Hoisington Party of 3

Randomness from the Fall

2011-10-09T20:04:00.000-06:00

So, it appears that keeping up with the 'ol blog is going to be somewhat of a chore! Between, school, work, ballet, swimming lessons, soccer, weekly birthday parties (or so it feels), and the everyday chores, time continues to slip away from me. I can't believe it's already OCTOBER! Um, where did summer go? Here are a bunch of random pictures from Fall so far. I will TRY harder to make a weekly blog post...no promises though :-)

This isn't a "special" picture, just one where I thought Taylor looked so old. She's growing up too darn fast!

We recently had Taylor's best friend, Taylor, spend the night. Daddy was away on one of his hunting trips, the girls didn't have school on Friday, so we thought we'd give it a try. They did GREAT!!

School picture day...

I love the way Taylor looks when she first wakes up...so darn sweet!!

During Labor Day weekend, one of my dear friends from childhood came to visit. We took Taylor to get her ears pierced, and Taylor wanted to sit on Jessica's lap...

Getting a bit nervous...

All done! She did great! Cried a little, but not bad...I can't believe I don't have a picture of right after we were done...oh well.

We ventured to Estes Park while Jessica was here...

I still have a lot more to share. Stay tuned for more Fall updates.

Weekend in Wyoming

2011-08-15T20:04:00.002-06:00

This past weekend we headed North and enjoyed a weekend with our friends at their cabin in Wyoming. The weekend was filled with ATV riding, hiking, swimming in the lake (the dogs), good food, friends, lot's of laughs and cooler temperatures. It was a quick, but much needed getaway. We are already looking forward to going back in a few weeks.

Taylor loved hiking and surprisingly did quite well.

Taylor, Adaeze and Chris checking out the old mines.

Taylor adores Adaeze!

Our fabulous host and friend, Diane.

Back at the cabin...

Taylor also grew attached to our friend, Stephanie. Here they are playing a quick game of Dominoes before it was time to head back to the city!

We all had a great time and look forward to another weekend in Wyoming soon. This time I will remember to leave the red ball cap at home, as hummingbirds will attack the head that the hat is on. I will remember to bring the dogs kennel covers, as it's getting pretty darn cold up there in the hills. I will remember to bring

t-shirts that aren't white...not a good color to wear on the ATV's or in the woods.

And a big thanks to Greg & Diane for letting us bunk in your cabin! We love you guys!

Barney Live

2011-08-08T17:48:00.000-06:00

Saturday we had the opportunity to FINALLY see Barney Live in concert. Taylor was over the moon excited and couldn't wait to see him! She has been asking for quite some time if and when Barney was coming to Denver. I searched the internet on several occasions with no luck of Denver tour dates. Thank goodness Papa knew he was coming...we ended up with Dino Seats...that's fancy for front row seats AND a chance to meet Barney before the show. Taylor was super duper excited!

Here is the #1 Barney fan waiting to meet her favorite dinosaur!

Family Photo with the big guy himself.

Best Buds!

Momma & Taylor before the show.

Show Time! Front Row!

Look closely...Taylor was on the monitor several times...must have been her fabulous dance moves.

So happy!

She danced the ENTIRE show...all 2 hours of it!

Riff came off stage and Taylor ran in for a hug...she's in his arms in this picture.

And then Baby Bop got a hug too...

Taylor and the performers getting their groove on. She followed their every move.

Taylor absolutely loved the show. She even told me later that night that it was "the best day of her life!" She cried when the show was over and has asked several times if we can go see Barney on stage again. Some day kiddo, some day!

Ballet

2011-08-08T16:35:00.000-06:00

As most of you know, Taylor is in ballet. This is the one thing that she absolutely loves! She asks me everyday if it's "ballet day" and looks forward to going each and every week. She seems to be a natural and if you ask me, she looks pretty darn cute in her ballet get-up.

Here she is at "practice". I believe this was one of her first lessons.

Recital Day

Spring Soccer 2011

2011-08-02T19:33:00.000-06:00

Here are a bunch of random photos from Taylor's spring soccer season. There were a few games where it was down right cold and we couldn't believe they were making 4 year old's play in such conditions. The last 2 games were enjoyable, weather wise.

Try This Again...Summer 2011

2011-08-02T19:22:00.000-06:00

After ;a long, very long, hiatus, I am going to try blogging again. The main reason why I haven't been updating the 'ol blog is because of computer problems. I have become pretty comfortable using the handy iPad so getting the computer fixed really wasn't high on the priority list. Sad, I know. Well, needless to say, the computer is up and running again, and I know a few people have been waiting patiently for me start updating again...so, here it is, the first update in almost ONE year!

Taylor loves going to Barr Lake. It's just a few minutes from the house, yet feels like we are in the middle of nowhere. It's always a refreshing day "away" from the city. Here she is right before our hike.

July 4th at White Fence Farm

Another day on the lake...this time in the boat, fishing.

Taylor's really into jumping for pictures. Here she is super excited to be heading to her friend, Taylor's, for July 4th festivities.

Sassy Taylor

Kites at the park

Water Park (aka, our backyard)

A trip to the lake with friends is always a good time..

Bad Blogger & Picture's Galore

2010-09-24T11:19:00.006-06:00

So, apparently I have been a bad blogger lately. Seems like the days just keep getting shorter and shorter and before you know it, it's October! I can't believe Fall is among us and Christmas is 3 short months away. I don't have anything super exciting to report other than Taylor is just the cutest and sweetest little girl! But I guess most people already knew that :-) Here are a bunch of pictures from the past few weeks. She is really into posing right now, which I love!! Nothing like taking a few, 87 photos, in a matter of 12 minutes. I. LOVE. IT.

Some days, we are so cool, we get to wear out sunglasses all day long, even while playing INSIDE!

Insert Taylor singing, "shake, shake, shake...dance, dance, dance" here...

This is what happens when I tell her it's time to go to school....yes, she still cries and would prefer to stay home with her Momma and/or Daddy any day...it breaks my heart.

Labor Day Weekend my Dad treated Taylor and I to the Downtown Aquarium...it was fun.

Papa & Taylor

Hot Days = Pool days

2010-08-19T15:12:00.003-06:00

We haven't been up to a whole lot, but when it's so hot outside, we sure do enjoy the cool, refreshing water in Taylor's pool!

Big Girl Bike

2010-07-31T11:53:00.003-06:00

The day has come...Taylor has upgraded from her tricycle to a BIG GIRL bike, thanks to Papa. Taylor absolutely adores her new Princess bike, although if it wobbles in the slightest she gets scared. She's gotten pretty good just in the first 2 days and can really pedal fast. Can't wait for fall to really enjoy some bike rides in the cooler air.

Thank you Papa!!!

All geared up & ready to go....

WHOA!! This thing wobbles and I DON'T LIKE IT!!!

She soon got over her fear and loved cruising the streets...

"WAIT!!! I hear 'sum thing...."

"There it is!!!"

