of "Motherhood" and the love of being a wife, has been one of the best Chapters that god could have written for me.

I write in my journal often... often as in, almost every night. I write small entries, large one's.. and one's that I get side tracked and don't finish. I have learned that "I write, therefore I am." Almost as though it proves of my existence. I would love for Parks, or his children, to be able to read about our lives, and what we did, what we enjoyed, etc.

I love the small things of being a mother.

I really love seeing Parks with his favorite blanket. He drags that sucker everywhere. He loves to snuggle up to it, and as he does so, he gives his lovey face... which more or less looks like a "stank face" aka "it stinks" face. Tyson and I try to mock it. I think I can pull it off pretty well, as Parks and I have the same nose and mouth. =)

Tyson and I are doing really well together. Our lives have taken on more meaning with being parents. I think it has made our feelings for one another, over time, stronger and more efficient, and we lean on one another more often for full support. I feel as though, being a parent and a wife has proved to me that I need to be more responsible, more aware of my actions, more cautious with my doings, and teachable. I am not perfect. I would not dare to say that I was even close to perfection. However, I hope that in same way, some fashion, that I may be a tool in the hands of god. That I may be able to teach my children, and others around me, something of importance... or maybe that I will inspire someone for the better. One day, when I look back at the many chapters of my life, I hope that I may know that I helped or inspired someone in some significant way, that they perhaps gained something from me, something that no one else could have helped them gain or achieve.

I feel that this is why each of us are sent here... we are a piece to an enormous puzzle.

I appreciate Tyson more then he may ever know. I could not imagine my life with out him, as he has been such a blessing to me. He stands by me no matter what and supports me to no end. Makes me feel great about life and our relationship.

xoxo

Have any of you tried this?

2010-06-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

My mother in law started doing weight watchers not to long ago and she's dropping weight like it's nothing. So I decided if she can do, so can i! So, I began last week on Tuesday and have been doing decently well. I am not going to lie, however, and say that I haven't snuck a few chocolates in there.. which were unaccounted for.

I think I may even dare to say that this "Diet" is the easiest one I have ever come across. Thus far I have lost 3.5 pounds. I think that's a good amount for not starving myself to death! =)

Tyson and I plan on expanding our family eventually so I am hoping I can follow this plan, at least a little bit, while I'm pregnant one day. This way I hopefully won't gain as much weight as I did with Parks. Ugh, to be pregnant and fat.. and feel like a beached whale. I don't think I'm really diggin' that idea right now.
In this picture ( below) I look Enormous!! And my boobs.. sheez... where to even begin with my boobs. I know other people were thinking my boobs looked ridiculously big too.. even though they didn't tell me that. I'm certain they thought that. They almost looked as big as my belly. haha. Oh, the joys of being a woman.

Life has been busy.

2010-06-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Tyson's Brother, Trevor, Just returned home from his misson in Chile. It's been really nice to have the entire "Irvine" Family back together again. He has seemed to have a adjusted really well to being back.

Tyson is working for Morgan Pest Control now, and he really loves his job. He has also started on his Volunteer firefighting & he couldn't be happier. I am still adjusting to his pager, as it goes off a thousand times a day.... including all night long. Sometimes at night I'll almost fall asleep and then *beep beeep beep beeep* Ugh.... that's when I want to throw the dang thing outside and smash it with a baseball bat. Tyson has gotten use to it and reminds me often that "I better get use to it" as well. Parks thinks it's a phone and holds it up to his ear... He'll giggle and pretend he's talking to someone on the other end.

Speaking of Parks::: He has grown intellectually!! Ever since we got tubes in his ears and he's able to hear it has been amazing. He talks so much more and understands double. I am loving that I can finally communicate with him. Right now he's obsessed with any and ALL animals, and of course Guns! Any kind of gun! He has a bunch of water gun's that his Gramps gave him, and then last night he took a toy gun from my mom's house and slept with it last night. He's such a goofball. I've been trying to potty train him a little bit, or rather, introduce the potty to him. He is still confused about the whole thing, but I'll keep working on it.

I'm working at Salon Sienne, and thus far have really enjoyed it. It's such a laid back salon. Something I totally needed and love. The salon itself is gorgeous. I love the decor.

Anyhow, this is just a small update on whats new with us.

SO busy!! Vaca time!

2010-06-06T19:46:00.000-07:00

Tyson and I went to Cali with my side of the family.... all of us wen't except for Victoria, my little sister! =/ She had to work and wasn't able to come with us. It was a much needed vacation for us and for our family. Our Vacation started out our Lake House in Paso Robles, CA. The cabin sit's on Lake Naci. We did a lot of swimming and boating. Parks loved being outside all the time and spending time with his cousins. After 3 days at the lake, we left the lake and wen't to a town called Solvang, it was just over an hour away from Lake Naci. It's a danish town, with lot's of shop's. We stayed in my dad's time share... free place to stay-- major plus! ;) We wen't to the beach from there... Parks liked loved the beach... He chased the seagulls up and down the shore, and yelled "AWESOME!" or in his version "awes-eh" =) hehe.I had such a blast. I'm so glad we wen't. It was really nice to get a way and spend time with the fam damily! So, I have a thousand pictures that i took. I think I got a little bit picture happy, so for your veiwing pleasure: ENJOY!

No arms, No legs, no worries.

2010-05-18T16:29:00.001-07:00

Phenomenal.

It's a party!

2010-05-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Parks has turned 2!!! I still can't believe that it was 2 yrs. ago that I gave birth to him. Time just seems to go by faster and faster when you have a child or children. I am enjoying being a mom. It has been such a huge blessing. Our entire family came over to celebrate P man's big day. So here are a bunch of random photo's that I've compiled together from the extravaganza. Thanks to all our family that came over. It was nice to have you all here.... and thank you so much for the gifts!

As a human being.

2010-05-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

As a spiritual being I have had so many opportunities to remember where I came from, why I am here, and what my real purpose in this life is. I think we all often forget these things. Watching Steph's video I totally felt the spirit. Her spirit.
It's such a blessing to be able to be reminded and to feel the Holy Ghost and feel of Christ's love. This life is such a small part of the "big" picture. How truly excited I am to see the "entire" picture in it's full one day. To be with my fellow friends and family who have passed on and to be at THE full potential that I can be as a spirit. I can't wait for the moment where I will be able to be with Christ again...and to know him, to be able to feel of his warmth, kindness and his love. I am so grateful to know the truth.. and to be a part of such an amazing church. I feel like thus far my journey on earth has been well worth every tear, fall, kick, push, laugh, hug, kiss.... . "I never said it would be easy, just that it would be worth it...."

