We have a first grader!

First Grade

Today we took Tayler to her first day of first grade! It wasn't a full day, but it was a day when she got to meet her teacher, see her classroom, and meet the other kids in her class. Her first "real" day is Wednesday, but today was still very exciting for us!

We were overjoyed to find that there are three girls from her kindergarten class in her first grade class. Once we found that out, Tayler was much for excited and ready for school. Her teacher seems nice, and there is a student teacher who will be helping out in her classroom periodically who also was very nice. I think she won Tayler over when she told her that she liked her nail polish. =)

The first "real" day (when she brings her lunch, and is there for the day without us) is Wednesday. I took vacation from work Wednesday and Thursday morning so that I can be there to help get her ready and to school along with Brian. We live close enough to the school that a lot of the kids around us walk to school. And, Tayler has decided that she'd like to walk BY HERSELF this year. Her dad and I haven't decided if we're comfortable with that, but we're considering letting her walk home with some of the other neighborhood kids one of these days. We'll just have to see.

She's getting so grown up. Brian was watching some home videos this morning. He was watching one where I was giving Tayler an advent calendar at Christmas time. I showed her how to open the door to get the chocolate, and helped her get it opened. Then, she wanted more chocolate. So, I let her open one more door. It's just sweet to think back to that time when she was learning things like that, and didn't quite understand that you only opened the doors one day at a time and wanted to find more chocolate in that Christmas calendar. She's grown up so quickly. I have a picture of her and I, when she was still in diapers, at the city pool one summer. She's on my hip in a little lavender swim suit with her swimming diaper sticking out the legs of it. That doesn't seem like it was that long ago, but she was only 2!!! Four, almost five years ago! I can't believe it. I love the person she's grown into. She is kind, and generous, and loving. I'm so proud of how hard she works to behave, and how hard she works in school. Her dad and I are continually impressed and proud of her.
Above: pre-school

Below: kindergarten

Benton County Fair 2009

The time of year is upon us...time for the Benton County Fair! This was Carson's first year at the fair, (he was way too teeny last year!) but Tayler's 3rd or 4th. We ate food that was horrible for us (c'mon, a BRICK of fries? Who could resist something that sounds that appetizing?), saw a lot of animals, rode a lot of rides (well, Tayler did), rubbed elbows with some good old fashioned carnies, and saw some of the finest examples of upstanding citizens that the good old Tri-Cities has to offer! My mom came with us to enjoy to festivities, and we ran into my friend Tracey and her son Jacob once we got there. Jacob and Tayler were running from ride to ride, having the time of their lives! In fact, they were almost a little bit upset when we told them that we were going to take a break from the rides to see some animals...but once we got over to the animal area, they both really enjoyed seeing the little goats, pigs, and horses. So, all in all, the trip to the fair this year was a good one.

In other news, my good friend Mary's birthday is today!! She turned the big 3-0! We were supposed to go to dinner tonight to celebrate, but she wasn't feeling well, so it's been posponed to tomorrow. So, I'm looking forward to that.

ABOVE: left to right Megan, Mary, ME, and Juanita at dinner a few years ago. Very sad that this is the only picture I could find of us together!
BELOW: Mary and I at her wedding two years ago

Yesterday was Mary and Mikey's TWO YEAR wedding anniversary. Her and her hubby wanted to go out to celebrate, so I offered to baby sit. Little did I know, Carson would be such a big "help". He "helped" me burp her, (he hasn't quite mastered that yet, but we're working on it. It's too similar to just plain old hitting for him, so that's more of what he wanted to do!), he took her binky from her (probably just to make sure it was safe)twice, then tried to give it back to her via her eye when his mom told him no. He also helped me rock her in her bouncer, although I had to hold it the entire time because his rocking was so enthusiastic, I was afraid he'd launch her right out of that thing! But, it went well, and I think someday when he gets a little brother or sister, he'll do a great job!

Friends

Nolan, snugglin' his mama

Carson getting sleepy from all of that playing

Vico, exploring all of the cool toys

Amelia, taking it all in from her Bumbo. She likes hangin' with her boys!

Carson and Nolan

Today we had a toddler (and Amelia) play date extravaganza! We went to my friend Tara's house (Nolan's mom) and the kids played with all of Nolan's fun toys! Mary was there with Amelia, Juanita came with Vico, Carson and I, and Tara and Nolan. Both Nolan and Vico are both walking like pros! I was hoping Carson would see them walking, and decide that he wants to too, but no such luck! He had a great time though! Between the goldfish crackers, animal cookies, and neat toys, he was having a ball! There was a little bit of hair pulling, and issues with sharing....but nothing major. They're all learning to be good friends. Days like today are so fun.