Summer Time

2010-07-26T20:12:00.007-06:00

I don't have a whole lot to say, so I thought I'd let the pictures do the talking...

A few weeks back we went here....Dillon Reservoir

With Lauren...

And Taylor...

And Momma...

And Daddy...

And Uncle Chris & Uncle Jason...

And Gran...

We had a lot of fun on our Pontoon trip turned Survivor Episode...

Someone got a new bed...can you guess who?

We went to the Zoo too...

And Little Monkey Bizness...

We've done some dancin'...........

And sometimes we cry...

But then we're happy again....

We've also gone to Elitch's to ride some rides...

Met Bob the Builder...

Did some fishin'.....

Took another spin in a boat.....

Drove a cool pink truck....

And posed, Hollywood Style.....

Hope y'all are having a fun summer too.......

A Fun Comparisson

2010-07-05T11:15:00.001-06:00

Here are a few photos from past 4th of July's....

2007

2008

2009

2010

Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-05T10:58:00.006-06:00

Happy 4th of July!! I hope everyone celebrated this wonderful country in style. We had a low key day, unpacked some more boxes, rode a bike, had a nice dinner and waited for fireworks that never happened. It was 54 degrees, pouring rain and down right cold. All in all it was a good day.

The Big Move & Michigan Folks Visit

2010-07-05T10:33:00.007-06:00

A few weeks back, 2 to be exact, we made the plunge and moved back to the Denver area. It's bittersweet...certainly miss those beautiful San Juan Mountains, but nice to be near family & friends again. Julie (Chris' Mom) and Jonathon (Chris' Nephew) came all the way from Michigan to help with the dreaded move. It was nice to see them and nice to have the extra help!!! Thank you Julie & Jon!!!

Jonathon & those beautiful views that we so miss...

A quick stop at Blue Mesa for a photo opportunity & to stretch those legs...

Chris & Jonathon

Grandma & Jonathon

Jonathon on top of Monarch Pass...

Jonathon on top of the tram...

Taylor & Jonathon...poor Jon, she was so shy in the beginning and then she wouldn't leave the poor guy alone. Thanks Jon, for being so patient and good to her. She misses you in the worst way!

A Bunch Of Miscellaneous Pictures...

2010-07-05T10:18:00.004-06:00

OK, so with the big move, work and trying to pack & unpack, I haven't been keeping up on the 'ol blog. I will try to update more often, as we now have HIGH SPEED INTERNET!! Wahoo!! The joys of living in the city and around civilization!!!

Funky Blog

2010-04-19T19:11:00.003-06:00

OK, so after several requests, I was finally able to update the blog. Sorry for the delay, I have been busy with day to day life and to be honest, the satellite internet is soooooo slow that I dread updating it now.

So, after spending an 1.5 hours of editing & updating, the website has still done some funky things to my post. Hopefully you can still follow along even though not all the captions are centered, etc..

Enjoy and I will TRY to be better about updating the blog.

XOXOXOXO

Outdoor Fun

2010-04-19T17:15:00.004-06:00

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we have been able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine...and wind. It's been a fun few days...we ventured to our favorite park, learned how to ride her bike (and loved every minute of it), played in a giant sandbox and more...we can't wait for summer!!!

Weekend in Denver

2010-04-19T16:39:00.006-06:00

A few weeks back, we spent the weekend in Denver. It was a fast & furious weekend...we were able to grab dinner with my family on Friday night & enjoyed the indoor heated pool at the hotel after dinner. Saturday was BuSy!!! We were up and off to see Sesame Street Live (Taylor loved it , and I think the adults did too), ate lunch at Qdoba (YUM-O), squeezed in a little retail therapy and had just enough time to change our clothes, grab our coats and head to the Colorado Rockies game. Sunday we were up early and on the road by 10 am...had to get home to our poor dogs, who spent the weekend at the doggie hotel! It was fast, but fun and we can't wait to head back for some summer fun!

Taylor with her pennant!! She thinks it's the coolest thing in the world and is VERY proud!

Sitting on the stage, patiently awaiting the start of the show...

Papa & Taylor munching on some popcorn, waiting for the show to start...

GO ROCKIES!!!

Papa, Uncle Jason & Taylor showing us that is was COLD! PS, Not ONE of the men brought a coat to the game!! Taylor & I were BEYOND prepared.

Checking out of the hotel...it sure was fun!

Monday afternoon I came home from work to find this...a tuckered out little girl sound asleep with her beloved Elmo doll in one hand and her Elmo balloon in the other...we are ALL about Elmo since seeing the show....

Easter 2010

2010-04-19T15:59:00.009-06:00

This Easter was very low key. On Friday, we went to an Easter Egg Hunt at one of the local nursing homes, also one of my accounts, and Taylor had lot's of fun. She focused in on all the pink and purple eggs, so she really didn't gather that many eggs, but enjoyed the event itself. Friday night we dyed Easter Eggs, Saturday prepped all the food and Sunday was a day full of rest and relaxation. She loved all of her goodies that everyone sent her and was thrilled when she woke up to her Easter basket filled with lot's of fun stuff.

Getting ready to leave the house to head to the Easter Egg Hunt...

A stack full of $2 bills that Papa sent her...the girl LOVES money!

A really cool box (made by Taylor's Great Grandpa), filled with lot's of goodies from

Grandma & Grandpa...

Ooooo, DoMiNo's!!!!

Not sure what the whole tongue thing is, but she has been doing this a lot when she gets excited...

She loved her new outfits so much, they deserved a hug...

Easter morning...checking out her fun filled basket...

She LoVeS her jump rope more than anything else...

"Hmmm, how can I open this, considering it's only 7:00 AM, without Momma & Daddy saying NO!"

Looking for all the eggs that the Easter Bunny left around the house...

"Look Momma, I can jump rope!!!"

Happy Easter

2010-03-27T12:00:00.001-06:00

A Bit Behind.......

2010-03-02T18:17:00.002-07:00

OK, so I am WAY behind on updating the blog. No excuses, just plain busy. Here are a few photos from the last few weeks. I bought a new camera and I absolutely love it. I just keep on snapping photos...the other night Taylor said to me, "No more pictures Momma or you won't get desert"...poor girl, I think she's had enough!

Taylor's Valentine's Day bear...a good squeeze is hard to pass up.

Taylor & Manny. She loves to help him fix things.

B&W on the new camera

Taylor loves her Minnie Mouse chef's hat...

Just like this picture of my girl & I!!

The Days Following Christmas

2010-01-06T09:55:00.007-07:00

Here are a bunch of photos from the days/weeks following Christmas.

Uncle Jason & Taylor playing with her new pony...

Taylor got her hands on one of Mommy's Christmas presents and thought she would give it a try...a Nintendo DS...uh oh!!!

Love the look of concentration...

Tinkerbell Taylor

Taylor loves her new Play doh table...it's even her favorite colors.

I love this picture of Taylor...not sure why, but I do.

