Blessed

I'm feeling very blessed today. I am blessed beyond measure everyday but today seems more special.

Maybe it's because we're less than a week away from owning our own home. We are so excited and can't stop thinking about all of the freedom we'll have with our new house. And with today's economy, we're definitely blessed to be taking this step together.

Or maybe it's because I have two very adorable little girls.  I know I brag about them all the time, but it's hard not to. You can't deny how cute they are.

Perfectly made by our Creator, that's for sure. I love their soft, girlie voices. I love having conversations with Jaelyn and I love the questions she asks. I love Finlee's oneryness and I love her sweet, sweet personality. And I even love how she can be stubborn sometimes-something she definitely gets from her dad. :)

 I'm afraid that I'm losing time on their innocent childhood. I'm so desperately trying to find the pause button so I can enjoy their little lives, at the ages of almost 3 and 1, for just awhile longer.

So today, I thank God for the beautiful and most gracious blessings that he has allowed me to raise.

Ooorrrr maybe it's because I have the best parents in the world. Even though my circumstances aren't the prettiest, we've all come a long way. I am so proud to have the daddy that I do. I've learned a lot from him. I laugh a lot at myself because I remember the snooty attitude I always had with him yet I find myself using those same tactics and lessons that he once tried to teach me, no matter the attiude I had. He's the best and I couldn't have chose a better dad for his dedication to me, how proud he always is of me, and how he loves unconditionally, no matter who the person is. And I love him too.

And my mom? Oh boy. She's quite the character. We always laugh in our home because I seem to find myself doing something my mom would do or say. And I'm not ashamed. :) Regardless of the past, I am proud to be her daughter. She'd do anything for me and my family. Love you, mom.

And my brothers? They're great too. I never thought we'd be as close as we are now. We've both changed in times and I'm so happy that I can be their little sister, even if I'm just here to be picked on. :) Don't tell them, but I secretly enjoy it..because I can dish it out as good as they give it.

I can't go without mentioning my grandparents. I have three that I'm really close to and I can't say enough about the memories that I have with each of them. My Grandpa is the most loving person I know. He makes me laugh all the time and I want to cry just thinking about everything in my life that I have gotten the privledge to share with him. And my Grandma has taught me everything I know. Cooking, sewing, and life lessons. I think and pray for her, and my other grandparents, every day. And my Grandma Vivian may be the sweetest woman I know..except she keeps life exciting with her outlook on life and I love that about her. She has such a spunky attitude that I can't get enough of...and she was the first grandparent to see me when I was born so it seems we have a very special connection. :) I love them all so much!

My next blessing I can't say enough about. My "in-laws". I hate calling them that because they mean so much more to me than that. Mama and Papa Pollock. They have done so much for me. And nothing is too much for them. They give and give and give to us, regardless of the situation. And at any time, they would drop everything just to help us out, even if just for a night to ourselves. And the meaning of family to them is priceless. I have never felt anything less than a real daughter to them and I can't really thank them enough for taking me in at my worst and praising me at my best. I am truly blessed to have found them as my second set of parents. I love their values, their lives, and I just love them.

And my sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law? (Again, weird calling them that.) They're amazing. Always full of life and fun and even though I'm suppose to be responsible and "grown-up", I can't help but be a kid with them. We have so much fun together, it's hard when everyone leaves to go home and back to reality. I can't thank them enough for making me feel like a part of them and for becoming my bestfriends. 

My friends I can't say enough about. I love who they are and how they impact my life. I never knew how much I would rely on my friends. I am truly blessed to have the friends I do and am looking foward to making more memories with them.

Annnnd, one of the biggest blessings God has given me is...drum roll please...

Matt.

He is definitely a God-given blessing. I love spending all of my time with him. He is the best husband and father to me and my children. I can't thank him enough for how well he leads our family, loves our family, and for the effort he puts forth for us. Thank you, honey, for all that you do!

So now that I've been sentimental, it's time to go pack because we're moving in less than a week!!!

Happy Friday!!

