The Black Family: 2012

"A cousin is a ready-made friend for life."

Swaddling the Babies

Jill knows how to wrap up a fussy child (or two).

Christmas and Primary Classes

This is LeGrand's 10-year old Primary Class. He loves them and they love him. He teaches with two doctors from McKay-Dee who knew Curtis well.

This is my Sunbeam class. Logan told me after singing a song in opening exercises: "I am so glad Jesus loves me!" Jocelyn is so thrilled with our class that she jumps up several times during my lesson to hug me. Merilee doesn't speak often, but I can always get her to smile when I ask questions that no one else can answer but her.

We made cute cards and ornaments with their pictures for Christmas.

Olivia

Yes, I am playing catch-up. Is it obsessive to not want to post "out-of-sequence?" Because of my inability to add to my blog for awhile there, I missed some important events. I will make a stab at trying to soothe my anal desire to keep things chronological.

Just before Delivery:

Delivery:

For the complete birth story, refer to Jill's blog. . .

Newborn:

Olivia Jane Garlick

20.5 inches long and stretching every day

8.0 lbs.

Dang

This is the prompt I received when I tried to upload a picture:

Whoops! You're out of space. You are currently using 100% of your 1 GB quota for photos. Upgrade storage

Photos are stored in your Picasa Web Albums account and are included in your 1 GB free quota for photos. Additional storage you purchase is shared between several Google products and is in addition to your free quota. Learn more

So let that be a warning to you. I think it must have happened because I have not been downsizing my pixels. I should have been photoshopping and saving at a medium quality maybe. I just love good quality photos.

Since no one really reads this blog anyway, I am considering ending my blogging career and taking up something meaningful like solitare.

Preparation for maternity shoot

. . . did some investigation into maternity photo shoots. These were my favorites.

Is this as red-neck as you could get?

I'm speechless. Wait--got my tongue back. I think it must have been this couple's attempt to save money--two photoshoots in one. Both oddly bigger than life.

Finally a real winner.

Jill and Michael, I hope to be able to reproduce this kind of quality for you soon.

Preston's newborn pictures sneek peek

This little guy is so sweet and adorable you just want to smooch his little cheeks!

He was shocked about being forced into this shirtless photo! The boy was stubbornly modest.

Maybe Preston will be like his dad and throw a perfect Little League game--18 batters up, 18 batters down. No one will reached base on this little pitcher either. Or even better--he might play the piano.

"I'll think about that one."

As Clean as Earth Right After Rain -- Tyler's pre-Baptism Pictures

I had the great pleasure of taking some pre-baptism pictures of Tyler. Posting these reminded me of some journal entries LeGrand wrote that described Tyler perfectly.

The following exerpts are taken from LeGrand's journal. He was recouperating from cancer and chemotherapy and living in Florida with Mike and Em. Tyler was three at the time.

"Tyler won my heart forever. His sensitive, thoughtful, helpful nature is absolutely unreal for a 3-year old. He must have been told that my feet were sore. The very first day here, Tyler came into my bedroom and pulled the lever to elevate my feet in my lazy-boy recliner. He then proceeded to unlace my shoes and tug them off. He explained that he needed to give me a “foot massage.” He took a small bottle of lotion, poured some in his hands, and began to kneed my feet in a most professional manner. It might have been the cutest, unsolicited kindness a small child ever thought of."

"I came to learn that this is very normal behavior for Tyler. He literally checked on me several times a day to ask if he could help keep me happy. He made my bed with me every morning. He mixed vitamins in my cereal or applesauce, loaded my clothes in the washer or dryer, folded my laundry, helped me shave and reminded me to brush my teeth. I dozed off one afternoon on the couch in the living room. I awoke to the soothing feel of a comb in my hair and a “clicking” sound. Tyler smiled at me with his mother’s haircutting scissors in one hand her comb in the other. “Grandpa, I thought you needed a haircut,” he announced. "

"Mike and Em put a small refrigerator in my bedroom. Tyler reminded his mother every time they went shopping to replenish our supply of bottled water and lemonade Gatorade. As soon as they unloaded the car, I would find Tyler in my room stocking the fridge. It was quite an effort for him to pull the bottles out of the plastic rings that held them together. However, he never quit until the job was finished and his mess cleaned up. Tyler then came to me every day carrying one of our drinks announcing that it was time for our “refreshing beverage.”

"Of course, having grown up with Mike, any project involving construction or mechanics is Tyler’s forte. He helped me install a garage door opener, a new DVD player and some electrical plugs and switches. In every case he actually helped—inserting screws and wires I couldn’t reach, holding cords, handing me the perfect tool every time. Remember, he is three! He likes to take naps with me, cuddle at night, sing to me, and rub my feet. I love ‘ole Tyler. He really has a knack of getting into your heart."

Sage Wisdom from a 5-year old

We were able to spend a little time in Vernal helping out with the new baby. As Grandpa drove Chandler home from school one day, they passed a dreary looking junior high. Grandpa teasingly asked, "Chandler is that your school?"

The gruff little voice in the back of the van replied, "Oh Grandpa, you know that isn't my school." Then a thoughtful moment and he continued, "That's a school for children without a dream!"

They drove up a steep hill on the way home that had a "Blind Hill" warning sign posted. LeGrand asked, "Chandler, what do you think a 'blind hill" is?

"Well, that's a hill that needs glasses."

I told some stories, did some "scratching," and tucked the kids into their beds. As I was leaving I asked, "Are you guys happy?"

Without skipping a beat, Chandler responded, "Happiness is just a flavor of ice cream."

I wonder where this cute kid gets his stuff?

Vernalites

Ronni has forsaken blogging for other medium, (the dark side--sorry Zuckerberg). So she said I could blog a few of the pictures we took in Vernal.

Primping for the shoot.

The princess and her magic tree.

Treasure boxes

This was as much of a pose as we could get--too many fun places to run!

Pink

Brinlee loves pink. I repeat: Brinlee LOVES PINK! She has to wear pink clothes, eat pink food, read pink books and play with pink toys. If she won't eat breakfast, you just give her a plastic pink spoon to increase the appeal. Ronni has been known to use red food coloring quite often in her cooking lately. Ask any question and the answer is--you guessed it--pink.
"Brinlee what do you want to wear today?"
"Pink."
"Brin, what do you want to eat?"
"Pink."
"Honey, what should we play?"
"Pink princess."
Did I say "the girl loves pink?