Wonderful Discovery

This is so awesome. I've often thought about our blog, and thought about what would come of it. I have a lot of memories logged here. A lot of thoughts. Events. Trips. Births. Stuff like that. And I don't want to lose it. It's a journal of sorts. And today, I've found it. HERE. I knew something like this had to exsist! And it does! I am so excited to get started!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

August 11, 2008


August 11, 2009

"The decision to have a child is to accept that your heart will forever walk about outside of your body." - Katharine Hadley

Carson's Birthday Party

Yesterday we had Carson's first birthday party at our house. There was a really great turn out, and I think we all had a pretty good time. The food was wonderful (thanks for the help mom and Mary!), the decorations were as sweet as can be, and the company was great! Great-Grandma Betty Lou and Great-Papa Doug even got to come! They traveled from Vancouver just to attend the party!

Carson did so well! I was worried that maybe it'd be an off day for him (I think that's my "just my luck" attitude!),like he wouldn't go down for his morning nap....or he'd be grouchy when he got up. But he napped great, and was ready to party by the time the guests arrived.

He got his own little version of his big birthday cake to dig into himself. He didn't go as crazy as I thought he would. Because he's always exploring, and grabbing, I thought that cake would be destroyed in a matter of minutes. But, funny enough, he only put a few dents in it. He did get it all over his highchair, his hair, his arms, face, legs, finger, and mom....so it wasn't a total loss.

And this is what you do (during your party still) when your mom let's you have at your own cake! But, since he LOVES baths, I think he thought it was just part of the days festivities!

His buddy Nolan was one of the guests (and Nolan's mom and dad!) He's recently learned to walk and was very adorable tottering around the yard!

And then there were gifts......

It was very cute....at one point, when he was surrounded by toys, and clothes...he just crawled over to Tayler and started to hug her. He was just so happy, he wanted to share it with his sister!

Grandma Shanna bought him this "rig" as we call it. He crawls around and pushes it all over....although a few times, he's walked behind and pushed it...which is what we want! Hopefully this thing will have him walking in no time! He sure loves it!

Then there was another Papa......"The Val" as Tayler called him when she was younger. My dad came into town unexpectedly a little while ago, and made a trip over to meet his grandson for the first time. This is my dad seeing him in the flesh for the first time ever....

And he came bearing gifts......so Carson thought he must be okay to hug....

Mustang Sally!

My mom and step dad might be the coolest grandparents ever! They just purchased a cherry red, shiny, Mustang convertible. Yes, it runs by re-chargeable battery. Yes, it came in a card board box that fit in the back of a truck. And yes, you can't ride in it if you weigh more than 100 pounds, but it's cool nonetheless. And the kids are having a blast with it! They already have a John Deer ATV type children's car that their grandchildren fight....I mean, take turns in. But now, there are two cars to drive around their yard. I know I would have thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I was a kid!

Soccer, Swap and Spring Cleaning

Tayler's last soccer game of the season was tonight. She played really well, and had a really good time. It's so cute to see her and the other players scurry around to the ball and to watch them tangle their little cleat-clad feet together. I'm sometimes surprised at how well they work together as a team. Because Brian is her coach, it's really a family affair. After the game, there was the trophy ceremony and Dairy Queen for everyone....so it turned out to be a pretty great time!

Tayler is such a sweet, considerate teammate. During the game, one of her fellow Green Dragons hurt her finger, so Tayler went and got her an ice pack out of our cooler to hold on her finger until it felt better. It made me very proud. She's a darling, caring girl.Tayler w/ her trophy and her "dreamy" coach =)

My sister Ashlee came to the game to see Tayler in action, and to help me wrangle C who sometimes has a difficult time behaving at sporting events.

Awhile back I posted that I was taking part in a swap. More specifically, a FAVORITE THINGS swap. A blog that I follow's author did a post about the Favorite Things Swap and I thought it sounded pretty fun, and decided to participate. And boy was I right! I emailed my information to the host of this swap, as did every other participant. Then she put us in pairs and we chose 3 things that we considered some of our favorite things and mailed them to each other. My package came in the mail today! I got two adorable aprons, one for me, and one for Tayler (way thoughtful of my swap buddy!), because she loves to cook (which is a good thing because one of the things I sent her was a favorite cook book of mine!) some beautiful napkins, which if you can believe it, match the decor of C's birthday this weekend, and some adorable little paper laterns which also will be so cute at the party! I'm really pleased with all that I received. It came at the perfect time!

I have to include something that happened while I was attempting to get this post together. I was sitting at our dining room table, and looked over into the kitchen and saw my darling little boy doing something very naughty...but funny at the same time. He's begun doing this to the sorted clothing I have in baskets while I'm doing laundry. I think he sees me sorting and decides he'd like to help. Well, tonight he felt like some Spring Cleaning of our kitchen towel drawer that needed to be done....so, he got right to it. STINKER!