Mother's day

2010-05-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

This last Mother's Day was awesome. Tyson sent Flowers to my work on Saturday, and I was very surprised. It totally made my day... and that they were tulips!!! I love Tulips... Roses often remind me of funerals, so I would say I'm not as keen to roses. =/ Anyhow, so then Tys had written me a card with lots of cute mushy things that really made me giddy. At the end of the card it said that I could pick out a swimsuit of my own choice for an extra "Mother's Day Gift". So I bought this little number from the Shade store {love it}:

I love being a mother. I have learned so much... not just about about the "duties of a mother" but about lots of things...including about myself. It's been an amazing two years with an amazing son, and amazing 3 years with my husband. I'm very happy to be where I am right now and thank my lucky stars {and the lord} for all that I've been blessed with.
xoxo

Sewing

2010-05-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

I haven't sewn in about 6 years until recently.. and I really enjoy it. I'm still learning but it has become a real hobby of mine. I've sewn curtains, and pillows, and now I'm making a dress. I'm really excited to be doing it, but my projects seem to have a few "hidden" mistakes.. oh well, Hopefully no one will look to close to notice.

Amazing.. truly amazing

2010-04-19T21:05:00.001-07:00

Made me cry... Such a neat story.

LOVE is in the air... well, kinda?

2010-04-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

I love this kid... LOVE his big smile... :) He got it from his momma! =/ hehe

Happy Easter

2010-04-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Lately things have changed in mine, and my spouse's lives. We both have had so much spiritual growth over this last year. This last Conference had some of the most interesting and vital talks. I don't think it could have been on a better day.. I almost think that General Conference should always be held on Easter.. I have had an entirely new perspective on Conference as I get older. It draws me in so much more... and I feel eager to learn, eager to hear what the prophet has to say. I know, with out a shadow of a doubt, that my redeemer lives. I use to have moments in my life where I wasn't really SURE that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was true, If it was the ONLY true and living church upon the earth. But today, I am sure. I know. I feel the lord in my life, in my home. The church has grown so much since the day it was organized in 1830... I am so grateful to have been born into the gospel. That my parents have eagerly worked to keep the priesthood and the gospel in there home, that I was able to grow up around the truth. I'm so grateful for the opportunity we now have to share the gospel with others, and give them the joy that we feel daily. This is an amazing gospel. I'm so excited about the lord's work. We, who are born in the church, and we as converts... isn't it so great to know... to KNOW this church is true?? :) This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.

New hair.

2010-03-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Being a hairdresser I tend to change my hair often. I've had extenstions, braids, long hair, short hair, dark brown hair, and blonde hair. So, here are a few pictures of my ever changing hair, and what my hair looks like today.

And this is what my hair looks like today:

3 years.

2010-03-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

Tyson and I, on March 10th, will have been married for 3 years.
I can't believe how fast time has gone by and how much we've now been through and done together.
It's been a really great ride.
This last weekend we went down to Vegas and saw Beatles Love at the Mirage.
Over all It was a good show, and neither of us had seen anything like it.
We also did some shopping and ate dinner at the cheescake Factory. :)
<3 LOVE the cheesecake Factory.
We stayed the night at the Hilton and I won 20 bucks playing blackjack... Yes, I gambled.
I thought it was a much needed vaca for the both of us, and we both really enjoyed it.

And I quote.

2010-03-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

"you are not here to make a living, you are here to enable the world to live more amply with greater vision and finer spirit of hope and achievement. you are here to enrich the world. you impoverish yourself if you forget this errand."

Found this quote on the buried life blog. Thought is was very insightful.

Makes me think a lot about life, and living life to the fullest. Not worrying so much about whats to come...

I think I worry to much about the past. The future. What tomorrow will bring.

but I need to just feel the moment, and take it in. Remember it. Better yet, just enjoy it.

Need to remember.

2010-02-23T12:26:00.000-08:00

This last Sunday we went over to Tyson's parents house for dinner. When we got there my mother in law asked if I had heard about the story of a little boy-- around my son's age that drowned and was in the hospital. I hadn't heard about it at all.

So, she showed me the blog. It's a family from Northern Utah.
The mother tells the story with a lot of detail.
Story starts here.
Or you can just go to there main blog here.
Or just copy and paste this web address: http://stakerzxposed.blogspot.com/

It made me realize how often I take advantage of my son's health, how often I leave him unattended "Just to hurry and do this one thing".
It has been a real eye opening experience for me to live through her eyes, and take her ( the mother's) actions and imagine if this was me in her shoes, imagine what I'd be doing/thinking. I am so happy and grateful to have such a healthy son... He is my world. He is my husbands world. We could not be happier to have him in our lives.

Thanks Staker Family for sharing this experience with the world and teaching people, like me, to appreciate things more... as well as teaching me to leave the un made bed and laundry for ten more minutes and give my son my full attention.
I know this must have been one of the biggest trials for there family, but I couldn't thank Sara (the mother) enough for teaching me this valuable lesson. She is so candid in her blog. It's been neat to read all that she has to say about the experience.

twilight!!! haha.

2010-02-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

My husband sent me this...
Think he was trying to tell me something?
This was filmed here in ST.G Utah! :) haha...... classic.

And he's almost TWO!

2010-02-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

Parks LOVES Daddys Vroom Vroom a.k.a. Motorcycle. He climbs on it constantly. It's his favorite thing in the Garage hands down.
Here's just a few photos from the last month.
The photo of him standing on the chair in the kitchen has a cute story behind it.

Tyson and I were getting ready for Church in the bedroom and Parks was watching cartoons in the living room. I decided I'd better go check on him, so I went into the living room, and found Parks in the kitchen eating a cupcake. He had pushed the chair into the kitchen, climbed up and was eating the cupcake. When I walked into the kitchen, He looked at me, smiled, and then said "Hi Ma, mmmm... num num" and held the cupcake up. I just started laughing, grabbed the camera and got a picture to remember the story. :)

Things to remember about this age:
*He's VERY active and VERY busy.
*He likes to snuggle at night.
*He HATES to get his teeth brushed.
*He loves to look at and read books.
*His all time favorite treat is an Oreo cookie.
*His favorite thing to say is "what's that?"
*He loves to be outside.
*He is signing and saying more and more words. Now he signs "shoes, food, mike and more" the most.
*Mint ice cream is one of his favorite's... just like his momma!
*He says "no" clear as day and very often.
*He completley understands what I say, he just doesn't like to listen.
*He loves to push the vaccum around the house.
*He wants to be very independent.
*He shy's away from me taking pictures of him.
*He loves to be chased.
*His favorite veggie probably has to be Pea's.

Avatar.

2010-01-28T15:27:00.000-08:00

I seriously LOVED this movie.

We sat on the second row.

It was packed....

I still loved wearing my 3D glasses...eating mounds of popcorn & sipping on my sprite!

I thought the movie was intense, funny, and a small kick of romance.

I am stoked for it to come out on video.

I think I'll be investing in a dvd for my enjoyment at home.

It was a classic.

& I am really excited for them to make the sequel.

Lets just hope it's just as good as the first, If not better!

p.s.. Yes, I do kind of want to be an avatar now. :)

Do you know what we really have?

2010-01-26T17:33:00.001-08:00

Do We Really Know What We Have?

(As written by LDS Missionary Scott Anderson in his journal.)

