Celebrations of all kinds . . .

This month we have been doing a whole lot of celebrating around here!

We started the month off by celebrating the upcoming birth of a new little one by throwing Jess a baby shower. We were so busy the entire time that I didn't take any pictures! Thankfully a very thoughtful friend of Jess' took over for me and got some good ones. Thanks Courtney!

A certain someone was next to her the whole time playing "Vana White" with all of the gifts. She is over the moon about having a cousin near by!

The very next weekend we got to celebrate Mother's Day a little more low key. I was so happy to be planting flowers with my little helper. It was an amazing way to celebrate!

A few days later we celebrated Preston's High School Graduation Ceremony

I need to find a better copy of this picture where Paul is caught smiling! Unfortunately it started raining after the ceremony so we rushed to get as many pictures as we could.

And this weekend we will celebrate with a real party. :o) It's a busy weekend but so many great things are going on! It's filled with great family time, catching up with friends and ending with me running another 10K. I may need to rest up before Friday evening rolls around . . . 

Catch Up

I have been stuck for weeks trying to figure out how to even begin catching the blog up on recent events around here. I don't have many pictures to chronicle the happenings and I didn't want to bore everyone. What fun is a post without pictures?? So instead I'm deciding to just jump forward. I'll share some tid bits of what has been going on so we're all on the same page but they won't be as detailed as I'd originally planned. That would take too much time. Hopefully you can keep up with the changes. . .

I'm working again! I also changed my major. I'm no longer going to school for nursing. One day I'll get around to explaining my reasons but for now I'll leave it at that. I'm teaching preschool and will be majoring in Childhood Education. So far I am loving it! I'll start the first of my education classes this summer. I know - huge change. But I am really looking forward to what these changes will bring for our family.

Taylor is going to a new school now. She's actually going to the same school I teach at but we are in different classrooms. She's having a great time but I still miss her old teachers. Those women were amazing!

DJ has been hitting the books pretty hard lately. He's almost finished with the program he's in for work. His test is about a week away and even though he is nervous as ever I know he will do great!

In almost one month exactly I will be an Aunt again (at least if she comes on her due date that is!). We threw a baby shower for Jess this past weekend and it was great! I'll post pictures soon.

Other than those major changes in our lives things have been pretty normal around here. Returning to work was an adjustment for all of us but we've handled it really well. I'm teaching so close to home that I can come home on my lunch breaks and take care of odds and ends here. I really love the school and the people I work with too which always helps!

So now that everyone is all caught up I can get back to blogging like I used to! I'll post new pictures soon!

Nothing Too Spectacular

Nothing too spectacular has happen around our neck of the woods this week leaving me with little to blog about. Add in large amounts of homework, finishing projects around the house and regular daily stuff it's been pretty boring. Here's a few funny things too happen:

Taylor went to a birthday party Friday night. They played musical chairs and she won one round. Saturday morning she was talking to me as if I wasn't even at the party with her. She was very theatrical in telling me this story, "So, we played music chairs last night and so now I know how to play. I even won. I am like the best music chairer ever". I thought it was too funny.

I dropped my iPhone. I only had a case on it that protected the back of the phone. Smart huh? I guess that's what I get for taking out the trash! It fell out of the pocket in my hoodie when I bent over. It shattered the screen completely. Luckily our phone were eligible for upgrades. DJ got the new iPhone 5 and I took his iPhone. Such a pain switching everything over for new phones. Having the iCloud helped but it didn't make it any easier.

We are finishing up projects around the house. We (I mean DJ) finished filling the holes in Taylor's walls and painting over them. He also finished the trim around the chalk board in the loft. I'll have to post pictures soon. Now we still need to move a few pictures in the entry way but after that we are done with home projects for a while. At least until it's warm enough to plant flowers and work on the yard :o)

Taylor has parent teacher conferences on Friday. I can't wait to hear how she's doing this year and how she's changed from last year. I love her teachers. Not sure what we'd do without them.

DJ will be working on his grilling skills. We finally got a new grill. We've had the same grill since we were 19. It was time for an upgrade.

That's the most exciting things have been around our house lately. Taylor and I are making cookies today after she gets out of school. Gabby goes to the groomer tomorrow. I still have homework and DJ will be working. Pretty mellow ending to our week. I guess it's better than being super hectic though, right?

Catch My Breath

We had a very busy weekend around here. The kind that made me feel like I need to catch my breath and unwind. Unfortunately for me it's already Monday morning though and we'll be out the door once more for school pretty soon.

