Happy Birthday Zoey...

Today, April 17th, is Zoey's birthday. I started looking through all of her old pictures and remembering my baby-- that's not so baby any more... Here are just a few of her highlights... (trust me, I could have done more-- this is the skimmed down version...)

This is Z right after the nurses cleaned her up... just a few hours after she was born.

I knew she'd have some spunk to her....

My precious little butterfly...

her first few steps...

my sweet baby girl...

Zoey at her 2nd birthday party...

Zo-- our little dress-up girl

(superman complements of Daddy's influence--

before we knew that boys would be in our future)

biker Zo..

lotsa cheese from my pretty pretty princess...

born to swim...

Zoey and Cam

(She thinks that he was born especially for her... miss you Cam Cam)

She has more personality and sunshine... such a joy...
I love that little sparkle in her eye... she always makes everyone feel so loved...
There's my big girl... today she turns 6... tomorrow she'll be kissing boys, driving cars, going to college, getting married, having a baby and wishing that baby would slow down and stop growing so that she can enjoy watching her life... just like I feel today...

I love you Zoey!

Happy Birthday Baby!

STREP...

I wish this was another post about the kids... but it's not. I had a miserable week starting on Wednesday. I felt a cold coming on so I did exactly what my Mom taught me to do and started taking airborne like it was candy... it didn't work. I woke up Thursday and my throat was on fire-- I mean really on FIRE!!!! I did what any mature mother would do-- I denied that I had anything too bad (although suspecting the worst) and went on with my day-- adding in a super power nap that Tim helped me take. He kept the kids at bay and then, being the supportive husband that he is, he helped me escape for girls night. (I know you are thinking-- how dumb am I-- but for good reason.... it was my last official night left to shop for Zoey and Rugby's birthday)(my babies come first). On Friday, I woke up feeling like someone had just done the cha cha on my throat. After much whining and one soup-run later (you know, if you are sick you have to have soup-- it's like the rules)-- Tim had enough and took me to the doctor... and indeed, I HAVE STREP THROAT!!!! I feel like the disgusting swamp creature from the black lagoon. Germs are oooozing out every pore... for a germ freak like myself, this is the worst possible thing that could happen to me. Did I not wash my hands well enough? Did I get too close to the slimy kids at school? Did I do the unthinkable and touch my face after touching a shopping cart? No matter how this plays out-- it doesn't really matter-- but keeping my germs contained-- totally does. I'm contagious-- contagious!!! Doesn't that sound disgusting? You are lucky this is a blog-- and not the real thing or you could be next...... eeeewww!!! ...I know, clearly I have issues.... but at least it makes for interesting stories!

You've gotta be kiddin' me....

Today we woke up to snow outside.... AHHHHH! I watched the weather last night and John, (yes everyone, I'm plugging my favorite weather guy, whom I adore, who does NOT have a toupee, and is mostly right) and he said that we are suppose to get 4-8 inches of snow today. On top of that, it is a super windy, white-out, blizzardy, slushy, cold, bad, SUPER STORM!!! My feeble attempts at boycotting winter is failing miserably, at best... Here are pictures of the kids leaving for school-- in April-- in the snow.

B, Z, and R waiting for their ride-- smiling because, to kids, this is "awesome."
The kids actually leaving tracks as they head off..... 8 inches to come... EEEEKKKK!!
We lost Rugby to a particularly large drift of snow... do not be alarmed, no one was hurt in the filming of this snow storm.

I'll keep you all posted with new snow totals later.... (because why wouldn't you be totally interested and riveted by my life in a snow storm... ok, you don't have to stay completely glued to your computer... but if you want to... it's ok...)

Friends in Exotic Places....

Rugby's preschool teacher just got back from a trip to Germany. She brought each child in the entire class a chocolate bar from Germany. Rugby was so completely excited that I heard about it all the way home... the next 45 minutes.... and through lunch until I finally caved and let him eat it. (Tim, Em, and I had to take a few nibbles too because it was super good) He was so happy that his teacher had given him chocolate-- thank you Teacher Sally. Rugby will never be the same... he went straight to heaven. You can see the jubilation on his tiny little face with his cheeks bulging in gooey goodness.

Happy Easter...

Happy Easter! The EB (Easter Bunny) was very good to us this year. The kids got lots of little spring gifts but the one that had the most impact on all of them was the new shades the EB brought them...

B and Z with their super cool new shades (hmmmm... they look even more hip than I do-- maybe I should petition the EB for a pair of my own)
The boys and their new shades (they spent the rest of the morning playing spy kids with their new shades. Breckyn helped everyone out by making ear pieces out of construction paper so that they could complete their mission with ease)
I think Daddy should have asked the EB for his own pair-- YIKES!

(maybe pink isn't his color after all)

The kids digging through their loot...
Grandpa and Emerson (it looks like everyone wanted a piece of the action today)

How cute boys!

We had a great day filled with baskets, candy, family fun, candy, church, candy, and a nice Easter dinner. We wish all of you could have been there to celebrate with us (I'm positive we had enough candy for half the nation). We are thankful for good family and friends in our lives and the knowledge that Christ lives. We love you all and HAPPY EASTER!

Barlow/Taylor... last day of break :(

Sadly enough our spring break has come to an end. On Friday we got together for one last hoorah-- cookout, playing outside, craft time, and egg dying. The kids had fun-- and the adults had a little bit of fun too (who doesn't like a good egg dying contest?).