We had an unexpected moment in the mission field. We knocked on a door and a lady said something to us we had never heard, "Come in." Now remember, I was a German missionary. This never happened to us; not even invited us in. My companion said, "Do you know who we are?" "You want to talk about religion, don't you?" she said. "Yes, we do" explained my companion. "Oh, come in. I've been watching you walk around the neighborhood. I'm so excited to have you here. Please come into my study." We went in and seated ourselves and she sat down behind the desk. She looked at us with a smile, then pointed to three PHD's hanging over her head. One in Theology, the study of religion, one in Philosophy, the study of ideas, and one in European History specializing in Christianity. She then kind of rubbed her hands together and said, "Do you see this row of books here?" We looked at a well arranged row of books. She then said, "I wrote them all. I'm the Theology professor at the University of Munich . I've been doing this for 41 years. I love to talk about religion. What would you like to discuss?"

My inspired companion said we'd like to talk about the Book of Mormon.

She said, "I don't know anything about the Book of Mormon."

He said, "I know."

Twenty minutes later we walked out of the room. We had handed her a Book of Mormon and this trade off that we had been on was over. I didn't see this lady again for another eight and a half weeks. It was in a small room filled with people (when I saw her again), as she was standing in the front dressed in white.

This Theology professor at the University of Munich was well known throughout Southern Germany . She stood up in front of this small congregation of people and said, "Before I'm baptized I'd like to tell you my feelings. In Amos chapter 8:11 it says there will be a famine of the work of God. I've been in that famine for 76 years. Why do you think I have three PHD's? I've been hungering for truth and have been unable to find it. Then eight and one-half weeks ago, two boys walked into my home. I want you to know these boys are very nice and wonderful young men, but they didn't convert me. They couldn't; they don't know enough." And then she smiled and said, "but since the day they walked in my door I have read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, all of Talmage's great writings, Evidence a nd Reconciliations by John A. Widtsoe and 22 other volumes of church doctrine."

She then said something which I think is a challenge for every one of us here. She said, "I don't think you members know what you have." Then in her quiet, powerful way, she said, "After those years of
studying philosophy, I picked up the D&C and read a few little verses that answered some of the greatest questions of Aristotle and Socrates! When I read those verses, I wept for four hours." Then she said again, "I don't think you members know what you have. Don't you understand the world is in a famine? Don't you know we are starving for what you have? I am like a starving person being led to a feast. And over these eight and one-half weeks I have been able to feast in a way I have never known possible."

Her powerful message and her challenging question was then ended with her favorite scripture, "For you don't see the truth can make you free." She said, "these missionaries don't just carry membership in the church in their hands, they carry within their hand the power to make the atonement of Jesus Christ full force in my life. Today I'm going into the water and I'm going to make a covenant with Christ for the first time with proper authority. I've wanted to do this all my life."

None of us will forget the day that she was baptized. When she got finished being baptized, she got back out and before she received the Holy Ghost, she stood and said, "Now I would like to talk about the Holy Ghost for awhile." She then gave us a wonderful talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(Later in Elder Anderson 's journal) Two young missionaries, both relatively new, (one had been out about five months, the other three weeks) accidentally knocked on the door of the seminary in Reagansburg. 125 wonderful men were studying to become priests inside. They didn't realize this was the door they had knocked on because it looked like any other door. They were invited in. In somewhat of a panic, the man said, "I am sorry we just don't have time right now." The two missionaries were relieved, but then he said, "Would you come back next Tuesday and spend two hours addressing all 125 of us and answer questions about your church?"

They agreed that they would, and ran down the road screaming.

They made a phone call to the mission president and cried for help. The mission president called us and said, "Do you think that dear lady that you have just brought into the church would like to come help these two missionaries with this assignment?"

I called her to explain what was to happen, and she said, "more than I would like to eat, more than I would like to sleep, more than..."

I said, "Fine, you don't have to explain."

We drove her to the seminary and as we went in, she grabbed the two missionaries that had originally been invited, put her arms around them and said, "you are wonderful, young men. Would each of you spend about two minutes bearing your testimony and then sit down and be quiet please?"

They were grateful for their assignment. They bore their testimony and then seated themselves. Then she got up and said, "For the next 30 minutes I would like to talk to you about historical apostasy." She knew every date and fact. She had a PHD in this. She talked about everything that had been taken away from the great teachings the Savior had given, mostly organizational, in the first part of her talk. Then the next 45 minutes was doctrinal. She gave every point of doctrinal changes, when it happened and what had changed. By the time she was done, she looked at them and said, "In 1820 a boy walked into a grove of trees. He had been in a famine just like I have been. He knelt to pray, because he was hungry just like I have been. He saw God the Father and His Son. I know that is hard for you to believe that they could be two separate beings, but I know t hey are."

She shared scriptures that showed that they were and then said, "I would like to talk about historical restoration of truth." She then, point by point, date by date, from the Doctrine and Covenants put back the organizational structure of Christ's church. The last 20 minutes of her talk were absolutely brilliant. She doctrinally put the truth back in place, point by point, principle by principle. When she finished this profound talk, she said, "I have been in a famine as talked about in Amos. You know that because last year I was here teaching you." For the first time, we realized that she was their Theology professor. She continued by saying, "Last year when I was teaching you, I told you that I was still in a famine. I have been led to a feast. I invite you to come." She finished with her testimony and sat down.

What happened next was hard for me to understand. These 125 sincere, wonderful men stood and for the next 7 minutes, gave a standing ovation. By the time four minutes had gone by I was crying. I remember standing and looking into their eyes and seeing the tears in their eyes too. I wondered why they were applauding after the message she had given. I asked many of them later. They said, "to hear someone so unashamed of the truth, to hear someone teaching with such power, to hear someone who finally has conviction."

The truth is what can set us free... Do we really know what we have?

I love 4??

2010-01-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

I have this, well I guess you could call it a "problem", where I rub my feet together or in a pattern of some kind in order to fall asleep at night.

I've been doing this since before I can remember.

When Tyson and I were first married it would bother him a little bit-- but now I think he's gotten use to it.

So, lets get to the point of this story... The other night we were both laying in bed and I was rubbing my foot on the top of Tyson's foot and began writing letters to spell out things on his foot. This is our conversation:

Tyson: Are you writing letters?

Jade: yup.

Tyson: I- L-O-V-E-4???

Jade: *starts laughing* What else could a 4 be?
Tyson: What? You wrote a four.
Jade: No, it's a "U".

P.s. Read the below post or just please leave your email, as I will be changing my blog to private next month.
Thanks.

Uh-oh.

2010-01-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

I've been receiving comments from unknown people and I think It truly is time for me to change my blog to private because of this. I have a lot of emails from everyone... from when I attempted to make it private for a short time before.(if that makes sense)
So I am FOR SURE going to make my blog private next month. So just to be safe. Please leave your email for me. I pinky promise I wont publish it. But this way I know who will be viewing my blog in the future. Thanks a ton. xoxo -

As easy as pie.

2010-01-18T18:39:00.000-08:00

Today has been a decent day.
Nothing to exciting.
Nothing tragic.*thank you...lord!!*
This equals decent.
However, as I am writing this I can hear my son farting in the bath tub in the room next door... and pouring water on the floor outside of the bath tub.
*This is the moment that I laugh... because although he's doing something naughty--- his funny farts make it all worth it.

I love being a mom.

The end.

Current read.

2010-01-14T17:33:00.000-08:00

So far this book has been phenomonal. I have really enjoyed reading it.