Friday morning we went to Taylor's school so she could do an assessment. Her teacher said she did very well but we won't be discussing everything until next month when we meet for Parent Teacher conferences. After the assessment we picked up Grandma and met DJ for lunch. Then we parted ways and the girls went shopping for a while. We didn't make it back home until about 4:30pm. DJ had been up about 24 hours at this point as he worked the entire night before and didn't get to sleep when he came home so I knew it was going to be an early night for everyone. After Taylor and DJ went to bed I headed to our friends house to take care of their dog.

We did some Valentines Day crafts. One of the crafts I didn't get a picture of and I didn't even get out my camera once this weekend so all the pictures I took were with my iPhone.

Saturday we went to a baby shower for one of DJ's cousins. She's the only one I know expecting a boy. It was nice to buy little boy stuff for a change. :o) After the baby shower we headed to a birthday party for our friends' little girl. Her and Taylor have so much fun playing together.

The clown Kristin found for the party was amazing. She did face painting, balloon animals and a magic show. Taylor loved it! 

Taylor got to have a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's Saturday night but DJ and I were there most of the night. Sunday morning DJ and I get up, drank coffee and did some homework together. It was kinda nice. In the afternoon DJ and Taylor went to lunch for Great Grandma's birthday while I picked my brother up from the airport. He spent 8 days in Thailand visiting his girlfriend who's there for school until March. He came back super tan and made me so jealous! I met DJ's family after I took him home and had cake with everyone. I was exhausted by the time we made it home. 

Oh, and in Taylor's free time she's been building up her own UPS terminal. Paul gave her a bunch of UPS cars and stuff and she's been moving them all around the wood floors pretending to be a UPS worker. It's so funny to watch.

Now I'm off to take Taylor to school before coming back home to meet my friend so we can work on labs for our Anatomy class. . . busy busy day.

It's Wednesday?

How can it possibly already be Wednesday night? Actually, it's pretty close to being Thursday already and I am not really sure how that happen.

I hate when you start out the week with all these great intentions and then somehow they all get put on the back burner. I did manage to accomplish a few things I wanted to so far.

We got together to start a craft with Aunt Jess. You can tell in this picture that Taylor really wasn't feeling very well still.

We got the carpets cleaned on Monday. Oh. My. Goodness. They needed it. Bad. I was shocked when we moved our couches at how dirty our carpets got in just over a years time. The Company that came was so nice. I'm happy with our floors again. So while we had everything moved out of the way I took advantage of cleaning all the other rugs and hardwood floors. I love a clean house.

Tuesday I got to get a lot done that needed to be done. We even managed to squeeze a craft into our day. DJ was lucky and got to sneak off to work while the carpets were still drying so Taylor and I got to start Tuesday off by putting the house back together. She liked rearranging her loft and I have to say we did a pretty good job. It's still a work in progress but it's clean and now we just need minor touches to complete that room. 

We played "beauty saloner". I love playing this with Taylor. She gets out her princess hair and makeup kit and says she wants to pretend to be a "Beauty Saloner Girl" (meaning a hair or makeup stylist). She always makes me so beautiful. I didn't get a picture of me this time so I told her we could do it again really soon. She even did my makeup that time! I kept trying to kiss DJ with my hot pink kid makeup lips but he wasn't having it. :o) Taylor loves wearing the pearl necklace my grandma gave her. So priceless!

We did a lot of running around - trips to Target, Michael's and Home Depot. Then grocery shopping. Sometimes I don't mind grocery shopping but I just wasn't feeling it yesterday. I think we'd been to enough stores that I just didn't have the energy but I put on my big girl panties and went. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the garage working on our craft project. 

We did pedicures in the middle of kitchen floor. 

And did all her Valentine's Day cards for school. Here's one for one of her teachers. I should have gotten a picture of both.

Everyday for us is jam packed until Monday so I am so glad we got some of this stuff into this week. We have 2 birthday parties, a baby shower, a family lunch, brothers to pick up at the airport, an assessment for Taylor at school, book orders to put together, tests for school that need to be taken, taxes that need to be done, and my list goes on. But I won't bore you. I will post pictures of our craft project tomorrow. It's bright and exciting. Let's just say it involves the name Tootie-Fruitie.

A Whole Lot'a Nothin'

This week has been pretty boring on our home front so I don't have a whole lot to share.

Taylor's been sick all week.

We took her in to get a check up and it turns out she has a fever without a cause. Never knew that could happen. She doesn't have the flu, no strep throat, no ear infection. I thought for sure she at least had an ear infection but I was wrong. We've got to just wait it out and keep doing what we've been doing. I hope she starts to feel better soon. Nothing makes a mommy feel worse than having a sick baby.