Emerson dying his egg... he went for the splashing technique (he dropped his egg in from a rather unsafe distance and splashed everything in a 2 foot radius)
Zoey with her little egg family (notice Mads squeezing into the picture)
Maddie won the ugliest egg contest... nice work Mad-- better luck next year Chris... Breckyn with her chick (part of our craft time activity)
Caleb and his eggs

Cold Cold Spring...

It's been a cold cold spring day here in Wisconsin. On Monday and Tuesday it was almost 60 degrees-- but not today. Today the kids were dying to play outside and it looks deceivingly warm with the shining sun-- but oooh, it wasn't. It was 30 degrees with a slight wind chill into the low 20s-- yes, a wind chill in the spring... AAAHHHH! But my little troopers went out anyway all bundled up, in April, with hats, mittens, and winter coats to ride their bikes. Emerson kept complaining that the sun was in his eyes, so he broke out the shades. Maybe we should have gone somewhere tropical for break-- we need the warmth. All of the kids are growing out of their winter clothes but I'm making them hold on to their high-water pants and tighty shirts because I have already purchased the next size up in shorts and T-shirts-- I'm NOT buying new winter clothes-- it's my personal boycott to winter weather. (it's not working)

Emerson, my little cutie, on his self-proclaimed motorcycle (a.k.a a big wheeler-- remember those?). He doesn't actually use the pedals he just flintstones around on it-- but he thinks he is a super cool big boy when he is on his machine, wind in his hair, and chicks swooning around him (ok, no wind, chicks are his sisters, and it has no motor-- but it's almost that cool)

Barlow/Taylor Day 3

It's day 3 of the best spring break ever... Sad news... the Taylors are a bunch of pansies. We can't make it too long without our naps. I've let the boys skip naps the last two days in a row due to the amazing fun factor we have going on.... it came to a screeching halt early this morning. Today's plan was to go see Meet the Robinsons at the movies-- which we did. Only I had us see an early showing so that I could nap my monsters and get my kids back. Oh-- it was bad... my usual little angel Emerson had a total melt down this morning over cereal-- tears, actual tears were spilt over some rice crispies and a banana. I knew we weren't equipped to handle this much fun without an incident. So here they are all cute and innocent looking-- slumbering back those little smiles that I didn't see too much of today....

Breckyn a.k.a. the nit picker... if you need a comment, she's got one for you... come back beautiful baby girl... I know you're in there...
Zoey a.k.a. princess whine-a-lot... sleep back all of those joyful happy giggles....
Rugby a.k.a. the angry little man.... come back to us with your wide-eyed stories of running...
Emerson a.k.a. the boring police... "dis is booooring" (that's what I hear when he is tired or hungry and not getting his way) doesn't he look so peaceful. In a few short sweaty hours, I will have one perky little puppy all happy to see me.

I can't wait for my kids to get back... I missed them.

It's wonderful what a little sleep can do for you!

Taylors and Barlows Day 2...

It's day 2 and we're still going strong. We decided to take the kids to our local aquatic center (fancy word for zero depth pool with some fun squirty stuff, lazy river, hot tub, and water slide). They had a blast. The theme of the day was goggles-- every kid had to have them. It was pretty cute. We stayed a few hours until some kid puked in the pool (not ours) and saved Jodi and I the trouble of being the bad guys and saying it was time to go-- super convenient! Here are a few shots of our fun...

The kids and I all goggled up and ready to swim!

part of the clan hyped and ready to rock...

Em and his goggles

(I'm pretty sure he can no longer see due to the amount of steam build up he's got going on)

Max and his goggles

Breckyn and her goggles... (are you catching the pattern)

Maddie and Zoey and their goggles...

Chloe-- isn't she so cute! She has been a good little trooper through all of our schemes-- good girl Chlo Chlo!!

Caleb and his goggles...

The kids all worn out and ready for some serious snacks! (with 8 kids it took us almost as long to redress as it did to swim-- ughh) Lesson of the day-- swim suits are sticky when wet...

Taylor and Barlow Day at the Zoo...

The kids have spring break this week so Jodi and I are getting a little adventurous... Today we took all 8 kids to the zoo. (oh, so many zoo references could be made now-- but I'll spare you) We have decided that since we aren't going anywhere far-- we could still have a super cool vacation close to home. We have big plans for everyday (our kids are so lucky). This is how our first adventure went...

Only a few feet into the Zoo, Caleb got busted by a little old zoo worker for wearing his "Healies." Jodi then spent the next two exhibits trying to pry the wheels out with her keys because he left his tool in the car. One bent key later- problem solved. Not to worry-- that was the only hitch of the day.

Zoey and Maddie at the seal's house...

(note the seal you totally can't see swimming in the back ground)

Caleb and Em co-driving the milk truck...

Maddie, about to be road-kill

My baby giraffe...

LUNCH BREAK!!

(Jodi bravely fighting off the geese in the back-ground)

The girls right by a giant lion

(you can kinda see it next to the flash-- it was cool)

Rugby driving, what appears to be, the get-away car Chloe being so cute and patient in her seat

(yeah, it was cold today-- but we braved it anyway)

The kids just enjoying being together...

Last picture.... we sure did have fun! We love the Barlows!!!!