Big Belly!

My friend Aubry (see startinphoto.com) was so so nice to take some maternity pics for me so I can always remember my big ol' nasty belly! Since I'm not sending Christmas cards out this year (baby announcements will hopefully be taking their place), I'm going to post some of my favorite pics! This was actually several weeks ago and believe it or not my stomach is way bigger than this now! Only 3.5 weeks to go!!!!

INSANITY!!!!!!!

Ok, add this to the list of things NOT to do when you are 8 months pregnant : Shop at 6am on Black Friday! I have never experienced such chaos in all of my life! I had to hide in the back of Target for 20 minutes today until things settled down up front. I had so many people smash into my big ol' belly, I was sure I was going to go into labor right then and there. After 3 hours of shopping (really 1.5 of finding parking spaces and waiting in line and 1.5 of actual shopping) I hit Tilly's, Target, Linen's & Things, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Circuit City, Old Navy, and Khols, and I came home with only one VERY small gift, which was not even on sale today! What a bust! :) At least it was an adventure! I probably won't be doing it again any time soon because there is NO way I could have gotten through the crowds with a a stroller! :) Like I said....INSANITY!!!!

I MIGHT be able to handle this...

Just wanted to share with everyone that I counted today...and I have only 19 teaching days left! The kids are wearing me out fast, but I think I can handle 19 more days in my classroom! What an amazing feeling! Anyway, just thought I'd share! woohoo!!!!

Tagged...?!?

Alright alright already...I got tagged and ignored it, then again, and again! I think if I don't actually do this, it may never end! SO.....here goes nothing...I'm tagged!

Here are 6 things you may or may not already know about me (and sadly, I'm not all that exciting!)

1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook! The best thing about cooking is doing it without a recipe. I love to create things all on my own, or take a picture of something that I see and change it up a bit to fit my taste and make my own recipe. The biggest problem with this is when I really hit the jackpot and make something amazing, because I can hardly ever duplicate it! I really need to figure out a better system! I'm still wracking my brain trying to think of a career where I could sit in a kitchen and invent recipes and meals for people and somehow get paid for it. Any ideas??

2. I am horrified of car rides. I have learned how to hide it well, but even to drive around the corner, my palms sweat and I have to distract myself from the millions of things that can happen in a 5 minute car ride (my mind is my worst enemy!) My sister and I are very similar in the way that she has the same reaction to airplane rides that I do to car rides. What is wrong with us!?!?Road trips are an honest disaster with me! Drew has learned to be ever so patient and to drive only in certain lanes on certain freeways so I don't freak!

3. I dance and sing every time I drive. This may be one of the ways I distract myself in the car and keep things light. Have you ever seen the show where they put the video camera in someone's rental car and record them dancing and singing? Well, I would be MORTIFIED because I have the world's worst singing voice, but still belt it out to any and every song. Drew is often humiliated by my car-dance moves, but let's be honest I crack myself up and have a great time!

4. I call into the radio station to win absolutely anything! Has it ever paid off? No! I usually hear, "I'm sorry, you are caller number 8". But it's a fun hobby, right? (humor me!) I'm determined that someday I will get through to 104.7 and play "Remember the Time", but I haven't gotten through yet! Someday I will win something amazing, I'm sure of it! :)

5. I'm super intrigued by crime. The only books I read are non-fiction crime novels and my favorite shows are Forensic Files, Dateline, and documentary shows that look into the lives of serial killers. Morbid and weird, I know...but I am so interested in all that stuff.

6. I love to teach. I have to add this one because anyone who knows me right now probably doesn't believe me! I complain about it right now more than I talk about how much I love it. BUT...pregnancy hormones can do that to a girl! I really do like to teach and this has just been a really tough year in my class, but I just want to make it clear that I do, in fact...love to teach! Watching kids faces when they finally get something or hearing someone tell me that they love my class, or that math is their new favorite subject when they used to hate it. Wow, makes the job so worth while!

I tag...Stephanie, Brynn, Aubry, Katie, and Kelly!

4 Years Together...

Yesterday Drew and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary! Crazy how time flies! I love him so much and I am so lucky to be married to him! I know it sounds cheesy, but I can't imagine not having him with me everyday! We have been through so much together in 4 short years and I love knowing that I get to be with him for all eternity! I love you Drew!!


