say CHEEEEESE

these pictures are a month or so old, but too cute not to share.

the loves of my life....

cheesin it up for the camera


Mason has now begun the cheesy, fake smile whenever I tell him to smile! But he always puts his head down when he does it, so you can't see the straight-on, hilarious way he looks.

It's so funny....so of course our laughing at him encourages him to do it more!


Stay tuned if you wanna see this little guy in green tights as Peter Pan!!!

update on the house

We had a few dead weeks around here with our house project.

Waiting on stone, waiting on stove pipe....getting held up trying to figure it all out.


We also made a major change to our fireplace design.

Originally, we were planning to do a normal woodburning fireplace, with the big open hole, in which we'd have the screen around and it would be pretty open.

Similar to this...


But then Dave deciced on a wood-burning stove...for it's efficiency and that nice tax rebate that comes with it.

So then we were looking at something that would need to look like this. I guess the stove was also an insert so it could be placed in a fireplace.


Then he came up with a new idea after seeing a picture.






Can you tell what we're doing????

There's a little "cove" where the stove will sit. We bought legs for the stove, so it will be a normal wood-burning stove, but it will sit in this little stone cove.


I wasn't so sure about this at first. I actually had to just tell Dave that I trusted him, he could do what he thought would look best. He knows I really want a mantle, which I'm still getting, so all is good! I'm really liking it. He is currently working on the stone and the stove pipe.

We're hoping to be done soon so we can enjoy the fire!

Taylor's Birthday - Part 2

MANY months ago Taylor said she wanted a princess party for her birthday.
So princess party is was.

The cake and other small details of the party

Thanks Olivia, for the cake pans and directions for the castle cake... I found this video online that explains just how to do it too! It really wasn't hard. And I'm not just saying that because I took the Wilton cake class. The video helped tons. Although, thanks to the class, I do feel much better about whipping out those frosting bags and tips now. The hardest part was the fact that it started to lean and lean and lean and I was afraid it was going to fall over, but Dave saved the day! Bet you didn't know he builds houses and castles!

It was PURE joy putting this party on for her. She was so cute, so sweet and SO excited!

So when I picked out the material for her #3 on her shirt, I wasn't paying attention to the type of material. Well, even if I was, I didn't think anything of it. It's a knit, and it's stretchy and I had the WORST time sewing it on. So yeah, my lack of sewing knowledge and experience DEFINITELY came into play on this one. You wouldn't think it would have been hard from the looks of it. Don't look too close, it is a MESS.

I am absolutely in love with this cute "fiesta skirt" I found on etsy. I found it 6 days before her birthday and it said to allow 5 days for it to be made. I contacted Shauna and asked if she had one in stock by chance. This was on Sunday before the party. Shauna sewed up one the very next day for me and got it in the mail for me to have in PLENTY of time!

We had a house full of many of the people who love Taylor so much!

My mom got her these princess dress up shoes.
Turned out they were also a big hit with Mason, much to his daddy's dismay.

And what's a princess party without princess dress up clothes!
Taylor and her cousin Paige had so much fun dressing up like princesses.

And you can't play "princess" without dancing with the "prince". Thanks for being such a great BIG cousin Tyler!

She was so cute when everyone was singing "Happy Birthday"!

I saw this cute idea at a craft fair in Missouri and wanted to do them for Mason and Taylor to take trick or treating. I then decided to just make 3 more for the cousins as their "party favor" at the party. It was an EASY project!! I got the paint cans at Ace Hardware, got coordinating halloween scrapbook paper, some halloween colored ribbon, spray adhesive and modge podge. I added a black letter magnet to the top of each can with their first initial so they would know which one was their can. The girls got ribbons on their can to fancy them up. So if you're looking for a fun and easy craft - go for it!

Can't believe how big these two are getting!



For about a week before her party, I'd tuck her in at night and tell her how many days it was until her princess party. She would always smile SO big.

As Dave was tucking her into bed after her party was over, she asked,

"Is my princess party over now?"

"yes, honey it is."

to which she asked "does that mean I'm not a princess anymore?"

I'll let you just imagine his response...it was as CUTE as you can imagine!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Princess! We love you!

Taylor's birthday - part 1

Here's how Taylor started her day off as a new 3 year old...

We went to Drubers (our local donut shop) with Nana. We knew that Daddy had ordered a surprise, even though he couldn't be there with us. When we got there, this is what was waiting...







She got to spend lunchtime at Nana's while mommy went to lunch with some friends. When I came to pick them up, I found them playing in the leaves with Nana.








When Daddy got home, she got to open up a birthday present (we saved the rest for her party on Saturday).




She rode and rode and rode...

and then she said she was tired and needed a break...

Her request for dinner was meatballs. Kind of random, but I was happy with it, as I had some in the freezer from the last batch I made. It was very fitting too...for the movie we were about to go to.

She even got to eat dinner outside, STANDING up! She was so excited.

Then we were off to the movie theatre for her very first movie experience, complete with pop and popcorn - oh the excitement and joy on her face was priceless!!

We went to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" - such a cute movie!!! Hamburgers and watermelons falling from the sky, and snow mounds of ice cream are definitely pure entertainment for a 3 year old!


It was such a fun day! I feel like at 3 they finally know it's their birthday, so it was fun to make this day special for her.

Stay tuned for the princess party!

three

Today, this precious little girl turns 3.
There are definitely some emotions coming with this day.
3 seems so much older to me.
As in, like, preschool age. Which means Kindergarten after that.

Okay, okay, I know I have a few years before that one. But when I think about the time I have with her before she goes to school...it's half over.


We've been celebrating all day long as a family today. More details to come (when my computer is done being sick and making me mad)
On Saturday we will be celebrating with a "Princess Party"...by her request of course.

Here's a little sneak peak back at the last 3 years...

2 days old

1 month old

8 months old

8 months old

1 year old

First Birthday!

1 year old

18 months old

2 years old

2 years old

2 1/2 years old


Taylor, You have grown up so much lately. You love to boss your brother around and get him to play mommy and baby with you almost everyday. Although on occasion, you let him be the dad, instead of the baby. I'm not sure if a day goes by that you aren't playing "jewelry show" also. Today you told me "hey, mom, Mason and I are going to a jewelry show, we'll see you later".
(almost 3 years old!)

You fill us with joy every day. I love the way you snuggle into me in the mornings and tell me "I love you" with no prompt from me at all. I love the way you ask me to tell you how much I love you...only because you want to hear me say "all the way to the moon and back." You love to snuggle, you love hugs and kisses. You show such concern and compassion for others and I love this about you. If we ask you if you know you're beautiful, you tell us "yeah"...when we ask you who made you beautiful, you're answer is always "God" with a huge smile on your face.


(October 20, 2009 - 3 years old)

Yes, Taylor...he made you more beautiful than you can possibly imagine.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

You are so wonderfully made. Every little bitty thing about you. We are blessed to be your parents. Happy 3rd Birthday Princess! We love you! - Mommy and Daddy