ABC's....of me!

I've seen this survey on many blogs now. So, I thought I'd join in on the fun. It's a nice way to spend part of my lunch hour. I definitely need some mindless activity today.

A. Age: 25

B. Bed size: Queen. With really comfy sheets....

C. Chore you dislike: I really, really hate putting my clothes away. I'll do the laundry, but for some reason it's really annoying to actually put them away.

D. Dogs: Tenlee and I want a puppy soooooo bad! We miss Bleu man...

E. Essential start to your day: Chocolate...Oh wait, NO! I mean, Jillian's 30 Day Shed. (Really, when I get my butt up in the morning, it feels amazing....with a side of grapefruit).

F. Favorite color: Black and Purple.

G. Gold or silver: White gold. 

H. Height: 5'5" (I wish I was a lil bit taller....I wish I was a baller)

I. Instruments you play(ed): Piano! I'm a singer and a dancer, silly!

J. Job title: Student, and Policy Services Representative at WI Mutual Insurance

K. Kids: My daughter, Tenlee Addison (3). She's amazing!

L. Live: In Middleton...that's a boring one.

M. Mom’s name: Cathy (with a C) =)

N. Nicknames: Where do I begin.... Torger, Torgs and Torgy (thanks dad, and a few select friends) Candycane, T, Tyrone....Oh my gosh, I think that's all you need to know!

O. Overnight hospital stays: I think just when I had lil Miss T.

P. Pet peeves: Lazy people. Messy people. When someone gets out of the car and leaves the sun-visor down. Nails on a chalk-board. Clean ears. When people park their car and don't straighten their tires. Clutter. I think this is turning into more of things I hate....and if that's the case: NACHO CHEESE. SICK! (gag)

Q. Quote from a movie: The first one that came to mind was: "Harry, I took care of it". Dumb and Dumber! Ohhhh, pretty bird! LOL

R. Righty or lefty: Righty.....Lefty's SUCK! I repeat, Lefty's suck.

S. Siblings: Janel (23) Travis (21) Lynae (16

T. Time you wake up: 5:30-6 am (I'm not much for sleeping in)

U. Underwear: I have'm on, isn't that good enough? Geez, what more do you want to know?

V. Vegetables you don't like: I hate cooked carrots. I don't like mushrooms, except for Morel's. That's it....I like my greens!

W. What makes you run late: I'm a single mom....what do you think makes me late? 

X. X-rays you’ve had: I just had x-rays done on my right knee. No, not because I fell off the bar....I fell on the ice, on Lake Mendota-and it STILL hurts.

Y. Yummy food you make: Everything! I love to be in the kitchen.

Z. Zoo animal favorites: PANDA'S!

Are you married? ...This is probably why I am NOT.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-mcmillan/why-youre-not-married_b_822088.html?ref=fb&src=sp


This one will make ya think!!!!

Us women...we have ONE flaw!

God doesn't give you the people you want; He gives you the people you NEED... to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be. 

One Flaw In Women 

Women have strengths that amaze men..... 

They bear hardships and they carry burdens, 

but they hold happiness, love and joy. 

They smile when they want to scream. 

They sing when they want to cry. 

They cry when they are happy 

and laugh when they are nervous. 

They fight for what they believe in.. 

They stand up to injustice. 

They don't take "no" for an answer 

when they believe there is a better solution. 

They go without so their family can have. 

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. 

They love unconditionally. 

They cry when their children excel 

and cheer when their friends get awards. 

They are happy when they hear about 

a birth or a wedding. 

Their hearts break when a friend dies. 

They grieve at the loss of a family member, 

yet they are strong when they 

think there is no strength left. 

They know that a hug and a kiss 

can heal a broken heart. 

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. 

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you 

to show how much they care about you. 

The heart of a woman is what 

makes the world keep turning. 

They bring joy, hope and love. 

They have compassion and ideas. 

They give moral support to their 

family and friends. 

Women have vital things to say 

and everything to give.. 

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, 

  

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.  

Grandparents....Part I

Re: Joseph Cotton (The Grandfather)
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html#/joseph_cotton

You must watch this little clip! I watched it in my Photo Journalism class and fell in love! The bond between a grandparent and grandchild is unbelievable! Trust me, I know! I couldn't ask for better parents to love my daughter!

Don't ever take anything for granted...

TARYN

ONE 2 TWENTY-ONE

ONE.  Give people more than they expect and do it  cheerfully.

TWO.  Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their
conversational skills will be as  important as any other.

THREE.  Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you
want.

FOUR.  When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIVE.  When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.

SIX.  Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN.  Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT.  Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams
don't have much.

NINE.  Love deeply and  passionately. You might get hurt but it's the
only way to live life completely.

TEN.  In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN.    Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE.  Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN.  When  someone asks you a question you don't want to answer,
smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN.  Remember that great love and great achievements involve great
risk.

FIFTEEN.  Say  bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN.  When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN.  Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for
others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN.  Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN.  When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps
to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your
voice.

TWENTY-  ONE.  Spend some time alone.

Swim like a.....fish!