And what a great guy...after agreeing NO anniversary gifts this year due to upcoming baby, Christmas, and lots of expenses...Drew still went out and got me a pregnancy massage from Dolce!

The dreaded day after...

I was SOOOOOO dreading the day after Halloween! Being stuck inside my classroom with 130 11 and 12 year olds all day long just didn't sound appealing to a very pregnant Tarah! But...someone really used their brain today! I have no idea how or who...but someone managed to book a BMX assembly for us. We got to go outside and watch these three guys do some pretty cool tricks on BMX bikes. I still have no idea what educational value it had, but to be outside on a day like today was someone's brilliant idea! Anyway, it was pretty cool so I thought I'd share some pictures!

This is one of the guys jumping over two teachers and the other two BMX guys...I was scared for them! Publish Post

Number One!!!

Last night Drew's softball team, The Bad News Beavers took first in their tournament. It was a ton of fun because all of us wives spend every Tuesday night out there at those softball fields. To see them win three games in a row was so great! It never fails that season after season after season, we seem to finish the tournament in third. They finally got what they deserved last night!

This picture is Joel (Drew's brother...also my sister's husband), Drew, and my dad... These are the stars! Good job guys!!!

A work in progress....

My mom, sisters and I have been hard at work at Maddux's room. Does anyone have any idea how complicated it is to paint stripes with four different colors? WOW! I've still got a few little things to finish up, but for the most part it's done! I walk by and peek in every time I come upstairs! I LOVE it!

Baby Shower

I haven't had internet access in a week or so, but I'm finally on and ready to update! Last Thursday my sisters, with the help of many others, threw me and amazing baby shower! It was seriously one of the most overwhelming experiences of my life. I have NEVER, EVER opened so many gifts at one time in my life (Wedding included!). They did such a great job and it was set up so cute. I even got to keep all the tonka trucks. I'm a little sad because I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted because as soon as people started showing up, my photo time was over! Thanks so much to all of you who put so much time and effort into this!
Love you Amber and Kasey!

Our Babymoon..

As suggested by my friend Aubry... Drew and I decided to take a trip together before Maddux comes. We flew to Colorado and stayed with my sister Amber and her family. We had a blast!! Here are few of our highlights...

This is my old house in Highlands Ranch that I grew up in! It's funny how much things seem to change in just a few short years!
We stopped by the Denver temple which is only about 5-10 minutes from my old house. It's so pretty and next time we are out there we are going to do a session!
Best show on earth?!!? Not quite. We got free tickets to go to Ringling Brother's Circus and it turned out to be a total bust. All six of us (kids included) were bored out of our minds. There were a few good acts, but the best part was watching the people who weren't even part of the show!


The highlight of Drew's trip was taking Boston (our nephew) to Bass Pro Shop (he calls it the fishy store). Drew walked him around and showed him lots of animals and all sorts of fun things. It totally got Drew excited for a boy all over again!Here is Amber becoming one with nature in Boulder. She couldn't quite wait
until we could find a restroom, so she did what any Boulder hippie would do and went on the side of the road! That's my sis!We walked up and down Pearl street in Boulder which was gorgeous and a lot of fun. I can't believe that in all my time living in CO and driving to Boulder to run, I had never seen these parts of Boulder. I'm even MORE excited for the Bolder Boulder now! So get training friends!!! You have 223 more days till race day!

Brooklyn gets her ears pierced!

A week ago, I got to go with my sisters and mom and get Brooklyn's ears pierced! It was a moment to remember! She was so excited the whole day because she knew she was getting earings! She climbed into the seat, picked out her earings, and only started to get nervous when the lady put on her rubber gloves! She even let the put the piercing guns on each lobe and in went her pretty new flower earings. And then came the screams! Luckily they did both ears at the same time and before we knew it she was fine again. She looks sooo pretty!

A Home for Rookie...

Well, this breaks my heart and I can hardly see the screen through my tears while I'm sitting here typing this, but I have to say goodbye to my Rookie. Through much frustration and contemplation, Drew and I have decided that this is the best thing for Rookie, us and our growing family right now. We just aren't able to give Rookie the attention that he needs while we are both away for 8-9 hours a day at work.

