More outside fun....

Grandpa thought today was the day that Maddie needed to learn to drive the skid steer. This brought back a flood of memories when he taught me how to drive. You know cause every little girl needs to know how to drive a skid steer. It might come in handy some day!
Cass, this is for you. This is the bush you gave me many birthdays ago when we first moved in to this house. It's grown a lot this year and it looks perfect today. Can't you just smell it?Dad also thought it was time for Maddie to drive the big go-cart today. She can officially reach the pedals. She was ecstatic!
She even talked her mom into riding with her-- scary!
Beans and her latest passion-- bike riding. It's a hoot!

The ring of FIRE...

Tim has been focusing all of his energy, as of late, towards campy stuff. He wanted to start doing dutch oven cooking and to do that we needed to install a ridiculously huge fire pit. To get started we went to our new favorite store-- Tractor Supply. It has everything you might need and some things you don't need but will buy anyway.

Here he is with his new baby. We dug it out together and threw in a little sand and waaa laaa... we have a fire pit.
It's right out our back porch which is perfect for food transfer. This is the view from the back yard looking in the general direction of Yaya's house. As you can see all of the kids stuff is off the driveway garage area. We've got the go-cart action and Owen off to the left. (Farther left is my garden that I planted on Saturday) I'm going to say it again-- It's going to be a great summer!
The kids roasting marshmallows to make s'mores. They also roasted hot dogs and I made my first attempt at dutch oven potatoes (I'll keep working on that one).
It was goooood....
....really good!

Breckyn's Baptism

Yesterday we had Breckyn's baptism. It was short and sweet and just how we wanted it. We had a nice small group of just family and it was really nice. Breckyn kept making a break for the font hoping it was time for the big moment. She was unbelievably excited. We had daily updates about when, where and how long until her baptism. She was pretty cute about it.

Brecky and Daddy
Brecky before the big dunk...
This use to be my tiny little baby. She is growing up so fast...

The whole Taylor gang. I remembered everything to make this day great except my camera! So a special thank you to Dad for having his iphone glued to his waist. (I'll have to stop teasing him now that it's actually come in handy for me.)

Fun with the Barlows...

It's a beautiful day in our neighborhood... I'm having so much fun in our backyard. I love to go outside and play with the kids. I wake up ready to be outside in the sunshine everyday. I know I sound a little loopy-- but I really am enjoying life right now. If only they were done with school, it'd be even better.

Double trouble...

Big brother Caleb giving Chloe a ride-- so nice.

We were very amused by Owen's reaction to the go-carts. I think it's going to be a long summer for him.

Mom and Dad brought these shoes back for Chloe from Utah. I think they are so cute. We can hear her coming and going. I'm sure you can tell, she gets a kick out of them too.

It's time to break in Chlo bean on the big machines. She was a natural-- well, almost. We'll keep working at it. By the end of the summer, she'll be a pro!

Grocery Drama...

So, we are at the grocery store today and the boys are being super spazy! They are running circles around the cart and touching everything. I'm getting to the end of my fraying rope very quickly.... I pull my secret solution out and put both of the boys in the cart. One in the back and one in the front. I'm giving them the lecture about settling down and telling them all about how we need to work as a team. If we don't grocery shop then we won't have food in the house.... blah blah blah. Apparently I have some rather smart boys because as soon as I was done giving them the lecture it goes quiet. I resume my cart pushing.... pause pause pause... and they break into song.... "It's a hard knock life for us, it's a hard knock life for us. Instead of kisses we get kicks...." The song goes on and they are bellowing this from the cart as I'm going through the store getting many a glances from on lookers. Stinkin' smarty pants!

Preschool Program...

Tonight was the boy's preschool program. They were very excited and all went well.

They gave the moms these framed poems with their hand prints. It was very cute. The dads got a cute letter that looked like a suit.
Here are the three chuckle heads. It's been a great year for them. Thank you teacher Sally!

They gave a scripture together and Em got a little into the mic.

I thought this song was pretty cute too. I just love little kids performing-- it's so funny!

Backyard toys...

I'm just loving this beautiful spring. I've been going nuts with ideas to improve the backyard so that I can spend the summer lounging with my water bottle enjoying every minute of it. We've been tweaking a few things and I'm so excited!

