Kayson. And other stuff.

• "Do you want to play in my sandbox Whitney?"  He says this to his teacher, Miss Whitney.  She says back to him, "Are you asking me out Kayson?"  Too TOO cute!
• We have played outside more in the past 4 days than we have in a long time...  it's been great.  The fresh air rocks!  
• We are seeing Kayson stutter more and more...  and have realized it's when we ask him to ask us for something...  especially when he is asking Daddy for something...  we can't help but laugh, as his mouth can't keep up with his brain...  or at least that's what I hope it is!
• We had a 'picnic' tonight for dinner - at the patio set outside on our deck.  It was a beautiful day/night.  Kayson loved the picnic!
• Kayson is infatuated with our neighbor, Tim.  He asks about Tim a lot - wants to see Tim.  It's hilarious!  
• I have a ton of pictures lately, but our laptop was 'out of order' for a couple days, so I'll upload those this coming weekend. 
• Our rock in the landscaping is all done... and simply 'rocks'!  Now will we move onto the backyard??  Not sure if that will happen this summer or wait til next spring.
• Kayson is getting his 2nd set of ear tubes this coming Friday.  We've had numerous ear infections since December, and the results are to remove the tubes now, clean his ears out and put new ones in.  I pray this helps and we can get through the summer and fall too.  Keep us in your thoughts please.

 

"Blooming" Projects

Our landscaping is doing awesome!!  We are really pleased with it... sometimes you just never know how something like that's going to end up NEXT year!  But it's lookin' great... and Ryan is making it even better now!  Today he took on the project to get rid of the mulch (awful, annoying mulch!) and replace it with pretty rock.  Oh my goodness - I love it.  It's crazy how a small thing like that can make the biggest difference!  I love it!

Great job honey - you did great!!!

Beautiful!

Lovin' the purple!

"It's Heavy", he says!

Sesame Street & Family time

Papa Mike & Grandma JeanAnn spoiled Kayson (and us) by getting us tickets to Sesame Street Live this morning.  It was a great show - Kayson loved it... and sat so well through the entire thing and as Ryan said - didn't blink much!  Ryan wondered if Kayson was drooling cuz he stared and had his mouth open 90% of the time!  ;)  It was an amazing feeling watching our son grow and learn...  brings tears to my eyes.

Here are a few photos from the show.  (Crappy point and shoot camera!)

Excited to go see Elmo!!  Look at those KICKS!  ;)  What a stud!

During the show - we had to "Close our Eyes & Imagine" - this is Kayson closing his eyes - half way.  :)

After the show, a nap was taken, then Mike & JeanAnn, Blair, Martina & Tate stopped by to play... we enjoyed the great weather!  Kayson was great - showing Tate some fun things... we played with his sand table, kicked the soccer ball (and volleyball) around, played some golf, went for a wagon ride... the list goes on.  Ryan mowed tonight too, and Kayson helped.  He's just becoming such a big boy...  again, brings tears to my eyes!

Enjoy more pics.

Tate & Kayson

Going for a wagon ride!  Tate absolutely loves the fresh air (typical 4 month old!)  ;)

Uncle Blair coaching Kayson in golf.  K does a really good job, we think!

And Papa giving the wagon rides.

Five Question Friday

1.  Do you and your spouse go to bed at the same time?
Normally, yes...  but there are times, when I hit the sack earlier than Ryan...  he'll stay up and watch some of his shows... or catch up on his Sports Illustrated mags. 

2.  A question for the ladies --- What kind of facial hair do you like on your man?
I love a little scruff on Ryan...  it's not all that nice to rub against, but I think it looks REALLY good on him. 

3.  What's the worst vacation you've ever taken?
Yikes...  um...  well, I haven't taken very many vacations...  and from what I remember, each one has been good. 

With that being said, about 3 years ago, Ryan and I went out to Vegas for his work... and I was newly pregnant, and for a few days I just didn't feel well.  So I guess that would be the only time when I wasn't fond of being on vacation!

