Cute Pictures

Since Jerylin is in bed with the flu I thought I should post a couple of pictures so you can get your Talen fix.
Talen and his buddy Kyler playing with a new giggle toy that Daddy got for his birthday. Talen is 10 days older, they came to Jonathan's birthday party and spent the night in a tent-good babies.

Jerylin and her little man in his cute jeans.

Tummy time with Jamma, entertain me please.

Miss Jerylin and her 4 year olds at the Phoenix Zoo.

Jamma got to go with the class to the zoo, it was such a fun day.

Busy Week-Jonathan's 30th Birthday

What a fun week. We packed the toy hauler, mostly with baby stuff, for our camping trip at Lake Pleasant for Jonathan's 30th birthday party. Nancy flew in to surprise Jonathan on Friday morning and Jerry and I headed to the airport along with Talen to pick her up. To our surprise John had surprised us all and flew in on a separate flight and was waiting for us all. We stopped at Margaritaville for lunch on the way home, of course everyone had to stop to admire our beautiful Grandson.

As soon as we got home the guys just had to get on the bikes for an afternoon ride in the sunshine. Nancy and I spent the afternoon playing with Talen and waiting for the kids to get off work so she could surprise Jon. We all sat out in the gazebo and had pizza for dinner, again when you come from Michigan in winter being outside is wonderful.

Saturday we finished packing the trailer and headed out. What fun we all had. Jerylin did a great job of planning and there was plenty of food, games, a warm fire and good friends, just about everyone spent the night. Several were gone early because nice as it was it was cold sleeping in the tents. Judy a teacher at Jonathan's school took John and Nancy for a ride on her pontoon boat on Sunday as the rest of us headed for home. Talen was done camping and wanted his own house.

Another Year Older-Me not Talen

It's hard to believe an entire year has passed since Jerylin and Jonathan announced they were going to have a baby. I know most people start their year on January 1st, but mine seems to begin on my birthday and go from there. We had a great breakfast with Jerry's parents to start the celebration. Then Jerry cooked steak for us on Sunday night. I was lucky enough to spend my birthday with my parents who spoiled me all day. I find myself counting my blessings more than I used to, when all you hear is bad news it's good to reflect on the good, and we have so much of the good I feel a bit guilty sometimes.

My two favorite guys!

I continue to look for a job along with the many other unemployed here in Phoenix. I feel confident that my new job is just around the corner. I meet with other unemployed ladies for lunch each week and swap ideas and good cheer. Thanks for the support ladies!

Talen continues to be the center of my life right now. He is such a sweet baby and growing so fast. It will be sad when these days are gone forever but we are looking forward to the toddler years. Jerylin is now back to work and I get to have him 2 or 3 days a week and enjoy every minute. I got to go with Jerylin's class on a field trip to the Phoenix Zoo last week and what a fun day.

We will be heading to the lake on Saturday to celebrate Jonathan's 30th birthday. Should be a lot of fun. I am sure Jerylin will post pictures after. The following weekend we are going to try once again to go to the dunes. It has been a very wet winter and each trip we have planned so far we have had to cancel.

I have been busy scrap booking. I have been wanting to do it for sometime and have been collecting supplies but just never sat down to do it. I finally have the time and made a book for Great Grandma Rose, one for Nancy and John too. It was so much fun looking back at all the pictures from Talen's birth until now. I am now working on a book for us about our adventures on the motorcycles. Now that I am organized and going I hope to keep up on them all.

January 2009 already!

With more time on my hands than ever I don't know where it goes. I am still looking for a job, although now I am really looking. I spend every minute I can with Jerylin and Talen knowing it will not be as often when I do go back to work. Uncle Doug, Aunt Shelley, Makayla and Dani came over to see Talen. He was his usual charming self. The girls had to try out my Harley. It was so good to see all of them.

We went to see Zoo Lights with Jerylin Jonathan and Talen. It happens every year but this is the first time that Jerry and I have gone. It was very pretty and Talen stayed awake for most of it even though it was near his bed time. He really enjoys lights and they had music playing too.

