This & That

• Basketball is nearing the end...  Kayson had a good weekend over in Coralville this past weekend, going 3 wins out of 4.  
• with that, I feel like I'm not spending much time with this kid.  This 13 year old is busy... and when he's home, he's not interested in spending much time with me!  Hurts this Momma heart.  
• Baseball has started for the boys...  practicing twice week already.  Once basketball winds down, we will see how much we have for baseball - guessing 3 times a week maybe?  
• Boomer is doing well...  he's still pretty fiesty when he wants attention, but I can tell he's 'slowed' down a little.  For example - when we would be gone for the day or even just for 4 hours or so... he used to really give us a hard time once we were home.  Now he's calmed down a little, just wants some lovin' and usually does pretty well.  
• Cora seems to be changing too - growing tall.  I've had a couple Dance moms say to me - "wow, she's really gotten tall!"  I agree...  she's just growing up.  Again, hurting this Momma heart.  Why do they have to grow up so fast?!
• I had my 44th birthday last week.  44.  It kind of makes me sick thinking about that...  I mean, I'll be 50 before we know it, right?  I feel older...  I feel like my face is showing my age...  It's a hard thing to grasp sometimes.  I need to take better care of myself... I know it.  I know I shouldn't do all the excuses, but man - when can I find the time to do that?  I guess I better start finding the time - I guess at night. 
• We are finally getting our new furniture!!  It's supposed to arrive to us this week!  We ordered it back in APRIL OF 2021!!  I forgot what it looks like... so it should be interesting!  :)

Random pictures of Cora...  spending a lot of time with her lately. 

Baby Reichter 'shower'

Saturday afternoon, I, along with Jill hosted a baby shower for Baby Reichter!!  Hope just has a little over 4 more weeks to go, and she honestly looks amazing.  So sweet. 

We hosted the shower out at the church...  I was worried about Covid and also just having enough room at my house, the church worked out perfectly.  I feel like we were spread out and it just was nice. 

Hope and baby received all the great things - pack and play, Boppy, bottles, bottle warmer, bottle dryer, onsies, cute outfits, books and so much more.  Hope said "we are ready now".  That makes me happy.  

Girlie cousins

All the Hardy girls... one more on the way!

She's beautiful!!!

2022 Barefoot Theater

We are beginning the competition season at CESOD!  

Friday night, was the Petite's turn to rehearse for the big day...  we didn't have to rush too much, but once we were there, we waited!  ha.  Cora has three dances, which is fun...  and she did great getting prepped for each dance.  I have been trying to teach her and guide her on what she needs to do, how she needs to be responsible for her stuff, etc.  Luckily, she enjoys that organized feel and she wants to do it all herself.  She did great. 

Then Sunday afternoon was the official showcase.  

We arrived about 11:30 and got things set and ready for the first dance, then I was out of the room.  She was practically pushing me out of the room.  :)

1:00 came and all 77 competition dances were showcased, and in those 4 hours - I am amazed.  I'm amazed at the talent, at the choreography and how it all comes together... and just thrilled to watch Cora.  I truly think she does great. 

Long weekend

I mean, are the kids ever in school?!?!

They just had a long winter break... then early out last Wednesday... then off Friday for a teacher work day, then Monday was a holiday (MLK day).  Wow.  I swear when I was a kid, I NEVER had these breaks!!

With that being said... I enjoyed the long weekend with the kids.  Friday I did work - but the kids had appointments - K had an ortho appointment to get his wire clipped/changed.  Then Cora had her first vaccine.  So we were busy enough.  Friday night we started getting a ton of snow - totaled about 11 inches or so!  It was deep!

Saturday morning we just took things easy, which was great...  then it was time to get that driveway plowed up...  we were all out there...  Ryan did 99% of the work, but I helped some, then the kids played.  They enjoy the snow, it's fun to watch them be kids in that.  Boomer loves it too!!

The rest of Saturday was pretty relaxing... then K had basketball late - 5ish and then again at 8:50 at night.  Holy late.  Unfortunately, the team struggled, again...  gosh, it's not fun watching a team lose all the time.  I know K gets frustrated, and it stinks sometimes.  We got home super late and Sunday was a day to chill again (or at least for the morning).  