When I was a youngin' I seriously hated to read. But since I was about 19 or so I have started to read much more, and I really enjoy it. I've read anything from Glen Beck's books to Greg Behrendt (When I was 18 and trying to break up with a boyfriend I read his book "It's called a break up because it's Broken" -- Don’t hate.. ;) It's a funny book none the less.)
Anyhow, because I'm not getting an education and studying much I feel like this is my way of learning more. So the question for the day is: Do YOU have any reads that you just absolutely love or have impacted you in a good way?! Please let me know!!!

Driving.

2010-01-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Tyson and I were driving home today from Benja's *A restaurant* and this is our conversation:

*Tyson pointing to a newer civic in the next lane*
Tyson: I dont like that Civic- do you?
Jade: Yes, I think It's cute!
Tyson: It's to small for you.
Jade: No, I'd drive it.. I think I'd like an Accord more though.... Oh, wait- I don't like those Rims at all.
Tyson: They are stock.
Jade: They aren't cute.
Tyson: Seems like Honda has two types of stock rims.... The rims seem to really make the car.
Jade: Oh, yeah-- kind of like if you were to wear a really cute outfit with ugly shoes. Ruins the whole outfit.
*Tyson's now laughing*
Tyson: Do you think I'm some sort of Fashionista or something... Have you looked at me lately? I'm a boy.

Today... I feel.

2010-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

LOVE
–noun
*A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
*A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

This is how I feel today.

As well as this:

Happy:
*Characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.

Life is great.

P.s. I am getting better at this whole blogging thing!! :) woohoo. Posts galoure!

Video Games Anyone?

2010-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

My husband is a hunter.

Every year when hunting season rolls around he rolls right out of the house and up to the mountains.
It's something he's done long before we met.
Something else he enjoys--- Video games.

So, I'm usually a mario kind of gal... However, let me just say, I'm hooked.
I get so stocked with I shoot that grizzly right into the lung-heart-spine! Gotta give high fives when you get big points!!

So, I'm guilty as well. I'm loving this game. Kudos to the makers.

Cellular telephones.

2010-01-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

I don't think I know a single soul (over the age of 15) Who doesn't own one.
I recall back in the day when people thought they were bad "A" when they had a phone hooked to there car. I even think my barbie car had a fake cell phone attached to the center of the vehicle. That way even Barbie could call Ken when she was out and about.

Now I really think there are many pro's AND con's to these bad boys. I mean, do you ever get totally sick of Betty Sou, Farmer Joe, and/or your mother/father calling you off the chain? I know I do. Sometimes being alone, and having some peace and quiet in the home is ridiculously delightful. It's moments like this, where I'm at ease relaxing with the son where BAM

" Ra Ra-ah-ah-ah
Roma Roma-ma

GaGa
Oh la-la
Want your bad romance"
Goes off.
Dont hate- it's lady Gaga, and Yes, that's one of my ringer's.
And the first thing that goes off in my head when I hear the ring is... ugh, I don't feel like talking... call back another time.... *hit ignore*

But in the same notion... I love to chit-chat, giggle, converse, and have something to call someone on if it's an emergency. Never do I want to be stuck somewhere with out service... That would be undeniably horrible if I was in a bad situation and could not call out.

So none the less.. I suppose I will say "Amen" to cellular telephones and I guess we'll keep you around for the long haul. As long as you promise to never go back to the "brick" style.

Dance! Dance!

2010-01-06T21:33:00.000-08:00

This kid, Matt Tayao, seriously makes me want to get jiggy-wit-it and get down with my bad self.
I miss dance class.
Fun stuff.
Makes me smile like a little kid on Christmas morning...
Tell me this kid in the yellow socks doesn't make you want to get up and dance like no one's watching... cuz' it makes me want to..... and hopefully no one really is watching. Seriously, lets hope! ;)

Dinner.

2010-01-05T21:31:00.000-08:00

"Whats for Dinner Honey?"

"Mom, whats for dinner?"

"What are YOU cooking for dinner?"

Sometimes, this question gets old.

Sometimes I think It would be grand if I already had a menu planned out for me.. and I was just the cook.

Don't get me wrong.. I absolutely love to cook and bake.

It would just be great if I never had to come up with what to make for dinner.

I have a thousand other things running through this brain of mine.

So, I think, we as women need to have a couple days a month that our husbands or children cook. I think It could be exciting to find new recipes that they could make. =)

Could be like... a new tradition? ;)

Would be fabulous.

And I would love to always be in charge or the dessert.

That's the easy part.... and the best part. I thoroughly enjoy baking.

One day.............. I'll own a bakery. One day.

Number.one.

2010-01-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

Resolution:

* A resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

So, Here we are today-- Making a "Firm" resolution I suppose. So, Lets be honest. Have we all ever made a sure resolution and kept it. I know that in the past I've made my share. However, they all haven't been kept.

I have now decided to make a resolution that I will cross-heart-pinky-promise that I will hopefully keep.

My resolution is to write. And often.

To some this may sound silly but I use to find much relief in this.

I believe that it'll be something that if I go back to doing often, I will find joy in doing it once again.

My second resolution is to get into better shape.

My abs are hurting as we speak.

I am trying. I may or may not be as buff as.....well.... actually, I don't want to be "buff" I just want to look better and feel better.=)

So, cheers to a new year, 2010.

TONS!

2010-01-04T10:30:00.001-08:00

Tons of Posts today. I haven't updated much lately.
So here ya go.
Enjoy.

Introducing...

2010-01-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

RANCH!!!
We went to eat at WingStop.
Delish.
Anyhow, So Parks Loves the French Fries and Chicken strips there
and we decided to let him try dipping it in Ranch this time.
I'm sure it was a have-to-be-there kind of funny.
But for Journal purposes.. here's the pictures. =)

He loves Ranch! :)

Christmas Time!!!

2010-01-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

We were spoiled by our families this year.
But, it was a ton of fun.
We got the chance to talk to Tyson's younger brother-- He's on a mission in Chile, and that was really nice. He only has 6 months left!! :)
Parks has really enjoyed all his new toys.... and this Christmas was a lot more exciting with him-- He understood a little bit more this year.

Grandpa Tom, Tyson's dad:
Jade's parents, Ma'ma and Poppa.
Jade's older sister, Shawn:
Jade's Younger sister, Victoria:
Jade's Brother, Adam:
Jades dad and Nephew, Jagger:

P Dawg:

Maya, Jade's niece:

Tyson's sister, Teisha:
Tyson's mom. Gammy Stacey:

So excited!! :)
Stockings!!
Good Morning.
I know, I look gorgeous! =/

Pictures?

2010-01-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

We all attempted to do family pictures with my side of the family.
It was a little bit of a joke.
haha.
Parks sit still?
Never.
He wants to explore... constantly.

Hopefully, one day, We can get the entire fam damily to sit still for ten minutes-- So we can at least take a few snap shots.
We'll see.... :)

2010-01-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

I dont really get to many opportunities to spend time with girls. So, It was really a nice thing to be invited to McCall's bridal shower.
She looked great.
It was a little bit of a mini high school reunion.
So good to see a lot of the girls.
A few are pregnant.
A few married or getting married.
Everyone Changes so much but it seems that we're all doing very well.
Congrats again to McCall... :)

Books anyone?

