Life Lately - Via Instagram

I am in love with Instagram.

Here's (some) of what life's been like lately - 

(according to my iPhone)

My Rock Star Jordan graduated from high school and started college.

(yep, I am now the momma of an adult!  what?)

My Cutie Caden is excelling in 9th grade - 

and making us laugh - every. day.

And boy did we ever love watching him play football!

(for the last time - his momma hopes!  Time to break out the bribes...)

I am a lucky Young Womens President -

with 24 new lovely ladies in my life.

I sure love these girls and our adventures together!

My dream of getting paid to travel and take photographs - 

came true!  I am loving my new job.  Isn't it amazing the things

you can create for yourself?  

San Diego in the early morning hours.  

Just another day at the office.

The whole crew (plus one) on the train to the big city!

One of the many holiday traditions we love.

Christmas came and went, and we soaked up the time together!

We said good-bye to 2011, and welcomed 2012 with open arms.

It's going to be an AMAZING year for the Tanners.

The girls with Frosty.  

(glad he finally showed up - we've been waiting!)

These two girlies make my heart sing with joy.

Love notes.  My favorite!

Being a mom is the best.

Hiking (love) in Sedona (love) all expenses paid (love)

Did I mention? - I love my job!

What is better than hiking in Sedona?

(Answer:  Hiking in Sedona with Superman!)

So there you have it.

A quick glimpse into my busy, beautiful life via Instagram.

What do your adventures look like lately?

My Project 52. Week Six.

week 6

Me and my Valentine.

Happy Valentines Day!

Pizza anyone?

(The biggest pizza we have ever seen!)

A few weeks ago, we met up with Grandpa Rich (Chad's Dad) for some pizza and a little Christmas celebration/lunch.  We ordered a pizza that was GINORMOUS ~ (see photo above...) and it made for a lot of laughs and a delicious lunch as well.  We are always happy to be able to spend time with Rich.  This man has survived colon cancer, major surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  We feel lucky that he is still here with us today to tell the tale.

 (Christmas money from Grandpa!)

Life is too short for drama or petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly.  
Live while you are alive!  Forgive now those who made you cry.  
You might not get a second chance! 

We are always grateful for second chances around here!

More of the Tanner family holiday shenanigans coming up soon!

Happy New Year!

It's the new year already?  How did that happen?  Is your life flying by, as fast as mine seems to be?  Its just a roller-coaster ride and I am holding on tight and enjoying the ride!

Since getting home from my trip to Mississippi (yes, I still need to blog about that) I dove right back into work, family, and my calling as Young Women President.  Therefore, my blog has been a bit neglected, but something has to give, right?

In a perfect world, I would have time to blog about:  Me, Chad and the kids sitting 8th row at the Jazz game, our delicious Thanksgiving holiday - specifically my pumpkin pie and Chad's amazing turkey, Caden shooting his first Elk, Jordan's broken toe, saying good-bye to our cousin Logan who is a missionary now, our failed winter family photo shoot in the cold/rain/snow, Christmas countdowns all over the house made by my darling children, Jordan singing another solo with his guitar in the assembly at WHS - he rocked!, losing 10 pounds and buying my first pair of skinny jeans, spending time in the temple with my darling young women and my two boys!, a December full of parties and festivities spent with people we love, the biggest pizza you have ever seen, a beautiful and wonderful and delicious and quiet Christmas eve with my favorite people, a magical Christmas morning filled with wide eyes and surprises and yes, some happy tears.... , and our amazing trip to California where we spent our winter holidays.


As I reflect on this past year, I am filled with gratitude for all the blessings that fill up my life to overflowing.  We are filling every year with some pretty amazing memories and traditions.  After all, that's what its all about, right?  Living your life.  I am so truly blessed and I am thankful for every single bit of it.  I am so proud of what we have accomplished this past year!  I get so excited as I write my goals for the new year, and think of all the amazing possibilities that are waiting for us.  Happy New Year!!

  (our Happy New Year card that will be mailed out today!)

A Mummy with Integrity.

 (Some of my Young Women at the Temple)

This past summer, I was called to be the Young Women President in my ward.  I have loved it so much!  I can't believe how busy it is...  and how much fun we have had...  and how much I have learned...  and how much I have grown... already in these short 3 months!  I feel so lucky to be around such amazing teenage girls, who are facing so much temptation and adversity in their lives.  They are such strong, beautiful girls!

Recently we had a "VALUE" Trick-or-treat activity.  We went around to all the leaders homes and had short lessons on all the different Young Women values.  At my house, I taught about Integrity.  Every value has a color associated with it, as well.  Integrity's color is purple.  So, for my treat, I wanted to include something HALLOWEEN and something PURPLE.  Here is what I did:  Purple Mummy's!

 

(I got the idea from one of my favorite blogs!)

I know you don't usually see mummy's that are purple...  And they kind of turned out looking like Arabian bandits instead of mummy's...  Ha Ha!  But, I thought they turned out kinda freaky, and kinda cute!  The girls LOVED them and so did my own kids.  My daughters were thrilled to have a scary drink in their lunch boxes the next day!  (There is a purple Gatorade under the mummy wrappings).  And thank goodness for my superman Chad who helped me wrap all of these! 

I also gave the girls a little scroll, tied up with a purple spider.  It went along with my message about integrity.  Having integrity - (being honest and having strong moral principles) is probably the greatest character trait we can have, don't you think?

Inside my scroll:

TELL THE TRUTH!  

And avoid getting caught in a web of lies.

I am striving to be a mummy with integrity!  And I am striving to raise children who have integrity and honor, who are honest, trustworthy, fair, and who have strong moral values.  Hope you are having a Happy Halloween week! 

Favorite Time of the Year.

Oh how I love summertime!