Xoxo,

Tanna

[Photo]graphy

There's no hobby I love more than Photography.

Except for playing with these two lovely ladies...

I love capturing the girls while they're playing and I love watching their personalities blossom through photos.

 I love taking photos of them with their daddy and I love looking at photos over and over and over again.

And not only do I love the thought of telling them their lifestory through photos when they're older, I love the thought of doing it for someone else.

I carry my camera with me everywhere..the thought of missing a good photo opportunity doesn't settle good with me. And if I happen to miss one, it takes me awhile to get over it.

I take atleast two photos a day. And by now, the girls are use to me..and sometimes annoyed with me. But someday, they'll understand.

[Photo]graphy is my passion...photos are my passion. I love chubby hands and little toes. And big cheesey grins and playful giggles. And loving eyes and slow gazes. I love photos and [photo]graphy.

Through much prayer, research, and dreaming..I've decided to do [photo]graphy on a more serious level for not only my children but for my friends, family, and even strangers. I love the thought of making friends through this process and also capturing the lives of other families, just like mine, and their children.

Green Sheep Photography will soon come to life. (Yes, Green Sheep Photography...don't ask, just shake your head and read on.) :) I've been working hard on getting together my resources, building a website, and working hard on ideas and poses and capturing shots of "life". And I can't wait to show my love and passion of

[photo]graphy to other families and friends. Pass my name on...

Enjoy the photos and look foward to more information on my new, exciting journey!

Xoxo,

Tanna

Annnndddd, we're back!

I am so glad to say that Matt has successfully fixed my computer problem. I never knew how much I would miss my blog and my blogger friends! Ready for a quick update??

On another note...

Why is it that I always crave pepperoni pizza when I'm in a hotel room??

I don't know either but the point is that I was in a hotel room. :)

For my 22nd birthday, Matt took me out for a night away while his sister, Melissa, watched our girls.

(Thank you, Mel!) It was a surprise to me but apparently every one else knew!

Our friends got us a good deal on a jacuzzi suite with a king-sized bed and I have never felt more like a princess! Matt also took me out to dinner, swimming, and we also played games and watched movies! It was a much needed break!

And complimentary champagne and strawberries? Yes, please!

Thank you, hunny for making my birthday so special!

And we move in a week and the belongings in our house are becoming less and less. It's almost like we're camping in our house but we are so excited to be moving into our own home!

More pictures and posts to come...life!

Xoxo,
Tanna

Blog Standstill

Hello all!

So you might have noticed that we haven't updated in awhile. Well, I've been having technical difficulties lately with my laptop! Matt is suppose to fix my problem this evening so I can get caught up. :)

I am excited to share a few answered prayers and updates with you all so hopefully tonight is the night that I can do so!

Prayer Request: We close on our house in a week! Just pray that everything goes smoothly! We are so excited!!

Xoxo,
Tanna

Girl's Night

For Matt's birthday present, he headed to Oklahoma City to watch the OKC Thunder play basketball. So the girls and I had the house all to ourselves. After church this morning, I took Jaelyn to get a cheeseburger and we headed home to take naps.

For supper we picked up a yummy pizza for a good deal.

We love pizza at our house-especially if it's cheap!

After supper we made a quick craft, something Jaelyn loves to do, and painted our nails.

Our craft was a cute kitty key chain. It was easy and a lot of fun!

Jaelyn chose purple, of course!

And Finlee "chose" pink!

I love having two little girls to spoil. Even though I'm not girlie myself, I don't know what I would do with a boy. We had a lot of fun spending time together today but we definitely missed our Prince Charming!

Xoxo,

Tanna

March Madness

The month of March has already been a crazy month for us and it has barely started! At the beginning of March, we celebrated Finlee's 1st birthday.

And soon after, we celebrated Matt's 22nd birthday. We celebrated here in Topeka with our close friends. We ate cake and homemade pizza. We also celebrated with Matt's family at his parents house. They made us a delicious steak dinner and cheesecake for dessert.

