3rd and Final Christmas!

This past weekend we spent in Creston celebrating the 'last' Christmas for us...  with the immediate Taylor's.  We headed down Saturday morning...  hanging out all day...  in the afternoon (after naps), the kiddos opened their gifts.  Of course, being spoiled with such nice gifts.  Tate and Kayson played awhile... whined a little (my son - soley because he's SO TIRED all the time!), and played some more.  :)  Cora opened some gifts too - with Daddy's help.  :)  She got some amazing things as well...  

We enjoyed a nice supper, then more playing and just hanging out.  Before the kids hit the sack we got out some fondue with strawberries, nanas and marshmallows...  giving the kids a sugar high.  OOPS.  It was definitely lots of fun, but if we do it again - we'll shoot for an earlier time!  Two big kids had trouble falling asleep, especially Tater.  :)  But it was fun and lesson learned!

After the babies were in bed...  it was our turn to put our feet up and open our gifts.  I thought the kids were spoiled... no way, WE WERE.  Holy cow.  Big thanks to Mike & JeanAnn.  Unbelievable!   

It was a great little weekend away.  Sunday afternoon we got home and started the unloading, washing, organizing process.  There's still lots more to do, but that's ok...  that'll come tomorrow, on our day off, and some more days in the future I'm sure!  

Here are a few pictures of the weekend.  

This and That & 2012 In Review

Some babbling needs to occur here before I post about our final Christmas celebration...  (that happened this past weekend - the Taylor gang).  I don't have any pictures uploaded yet, so I'll do that tomorrow on my day off.

Moving on.

• Miss Cora has been waking in the middle of the night...  yuk yuk.  This has been super hard on us...  she has slept through the night since Week 5 and wow, this is an adjustment.  We've tried the paci thing... thinking she's just out of sorts, but she's HUNGRY.  Pissed hungry.  ha.  YAWN.
• It's New Years Eve... already.  Seems kind of crazy actually.  We are having some friends over tonight, so that'll be nice.
• Speaking of New Years --- any resolutions out there that you want to share?  I have been thinking about it...  but the only one that I should really do is the working out thing.  I say it every year, and sometimes I do it, sometimes I don't.  I'm not consistent, and I should be.  I have a FREE workout center here at work...  why don't I use it???  The answer is - pure lazyiness. 
• With the holidays, we've all been kind of whack.  With the traveling, with K and I having the flu, now some of us are getting over head colds...  and just sleeping in some days, then the next day we have to get up and do the work/daycare thing...  we need to get back into a routine.  As much as I hate the thought of having to work a FULL 5 day week (really!?!?), I think we all need it. 
• Obviously Kayson is 4 now... so his daycare bill went down.  Like $8 a week.  haha.  It makes me laugh.  But I guess it's better than nothing.
• Both Ryan and I got some cash for Christmas this year...  I'm holding onto mine to make a black riding boot purchase.  A while back I got skinny jeans (and thought for sure I would return them), well, I like them...  :)  but want some black boots to go with them. 
• I start volleyball in a couple weeks.  I'm so out of shape, it's going to be ROUGH and UGLY, but I'm looking forward to seeing some of my VB friends again.

and I'm stealing this from a friend, Jessica.
2012 In Review

January - we announced to everyone Baby #2 would be joining the Taylor family!
February - Kayson realized he was going to be a big brother and life changed - accidents happened and lots of attitude started! ;)
March - we got Kayson into an extracurricular sport through West DSM, he loved it!  Baby #2 is a Baby Girl!! 
April - we took Kayson to the Omaha Zoo and enjoyed beautiful April weather! 
May - the Play Area in the basement was complete!  We enjoyed more outdoor weather and lots of family/friend time.
June - we celebrated 5 Years of marriage...  and Kayson's first dentist appointment.
July - Baby Girl's room was nearly completed, while having some 'scares' with pregnancy.
August - 8 days later than expected, our beautiful Cora May arrived!
September - enjoyed every week of maternity leave...  lot of visitors too!
October - Kayson got a BIG bed!  and became a really funny kid - and figured out it was ok that he had a sister now! 
November - back to work I went. 
December - enjoyed the holidays with family and friends, celebrated K's 4th birthday and topped it off with lots of snow already, in one short month!