It's my favorite time of the year. 

In fact, as we were laying on our blanket the other night,  cuddled up together,

watching the magic of the fireworks explode above our heads, 

I whispered to Chad that this has to be my favorite holiday.

(Shaye and Cade at their birthday party)

We've been busy the last few weeks!  (ha, what else is new??)

At the end of June, and first of July, these two darlings each had a birthday (6 days apart).

We had a fun celebration with our families at the park. 

We enjoyed dinner, conversation, music, laughter, babies, yummy chocolate cake,

and a sweet game of kickball.

Cade and Shaye have a very special bond - they adore each other - and I adore them.

Sometimes I stop to take in moments like these, and thank God for my blessed life.

(Cherry Days Parade)

To celebrate the 4th we headed down to the main road in our little town to enjoy the parade.

The girls loved it and ended up with way too much candy.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous.

I love my Freedom.  I love my America.

I love the men and women who have served

and those who are still serving to keep my family safe.

(My little pixie at the parade)

(darling Gabi at the parade)

(my teenager ((WHAT??  How did that happen?)) at the parade)

After the parade, we had a nice, yummy BBQ at Ryan and Eva's house in the valley

and finished off the day watching the fireworks at Weber High with some of our best friends.

Yes, it was a VERY. GOOD. DAY.
I was HAPPY.
And my heart was OVERFLOWING.

I love it when that happens.  :)

(The Tanner house is getting a Face-Lift)

Oh, and have I mentioned that we are under construction?

Yep.  We must be seven kinds of crazy.

We are stucco-ing and rock-ing the entire outside of our home.

I am so excited/nervous to see the end result.

I will be sure to keep you updated.

That is, if I am still sane.

Happy Summertime Everyone!

Spring Time - Easter Time.

Spring Break came and went.

In the blink of an eye.

And yet, it still feels like winter.

That must have something to do with the fact that when I look out my window,

I see a winter wonderland outside.

 ***

Spring time - Easter time = Fun times.

We spent it with our loved ones -

playing games, coloring eggs, feasting on food, hunting for eggs, taking naps, 

kissing baby cheeks, taking photographs, laughing, loving, enjoying,

listening to prophets of God and wishing for sunshine.

Every year, Nana hides eggs all over her wonderful yard.

Its a delightful tradition.

On your mark... Get set... GO!

Find your treasures.  Get as many as you can!

Some have treats inside.  Some have money in them.

The coveted GOLDEN EGG has 10 bucks inside.

Jordan didn't waste much time looking for the regular eggs.

He had his mind on the GOLDEN EGG and the cashola it held.

He didn't find it.  Oh well.  Maybe next year.

18 years ago, I found an egg with an engagement ring in it.

I SAID YES.

Now look at the treasures I have...

And it just wouldn't be right if we didn't have this kid playing his music in the backgroud.

Hunting makes you hungry.

Nana made home-made pizzas for everyone.

(Have I mentioned how AMAZING Nana is?)

And my little Shaye makes her pizza the same way as me.

All veggies.

That makes me smile.

And for dessert I made these delicious little lovelies.

Happy Happy Spring!

Bacon of the Month Club.

So I have had Valentine's Day on my mind lately...

and my cute Superman Hubby...

and what to surprise him with...

Today I came across this website.

Hilarious.  Every man's dream.

A site all about Bacon.

 

Think your man would like the Bacon of the Month Club?

How about some Bacon Strips Bandages?

Or a Bacon Wallet?

Or a Bacon Air Freshener?

Funny Stuff!

 And if you haven't heard Jim Gaffigan's comedy bit about Bacon then take a listen:

ITS HILARIOUS. 

What is it about Men and Bacon?

A Thank You and Some Holiday Magic.

First off - a BIG thank you to all who voted for me in my photography workshop contest!

I didn't win... but hey, it was worth a try, right?

Thanks for letting me beg for some votes!

And now...

The magic of Christmas morning.

Is there anything quite like it?...

Seeing the EXCITEMENT and JOY in the faces of your sweeties.

Knowing that your little girls won't be little girls forever...

And wishing you could freeze time so these beautiful, magical memories (and music) last forever!

The Holidays. Part Three - Each Other.

CHRISTMAS EVE.

A very fun night for us.  Its a night Just for US.

Just us and our kiddos - and for just being with EACH OTHER.

We have some really fun and fabulous traditions for this night -
and its a night that we look forward to all year!

We start the night off with:

A traditional Swiss Raclette Dinner

(with our splurge of Raclette cheese at $18 per pound - and YES it is so worth it!)

For the little ones who don't have the taste buds for Raclette yet -

we have mini-pizzas with some good ole American cheeses.

This dinner is an experience because we cook everything right there at the table

with our Raclette Oven smack dab in the middle.

SO MUCH FUN.

*on a side note:  I used to have to drive to Salt Lake City to purchase this cheese at a specialty store, 

but this year we found it locally at Harmons!  Woot Woot!  Gotta love Harmons!!

*on another side note:  Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to eat this cheese cold - it is for melting only!!

*and yet another side note:  LOVE how this tradition teaches about our heritage and cultures from Chads mission!!

 

Our night with each other also includes:

lots of eggnog, tons of laughs, gifts from mom and dad to kiddos- (new jammies),

a new Christmas book to read together, reading from the scriptures,

 

gift exchanges from sibling to sibling - (which for the little ones includes gifts from their own bedrooms wrapped up for each other and it is seriously the cutest thing in the world.),

 

music from our own in-house musician, baths, lots of photographs,

and then leaving cookies/milk/carrots and a note for Santa.

 

Seriously.  Does it get any better than this?!

Thanks for re-living my holidays with me.  They went way too fast.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my last holiday post:  The Magic and Our Loved Ones.