Mimi & Pap came to visit

We were all so excited to have them visit last weekend.


Opening birthday presents....


Playing at the Y...




All sorts of wrestling and rough housing with Pap...

{ I think they were pretty glad to be here too }

Isaac turns 3!

It's hard to believe that three years ago Zach and I were celebrating Valentine's Day in the labor room of the hospital in Lynchburg, VA. WOW! To say so much has happened since then would be an understatement. We've moved 3 times and were 6 weeks from having our third child.

{Feel free to laugh here, it's how I stay sane}

We decided instead of buying unneeded toys etc. that we were going to have a great day making memories together.

The day started out with Isaac meeting his very first pet, a goldfish whom he named Cal. Aunti Becki sent a Diego fish tank- it was a HIT! Even Champ enjoyed watching him swim around the tank.

It was FREEEEEEEEEZing that day so we were all bundled up and ran anytime we were outside. {We do live in Nebraska, I know I should just expect it.}

The highway was closed east of us because the high winds were causing blizzard like conditions. We never would have guessed from the clear, sunny, blue skies we saw all day.

We got tickets to see Playhouse Disney. What a great time! The kids loved seeing all their favorite Disney characters and singing and dancing along with them.

I loved seeing the looks on their faces the most.


Zach thought it was interesting that Mickey, after all the years he's been around, got the loudest cheers & applause when he came on stage.

Both kids reported Handy Manny was their favorite. Weird since they've only watched his show a few times, but Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Tigger and Pooh countless times.

And they both tried cotton candy for the first time....no surprise that it was a hit! It was requested for meal and snacks for days.


The only request Isaac had for his birthday was blue ice cream. I was going to just add food coloring to vanilla ice cream, but found some cotton candy ice cream that had blue & pink swirls. And, as usual, Zach requested for fun-fetti cake since he doesn't eat ice cream. Up until now he's chose the kids birthday cakes for them- they both have opinions now so I'm sure that won't last much longer.




Since the Disney show was on the 14th we decided to just make that Isaac's birthday and make the whole day his. What a great decision! Zach got to be with him the whole day, and he ended up getting another awful virus the afternoon of his birthday.


Doesn't he look pitiful!

Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

Last night, after we put the kids to bed @ 8pm, I went to Walmart to finish up our grocery shopping for the week. It's not my favorite place to go, but I was alone so it was delightful!

In the first aisle a man came around the corner and said exuberantly "Hi!" to which I smiled and said "Hi" back. And on our way we each went. He came up again in the next aisle and tried to strike up a conversation with me by asking if this is my first pregnancy. I told him this is my third. To which he replied, "You have a wonderful glow about you! Pregnant women are so glowing and sexy."

I smiled and walked away thinking about a few things.

1. Should I be flattered or creeped out?
2. Has he ever lived with a pregnant woman? Surely not!

I might understand if he knew me and the fact that I spent the first 28 weeks throwing up multiple times a day. I probably do look glowing compared to then, or maybe it's just the fact that's I'm eating some now.

I guess every man has a type of women they find attractive. Blonde, tall, skinny, fat, brunette, and the list goes on & on. I never considered 'pregnant' to be one.

The Heat Is On!

*Note: I hate blogger right now- I can't, for the life of me, get the formatting of this post to work*

One of the blogs I LOVE to stalk is Lil Blue Boo!!! I've just admired her work from a far, but since I've been step'n out and challenging my sewing skills lately I decided to join in with a design challenge she is doing.

I have never worked with knit materials before, but I loved the idea of upcycling old t-shirts into fun clothes. This along with my new obsession of making matching outfits for girls lit a fire :)

{Okay, so the fact that one of the prizes to the winner is an original piece of nursery art from Ashely is another motivator :) }

So I bought this pattern and went looking for some material at the thrift store. I've never done fabric painting, so I tried freezer paper stenciling for the first time. I really wanted to do an all over pattern of cherries on the black fabric to tie in the pink & green.

It was a bit tedious to cut out each individual cherry, iron it on, and paint it. But I'm thrilled with how it turned out!

I came up with this for Brooklyn's dress (2T *crossing my fingers she actually grows by then):






















Since B is so petite I decided to stitch the straps down instead of leaving it as a halter that ties behind the neck.

After asking for weeks for her to try this dress on, she finally let me but was certainly not happy about having her picture taken.



The pattern is for 12 months-6T. So for the baby, who I went from some 3-6month size clothes for measurements and came up with this belly shirt and bloomers:

I used the same 2T top section, but used the front panel for both the front and back and made it a tank top instead of crossing straps. Then added a ruffle. From the bloomer section of the pattern (12 month), I subtracted a 1/2"except for leg holes and added ruffles to the bum.

BTW- this is only the second time I've tried a gathering stitch and it went much better this time. I don't think I even cursed once!