4.  What's the first-ever blog you followed?
I'm pretty sure it was my friend, Jessica's.  I got hooked on hers and realized that "I could do this!". 

5.  Do you enjoy amusement parks?
Not really.  Well... maybe I shouldn't say that.  When I first think of amusement parks, I think rides and rollercoasters.  That's NOT MY THING.  But the walking and watching of people is good...  and the food...  and being out in nice weather (hopefully). 

Miss Whitney, Potty, Finales, Short Week

This is a shout out to Miss Whitney, one of Kayson's daycare teachers.  She's simply awesome.  She's a cute, spunky gal who truly cares about our son and his well-being.  She's open with us about him and gives us suggestions on things we can try/do if we (I) have questions. 

Now if only Kayson would stay this age, and she would stay at KT forever - we'd be set!  ;) 

According to Miss Whitney, Kayson's been doing awesome at pottying at daycare!  I'm so proud of him!  We've said over the past month, we (at home) aren't going to push the pottying, until we see more of him actually going at daycare...  well, I think we are at that point!  (That scares me - even more work!)  ha.  Miss Whitney told me today that he's been dry every time it was his turn for a diaper change, and he would sit and go potty!  He even told her that he had to go potty!  OMG - This is big.  We have a toddler, a smart toddler and he's growing up way too fast!!

So, big kudos to Whitney.  We really appreciate her!!

Ryan is out of town tonight... and Thursday nights are OUR nights for TV!  I have been dragging my feet at watching some of my shows that I have DVRd, so I made up for that tonight.  Kayson was in bed early, so I have sat literally all.night.long.  UGH.  I'm caught up on the Season Finales of "One Tree Hill", "Greys Anatomy", and "Big Bang Theory".  Ryan watched "The Mentalist", so I'll have to do that sometime this weekend (Don't tell me what happened honey!)  It's great getting into all of these shows...  but now, it'll be all re-runs and dumb stuff on...  guess that just means we'll be outside even more!  ;)   


It has been nice having a short work-week.  I've been buried at work, but that's ok...  I have just one more day, then another full weekend ahead of us.  Sesame Street Live on Saturday, then another long trip - to Cedar Rapids on Sunday. 

A Vacation

The Taylor's took a little vacation!

Before the vacation started, we headed up to Clarion late Saturday afternoon to spend some time with my family.  My niece, Hope, got confirmed at church on Sunday and I really wanted to be there.  It was very nice being there for her... and also spending some fun time with the kiddos and enjoying the nice weather on Sunday.

From there, Sunday afternoon, we headed up to Minnesota.  Ryan had a seminar/class to go to for work on Tuesday.  So Monday we filled the day with FUN.  But before Monday, we hit the nice pool at the hotel Sunday night and had a quick dinner...  Kayson loved the hotel room, which was fun.  

Monday morning we got up and headed to the Minnesota Zoo.  What a great zoo... and an even more perfect day.  The weather was awesome, ideal for being outside for 3 or 4 hours.  We just had a great time... taking our time walking around and seeing all the fun animals.  Kayson loved it.  From there, we pushed it and decided not to go back to the hotel, so we went straight to the Mall of America.  K fell asleep on the way to the MOA, and we thought he would fall back to sleep once in the stroller - wrong - but that's ok... he did pretty good.  We made it a quick trip - hitting the Lego Land area and just walking around 2 levels of the Mall.  2 hours later, we were all spent and ready to put our feet up!  Monday night we just hung out at the hotel, had dinner and played...  

