We're Off

Bags are packed... still yet to be shown if it will all fit in the car but my husband assures me that where there's a will there's a way. Does anyone else's husband think that figuring out the best strategy to packing the car is the most intense, exciting, challenge ever?

We are headed off to perfect 70 degree california weather, where we can once again enjoy the outdoors! So for the next week there will be no computer, internet, e-mail, cell phones, ok so maybe cell phones but only if it's an emergency :-) I'm looking forward to a break from the normal day in and day out. We are praying the Lord would bless us with a fun memory building vacation together as a family. We are also praying that this year everyone stays healthy. Last year the kids got strep throat and we ended up coming home early. Either way we thank God for this opportunity to retreat away together and trust him for all that he has in store!

See you all when we get back :-)

Potty Training...

Well it's been a busy few weeks for the Daukas'. Lots of library going, swimming, visiting with friends, play-dough creations, cutting out all sorts of shapes from construction paper and gluing them on to cardboard to make collages. Trevor has learned how to navigate the computer and is having lots of fun practicing his alphabet on www.starfall.com. As for me, I've spent most of my summer days in the bathroom. Yep I'm pretty much camped out there all day long. If I ever don't answer the phone or door you can take one guess where I am. Got a stack of books and a nice comfy seat in there now too :-) We finished up with Trevor a few weeks ago. By finished I mean he's telling me when he has to go, very few accidents and no longer needs any assistance from us. Oh how great it feels to have that boy out of diapers... what a mess it was in the process though! And now we are on to Rylee. I haven't been one to potty train my kids young. Partly me but mostly them. They just weren't ready. Rylee has shown interest all summer while I've been working with Trevor but nothing ever really came of it. About a week ago she woke up and said "Mommy I have to go potty". I put her on and potty she went. I left her diaperless for the rest of the day and each time she'd tell me when she had to go potty. Even though I didn't have intentions of training her this early I'm not going to deny it to her either. There have been a few messes here and there... she's still figuring out the big one. The first time it was hilarious. She looked into the potty and said "Oh no, Mommy it's a mess!" She immediately flushed it before she could finish her potty business all the while crying over her "mess'. Then today she went a little bit and insisted on being done. I helped her off, washed her hands and she ran off... knowing she would be right back I plopped myself on the bathroom floor and grabbed one of those good books I mentioned earlier. Sure enough just moments later she came running back in with a little present for me. Yep she had gone on the floor, picked it up and plopped it into the toilet. She exclaimed, "ip, ip, ooray!" Copying my earlier celebration.
We leave on vacation in a few days so I'm hoping I don't lose too much ground on all the hard work I've put in with her while we are gone. I confess it's hard to imagine a diaper, wipe free house! It's been been six years straight of having a kid in diapers. I've begun imagining where all that extra money can go :-)

Celebrating Eight

This weekend Chris and I celebrated eight years of marriage! We had such a great 24hrs to ourselves at the Westin in Scottsdale! I grow more and more in love with this man with each passing year. His love, passion, devotion to the Lord & family, the way he can turn my tears into laughter and always knows just what to say to encourage my heart are a few reasons why. Life is better because I have him to enjoy it with! It's hard to think of a day where there was no Chris & Tara and we were two separate people living life. I like to look back to when it all began and well for one I feel a little old and remembering our beginnings always makes me laugh.

Chris and I met in a singles group at a church over nine years ago. I was Tara the keyboard player, singer, feisty girl and he was Chris, worship leader, guitar player, stubborn boy. We both helped start up the singles ministry and I so graciously followed Chris' leading of the band each week... right guys? It seemed pretty much evident to all who knew us that we were "meant to be" but one us of needed a little more convincing than the other. And well since this is my blog I can tell the story my way! (see love another reason you should start your own blog) We were a close knit group of friends/staff and after some talks with my friends it was decided that Chris & I would be perfect for each other. Bad idea. (single girls don't get together and talk about who would be perfect for each other... not helpful) Well it's not like I really needed any help. My heart was already being drawn toward this caring, funny, Godly guy.

