EST. 2004

Happy Birthday Buddy Son

2010-11-16T08:38:00.007-07:00

You came to us as such a big boy! All 9lbs 12oz of you were sweet right from the beginning.

We adore you more now than ever and that's really saying a lot because the adoration was pretty consuming from the get go.

You can get pretty grumpy and when it happens you're relentless, but those times are few and far between. You're really happy and easy going most of the time.

You make us laugh with your expressions and the things you do. What a little man.

You can really dish it out and put Eva in a tizzy. You like to take whatever she is playing with. You also just like being near her and touching her because you love her so much. However, she sees it more as harassment.

But you're awfully good at taking it too. She really puts you through your paces with the dressing up and the taking of your toys.

You're handsome and no one can dispute that. Even after eating a fist full of dirt.

You love bath time! We've had to change our routine so that both of you are taken out at the same time, if not you'll dive back in, jammies and all.

You're a real good buddy. You love to play and if we're not around, you'll roam the house looking for us to have some fun.

Happy First Birthday Buddy Son! You're such a good boy and we love you!

Boo at the Zoo

2010-11-05T16:29:00.001-06:00

The first and last picture of Baron with his monkey hood on. He absolutely can not stand things on his head.

So we decided to go to Boo at the Zoo. A great venue for us to show off our little tiger and monkey. They had trick-or-treating stations set up throughout the zoo so it was excellent for Eva, who had been practicing trick-or-treating for a week. I was particularly fond of it too, because it was the perfect amount of treats without things getting absurd (like pillow cases of candy, um not gonna happen here.) I'm a real witchy mom when it comes to treats. They had great little things of chocolate milk and trail mix and string cheese and of course all the goodies. I'll confess that Derek and I ate most of the "good" stuff while we left the "good for you" stuff for Eva. Plus it was just nice to see all of the animals and it gave Baron something to be interested in too. I think he trick-or-treated for a bag of Cheetos to give to his dad and that was the extent of the treat acquisition for him.

Derek pulled them in the wagon and maneuvered the not so terrible crowds quite well. The weather was absolutely beautiful!

He really didn't understand what the hub bub was all about.

It was a real magical day for that little girl. Treats, good. Animals, good. She had a special moment with a gorilla. She was up next to the glass and the gorilla pushed his face against the glass. It was actually really touching. The gorilla was so gentle and just mesmerized by Eva. They just stood there face to face for minutes. Eva still talks about the "beso" (kiss) from the gorilla.

Baron's semi-interest in the elephant.

The tiger stalks its prey. We saw the new baby elephant (not shown here) and she was so darling. She just laid there taking a nap next to her mommy.

This to me is the essence of Halloween. A bucket full of candy and a smile on a cute costumed face.

Picking Pumpkins at the Patch

2010-11-05T10:24:00.006-06:00

We picked pumpkins a couple of weeks before Halloween to add some autumn color to our front stoop. We never did carve them which Derek and I are both okay with until Eva gets a bit older. She'd probably be grossed out anyway. But a nice whole orange pumpkin makes her pretty happy. It's all she's been talking about for 3 weeks. The Buddy Son, however, was more interested in straw.

Not a quarter of a mile from our house, right in the middle of the subdivision, three families on an acre each decided they wanted to do something for the community in their substantial "backyard" so they decided to have a free pumpkin patch. Donations are encouraged and 100% of the proceeds are given to the Perpetual Education Fund. So that's where we went. It was really peaceful and nice knowing that money we would've spent anyway on a pumpkin was actually being given to a great cause.

Baron didn't know what to think.

I love this picture of Derek and Eva. She just loved that odd little shaped pumpkin.

The one I picked out was super duper heavy.

Cute little faces.

We just looked it all over and made sure we picked out the absolute best ones.

She was pretty proud of her pumpkin and talked about the event for weeks.

a late afternoon at the park

2010-10-22T21:19:00.004-06:00

Face of Opportunity Entry

2010-10-22T20:34:00.001-06:00

Face of Opportunity Entry:

Here is a link to a business contest Derek's company has entered. You can vote everyday so please vote often! The winners receive air fare from British Airways to anywhere in the world to grow their business. Beckett and Robb would choose to fly to London and Bangkok to work with their fabric distributors and taylors. Thanks everyone!

State Fair

2010-10-11T14:22:00.003-06:00

We went on a super fun outing with our bestest friends Zach and Mama Owley. Ally is a kindred spirit. We both come from the other side of the country. We miss the trees and fresh fruits and vegetables. We grew up in more rural settings and want those experiences for our kids too. Farm animals and swimming in lakes, all that good simple living stuff. We find ourselves teaming up to do things that our husbands would prefer not to. This particular day we took on the State Fair, a thing we both have fond memories of, but the boys do not. Ally is fearless. I'm not as good at independent as she is so I was glad to have a friend along for something I may not have done without one. It was so fun and the kids had a great time.

There was a fantastic exhibit where the kids went through their own farming experience. They first gathered grain to feed a cow (a fake one.)

They took their tiny bucket of corn and put it in the cow's feed trough.

They were really grown up little kids. Next came milking a cow.

They turned in the milk for seeds and planted them in a little garden.

And then came harvesting .

It wouldn't be a farm experience without a turn on a tiny tractor.

Eva was content to sit on her pink tractor parked next to a bale of straw.

Baron was a sweetie. All smiles and so cute in those little overalls. After the tractors, they brushed sheep for wool, gathered eggs, and turned in their produce for a tiny farm buck. They went to the general store and Eva bought herself a granola bar. It was a really great little adventure.

Of course we saw a lot of other things at the fair too. Eva loved the livestock farms. Seeing the cows get baths and a sheep being sheared were highlights. Baron was particularly fond of a goat who was trying to eat his stroller. He wasn't sure at first with these large beasts, but he warmed up and was wide eyed, taking it all in. We had fresh doughnut holes in all their cinnamony sugar goodness. And we stuffed ourselves on carni food that left my stomach pretty unstable the rest of the day. It was so worth it.

Museum of Ancient Life

2010-10-04T11:57:00.003-06:00

August also yielded a trip to Thanksgiving Point's Museum of Ancient Life. Eva has recently been enchanted by dinosaurs. She of course uses the Spanish word "dinosaurio" and has combined it with the Spanish word for crocodile, "cocodrilo." So during this trip we saw many "Cocosaurios."

The Aquarium

2010-09-29T15:15:00.004-06:00

Back in August we took a trip to The Living Aquarium. It's just a little guy in Sandy, but it was fun. I'm really enjoying the curiosity and interest Eva shows in things she learns about. We're having a lot of fun exposing her to new experiences and seeing what she thinks of them. She likes to tell Derek about her day when he comes home. She tells him everything she does and it is really sweet to see what is important to her. She has started to say things that she likes and talks about what makes her happy and what she did that was fun. These conversations are so special as it gives us an opportunity to see the world as she does.

She had recently taken an interest in fish, turtles, and snakes so it seemed like good timing to go check it out.

The Penguins by far were her favorite. She's been talking about Pinguinos ever since she saw them at the Boise Zoo over Memorial Day weekend.

She touched the stingray and thought that was pretty cool. It made me think back to the time we spent on the sandbar with the stingrays in Grand Cayman. They are so soft and graceful. I love them!

Mommy and Eva enjoying all the fishies!

I think Baron was just happy that I didn't make Eva sit in the stroller and he had more room.

This picture kind of makes me laugh because it's like Eva is one of those Sea Shepherd animal rights activists yelling at some big whaling vessel.

She sat on the "Sapo."

He was a real good boy. He was kind of serious about some of the things he saw.

Just checking it out.

Derek's Graduation

2010-09-28T16:52:00.005-06:00

He did it, he did it, he did it, Yeah! (Yes, that was to the tune of the Dora song.)
We've talked about this so many times over the years. Was it worth it? Absolutely. If we had to do it all over, Derek would still be graduating 10 years after starting as a freshman in 1999.