School is now in full swing. We're past the first week introductions and I've had my heard buried in the books. I'm anticipating submitting my application for nursing school and hope all goes well with that.

Last week two exciting things happen. We found out on Friday that Jess and Gabe are going to have a girl! Taylor is over the moon about that! And on Saturday I found out my step-brother Ben and his wife Tamra had their baby! I have another niece! Total, after Jess has her little girl, I'll have three nieces. I think it's time our family added a boy to the mix :o)

I've been getting 'cabin fever' having to hang out inside so much. For me, Spring can't come soon enough. I can't wait to walk to isles at the flower nurseries and get new plants for out front. I hope we can find a new little barista furniture set for our front porch this Spring too. And since we've been spending so much time inside it's been itching me not to redo every room in the house. Every time DJ is home I go on and on about all these ideas for the house. I'm going to start working on a few of these ideas soon so I'll be sure to post all about them! We'll be doing a few fun projects for Taylor's room, finishing up some things in the loft and I'm going to attempt making curtains for my kitchen window!

Stay tuned for all my craftiness! :o)
 

Stock Show 2013

Whoa. It's only Tuesday and it's already looking like it's going to be a crazy week. Sunday we relaxed around the house before DJ had to go right back to work but now I feel like I didn't take full advantage of it. Monday we started the day off in t-shirts and jeans, driving home from school with the windows down with intentions of taking Taylor's scooter out for a little bit after her nap. By the time she got up from her nap it was too cold and an hour later we had snow! More snow than I anticipated. And this morning Taylor woke up sick. I hate seeing my baby sick. She's acting just fine but has had a fever all day. I have a feeling it's an ear infection. Before our baby got sick and DJ went back to being called to work every 12 hours we spent a fun family day out at the Stock Show.

This has to be one of my favorite things to do each year. Being a Kansas girl I could go every day and not get sick of it - well maybe sick of the crowds. Sometimes I think I was meant to own a farm/ranch. DJ laughs because I do not mind the smell of live stock and sometimes it just reminds me of my childhood back in Kansas. 

I think cows are so beautiful.

Taylor was pretty excited to see all the animals too.

We went to the rodeo again this year. Last time we went Taylor was too small to really understand anything and sat most of the time. This year she was squirmy and tired of sitting. Of course, right after I took this picture my camera battery died. Thank goodness for cell phones with cameras :o)

Half way through the rodeo Taylor finally stopped people watching and saw that they were doing team roping. I had to explain what they were doing and when I told her that a couple guys were going to go untie the calf she told me that it didn't matter and it was just rude! Poor thing. 

She got a cowgirl hat this year. We were skeptical at first because we figured she would wear it once and it'd sit in her closet until the stock show next year. She was so funny though and told us she'd wear it with lots of outfits. Her Daddy couldn't resist and I was happy he couldn't. Since then she has tried wearing it to the grocery store and has been wearing it around the house. She may have been born in Colorado but I think being raised by us she'll always be a lil' country at heart. 

And what's a trip to the stock show without a ride on the ponies? She asked DJ and I to let her ride alone. She wanted to go ride a horse by herself just like Pioneer Woman does. She's really starting to get independent. 

Looking Forward . . .

Happy Monday everyone! This is a pretty big week for us around here. It's why I'm already looking forward to the end of the week. I'll share why at the end of the week. I'd hate to give away the surprise!

January 22nd will always be a day that sticks with me. This day 3 years ago marks the day my Grandpa passed away. I'll always remember sitting at work when my sister called me to tell me. We knew it was coming but it was still a shock to me. I loved him so much and I wish Taylor could have grown up knowing him. I could cry thinking about my Grandpa but I know he would like to see everyone happy. In memory of him we may just have to get out our harmonicas today :o)

I won't stay sappy all day or there's a chance I may cry a lot so here's some happier things. . .  

We had a great weekend. Friday night we had a 'Taylor Themed' movie night. She got to pick the movie (Barbie and the Three Musketeers of course), we had her favorite dinner and we had Taylor-sized bags of popcorn.

 I love watching a movie with Taylor when she is really into it. She says the funniest things!

Saturday morning we woke up early. I did a quick work out (more on that later) and we got got ready to scoot out the door. We went to a baby shower for one of DJ's cousins. I have a love/hate relationship with baby showers. I love going to baby showers and sharing the excitement with someone getting ready to welcome a new beautiful baby to their family. But I hate going to baby showers because I always have a huge urge to cry and it makes my baby fever even worse than it usually is. I want another baby . . . bad. DJ is well aware of this and I am sure he knows my "I want another baby" speech by heart now. :o) 3 people in the family are expecting right now. We made the girls stand in line in order of due dates. Jamie and Laura are both due in March. Jamie is expecting a little girl and Laura is expecting a little boy! Jess is due in June and we get to find out what she's having on the 25th. We are so excited! 