I know that none of my friends are dog-lovers, but could you guys please ask around and see if you know of anyone that could take Rookie into a good home? I am horrified that he will end up with someone who doesn't love him, cuz boy do I love him!

Info: Rookie is a little over one year old. He is a full bred, neutered chocolate lab. He is very well potty trained and he is a great dog. He would never bite or hurt anyone and kids LOVE him. His greatest downfall is his love for chewing, so toys and attention need to be plentiful!

Thanks everyone!

Drew's Cornbread

After several requests for the yummy cornbread recipe (or Corn Cake as Steve calls it), here it is... :)

2 sticks of butter (melted)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups bisquick
1/2 cup cornmeal
3/4 tsp baking powder

Mix all ingredients together with a blender. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

It's all good!

An update for my friends....I got the rest of my test results back today. Everything is perfect. I will for SURE not be going into labor for the next two weeks. If I have any more symptoms in the next two weeks, they can test me again, but if not...it looks as though I will still be delivering right around Christmas!

Just wanted to let everyone know not to worry about me!!! Love you all!!!!

Already keeping me on my toes!

I am a total nervous nelly about EVERYTHING, so today was a little much for me and my nerves! I went on a walk yesterday and to say the least...I may have overdone it a bit. I had a little spotting and because I had also been sick at the end of last week, my doctor told me to absolutely NOT go into work today. She set up all sorts of tests and today turned into a day of poking and prodding!

So far everything has come back GREAT! It has been a huge relief so far. Maddux is still kicking around in there like crazy and I'm more certain than ever that I am going to have a VERY active child!

I am waiting for the other test results for tomorrow that can predict if I could go into pre-term labor. They are fairly certain that everything is totally normal at this point...but until I hear the official results tomorrow, my nerves will continue to get the best of me! :)

The best part is that I got an ultrasound today that I wasn't planning on. It was so awesome to get to see him in there moving around. Maddux kept sticking his tongue out and he totally has Drew's lips, which I am SO thrilled about!

Notice in the third picture how he is totally pouting! It was so cute!! He didn't like that the nurse kept pushing on my tummy. He was trying to get some rest in there!!!

3 more months and counting!!!!

27 Weeks...

Here is my ever-growing belly at 27 weeks. It seems so pointy and big to me, but I've never experienced this before, so I really have nothing to compare it to! I'm still loving being pregnant and I can hardly wait for lil' Maddux to make his debut! It seems like there are more and more people around me with newborns and it just makes me that much more excited to be a mom! This picture isn't great, so I'm going to try to get another one to add....

This is so true...I have to share!

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TEACHER?
by Jeff Foxworthy

1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.

2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.

3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's Ms/Mr. _________" and know you have been spotted.

4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.

5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.

6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period.

7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.

8. You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.

9. You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off."

10. You believe chocolate is a food group.

11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside.

12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today."

13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.

14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.

15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.

16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.

17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items!

18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice."

19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils

20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and finally,

21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.

Party with the Wii

Happy Birthday to Lauren! She got a Wii for her birthday, so a bunch of us tested it out last night. Talk about a fun time! That thing kept us entertained for hours! And it was a workout!! Double bonus! (If you notice, there are no pictures of Lauren playing the Wii, it was hogged ALL night and she never even got a chance to play with her own birthday present! What a bunch of jerky friends we are!!!)

Boxing....

My Job

This has been my most difficult year teaching yet. I'm not sure if it's because of the pregnancy and being exhausted and impatient or if it really is that my kids are just extra needy this year. Either way, here are a few pics to show you what I do all day.


My classroom.....


HILARIOUS!!!!! This is the FIRST time I have ever had a student turn in a math homework assignment on a paper plate! I could not control myself from laughing for about 10 straight minutes, and then a little here and there throughout the rest of the day! I am not even JOKING when I say this year is BEYOND interesting....

Talk about relaxed....

Megan and Jeff invited us to their family cabin in Pinetop for Labor Day weekend. It was truly the most relaxing and much needed time away from everything you could ask for. How many episodes can a person possibly watch of "America's Next Top Model" in one day? Well, let us tell you.....TOO MANY!! We were nothing short of pathetic, but can you blame us? It was wonderful! But, due to my lack of showering and caring what I looked like this weekend, I have NO pictures that I approve of at all. But...I will post a few anyway, just try to control your laughter!