We were married in November 2004 during a short Thanksgiving break. We finished out the year at BYU and working at the MTC. 2005 brought about new adventures as we moved to Cozumel, Mexico for an internship. It was especially applicable to Derek's major, as he was studying international business. A job offer in Grand Cayman was extended during our time as interns. We felt it was the right thing to do and so we went. Our stint in the Cayman Islands lasted 2 years and resulted in yet another professional opportunity back here in Utah. After diving into the world of product development and sourcing, the company downsized. The last ones in were the first ones out and that included Derek. So with Eva 3 months old and my maternity leave up our plans changed. Derek would be the stay-at-home parent and I would be re-entering the work force.

We took a look at our priorities...get me back home, take time to finish school, find Derek work. When we found out Baron would be entering our family it all seemed to work out. I would stay home after he was born. 6 weeks before Baron entered the world, Derek established his company with a trip to Bangkok and 6 weeks after his birth Derek strapped on a backpack and took the hike up those never-ending stairs on the south side of campus. He started back up full time in January of this year. He created his schedule every semester to allow for a few days to be dedicated to his company Beckett & Robb.

Between growing a company from scratch, taking classes full time (and me part time,) callings in the Primary and Young Men's Presidencies, and soaking up every snuggle and kissing every boo boo, we've been a bit busy. But who isn't, really? Between the odd schedules, the 9pm dinners, and the midnight peeks in on the kids after not seeing them all day, we can genuinely and unequivocally say we are happy. It's been stressful, but there has never been a time that we felt like it would have to be years from now before we could appreciate this year.

Maybe it hasn't been the typical 4 years to graduation, but it has been full of education nonetheless.

BYU holds their graduation ceremonies over two days. On Thursday August 12th we went to the Marriott Center for Commencement. We really appreciated the family support!

I couldn't have handled the kids on my own up there. MiKayla, Chad, Mom and Dad were such a big help and great cheerleaders to Derek.

After Commencement we stopped for a little photo op. It was a pretty happy day for the whole family.

Derek told me about when his mom dropped him off at BYU in 1999. Mom talked about how the Y on the mountain was soooo cool.

Future BYU Grad!

Derek received his degree in Latin American Studies from the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies. Convocation was held Friday, August 13th at 8 am.

Here I am happy as can be, even though I did get a ticket on the way. I didn't have my license, our car's registration was expired, I was doing 15 over the speed limit and our tint is illegal. But the police officer was super nice and just busted me for the registration. Thanks!

We did a really fun party for Derek on Friday. Since he graduated in Latin American Studies I decided to do a spread of Latin American cuisine. Above you can see Carnitas (spicy shredded pork) from Mexico and Popusas (chicken and cheese inside corn tortillas) from El Salvador.

Here are some Empanadas (seasoned ground beef baked in a pastry type dough) from Chile.

This is one of our favorite dishes and we didn't know how it would go over, but people loved it. It's Tinga (super spicy pork in a chipotle pepper and chorizo sauce,) also from Mexico.

We also had Zuko juice and Mexican coke. That's kind of the best.

And some not so Latin cougar pride cupcakes. Go Blue!

Way to go Weetie! You've done such a good job. We love you!

A Sabbatical?

2010-07-25T20:56:00.003-06:00

We picked up and decided to take a family trip around the world and amidst our time in deserts and jungles no wi-fi was to be found. I've suffered from "blogging elbow" and typing exacerbates the condition. How about my kids have a really busy schedule with soccer games and tee-ball? No? They don't let 2 year olds and 8 month olds play those sports? Um, a blogging sabbatical. Yeah, a sabbatical. I'm rested, refreshed, and I'm back. (That's probably the biggest lie of them all.)

Happy Happy Birthday Eva Dear

2010-05-25T13:41:00.008-06:00

It's birthday party time for this 2 year old (as of May 21, yeah this post has been in the draft list for 2 months. Don't worry about it.)

6 friends from church came plus our little family friend Zach and cousins Petra and Mila to play and celebrate.

What kind of Dora themed party would this be without a pinata?

New buckets and shovels and so many rocks to dig up. It was a fun day.

visitors from Michigan

2010-05-24T14:35:00.005-06:00

Baron and Great Grandpa Keith

Grandpa saving the day after a ball was thrown behind the couch

Grandma gave Eva some great birthday presents

Aunt Lynell held Baron a lot and he loved it

Eva just loved Grandpa and she still talks about him a week later

Of course the beloved backpack went to bed with her and we had to sneak it away

We were so EXCITED to have Grandpa and Grandma Johncock and Aunt Lynell come visit us from Michigan. The distance is far, but I'm glad we've been able to see them at least once every year since we've been married. When we were in Grand Cayman we'd make a trip up to Florida to their winter place and since being in Utah we've gone back to Michigan once and they've come our way twice. It really means a lot to me for my kids to not only know their grandparents, but also their great-grandparents. I spent a lot of time when I was growing up, playing at my great-grandparents farm and a big, loving network of grandparents and great-grandparents is something every little kid should have.

2

2010-05-10T20:27:00.006-06:00

Mother's Day for the past 3 years has been very special. In 2008 I celebrated Mother's Day, having been released from the hospital the previous day and with a 4 day old baby girl. Every Mother's Day since has been wonderful. Even though I'm now a mother of two this day always brings me back to my first special moments with Eva. She will always be my most cherished Mother's Day gift.

She is two years old now. She is loving and kind; strong headed and creative. She loves to express herself in her clothing, coloring, and Spanglish words. She is a wonderful daughter. She knows we are her Mommy and Daddy and she trusts us implicitly. She will jump from any height knowing that we will catch her, even if we're not aware that we are supposed to be catching her. Her trust is sacred to us. We can tell from her smiling eyes that we are her whole world, her best playmates, and the provider of all her needs. We both cherish our relationship with her. She lights up our home with laughter and her budding sense of humor cracks us up. She has an opinion about meals, bedtime, and clothing. Well, she is two years old.

Stay tuned for some sure to be exciting Dora The Explorer Birthday Party photos.

alright, alright, it's been a long time, but there was a lot of laundry

2010-04-26T21:51:00.009-06:00

okay...
Baron has one bottom tooth and is working on the other.
Eva speaks in full sentences. "Where's Baron? He's sleeping."
Baron and Eva wear the same size 4 diapers.
Eva had her first boo-boo that required a band-aid.
Baron rolls both ways and does it often.
Eva nurses her stuffed animals.
Baron eats rice cereal.
Eva gags while he eats it.
Tara is really getting into gardening.
Eva frequently takes off all of her clothes and even her diaper sometimes.
Baron scoots himself forward on his tummy.
Derek has been working on his business Beckett & Robb.
Tara loves staying at home with the kids.
Eva is a fruititarian.
Baron is working on growing out his cheeks.
Derek turned 29.
Eva had her first hair cut.
Baron has discovered his feet.
Eva loves to read.
Tara is too busy too blog.

And there you have it. Consider yourself caught up on the happenings in our life.

laundry

2010-03-01T13:35:00.007-07:00

I like doing laundry. I really, really do. I think it has to do with some great laundry memories as a child. When laundry needed to be folded my mom would dump the warm laundry on top of us kids and we'd stay still until the heat went away and then fold it. Or more often then not, jumped up to play and left the cold laundry in a pile for my mom to tend to. We also had a clothesline when I was little and I can remember sheets flapping in the wind as we played out in the yard or the crispy feeling that I hated when jeans were dried on the line. Now, I love laundry for those memories and the one constant that it is, no matter our address, paycheck, or number of family members. Folding laundry often starts conversations between Derek and I about the way it was done in the many different places we've lived.

I started doing laundry as a teenager. I didn't want "my stuff" to get "messed up." And that's where it began. On my mission in Chile, we paid a sister in the ward to do our laundry. I remember laughing weekly about how EVERYTHING came back starched and ironed.

The laundry didn't increase terribly when Derek and I married. It just went from a few small weekly loads to a few large weekly loads. We lived in basement apartment for a couple of months before leaving for Mexico. We rented the apartment from a single guy who lived upstairs and would use his washer and dryer. At one point Rando's (the guy upstairs) dryer broke. After that happened our apartment was one big drying rack (as seen in the photo above.) It seemed like the dryer was broken forever.