2010-01-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

Parks will sometimes look at books in bed.
This is how we found him when we went to go check on him.
Asleep.
Book on his face.
Out cold. :)
And of course with "Blankie".

Parks and Daddy + Video Games

2010-01-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Tyson has a PS3 that he often plays.
Once in awhile P will sit with Daddy and watch him for awhile....
however, this time he didn't really watch..
He just crashed. :)

P.s. This is his "blankie" that he drags around. He looks like Lynus off of Charlie Brown. Loves his blanket.
P.P.S. For my journal purposes we've mastered taking away the bottle. He doesn't even ask for it anymore... Thank goodness. But Mr.Binkie is still in our lives.... Thats a harder task right now.

The funnies.

2009-12-18T19:57:00.001-08:00

Today Tyson was driving with Parks and turned the radio up to jam along with him. Tyson heard Parks blabbering about something so Tyson looked in the rear view mirror only to see that Parks has each of his pointer fingers inserted into one ear and is yelling "Turn That DOWN!"

Tyson said he was laughing so hard-- He could have peed.
(not really---------well, maybe)

Tyson also does P90X and the other day after finishing some push-up's, Parks crawls onto the floor next to Tys and starts moving his head up and down as if he's doing his own set of push-ups. Like father, like son-- adorable!!!

But, for our archives of funnies.. here's two that we find funny... and I'm sure many more to come.
We love you P monkey.

Christmas is just around the corner!!!

2009-12-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

I still cant believe that Christmas is two weeks away. Time has really just flown right by. I know people use that expression often, but this year it really seems to be true. Perhaps it's because I have a child now who keeps me on my toes and ultra busy.
I didn't type anything up and send it off with my Christmas cards so I thought I'd just use my blog for updating people on our life and what we have really been up to in 2009 and what we're looking forward to for 2010.

Tyson has been going to school full time and has a goal of becoming a paramedic and a fireman. His ultimate goal is to work in a larger city {ie: Vegas, Denver}
Next month He'll be starting the fire Academy here in town and will be doing volunteer work, as he really needs the experience before he starts working in a big city. I'm stoked for him because this is a huge goal of his... I'm also very excited that we will now have benefits!! Woohoo! :) It's about time! Dentist-- here i come!! ;)

I've been working at a salon near our house now since the end of July. I really like it there. I get along great with most of the girls which is hard to find in a lot of salons! Tyson and I also just recently became Valiant 9 teachers in the Primary in our ward. It's been fun so far. They are a pretty good bunch of kids. [thank goodness] :) I also spend a lot of time with our son. He's a very busy little boy and lately very needy! He's got a bunch of teeth coming in!! :)

Parks is now about 19 months old. I recently shaved his head {never will I do that again} The poor little boy looks like he's been going through chemo! haha.I decided to shave it because I was having a difficult time cutting it!! He move's SO much! He's still learning to talk but often jabbers away and looks at us as if we should fully understand everything he's saying! He's been making us laugh more and more lately and I love it. This year for Christmas I decided to purchase him a kitchen and pots and pan's! He loves to be in the kitchen with me! :) Tyson was teasing me about buying it all but if that's what he loves to play with, I'd much rather buy him something he'll enjoy! His favorite songs to sing are "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Patty Cake". He is still signing.. but only when he feels like it. Yes, he is a bit stubborn and often wants to be independent! :)

Anyhow, this is just a little update on us. We wish you all the best for 2010! I think we should make 2010 a year for a bunch of firsts! :)

God bless you all.
xoxo
The Irvine Family

Thanks.Giving

2009-12-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year. We went up to Hill Air force Base in Northern Utah and spent some time with my husbands side of the family, and visited a few friends. Tyson and I have so much to be thankful for, but since he doesn't write in our blog I think I'll just go ahead and jot down a few of the things I am most thankful for:

1. Life. Just really to be alive and to be healthy and strong.
2. The gospel of Jesus Christ and to know what my purpose as a human being and a spiritual being is here on earth.
3. My son. It's the most amazing blessing to be a mother and to be blessed with the opportunity to raise god's children.
4. My husband. Hands down he's the man that I need most in my life. He's taught me more in the last three years about myself then I could have ever learned on my own. We've been through a lot together but it has really made us a stronger family. He's an incredibly hardworking an awesome daddy.
5.My family, and there Love. I have the most amazing parents in the world. I don't think I could live another day with out them. They have really showed me what "unconditional" love means... and I'm very appreciative of that.
6. A roof over mine and my family's heads... as well as food on the table. There are so many people who have lost so much lately and who don't have a home or any food. So, I am grateful to say that I do.

Tyson and I:

Parks playing outside:
Stacey, Tys' mom. Playing Frisbee.
Tyson's dad and Parks playing Frisbee:

Tyson. His mom & His Uncle-Scott.
Huge Moose.
Most adorable bum I've ever seen... his leg is stuck. :)

LOTS of post.

2009-11-01T20:58:00.001-08:00

Sorry I posted so much today.... scroll down to read them all.. :)
Thanks!

Halloween.

2009-11-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

My girl friend Keisha and I dressed up for work for Halloween.. I was a fairy/butterfly and she was an 80's work out instructor.
I took photos of Parks but they are on the video camera/camera and it's not letting my upload them... so I'll work on trying to get them up as soon as I can!

And it's THRILLER!

2009-11-01T20:36:00.000-08:00

Tyson and I go to Thriller every few years and I absolutely LOVE it. I get all into it. The zombies walking around are so exciting. They are a show in themselves. :)
We got really good seats this year-- which I was stoked about! If you haven't ever been to the show... you need to put it on your things to do next year! It's a lot of fun and kind of gets you in the whole Halloween spirit!! This year I loved a lot of the skits... The chainsaw one is a good laugh!!!

We went to see Thriller at Tuacahn amphitheater here in Southern Utah. They've got some really good plays!!
http://www.tuacahn.org/

Paris and Parks

2009-11-01T20:30:00.000-08:00

My Sister's little girl, Paris, comes over from time to time.... and she's a lot of fun.
She's four years old, and she says the funniest things.
Her and Parks play pretty well together.
We love you Pear! :)

Happy birthday to you....

2009-11-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

Jake and Jarica's little boy Lincoln and Parks playing together.

Tyson and I just celebrated our birthdays. Tyson's is on the 12th of October, and mine is on the 16th of October. I had a really small surprise birthday party for him. He had no idea, so it was kinda fun. :)
I baked some delicious mini cupcakes and peanut butter cookies.. YUM!
Tyson turned 25 and I turned 23!!!
I still feel 19 some days.
Time flies.
I keep teasing Tyson that he's almost 30! :)
Thanks all for coming over-- I know it was last minute but it was fun to have you over.

Parks is getting bigger!!