Taylor got to have a sleep over with Carrie Saturday night. She was really excited about this. Since she was gone the house felt pretty empty. I did a few things around the house and went to bed. Sounds boring - I know. But it was just what I needed.

Sunday morning I woke up and went running. So refreshing yet freezing! My phone said it was just 27 degrees when I headed out. It's something I need to do more often since I plan on running a 10k in May and a 5k just 20 days later. When I got home I made myself breakfast and then started cleaning. Since Taylor wasn't home it was the perfect chance for me to clean. I cleaned places in our house that I've never cleaned before - like on top of our kitchen cabinets, inside our dining room light etc. I spent the whole day cleaning but my house is not cleaner than it's ever been and that feels good!  

Today's a holiday so it means no school for Taylor and the new semester doesn't start for me until tomorrow. If it gets warm this afternoon like its supposed to we'll go on a walk. I cannot wait to have warmer weather all the time and for things to be turning green! I want pretty flowers in my flower bed instead of dirt, green grass in the front yard and leaves on our trees! On top of having baby fever I may also have Spring fever :o)

That's all the happenings here today! This week I'll be sharing some really fun stuff!

Happenings Around Here

Every New Year I get this crazy itch to get organized (more than I already am), to de-clutter the house and make a list, not resolutions, but a list of things I'd like to get accomplished. Of course, just like any other year, I did just that.

And since the New Year I have been working feverishly to get that list done. I don't like to let it sit around all year not getting accomplished. That list is also why I haven't gotten much blogging done.

So here's what we've been up to lately. . .

DJ's traveling more than usual so I baked for 6 hours one day so he would have lots of food readily available for when he needed it. I made Cinnamon Delight Bread (a great recipe I got from my Aunt). . .

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins. . .

...Jambalaya, and Mini Chicken Pot Pies. I didn't get pictures of everything because quiet honestly I was tired at the end of the day. I'll share the recipes soon!

I got a lot of stuff checked off my new list of things to do - updated my external hard-drive, typed up a bunch of recipes I've torn out from magazines, and I've caught up on a lot of reading. I have finished one book and am already on to the next. I always have a lot of cleaning on my list of things to do. So far we've organized the loft, cleaned the laundry room (including behind the machines!), and cleaned/organized the office which turned into a full day event.

Taylor played dress up while I finished cleaning the office. My first communion dress is still a bit big for her but she fell in love with it!

She has been studying a lot . . .

I took over the book order duties for Taylor's school . . .

We went to a birthday party . . .

I still have several big things on my list-of-things-to-do but it's getting smaller everyday and we've been busy around here. Classes start again for me on the 22nd so I'm hoping to have most of it done by then. :o)

Kara and Stew - Part II

OK, I haven't posted a lot like I said I would simply because Blogger is giving me one heck of a time! I have to go through an extra little step (time consuming) to add pictures now. I know it's worth it because I get to document all the special memories of our everyday life but jeez!

Anyway . . .

When Kara and Stew were here Sunday was a 'hang out and visit' type of day. Football was on, we were going to have snack food all day and we had a slew of visitors coming to see them.

Taylor and Kara are so cute in their matching jersey's!

Stew made us his fire-roasted salsa guacamole. Not sure if that's what he calls it but that's what I've been referring to it as. And let me just say. . . I tried it and could have cried it was so hot! Taylor was his little helper in the kitchen.

We spent the rest of the day eating French Dip sandwiches, watching football and catching up. Joel and Ranee came and Kara's best friend growing up came with her family. The girls all got roped into painting Taylor's new tea set.

New Years Eve was a little more exciting. We went down to the Downtown Aquarium since Kara had never been there.

Taylor told us all that this stingray was reading the sign. I love how her little mind thinks!

This fish was just laying right on top of the glass and it was not very pretty on the bottom side.

I was shocked that Taylor even got under there with Kara.

This one is on here for Kara. She loved these little guys.

The lady we spoke to wasn't sure if this stingray was protecting this sack of eggs or if it was eating it. I wasn't sure I wanted to find out!

Taylor totally photo bombed Kara and Stew on this one!

After the aquarium we headed to the Ale House for lunch. Such good food! I tried a PB&J Bacon burger. Sounds gross but it was sooo good!

Celebrating New Years Eve that night deserves its own post for another day!