In Mexico we had to get creative. We only had a scooter for transportation and we used to jam the dirty laundry bag between Derek and I. I would inevitably be holding on for my dear life off the back of the rack on the scooter. In the picture below we're going to the beach, but it's just to give you an idea of the precarious situation I was in on laundry night. What made matters worse is that we would go grocery shopping while waiting for our laundry to be done and we'd go home with not only a bag of clean clothes between us, but also balancing grocery bags on the handle bars, my arms, and between Derek's legs. What a wonderful time in our lives!

Next came Grand Cayman, with a variety of laundry situations. Our first apartment had a stacked unit. Unfortunately we didn't live there long due to a voyeur who frequented our apartment. We then moved in with a friend. As newly married couple we found ourselves with a roommate and it was back to checking if the washer was already being used. Finally we moved into a 400 sq ft apartment with no roommate and no voyeur. Thank goodness they didn't try to put a washer and dryer in there, our own stuff barely fit. It was in a triplex and there was a convenient laundry room right next to our unit. We'd save up our quarters to go do our laundry next door.

We moved back to the U.S. and were in an apartment shortly. Having lived abroad for the first 2 1/2 years of marriage we didn't have an appliances to call our own. We would take our dirty laundry to the best laundromat to date...Ty and Masha's house. Thanks so much for letting us impose for the 6 months before getting our house.

In the 2 years we've been in this home our numbers have grown and so has our laundry load. Currently we're up to 10 loads a week. How did two little babies multiply the laundry so rapidly?

So, what memories does laundry stir up for you?

vit D

2010-02-06T13:36:00.007-07:00

Even though we still have a good 3-5 inches of snow in our yard and around the neighborhood this past week brought us the good fortune of a few sunny days. We went out in the wagon a couple of times and once Eva even took her Minnie for a walk in the stroller while Baron and I followed with his stroller.

We visited a couple of different playgrounds. Eva is really starting to become pretty courageous. Lately she has been into Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in the morning as she eases into the day. Part of a song they sing says "You're a thinking and a solving, worker-througher, Mouska-hey, Mouska-ho, Mouska-doer." When I watch her play throughout the day, that song runs through my head as she works through little challenges and figures things out. What an amazing age, developmentally!

You can literally see her confidence grow as she faces new things and realizes she can do them.

Next thing, she is moving on to even bigger obstacles, ready to go.

Our little buddy just looks on with his chubby little grin. I couldn't have a more easy-going baby. He is happy all of the time! He has started to laugh and that melts my heart. His daddy can't stop kissing his face off and he just lets him.

He is a very snuggly boy. In a lot of ways he is like Eva was at that age, but there are few things that are singular to him. He is obsessed with his hands! It's like he is licking an icecream cone all day long. He also coos and sleeps a lot more than Eva did.

Eva is a budding artist. I really think that drawing and coloring has helped her to adjust to Baron taking some of the attention that used to be all hers. She gets very excited about scribbling and loves to watch Derek and I draw objects that are familiar to her. Sometimes she'll take us into her room to show us a foot or a ball we drew for her earlier in the week.

Coloring is her favorite part of nursery and throughout the week she pulls her drawings off the fridge and adds to them.

She comes up with her owns ideas and when we work through them, she is generally very happy with the outcome. She brought all of Baron's bibs to me and wanted them on. She couldn't have been happier after that last little bib was put on.

This little guy is a real joy. We couldn't be happier with our little man. His sweet and fun little personality is just starting to peak through.

Thank you sun for making our week a little more hopeful, happier, and silly!

hmmmm naps

2010-01-19T12:10:00.003-07:00

after a morning of playing like only Eva can
we all need to nap like only Baron can

and this lucky mom takes advantage of every second

Two Beatiful Babies and Two Lucky Parents

2010-01-11T22:07:00.004-07:00

Six weeks out and I feel like things are starting to be a well oiled machine. A machine that has an occasional wrench thrown in it by Eva or is it that she throws a wrench at her brother. Either way there is definitely throwing. Things are different the second time around. Besides the fact that I'm dealing with a toddler and a baby, I'm a different parent to baby Baron than I was to baby Eva at the same age. I don't have time to read all the books on how to play with an infant at different stages of their life. I've realized that talking to him and talking to Eva about him and playing with Eva and him are the best education that little guy needs right now, never mind the black and white distinct pattern mobile stuff. I've learned that it's okay if he cries and if he does it for 5 minutes straight while I wash my face and brush my teeth. I've always known that babies need to eat, but now I know that 20 month olds can throw tantrums and scream on the floor because baby needs to eat and mommy is the only one who can do that. Don't get me wrong, Eva loves her baby, but it's definitely on her terms. For example, "yes, I would love to share my agua and teddy graham with you so I will stick it in your face, but no, I cannot allow for mommy to put you in my playhouse or lay you down for 30 seconds on my blanket, absolutely not!" We try to spend a lot of time down on the same level. She is learning the body parts and likes to point them out on him. In the picture below she is pointing out "mano" or hand. After that she gave him a nearly fatal blow to the eye in response to "ojo."

We had Baron's blessing. It's always nice to have family travel to see us. We really appreciate it and were so happy that both grandpas and some uncles were able to participate. We sorely missed everyone else who wasn't able to come.

Our little buddy just recently enjoyed his first non wash cloth bath. We got out the baby bath only to see that this guy has basically outgrown it. We don't know how he got so big or how big he'll get, but at 6 weeks he's giving his 3-6 month clothing a real run for its money. I basically have an entire tub of 0-3 month clothing worn once, if that. But we love all the chub and every roll on our little Bear. He is a handsome, sweet boy and we are so happy he is ours.

AND...

2009-12-17T14:21:00.002-07:00

we're going private. We love all of you following our blog so please leave a comment with your email address to ensure an invite!

babies

2009-12-17T13:32:00.002-07:00

A New Home Life

2009-12-14T12:56:00.005-07:00

Right now life is...

so good.

Baron Glen Bleazard

2009-11-18T21:22:00.004-07:00

We are so happy to announce the arrival of our baby boy, who was born this morning at around 8am. We've had a great day with him today, he's a great sleeper so far and likes to cuddle with mom and dad. We knew he'd be on the bigger than his sister was when she was born, but were surprised when he weighed in at 9 pounds 12 ounces! He's already a hefty little guy with chubby legs and arms. Both Tara and Baron are healthy and doing well.

More Deck Building and The Finished Product

2009-11-15T19:37:00.006-07:00

I had a great time building the deck with Dad, Barry and Ty. After getting the materials on Friday morning, we worked pretty much non-stop until 10:30 on Saturday night. We had the backyard full of toolboxes, saws, and lumber. It was so fun to see it all come together. There are still a few minor additions I'd like to make that we didn't have time for, and I won't be able to stain it until Spring because the temperature is too low now that the weather is back to what it'd normally be in November. Luckily the deck is cedar, which stands up to moisture really well even without stain or sealers. I had my hand in the design of the deck, but otherwise followed the instructions of Dad and Ty, who recently built Ty's deck while I was in Thailand and are quickly becoming pros. Dad was the Stairmaster... he did a great job on what was the most challenging part of the project. I learned a ton. Thanks again so much guys for all your hard work! Barry's place will hopefully be next in the Spring.

What can you do in 1 day and a 1/2?

2009-11-11T22:19:00.003-07:00

Well 4 Bleazard guys can build the sweetest deck ever in 1 day and a 1/2! We are so appreciative to Dad, Barry, and Ty for all of their sweat and blood (the Dweebie literally left his mark on one of the stairs) and hopefully there were no tears. It was beautiful weather and nice to watch the boys working as brothers and learning from their Dad. With it being crunch time until Baby Boy Bleazard comes and the snow for that matter, we don't know what we would've done without their help. Thanks to Jason too for hooking us up with a great deal on lumber that made the whole project a possibility. I absolutely can not wait for next spring. The kiddies and I are going to live in that backyard next summer. I even have space all around the sod for some desert shrubs and flowers. Beyond the deck will be the garden and I couldn't be happier.

Check out the finished deck in the next post!

Trick or Treat

2009-11-04T20:40:00.003-07:00

We had an elaborate plan that included a full cast of Wizard of Oz characters, however this nine month pregnant mama and jet-lagged daddy recently home from Thailand, lost their steam. The "yellow brick road" lead us to the costume aisle at Target. We found the perfect costume for a little girl who often times wakes from her night's sleep to yell, "doggy!" She loved her costume!