Saturday morning, we weren't quick to do anything. We laid around, enjoyed the long weekend and took a bunch of pictures of Taylor being silly. I just kept snapping the photos and thought some turned out pretty cute.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!

We have enough "play food" to house a supermarket!!!

Sledding on Sunday...

Taylor loves her new train table...she also loves the fact that she has a new hiding spot...

Daddy likes the train table too...

Christmas Morning

2010-01-06T09:38:00.003-07:00

Here a just a few photos from Christmas morning. Most of our photos are on the video camera, and I am not sure how to upload those, so these are just from my camera.

Christmas Eve...Taylor left a nice spread for Santa and his reindeer. She was very curious on Christmas morning as to where her carrots went. We kept telling her the reindeer ate them and she wasn't impressed with our story.

Loving the new kitchen........

This trampoline is the coolest little thing...plus it tuckers her right out.

It was such a fun filled day. One post just doesn't do it justice. Stay tuned for the days after Christmas. We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!

And a HUGE thanks to everyone for everything. Taylor LOVES all her new toys!!!

The Days Leading Up To Christmas

2010-01-06T09:04:00.004-07:00

These are a bunch of different photos from the weeks leading up to Christmas. All 3 of us had the week of Christmas off, so it was nice to just sit home, relax, enjoy our family, bake and do all the fun things there are to do.

Chris' birthday, as most of you know, is December 23rd. We made him a pancake breakfast and Taylor insisted on putting candles on the pancakes...notice she had one too.

Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you!!!

Taylor really enjoyed playing with all the presents this year. She moved them around every day. These pictures were taken on the day that I realized she has just enough hair to get a pony tail in!!!

Making Daddy's pancakes...

Making cookies for Santa.......

Taylor's best buddy at school, Caleb. This was after their grand performance!!!

Christmas program at daycare...they sang a little blurb from 5 Christmas songs. It was way cute!

Visit To See Santa

2010-01-06T08:51:00.002-07:00

This year Taylor saw Santa on 3 different occasions. Each time got a little easier for her. The first time she was all excited to go, marched right in, took a glimpse at the big guy and became extremely nervous. We all sat with Santa to ease the tension. From there we went to the kid's Christmas party that Chris' work puts on. The Santa there was handing out chocolate, so Taylor was all about sitting on his lap and even smiled for a picture. The 3rd time was at the daycare Christmas program, and she did well there too.

Bronco Fever

2009-12-01T13:15:00.002-07:00

For whatever reason, Taylor loves her Bronco's outfit and the Denver Bronco's in general. Every time someone wears a shirt that has any resemblance of a "jersey" she says, "Are you a Bronco?" Papa bought her the Bronco outfit a few weeks back and Taylor loves it...she would honestly wear it every day if we let her...must be warm OR she likes the colors?!?!?

Check out the outfit that Taylor has on...this is the Bronco Princess look and she's taking a picture of Mommy.

This & That

2009-12-01T12:37:00.003-07:00

Here are a few photos from the past month or so. Taylor still loves her Elmo Live and spends quality time with him on a regular basis...below are a bunch of photos of a day with Elmo & Taylor.

SQQQQQUUUEEEEZZZEEEE Elmo's nose.......

Poor Elmo...

Best Buds...

Getting ready to go to a birthday party...

Off to school...

Halloween Week

2009-11-03T17:13:00.004-07:00

Just like birthdays, Taylor got to celebrate Halloween for a week. She had her school party on Thursday, practiced trick or treating on Friday and had the real hooray on Saturday. She was not real sure about the costumes, nor did she like the crowds on Saturday night. Once we headed into a neighborhood for your traditional trick or treating she livened up and had a good time. Another Halloween down, now it's time to gear up for Thanksgiving.

Taking a break to check out the goodies that were accumulating in her bucket.

Not too thrilled with the crowds......

Taylor's buddies in the toddler room.....

Taylor and her boyfriend Caleb...these two are inseparable...

Notice he STILL has his arm around her?!?!?

Take a closer look, they are telling secrets.....

Let go of my girl Caleb!!

Taylor and her best buddy, Keegan. The 2 cutest giraffes ever.

Mountain Cutie

2009-10-30T09:39:00.003-06:00

We ventured to the mountains a few weeks back to get some fresh air and to "get away". It was a beautiful fall day and we all enjoyed our day out. Taylor still loves the outdoors and has found a new love for throwing rocks into the river.

Denver Trip

2009-10-30T09:19:00.005-06:00

We went to Denver a few weeks back to go to the zoo, circus and to see my family. We had a great weekend and Taylor loved the zoo and circus. I posted a lot of pictures from the zoo, however, the pictures from the circus were all blurry since they were constantly moving around...I was bummed.

First Pony Ride

2009-10-30T09:11:00.002-06:00

We went to the Cedaredge Apple Festival a few weeks ago, and Taylor went on her first pony ride. She had a blast. Here are a few photos from her ride.

Mamma's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowgirls...

2009-08-31T15:55:00.004-06:00

Taylor found an old cowboy hat and was in hog heaven. Once she found it she wouldn't put it down, and informed me that she wanted to wear it to bed AND take it to pre-school. She had a great time running arond the house yelling, "GEE HAW, GIDDIE UP!!!"" over and over again. It was pretty funny and I couldn't resist a bunch of photos.

Dirt & All....

2009-08-28T12:34:00.002-06:00

I just had to share these 2 pictures of Taylor...I thought she looked so cute that day, even calling her my little Diva, and should have taken a picture BEFORE we went to daycare. She came home filthy, as always, but still looked pretty stinkin' cute, so I had to snap a few photos. Darn paparazzi.

Do Firemen Like Tea?

2009-08-28T12:28:00.004-06:00

Apparently they do...when we went to Ridgway a few weeks ago, Taylor rode the train that Ridgway's Fire Department operates for the kids. All of the kids were given a fire hat upon admission and Taylor loves hers.

Warning: Drink the tea at your own risk...it may contain massive back wash, as well as boogies...the barista had a cold the day she was making tea.

YAD: Youth Appreciation Day

2009-08-28T12:18:00.005-06:00

A few weeks ago, the city of Montrose held it's annual YAD: Youth Appreciation Day. Taylor and I ventured to town to check out this years festivities. As always, we sure had fun. She enjoyed bouncing away in all the bouncing castles that they had (unfortunately, no pictures of that) and building a "box" (it's supposed to be a picnic caddy according to Home Depot) at the Kids Workshop help by The Home Depot. I was able to snap some photos of her once we got home with her "box"...and since then, she loves to grad her Handy Manny tools and "fix her box." Oh, the joys of being a kid.

My girlie loves the apron they gave her...