He would call me to let me know when band practice was and what could've been a 5 minute phone call turned into a couple of hours. Our friendship keep growing and growing and the pressure to be a couple continued. This lead into a phone call from Chris clarifying that we were "just friends" and I should ignore our friends pressure as we will always be "just friends". "Always?", I asked. "Always", he replied. I was a little heartbroken but decided that I wouldn't let it bother me and that I didn't like Chris that way after all. That was the feisty part in me, "fine I don't like you either!" or maybe immature:-)

For Chris this didn't exactly mean we'd stop being friends like we were. Our deep conversations stayed the same and our friendship continued. After a few months I couldn't deny that my heart was drawn towards this man and there was simply nothing I could do but pray. After about six months from the "just in case your wondering I don't like you" phone call. Chris was at my door. After a conversation with my dad he was wondering if I would be willing to take our ever growing friendship to the next level. "It's about time you asked!" was my response. I was thrilled and excited and all the other adjectives that describes a girl falling in love. What changed for Chris you might ask? He would say that in visiting some friends in Chicago he was up late one night missing me. And he couldn't figure out why he would miss me if I was truly just a friend. The Lord used this to show Chris that the girl he was waiting for was right in front of him the whole time. So after six weeks of dating we were engaged to be married!! A pace we don't exactly recommend to the singles in our life but in our situation the friendship was already built solid so there wasn't much else left to figure out before we got engaged.

It is so fun to look back and see how God continues to take our marriage to new levels. He has faithfully lead us through hard and trying times, through unclear times, through joyful times, all the while strengthening our relationship with each other and the Lord. Thank you Chris for being the greatest gift (next to salvation) in my life! I love you.

God's Fireworks

We didn't get to see many fireworks last night. It was stormy & windy with some lightning where we were and the ones we did get to see were way off in the distance. Which wouldn't have been so bad if I had not been building up fireworks at the park for the past few days! Someone remind me next year to check the weather before the 4th. Oh well it was a great chance to walk the kids through trusting God even when we're disappointed.. and maybe, well, walk myself through the same thing :-) That being said we still had quite a show! One the Lord gave us...



For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;



your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!


Let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 108:4,5

Swimming Days

We've had lots of fun swimming in my parents pool recently. They had their water thing on the other day and the kids had a blast swimming through it!

Rosemary Chicken Salad

We've had a busy week of hospitality. I love having people in our home- it brings me so much joy!! This week we had some neighbors over for lunch as well as our friends the Spencers. It was time for a new lunch recipe so I went to my favorite place... cookinglight.com and found this.

Rosemary Chicken Salad

Ingredients
3 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 3/4 pound)
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped smoked almonds
1/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 slices whole-grain bread
Preparation
Combine first 9 ingredients, stirring well. Spread about 2/3 cup of chicken mixture over each of 5 bread slices, and top with remaining bread slices. Cut sandwiches diagonally in half.
Yield
5 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich)

It was delicious and sure to become a regular in our family. Minus the stomach ache it gave me :-) Just when I think my stomach is back to normal and I can eat what I want, I go and try something new and bang it leaves me flat on my back! I think I'll have to do without the wheat bread next time but for the rest of you normal people out there be sure to gives this a try and have it on wheat.

First Woodshop Class

While shopping at Michael's this week for "things to do", I found these little boxes of transportation items you can paint & glue together. You can choose from an airplane, race car and train. The best part is, it's only $1.00 a box!! I bought a few for Trevor and he couldn't wait to make one. He chose the car first. I sanded the car down, trev helped smooth it out and then I set him up with the paints provided. He had a great time painting the car and his hands, face, and anything else in sight. After letting the pieces dry overnight I glued it all together and the result was a cute little car and one very happy boy!

I'm Melting!!

Recently Girl Talk posted a list of summer activities for kids. It was filled of wonderful creative ideas and I'm excited to file them away for the fall. That's right, fall, winter or spring- In AZ it's kind of one in the same. Most of the ideas were just not "AZ friendly". Take for example one suggestion that I thought was super cute, creating a popsicle tree for the kids. But what those who don't live in AZ might not know is that by the time you braved the 117 degree heat and hung your second popsicle, the first popsicle would be melted along with the box on the ground. I can just see my kids excitement when they saw a popsicle tree outside only to try to get one down and find one big melted, gooey, mess! Another idea on the list was cloud watching,

"Lay on your backs and look up at the clouds on a
day when they are making interesting formation. Give everyone 30
seconds to decide what the cloud looks like !"