It was a spooktacular evening we spent with our friends, the Yeats family. Ally had a great idea to pull the two kiddies in a wagon. I don't know if Eva loved her purple pumpkin, the decorated houses, or just riding in the wagon the most.

Wild animals on the loose! This lion and puppy were stalking a neighborhood cat.

"Back to that house, mama!" Eva was enthralled with all of the creepily decorated homes. Really she just liked the lights and was determined to get back to one of her favorite houses.

Ally was the nicest witch ever. Thanks for the most delicious chili, cornbread, and apple pie Al! It doesn't get much more Halloween than that. And Zach's lion growl was something special.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!

Mischief Managed

2009-11-04T18:02:00.002-07:00

Life is Good!

2009-09-28T21:39:00.000-06:00

History in the Making...

2009-09-12T21:20:00.005-06:00

Today was exciting! It has been a few months in the making, but today is the day that Beckett & Robb went public. We're not talking an IPO (yet,) but Derek gladly agreed to an invitation to participate in a local business fair. If it were up to Mayor Jackson her whole office would be outfitted in Beckett & Robb custom suits. Surely a few will be. The response he and his business partner, Jason, have received up to this point from family and friends has been favorable, but it was definitely exciting to get a public response to their business and a fruitful one at that.

Their business...
For those of you who don't know what Derek has been working on let me explain. Derek and Jason have made custom suits affordable and available. Their look is far superior to the ones bought off-the-rack and the details are something special. They found amazing tailors in Bangkok, Thailand and have paired their craftsmanship with really nice fabrics from Italy. The result is amazing and I couldn't be more proud of him. They will be traveling to Thailand next month to source other accessories like cuff links, ties, belts, as well as fine tuning the process they've already put in place. Like I said, I'm so proud. They have plans to shortly have their Beckett & Robb website e-commerce ready which would allow for suits to be ordered online. The prospect of having a self-sustaining sales system in place is a real achievement. They have a great program in place for trunk shows. When a person invites them to their business they receive a commission of the profits, usable toward merchandise. I've been so impressed with the business model these two have come up with. I think it's brilliant! They've recruited sales people in several states and have created a beautiful product presentation manual. They are creating a Facebook and Twitter presence, and their Beckett & Robb blog, that Derek is constantly updating with well-researched tips and advice, gets hits from all over the world. He has worked so hard and it is a blessing to our family to see his efforts resulting in success.

Baby Boy Bleazard

2009-09-05T22:01:00.004-06:00

Well, we have had a lot of fun family time as of late. And as my giant tummy gets even gianter (hmm, not a word, but thoroughly accurate) we get more excited to add a new tiny member to our family of 3. Our widgets on the side have always been different dates. My due date is Nov. 24th which one widget reflects and the C-section was to be scheduled around Nov. 17th, which the other reflects. We have finally decided on this little boy's birthday. Since our anniversary is the 17th we decided to do our C-section on the morning of Nov. 18th. That is if he doesn't come earlier. A very real possibility considering that the ultrasound reflected a due date of Nov. 16th. So we'll see. But I just thought I'd share some pics of fun family time...

My Baby's Birthday

2009-08-16T21:57:00.004-06:00

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

We've had a fun couple of days celebrating Tara's birthday. We went to Salt Lake to one of our favorite restaurants, the Market Street Broiler, and did a few other things downtown. It was pretty similar to what we did last year actually. I had a great time with my girls, and I hope Tara had a good birthday. My gift to Tara this year is a framed picture of the Salt Lake Temple. I didn't want to make the decision of which piece of art to get alone so I haven't actually bought it yet so that Tara can help me pick one. I'm a lame gift-giver. I'm probably the worst at doing something special and original, I could never match Tara's thoughtfulness and creativity when it comes to these kinds of things. I wish I was better at it.

I'm so grateful for Tara and all the incredible things she does for our family. She is my best friend. She is more loving and supportive than I deserve or could have ever hoped for. I hope she's had a good birthday because she deserves the absolute best. I love you Tara!

Same "Goggy," New Tricks!

2009-08-11T09:57:00.004-06:00

We often sing the ABC's in Spanish to Eva. It sounds like "ah, bay, say, day, a, effay, hay" and so on. She loves to join in. Her version sounds like "ah, day, a, a, a, a, a." Often times she'll begin singing on her own and it just melts out hearts.

"Perro" has been a bit of a hard word for Eva to pick up in Spanish, but "Doggy" sure isn't. She has several variations, "dog," doggy," and "goggy." She listens for dogs barking in our neighborhood and is content to "wow, ow" for an hour in response to their barks. A doggy on a commercial will stop her in her tracks.

She is an extraordinary helper around the house. Which we should expect considering that 85% of the messes around the house are due to her. She'll stand between the sink and the dishwasher and as you pass dishes and silverware down to her she will load the dishwasher. Not unlike doggies, the opening of the dishwasher will send her running from across the other side of the house.

Her domestic abilities are not restrained to merely dish washing. She can sweep! It's sweet, but not effective. Generally Daddy will sweep and Eva will bring the dustpan to him and place it on the floor near the cleanup pile. She also helps Mommy with sorting laundry (legitimately, she's good.) Another favorite chore is to follow Daddy around while vacuuming.

Eva knows the word "up." However it's only in reference to putting up her legs so we can put her pants on. She flings her chubby little legs up and says "up" herself. Now those same pants we put on her could be removed at anytime along with her socks, as she has taken to removing clothing throughout the day.

Eva's days are not only filled with de-robing, but also dressing-up. She will at any given time be wearing 2-4 headbands. She'll complete her ensemble with a pair of Daddy's tennis shoes (1 will suffice) and Mommy's bathrobe belt flung carelessly across her shoulders. A tutu, apron, or changing pad cover (on the head) may also be thrown into the mix.

She is learning all her little body parts and that is really fun. "Nariz" she absolutely has down. That one word has a quick response, a plump little finger being shoved up her nose or the nose of anyone around. "Besito" prompts a closed or wide opened pair of lips coming in for a kiss. It could also inspire a small hand to shove your face away.

Eva has also taken to lounging occasionally. Mid-play she'll take a breather and lie down for a sec. Sometimes she'll prop herself up against our pillows on the bed just to take it all in. This is probably the funniest of her new tendencies. How grown up to just want to relax and take it easy!

Island Park

2009-08-01T20:06:00.005-06:00

We recently enjoyed a trip to Eastern Idaho to the Island Park area. We had a family reunion (Hallmark side) and it was fun to see cousins and aunts and uncles that we don't see too often. Tara and Eva and I got up there too late on Friday to join the rest of the family in Yellowstone, but with Tara's family so close to it, hopefully we'll get there in the Fall or something. We were able to go to Mesa Falls that afternoon by ourselves, then after the rest of the family saw the pictures, we decided to go back there on Saturday so they could take in the falls as well. We all stayed in a cabin, it was close quarters and the cabin was, uh, rustic, but it was a good time with almost all the family there. We all missed Loralee and Mike and their kids. We threw the baseball around about every chance we got and had a really nice time sitting around playing games and talking. Chad and I both were Captain Jack Sparrow.

Vacation Part II

2009-07-06T20:26:00.004-06:00

adler planetarium . field museum . cubs vs. twins . architecture boat ride . michigan . aunt lynell . grandpa and grandma johncock . grandpa ellis . binder park zoo . cornwell turkey farm

Vacation Part I

2009-06-24T20:31:00.006-06:00

lake michigan . shedd aquarium . sears tower skydeck . chicago style dog . grant park fountain . deep dish pizza . museum of science and industry . downtown . chicago river

Hair

2009-06-05T20:41:00.005-06:00

This post is inspired by Derek's new (well, at least since the age of 10) hair style. He recently got a "buzz" for the summer. Here is Derek's hair through the years...

I'm supposed to specify that this was a joke and the hair was cut immediately after photographing.

I love this hair in all its variety. I love the boy that grows it, more. I better hurry up and publish this or Derek is going to delete it. He's whining in the background.

Family

2009-05-29T19:58:00.007-06:00

We've had two weekends of family fun. We were so excited to be able to spend a weekend in Rexburg with my WHOLE family! Brice was visiting from Maui and it was awesome to see him. We enjoyed one of Brady's soccer games, had a picnic, checked out mom's stained glass gallery (which looked amazing,) and just talked long into the nights.

