Ordinary Mortals

My Favorite Thing

2009-08-07T23:46:00.006-05:00

random

2009-07-01T23:23:00.001-05:00

grrrr

I ACTUALLY gave birth to a FISH...

2009-06-26T20:56:00.004-05:00

and a cowboy...

...and a truck driver...

.. .and a sand eater.

but, most happily, a FISH... ... ... and as soon as he's out of the water, he starts flopping around.

Stay tuned for the pool adventures

luv'n baby James

Did anyone else not know Wyatt Earp was from Monmouth, Illinois?

2009-06-26T20:52:00.001-05:00

Wild Things

2009-05-16T14:18:00.003-05:00

...permission to publish...

trip to the Niabi Zoo

flores

2009-05-16T14:14:00.002-05:00

Mother's Day

Jungle Jim

2009-05-16T14:01:00.004-05:00

First time at the park, loves the swings and slides

Caught Pink-Handed

2009-05-16T13:55:00.003-05:00

Easter at the farm, I came downstairs and discovered grandma and great-grandma feeding James a peep.

AC d17

2009-04-25T22:18:00.001-05:00

"Grandpa farmer"

TOOTH #1

2009-04-25T22:17:00.004-05:00

on the road to ragbrai

2009-04-25T22:15:00.003-05:00

learning how to eat

2009-04-25T22:09:00.001-05:00

First Warm Day

2009-04-25T21:58:00.004-05:00

just out for a stroll

Mr Sandman

2009-04-25T21:52:00.002-05:00

Music Genome Project

2009-03-28T21:01:00.001-05:00

www.pandora.com

Jamesers

2009-03-17T21:09:00.002-05:00

Hehe

Everyone hates it when I do his hair.

"Where are the TV watching, preservative eating, unvacumed lives of my peeps?"

2009-03-13T21:15:00.009-05:00

Queen of Mediocrity:

So here are representative samples of some the unfinished projects lying around my house at this very moment: (from Left to Right)

1) wall hanging I started way back when Jodi left/Abby moved in...still half-quilted and unbound.
2) quilt guild name tags... still in error and still incomplete.. note the make-do label

3) just one of MANY unhung, propped up, or still-boxed items awaiting their hanging...

4) yet uncovered kitchen windows... how long have we lived here?

5) the ever growing stacks of 2" squares.. my only hopes of ever making it big. just kidding, they're my oh-so novice attempt to be as accomplished as Abby

6) the other ever-growing stack of NAMES that need to go to the temple... and beneath it, the names that still need accounted for... these people are standing up there arms crossed, tapping their feet at me!

7) haha.. still haven't figured out what to do with all of James' toys, so they keep getting shoved under the chair that nobody sits in in our living room lol

8) and look, a perfectly cut, pressed, button-holed pillow sham just waiting its turn to be finished

9) more and more fabric sets for skirts, pillows, or quilts that are next to show up on this list.

Granted none of these things are done very well, or even DONE at all but they are all my INDULGENCES... lets not get into the things that I really SHOULD be finishing... like the laundry.

To quote Jodi:

So TAG!!!! I challenge all who read this plea, to put down their craft projects, and t-ball trophies---just for a few hours, and let me see the human side of your lives. I'm not asking for a video account of you losing your temper after one of your 45 sons pees in the garbage can. Maybe just a picture of an unmade bed, or a mole with hair growing out of it. Just listen to your hearts on this one post, and then get back to business as usual. ---Am I the only one who occasionally feels a little green with envy after a half-hour of blog surfing? I know, I've got a problem; I'm going to reform.

Monaluna

2009-03-04T21:00:00.001-06:00

Tell me you don't LOVE this

Jim Halpert: Okay, shhhh stop. Stop whatever you're doing because this is going to be good.

2009-02-23T20:52:00.004-06:00

Suckled himself to sleep on the strap of the Snugli

James, sippy; Sippy, meet James, the chewing-est toothless guy you'll ever meet. I already need to buy a new one

...and more chewing. He's learned how to "coo and chew" at the same time...

we frequently find him with his Nuk clear over in the corner of his mouth

Jadyn was up for her and Dustin's birthday; this is his first time in the sandbox with the big kids

"Joy is not in things; it is un US"

2009-02-07T22:22:00.002-06:00

I Love You Forever, I Like You For Always

2009-02-07T22:05:00.007-06:00

For Time & All Eternity, My Baby You'll Be

Moo, Baa, Lalala!

2009-02-07T21:58:00.000-06:00

Michael: Would I rather be feared or loved? Um, easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.

2008-12-29T20:41:00.005-06:00

practicing standing up

hangin out in the highchair

favorite thing #1: the jumper... oh boy

is it lame that we matched our kids for Christmas?

favorite thing #2: MARSHMELLOW SHOOTER - this gun was the best christmas present EVER!
poor Mason hardly got to use it because the BIG BOYS were playing with it all night

i must be 13 in this picture...
favorite thing #3: WATER MAT... too bad Tanner chewed a hole in it 30 secs after we got water in it LOL
Merry Christmas

...and to all a good night :)

Vroom!

2008-12-19T20:35:00.004-06:00

Giggle box - I think he just laughs to appease ME.

hello world!