I can't wait for it to heat up this summer- mostly to see my girls in these adorable outfits! Couldn't you just eat them up? We'll see what the judges think.

Helping Hands

Honestly, I don't do dishes very often. If it doesn't fit in the dishwasher I wait until the next load. But when the mood hit me recently, both kids couldn't wait to 'help' out.


Isaac is all about using the sprayer, much to the regret of our cupboards.



Brooklyn, on the other hand, wanted to get into the real action, so I gave her some of her own dishes to wash. But then she noticed how yummy the bubbles tasted- hmmm...

I'll gladly relinquish this chore to them when they can do it without licking the clean dishes, or making the kitchen a swampland.

Obssesions

Most people start the beginning of the year with a news years resolution. This year, I some how ended up developing two new obsessions, instead of improving myself.

One- Farkle- it's addictive, for sure! I think I've started to curb that one, but I'm not making any promises. But since I'm only playing with fake chips I'm not too concerned.

Second is very fun :) I was thinking about how we'll have two little girls (IF our sonogram was right) in our house next summer. I remember Nonnie, my grandmother, making Becki and I matching outfits for special occasions. Envisioning my little girls in matching outfits made me REALLY EXCITED.

So I have been dreaming up outfits and making some of them. Here is the first thing I made.


A ruffly skirt for Brooklyn. I fell in love with the cupcake fabric and planned the rest of the skirt around it. I just love the sprinkle fabric on the bottom ruffle and a cherry on top! Couldn't you just eat it up!!!

This was my first attempt at making a gather- there were a few curse words uttered- but I eventually figured it out.

I plan on making matching shirt/onsie with a cupcake applique (like the one below I made for Taylor Belle) and a pair of bloomers for the baby.


I have another set almost finished that I'll post about soon......

Come Right In..

Come right in....Sit right down....On the floor?



At least that's where Isaac feels you need to partake of sunflower seeds when you snack on them. Because they're seeds.....you eat them like a bird. Knowing the condition of my kitchen floor, I insisted he at least eat off a plate on the floor.


If you come over for a meal here I promise we'll offer you better accommodations, if you'd like.

What's up?

Last week ended rather interestingly for the Taylor household. Brooklyn had started the week with a runny nose and was just plain cranky- very unusual for her. Thursday was a normal day for us. After dinner we headed out to gymnastics and came home for dessert. There was even extra energy to expend chasing each other around before bed.

8PM: Kids are snuggled in bed.

Zach and I grab a cup of coffee and get ready to head downstairs when Isaac starts crying.

No coffee for us....he'd thrown up all over his bed and continued to throw up at least once an hour until 8am Friday morning. What a night! But I guess since it's only the second time we've had a kid throwing up in 3 years of being parents- not too shabby! He was tired, but back to his normal self in the morning. Zach took Friday off to help me out in case it continued. Can I tell you how much I LOVE my husband!

Brooklyn started Friday with a fun new behavior of screaming inconsolably for long periods of time. Usually I can say to her, "Brooklyn stop fussing. Do you understand?" and she's pout out her lip, stop crying and say, "Stand!" We had been thinking she was teething, but now we were really confused. She did develop a little fever, but nothing else.


What has possess my little girl? I took her to the Pediatrician Tuesday AM to find out she has a double ear infection. {I feel like a terrible mother for not knowing this and letting her suffer} We've also never had an ear infection in our house either- Thank God! I hope this is the last one we have too. She finally slept through most of the night last night, and even slept in a little this morning giving mommy a little extra rest to deal with the day.

Despite all the "yuck" in our house, Zach actually didn't have to work this weekend so we had three whole days together. Funny, I look back on the weekend and think about how great it was just to be together with Zach. No fun events, just endless load of laundry, cleaning and re-cleaning, mixed in with hours of holding of miserable children.

Hopefully we'll be seeing more faces like this starting today....

'cause I know it's gonna be a great one!

Handwritting

We started working on handwritting last week. Hmmmmm..... We still haven't decided which hand to use, but he did concentrated very hard on it :)
Let's hope he always stays this diligent in his work!

Finally!

Last weekend we were able to spend the entire weekend together, as a family. That has happened only one other time since we moved to Nebraska in October.

Zach needed to go to Lincoln to get something for me... turns out it was a Brugger's Bagel smoked salmon breakfast sandwich. He knows what I LOVE!!! It was worth the hour plus drive!!!

Since we were there....and had to bring the kids with us we went to the Children's Museum too. We had a great time, despite the huge crowd there with us. My camera battery died just after we got there so not too many pics...


Isaac LOVED the prairie dog tunnels. Not to play in the tunnels, but to carry around the stuffed animals that "lived" in the area. He carried a mouse around the rest of the time we were there.