This past weekend was a trip to Boise. We enjoyed a walk on the Green Belt together with Eva, had hotdogs in the park while the boys played homerun derby (which Derek won,) the kids were able to spend time together with their cousins, and again talked long into the nights. We love all of our family and our grateful that it is a short 4 or 5 hour trip to see both grandparents and tons of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

1 YEAR!

2009-05-19T18:35:00.003-06:00

Table Making

2009-05-06T16:45:00.004-06:00

We got a new computer recently, but we didn't really have a table or desk to put it on. Rather than buy a new desk, I decided that it'd be cool to make my own. My father in law has some great know-how in woodworking, so last trip up to Rexburg we went to work on building a table. We picked up the wood--four 2x12's and two 4x6's for the legs. The whole table came from these pieces. Once we got it back to my in-laws place, we created a plan and made all the measurements, then started cutting. After the pieces were cut for the top, we used a biscuit cutter to make slits in the sides, glued each three 2x12 peices together with biscuits between them, then used clamps to hold them tightly together while they set. We had quite a few more cuts to make to create the structure underneath the table. After we had cut the leg pieces, we got to work sanding. And we sanded and sanded. To finish up for the day we put the substructure together using all the peices we had cut for the frame and the legs, which we put together using biscuits, then clamped it all together. When we were getting close to finished for the day Reed got a call from a friend who needed some help rounding up some cattle, so we went to a ranch to ride horses and get some cows sorted out. I didn't have any riding experience to speak of, but went anyway. I think I did pretty well though. It was a lot more "real cowboy stuff" than I expected, lots of riding and wrangling, and I was actually able to contribute to our ultimate goal of getting the bulls separated from the heifers. I was running all over the place chasing cows. It was tons of fun and I came back covered in cow poop, sore, and unfortunately without any pictures. It was a ridiculously busy day, I was ready to drop by bedtime. Reed's energy level is nothing short of impressive.

Reed had a few things to take care of that we didn't have time for before we had to leave, like attaching the top of the table to the base. Fast forward a few weeks... Reed and Laura came for the weekend and were nice enough to load the table onto the rack on top of their car. It arrived a bit wet and full of dead bugs, and they said they got a lot of funny looks on the way. It sucked their gas too and I'm very appreciative that they brought it for me because our car couldn't accommodate it. So over the past couple of days I've put in quite a few more hours sanding, then applying stain and protective coating. I'm happy to say that it's now finished. I think it came out pretty awesome. I'm super grateful to Reed for all his help and expertise, and I had a great time working on it with him and Brady. Here are a few pictures...

Happy Birthday, Easter, Masters Weekend

2009-04-12T20:52:00.012-06:00

It's been a celebrating kind of week for us. First of all we thoroughly enjoyed Conference. Which in our home, is a holiday in and of its self. We also used that great family time to celebrate Derek's birthday early. We thought it would be especially fun to do it while Chad was visiting from Boise. It was nice that Derek was able to go to priesthood session with his brothers. Earlier that day Derek did his Easter egg hunt filled with clues for his birthday present.

He followed clues all over the house to get to his very special birthday (Father's Day, Christmas, etc) present.
True joy and surprise was on his face as he came upon the PS3 that I forever swore would not enter our home. He has been the best boy, the most wonderful father, and loving husband. I just couldn't deny him.
We enjoyed an entirely too rich turtle cake after the boys returned from the Priesthood session.
I don't know what he could have possibly wished for, maybe Tiger Woods winning the Masters or that the Cubbies have a good season. But I certainly hope it comes true.
This is something we have never seen Baby Eva do. This picture captures pure excitement of a child about to get a present. She had seen her Easter basket on the table and was squealing with glee.
She crawled so fast and couldn't wait to get her little hands on a few new toys. I'm not going to lie; I hate stuffed animals. I think they are a worthless toy, but this little girl loves them! She is a very nurturing and loving girl. She hugs them and kisses them. Nothing makes her happier.
If this little girl is anything like her mother we will surely see this Sunday after Sunday for the next 10 years. There is nothing as lovely as wearing a dressing over a vent and seeing it puff out in the prettiest way.

The true Easter was certainly not lost on us amidst bunnies, baskets, and eggs; it was a beautiful, sunny Sabbath day. I have found that the place I like to be best on Easter is in the Primary. Sure, our hundreds (literally) of children can be overwhelming and crazy, especially when hyped up on chocolate bunnies and jelly beans, but if there is ever a place to hear sweet, genuine feelings for the Savior it is surely amongst His "little ones." I taught sharing time today. A daunting challenge enough when it is trying to help them feel the Spirit during lessons on family or the creation, but it can be absolutely mind boggling when trying to plan the perfect lesson to teach on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However the teaching was effortless (not on my part) and the learning abundant (most definitely on my part) as I was touched to know by the junior primary that "Jesus loves us" and by the older children that "He died for us and He lives for us." I also feel especially blessed this day to know that our home and family is lead by a Priesthood holder who loves and serves the Savior tirelessly.

Well, it wasn't just the Master's day, it was also the final round of the Masters. Which being married to Derek, obliges me to hours of golf viewing. I actually don't mind. Especially when it can be done with friends. We had a very fun day with the Yeats!

Eva sang, danced, and endlessly tormented Zach. His only defense was being armed with a dinosaur. This girly girl shrinks in fear from any dinosaur he wields in her direction.
Maybe I wasn't as attentive as some would've hoped. In the end I know Angel Cabrera won and the details in his race for the green jacket don't concern me much.
Ally spoiled Derek and we all benefited. It was a wonderful dinner followed by a 5 star restaurant worthy dessert.

I just feel in complete bliss with my family. It's a good one and we had a really fun week together!

Our Mischievous Baby

2009-04-03T10:58:00.010-06:00

Baby Eva is quite the explorer. She pretty much disregards anything that is meant for her, like her toys, and goes for anything she can get her little hands on that we can't manage to child proof. She loves to open drawers and pull everything out, she loves the books on the bookshelves, any garbage can, audio/visual equipment, etc. She pushes doors open into rooms and closes them behind her. She also has an affinity for any cabinets and cupboards, and loves to climb into baskets. She definitely keeps us on our toes as she crawls all over the house looking for mischief. But we think it's pretty awesome. Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks.

under the kitchen table

in her bedroom

under her crib

large boxes are always a hit

her favorite kitchen cabinet. she first takes out whatever she can...

then proceeds to get into the cabinet so she can really investigate

in the bonus room

basket of blankets in her bedroom

at grandma's house in boise

in her toy basket

Not pictured: Eva getting into a basket of newly folded clothes and removing it piece by piece, and Eva pulling down her tall laundry basket, pulling out the clothes, and crawling inside for a better look, both fairly common. She is our little sweetheart.

Pay It Forward

2009-02-21T08:50:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the cute idea Nat!

So, here's how this game works-the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift/treat from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or be lazy and copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift!

St. George Trip '09

2009-02-19T22:41:00.003-07:00

Life has certainly changed in the past year. We are however grateful that one thing did not...a trip to St. George. We appreciate the Yeats allowing us to impose once again on a long standing tradition of theirs. Our St. George trip was anxiously awaited. When it finally came we were so excited even the crummy weather forecast couldn't keep our spirits down. Great thing was that the weather didn't end up being nearly as bad as projected. The boys obviously enjoyed their time out on the course. Us girls had a relaxing trip to the spa. It was nice to celebrate Valentine's Day with friends. We had fun seeing the Parade of Homes. Baby Eva and little Zach anticipated a dip in the pool, but settled for a somewhat soak in the hot tub due to the chilly air. We really had a wonderful time and it was just great to be with Ally and Jason. They taught us to play Settlers of Cattan and I'm extremely disappointed to announce that I was in fact the only person not to win during the trip. We stayed at a nice little condo that was the perfect fit for our two families. More pictures follow. We already can't wait for next year. I wonder what will change by then...

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-09T22:33:00.002-07:00

NEW BLOG ON THE BLOCK

2009-02-03T12:21:00.002-07:00

usefulguystuff.blogspot.com

What is this you ask? Only the coolest new blog I found while surfing the net. That's a lie, I had an inside tip from the brilliant author himself, but that doesn't change the fact that it truly is "the coolest new blog."