2009-11-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I am amazed at how fast he's growing up. It's been an exciting trip thus far. I am not ready quite yet to have another baby... even tho P is now a year and a half.
I am crossing my fingers for a girl next..... but I will probably have another boy. We'll see when that day comes.
:)
I've been teaching my son sign language-- I grew up knowing the basics of sign language because my mom's parents were both deaf.
He now signs:
*more
*milk
*food
*cat
*dog
*cow
*horse
*bird

He does talk. But we still don't understand all that he says quite yet.
Most of what we understand, he says:
*naw (no)
*yes
* dog
* bottle--which is now going to be just a sippy cup as we are working to get rid of ALL bottles!
* momma
*dadda
*poppa
*mo' (more)
*side (outside)
*ba (bath)'
*Whas da (Whats that)

And I'm sure there are a few more that I cant think of.....

It's been an amazing journey. Gotta love being a mom! :)

BUSY!

2009-10-18T19:51:00.001-07:00

We've been really busy lately.
But, I've just realized I haven't updated much at all lately.
Horrible. I know.
So here I am typing away at whatever comes to mind to update "THE blog".

Parks is 17 months now and is signing and talking more and more lately. I love it. It really excites me to see him learning so much. He climbs up and on EvErYThiNg. Church has been more then a challenge. He hates to sit still and throws his snacks, bottle, etc. =/
Lets all seriously pray that he grows out of the stage of being a total bum at church soon!
We recently purchased one of these toy cars for him.
(no thats not Parks in the Car) haha.. but he LOVES it. He pretty much lives in it. Tyson takes him outside and pushes him around. So entertaining. :)

Tyson has been busy working to get on Volunteer Firefighter. He passed his physical test and this next week he'll have his oral test. I'm so proud of him, and he's so excited. He's been going hunting off and on lately and loves it. I sure hope he shoots a deer soon though so this whole hunting extravaganza will just be over. We should be getting his mounted deer from last years hunting season back soon. =/ I suppose that big deer will be above the computer in the computer room. Just lovely.. =/ Thats just what we all want. A deer staring at us as we are on the computer! =) haha.

I've been working, doing hair. I love some of the girls I work with. They are seriously so fun. It's been nice to get out of the house. We just celebrated my 23rd birthday and Tys' 25th birthday. I baked mini cupcakes that were delish... and some amazing peanut butter cookies. I had a very small get together with some of Tyson's closes friends. It was more or less a surprise for Tyson. He was pretty excited about it. :) I have finally found the best cake for cupcakes. Seriously amazing. I am so proud of the recipe! I still have yet to find the best frosting. But I'll keep my eyes wide open for it. I think It'd be so fun to own my own bakery/diner. But.. maybe in my next life! ;)

Anyhow.. this is just a little of what we've been up to...

until next time!

How I feel today:

2009-09-16T13:24:00.001-07:00

No other love, By: Chuck Prophet.
New favorite of mine...and it's in one of my favorite movies! Here's the link to find out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueZz1X--fG4
LOVE!

No other love
Mama, I'm flyin'
No other love
Mama, I'm flyin'

I can go
I can go anywhere
No other love
Can take me there, ooh

No other love
Mama, I'm flyin'
No other love
Mama, I'm flyin'

I can go
I can go anywhere
No other love
Can take me there, ooh

Mama, I'm flyin'
Mama, I'm flyin'

I can go
I can go anywhere
No other love
Can take me there, ooh

No other love
Mama, I'm flyin'
No other love
Mama, I'm flyin'

Californ-i-a

2009-09-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Tyson and I went down to California with his family for a small Vacation but really fun vacation. It was well worth it. We left Parks with my mom and drove down on Saturday morning. We stayed right on the Beach, which was totally beautiful. I love the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves. Makes me feel so at ease. I think it gives you such a relaxing and laid back feeling. Loved it.
We also went to see the Dodgers play. It was my first time at a real Ball game and I enjoyed it, although it was VERY long. I didn't realize how long Baseball games are.
Anyhow the trip was much needed for Tys and I and I'm really glad we got to spend some quality time with one another. I think we deserved it.
Thanks Irvine Family for the invite. We loved it.

P.s. New post below as well. two posts in one day! :)

The wonder years. :)

2009-09-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

oh, the joys of being a mother! It's been a lot of fun lately to watch Parks grow up. He's so curious and talking more and more every day. His favorite thing to say right now is "What's that?" :) His favorite thing to do is to climb!!! He wants to climb up on EVERYTHING! You can't leave him alone or it seems he's on adventure to only who knows where doing who knows what!! I love this little guy.

YOU go Girl !!!!

2009-09-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

I thought this was VERY interesting! Click here or cut and paste this web address and check this out!! Made for women!! ;)
http://www.wbaltv.com/video/20700023/index.html

To:

2009-08-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

Dear My love:
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you for everything you do.

Your pretty much amazing.. Seriously. Amazing.

I love you with all my kidney, liver, AND heart. <3

I appreciate you.
Really. I. do.

:)
Your wife,
Jade

p.s.
The fact that Your pretty dang sexy doesn't hurt either! ;)

2nd time around!!

2009-08-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

I've revised some of what I have written for my grand fathers book. Here's part of the first part of the first chapter. I am still working on it... and it needs to be edited a little more.. But anyhow, thought I'd see if I could get a little feedback. thanks again!

Sunday, July 10^th, 1921, at about eleven that morning, Herbert Walter Gellert emerged from Henrietta Kujat Gellert’s womb screaming as loud as his little lunges would permit. At this point in time there were no doctors, delivery rooms, nurses, or anesthetists, just a German born midwife. This midwife was the one who caught his little body, held him upside down for a moment, put silver nitrate in his eyes, washed and dried him carefully and then she finally placed him into his mother’s outstretched arms for nursing and cuddling. This entire miracle took place in St. Paul, Minnesota.

That Baby was me- Herby! My mother has told me the story of my delivery multiple times, each time she tells it with much enthusiasm and so much pride in me and in herself, however, she opted not to have anymore children, so I was an only child. I can recall many times where I to was proud of my mother. She was an exceptional cook regardless of her terrible arthritis, and not until later in my life had I ever met a woman who could cook as well as my mother had. Growing up we had five delicious apple trees, raspberries, current, gooseberry bushes, and a large garden. My taste buds were undeniably fond of my mother's ox tail soup, cooked chicken feet, pickled pigs feet, and potato pancakes.

My father was an interesting fellow; I've tried many of times to think of a word to sum up him and his personality. All that I've ever been able to really come up with is the word interesting. I spent a lot of my time with my father doing my best to learn some tricks of the trade. He was a genius when it came to working on cars, this was something I whole heartedly admired and worked to be just like.

My Parents both had a favorite past time. They called it "The Time to Relax", However, Most would call it "The time to be wasted". Both of my parents were quite different when they drank, my dad would become really cheerful and jovial while my mother would become morose and complain. Most often she would complain that I was not my father's son. In my later years I learned of the story behind her complaint. My mother was actually married to a Gottlieb Moench when she met my father, so I was considered to be conceived out of wedlock due to her affair. This comment really did hurt both my father and I. I recall my father telling my mom often to go to bed and sleep off her anger, this reminds me of one incident when my mother hit her head against an open door and cut her head open. Dr. Williams came over shortly after and put in six stitches. This ordeal was the cause of there divorce years later…but that’s another story.