Cora had dance, she worked hard - came home sweating!  Kayson had one more game, it was a win, finally...  I got groceries and just did the Sunday stuff.  Roads were still pretty crappy, so I didn't want to go too far.  

and Monday was a day off for me and the kids. And we enjoyed it so much.  Man, I was lazy and didn't do much!  But I really didn't care!!  Cora and K both had their Monday night activities, so I did get somewhat productive when they were gone, but not much!

It was a great weekend... now it's a short week. 

Cora - COVID vaccine

Cora's turn. 

Not going to lie - this has been a little more of a challenge to get Cora 'on board' with this... and she's still not really ok with this!  But it was time... the vaccine is available to ages 5 up now, and with so many activities and dance competitions coming up, we felt that this was the best decision for us and her. 

This afternoon, sis got her first portion of the COVID vaccine!  I'm so dang proud of her.  

Hawkeye Hoopfest tournament/Weekend

It's hard to believe it's the second week in January already...  I hate that time goes so fast. 

Catchup from the past week:

The other Taylor's got COVID...  they were all feeling icky shortly after our Christmas with them, and they all ended up testing positive over the past 4 or 5 days.  Fortunately, they are all ok - just mainly cold symptoms, but still worry some and exhausting.  We, here, are ok.  We didn't get tested, and we all felt fine, so hopefully we were good...  Working on getting Cora vaccinated, so I don't have to worry so much on her. 

Anyway, Friday night we all headed over to Coralville for a basketball tournament.  I didn't go to the last one, so felt like we needed to go for at least one day.  Cora and I drove separate, and had a good drive... lots of talking and singing.  :)  We ended up eating out with Mosqueda's which was fun... then back to the hotel to hang for a bit.  Cora swam for about 10 minutes...  was boring for her!   We unfortunately didn't sleep well, but we survived.  

Saturday we watched K and team play 2 games... one win, one loss.  All over the place for 13 year old boys!  But it was fun to be there and watch him.  

Then Cora and I headed back to DSM, leaving the boys there.  They kept busy and had a good time...  

Cora and I got Boomer from the kennel, then went home and rested... literally, both of us took naps.  Crazy!  I can't remember the last time she napped!  She was pooped.  We just hung out, watched TV and snuggled, it was a nice night. 

Sunday:

Kayson had early games - two losses, then they headed home.  They were home around 2:30, so that was nice...  

Cora had dance Sunday morning... I got caught up on laundry and other house stuff...  then we went and got our nails done.  It's one of our new favorite things to do.  I love that she's a girly-girl and wants to get that stuff done.  It may be expensive, but it's truly so special to me to spend that one on one time with her.  

The rest of the day was just this and that...  and now it's another week.  I just can't believe it. 

2021 Taylor Christmas

Christmas with the Taylor's started last Friday, New Years Eve.  We were supposed to get some bad weather, so we headed to Creston Friday afternoon.  Blair and his family were there... so the kids jumped right in.  We just hung out and Martina and I did a puzzle...  it was a really low key night.  Of course the big boys thought they could stay up late, but by 11:00, we were all tired.  

Saturday Creston did get the snow that was anticipated... super cold and blustery too.  No one went outside, except to let the dogs out!

The kids were antsy as always to get gifts started, so we did that...  of course, the kids were spoiled, and us adults were too. 

We watched the Iowa Hawkeyes loose in the Citrus Bowl, which was a huge bummer...  then the rest of the day/night was just listening to the loud kids and hanging out.  We were all wiped out!

Sunday was technically Grandma Janis' Christmas...  with the weather and not many being able to show up, we just hosted at Mike and JeanAnn's.  I think it worked out well...  always enough food and we had a nice time visiting with Grandma.  Joni and Jenna were able to be there, and Scott, Niky and Duke.   The kids were getting owly, and Tate was very much getting angry with Kayson and life... so that was really hard, and frustrating.  

We headed home about 4:00...  Kayson started baseball and Cora and I unloaded everything.  Again, so tired.