2008-12-15T19:49:00.008-06:00

here's a little photo update from this month :) aw lovey

Bitter Envy

2008-11-13T21:57:00.003-06:00

I couldn't help but feel guilty for not sporting Todd's team, too.

Goodnight You Moonlight Ladies

2008-11-12T08:15:00.003-06:00

Our little spook... the annual halloween porch decor picture coming soon...

just cute

2008-10-27T19:50:00.001-05:00

The errand of angels is in women...

stretching his lungs

2008-10-26T18:35:00.008-05:00

Apparently we think he is hilarious...
he likes to sing and talk over me... the louder I get the louder he gets.

of Halloweens past...

2008-10-20T20:50:00.004-05:00

Halloween 2007

Halloween 2006

Halloween 2005

A Little Pick-Me-Up

2008-10-11T15:49:00.002-05:00

Hi Ben and Jodi and Reid and Oliver and Roger!

Look how happy I am!!!

I rolled over yesterday, Rog, I'm on your tail!

Wild Wild West

2008-09-18T15:43:00.019-05:00

If you're planning on visiting the Cope's out west, prepare for a wild ride! This family moves at high velocities and leaves a trail of fun and laughter wherever they go. With Papa's blessing, James and I ventured out for a little vacation in the canyons.

James survived the first flight out of Cedar Rapids to Las Vegas like a champ! Unfortunately, his mama spent the whole ride with her face in a lovely little white BARF BAG. But the Hand of Mercy was on me as I soon discovered the BEST WOMAN IN the WORLD sitting next to me. She was an angel! In conversation I learned she had 7 kids and many grandkids and an enormous amount of neices and nephews, and that she was HAPPY to have the wonderful opportunity of helping me. Little did she know she had a puker on her hands! I think James may have made up for some of it because he was as cuddly and talkative as ever :) I did not get a single complaint out of him. We landed on time and the pilot helped me find the passenger pick up where Ben and Jodi were waiting. I thought there would've been more shananagans going on about the airport but there werent! Bummer I missed them?!

Driving through the canyons on the way to St George

... they were friends in the womb

We visited Zion National Park, the St George temple, Mountain Meadows Massacre, these honeycomb rocks campgrounds... saw lots of the sights just driving through the canyons... and spent an unusual amount of time hunting for SPIDERS!

We went crawdad fishing in a little stream a few minutes from their house!

... three tarantulas in one day YUK... you'll never catch me picking up one of those things...

We got to see Reid's 2nd ever soccer game!

It was a fun-filled adventure and we will DEFINATELY be back... next time we'll let papa come too!

Sweet Baby James

2008-09-16T18:45:00.003-05:00

Not that every post has to be about the baby, but he is all the excitement in this family right now!

Oompa Loompa

2008-08-26T20:35:00.003-05:00

This is what we found to cover his ears at the farm since mommy forgot to bring a hat!

My Cup Runneth Over <3

2008-08-21T12:16:00.005-05:00

Just an update... papa and tiago

i carry your heart with me by E. E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

A Walk in the Park

2008-08-19T10:14:00.002-05:00

Baby Tree

2008-08-19T10:00:00.007-05:00

My parents plant a new tree every time a grandchild is born! James' is a chestnut tree!

.... and we roasted weinies and burned up the old couch in a bonfire (:O

Heads up!

2008-08-19T09:42:00.003-05:00

Blogging Debut

2008-08-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

What a better way to start a blog than with new baby pictures! July 19 2008: weighing in at 7lbs 8.2oz, standing 19 1/2 inches tall... James Russell Garrison, executive consumer of mama's time, energy, and milk stores! This perfect human specimen came fully equiped with advanced development in practically every area, a particularly special spirit, and devilishly good looks that are frequently used to manipulate his mama and papa!

When we left the hospital on Monday, July 21, he had lost 5oz. (which they tell me is normal) and he was eating like a champ and we had the worst night at home of our lives! He had just been circumcized and was sore and upset the whole night. None of us slept a minute! (All you moms are probably laughing at this prima gravida as I'm sure it is typical to not have a good first night.)

Eat - burp - poop -sleep - repeat!

On Thursday - only 5 days after birth, he was back to his birth weight! (7lb 7.5oz) He started eating like a gorilla and didn't quit for the next two weeks!

Isn't he cute! We were all so distracted by the Peanut, we ALMOST forgot Todd's birthday! He turned 30 the week we brought James home from the hospital. He was all too glad that James stole the moment - but no other birthday gift could have made him happier.

Sunday, August 3rd 2008 James' Blessing

At age 3 weeks, James weights 9lbs 1.5oz!!! He is growing like a week - look at those chunky little legs!

And at one month he weighs almost 10 1/2 pounds! As you can see his little face and body have filled out quite a bit. Developmentally he is at 2 months. He can push himself up on his elbows, roll onto his side, and hold his head up - though he gets wobbly after only a short workout :) He turns his head towards sounds and can follow you with his eyes. He can stand on legs for a short duration. Wow I guess I'm one of those ridiculously proud mamas. We got his hair cut just before his 1 month birthday because it is growing so long in the back! We won't be tolerating mullets in this familia!