Signing back on....

I'm back...moderation in all things...I hope to add some photos and updates real soon. Most of you have kept my blog address on your blog list, and for that I'm grateful and feel the love from the blogging world!

Signing off.......

Hi there Friends and Family! Just wanted to let you know that this is my last post. I've been thinking about getting rid of my blog for the last 6 months or so and finally decided to go through with it. It's been fun, but I'm done. I've decided to go back to the old fashion way of communicating, email and actually talking. In a few days, I will change my settings so that it looks like I've gone private, and then after I figure out how to put what I've posted into a book, I'll delete it. So when you come to check my blog and it says for invited readers only, don't feel like I left you out. Hope things are going well with everyone...I'm sure I'll talk or see you soon...this is Tara signing off............

Creative Memories

If you are interested in scrapbooking both traditional and/or digitally, Creative Memories has their WOW sale going on right now...a ton of stuff that is 40% off...even their digital scrapbooking software. Let me know if your interested. Here's the link and you can check out their stuff...click here.

Here are a few pages from my 2009 family digital scrapbook...


Interested?

Happy Father's Day!

Many of you know that my folks are in a far away place, China. They have been there since February. My mom did get to come home for a visit in May to meet Jake, but I've yet to see my dad. Since it takes a lot of money and time to get things shipped back and forth from China, I decided to make a digital card with my digital scrapbooking program (pictured above). Love you Daddy! Miss you Daddy! Maybe we'll see you again in December...maybe!?!?! And no, he can't check my blog in China, so my father's day digital card isn't out of the bag.
On a side note, I just finished my second digital family book...I love it! If any of you are interested in digitally scrapbooking, let me know, they've got an awesome deal right now on their software!

June 14th

Today is a special day around here, our little Jake is three months old today. He is such a great baby. He sleeps most night straight through, if he does get up it close to 4 in the morning and then he goes right back down. He smiles and coos all day, I love to sit and just talk to him. The boys totally love him, they call him their baby and give him hugs and kisses. Once he gets upset, it is hard to consol the little guy, thank goodness this only happens every once in a while.
Here are a few of his stats: At two months, he had doubled his birth weight. He was in the 95% for weight ad 90% for height. He is currently in 6 to 9 month clothes. Here are a few pictures of Jake I took this morning.

Granddaddy and Gardens

My Granddaddy Wood has the biggest "green thumb" I know. He loves to be outside tending his garden and yard. Whenever he comes up to my house, I love to find yard projects that we haven't gotten to so that he can help me with. When he was here a little bit ago, he helped put in our garden and plant knock out roses and blueberry bushes. I'm so excited about my blueberry bushes, I think it will be so fun for the boys to pick and enjoy. The best part, was watching him so tenderly prepare the soil and plant each piece...he did it so carefully and with purpose, I couldn't help but think of the Savior, our Gardener. I hope I can care for these new additions to my yard, those bushes will forever remind me of my Granddaddy and how I should take care for the many things I've been blessed with. Thanks Grandaddy, I love you!

Trek 100 2010

It's that time of year again when Steve and I make our way to Wisconsin for the Trek 100. This is a fundraiser for finding a cure to childhood cancer. Today, up to 80% of children with cancer can be cured. But cancer still remains the leading disease-related cause of death in children. Help us continue the battle against childhood cancer and related blood disorders during the 21st Anniversary Trek 100 Ride for Hope Click here for some childhood cancer facts. I can't imagine one of my boys having cancer or anyone of my loved ones...help me as I raise money for the cause. Please make a donation at my site...click here. My company will match up to 300 dollars of your donations.-Ben Hale

Brothers

I think this picture speaks for itself...love these boys!

Days Before

Nine days before Jake was born, a friend of mine took some amazing maternity pictures of me and my two little boys. I had never had this done before because I'm not one to be in the spot light or have any extra attention drawn my way. But with this pregnancy I tried to do all I could to make it special and one to remember...you never know when your pregnant for the last time (I'm not trying to make any sort of annoucement or declaration), but life is special and I feel like the older I get the more I come to understand that little fact. So, when I was approached by this great photography, I said, "Yes!" I'm so glad I did...I feel so maternal as I look at these pictures of my boys and large belly, and know I will always have something as a reminder of this short stage of my life. In the moment, nine months seems so long and uncomfortable, but it is such a small blink in the sceme of things.
Anyone that is pregnant, I recommend jumping out of your comfort box and let that belly hang out for a few pictures. I did have a few taking of my bear stomach...it doesn't look real...it's kinda cool. And any of my friends or family out there expecting, Congratulations!

Two Months

I'm two months old today. I've been such a joy and blessing to have around. My big brothers love me and Seth loves to touch my face gently and give me kisses. I only get up once in the night to eat and that makes my mommy so very happy and well rested. I'll keep you posted on my new stats once I get home from the doctors on Monday.
In the last month my major accomplishments have been, getting a name and blessing, learning to smile, and getting some strong legs and neck.
***note from mom: it seems like he's been with us forever, can't wait to see what the next few months bring.***

Name that Baby Part 2

You're right, it is Jake, Max, and Seth. People always ask me who I think Jake looks like and I think it is definitely evident from these pictures that Jake reminds me a lot of Max. So grateful for my three little boys...they make me smile everyday. Thanks for playing friends!

Name that Baby

See if you can name my babies. And if you can't, tell me which ones look similar. Have fun!

A.

B.

C.