                 

And every day in between we've been running errands, spending time with family, and watching our girls grow. Not to mention, waiting for the closing our our new, very first home so that we can move at the end of this month.

This week we'll celebrate my birthday and soon after Jaelyn will be turning 3.

Not only do we make time for school, work, and our girls, we also be sure to make time for actually spending time with our girls and our family. We believe that family time is something of importance. What do you do, we ask?

Slumber Parties, Tea Parties, and Dress-up of course! And nothing less for the princesses that we are raising. :)

On any given night, we air up our air matresses and pile up in the living room to watch movies and eat snacks. Even McCoy joins us!

And Tea Parties and Dress-up? To be expected at our house. :)

Spring Break is this week for us. I'm certain that Matt is ready for a break because I know that I am. Enjoy the pictures!

Xoxo,
Tanna

Recipe-Strawberry Bread

It's obvious that I no longer have time to post a recipe every week so I decided just to post my favorites every so often. I love this recipe. It's one of my very favorite and so easy!

Strawberry Bread

3 c. flour


2 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3 beaten eggs

1 c. oil

2 1/2 c. sliced strawberries

Mix the 5 dry ingredients. Mix eggs, oil & strawberries. Fold both together (will be very thick). Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 50-60 min. Cool and enjoy!

Xoxo,
Tanna

Prayer Request

Well, after much planning and waiting, Michaela (our little sister-when I say our, I mean Matt's) left today for her first mission trip to Nicaragua. I ask that you please pray for her and the group she's with. (Travel, safety, weather, and that they touch the lives of all the people around them.) She will be gone for 10 days total and I can't wait to hear about her trip. I am more than proud of her and hope they all have a great time. I am so excited and nervous for her at the same time because just the other day she was still a little girl. :) Thanks for the prayers!

Xoxo,
Tanna

A Breath of Fresh Air...

I started a new "friendship" group tonight with a small group of girlfriends from my church called Fresh Air. And let me tell you what...it was definitely a breath of fresh air for me! I think I have found that "connection" with friends or adults rather, that I have been missing.

Not to mention that it's at one of my most favorite coffee shops ever.

We were all able to talk about our struggles and our victories. It was great to have conversation with a few great women that can understand where I'm at in life, even if they aren't in the same situation as me at the time. I walked away in a great mood, inspired, ready to head home to my family, and prepared to have a great rest of the week.

I am so thankful for this "break" because just a few weeks ago I was certain that I was by myself in this life, with no friends, atleast none in the same situation as me. God reassured me tonight that there are women, just like me, to share life with. It doesn't matter what position we are in or what struggles we are dealing with or even what victories we are celebrating. What does matter is that we do have each other in this beautiful life.

I can't wait until our next night of Fresh Air!

Xoxo,
Tanna

One of My Favorite Things...

Every other night or so, I get the privledge of sitting and reading to the girls. I love it and so do they. Jaelyn has always loved to read and Finlee loves to look at the pictures. Having a picture taken of the girls and I doesn't happen a lot, since I am the photographer of the family, so I thought I would share this one of the girls and I reading. Enjoy!

Xoxo,

Tanna

Finlee's 1st Birthday

Finlee sucessfully made it through her first birthday and festivities. As I mentioned before, we spent her actual birthday as a family. We also had a small get-together will family and a few close friends to celebrate. I just thought that I would share a few pictures from her 1st birthday!

Finlee eating her very first cupcake on her birthday!

Finlee in her precious birthday outfit. Shelbey made the shoes and tutu and I made the shirt.

Finlee opening her gifts and eating her cupcake at her birthday party!

Enjoy!

Xoxo,

Tanna

...that's what FAITH can do

We had a very busy morning today. We had to go to Finlee's year-old doctor check-up and it was not good.

At all.

Matt was able to go with me for the first part of it but then had to head to school for the second part. We were running late this morning so we almost missed the appointment.
And if you know me, I hate being late. I would rather re-schedule something than be late.

So since we were late, it was already stressful.

