Swimming Lessons

Talitha is not happy

I was doing chores outside and Talitha was on the floor in the living room. She can roll over now, so when I left her she was on her back happy. Well, she rolled over and happened to grab a piece of construction paper that Azariah had painted with Tempra paint the day before. The paint was dry initially. However, because of the grab reflex, Talitha would not let it go and she was trying to suck her thumb at the same time. So her saliva made the paint come off and she became very mad about the whole thing. This is a picture of how Gil found her with orange paint all over her face and arms.

Going for Goats

O.K. I have a Raw Milk Goat-Share program which allows people to buy into my herd of goats, pay a monthly boarding fee in exchange for a share of the milk. I have Nigerian Dwarf goats which give me about 3 quart of milk/per goat/day. Well one of my clients wants more milk, so she and another lady are paying for me to get two more goats for the herd. So I am leaving on Wednesday evening, going to Denver with my dad, picking the goats up Thursday morning and driving home with three goats.

I will let you know how it goes.

Our Little Doll

Our little Doll, Talitha, is four months old today!

Talitha in the last month has learned to turn over from front to back and back to front. She likes to coo and is trying to cut some teeth though they haven't come through yet. She is a real charmer and has lots of smiles for everyone! She is now 10# 1 oz and 23.5 inches long.

A Pretty Diaper

On Sunday, we went to my parents church for their Heritage Days. They had BBQ, beans, salads, chips and later for dessert Ice Cream. The ice cream was Black Raspberry and it was black. I had never eaten black ice cream before, but my friend Rhonda thought it would make a good ice breaker because it turned your teeth and lips black. Unsuspecting people would eat it and smile. All you could see was black. Well, the next day I had a surprise while changing Zebadiah's diaper. I took a picture of it because it was unbelievable. His poop was a pretty shade of turquoise. I have never seen this before, I still can't get over what they must have put in the ice cream to make it black and then for it to come out as turquoise. It was good ice cream.

Mud on the wall

My son was outside and when I looked, there was no denying what he had been doing.

Honoring Grandpa Barron

Honoring Grandpa Barron
His wife Marguerite Barron, Daughter Susan, Granddaughter Taneil
Great Grandchildren Azariah, Tirzah with Talitha and Zebadiah

August 1, 1987 I was eleven years old. The day before my family had travelled to Montrose, Colorado to celebrate my Grandfathers 64th birthday. I was then allowed to stay with my Grandparents as I often did in the summer. My Aunt, Uncle and their kids were coming in a few days to spend some vacation time. I was to go home before they arrived so that they would have sometime with Grandma and Grandpa before my family rejoined them for some time together.

On July 1, 1987 Grandma and I went into town. We stopped at my Great-Grandmother's house to say hi and make sure she had everything she needed. Then Grandma and I went to the grocery store to buy food. We decided to have SPAM for dinner and I was excited since I hadn't ever had SPAM before (I still haven't ever eaten it.) We left the store and went back to their house. As Grandma opened the garage door and started to drive in I had a vision of my Grandfather in a chair in the living room and that something was wrong. Grandma got out and took a bag of groceries in while I hung back in the garage for fear of the vision I just had. Then I heard the call..."Taneil, get in here..." by the sound of my Grandma's voice I knew my vision was real. I ran in and Grandpa was sitting in the chair, I helped Grandma pull him on to the floor where she started doing CPR. I tried to call the doctor, but they didn't have 911 at that time and I couldn't find the number. I was told to run over to the neighbors house. I ran as fast as I could and Mr. Slee came back with me. He too pounded on my Grandfathers chest and helped my Grandma while the ambulance came. This was of interested since Mr. Slee was Christian Science and therefore didn't believe in medical treatment. I went outside to wait for the Ambulance. The fire chief showed up and I waved him down. He went in and then ran back out to his truck to call the Ambulance. I have always been frustrated that they didn't send the Ambulance right away.

I don't remember a lot after that. I think I was taken over to the Slee's while they took my Grandpa in the Ambulance. Then my other Grandma came over and I remember a three way hug between Grandma Barron, Grandma Gregg and Me in the front room. Grandma Gregg had to leave because she left food cooking in her oven. My Aunt and Uncle arrived the next day and other relatives. Then I remember the funeral where my cousin Scott reached down and held my hand while we were at the graveside service. Later on after the funeral we went to Mesa Verde with everyone and had fun with the cousins. We had a great time with them.