Cora's 4 Month Stats

Weight: 15 lbs. 14 oz. (77%)
Height: 25" (65%)
Head: 16 1/4" (63%)

Both Ryan and I thought for sure she was bigger than 16 pounds...  :) 

The shots sucked.  Plain and simple.  I guess it's just terrible to see especially when this girl hardly ever really cries...  but when she gets shots, she cries HARD.  Kayson was with me (as Ryan is out of town), and he was so sweet...  rubbing her back and telling her it was ok and that big brother is here.  :)

Family Photos

Early December, we decided to get family pictures taken... and a few single shots of the kiddos.  My indoor equipment is broke awhile back, and we've decided we won't be fixing it.  I'm probably done with the photography thing.  Which is fine...  I can still shoot with my great camera and am thankful for that... 

Anyway, I wanted a family picture for our Christmas cards this year...  We've never done that, never had a 'professional' one done, and I'm SO GLAD WE DID!  The gal we went to was great - very relaxed... took her time... we laughed, got to know her and just felt comfortable.  AND the price was JUST RIGHT.  (Which is what I'm all about!) 

Here are a few of our favorites (I'm sharing, now that our Christmas cards are out!)  Enjoy!

If you want to know the gals information, let me know... I'll pass it along, plus if you book with her - I get a discount.  :)  Bonus!

The Last 4 Days

It's been a whirlwind the last 4 days.  We've been nonstop, have had lots of fun and lots of laughs, have gotten sick, and have traveled. 

Here's the story.

SATURDAY
Saturday afternoon/evening, we spent our time at a hotel conference room for the extended Taylor Family Christmas.  It's a blast... lots of food, lots of fun.  The kids have a great time, and so do the adults.  :)  Kayson was so good...  just following around the big kids, wanting to do the things they do, and just being a boy.  We had a great supper...  gifts were had and even a little family games.  It was fun!  We stayed out WAY late (getting home around 12:30 am), with a kid still awake - yes, Kayson!  

Here are some great shots from Saturday evening.

Taylor's!

Grand Kids & Great-Grand Kids

Got in the pool for awhile.

Cora's few gifts.

Here's some of the fun!

SUNDAY
Sunday morning we slept in...  which was great...  then we headed up to Clarion.   We got to Trish & Greg's... played a little and then I got sick.  I had felt like I had to go to the bathroom for a couple hours, but never could go...  around 5 pm, I got sick - vomitting and just not feeling well AT ALL.  It was terrible.  I haven't had the flu forEVER, so was wondering if it was just something I ate.  After my sickness, we needed to head out to the farm...  we were going to hang out with everyone and just order pizza in.  (Of course, I wasn't going to eat a darn thing now).  I layed down in a bedroom...  and stayed there, while everyone had a great time.  UNTIL... Kayson came to find me and said his stomach hurt... and within 10 seconds, he was puking too.  OMG.  I didn't even know what to do.  I was wiped out and still not feeling well...  Ryan came rushing in, and we got everything handled.  Poor kid.  He was as white as a ghost.  Man, I felt even more terrible...    The two of us layed in bed ALL NIGHT LONG...  Ryan took care of us... thankful for him.  By Monday morning we were on the mend - still very, very tired and just feeling blah.

Frosted cookies at Tricia's (before getting sick!)

MONDAY
We got up and started our day...  Kayson was still pretty 'blah' and just super tired and whiny.  He took it easy, doing a lot of laying around...  He took a nice long nap, then he was much better.  I was feeling ok...  no appetite and just worn out.  It sucked!

That afternoon everyone came out to the farm.  We hung out and played... and opened gifts for our little family.  We had a really nice time.  The gifts were great, of course. 

Santa brought him a combine!!! 

More John Deere stuff... cool sweatshirt!

A few things for Cora - Boots (cuz she walks!)  haha... and a cute Owl hat!

We went to Christmas Eve service at my family's church, which was very nice... then to Trish's for snacky food and more fun.  

We finally headed out the door around 9pm.  Got the kids in their Christmas jammies and loaded them up!  They were both asleep within minutes of being on the road. 

TUESDAY
Merry Christmas to you all!!!  and Happy Birthday to our fiesty little boy!  It was nice being home this morning...  we slept in (again) - I could get used to that!  So, it was a great day at home...  very blessed to be with my little family and celebrate K's birthday.  We are very blessed.

So... a whirlwind of 4 days...  A lot happened, that's for sure!  :)

Happy Birthday Kayson!!

Happy Birthday to our favorite little boy, Kayson Michael.  He's 4 today.  I can't believe it.  I have looked back at all his pictures over this past year, and he's changed SO much.  It's crazy!!  He's really grown up too...  we can see the difference.  (still has attitude though). :)  

We have spent the day at home...  for Christmas and for his birthday.  It's the tradition - we will do it from here on out.  That's how we grew up, and we want our kids to do the same.  (I know I struggled with this a couple weeks ago, but am good now!  ha.)  