It's a blog about.... guy stuff! It's already featured posts on fitness and nutrition. There are sure to be tips on style and other healthy, happy living suggestions to come. Even though it is directed to men I've already found some of the concepts can be applicable to women as well. So check it out and leave a comment or a suggestion. Visit back often to find new and helpful tips.

tip toes - teeth - tears

2009-01-31T17:29:00.004-07:00

Eva's curiosity has seemingly quadrupled in the past week. It may have something to do with her new skill. Her excursions around the house are a lot more adventurous for her and for us.

If the runny nose, gallons of slobber, swollen gums, and of course a volatile temperament weren't clues enough, we have seen the evidence of a teeny tiny tooth coming in on the top right side. Here are just some of the things she's been chewing on this past week.

The poor girl is still in pain after all the chomping she's done.

We'll get our happy little girl back soon and when she emerges she'll be toothier than ever!

Exciting Weekend

2009-01-26T09:33:00.005-07:00

It was an exciting weekend. Mom and Dad came to visit. We hadn't seen them since the beginning of December so it was fun to spend time with them. Dad got Mom a sweet new digital SLR camera for Christmas and it was a photo shoot weekend. Eva was all smiles for it.

Saturday Dad and Derek were going to go the shooting range, but that was interrupted by an unexpected Dr.'s Appt. Early Saturday morning Derek woke up suddenly saying that he had been hit in the eye and that it wasn't working right. He was in so much pain it made him sick. Well after a couple of hours of worrying and letting the pain subside we finally calmed down and got a little more sleep. The next day Derek went to the Optometrist which took longer than expected and made them miss their time slot at the shooting range. He found out that he's been sleeping with his eyes partially open and that the one had become so dehydrated that it made the nerves freak out. With some drops we hope to be back on track.

Mom and I went down to Provo to a stained glass studio so Mom could get some supplies. After that we met the guys at Cafe Rio and enjoyed some good burritos. We spent the weekend watching movies and relaxing.

I'd been dealing with a pretty severe cough since Friday and finally was feeling pretty miserable on Sunday. We went to one of those Urgent Care places and the medical drama began again. Apparently I was only getting a little under 70% of the oxygen my body should be getting so the nurse yelled for the Dr. and some oxygen. They got it on me right before I was about to pass out. Then once that was back up to a good number I was put on some sort of breathing machine to open up my lungs and then they did x-rays. I've got pneumonia. It wasn't so terrible that I needed to be hospitalized so that's good. I'll be on the mend over the next few days.

What an ordeal, but it was really nice to have Mom and Dad here.

Hot Breadsies!

2009-01-21T18:31:00.009-07:00

We had a great weekend with my parents and Chad in town. We celebrated Dad's birthday on Friday and had some delicious cake made by Chad while we played Rock Band. On Saturday we wanted to go to Park City, but learned shortly before leaving that the Sundance Film Festival had started, so we decided we'd steer clear and opted for downtown Salt Lake instead. One highlight of the weekend for Tara and me was that on Sunday we made homemade bread using wheat and a wheat grinder that we got from Mom and Dad for Christmas. The bread turned out pretty great and we're excited to do it again. I never thought I'd get so much out of grinding wheat and making bread but there was something really cool about it, and it was fun to have all of us involved. Turns out Robby made bread the same day at around the same time up in Northern Idaho. The Bleazard Boys are bakers! In addition to bread making there was lots of Rock Band, board games, dominoes and movies over the weekend.

Raw goodness.
Grinding it out.
Even Chad got involved and lent his muscles. Notice the matching attire Chad and I had. It wasn't planned, we both walked out of our rooms after church and noticed we looked exactly the same.
Freshly ground wheat.
The finished product!
We love Sequence. We always go guys against girls, and lately the guys have really been lighting it up. Boo ya. Right here Ty is like, "I don't know why we're so dominating." And Tara is like, "We just got schooled again." (Actually we're pretty evenly matched, but we like to trash talk.)Eva really enjoyed having Rock Band in the house too. All those cords and fun things to touch. I couldn't keep her away from this area all week while we had the Wii.
Here's our house with our ever-present 12+ inches of snow. The house faces north so it doesn't melt very quickly and continues to accumulate.

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...

2008-12-31T13:31:00.005-07:00

It really was the most wonderful time! We've been celebrating Christmas for a month now and are sad to see it all come to a close. We celebrated with my parents in Rexburg a couple of weeks ago and then with Derek's family over the holiday. Our days have been filled with sugar cookies, presents, pulling Eva away from the tree, hookybobbing, snow, and surprises. It has been a special Christmas for Derek and I. We both felt as excited and anxious this year as we did when we were children. One of the highlights of our Christmas was reading about the first Christmas in Luke, Matthew, and 3 Nephi as we drove to Boise. It was nice to take a moment amidst the festivities to remember the reason for them. We hope it was a Merry Christmas for all.

Eva's Christmas Project

2008-12-18T22:04:00.002-07:00

2008-12-17T21:05:00.001-07:00

FEASTING UPON THE WORD

2008-12-15T21:21:00.002-07:00

Tara, Eva, and Derek do the Charleston

2008-12-08T20:07:00.002-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

THANKSGIVING

2008-11-29T12:20:00.006-07:00

Guess who has a tooth...

2008-11-25T16:15:00.004-07:00

Watch out! The bottom right tooth has made its way through. Boy, is it sharp!

11.17.2004

2008-11-16T17:49:00.001-07:00

4 YEARS

2008-11-16T17:28:00.001-07:00

Eva's First Solids

2008-11-09T15:55:00.003-07:00

AND OF COURSE...

Derek

2008-11-07T21:32:00.008-07:00

Derek doing what he does best.

The funny faces this guy makes are great.

Derek in Cuba.

Cliff-jumping in Mexico.

Derek's business trip to India.

I got tagged! I almost feel like I've achieved some sort of rite of passage in this blogging world. The best part is I get to blog about my favorite thing to think and talk about...Derek.

What is your husbands name? Derek David
How long have you guys been married? 4 years
How long did you date? We were friends for 5 months and dated for 7 months (4 months of which we were apart)
How old is he? 27 years old
Who is taller? Derek (just barely, yeah right)
Who can sing best? Definitely Derek. He can sing any tenor or bass line you throw at him.
Who is smarter? Derek for sure. I can ask him about any flag or world leader or anything really and he knows all about it. Oh yeah, and his language abilities are the tops.
Who does laundry? Well, well, well, He knows how to do it and is doing a lot more of it these days, but he despises folding the clothes.
Who pays the bills? That would be me.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does.
Who mows the lawn? Oh there is no way I do that. Besides, he takes pride in his mowing and trimming abilities considering that was a past job of his.
Who cooks dinner? Depends...his black beans are amazing though.
Who kissed who first? I had to wait a while for Derek to make his move, but he finally did.
Who wears the pants? We both do!

Tag you're it! Masha, Nat, and Mom, let's see what you think of your Bleazard boys.

BOO!

2008-11-04T14:19:00.004-07:00

Well, this picture pretty much sums up our costume experience. Nothing is easy when wearing a box! Thanks to Ty and Masha for another great Halloween party. We can't wait for next year! Here is a pic of our pumpkins proudly displayed. Derek's of course is the awesome Pirates of the Caribbean inspired skull and crossbones, mine is the generic pumpkin carving kit face at the bottom, and of course Eva's is the baby bottle in the middle. Next Halloween is sure to be a blast since she will be way into it. For now we can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Carving

2008-10-26T21:01:00.007-06:00

Derek did all the dirty work on the three pumpkins.

Eva enjoyed the pumpkin carving from afar.

We had doughnut holes and apple cider. It was the perfect pumpkin carving night.

Eva loved her bottle carved pumpkin. We'd love to reveal the pumpkin Derek carved, but it must remain a secret until this Friday's pumpkin carving contest. Just wait and see!

Fall Fun

2008-10-18T22:11:00.012-06:00

We had a day full of fall fun as we were in search of autumn colors in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

We took many opportunities to stop and explore everything around us.