B is loving her new scooter she got for her birthday. (so is everyone else)

Rugby is being a look-out with the telescope we installed today-- so cool!
Tim and I built this sandbox today. We dug out all of the bark (it goes down about a foot) and sunk in the box so it's level with the ground. The boys were lovin' it! They've already buried a few cars in it for later.
We added this edging to separate the play area and get some grass growing in the very worn go-cart path.
Last but not least, here's Tim in his new toy. The seats are adjustable so the kids or an adult can drive. It's a two-seater and it drives really well. It's super easy to steer which is a plus for the kids. Tim was at a conference this past week and they were training his team on some new products. At the end of the conference they had a quiz about all the technical blah blah blah and my little Timmy was the only one who got 100%! The winner went home with cash. It was play money and it went straight to his new toy. Good work T-man!

Happy Mother's Day...

I've been thinking about how motherhood has changed me as a person. If you sat me down and told me just what motherhood was going to be like 8 years ago-- I don't suppose I would have believed you. There are things that come out of my mouth on a regular basis that I never dreamed I would say. Things like, "Wow, that was a giant poopie-- good job buddy!" Some things have become so automatic, it's like an instant trigger. Whenever a child comes out of the bathroom I instantly blurt out, "wash your hands-- WITH SOAP and I didn't hear a flush!" When I hear a sneeze I say, "you got boogs? need a tissue?" I can pack a lunch, wipe a nose, make breakfast and chug a power shake all at the same time. Multitasking is a must or you'll get eaten alive on this job. I have found that my selective hearing is almost at super human capacity. I can tune out or tune in anyone and anything. I can be in a car with screaming children and not hear a thing. But, on the flip side, I can be woken up from a sound sleep by the soft whimper of a child about to barf. I'd like to say that I've studied my whole life for these freak skills-- but I haven't. I was thrown into this job just like the rest of you. My privacy has become nonexistent. I cannot shower without someone peeping in with a question or an urgent request. My bathroom time is not my own. (I'm convinced my children have a sixth sense to know just when I'm there.) I can't even put on an outfit without getting opinions from my children just what I should or shouldn't be wearing. If I sneak a candy, they can smell it on my breath and demand to be included. They think that after I put them to bed I stay up and do all sorts of fun things without them. But the truth is, I clean up all of the days messes, prepare for the ones to come the next day and collapse in bed with a good show.
So, if I could go back and tell that new mom just what to expect, I'd tell her it's going to be a bumpy ride but some bumps are worth the pain. I know I have four of them....

Happy Mother's Day to each and every one of you who know just what I'm talking about. It's your day so go scoop up the icecream, draw a hot bath, tune out the kids and enjoy-- you've earned it!

Brecky's big day...

We celebrated Brecky's birthday EXACTLY how she wanted. She has managed to stretch her birthday out so it seems like we have been celebrating for several days now. (Which means she is a true offspring of both Tim and I.)

She scored lots of fun gifts. This one is a pool skate board floatie thing. She was really excited about it.
She picked an ice cream cake and by the look on her face I'd say it was a great day. Happy Birthday B!

We weren't sure this was a good idea but they sure looked cute. Chloe always wants to be included in the big kid things and so does Em so they make a great team. Emerson started driving the go-carts when he was two so Chloe only has a few more months until she could qualify. (I'm pretty sure Jo is not cool with that-- but we can try can't we...)

They look so cute and little in the go-cart. (As a side note... this had nothing to do with the "accident" that was previously discussed. This ride was smooth sailing because Em is a professional baby driver.)

mulch, mulch, mulch...

Tim has been traveling a lot lately and I've been thinking. I've decided that I can do big things on my own when he is gone. So today I looked up some mulch people, called them up, ordered mulch to be delivered and got to work. It's amazing what a credit card and a little imagination can do for a girl....

Here is the finished product. I've been fixating on remulching for a while now and our schedules just weren't sinking up for us to get it done. Well, Jodi and I are always on the same schedule, so we got to work.
Isn't it beautiful? Jodi is the best little mule worker I've ever seen. She just kept going and going. Thank you soooooo much Jodi for being a good helper and an awesome sister!!!! You rock! We had to pull weeds and shovel out all of the over grown grass before we could start. It was a big job. We wheeled around the mulch in loads and took turns doing the shoveling. It was so worth it.

*************

As a side note while we were in the working groove the boys were playing and they had a bit of an accident. They plowed the go-cart into one of my big planters and Emerson took a hit to the face.