Anyways, to add to my stress...
When a baby turns a year old, our doctor likes to test them for lead poisoning and also she had to get her year-old shots. So not only did she have to get blood drawn but she had to get shots too. Ugh, what a great way to start the morning.

I hate shots or anything to do with needles. Especially if it has to do with my precious angels.

Guess what part of the doctors visit fell into the "second part" of the appointment? Yep, you're right..the shots and bloodwork.

And I was by myself. And I had an energetic two-year-old in tow.

So here I was, dragging around my bags and my girls, frustrated and anxious, and just ready for this to be over. People were probably wondering if I was even capable of caring for these girls. We managed to make it through the tests with lots of tears and repeating "Jaelyn, get out of there" over and over. I was a mess. And I'm so thankful that's over. We probably looked like we belong in the wild.

My morning wasn't going so well. I was beyond tired from dragging my girls and bags around. I was frustrated that I had to put my baby girl through pain and that my hubby had to leave me to take care of it all by myself. And I was about to give up for the day.

Until...

A song came on the radio. I have heard the song many times but I guess this time I actually listened.

Listen to it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnCEyfRdvDY&feature=fvst

God's perfect timing? I think so.
From that moment sitting in my van, my day and my attitude, changed right away. I realized that I have so much to be thankful for and that I shouldn't let something as little as a doctor appointment stop me from
having a bad day.

Everybody falls sometimes...Gotta find the strength to rise...From the ashes and make a new beginning.

If that was the worst thing that was going to happen to me today then I'm going to be more than alright.

Don’t you give up now...The sun will soon be shining...You gotta face the clouds...To find the silver lining.


I am so thankful for God. I am thankful that my life has been filled with purpose and that because of Him, I am never alone. I am thankful that because of HIS grace, my day was able to become positive, all through a song.

The one who makes me laugh when I don't even want to smile.

I am thankful for my husband. I am thankful that he is always there for me, always providing for the girls and I, and for being my bestfriend. He's an amazing father and husband and I can never thank him enough for all that he does for his family. I love him!

I am thankful for my beautiful girls. They are such a joy and huge blessing to my every day life.

I am thankful for my other family and friends. I definitely wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for them. And life definitely wouldn't be the same without each and every one of them.

There is so much that one can be thankful for and because of a song on the radio today, I chose to put life into perspective and be positive about my day. My attitude definitely determined the outcome of my day and I am thankful that my day was as good as it was. :)

Xoxo,

Tanna

Our Girls

Jaelyn and Finlee are sure to be the reason that our home has so much joy in it everyday.

They are almost always smiling, laughing, and playing together. I feel so blessed that God has given me the privledge of raising His children.

This week, we celebrated Finlee's 1st birthday on Tuesday, March 2nd. It was so special because Matt had the day off to celebrate with us. We started by taking her first birthday photo's at a special park.

Isn't she adorable? She has yet to start walking but I don't mind it at all. It seems the faster they walk, the faster they grow up and become toddlers. I love my sweet, sweet girl and cherish the moments when I get to snuggle and play peek-a-boo with her, everyday.










We also took Jaelyn's pictures. She will be three in April so I took a photo or two of her for her birthday invitations.

She is my pride and joy. I love spending every day with her because every day is a mystery. She is learning so much and even though I am bias, I know she's a beautiful, smart girl and I can't wait to see what she will grow up to be. She is so fun to be around and I love thinking about the future that God has planned for her.







After pictures, we took the girls to Steak 'n Shake for Finlee's birthday then to Toys 'R Us so Finlee could pick out her birthday present. We had a lot of fun just spending the day with them. Before going home, since the girls were falling asleep in their carseats, we took the girls to Daddy Cakes for a yummy cupcake treat in honor of Finlee's 1st birthday. They loved them!

Finlee also gets to sit forward in her car seat now since she's a year old. She loves it. She can watch out the windows and discover a whole new world outside of the van.















I know I have been behind on blogging; we have been busy here at the Pollock household. We are all healthy and doing well. We're more than happy that SPRING is almost here! Enjoy the pictures!

Xoxo,
Tanna