We had so much fun spending time together as a family.

Dad and Eva play together.

It was a day full of laughs and love.

Eva saw and touched different things. It was a day of new experiences.

Man vs. rock. After an attempt to scale rock, man lost and rock won.

While boy did boyish things with rocks, girls sweetly played with leaves.

Dad and Eva make there way around Silver Lake.

Fall fun for our family.

Sweet Baby Eva

2008-10-15T21:12:00.007-06:00

Eva never ceases to amaze us! One minute she was happily enjoying her Rainbow Fish Hide and Seek book and the next minute she was wearing it. She had strategically placed her arm in the hole of a page while rolling and it flipped it on her back. We had a good laugh.

She loves playing with her cousin, Petra. They will be great friends!

The Dweebie and Chad were down for General Conference weekend. This little girl had some big smiles for her Pop pop.

We just love this picture of her cheeks in all their glory. We imagine that we see them get a little smaller each day and it makes us so sad.

Well, it's time to start baby-proofing the house. She has taken to getting up on her knees. Before we know it she'll be motoring around.

Sweet Baby Eva. What a joy!

A Disappointment of Epic Proportions

2008-10-06T22:27:00.005-06:00

I'm not one to blog about my feelings. I usually stick to family news and pictures. But I've suffered a pretty severe blow this past weekend. I don't have any recourse at this point but to "blog it out". I'm talking of course about my beloved Cubs. We enjoyed a stellar season this year. Lots of hits, lots of runs, lots of wins. It looked like this was our year. We were so good, in fact, that it never really occurred to me that we wouldn't go deep into the postseason. And the World Series was a very much within reach. Of course the possibility of losing was always there, but I never really entertained it. I didn't really consider the possibility of losing in the first series again this year, like what happened last year. We were good last year, but nothing compared to this year. Then the post season finally came, and we had a repeat of last season's nightmare. 3 losses and out. Unbelievable! Any team can have a slump. Even good teams like the Cubbies. Unfortunately, we slumped at the worst possible time. That's what I keep telling myself. An unfortunate series that could have happened to any team. Because I'm not about to start believing in rubbish curses. A true Cubs fan has to be an eternal optimist. 100 years with no World Series championship does that.

So now that the season is over, I'm wondering what to do with myself. There were over 160 games this season, and I must have watched the vast majority of them (MLB.com, baby). I planned activities and work around game times. On any given day I always knew how many games ahead in the standings we were, who we were currently playing and where, who the starting pitcher was, who the next series was against, what time the game would be on that day, etc. Countless hours spent watching and thinking about the Cubs. I'm sure a lot of people would say it's odd, even sad, to be that into a baseball team. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, I say. It's been a tragic week this past week. I was sick to my stomach watching the Cubs choke in each of those games. I'm still pretty depressed about it and it'll take me another couple of weeks to come to grips with it. But I'm not going to knock the Cubs for ruining what should have been "our year", or be like a lot of the bandwagon fans who were on board while the Cubs were winning but have since jumped ship.

I'm looking forward to next season. I'm talking with Ty about possible changes that will happen this winter. We're working on getting down to Arizona for Spring Training next year. I'm still a believer. I Still love the Cubs. I can't wait for redemption. I just really hope it comes in 2009.

Over the river and through the woods...

2008-10-02T21:38:00.014-06:00

...to Grandmother's house we went. We went to Rexburg last weekend to spend some time with the family and so the grandparents could see this growing girl.

It was fun to see the projects that mom and dad have been working on. Dad with his talented woodworking made a sign for mom's gallery and mom's gallery is full of awesome stained glass pieces.
Eva was happy to play with her Aunt Kelsey and Uncle Brady. She was in awe of her big boy cousin, Gabe and excited to see her Aunt Kayla and Uncle Spencer.

It was a really fun weekend!

Hey Chicago Whadda Ya Say...

2008-09-17T15:22:00.004-06:00

So, after looking at all of our family and friends' beautiful blogs I asked Derek if I could take down the Cubbies paraphernalia. You know I love the Cubs, but it's all just a little too boyish for my (I mean our) blog. He said absolutely not. He then relented, "Okay after October you can take it down." He did insist that the Cubs widget at the bottom of our blog was "girlie enough" because it "sparkles." If there were 24/7 Baseball Tonight live feed that you could embed in a blog, believe me, we would have it.

So come on Cubbies! Let's win the World Series! It's perfect timing...100 years since you last won. Plus you better make it worth it, since I have to keep up the stinking MLB standings until it's all done and over with.

Go Cubs Go!

What's Up With Us

2008-09-05T20:34:00.007-06:00

We had a really fun week! Eva has been rolling from tummy to back for a little while, but she perfected the back to tummy roll. She finally got up and over the shoulder. She is really loving to squeal now. Derek was in charge of a ward activity on Saturday morning. There was a really great turn out at the park for grilled burgers, games, and music. That evening we had friends over. Derek's best friend, Tim, his wife, Sarah, and their son, Lewis were visiting from Texas. Plus Ty, Masha and little Petra came over. It's so great our kids are close in age! On labor day Derek and I went up to Park City to see the Parade of Homes. It was amazing and amazingly cold. It snowed! We had a busy weekend, but it was so much fun.

Fun at the park.

Lewis and the Ladies, Petra and Eva.

And here we are enjoying the Parade of Homes with the cutest little girl in the world!

VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPICS- Here we come!

2008-08-24T21:36:00.007-06:00

Needless to say we have really enjoyed the Olympics and are already looking forward to the winter Olympics in Vancouver. We're sad to see them over, but I'm not going to lie it's been a sleep deprived two weeks. That's been tough considering it was my first week back from maternity leave. It was hard to leave that little girl that I love so much.

But it's been a lot easier to be at work when I know she has her daddy to take care of her at home. I'm so proud of Derek. He is such a good father and I know they will always have a special bond because of this time they have together.

Happy Birthday Tara!

2008-08-20T16:41:00.007-06:00

Tara's birthday was on August 16th. We had a fun day. Around noon we went to the airport to pick Chad up, who flew in special for Tara's birthday (ok, maybe for a few other things too) then we went to the Capitol building to see one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence. It was our first time at the Capitol, so we took some time to walk around and check out the building. Afterward we went for an early dinner at the Market Street Broiler. It was about 4:00 in the afternoon, so it was just us and some old people at the restaurant (sometimes we like to go eat early on the weekends because we avoid waiting and we prefer eating dinner earlier than later and then we have the rest of the night to do stuff. Is that so wrong?) On Sunday night we had some family over to enjoy some cake and ice cream.

Happy birthday Weetie! I love you and I hope you had a fun weekend.

The birthday girl and the mini weet going into the Capitol.
From the third floor at the Capitol. There are some pretty cool paintings, the one in the background is of Brigham Young.
Take that, King George.
Honest Abe and Chad.
A lovely shot with Old Glory.
The view of the outside.
I had to include this picture because it's awesome. We were trying to get a picture of Chad with the statue in the background (which you can't see here) and some kid was all over it for like 5 minutes. Check out Chad's grumpy face as he waited for the little duder to vacate.
This ice cream after dinner was so good!I made that! Double decker baby.Eva gave Tara a little help with the candle blow. Happy birthday my love!

OLYMPIC GOLD!

2008-08-15T14:38:00.009-06:00

I did it! You may be familiar with the Chinese gymnast age scandal. I'm here to put the story straight. Here's the scoop... I had great aspirations to compete with my nation in these 2008 Beijing Olympics, but the USA would not allow me to participate because I am underage by a few years. As my parents had traveled to Asia last fall and made the acquaintance of a Chinese government official they were privy to an inside tip to fast track me to the Olympiad.

I was able to receive appropriate documentation to falsify my age. You may know me as Eva Bleazard, but my Chinese passport says Lu Xang born May 8, 1991. As an alternate on the Chinese women's gymnastics team I received gold in the medal ceremony following the team competition. Unfortunately my routines would not have been aired on tv.

Balance Hands 16.025 (tenth of a point deduction for drooling)

High Hands 15.725 (deductions for uncontrolled flailing of limbs)

I'm here to say that yes there are underage Chinese gymnasts competing. Our underdeveloped bones and muscles make us nimble and the short stature lowers our center of gravity. It's been a great run though. To hear more about my amazing story I will be interviewing with Matt Lauer on the Today show tomorrow morning. Check me out!