My family was worried about me because I didn't talk about what had happened. The Lord was so gracious to me by allowing me to be there when my Grandfather died. I was very close to him and loved him very much. I honestly believe that because I was there and saw him like I did that it allowed me to except his death in a very real way. Whereas if I had been with my parents and not seen him as I did, I think it would have been a lot harder for me to accept that he was really dead. I am still awed at times that the Lord allowed me to witness his death, it was so powerful in my life.

Grandpa, as we called him, was a great man. He served in World War II as a Pilot. He loved us Grandkids and didn't have favorites. I would go camping with him and grandma on the Cimerron. I remember watching him give himself shots of insulin for his diabetes. He was always patient and willing to answer all my questions. I am so great full to have had such a good Grandfather. Grandma Barron now lives in our town and we help her with her needs. On June 3rd we went to Montrose to put flowers on my Grandfathers grave. My mom was gone for Memorial Day so we waited till she was back to go to Montrose. It was good for the children to see their Great-Grandfathers grave and help put the flowers on it.

The Banana Thief

Zebadiah awoke from his nap and wanted milk. But the milk had to be in a sippy cup. So I give him his milk and some side walk chalk to draw outside. He wanted to see Gramgee so he headed over to her house, but she wasn't home. I see the door shut, so I knew he had gone inside and I didn't get him right then because I was doing something. About three minutes later, here comes Zeb carrying three bananas. The milk and chalk have been left behind and the bananas stolen. He then wants milk and I ask him where it is. He says Gramgee's so he heads back over to get the chalk and milk. Now the little guy wants a stolen banana, but Gramgee is not answering her cell phone. So much for stealing when you can't enjoy the produce of your labors. It was pretty comical.

And then my mom informs me that Megan had a surprise in the bathroom yesterday like I did in the bathroom a week or so ago. She went into the downstairs bathroom and the seat was all wet. Good thing for her she noticed before she sat down. So mom discussed the situation with me and it was determined that since Azariah, Zebadiah and Gil are the only men around currently (since Papa went fishing in Canada) one of them must have done this. Zeb is out because he is still in diapers, Gil is beyond the fascination of making toilet seats wet for the women in his life. The only one left was Azariah. You know, I never would have guessed I would have to tell my son that ALL toilet seats are off limits for this purpose. I told him he could not do it at our house, but he didn't take that as meaning all toilets. So much for training a four year old.

Azariah the Detective

Zebadiah, Tirzah and Azariah arrive at the door smelling of Vic's Vapor Rub. What is the meaning of the smell, greasy hair and slathered arms? I was informed by Tirzah the tattletale that Azariah had done this to Zeb and himself. Zebadiah's hair was smeared with a generous helping of Vic's Vapor rub and now it could be used to spike his hair. Zeb's hands were also covered with the stuff and white lotion was on his legs. Azariah on the other hand had a small amount of Vic's in his hair, but his arms were totally slathered with Vic's. If you had a cold, it would have been a good idea to be in the same room as them.

Questions #1 "Azariah, why did you do this?"
Answer "I was being a detective."

We were in the middle of a Bible Study, so I didn't pursue the answer and sent Tirzah and Azariah back to the room while retaining Zeb to wipe him down with a paper towel and hopefully forestall any more detective work by Azariah.

Later, Gil goes into the room to find Vic's, Lotion, Neosporin, and Hydrocortisone in a mixture on the floor. The culprit is given towels and instructed to clean it up. Now however there is also water because when Zeb was taken back to the room, Azariah decided to pour water over Zebadiah. Why you may ask? Because Azariah thought Zeb would like it.

I ask Question #1 again "Azariah, why did you do this?"
Answer "Because I was being a detective."

The children had been watching The Andy Griffith Show and it was a DVD of the best of Barney so I think to myself that Barney must have been a detective. So I ask...

"Azariah, was Barney being a detective or something?"
Answer "No."

OK that didn't get us very far.

Question #3 "Why were you wanting to be a detective?"
Answer "Because Dee and Cy were detectives this morning."

Now for those of you who don't know, Dee and Cy are fictitious characters from the Sunday School Curriculum they use at our church. I don't know exactly what Dee and Cy did, but whatever they did, it made Azariah want to be a detective also.

It seems like I am a detective most days and the days that I am not a detective is usually because my children were not with me.