Finished product...a box, AKA "a picnic caddy"

Home Grown

2009-08-28T12:08:00.002-06:00

Our garden has done wonders this year. Chris has worked so hard since day 1 on having the perfect garden and he has done a fantastic job! This year we planted carrots, corn, onions, lettuce, spinach, peas, green beans, tomatos, tomatillos, green peppers, strawberries, radishes, jalepenos, and.........I can't remember what else. It was such a treat to run out to the garden and snip fresh lettuce, spinach, radishes, and carrots for that evenings dinner salad. Taylor loves to join her Daddy in the garden, although she still steps on Daddy's beloved plants which generally gets a squeal out of him. We had a surprise in our garden this year too...last fall, Chris rototilled the garden after the season was done...shortly after we threw all of our pumpkin guts out there from our Halloween pumpkins...guess what? Yup, you guessed it, we now have pumpkins growing right smack dab in the middle of our garden. Guess there won't be a need to hit the pumpkin patch this year. We have several big pumpkins in our very own garden.

Mornings With Barney

2009-08-28T11:57:00.002-06:00

Taylor still loves Barney. Last weekend, it's was just us girls, as Chris went scouting for Elk, and Taylor sat down near the fireplace and said, "Mommy, take my picture with Barney"...so, needless to say Mommy took advantage of the photo opportunity. I took several photos, one after the other, and Taylor then said, "OK, no more camera." Guess our photo shoot was over. At least I got a few good ones in before she decided to call it quits.

No captions necessary...I absolutely LOVE mornings with this little girl. She is always so happy, loves to laugh, and is just a pure joy to wake up to every morning!!

A Fun Day In Ridgway

2009-08-25T11:02:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago, we went to Ridgway for an Arts 'N Crafts show...it's one of the biggest on the western slope. We had a fun filled day and enjoyed an afternoon out. Taylor enjoyed her train ride after a lot of coaxing...eventually Mommy had to ride with her.

ABC's & Some Other Songs Too

2009-08-07T14:58:00.003-06:00

****Mute the music on the righthand side to hear the video****

What We've Been Doing Around Here....

2009-08-07T14:09:00.007-06:00

Here is just a taste as to what we've been doing around here...I love summer and hate that it's soon going to be over...there is a chill in the air in the evenings and it won't be long before the leaves turn and the snow falls...YUCK!!! Only flip side is, we are that much closer to Halloween, Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS!!!

Taylor loves her Zebra pool...too bad she never gets more than her ankles wet...the mountain water is just too cold.

Relaxing on the deck after a cold dip in the pool.

We love sidewalk chalk...

Snack time on the deck...

Hey, hey for the monkeys....

Pool time at Kelly & Dan's house...

A quick photo opportunity during a 4-wheeling adventure on Grand Mesa.

Can you see the dirt on this man's face? Poor Chris was in the back the entire ride...did I mention there were 8 4-wheelers and 7 dirt bikes in our group that day?

This girl got dirty too...the dirt stuck to her sunscreen like a magnet to a fridge...GROSS!

Taylor did great on the ride. We were a bit concerned at first since she hasn't been on a long ride, but she had a ball!! It wasn't until the last 20 minutes and then she feel asleep. Poor girl, too much fun for a 2 year old.

Taylor really enjoys Play-doh so we thought we'd buy her a Play-doh set....here is a fun filled afternoon with Mr. Monkey...

Not sure who enjoyed it more...Taylor or Daddy...

Still loves her rocking horse...

FINALLY!!! Taylor just now fits into the pretty dress that Uncle Chris and Aunt Lauren bought her in Mexico...we have had it for over a year and it just now fits. We have had more compliments about this dress. Thanks guys!!!

Mommy & Taylor...off to a Bar-B-Q

A Day At The Park....

2009-07-17T13:54:00.005-06:00

A few weeks ago we went to River Bottom Park with a picnic in tow. From the moment we got out of the truck, the ducks and geese flocked to us. Taylor wasn't too sure about the whole thing since they were all squawking and talking. It took her a while to eat her lunch as she was really nervous. After lunch we strolled around the park, checked out the river, the playground and the creek that runs through the park. Taylor had a ball.

We let Taylor feed the geese and ducks her left over fries...

Here duckie, duckie. I want to play with you duckie.

This was Taylor before taking Chris out to dinner for Father's Day.

Gran Visits

2009-07-17T13:35:00.003-06:00

So I am totally lagging in the posting department. Seems like time continues to get away from me. Summer has been fun so far. Mom came out to visit back in mid June and it was a lot of fun to get to spend a few days with her. Taylor enjoyed the company and is finally coming to know who all "these people" are that we call Gran, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, etc...Below are a few photos from our adventures with Gran.

Taylor on the drive/hike that we took up Owl Creek Pass...it was a beautiful day and we even got to see another bear!

Daddy & Taylor looking for the bear...

Mommy, Gran & Taylor looking for the bear....

Quick family photo....

3 generations...

Another quick family photo...

Taylor's 1st manicure and pedicure...she wasn't too sure about the whole experience...

I was going to take Mom for a quick ride around the property...Taylor wanted to join is, so we put her in the middle to keep her warm since it was chilly that evening. I like to call this a Taylor sandwich. She didn't last long in the middle and soon found herself up front driving with Mommy.

Lot's of love and kisses to go around......

We miss you Gran...come again soon!!!

Too Cute Not To Share

2009-06-11T18:19:00.002-06:00

Here are a few photos that I took last weekend after returning from a fun filled birthday party at the Hughes Farm. Taylor had a lot of fun getting dirty. I will post some photos from the birthday party this weekend, for now, here are just a few "fun" pics.

Oops, It's Been A LONG Time...

2009-06-06T19:19:00.004-06:00

OK, so it's been a long time since I have updated the blog, sorry. Seems as if life is flying by. Taylor continues to grow and grow. She talks ALL the time and has found a new love for singing! She is pretty good with memorizing the words to her favorite songs and is not shy when belting a tune. It's very cute and nothing can brighten ones day more than a toddlers tune. Chris and I are both busy at work and haven't had much opportunity to get out and do anything too exciting. We have planted the garden, which in growing nicely, and is twice the size that it was last year. We haven't seen any more bears, thank heavens and everything is super green due to all the rain. I have uploaded a bunch of random photos, enjoy. Tomorrow we are taking Taylor to her first birthday party. I will be sure to upload some photos from her friends party.

Taylor got ahold of one of my hat's and decided to give us a fashion show. She looked so cute and Chris and I were laughing so hard....

I bought Taylor a sleeping bag a few weeks ago and SHE LOVES IT!!! Ever since I bought it for her, she wants to "camp out" and sleep on her sleeping bag. We have had numerous "camp outs" the past few weeks.

I am still trying to figure out if this was a wise purchase or not. She has been playing baseball at daycare and I found this set at good 'ol Wal-Mart and decided to get it for her. I am not sure what I was thinking...look out Drake, Walker & Remi!

Every time we go to the park, Taylor has to pick as many dandelions as possible...here, she refuses to put them down to go down the slide.

Tea anyone?

Bouncing around with Tigger.