Chad's Back!

2008-08-09T20:32:00.006-06:00

This post is about 2 weeks late, but I'm going to do it nevertheless. We recently went up to Boise to welcome home our little brother Chad after 2 years in El Salvador. We were able to stay for over a week and spend some good quality family time. We played golf, went shooting, went shopping, and had family pictures taken. We had a Wii bit o' fun playing the Rock Band and Wii Sports on mom and dad's new Wii. Diversion para la familia entera! And oh yeah, we had our home run derby and footrace at the park. I was disgraced in the footrace (better luck next year?) but I did show up for the home run derby.

The bowkster is looking good.

Hey hermano!

The 6 kids, reunited at last!

Chillin' at mom and dad's.

My pretty girls.

Chad's awesome "Policia" shirt from El Salv.

Walther P99.

Enjoying dad's famoso BBQ'd turkey and homemade BBQ sauce.

Playing catch in the front yard.

Robby looking on while Chad reacquaints himself with a baseball.

Welcome home Chad! Great to have you back.

New Adventures for the Tiny Addition

2008-07-13T14:22:00.020-06:00

Well Hello Everyone! Eva here...

My mom has been a deadbeat blogger lately so I decided to take matters into my own chubby little hands and make you all aware of the happenings of our life for the past couple of weeks.

I'm getting bigger and bigger and louder and louder. 11 whopping pounds last time I went to the doctor and 23 inches. I melt daddy's heart and always bring a smile to mommy's face.

It's been a real family fest the past month and I've loved every minute of it.

My Great Grandma Johncock and my Aunt Lynell came to visit me. It was so nice to have more people to play with and spoil me.

Well, we went up to Rexburg to visit with Grandpa and Grandma Ellis. We all went for a picnic at a favorite family spot, Warm River. Mom was paranoid about bugs, sun, and heat. You never would've known she grew up in the country the way she was carrying on. Dad was going to fish, but realized he just switched his Idaho license to a Utah one and would've had to pay for an out of state fishing license. As a natural Idahoan he refused on principle. I had a great time hanging out on my blanket under an umbrella and being carried all about.

We went to visit some waterfalls. You can't see them in this picture. To be quite honest I didn't see them either. I slept right through it. Ha ha!
Let's see, what else...

Oh yeah, I had my baby blessing. The whole day was all about me. Wait a minute, everyday is like that! I really appreciate all of my family traveling to be here for my big day. Daddy said some really amazing things. I know, I was awake for that one.

It was fun being with family but I am especially excited to meet my Uncle Chad. He has been on a mission in El Salvador for 2 years and I can't wait for him to see me. I bet he'll look a bit like Daddy and speak spanish like him too. He is going to loooove me and we will be great friends.

Well that's about it for all that's been going on with us. I would just like to say that Daddy did an amazing job along with Grandpa Bleazard and my Uncle Ty putting crown moulding on our kitchen cupboards. I don't really know what that means, but I can tell a difference in the way it looks when mom walks me around. Good Job Daddy!

Oh man, I didn't mean to post this pic. Well, I guess you can get a good look at the cupboards in the background. How embarassing!

What a day!

2008-06-08T13:37:00.003-06:00

Well we had quite the day. Derek had a company event at an amusement park around here called Lagoon. Needless to say Eva slept through her first amusement park experience.

We had lunch with the company and then a raffle. We weren't too keen on waiting in line for a ride just to have one of us hop on while the other watched the baby and then have to start the whole process over again. It was packed. We rode one ride and then we were out. It was a fun day to be out and about even though the Fire Dragon was the one thrilling event of the day.

We came home after our fun day and hung out at the house. Eva did her exercises.

And after working up a sweat we had to bathe that little girl. It was a bit of a change to go from her regular sponge bath to her first "real bath." She did surprisingly well. There was a grimace on the face but we only saw tears after we took her out and she was exposed to the air. What a good girl.

Back at the Hospital

2008-05-16T17:28:00.006-06:00

As you can see in the pictures, we're back in the hospital. A few days after we went home the first time, we came back for a check-up for Tara. It was Tuesday, so it was early to be coming in for a check-up but it's a good thing we did because they discovered a bacterial infection in some of the lacerations and tears that Tara experienced because of the birth. They told us right away that we'd need to be admitted back into the hospital and that Tara would go in for surgery that night. So on Tuesday night she went to the O.R. and they were able to get the infected tissue out. Then it was a waiting game to see if it would come back. That night Tara underwent tests, exams, a CT scan, X rays, a blood transfusion, multiple IVs, and doctors and nurses in and out of the room about every 10 or 15 minutes. The next morning we had 6 doctors, each a specialist in a different area, surrounding her bed and talking about the situation and telling us what could or might happen. It felt like being on an episode of House. A lot of the conjecture was quite grim and scary. The worry was that she could have an exceptionally aggressive form of bacteria, called necrotizing faciitis, that's commonly called flesh-eating bacteria. The group was able to rule that one out after a few days (much to everyone's relief), and they've decided it was a less threatening but fairly aggressive bacteria that could have been much, much worse had it not been caught as soon as it was. Fortunately, they got the infection removed in her first surgery, and a second trip to the O.R. the next night showed that the infection hadn't regrown or spread to any other areas. She has been on steady antibiotics since we got here and will have to continue with them for at least another week from today. The good news is we're on the road to recovery now that the infection has been stopped. The tough part is that they have to change the packing and dressing of the wound twice a day, and it's extremely painful. This will be the regimen until it heals, and each time it gets a little better and a little easier. We expect to be discharged from the hospital on Monday, and we'll be having home care nurses come to the house twice a day to change the packing. Tara will also have the IV at home for a week or so and will be recuperating for several weeks to come.

Needless to say, it's been a wild past couple of days. Even after they discovered the infection on Tuesday, we didn't imagine we'd be here this long. We're just grateful that the infection is taken care of and that Tara is on the mend. The healing isn't going to be easy but it'll be nice to be home. You never expect this kind of thing to happen, but we're getting through great. Tara has been incredibly stoic throughout the ordeal. I'm convinced she has done as well as she has because she has been so positive and upbeat. She's made much more progress than any of the doctors expected. We are so grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers and we know they have made a difference. We're excited to get out of here and get on with enjoying our little Eva.

Going Home

2008-05-09T19:56:00.000-06:00

Everything good here at the hospital. Tara has been recovering nicely and Eva is feeding well and sleeping lots. We're going to be heading home in the morning. Right now we're just hanging out in our room watching the Jazz game and taking turns holding our adorable girl.

Go Jazz!

She's Here!

2008-05-08T13:36:00.000-06:00

After much ado......Eva Elizabeth Bleazard finally made it into the world at 9:07 this morning! Labor and delivery proved to be quite the ordeal for us, we checked into the hospital at about 4:oo in the afternoon and Tara was battling all night. I was exhausted by the early a.m. and I still don't know how Tara got through it. The active labor stage lasted until about 4:00 a.m., she started pushing at 4:30 and pushed pushed pushed for a bit over four hours until we finally had a breakthrough. Eva was stuck in the pelvis area and needed a little extra help getting past the obstacle, but once she did, everything went well. She weighed in a 7 lbs. 3 oz. and measured 21 inches. Tara is recovering now and the baby is here in the room with us. We're excited to take some serious naps this afternoon.

Eva is a beautiful baby girl and we couldn't be more excited to be parents. We can't wait for you all to meet her.

First Moments
Mother and baby
Happy Parents
Proud Papa

Labor Time

2008-05-07T19:28:00.000-06:00

Well, here we are in the hospital. It's been a pretty long wait to get to this point. Tara has been in the early labor phase for past couple of days (and has been a real trooper), so we were anxious for it to progress to active labor. After a nap this afternoon (she was prescribed a little something to help her sleep) we packed it up and came to the hospital. Her water is broken now and she's having more painful contractions than ever. Currently she is up and about the room getting through her contractions. We just got back from a little walk around the floor. Can't complain about the accomodations... we have a nice big room with pretty much everything we need. Now we just need that baby to come out!

2008-05-07T19:07:00.000-06:00