Taylor-Made Baby (that's me)!

Mixing Halloween with Disneyland

Well, we decided to try mixing the two this year.  And I've got to thank my sister, Bethany, for finally convincing me to join them.  She had been planning their trip for a while, and kept inviting me.  However, I am extremely partial to DisneyWORLD!  We go there every year, and I was so hesitant to try DisneyLAND.  But because we just went to Florida a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a try (a first for my kids).  We spent two days at Disneyland/Calif. Adventure, plus we did the whole trick-or-treat thing.  The boys had a blast riding the rides and collecting candy in their costumes!  Talmage was Raphael, and Barrett was a devil.  
Taylor had a lot going on at work and decided to stay home, so my mom came in his stead.  She looked so cute all decked out in her halloween attire!
My sister made all the kids matching mickey mouse shirts that they sported one day- so cute!

All in all, it was a fabulous trip.  The kids loved it, the crowds were down, and the weather was beautiful.  Disneyland is a good alternative when you're in a pinch, but I am still very biased towards DisneyWorld.  There is no comparison!

MUD RUN 2009

Wow, what an experience!  A few of my sister-in-laws and some friends all ran in the camp pendelton 10k mud run on saturday.  Probably one of the funnest things I have ever done!!  It was hot and the mud smelled like a sewer, but I can't wait to do it again next year!  

My mom and mother-in-law came out to support us!
These are the aftershots, but they don't do justice to the amount of mud that was caked to my body!

Our Whirlwind Week!

What a crazy week it has been!  My mom decided (the night before she left) to take Talmage with her to Florida.  She was going for 2 weeks to visit my sister and to watch her kids while they went out of town.  So they left at 4:30a.m. monday morning.  So Barrett and I had a fabulous time just hanging out the two of us.  We got some great one-on-one time!!But because my mom was staying for so long, we decided that I would fly out on thurday, stay a few days, and fly Talmage home with me.  So, I headed to Florida solo (barrett stayed home with daddy) and got to spend a few days there.  SO FUN!  I love Florida!  Talmage and his cousin are best friends, so they loved being together.  The only bummer was that I didn't get to see MY best friend (my awesome sister).

We went to the Lion Country Safari, where you drive through and see all the animals.  They get so close to your car, it was amazing!  Then, at the end, they have an amusement park and splash park.  

Lovin' Seattle

We LOVE Seattle!!  We went for the first time about 5 years ago, fell in love, and haven't been back until now. It was fabulous!   We wandered Pike's Market for hours!  We loved seeing all the beautiful flowers, eating the yummy fruit, and of  course eating the gigantic doughnuts!! 


We ate at Ivar's pretty much every day (at least once)!  This is Taylor, my brother Stephen, and my brother-in-law Brian just hanging out after enjoying some Clam Chowder.
We took the ferry over to Bainbridge and Bremmerton Islands to pick blackberries and go to the blackberry festival.  Definitely a highlight of the trip!  It is GORGEOUS over there!
Taylor got all into the picking!  He rolled up his pants and plowed through the bushes to get the "better berries"!

First Day of Preschool

Quick Trip to Vegas

Thanks to the fabulous Aunt Becca and Uncle Jared, who watched our kids for us, we were able to take a little weekend trip to Vegas with my parents.  Vegas is one of our favorite places, and we did the usual:  my mom and I shopped till we dropped while the men played around in the casinos!  Of course we ate every meal at one of the many amazing buffetts, and squeezed in a show at the end.

 The Lion King was amazing!!  I am tempted to say it is one of the best shows I've seen.  The singing and, oh, the costumes!!! Simply breathtaking!!

 Thanks Becca and Jared, we owe you!!!!

Camping for the 4th

We spent the weekend with family and great friends up in the mountains near Flagstaff.  The boys spent most of their time playing in the rain and mud.  

Saturday we went to hike some cave, but it was a little too steep and rocky for my boys.  Luckily our friend Carrie was there to help Talmage, because I was stuck at the top holding Barrett, who was cold and wet and cranky!

And then poor Taylor hit his head on one of the rocks above him which knocked him out.  Other than a big gash on his head, he was ok!Even with the mud, and rain, and accidents, and cranky kids, we managed to have a great time.  We are so lucky to have such great family and friends to share our lives with! 

What is going on??!!!

For the past two months, there have been some strange things happening to me.  It all started when I noticed that I had been gaining weight- despite the fact that I am doing a fitness bootcamp and watching what I eat.  It has reached a high of 10 pounds! But then I started to notice that I felt really depressed (which is very unlike me).  I was in a bad mood all the time, always getting emotional.  Plus, I went from having insomnia to crashing right after the kids went to bed at 7:00.  I am tired all the time, and my body just feels really weak.  I kept thinking to myself  "I must be crazy!!"  My mom finally convinced me to go see my doctor, but I was very skeptical because I was afraid they would just put me on antidepressants.  Well, they took my blood to run some tests and then referred me to an endocrinologist.  Come to find out-  I have Hashimoto's disease!!  And I had every symptom in the book!  I got this definition for it off of the Mayo Clinic's website: 

    Hashimoto's disease is a disorder that affects your thyroid, a small gland located at the base of your neck, below your Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's activities.
   In Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland. The resulting inflammation often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.  