New Beginnings

2009-05-03T11:26:00.003-06:00

As most of you know, I finally found a job!!! Yah!!! I am going on my third week of work and it's been wonderful! It's been nice, not only for the 2nd income, but for both Taylor & I to get out of the house and have some adult & children interaction. Taylor started at a FABULOUS daycare and things couldn't have worked out better!!! The daycare is just down the street from my place of employment, it's new, beautiful and the teachers are WONDERFUL!!! Taylor has formed a tight bond with Ruby, who fixes the kids meals and Taylor refers to her as "Grandma"...I still find it quite entertaining that Taylor refers to everyone as "Grandma", even my friends who are all in their early 30's...sorry girls, you look marvelous even though Taylor thinks of you as "Grandma". Taylor has really seemed to enjoy her time there, and on a few occasions, I have had to bribe her to get her to go home...bubbles, cupcakes & cookies have been my savior on a few occasions. The evenings have become challenging...Taylor is always exhausted and now fights everything we try to do with her...dinner, bath, bedtime, etc...it's been very stressful, but I am hoping things get better as we continue on this journey. Here are a few pictures from the first week of work & daycare, AKA school!

Taylor ready to go meet her new friends. She did great on her first day!!!

Ready to go, Hello Kitty backpack filled with her "support system"...extra clothes for the occasional accident, her favorite blanket & deer for nap time, etc...

A quick photo of Mommy & Taylor ready for another day of school & work.

Did You Know That Elmo Likes Fruit Loops?

2009-04-14T14:21:00.002-06:00

So this morning I poured Taylor a bowl of Fuit Loops and about 5 minutes later she came to me asking for more. Then again, 5 minutes later she came to me asking for more. I couldn't figure out where her Fruit Loops were going...well, I finally figured it out....

Taylor was sharing her Fruit Loops with Elmo!!!

Pure Happiness

2009-04-14T13:15:00.004-06:00

On Monday we went to the park to enjoy the afternoon. On Sunday it was in the low 30's and Monday it had warmed up to the mid 60's. It was a perfect day to go to the park. Here are a bunch of pictures from the afternoon. This girl LOVES to be outside.

This picture was after an accident...her 1st one out in public...notice the different pants.

Easter Weekend

2009-04-14T12:00:00.007-06:00

Easter was a very low key day. It was snowing and raining all day and it was quite cold outside, so we stayed inside most of the day. Taylor enjoyed all of the things the Easter Bunny brought her and had fun finding all of the eggs that were hidden around the house. We ditched the cute Easter dress for some warm pants and sweatshirts and enjoyed the fire. Papa came up from Denver to spend Easter with us and Taylor really enjoyed having someone else to play with other than Mommy & Daddy. Thanks to everyone who sent Taylor Easter goodies.

Papa & Taylor sporting the bunny ears...

Me & my girl

Even Daddy got in on the Easter fun...what great sports these guys were.

Taylor on her Easter Egg Hunt! I was surprised with how much she enjoyed it.

Wow!! Check these out...

These are some really cool marshmallow suckers that Grandma & Grandpa sent Taylor. I don't know if I am going to actually let her eat them...aren't they too cute to eat?

Checking out the "sand grabber" that she got to go in her sand box.

Her first glance at what the Easter Bunnies left behind...Taylor had 4 Easter Bunnies come to her house. Thank you Grandma & Grandpa, Papa and Gran!

The Easter Bunny was VERY good to Taylor this year. He must know what a blessing she is.

Mommy & Taylor attempting to dye Easter eggs.

Sploosh...in another one goes. Look at Daddy's face...we created quite the mess dying Easter eggs with a 2 year old!!

My two favorite people!!

Papa got in on the fun too.

Taylor & Her Elmo Slippers

2009-04-14T11:33:00.003-06:00

These are some more photos from the lazy week we had last week. Taylor loves her Elmo slippers and we are going to be sad to "retire" them here shortly. Her feet are growing so fast and has almost outgrown all of her shoes, including her favorite Elmo slippers. Good thing summer is right around the corner and sandals will soon be in the stores. Guess it was good timing.

Our Little Ray Of Sunshine

2009-04-14T11:22:00.002-06:00

Just a few moments from a lazy week. We were stuck at home all last week because I had a horrible cold/cough/no voice bug for over a week. Taylor was a trooper while Mommy rested. Thank heavens for good girls!!!

Daddy, Don't Go!!!

2009-04-14T11:07:00.004-06:00

This was Taylor's attempt to keep Daddy from leaving on a business trip a few weeks ago. I guess she figured if she laid on his brief case that he wouldn't be able to go OR he would have to take her with him. Luckily it wasn't a long trip...

A Little Bit Of This & A Little Bit Of That

2009-04-05T13:49:00.002-06:00

Just some random fun............

Taylor still loves to play in the laundry basket. I was putting clothes away and noticed she had gathered her blanket & Barney and was having quite a lot of fun......then it tipped over....

HELP MOMMA, HELP!!! (Look at the poor girl's face)

I don't know why, but I love this picture. She was having such a ball....

Froggy Boots....Taylor LOVES her froggy boots and that's ALL she wants to wear. They are cute and all, but sometime froggy boots just don't match. 99% of the time, she wins. There are worse battles than froggy boots, right? Ribit! Ribit!

Painting, Playdoh & Toddlers

2009-04-05T13:12:00.003-06:00

Taylor really loves to paint, color, play with playdoh or any craft items that we are willing to try with her. Here are a few more pictures from the snowy days we've been having.

Taylor And More Of The Locals

2009-04-05T13:02:00.002-06:00

As I mentioned in a prior post, the deer are back and Taylor loves to see them. We spend the evenings checking for deer and if they are around Taylor loves to "talk" to them. She is always so polite and says, "Come on deer. Are you ok deer?" You can't get any closer than this with a toddler.

Make-Over Monday

2009-04-05T12:46:00.002-06:00

On snowy spring days when we are "trapped" in the house, I try to find different things for us to do. On this particular day I decided it was make-over Monday. Taylor was refusing to come into the bathroom to brush her hair, teeth, etc...so I bribed her, I know I'm bad, to come into the bathroom by telling her I'd paint her nails. From there we pretended to put on make up and perfume and Taylor had a ball. She kept looking at herself in the mirror to admire her beauty and kept saying, "So pretty Mommy, so pretty!" It was too cute.

Random Fun

2009-03-18T13:24:00.003-06:00

These are some photos from the past few weeks...

The deer are back and Taylor has really enjoyed checking them out.

This is the look of a disgruntled toddler who had to take a potty break from playing outside.

Finally enjoying her new shovel and rake...outside!!!

Daddy & Taylor getting things ready so we can extend the garden this year!

Loving the slide at the park.

One of our first experiences with the temper tantrums...let the fun begin!

Washing her hands...believe it or not, Taylor does have clothes...while potty training I let her run around in bare minimums to reduce all the laundry.

Yoga, toddler style.

This is what I chase around all day...a running, rambunctious toddler.

Officially A Big Girl...In Many Ways!!