It's a little well known fact that you just don't "lay" on the AZ ground in the summer unless of course you enjoy second degree burns and 30 seconds is about all one could stand in 117 degrees. All this to say I'm trying hard to keep my three activive children from going crazy indoors but I confess it's been a challenging few weeks. We are doing weekly library trips at 9 am where they are earning prizes for reading books and that has already been a highlight of the summer. But most errands, particularly when I have to take them with me, should be done after the sun goes down or before it comes up. Now the way to survive in AZ is to have a pool. We don't have one. My parents do but it still involves hot cars, seat belts and I'm finding that from 11:00-4:30pm it's best for everyone's sanity and skin to stay indoors. Those in the east coast will say, It's a dry heat. And it's true, I personally would prefer a dry heat over humidity but as the saying goes... It may be a dry heat, but so is an oven!

So what does one do indoors all morning & afternoon with little kids? That has been my dilemma. Today at the library I picked out a "What to do on rainy days with kids" book- minus all the ideas about running around outdoors catching rain and counting seconds in between lightning & thunder, I think I might've found a few but I'd love some more! Anyone have any AZ summer activities for kids you'd like to suggest? Maybe my East Coast friends can give me their rainy day suggestions. In the meantime I await cooler days where we can again be outdoors playing, having picnics & watching clouds. Thankful that God has brought another hot summer to AZ where it can again reveal all the sin that is in my heart and my need for a Savior :-)

Here are a few AZ hot jokes that I found on a website for your entertainment. They made me laugh!

It's so hot in Arizona that...
*the cows are giving evaporated milk.
*you no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
*you learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
*the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
*you can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
*you discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.
*you discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window.
*you notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
*the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
*the potatoes cook underground, and all you have to do to have lunch is to pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.

A Rylee Post

I realized the other day that I haven't updated on Rylee in a long time. We have so enjoyed seeing her personality develop over the past year. She's a very delightful, spunky, good natured little toddler. If I ask her to do something 9 times out of 10 she'll say "Ok mommy". No joke, she makes me look like such a great parent! I need to get it on video before it stops :-) She follows her sister & brother around the house always trying to get in with whatever they are doing. She's right there on the floor wrestling daddy with the other two whenever he's home.

Yes Rylee is making her presence known these days. She really made her presence known on Sunday morning during the child dedication. It's been a few years since our church has done one and boy were there a lot of babies to pray over! Rylee was definitely on the older side and I wasn't quite sure how she's was going to do being held (tightly) in front of her favorite place at church, the stage. Whenever we've crashed Chris preparing for a single's meeting or if by chance she escapes on a sunday morning, the stage is where she wants to be. Well while Rich was speaking on what a child dedication is and isn't, Rylee looks out into the audience spots my parents a few rows back and very loudly shouts, "PAPA, HI PAPA!" Waving and all. Everyone laughs and as soon as the laughter dies down she yells, "NANA, HI NANA!" Rich made some comment like, apparently some are more comfortable than others being up here. That's my girl. During the remaining time she said hi, in her quite voice like I asked her to use, to some other people, said I love you mommy and gave me a hug and pushed Chris away when he tried to take her with a "no daddy, no!"

Luz happened to catch a shot of her in action:


Rylee has also taken to singing. She has begun learning some of the songs that I have a tendency to play over & over. The Come Weary Saints cd is one that we I have had going constantly. Particularly track 5 & 11. Rylee will sit back there and try to sing those two songs along with the cd. Chris and I were laughing so hard the other day as she nailed the crescendo and key change on I Have A Shelter. She loudly sang in her own key "Ohhh".