Kayson's spent the entire day playing... moving from one thing to another!  Our living room looks like a tornado hit it.  :)

Here are some pictures from his big day, our little Christmas/Santa and Sister Cora.

We love you buddy!

From Santa

The firetruck he wanted!!  Shoots water too!  :)

Kiddos in their Christmas Jammies

Cora - 4 Months old

4 Months old today!! 

We don't have her 4 Month Well Check until after Christmas, so I'll update stats then.

• We are at 6 oz. every 3 hours...  the 5 oz. just wasn't cutting it.  She's still spitting up, but I think now it's because of her little cold.  I'm not too worried, sure it's annoying, but Kayson spit up WAY more than she does!
• Sleeping like a rock star still.  8 pm til about 6:30 am. :)
• Naps typically run like this:
• 45 min in the morning
• 1.5 hours over lunch time
• 45 min in the afternoon
• snooze in the evening
• Talks and talks!!
• Starting to giggle...  adorable!
• Rolls over!  It's amazing watching her!  She's going places!  :)
• Still chews on her hands!
• Wearing Size 2 diapers 
• Wearing 3-6 Month clothing...  Carter's stuff, we are at 6 Mo.

 

Meaning of Christmas

Today I worked at Valley West Mall wrapping gifts as my volunteer time for the year...  this is my second year, and I really like it.  With the blizzard hitting us last night and this morning, we were slow to start, but we put in about 6 hours.  I had a conversation with one of the girls about the 'true meaning of Christmas'.  I have been thinking about this a lot lately (and actually started a post earlier this week, but never really finished it... tonight I'm going to finish!)  

We agreed that it's sad that we get in such a huff and do the 'hustle & bustle' to get gifts bought and wrapped and ready to be torn open in seconds.  I do it, you do it, everyone does it!  When really - isn't the meaning of Christmas to bring true happiness to others?  so is that why we buy gifts -- to buy peoples love with gifts and make them happier that way?  I don't know.  Is it?  I'm torn.  The gal I had the conversation with agreed too. 

I'm not a very religious person (we don't got to church regularly, if at all), but I pray and know that God is there for us and will guide us the way he knows best.  So really, for Christmas we should be celebrating the gift of our Lord and follow his examples and live by his word.  

I know just a few weeks ago, I blogged about buying nice things for the people we love and care for and how we want nice things in return and for our home, etc...  which it's true, we do (I do), but now that the time is closer and I know deep down my children will be overloaded with gifts...  is that really right?  Is that the right thing to do?  Is it the right thing to 'teach' them?  I don't want my kids growing up thinking Christmas is only about how many gifts are in front of them from us and their grandparents and other family members...  I don't want them to be spoiled in that aspect.  I want them to be spoiled with love and communication and honesty... not materials. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited for Christmas (and my son's birthday).  I'm looking forward to being with our families, because really that's what's important.  

What are your thoughts?!

4th Birthday Party

Today was a success.  Great day for a birthday party for our 'almost' 4 year old!  Technically 9 more days til the big day, but either way, he was way excited to have a party today!

We were joined by our immediate families...  John Deere themed party with presents, lunch and lots of fun and giggles.  Kayson got some fantastic gifts!  (And this is just for his birthday - lucky little boy).  Thank you to everyone!!!  We just all had a great time...  we are all so lucky and blessed.

Here are a few pictures of the day.  I'm sure there will be more once he gets a chance to play with everything...  

Look at that cool cake!!!

Our love!!

Add in sister!!  :)

Happy birthday kiddo!

Such a big boy!

and Miss Cora was around all the commotion too!

5 Question Friday

1. If you bake during the holidays, what is your favorite thing to make? I'm not a big baker...  so I can't really answer this. 

2. Present giving: Gift bag vs wrapped box? It depends on the gift.  I do like wrapping...  but if the gift is just too big or awkward, definitely going the gift bag route.  I can make those pretty too!

3. What do you keep your thermostat on during the winter/summer in your house? Winter time: At bedtime - it drops to 69 degrees, but in the morning, it rises to 71...  if we are home (weekends), it's usually at 71.  And it's comfortable.
Summer time: I think we typically have it at 68 or so...  seems to work for us!
4. When thinking of your "Christmas to-do list" what percentage "done" are you? We are close...  still have a few things to purchase (mostly gift cards).  I'm still waiting on a few things to arrive in the mail (online shopping)...  But the wrapping - eeehhh, I need to finish that up! 