2009-03-18T12:53:00.002-06:00

Looks like I have been lagging in posting new photos. We have been busy with potty training and trying to enjoy some of this beautiful weather we have been having. Thursday, March 5th, we jumped right into potty training. It was a painful day for everyone involved, but we got through it and Taylor is now 90% potty trained!!! By mid morning on that first day, Taylor had experienced her first accident and was not the least bit happy with the feeling it left behind. By that evening, she was able to tell me that she needed to "go potty" and by the end of that weekend she was doing amazing!!! We haven't had an accident in almost 2 weeks and she has even been waking me up in the middle of the night, rather than going in her diaper!!! Yah Taylor!!! I have still been putting a diaper on her for bedtime, and once our supply of diapers runs low, we will try to determine if there is need to buy any more since she has only been wet once in the morning since starting potty training.
Another big step for Taylor is we moved her from her crib into her "big girl bed"...she was super excited while we were converting the bed and kept singing "big girl bed, big girl bed" and once the conversion was complete, she jumped right on in and started bouncing on the bed. We have only had a midnight visitor once or twice and believe it or not, she still waits for one of us to go get her rather than getting out of bed herself. Could she just be lazy??? Hmmm.....

OK, so these photos were uploaded in the wrong order again, and due to satellite, I am not going back to fix it.

This was in the afternoon on day 1...still not happy with me even after 8 hours into it. I know she will thank me soon enough.

This was one of the 1st times I made her sit on the potty. I think she was getting tired of me putting her on the potty every 30 minutes. Our timer would go off and she would run and hide.

The very first time!! She was screaming and crying. At this point I wasn't sure if we were going to make it through the day, but was determined to try for a few hours before giving up...it paid off!!!

I took this picture not only to show her big girl bed, but also to show you how much hair she is starting to get. Most of the time it's out of control and sticking straight out in back, even after a nice shower and combing.

Taylor's big girl bed. She was super excited!!!

Day Following The Party

2009-02-23T10:49:00.002-07:00

Here are a few pictures of Taylor playing with some of her new toys. She has really enjoyed all of her new toys. Thanks again to everyone!!!

Taylor's 1st tea set. She sat and played with this for well over an hour. The towel and floor was soaked, but a little water won't hurt much, right?

Tea anyone?

Every farm girl needs her own shovel and rake. These are just her size and a fantastic PINK color!!! She keeps asking to go to the garden.

The fun tunnel that Papa gave her.

Here I come....

Birthday Celebrations

2009-02-23T10:00:00.006-07:00

Taylor turned 2 on February 19 and we celebrated 3 different times...lucky kid. On Thursday we had a low key day and celebrated that night with pizza, cupcakes and a few gifts. Friday, Papa came up from Denver and we celebrated then as well. Taylor opened gifts from the family and played with all her new toys. And the grand finale was Saturday. We had some friends over and celebrated once again. Taylor enjoyed playing with all of her friends and enjoyed all the attention. There are so many things I could share about the past few days, but there are so many fond memories, I don't know where to begin. Below are some pictures of her birthday party. I goofed up and uploaded all these photos backwards, so you are seeing day 3 first. Since we are on satellite and it takes forever to upload a picture, I will keep it like it is. Sorry.

Taylor's birthday cake...it was delicious!

A few of the decorations around the house...

Papa & Taylor ready to party.

Daddy & Taylor ready to party!!

Just the 3 of us...

Party Girls...

Taylor & all her friends. I don't think her room has ever been so messy!

Opening a few more gifts......Thank you everyone!!!

Waiting to blow out her candle. Again, Taylor wasn't thrilled with the singing and blowing out the candle. Poor Girl.

Friday's Celebrations

2009-02-23T09:43:00.003-07:00

Here are some photos of Taylor opening all of her gifts from the family. Papa came up from Denver and it was another low key celebration.

2 Year Check Up

2009-02-23T09:25:00.002-07:00

Friday we took Taylor for her check up. She weighed in at 27 lbs, 8 oz and is 33 inches tall. The doctor said all is well and we got the ok for peanut butter, although some say she could have had it at 1 and some say not until she is 3. I think we will try it and see how she does.

I couldn't resist a butt shot.

Getting cranky while waiting to see the doctor.

This is what happens when Taylor gets bored while waiting for the doctor. Daddy becomes a fashion diva and gets to wear her very colorful bracelet and necklace. Daddy was a good sport and let me take a picture.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

2009-02-23T08:49:00.004-07:00

Here are the pictures of her actual birthday....

Here Taylor looks very happy and content with her cupcake, however, she wasn't thrilled at all and was quite scared of the candles.

Watching the smoke rise to the ceiling. I think this picture is just too cute.

Yummy!!!

Frosting is good stuff.

I let her open one present on the morning of her birthday. The rest we waited for Daddy or the party. As you can see, she was so excited to open a present.

For me?

It takes a while for a 2 year old to open a gift.

Still opening......

She loves this basket of pretend food. I think it's the best $5 that I have ever spent.

So Big!!!

2009-02-14T09:38:00.003-07:00

*****You will have to mute the music player on the right hand side in order to hear Taylor*****

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T09:19:00.002-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Hope everyone's day is filled with lot's of love.

Random Photos

2009-02-14T09:02:00.004-07:00

These are just a few random photos that I took this week.

Taylor loves the dogs. I was cooking dinner one night and Taylor decided to use Remington as a recliner. Good thing the dogs are so good to her.

Buddies: Remi & Taylor

I love this picture of her eyes. She was exhausted, but just wouldn't give into that beloved nap.

Bath time at the Hoisington's...she still loves a good bath, just like her Momma.

Big Girl Panties

2009-02-14T08:42:00.003-07:00

Taylor recieved her first pack of big girl panties. She thinks they are pretty neat since they have Minne Mouse on them, however, she still wants nothing to do with sitting on the big girl potty. We are slowly starting the process of potty training and hope to be in full swing shortly after her 2nd birthday. Here are a few photos of her trying out her big girl panties for the first time.

Look at me............

Checking out the new panties...

Doesn't she look so proud?

A Little Behind........

2009-02-09T19:54:00.003-07:00

OK, so I am a little behind on posting, sorry. We have been here and there and gearing up for the big birthday party. Taylor is talking more and more, repeating things, good and bad, and is into everything. She is becoming quite the entertainer and is constantly making us laugh. She still loves to boogie and knows how to keep a beat. Here are some recent pictures from the past few weeks. Keep an eye out for more, as I will post more after her big day!!

She is learning the skill of play dress up...

She is slowly getting hair...can you see her wings?

New blanket from Uncle Jason...I tried stealing it from her, but she managed to get it back...it's soooo soft!!

Winter Fun

2009-01-11T16:39:00.002-07:00

Since we have several feet of snow on the ground, Chris has made several "sledding hills" through out our property for Taylor to slide down. It's been a lot of fun watching her discover snow, sledding and how it feels to be cold. She loves playing in the snow and sledding was just an added bonus. We are so lucky to have our own "snow park" right here in our back yard!!!

Our little snow bunny...snow, rain, wind or shine, she loves being outdoors!

Look out below, here come Daddy & Taylor!!!