Oh man, I totally watch too much Nick Jr.

Anyway.

If you follow me on Facebook, you would probably already know that Tenlee started swim lessons this week. But what you don't know is, the story behind those dorky little goggles...

Tenlee has been waiting for weeks to start swim lessons. Finally the day has come...

Can you tell she was excited?

Class started and they were told to sit on the stairs and get their hair wet....she did.

Next, they were told to put their mouth in the water and blow bubbles and "talk to the fish"...she did.

Then, put your mouth and nose in the water...she did.

Continuing to put your mouth, your nose and your eyes in the water...she did.

Finally put your mouth, nose, eyes and your head-all under water...she did NOT!

Little Miss Tenlee leaves her class, walks up to me and says: "Mama, I don't do dat".

"Tenlee, you need to sit down with the rest of your class and listen to your teacher, you have to try".

She sits back down...

Her teacher proceeds to do a few more things to make sure all the kids are comfortable in the water and they head down the wall, and start to kick!

She loves to kick.

Just like that Tenlee walks over to me: "Mama, I have to go potty". 

We went.

"Go sit with the rest of your class, and listen to your teacher....you're doing great", I say.

Ok kids: now swim on your belly!

Tenlee gets out of the water...."Mama, I don't do dat".

"Tenlee, you have to try".

Yay!

Tenlee and Riley Jo.

"Now, you are going to float on your back" said the teacher.

Low and behold....Tenlee leaves her class to walk up to me: "Mama, I don't do dat".

Tenlee! Go sit back down.

She sits that one out. She goes back by the rest of her class and the teacher wants them to all swim again.

Who comes walking back for the sixth time?

Mama! I need my goggles....

"Now, please Tenlee....sit back down and listen to your teacher".

The parents all around me just thought she was the cutest little thing and were getting the biggest kick out of her....afterall, she is the youngest in the class-but seemingly the most independent, outgoing and of course entertaining one of the group!

(I just roll my eyes smile)

 She swims....

She plays...

She doesn't want to leave.

Meanwhile, Tenlee continues to splash in the water and is having a great time. She slowly ventures out on her own (still holding the railing along the side of the pool). She kicks. She dunks. WHAT? Yes...I look over and all by herself T decided to put her whole head under the water. 

I smile....she smiles.

She does it again.

....and again.

Tenlee looks up at me gasping for air with those red little eyes and says: "Mama, I doin great!"

"Yes you are, Tenlee" I was so proud of her. And she was even more proud of herself. I was so happy to see that just after the first class she was already improving and showing everyone the little daredevil in her that we all know and love.

Now...leaving the pool wasn't as graceful as you all might think. I say numerous times: Tenlee it is time to get out, we need to go home. After 5 minutes of refusing to get out. I pull her out by the arm and attempt to dry her off. She takes off running!

(Don't you remember the #1 rule, kid. No running by the pool.) 

She doesn't care.

We end up in a game of chicken, both at opposite ends of the pool. One of the dads look at me and says: "glad it's you, and not me" my response: "gee, thanks!"

Eventually he asks: "Would you like me to try and get her"?

Feeling like the mother of the year, yet again....I lower my head and say: Yes, please!

He lures her in with a ball...she jumps in (to a complete stranger, I might add) and has the nerve to look at me from across the pool and yell "HI MOM" as she waves!

I glance over, and the wife to the dad capturing my child looks at me and just says: You have the cutest daughter. (Are you kidding me?) I think in desperation. "She not shy at all, and it was so cute that she kept getting out of the pool during class to check in with you." the other mom said. I just shook my head!

Ok, so Tenlee nears me. I say thanks to the dad that was in the pool with my uncooperative child. I grab Tenlee and head to the locker room. She slips...falls...and hits her head. Go figure! After all that.

She cries.

I take off her swimsuit (and we all know that isn't the easiest). And to put clothes back on a screaming child, that is half-dry (or wet) makes it even more difficult. Her head hurts. And the only other thing out of her mouth: 

Mom, I'm hungry...I need a snack.

I can't move fast enough.

"I need a snack, mom".

"Yes, Tenlee (as I put her shirt over her head) we are almost home". (what?)

Anything to calm her down.

Mommmmmmm, I need a snack. Right. Now.

Someone please....

I kept my cool. I got her a snack and we survived the first night of swim lessons. (I think)

I just wonder what next week will bring....wish me luck!

 I already have the snacks packed!

Tie-Dye Cupcakes!

I wanted to experiment with making mini-cupcakes, and thought 'tie-dye' would be fun, so I gave it a whirl! First I mixed up a regular white cake mix. Separated it evenly into 4 bowls. Then took food coloring to make 4 vibrant colors for Tenlee's Tinkerbell themed birthday party.

Green, Purple, Blue and Pink!

 With lots of help from the up and coming three-year old we did this....

I used 4 plastic syringes to fill each cupcake tin with every color!

FUNKY!

I baked them at 350º for 11-13 minutes.

Frosted them with white frosting and a sprinkling of PIXIE DUST! (I told you, Tink was there)!

Dig in and Enjoy!