Jerry and I have been enjoying having 3 day weekends together. We take the bikes out and ride and hit a restaurant or drop in on friends. Saturday a few chores for Jerry, but not too many now that I am not working. Pappa needs his baby fix every weekend so the kids are over to hang out and eat with us at least one day. If you have read Jerylin's blog you already know how last weekends evening ended. I will tell it any way. We were packing the kids up to leave after dinner. We headed out the door with Jonathan holding Talen and all that comes with him, and Jerylin had Ponce, he likes to run away, and Luna. It was cold and it was dark so everyone was doing their best to get the car seat and dogs loaded up. Jerylin threw Ponce in the front seat with her purse and shut the door so he wouldn't run. Jonathan was putting Talen in the backseat and we were kissing him good-by. After hugs from the kids they went to get in the car and Ponce had stepped on the lock button and locked him and Talen inside the car, with the only set of keys. We tried to get him to step on the lock button again but he just looked at us. Talen was screaming, he really hates being in his car seat. Should we break the window? Jerylin was on the phone with her cousin's Dan and Dave the firemen who said to call 911 so she did. Of course not being a real emergency they connected her with rural metro-our designated emergency fire department which is 30 miles away. When I heard her I told her to hang up they would never get here and once again wondered if breaking the window was our only choice. I saw the neighbor down the road pull in and headed off for help. He is a fireman. Thanks to Robert he and Pappa pried the door enough to slide a long metal rod in and hit the unlock button. What a night!

We had a much less eventful day yesterday. Talen came over with his parent's to tail gate here before the big Cardinals game against the Eagles. Jonathan and his friend JR had 10th row tickets for the big play off game. Jerylin drove them there so they wouldn't have to worry about parking and then came back to watch the game with us. We picked up my Mom to come spend the day with us since Larry was working at the game. Talen loves football, it's loud and bright. After the Cardinals won the game she packed up Talen the dogs and headed out to pick up the guys and dropped Mom on the way. It was an exciting game and we are now in the Super Bowl!

December to Remember

How much fun this season has been. Talen makes everything fun and being off work gave me more time than I have had in a long time. There was time to bake cookies, and of course Jerylin and Talen came to help. Time to decorate, I love it-Jerry hates it but the court yard lookes beautiful at night. Shopping was my only problem, I never did make it to the mall after the last trip with Jerylin. Christmas cards will be in the mail this week. We finally got everyone together for our family picture yesterday.

It has been a week of parties beginning with our dear friends Amy and Denny Vandenbergs annual Christmas party which is always wonderful but I must say this year they out did themselves. Our group of friends is growing and the children were now the focus. The light parade through the desert by their house was a sight to see and brought Santa and his bag of gifts to all the very excited children. Talen didn't have a clue what was going on but everyone there oohed and ahhed as Jerylin handed over her beautiful son to Santa for his photo.

We had our Christmas Eve dinner with the Klettlinger's at our house. Having everyone together is so special. Family and food, what could be better.

Christmas morning has turned into a very late morning around here. I am sure that will all change when Talen gets old enough to know what's up. We had a very laid back morning opening gifts and eating breakfast. Adam, armed with gifts, was able to spend the weekend with us so he was here along with my Mom and Larry. Poor Mom has a cold and had to stay away from little Talen, that's so hard. Jerylin and Jonathan have already given us the gift of a lifetime and yet came with even more gifts. We are so very spoiled by all! You guessed it Harley Davidson was the theme. Later in the day the little family went home to nap and Jerry, Adam and I headed to his sister Debbie and Phil's for yet another get together and more food. As if I wasn't fat enough.

Our nephew David had to work, but his wife Kim and little Torin born December 1st were there. Jerry's parent's got 2 great grandson's in 2 months.

We had an open house here for family and friends yesterday. This time both of the babies were together. Next year will be even better with them running around. I hope your Christmas was just as wonderful. I will head off to get those cards made now and hopefully get them to you before next year! Love to all!

Time with Talen

Jerylin took Talen to the mall today and I joined them. He was so good, there is so much to see and hear. She thought it was going to be a very quick trip, after all who has fun with a fussy baby. I brought along a spare bottle that I had here at the house so we could stay a bit longer. She did have diapers and wipes but no extra cloths. As those of you with boys know changing their diapers is an adventure. He smiled so sweetly as he pee'd all over his outfit and had to be a naked baby as we headed in a store to buy him something to wear. I think he has me all figured out already and this was all a plan to get me to buy him stuff! Could you resist this face?

Our overnight guest.

Not much gets done when Talen is here. Jerylin and Jonathan went to see Celine Dion in concert and we got Talen overnight. Jerry Mayo came for dinner, he needed his baby fix and this time Talen was awake to meet him. Talen sleeps well, only gets up at 2:30am for his bottle and then goes right back to sleep. He does get up early, but so do we so it works out for all. He is very time consuming, after all you have to look at him all the time because he might do something cute! He is recognizing voices now and smiles often. We had our first winter day and so Grandpa made us a fire to keep warm, we spent most of the morning just laying on the floor with our ever watchful Hondah making sure Talen was OK.