Mommy & Taylor's turn...the dogs think it's fun to chase us down the hill...

Mommy & Taylor all set for a ride around the property...

Taylor was so worn out from sledding that she fell asleep in Chris' arms while on a ride around the property...I don't think we were even gone 10 minutes before she passed out. One minute she was laughing and having a great afternoon, the next thing we knew, her head was bobbing all around...she was sound asleep on the 4-wheeler.

Another Snowy Saturday

2009-01-03T20:53:00.003-07:00

Today was yet another snowy Saturday, so I decided it was time to break out some more new toys. Today was the day to bring out the ball pit and Mr. Potato Head that Santa brought her. Taylor was so excited over her new toys, she could hardly contain herself...she kept saying, "OH GOODNESS MOMMA!" Since we were cooped up inside, I thought we'd lighten our spirits with a little Toddler Time Music...we danced our blues away and had a lot of fun playing inside.

This series of pictures cracks me up...can you tell she LOVES to dance?

Boogie down girlie!!!

Taylor loves her purse...can you imagine what's in a toddler's purse? Well, here is your answer...a Hello Kitty wallet with nothing in it what so ever, a pair of pretty chic sunglasses, a set of princess keys, a Cinderella cell phone and a Belle lipstick. Hmm, is this girl going to be high maintenance or what?

Does she look good or what?

Concentrating on finding the right hat for Mr. Potato Head...

Look at all the pieces....

The infamous ball pit...can you see the static electricity in her hair?

SO EXCITED, she could hardly stand it.

Stylin' in her Little Tikes Coupe...

So Excited!!!

2009-01-02T20:13:00.002-07:00

I am so excited!! I was finally able to fix my computer and get pictures off of Chris' camera that have been on there for some time. Here are a few of my favorites. Most of these were taken this fall.

A Look Back At 2008...

2009-01-02T19:43:00.003-07:00

Happy New Year!!! As a new year springs upon us, it's always fun to sit back and reminisce about the past year. What a year it's been. When we rang in 2008, who would have thought we would be where we are today. It wasn't the end of January when we learned that we would be relocating to Montrose, CO...In February we hosted Taylor's 1st birthday party...In March, Chris started his new job at Polystrand and in April, Montrose was officially our new home. It's been bitter sweet...miss our friends and family, yet have found comfort in our new beginnings here in Montrose. Taylor has gone from a baby to a full fledged toddler. She has learned to crawl, walk, run, dance, talk, throw temper tantrums, has teeth, and is now growing more independent by the day. It is truly amazing what a year can do in a young child's life. She is no where close to being the same baby she was a year ago and it's so sad, yet so rewarding.
2008 brought us a lot of good memories, and some sorrow times as well. It was only a few short weeks ago that we had to say good bye to our beloved friend and pet, Yukon.
2008 was a decent time in our lives and we hope that it was good to you as well. It's exciting to think we have a whole new year in front of us...to make changes, to keep on dreaming and be the best we can be. Here's to 2009!!! Let's make it a good one!!!

Here is Taylor, dressed and ready to attend her 1st New Year's Eve Party...

She was so excited about going to a party, she had to do a somersault to celebrate!!

One last ride on her new ATV, before heading out for a night on the town...

New Toys

2009-01-02T17:03:00.004-07:00

The last few days we have had a lot of fun playing with all of Taylor's new toys. I am still in the process of capturing photos, so be sure to check back, as I will update often. A big thanks to everyone for all the gifts. Taylor is really enjoying her new toys.

Taylor's first experience with Playdoh...and yes, she did try to eat it.

Hmm, this stuff is squishy.

Rolling it out...

Now it's on to the new paints that Santa put in her stocking...

Look Momma, paint all over my hands. I love the art smock Santa found.

Art desk from Papa...my girl LOVES to color.

She now has her very own desk that she is very proud of...

Mommy & Taylor trying out the new tent...

Taylor waiting patiently for the tent to be set up...

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T22:53:00.003-07:00

Another low key day. With a lot of snow on the ground and it was still falling, we spent the day inside, putting together a lot of toys, munching on goodies and keeping warm. There was a lot of fun to be had with all of Taylor's new toys. She was a bit overwhelmed and didn't know what to play with. It was a fun filled day for all and we hope everyone of you had a Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve...I love this picture...

Christmas Morning...Santa made it despite all the snow...notice all the snow outside?

One of Taylor's new toys, courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa Hoisington!!

I hate to admit this, but we didn't capture anything on film. It is all on our video camera, so I don't have any snap shots of the day. BUMMER!!!

Christmas Eve 2008

2009-01-01T22:28:00.002-07:00

Christmas Eve was very low key. Papa and Uncle Jason came up from Denver and we all just relaxed. We ate a spaghetti dinner and decorated gingerbread men cookies. It was a fun evening and everyone was ready for bed and anxious for Santa to make his grand appearance. When I told Taylor that Santa would be coming over she quickly said, "NO Santa, NO." I don't think she'll be saying that next year.

Christmas Eve 2008

Chris, Jason, Taylor and Papa decorating the gingerbread men.

Taylor didn't do a lot of decorating, but more eating of the candy.

A plate full of men!!!

Christmas Party @ The Bowling Alley

2009-01-01T21:50:00.004-07:00

Chris' company always hosts a Christmas Party for the kids. This year it was at the local bowling alley. They had all you could eat pizza and pop, unlimited bowling, a visit from Santa and goody bags. Taylor had fun with her first experience at bowling. She often followed the ball down the isle, thus making her belt loops come in handy. Believe it or not, her very first time pushing the ball down the isle (with help from Mommy, of course) she got a strike!! NO JOKE!! We were all in hysterics...it was priceless and we wish we would have had the video camera on hand. It was a fun day for all the Gordon Composites kids.

The Days Leading Up To Christmas!!!

2009-01-01T20:29:00.008-07:00

OK, so I am WAY behind on my postings. I have been having problems with my computer and camera, but as of tonight, we are up and running again. I will take you back a few weeks to update you on all the fun things we've done. The house was decorated and festive, we baked cookies and candy until we just couldn't take another batch and we enjoyed all the fun things that Christmas has to offer. Below are just a few pictures of Taylor posing...

A Christmas photo with her buddies Tigger and Pooh...

All dolled up and ready for family pictures...and sick of posing in front of the tree :-)

Lovin' the hat and Momma's boots!!!

HO!!! HO!!! HO!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!!!

2008-12-12T09:31:00.004-07:00

I am starting to lack in the posting department, so I will try and get things caught up today. Seems like we have been on the go for the past 2 or 3 weeks. We put up the tree a few weeks ago and Taylor had a ball. She proudly hung up her Elmo ornament...again and again and again! She loves playing with the ornaments and we have had to move the presents from underneath the tree to the bedroom. She hasn't tried opening them, but she has gotten the shaking thing down pat. She is still too young to really understand what is going on, but she can sure tell it's something special. Chris and I hung lights on the house and she looks out the windows every night and tells us all about the pretty lights and her Christmas tree. She has found that the snow globe we bought her plays music, again and again and again and loves the carry around Santa's bells. It sure is noisy and festive in our home, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We are so excited for Christmas this year... to see Taylor's excitement and joy will be worth all the anticipation and the wait...next year will be even better.