I remember often getting knocks on our back door from homeless men looking for food or a place to rest for the night. I usually would allow them to pick the apples off the ground and my mother would give them food. I do recall promising to myself I would always pay it forward but never would I become homeless or a beggar.

One sunny Saturday afternoon my friends and I scrambled into my play house to try out smoking. I never could get the smoke down into my lungs, as I didn’t care much for the burning sensation. I remember my mother catching us; she must have been able to see the smoke emerge from the open windows. Boy, was she mad. My mother was an undeniable fan of her Camels, Chesterfields, and Lucky Strikes. I would often straighten out her shoe rack where she would hide the cartons, and I'd steal her loot. I became curious what it was like to smoke after witnessing her and my father smoke as far back as I could remember. They probably were keen to smoking a few packs a week out on the front porch. I remember my mother yelling my name and stomping down the back porch towards the playhouse, or what she called “The chicken shack”. She was as fast as the wind blows, she whipped open the door grabbed the cigarettes out of my hand and in the same motion bent me over her knee. I received the most lickings out of all of my friends. I promised her I'd never smoke again.

These lickings seemed to happen fairly often, although smoking never did happen again. Coping with the temptations of drugs, alcohol, and lawlessness was all too easy- I often did all of them- except drugs. Wilson Junior High was where it really all began and things in my life seemed to get a little more amusing. My parents past time of “Relaxing” really started to come into play for me. It set about on New Years Eve, 1986. A best friend of mine, Larry, was home alone. His folks were out of town for the weekend, and he was an only child as well. This meant that Larry and I were either the best of friends or we were the worst of enemies. Larry and I invited a few more buddies over: Gordy and Bob. We all called over to the local liquor store and ordered a half gallon of Muscatel wine to be delivered to Larry’s. None the less, we all got drunk, especially me!! I knocked over the Christmas tree, stumbled into the bedroom and attempted to sleep. The bed seemed to roll over and over and I sure got sick! Within minutes I was running to the toilet to give up my insides. I was actually lucky this happened to me when it did because I learned to quite drinking before I ever reached that period again where the bed would turn.

I have always enjoyed the many seasons. Winter was delightful because it meant skiing, tobogganing, and skating. Summer was even better, although my mother was told not to let me play sports when I was born because the doctor had diagnosed me with an enlarged heart. I ignored his diagnosis and played anyways. I recall a time when my friends and I would pretend we were characters from the comic strip Tailspin Tommy. We would dig holes for the cockpits, mould wings out of sand, place chunks of wood up for the tail and for the propellers. Then we would proceed to shoot one another out of the clear blue sky. I most certainly played the part of “Herb”, who was the good guy and sidekick of the hero Tailspin Tommy. I once had to defend Tailspin Tommy by fighting with empty glass bottles and breaking them in our hands. Needless to say, I still have a scar on my middle finger on my right hand. Despite all of that excitement, on this particular day we found a hidden treasure, or so we thought. We found a cistern and after a full day of shoveling we hit bottom. There was nothing…no “goodies”.

My growth record seemed fairly normal. At my tallest I stood at 5’11”, but as I have gotten older I have decreased in height by two inches. Physically I have most always been a bit chubby. When I eat too much I gain, and then my pants don’t fit. Eating has definitely been my favorite past time. My eye color is Brown and I wished often to have Blue eyes. My distinctive physical features include a very prominent nose, close set eyes, receding chin, narrow shoulders, a belly, big hips, thin arms, heavy upper legs, and narrow feet with high arches. Most of my strength is in my back, as I could do the deep knee bends with 400 pounds on my back. My hair color is brown and the texture seems awfully fine with a slight wave in it. I’ve worn my hair pretty short for years and prefer it to be that way now. Luckily, My family on both sides seemed to have amazing dental history with very hard teeth. My dad would chew bones, eat raw oysters, and hardly ever brush his teeth which lasted until has passing. I had braces when I was eleven years old, which I was not a fan of. I remember pulling off the braces so that I could be excused from school and have to go to the orthodontist for repairs. He did not do a very good job on my lower teeth, probably because I had pulled off the braces and he wasn’t able to remedy the problem.

LOVE. So You think can dance.

2009-08-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

I totally LOVE Jeanine. :) I'm crossing my fingers [and toes] that she wins. This is one of my most favorite performances that she and Jason do. A-MAZING!!

My first.

2009-07-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a book.
I erase. I write. I re-write. I erase. I write. Over and Over and Over again. =/

Anyhow, the book is about my grandfathers life. He was a huge example to me. HUGE.
And he has some of the neatest stories ever. I wish he were still alive because I appreciate his journals and story so much. I have a billion questions. I'm pleased that I do have his journals and that they are so well written, as now I can look to those to hopefully have my questions answered. The is the beginning of the first chapter. I'd LOVE some feedback. I want to know if this is something that seems to catch your interest or kinda makes ya bored. :) It's a rough draft so I know that there are several mistakes. Anyhow, feel free to give feedback. I'd appreciate it.
xoxo,
Jade

I couldn't have been older then twelve. It was one of the most memorable spring days that I can think back to. The air was clear. I could see for miles before my eyes were stopped by great Mountain tops. Flowers were blooming all around me and I was at peace. I was strolling down a dirt road, most of the roads around the area, at this time, were only dirt. I enjoyed these walks. One of the many things that I delighted in. I was alone... alone most of my life, you see, I was an only child.
I was born July 10th, 1921 at about eleven that morning. This was the day that I was given my name, Herbert Walter Gellert. At this point in time there were no doctors, delivery rooms, nurses, or anesthetists, Just a German born midwife. My mother has told me the story of my delivery multiple times, each time she tells it with much enthusiasm and so much pride in me and in herself.
I can recall many times where I to was proud of my mother, Henrietta. She was an exceptional cook regardless of her terrible arthritis, and not until later in my life had I ever met a woman who could cook as well as my mother had. Growing up we had five delicious apple trees, raspberries, current, gooseberry bushes, and a large garden. My taste buds were undeniably fond of my mother's ox tail soup, cooked chicken feet, pickled pigs feet, and potato pancakes.
My father was an interesting fellow; I've tried many of times to think of a word to sum up him and his personality. All that I've ever been able to really come up with is the word interesting. I spent a lot of my time with my father doing my best to learn some tricks of the trade. He was a genius when it came to working on cars, this was something I whole heartedly admired and worked to be just like.

Lets get back to the good stuff, My story.

"HERB! HERBERT!" I could hear my mother's voice louder than the train horn that often raced by my home. My friends and I scrambled together trying to hide the Camels. The smoke was overbearing though, and I feared she would know right away what we were up to, although, I wasn't really much of a smoker, I was never really able to actually inhale the smoke down into my lungs because I was disgusted by the burning sensation. However, my mother was a undeniable fan of her Camels, Chesterfields, and Lucky Strikes. I would often straighten out her shoe rack where she would hide the cartons, and I'd steal her loot. I became curious what it was like to smoke after witnessing her and my father smoke as far back as I could remember. They probably were keen to smoking a few packs a week out on the front porch. "HERB, are you in chicken shack?!" I remember that statement clearly, as I held my breath and said to myself 'It's not the chicken shack, it's my playhouse!' Right about that moment, my mother ripped open the door. Almost immediately she grabbed the cigarettes out of my hand and in the same motion bent me over her knee. I received the most lickings out of all of my friends. I promised her I'd never smoke again. I've kept my word.

