A few of my favorite things: summer time edition

My babies in just their diaper
Plus baseball is another huge fav.

I've always loved thunderstorms, but mid-west ones are where it's at!!
Oh and my kids sleep GREAT when it storms & even treat me with a late wake up call :)
(disclaimer- taken from a moving vehicle)

yummmmm... cold summer time treats!

Cooling off in the water

















What's on your list?

Two Times the Fun

We are loving a little change in our normal schedule.

I have really enjoyed getting to know Molly, who I met through MOPS, and her family. She is an OB nurse at night a few days a week. So that she can get some sleep when she gets home from work, we're swapping kids one day a week. Her kiddos Noah & Ainsley are just about the same age as Isaac & Brooklyn. This means she & I are doubling our pleasure on our day to watch the kids. But it also means a playmate for each of our kids too.

Here are some pics from the first week we swapped. It went surprisingly well...



Everybody got along- they could even all share the cars without too much drama.



With a common love for Thomas the Train this book was a good one to entertain the boys for quite a while.


Good thing these guys like each other so much- with school, MOPS & kid swapping there are some weeks they're together 4 days a week.

Watch Out World

Brooklyn decided while we were playing at Daddy's softball game that walking was the way to go. She walked...and walked....and walked for 2 hrs. straight. She insisted on starting off in this dirt patch every time. If she fell, she'd crawl back over to the patch & try again. She is a persistent girl. She doesn't get frustrated trying again & again.

Christmas in July

Last year we really enjoyed cutting down our own Christmas tree. Since we have a cathedral ceiling in our living room we went with a 8' tree.
It was cute....but just too small for the room.



We looked at artificial trees that were 10'-12' for a staggering $600...at an after Christmas sale. Yikes! But we budgeted for buying a tree this year knowing it will probably been a pretty bare tree at that price until we can buy decorations too.

Last week we came across a steal of a deal on Craigslist



We got this beautiful 12' tree for $80. Yes friends....that's my kind of a deal!!!
The family selling it had been hoping to open a B&B, but haven't been able to make that dream come to fruition.

So even though there are several months to Christmas, we're so excited about being able to decorate this monster this year!! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Long 4th of July Weekend

We had just the best time as a family this weekend.

It was a long one.

Because of Zach's work schedule we had Wed- Sunday as a family and it ROCKED!!!!

We spend lots of time outside, playing in the pool, swinging, blowing bubbles, being silly and just having fun!



On Friday we went to the Royals game and saw the amazing fireworks. Both kids loved it!! Isaac was so sad when they were over.

(horrible pic, I know- I should have figured out how to do night setting before we got there)

I got to thinking during the display about how blessed we are that loud explosions over our head are fun & entertaining for us. I'm sure there are way too many people in the world that have a very different reaction- one of fear and confusion. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to care for your children and keep them safe in an environment like that. Once again amazed at our many blessings here in the USA!!!

On the 4th we had a fun lunch with the extended Taylor family. Last year Isaac was learned about corn on the cob & watermelon on the 4th- this year Brooklyn learned about those same foods & Isaac moved onto learning how to tear up a chicken wing.

Hope you had an equally fun & enjoyable 4th celebrating our independence!

Happy Independence Day!!

A Happy 4th of July weekend to all!
We're counting our blessing & so thankful for all the freedoms we have here in America!

These Boots Are Made For Walking

Zach's Aunt Loreen is a shoe lover. And she loves to share her passion with others.
Isaac & Brooklyn were the recipients of that lately.


Brooklyn got a pair of squeeker shoes.

There are squeekers in the heels of each shoe so every step she takes they squeek.
Adorable is an understatement!!

She started taking some steps a few weeks ago and now can walk across the living room. She likes a lot of encouragement to do it & daw gone-it crawling is just so much faster!

Isaac also would like to have a party thrown in his honor (and we do) when he walks across the room now too. Isaac got a pair of frog rain boots- huge hit!!

He even slept with them on a few times. They're great for squashing bugs too!

Thanks Aunt Loreen!!

Birthday Recap- part two

*small disclaimer: Now that I have my new camera I take a T.O.N. of pictures- almost every day. It's like another body part and with me all the time. You'll probably get sick of looking at our pics long before I get sick of taking them :)


Okay so....Sunday we celebrated Brooklyn's birthday with family & a few friends.
Brooklyn was adorable, as always!



We found an amazing deal on renting a bounce house for the day. (Seriously $45 for the small one, but since they didn't rent out their 12x12 they gave us a free upgrade) Mimi & Pap got Brooklyn a small pool for the back yard & we brought up the ball pit (from Aunti Becki for Isaac's birthday) from the basement. When the kids got up from their naps we had the backyard all set up to have a GREAT time outside. And did we ever!!!











The food was good!
Can't beat a backyard BBQ during the summer!

On to dessert.
This girl is not shy with anything, and certainly not with digging into her cake.

Waiting patiently...


Oh, For me?


Seriously- I can eat all of this?


Don't mind if I do...


That was good! Born a chocolate lover...just like her Mama.


Some more playing....






And seconds on dessert



I can't tell you how head over heels in love we are with this little girl!
She is just a bright light, full of laughter, and so much fun.



And her hugs can't be beat! If you've had one you know what I mean.

Birthday Recap- part one

Well what a weekend of fun we had celebrating
Brooklyn's 1st Birthday!!

The kids & I had a fun day even though we weren't having her party until Sunday.

I don't know if there is a girl who loves her carbs & cheese more than this one.
So why not combine them- Mac & Cheese for lunch it is


Then after lunch we mixed food coloring with whipped cream & 'painted'.



But mostly we just ate it....mm..mmm...good!

For dinner we had...carbs yet again.
It's what she would have asked for if she could say spagetti.

Then we opened presents. I was really surprised how well Isaac did being patient & letting Brooklyn get the first second or two with her new toys. We just put them all in one box & let them go wild whipping what they were interested out.



Brooklyn got her first doll house. A big hit!



Isaac showed her how to push the button on the car to get it to make baby noises & play music. Brooklyn immediately started dancing when she heard the music. The girl loves to get her groove thing on!





It wouldn't be a good day without wrestling Daddy



Then some fruit for dessert



Isaac immediately said, "Now Isaac's turn to sing Happy Birthday. And Candle too!"

Then we headed out to the park.



All in all it was a great day spent together as a family celebrating the life of our little princess!