The start of something New

So...I'm sure you can tell in this picture what we are starting at our house!?!?!?Potty Training.  It's just day one and we've already been through three pairs of underpants...not bad.
The other new thing I'm starting is blogging by phone...this is my first post...maybe this will help me blog more often.

First Milestone

Here's our little one at one month old. Yes, this post is a little late, he is almost 7 weeks now, but I'm sure you'll understand the delay in my post. Things are going well, we are all enjoying our baby Jake, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to make it. I'm feeling great and am back to my ol' self. We plan on blessing him this weekend, can't wait. Enjoy!

Grandparents

We had some special people come and stay with us when the baby was born. They traveled a few days to get here and spent almost two weeks with us. I don't think I've ever had anyone come and stay/care for me and my family that long since Ben and I have been married. They kept all the clothes clean, the children happy, kitchen spotless, meals on the table, made the baby a quilt, and gave me great encouragement that I CAN do three little boys. I was sad to see them leave, but ready to see if I really could handle it all again. The house hasn't burned down yet, and for the most part I'm doing well...mostly because they took such great care of me. Thank you so much...We love and appreciate you!

Special Delivery

Jake arrived two weeks ago, on March 14th...he weighed 7lbs 10 oz and was 20 inches long. Things went rather quickly as far as his delivery...thank goodness. I'll save you the details. He's been a great addition...sweet, cuddly, laid back baby....We love him and feel so bless to have him in our family.

This is Max and Jake's first time meeting...Max was so cute, he wanted to hold him immediately and the next thing out of Max's mouth to his father was, "Take a picture of this little guy!"

Seth is doing really well with him too, he is still learner how to love Gently. He loves to know where he is and what he is doing. Yesterday, he even wanted to join in the feeding and asked if he could taste some Mommy Milk...of course I said heck no, go find your father...I'll be done in a minute.

Jake has rather large feet, they make me laugh every time I look at them

And long fingers...I love to look and study all of Jake's little features while I'm holding and feeding him.

He has just as much hair as the other boys did, except for it's a lighter than their hair was. He also has dimples...that is something new...can't wait til he can give us big smiles and we can see these dimples in action.

Ready and Waiting

I've never been prepared and ready for a baby before, I've always felt like I would have time and that it was too early to get things in order. For my first two pregnancies, that was not the case...They both came at a complete surprise, one at 38 weeks and the other at 36 weeks--I was caught with things half done or not done at all. This time I wasn't going to let that happen, I was going to ready...totally ready--not just have the house cleaned and all the baby stuff out, but I've even had time to let someone take maternity pictures of me, something I've never done before. Some say you should treat every pregnancy and baby like it could be your last (I'm not saying I'm done) and I feel like I've really tried to make this one special. It would be easy not to since it's my third boy, but I've done some real special things for him that I'm real happy about. Now for the first time I'm waiting with nothing really to do before this little one gets here except get more excited to see him and how he will be received by his big brothers.
Just like the others, we never have a set name for our baby until we finally meet him. We do have a small list of names we like, but if any of you out there have a favorite boy name you would like us to consider that would go well with our current names (Maxton and Seth) please put them in your comments.
The longest I have to wait is two weeks (my due date is the 26th), but maybe this little one will show himself soon. We are so excited to see you little baby Hale...come out, come out, whenever you can!

Receiving Blankets Tutorial {Part II}

Okay lets get this blanket sewed! Sorry it has taken me a couple of days to finish up this tutorial, but it take forever to upload pictures...no lie, it has taken me longer to put this post together then finish the blanket.

Pick a pinned side and sew straight down a quarter of an inch in.

This is what it looks like as you come to the end of one side...be sure that you've kept the bulk of the red fabric out of the way as you sew down...you only want the two edges to be sewed together...
This is what your side should look like after you sew.

This is how it should look as you go to do the next side...I've kept my red material out of the way in the corner, we will take care of all the corners later...also remember that when you come to your fourth side, leave a nice 7-10 inch opening in the middle so you can flip it right side out.

This is what it should look like in every corner once you've sewed up each side.

Here is a picture of the opening I've left on one side so that I can turn it right side out once it's time...don't flip it yet, we still need to take care of the corners.

The top of blanket before the corners and before I've flipped it right side out.

Picture of the back before corners have been sewed.

Now the corners....have your iron and ironing board ready...here is our first corner...they should all look like this.

Pinch and....

Fold it over...

Then grab the point at the top and fold down again...give it a nice pressing with your iron...you are trying to make a nice guild line of where to sew.

Here is my guild line after pressing and opening my fold.

Sew along that line.

Cut off the excess.

Picture of what it should look like after you've sewed, cut and opened up the area.

Do the same to the other three corners and then you are ready to turn right side out...your corner should look like this.

The side of the blanket should look like this when it's right side out.

Here I've located my opening and I'm preparing the area to be sewed up during my top stitch around the whole blanket...I've just folded the red down to meet up with the dino fabric and ironed it a little to stay in place for when I feed it through the machine.

This where I position my foot peddle for the top stitch...I like to pick a fun stitch, like a zig zag or any thing nice and thick and cool looking...that all depends on what your machine has to offer and what you like. Stitch all the way around and and your done!

Fold or roll up how ever you want...I usually roll up a few and tie with a strip of one of the fabrics or use a cute ribbon...it's kinda neat looking if you've made two or three for someone and they are all tied up together with a cute little tag....but that is all up to you. Obviously you can do several different things with this idea once you've put your mind around making your first one...you could do matching burp cloths (rectangular or whatever), etc. Have fun!