Dinosaur Park

We finally made it to the dinosaur park.

Little Monkeys

Lazy Bones

The kids had a lot of fun, even thought Lylee was pretty terrified of most the dinosaurs. It was a good chance to get outside and stretch and play!

Preschool Graduation

Today my sweet first born graduated from preschool! That's right, Taylor is going to be a Kindergartener this fall. Typing this, I'm actually tearing up to think of the last four and three-quarter years and how much my world has changed for the better. I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father saw fit to send Chris and I our two little angels.

Taylor is such a wonderful little boy. Here are a few things that we love about him.

~ Taylor is very kind and aware of others feelings and tries his best to always be kind and loving.

~ Taylor loves his family.

~ Taylor loves his friends.

~ Taylor loves Star Wars, Legos, Monster Trucks and Lincoln Logs

~ Taylor has an incredible imagination and loves to play alone just as much as he loves to play

with others.

~ Taylor loves to help cook, especially cookies and desserts! (I think it has to do with licking the

spatula.)

~ Taylor loves his Heavenly Father and the Gospel of Jesus Christ

~ Taylor's favorite song is I Am A Child Of God and loves the fact that he actually is a child of

God.

~ Taylor loves to have long, thoughtful conversations.

~ Taylor loves the outdoors and doing yardwork. (Thanks, Grandpa. I hope it sticks.)

~ Taylor is our favorite little boy in the whole wide world.

~ Taylor gives the very best hugs.

This is just a short list of the things that Chris and I love about our sweet litttle Taylor Jay. We love you very much and look forward to continuing to watch you grow up!

Mother's Tea

Today was Lylee's Mother's Tea at preschool, but we had a stop to make first. This week was Teacher Appreciation Week, so we stopped at our favorite florist for 3 Gerber Daisies, one for each of Lylee's 3 preschool teachers, Miss Terri, Miss Molly and Miss Jen. Lylee loved picking out the flowers and loved giving them to her teachers even more. Each teacher was touched by the thought.
Lylee and I dressed and ready for our first mom and daughter tea. I think we should make it an annual event, school sponsored or not. Lylee loved to get all dressed up and she knew that it was a special occasion. It was the first time that she has eaten an Oreo and not spilled a single crumb. She was so careful to have good manners and eat neatly. It was a huge eye opener to see what a big girl my baby has become. She also loved and could tell how special it was to have a date for just the two of us. I love every minute that I get to be close to my sweet girl.

We were having so much fun that we decided to stay out a little longer and headed to Children's Orchard. I made two of my best finds yet, an adorable pink and white ballerina rocking chair for $5.99 and a Blue and White floral Tommy Hilfiger dress for $2.00 (It had a little pink spot on it, I came home, put a little stain treatment on it and the dress looks brand new.).

Big Dip 2009

Yesterday we actually went swimming for the first time this year. Taylor and Lylee had completely different experiences.

Lylee wasn't sure that she even wanted to get near the water, let alone in it. When she finally got in the water, she screamed. Then she clung to me like a baby koala until I peeled her off and onto Grandpa. She was thrilled when she got out and got to cuddle with everyone by the side of the pool.

Now Taylor gave everyone a big show. When we got in the back yard, Jacci was diving in. Taylor saw this and ran, literally ran, right down to the spot where Jacci had just been standing... and then he jumped in. That's right, my 4 1/2 year old just jumped right in the deep end of the pool! Jacci and Grandpa started swimming to save him (Jac even sacrificed a contact lens), but by the time they got there Taylor had already swum to the edge. He then informed me that he still needed his wings because "I still sink". It was all a bit surreal and miraculous.

My Hero

Last week when I took Taylor in for his 6 month check up the dentist found four sugar bugs (or cavities)! Yikes!!! How is this kid gonna sit still through four fillings??? He has to be on my lap for a regular cleaning. Well, a very wise Dr. Heather thought that a child's dose of valium might do the trick and her husband, Dr. Jason, agreed.

So this morning at 10:00 I gave Taylor his valium. I was so anxious that I just about needed one myself. There was no need. Taylor was amazing!

Taylor brought his favorite "pets", Turkilis the turtle and Cosmo the cougar. He also wore his Thomas sunglasses to keep the bright light out of his eyes. These were very helpful tips from Aunt Stephanie who is visiting and is a dental assistant.

We are a bit spoiled and get to watch TV at the dentist. Two of T's favorite shows were on. Ni Hao Kai Lin and Olivia! How lucky! The valium worked so well and the cavities were so small that Taylor did not even need any anesthetic at all!!! I'm still in shock and awe at how smooth everything went!


Taylor got to pick two treats from the toy box and a sugar free sucker. He picked a camo bouncy ball and some crayons.

Daddy had a super special treat waiting at home that he's been saving for a super special occasion. Well, today was definately the day. When we got home, Daddy gave Taylor Lego Indiana Jones for the Wii. (Taylor has really, really been wanting this game. He even asked me yesterday if he could use the money that he got from the Easter Bunny at Grandma's to buy it!)

What a great ending to a very long and hectic Spring Break!!!

Nighty - Night

My jammer babies.

My little poser.

This is the new nighty that I made for Lylee. I crafted it after the "pillow case" or "potato sack" dresses. I altered it to make it simpler the the directions that I found online, but also safer that the original pattern. Lylee loves that it's pink.

I'm planning on making a couple more nighties and also a few dresses. I'll post them as I finish them. It's so fun to be able to sew clothes!

Has anyone seen a cute, or simple tie pattern? I want to make a couple for Taylor!

Bye - Bye Baby Bed!

We set Lylee's bed up today while the kids were in school. Taylor's response was hilarious. He Yelled "Whoa! Mom, there's a problem! That bed is too big!" He had as much fun surprising her as we did!

Shhh... we're trying to catch a leprachaun, or 2!!!

Taylor's preschool family project for March is to build a leprachaun trap.

The sparkly house is a trick to lure the leprachaun to try and snatch the gold! Little does he know that Grave Digger is stuck in the mud and the other car is too little to fit the gold in. Hope we catch him!

Taylor had a blast with this and his imagination really got going. I love having a kid with such big ideas!

(This was totally free too. We had everything around the house!)

Roseville's Rose Parade

The City of Roseville is 100 years old this year. They entered this float in the rose parade. Every where we went there were bottles for the kids to put pennies in. Somewhere my kids names are each on this. Since Chris works for the railroad they got to do this. The Union Pacific is still the largest employer in Roseville. That's why the float is a train. Anyway, it was a fun thing for us.

Cat Burglar

I just love this picture for some reason!

In case you're wondering, it's a dumb-dumb hanging out of her mouth, not a cigarette. She looks like a little hoodlem!

More New Big Girl Stuff

You can probably imagine the knots and tangles that build up in this beautiful curly hair. (I can call it beautiful without bragging because 1) it's totally from Daddy, 2) it really is beautiful and 3) moms automatically get bragging rights.

I have trimmed her little bangs to keep them of her little eyes, and it is out of her eyes, but I am definately not a haircutter. In fact, the lady who trimmed her hair made it a point to let me know how short her bangs were. I proceeded to let her know that that is why we were there. She only needed a trim, but I wasn't taking any chances on a horrific home haircut, especially right before Christmas, and with her sweet curls!

Anyway, she did great and was a very quiet big girl!