The zoo had brought some animals for the kids to pet. B immediately pet this skink, and then tried to kiss it "Mwah!". FYI this lady also had a hissing cockroach just hanging out under her collar- GROSS!!! Brooklyn, again with no fear, reached right out to grab one of the cockroaches.

Zach and I actually went on a dinner date with another couple on Saturday night. We got a babysitter {yes, really}. We had a great time, but I don't think we'll be calling the babysitter again. Just a vibe...and I don't need that from someone I leave my precious children with. But I have the name of two other girls I think will be great. So we may just go out as adults again sometime soon :)

I'm Meltling

Doesn't this picture just melt your heart? It does mine!!

I asked Zach to take my picture too (I want the kids to know I was there too),
but this was the only good one
{yikes- that's the best it gets for me right now I guess}

What did I know..

I never thought I would enjoy having a girl this much!

Yesterday I took Brooklyn to get her hair cut for the first time. Her hair wasn't too long, but can you say dead ends? Yikes!! She did very well.....once she had candy to distract her.


I finally got my hair done too- it's been 5 months. And it looks and feels fantastic!

Thanks Noel!!

Warming Things Up!

With the temp in the negatives and wind chill around -30 degrees, last week we spent the entire week inside. I tried really hard to make the best of it & pulled out some new activities to keep us busy. Most worked, but by Friday we'd all had it. It was only -1 out = heat wave! I was going to meet a friend at the YMCA to let the kids run around.

Okay- honest mom moment here: I had L.O.S.T it with the kids that morning. I was going to ditch them in the child watch, ditch my friend, and sit and read a book.

On the way to the Y we went past a house that something just didn't seem right- it looked like someone was snow-blowing the back yard, but the snow was gray. Weird! I had an instinct to turn around and check it out. Thank God for leading me to do that!

As I pulled up I saw LOTS of smoke coming from the garage attached to the house, and flames in the back. I parked across the street and yelled to the elderly couple in the doorway asking if they were okay. They waved & smiled like I was just out for a walk by their house. And then they went inside and shut the door. HELLO?!? YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!!

God had given me the ability to work well with the elderly (I have no problem bossing them around, when needed) and calm, rational thought during emergency situations. So I went up, opened the door and said, "Your house is on fire, let's get you guys outside." They said, "We know, we're gonna check it out and see what we can do. First we need to get dressed." Ummmm... NO! Luckily another couple stopped and yelled that they called 911. The husband couldn't find his boots, and he'd been outside in his socks when I pulled up, so I asked the other couple to get him outside & into my car. He was NOT happy about this. I went into the house & opened the bedroom door to get the wife. I couldn't even see anything in there with all the smoke. I told her there was no time to get dressed and to please come with me, then went back outside. The husband is standing in the snow, starring at the garage & reaching to open up the door. I told him not to do that, and (maybe not so gently) pulled him away. The other couple was willing to take him to the car, but his wife was no where in site. The wife of the other couple said, "She went somewhere in the back and shut the door." So I went back in & found her trying to get collars & leashes on their two dogs. I opened the back door, and shoved them out into the smoke filled back yard. I (not so gently again) grabbed the wife & pulled her outside. At this point, if she hadn't come, I would have had to leave her in there. We got them both into my van while we waited for the fire department, which showed up right away.

My poor children were FREAKING out that some strange man was sitting in the car with them & mom was no where to be seen. Can you blame them? They calmed down quickly though. So since we had a front row seat to the firemen at work, we pulled out snacks & drinks to watch the show. Sadly, we had to listen to this sweet couple talk about how they'd lived in that home for 50 years and name all the items that the flames were now hitting. Thank God the fire department was able to save their home- only the garage was seriously damaged.

A neighbor eventually came over with boots & blankets for the couple and invited them in while things got taken care of in their home. So and hour after we first drove by, we left for the Y.

But I was left with a HUGE perspective change from an hour before. The kids love the song "This little light of mine" and we were able to talk about how being kind to our neighbors was one way be can show God's light to the world. And I was overwhelmed with how precious my kids and family are!! And grateful for how God creates us all with different abilities (The other couple that showed up was not going to force the couple out of their home, so I'm not sure how the situation would have been different).

So needless to say, I didn't ditch my kids. I couldn't let them out of my site while we were playing. I kept loving on them as much as I could.

I share this to remind you how PRECIOUS our loved ones are, and not to take them for granted because things can change in an instant. So get off the computer and go tell someone you love just how much you appreciate them!

Happy New Year Celebrations

The children's museum had a fun party to celebrate New Year's Eve with a count down at noon. What a great idea! The kids had fun playing in all the different spaces there (as usual) and did some special art projects.


What party would be complete without some dancing? That's fine if you're into that that kind of thing, if not just watch everyone else boogie.


When the clock struck noon we jumped on bubble wrap...
blew noise makers...

And had a blast watching everyone else


Happy New Year Everyone! May 2010 be a year full of life, love, and lots of laughter!