The other thing Rylee likes to do is run. When she's lucky and I let her loose from her stroller she runs, fast, without looking back. She my explorer. I'll find her quietly hiding in my closet playing with her finds, or in my bathroom with my makeup, or in the kids bathroom in the, uh toilet. She has a fearless nature in her that I'm not used to seeing in a girl. Quite the opposite of Taylor. Yesterday while swimming in my parents pool she'd climb out of the pool, jump in off the ledge, I'd push her to the side and she'd climb out and jump in again. She must've done this about 25 times! That being said I have to keep a very close eye on her while swimming, her no fear could get her into trouble!!

Rylee I love your sweet voice, how you now initiate the I love you's, all your kisses & hugs and the way you sing your goodnight song with mommy. What joy you bring to our family!


Talking to nana on the phone, another fav!


all tuckered out from swimming!


she put this look together herself

Recent Pictures for Father's Day

For Father's day I gave all the father's in my life a new picture of our three daukas kids. I found a frame at hallmark that could record their voices and I had 10 seconds to get each kid to say "I love you Daddy (or Papa)" . Much to my amazement they each cooperated with joy! The finished product turned out beautifully and the gift was well received. I'm so thankful for the men in my children's life. They are blessed to have a father who leads them in devotions, is an example of Godliness and servanthood and loves to just be silly and play with them. They're Papa's are two men who also give of themselves sacrificially and take every moment they can to build memories with their grandkids!

Now getting a picture of the three of them did not go quite as well. Rylee screamed every time I put her down and when I resorted to standing she'd just ran away crying and Trevor would at least sit there but had no desire to be repositioned or smile. Thankfully by God's grace I got one good shot of the three of them.




Here are a few other ones that I liked:

I wanna be a hamster when I grow up

Trevor what do you want to be when you grow up?

He exclaims, " A hamster!"

What?!? A hamster?

"Yes a hamster like daddy?"

Trevor do you mean a Pastor?

he confirms, "yep a hamster"


Well I guess your dad is nocturnal...

Meet Luke

I finally got to meet my new nephew Luke! They live on the other side of town and it's been just way to long since we've seen them. They graciously invited us out for a b-que. The kids had a great time. Trevor just loves Ethan! They were so excited to see each other and played perfectly for over an hour. Seriously we never heard from them and when we'd peak in they were just playing together laughing. Since Trevor may never have a brother I'm so thankful for all the boy cousins he has. Here's some pictures from our time.





They had a rousing water gun fight together!

Fun In The Mud

Today we had our friends the haupts over. We sent the boys outside with some water guns and it wasn't long until they ditched the water guns for the house. I went out to check on them and there was quite the muddy mess! They had so much fun sliding into the wet mud. They eventually got cold & played in their undies :-)

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Strawberry- Banana Pancakes

Last weeekend I made my sister in law's pancake recipe. It was so yummy!! Probably some of the best pancakes I've had in a long time! Thanks Carrie!

We had my cousins Sami & Sara over which made the night even more special. They live a couple hours away and we don't get to see them often. We enjoyed eating with them, reading to them, playing lego's with them. We love you girls! Thanks for coming over!

Carrie's Strawberry- Banana Pancakes

2 C flour
3 T sugar
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 1/4 C buttermilk
4 T butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas
1/2 c chopped strawberries

In a large bowl, whisk all dry ingredients. In another bowl, whisk milk through eggs. Make a small well in the dry ingredients, and gradually add egg mixture to flour mixture. Do not overmix. in a small bowl, mash the bananas and add to the batter. Fold in strawberried. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add puddles of batter, carefully checking for doneness. Serve with whip cream!

Here's some pictures of the girls:

Songs From New Attitude

By far my favorite night of worship at New Attitude was when they included a string section. It was amazing! I have often thought back to that night as I've listened to Looked Upon and wished there was a way to get a copy of the songs done live with the strings. Well now there is, at least one song. On Bob Kauflin's blog you can download one of the songs we sang live with the strings! He also put up two of the prophetic songs he did. Both great songs however I was particularly ministered to by the last one on chronic pain. My back continues to be a chronic problem and although so small in comparison to other chronic problems out there, it has been a trial for me. Thank you Bob for making these songs available to us all!

Click Here for the songs.