The Utah day of July.

2009-07-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday Tyson and I left Parks with our families ( Yes, Plural--P went back and forth to each house.) Anyhow, It was a nice vacation for us to spend some much needed one on one time together. Although, I totally missed P-Money.
Tyson is getting better and better at his wake boarding skills, I must say-- I'm a proud wife! :) I was hootin' and Hollerin' every time he busted over that wake... I probably sounded like a goofy soccer mom congratulating her kid and telling him what do from the sidelines, even though I haven't the slightest idea how to complete the sport by myself.
He looks happy, doesn't he? :) ^^^
Daphne and Bronson. The gracious couple who invited us. ^^
My lover, Busting over that wake. OO--YEAH! Go bayba, it's your birthday! ;)
Yes, I was reading. I'm a loser. ^^
LOVE this photo. We were in a cave and Tyson was strapping the wakeboard on.
Me, attempting to look like a bad "A".
The group.

Feeling Motivated.

2009-07-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

I often will weigh myself, look down on that number and say to myself "My clothes have to weigh two pounds, then I've eaten a few times today.. that HAS to be mmm... another two pounds [of junk] Then my boobs, well, dont you think they probably weigh about two pounds.. so, that's SIX pounds off of whatever the scale says... So, then I say to myself--with a sigh, "I guess I'm not THAT chubb-a-licous...." Does anyone out there do this?!!? I feel like EVERY single time I turn the darn Television on it seems like it's another commercial highlighting on how to be skinnier and how to lose weight. Why cant there be commercials and infomercials on about how to GAIN weight. I WISH this was my problem. I know they say "be careful what you wish for" but I'm wishing away.... on every birthday cake--EVERY shooting star, you get the picture. Granted... I'm not fat. I know what fat looks like on these bones, I've been there. [Thank you pregnancy ]
So-- I'm on to a few different solutions for this dilemma of 'trying to be happy with my body or change my body'.... and for hell's sake I am having trouble with feeling motivated!! =/ So my first thought was that I could try to be semi granola and try out some Yoga... So away I went googling. This is what popped up under images. So, Tell me, how in the world does this feel amazing? This, to me, looks like it came running out of a Karma Sutra book screaming "TRY ME"... and by the way, it may or may not be delightful. I'm thinking it wouldn't be.
so back to googling I go.

Here we go.....

2009-07-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

These photos are backwards, but you get my drift. "P" loves to empty drawers! ["P" is what we refer to as Parks-- It's been that way since he was born-- So, If I write P now you know why. I wont repeat this a thousand times, You know, the way Rachel Ray does about E.V.O.O.--YES R.R., We know it means Extra Virgin Olive Oil!!!] Anyhow back to my scrumptious love. He has been the brightest light of all in our life and such a delight. It's amazing to see how much he is learning every week. He likes to babble.... more then the average 14 month-- I AM SURE OF IT. In Church today he was yelling at the people behind us in what we call his own "Japanese" language. They just smiled and nodded...Which made me think..... "Sir, yes you--sitting behind us-- Parks, may or may not be saying something worth smiling and nodding to." You never know what could possibly be going on his tinniest little brain.

Anyhow, Today was pretty nice, Well the weather-- not so much. WAY to hot, makes me feel as though my thighs and pits are unimaginably sweating.. like I could fill an entire bath with my own sweat. Sorry for the details, I guess I could have spared you....Or not. :)

Dear Blogspot, It's official.

2009-07-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

I've decided to tell EVERYONE MY NEWS... Yes, that means you included.
I'm going to........ use my blog as practice!!!
I'm sure that isn't the news your heart desired.
But I'm going to use it for practice to hopefully one day write a book.
So, every blog I post, and I pinky promise there will be much more,
I'm going to write. WRITE. write. WrItE.
Hopefully my writing skills will become slightly more witty and entertaining.
[You may have to pray for me.]
:)
Anyhow.. that's my news, so in case you start looking at my blog and I've got
story's and such up the bee-jeezy. This is why.

The end.

[July] Lake Powell. {2009}

2009-07-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

We had a ton of fun at Lake Powell this year. It's been our usual tradition to go every year.. and this year was a lot of fun. The water was a perfect temp. and the nights were really cool. Perfect weather. :D Parks did pretty good overall. I'm stoked that he's getting older and is now able to enjoy these trips a little bit more. Here's a huge overload of photos of the entire vacation. ENJOY!
Parks and Gammy. ^^
Parks playing in the cooler. ^^
Tyson.^^
Tyson on his wake skate. ^^
Parks and Britt in the background.^^ Parks Loved playing in the water.

Parks and Tyson on the wave runner. ^^
Parks and Teisha, Tyson's little sister. She's giving Parks the water out of the lid of her water bottle.

Tyson and Jade. Striking a pose! ^^

Grandpa Irvine and Parks.^^
Brian and Parks driving the boat.
Jamie and Tyson.^^
Parks.
Love his facial expression.
Makes me smile.
The fam Damily. Minus Tyson's younger bro.
On an excursion. ^^

Delicious ice cream!

Fourth.Of.July.

2009-07-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

These Photos are backwards.. but oh well. Tyson and I had an eventful day. As you can see in this picture below.. Parks was tired and ready to just be home. We started the day off by going to Yankee Meadows to go fishing with Tyson's family. Tyson's sister was the only one that caught a fish... but no one else caught anything. So after being there for 3 of 4 hours, and not hooking a single fish, we decided that was enough fishing. When we got home we headed over to our friends house for a BBQ, and then to Fireworks... Which is where this picture was taken:::

Parks and Jade at the BBQ::

Parks and Jade::
Tom and Parks Fishing:
Tom Fishing with Jade's hat on:
Tom and Parks:

Tyson climbing on a log in the lake. Yes, He did fall in eventually. =) His sisters hook was attached to the log, so he decided he'd get it off for her.
Jade and Parks in the background.:
Parks and his messy face... he was eating.
Looking for Fish:
Everyone on the shore line.
A stream by Yankee Meadows... really pretty.

Videos to be documented.

2009-07-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

The first video is y dad skiing at Lake Naci in Califonia. He's been skiing since he was 5!!! :D

Second video is me and Tyson on our honeymoon. Pretty classic. :D

More great photos by Lacy! Love them!!!

2009-06-11T13:25:00.001-07:00

Parks' 1 year old photos. By Lacy

2009-06-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had Lacy do Parks' one year old photos. His birthday was a few weeks ago, so yes, I was a little behind. But I LOVE how this one turned out. This is actually the only one I've seen so far. I'm stoked to see the others. My little munchkin is so handsome! I just want to kiss him all over and eat him! ( not seriously tho) ;) haha He is all over the place-- busy but Lacy was patient with my monster and she did a great job! Thanks a ton Lacy. To see her Page click here or her name at the top! :D