Taylor sporting her Christmas headband....on top of her wish list this year...some hair!

Decorating the tree...

Checking out her Elmo ornament...

Almost done...

Rest In Peace, Yukon

2008-12-12T09:22:00.003-07:00

Last Tuesday, 12/02/08, we had to make a tough decision about Yukon. He had taken a turn for the worse, wouldn't eat or drink and would hardly move, so Chris decided it was time to put Yuk down. It was a very hard thing for everyone involved. We were able to be with him as he left us and we are trying to find peace in knowing that he is out of pain and is in a better place. We sure miss him. So, everyone who has an animal, give them a big hug and enjoy everyday you have with them. We miss you, Yukon!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2008-11-26T08:34:00.003-07:00

We just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!! We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday. We have so much to be thankful for and we are so glad we have all of you in our lives. We love you all very much!!!

Here is Taylor sporting her turkey hat...

Our First Snowfall Of The Season!!!

2008-11-05T13:05:00.005-07:00

Today we woke up to 6 inches of snow and 17 degree temperatures. Taylor looked outside and looked a bit concerned since she doesn't remember all the snow we had last year. She looked outside and said, "Ooh"...pause..."Pretty"...after starting a fire and having a nice warm breakfast, I bundled Taylor up and we ventured outside. Can you remember when you were a kid and your Mother bundled you up to the point where you couldn't move?!?! Well, I am now THAT kind of Mother. It was only 30 degrees outside and I didn't want her to get cold, so she was layered, and layered good!!! She looked like a stuffed penguin and waddled as she walked. At first she wasn't too sure of the snow, but after watching the dogs romp around and a few times around the yard in her sled, she was a happy girl and had fun playing in the snow. She played and I shoveled and when it was time to come inside she sure made it known that she wasn't ready to go in. Rain or shine, snow or wind, she loves being outside. It's still snowing and the temperature hasn't been above freezing yet today. The local forecast is calling for up to a foot of snow...good thing we have a lot of wood and some Moon Sand to play with!!!

All dressed and ready to go outside...

Not 100% sure about the snow...after a few minutes of being outside, she warmed up to the idea and had a lot of fun.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T18:06:00.011-06:00

Taylor & I had a GREAT day...the only thing missing was Daddy...he is on his annual elk hunting trip, and due to how the season fell this year, he missed Halloween. We took a lot of pictures and video so when he gets home we'll be able to get him all caught up. We started off the morning with Halloween cinnamon rolls ( aka Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls...only these had orange frosting rather than your traditional white frosting). From there we played around the house until mid afternoon, when we ventured to town after an early nap. The merchant's in town held a Trick Or Treat street for all the kids, so we started there. Taylor went to 15 or more stores and really seemed to have fun. She was pretty shy at first, but once she figured there were "Treat Treat's" involved, she came out of her shell saying "Treat Treat" and "Thank you". Everyone thought she looked adorable and complimented her costume. After that, we went to the Burris' family's house. We filled our belly's with mummy hot dogs and pumpkin shaped pizza. Taylor and the boys played in the leaves and enjoyed the beautiful weather we had, in the mid 60's and no jacket required. We set out to Trick Or Treat in the neighborhood around 6 pm. We were gone for almost 2 hours and Taylor walked 95% of the way. She really got into it and would run from house to house. As her bucket became heavier, she looked for assistance in carrying the traditional candy loaded pumpkin bucket. Again, she said "Treat Treat" and "Thank you"...on our outing she ran into the beloved Barney. Taylor kept wanting to hug and kiss Barney, but the little girl, probably 3, wanted nothing to do with Taylor. The little girl's Mom handed Taylor Barney's head since the little girl wasn't wearing it, and Taylor kept hugging and kissing Barney's head. It was very sweet and Taylor loved seeing Barney on the streets of Montrose. After 2 hours of Trick Or Treating, I asked Taylor if she wanted to go home and she quickly said, "NO" and started crying. We headed home any way, it was getting cold, and finished the night off with frosting some delicious sugar cookies that Laura made and handed out candy to the other kids that were still roaming the streets. Taylor had an absolute ball playing with the boys, playing in the leaves, Trick Or Treating, and eating treats. We had a great day and really missed Daddy being here. It's a good thing we don't live in a neighborhood because Taylor wouldn't want to wait until next year to go Trick Or Treating...it may turn into a year round event if we did...

I took so many pictures and I couldn't decide on which ones to share, so there are several...and the sad thing is, this is only a fraction of what I have on my camera.

Taylor, at home, waiting for the evening festivities to begin...

This picture cracks me up...don't they look like twins? She was even standing like the ghoul...

CHEESE!! Ready to roll.

Taylor's first "boyfriends"...Mason (kneeling in the back, Greyson to the left and Brayden to the right)

A series of photos that I couldn't decide on which ones to share, so you get all of them...

Mommy & Taylor playing in the leaves...

Running to the next house....

Waiting for the homeowner to answer to door....

Look who we ran into...the beloved Barney.

Comfy on the couch...that was a lot of walking for a little girl.

Looking for more Trick Or Treaters.....

Mommy & Taylor after returning from Trick Or Treating.

A whole pumpkin full of candy. It's enough to last a 21 month old a LONG time.

The balloons that Taylor got from the party store while Trick Or Treating at the merchant's in town.

Decorating a cookie after returning from Trick Or Treating.

One tuckered out little girl...an end to a GREAT night!!!

Pumpkin Carving Night

2008-11-01T17:36:00.004-06:00

Wednesday night we carved our pumpkin before Chris left for his hunting trip. Taylor, as always, had fun with the new experience (since she is too young to remember carving them last year) and loved getting dirty. Our pumpkin turned out cute. I put it out on the porch step on Thursday morning and 20 minutes later, the dogs had eaten our pumpkin. YES, this is a TRUE story of the DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK!!! I was so bummed...all of our hard work for the dumb dogs to eat our adorable pumpkin.

Taylor all geared up and ready to carve pumpkins...she choose a good pattern to carve.

Helping Mommy scoop out the "guts"

Strategically placing our pattern on our pumpkin.

Checking out Daddy's great work

Almost done!

Our finished product before the dogs ate it...we didn't even get a chance to place a candle in it.

Scouting For Deer...

2008-11-01T17:15:00.002-06:00

I thought these were just too cute not to share. She was pretty excited about looking through Daddy's binoculars...maybe someday she will be Daddy's scouting buddy.

Painting Fun

2008-11-01T16:54:00.003-06:00

Taylor loves to paint. This past weekend, her painting on paper turned into a full fledged body painting. She loved getting messy and enjoyed her bath afterwards as well.

.....notice she still has her battle wound?!? Poor Girlie.