5. Do you do the "Elf on a Shelf"? If so, is your Elf naughty and what shenanigans has he gotten into? We do Elf on the Shelf - his name is Hawkeye.  Last year, he literally just showed up in different spots around the house...  no big deal.  This year, we are doing some fun things with him.  Kayson seems to 'like it', but sometimes I'm not sure if he really believes it.  He's so damn smart.  But for now, we'll continue having fun with it!  :)

Santa

We tried visiting Santa tonight...  we talked to Kayson about it.  Of course, he was hesitant at first, then got excited and watched the other kids talk with him and sit on his lap.  He knew what he was going to tell Santa he wanted...  etc.   It's our turn... and he instantly had a meltdown.  (Just like last year, but last year, he DID finally sit on his lap)... this year, not so much.  Even with Cora sitting with Santa - Kayson wasn't having it.  SO...  me, Cora & Santa got our picture taken.  

and Kayson cried...  Oh boy, poor kid.  I'm half tempted to take him back, with just me and see what happens.  I don't know.  I don't want to force him, but I'm disappointed... and he will be too when he gets older.  

Anyway, on our way out, he did sit here...  this is as "Christmasy" as it gets I guess.

 

Weird day

Today's been kind of a weird day... 

1. I had a 15 year old filling fixed today.  Yes, it's at least 15 years old!!!  When I was growing up, I didn't really take care of my teeth... bad me.  I had several cavities, but once I 'grew up', I started taking care of my teeth.  Better late than never, right?!   Anyway, I went a couple weeks ago to just have a cleaning... and had a sore tooth.  Doc said there was a crack in the filling.  Awesome.  So it was fixed today...  I didn't enjoy it, but it wasn't terrible.  (Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be).   But tonight, it's sore.  Just achy.  
2. We were 'missing' a package today.  Ryan ordered me something for Christmas (I know about it and can't wait to open it!)  According to the tracking, it was supposed to be delivered yesterday.  We didn't see it... so tonight, he looked again, and it was confirmed it was delivered yesterday afternoon.  UM...  great.  So I just went back out to the mailbox... nothing in our mailbox, but I opened all the bigger containers and there were two packages in one of them.  I looked at both of them - one was our package (awesome!) and the other one was for a different address (same house number, different street).  I'll take that to them tomorrow.  But either way, we got it.  Thank goodness!
3. Ryan traveled up to Dows this afternoon for work... on his way back, he was following a semi and some ice fell off the trailer and smacked Ryan's truck.  LITERALLY.  His front grill is all tore up, and the hood too.  He's lucky that the windshield didn't bust.  Absolutely crazy... and weird.  See the pictures.

Oh Hawkeye!

a Nice note to start the day...  in the bathroom.

Naughty Hawkeye - made a mess!

Hawkeye thought K's new truck was pretty cool

Weekend!

Nice weekend - Check!  
Friday night I enjoyed a couple hours out with some girlfriends/neighbors.  Snacky food and drinks...  it was a fun night out.  I really enjoyed myself.  

Saturday we got up early and heading down to St. Joe, MO to see Aunt Maagie.  We actually ended up arriving early (shocker!), so we fed Cora and just relaxed a little.  Blair, Martina & Tate and JeanAnn & Mike met us down there...  having a great lunch with Aunt Maagie, Aunt Susan & Cousin Ashlei.  Nice conversation... and fun for those kiddos.  The kids got their Christmas gifts...  some great gifts by the way.  (Thank you so much!)  We hung out for awhile...  had a little baby shower for Ashlei too.  All nice gifts!  We headed back to DSM and arrived home around supper time.  Not too bad for being 2 1/2 hours away.  Nice trip, and still got some laundry done Saturday night!

Today was the first fallen snow!  As much as I hate snow... today's was pretty, and I knew it was that heavy wet stuff... and we weren't going anywhere!  Kayson was excited!!  We got him outside for a little bit... he shoveled off the deck for us, and threw some snowballs.  Even Ryan threw some -- at the neighbors house.  :)  It was fun.  

The rest of the day... laundry, some cleaning, catching up on blog writing/reading, wrapping some gifts, playing with the kiddos.  It's been a nice day thus far.  Grocery shopping will happen later...  yuk!

Here are some pictures of our weekend.

Loves tummy time!

Reading some books... duh!  :)

Remote control Monster Truck!  Loves it!

Papa and his boys.

Aunt Maagie and her special kiddos!

 

1st snowball of the season!!