I ran him to the doctors but he is ok. Nothing a little liquid band aid couldn't fix.

He might loose one of these teeth but we have to wait to see what will happen. He got his gums a good one.

The cut went all the way through his little lip. Poor baby boy...

Happy Birthday B...

Tomorrow Brecky is turning 8! She has been counting down the days and making sure EVERYONE remembers that it will be her special day. Since her birthday is on a Saturday, today was the day she got to celebrate it at school. She is looking so old to me-- my little baby is growing up.
She picked donuts as her birthday treat which was a real hit with her class. She had me come in and entertain the class with a few stories during their milk break. She had a great day! But, tomorrow is going to be even better. She has been informing her siblings of her "take over the world" plans as she always does. It's her day and everyone should obey her (or so she has informed them).

Legos...

Me and Legos, we have a love hate relationship. I love them because they keep all of my kids busy for hours. BUT, the clean up is horrific. I can't tell you how many times I have stepped on a precious little lego piece--- OOOOOOUCHIE!!! Whenever they play with them they can't just keep them in the bucket. NOOOO, they have to explode them around the room-- so they can see every stinkin' piece! I've tried everything I can think of to contain the lego madness that has taken over my basement-- but to no avail. Me and Legos, I think we'll be lovin' to hate each other for a very long time.

CURSE YOU LEGOS!!!!!

Club House!!!!

The club house is officially finished. I added a table and chairs this morning and we're done! We put up a ladder with grips (yes, so they won't fall Dad). They also have the option of climbing the rock wall. The slide was added for quick escapes.
I added the mail box and the custom paint job so it would be extra cool.
Last night Tim added the pulley and bucket so they can get anything up there. Although, we did have to make the rule that you can't lift your brother in it. It's going to be an AWESOME summer-- I can feel it!

Early Mother's Day...

Tim is traveling a lot lately so today I took it upon myself to buy my own mother's day present. I know he would have gotten around to it-- but I wanted something specific and I wanted to have a project to work on. This took me the afternoon to get settled...

I bought myself this lovely gliding bench and pot. I transferred the twirlie bush into the pot and added a few flowers for fun. I was going for more curb appeal-- better huh?!?
I just love flowers... so pretty!
Rugs was out supporting my efforts the whole time. Thanks Rugs!

These are a few of my favorite things...

I've been listening to the song from The Sound of Music (you know the one about her favorite things) with the kids. I've been thinking, who really likes schnitzel with noodles anyway? I thought about the things I would have written into the song and these are a few that I came up with...

...my ipod (duh, why didn't they put that one in?)
Lost. I get so frustrated watching it and not getting any answers but I can't stop watching it because one of these times they might start answering all of my questions. It's like seeing a goth teen at the mall--- you want to stop staring but you are so weirded out that you just can't stop gawking. That's how I feel about Lost, my sweet sweet addiction....
cup cakes... and this didn't make it in the song cause why? Every girl needs these to survive!
Flowers-- my one true love.
I don't think I even need to make a case for this precious gem.
This is the pool I think we should put in our back yard. Don't worry-- it will never happen for many various reasons-- but a girl can dream can't she? (oh, and a slide on it too)
....as previously stated-- my secret addiction. I'm shameless in my timeless love for the super heroes. I found the perfect man to compliment my oddities because he loves them too. We can be weirdos together. Isn't love grand?

Well, I'm sure my song would be way better than that old pony lovin' one. Just a random thought from the brain of Leca. Although I'm pretty sure I made a good case... it makes sense. (to me at least)

**Cheri, feel free to rewrite the song per my suggestions. I think it would be an instant hit!

Super Heroes...

OK, I am completely shameless in my love for super heroes. My favorite show is Smallville. It's all about Superman who is perhaps my all time favorite hero. I am completely enthralled with this show. I have yet to miss an episode. Anyway, one of the recent shows featured two songs that hit our top five list pretty quickly. (...along with the veggie tales theme song-- yeah, we have an interesting mix list in the car) I thought you'd like to take a listen on itunes. It's Mercy by Duffy and Dirty Laundry by Bitter:Sweet. Enjoy!

Cutie Kids...

Emerson workin' it with his cool guy visor.
Little Miss Thing in her fabulous shades.
Bat boy!
Watch out world here come the spaz twins! These two are a special blend of energy when they play together.
Pretty baby Chlo. I just love this kid.