I have to be on medication for the rest of my life, but it's not a big deal.  I'm just glad that now I can finally start to feel like myself again, and lose those ten pounds AGAIN!!! 

My little 2 year old!

My baby turned 2 yesterday!!  I still can't believe it (even though most people think he is 3!) We had a low key birthday party because my kids have such a "mean" mom, as Talmage likes to say.  They are allowed a big party on their 5th and 8th birthdays and that's it!!  But we have loved every minute that Barrett has been with us.  He is the sweetest little chubster- our little bear-bear!  Happy Birthday Barrett!!
People keep telling me that I need to have another baby since Barrett is 2, but instead of having one, we are going to try to adopt our next one (hopefully an older baby or one with special needs).  We were officially certified a few days ago, so we are excited to see what happens!!

Summer Haircuts

My boys HATE to have their hair cut.  They fight Taylor and I every time.  So I finally had enough of the shagginess and we took them to Sport Clips so someone else could fight them on it.  They did surprisingly well (especially Barrett), although neither of them were very happy about it!

It was Barrett's first "0fficial" haircut, and I was sad to see all of his blonde hair go, but he looks so stinkin' cute!  I don't know why I waited so long to cut it!

Here's to the Graduates!

My youngest brother Stephen graduated from Mt. View this year.  The last graduation I have to sit through for about fifteen years, and it will be one I won't forget.  We sat huddled under umbrellas and ponchos, but still unable to keep from getting soaked as the rain poured down throughout the entire ceremony!!   But every minute was worth it, because I just love this kid!  Stephen is one of a kind!  From his personality to his attire, he is just the funniest person I know, and I love him to death!!!Here's to the die hard fans, the siblings who made it through  till the end!!! Daniel, Sarah, Stephen, way to finish strong!  Even Taylor had one of his episodes and had to leave early!!

This is my sister, Sarah, and I huddled under one umbrella with our very fashionable ponchos

And here's to Talmage, who also graduated from Preschool.  He loved Mrs. McClure's preschool and will miss her and all the friends he made there.  He is so smart and we love having him as part of our family.  Way to go Talmage!!

8 Things...

8 Things...

I was tagged courtesy of my friend, Christin Trendler!  Thanks Christin
Rules of this tag:

Mention the person who tagged you.
Complete the list of eight things.
Tag 8 of your bloggity friends.
Easy peasy!!

So here goes...


8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO:

Christmas

Date night with my husband

Our annual trip to Disneyworld

Dune season

Family Home Evening

Reading to my boys

Bedtime!!

Finishing a project I've started

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY:

Went to Bootcamp

Took the kids to swim lessons

Had the night off, so I went shopping!

Made a Sonic run for my diet coke

Went grocery shopping

Made cookies for T's preschool graduation

Watched American Idol

Played Candyland with the boys

8 THINGS I WISH I COULD DO:

Cook and enjoy doing it

Run a marathon

Adopt a child

Not worry about my weight

Be a better mom

Go back to Europe

Find Taylor a job

Relax a little more

8 SHOW I WATCH:

Amazing Race

House

Greys Anatomy

Americal Idol

Lost

Office

America's Next Top Model

CSI:NY

8 PEOPLE I TAG:

Ashley 

Natalie

Bethany

Tawna

Sue

Becca

Carrie

Jill

Making an Impression

On Saturday we took the boys to the Park of the Canals to have their hand printed on a tile that will be part of a mosaic when they re-do the park in June.  I can't wait to see it when it's finished!  Talmage loved having his hand painted and writing his own name on his tile.  Barrett, on the other hand, cried throughout the whole process!!  

Mother's Day Program

Talmage had his Mother's Day program for Mrs. McClure's preschool.  He did such a great job.  Talmage is an amazing little boy.  He has been my trial since the day he was born, but I LOVE him for it!! I wouldn't change him for the world.  He has taught me more about patience and unconditional love than anything in my life.   I am so blessed to have him for a son.  Talmage, I LOVE YOU!

This was my attempt at being crafty last week.  I signed up to bring a dessert for the program, and my sister gave me this idea for cupcakes.  They were supposed to look like daisies.  They didn't turn out as cute as I'd hoped... but considering how much I hate to cook, at least I made the effort!!

A week of firsts

Talmage had his first skateboarding lesson.  We tried karate a few months ago and he cried every time he had to go, so we thought this would be more his style.  He has begged everyday since to go back so we think he'll like this better!!
My sister had her baby. OK, this isn't her first baby, but it is her first boy (so it counts!)  He is so stinkin' adorable!
Talmage and Barrett had a friend sleepover for the first time.  Actually its their cousin Lincoln who is visiting from Florida.  His mom is sick so he came to stay the night.  We played games, decorated cupcakes, and had a splashin' good time in the tub!
And finally, I attempted my first dress for....ME!!!  I wore it to church and was so nervous that it would fall apart on me, but it held strong.  I can't wait to try another one!

Zoo Field Trip

Talmage had a field trip to the zoo with his preschool.  We just love Mrs. McClure- she went all out with the stickers and hat and shoulder bag for all the kids!  It was fun to go just me and Talmage.  It was the first time I didn't have to push a stroller around.  We did the petting zoo (which I normally try to avoid because they freak me out!), we rode the train, and of course the carousel.  But I should have looked at the forecast because it was freezing and I didn't pack sweaters- since when is it cold in the middle of April?