Today Ryan had his class, so Kayson and I hit the pool first thing (to get that out of the way!), then we played as much as we could in the hotel room before check out time.  We packed up (that was a chore for just me!), but it worked out well...  Kayson and I got lunch and sat outside at a picnic table, and also hit a nearby park so K could play outside even more.  Ryan got out of his class mid-afternoon, and we headed back home.  LONG day, long trip home, but we are here and I'm glad to be home.  Kayson was such a good boy...  and literally talks ALL THE TIME!  ha.  It's pretty comical when we really think about it!  Overall, he was great - of course, we had our moments, but the worst moments happened when we were on our way home tonight...  just him being over tired and not really wanting to sit in a car for 3 plus hours...  but after awhile, he gave in and took a nap, then a movie was watched and we made it home.  

It was great to get away...  I am so glad Ryan thought of including us for this (typically it would have just been a quick trip for him for the class), but it was nice for our little family to do this.  I'm glad it worked out and we had such a nice time.  

Now on to some of the negatives ---- hotel rooms.  We've already said, we've got to bring our own pillows!!  ha.  Hotel pillows are terrible...  I mean, it's fluff!  Both Ryan and I need firmer pillows...  I just laughed everytime I laid down!  ha.  Also, the hotel towels - could they be more ROUGH!??!  ha.  And the toilet paper - rough.  Too funny!!  I also hate their bar soap for your hands...  aaaa - next time, I'll bring my nice Bath & Body foam soap!!  These are some of the reasons why it's nice to be home...  ;)  

On to pictures - I've got a TON!  Enjoy!

Eating Powdered Donuts.  Breakfast of Champions!

Monkeys are behind us!  They were hilarious... jumping around and playing!

Feeding the Goats at "The Farm" at the Zoo.

This BIG guy was just sitting like this the whole time we watched the other little prairie dogs play.  Too funny!

We got to see how the cows were milked at "The Farm" at the zoo.  It was amazing!

These Grizzly Bears were playing in the water!  It was awesome. 

At Lego Land with 'Woody'

Kayson and Daddy having some fun!

And a football tattoo to top off the trip!

One of my pretty nieces, Hope.

The Hardy grand kids

Five Question Friday

I'm enjoying today off...  as well as having Monday and Tuesday of next week off.  I'll blog more about that later!

Here are the 5 Questions for today!

1.  Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none?

Ankle socks... I have troubles really having ankles, so the lower the sock, the better!  ;)

2. Was your childs (children's) name a mutual decision or was it a debate? If you don't have children, do you plan on giving your spouse a say, or do you have a name you MUST have, regardless if your other half likes it or not?! 

When we found out Kayson was a boy...  we obviously starting throwing out more and more boys names.  It started to become an 'every-night' conversation...  and I was ready to make a decision. I mentioned several names, and got the kabosh...  Ryan would mention names and I would relate them to other kids I know, etc.  Then Ryan was traveling one week, and that Friday evening he was home and said to me - "What about Kayson?"  I said - "I love it!"  We talked about the spelling a little... and decided.  We then threw out several different middle names, and Michael (after Ryan's Dad) fit the best.  I love his name!

3. What is your favorite type of weather?

Probably mid-70s...  just when it's warm enough for shorts, but not super warm where I sweat the second I walk out the door!  

 

4.  If left to your own devices, what time would you wake up every day? 

Gosh... that's tough.  Right now, if we get the chance to sleep in (if Kayson sleeps in), I'm still awake around 6:30!!  I would think 8 am would be about perfect... since we are going to bed so late lately, 8 am would be about 8 hours, and apparently that's what you are 'supposed' to get!  ;)

 

5.  Have you bought your cemetery plots yet?    

Oh my goodness - NO.  That's something I do not want to think about! 

Home-Made Pizza & Water

Tonight we made Home-Made Pizza.  Kayson likes to help with the dough and putting the pepperoni and cheese on...  he does a great job.  It seems like I tend to do the really messy parts... and he gets the easy parts!

Helping make Home-Made Pizza!

Last night we watered the lawn a little...  Kayson wanted to run through the water...  it was COLD!  Tonight we are getting some much-needed rain, so we won't be watering for at least a couple days now...  I'm liking the sound of the thunder and rain.  So nice.


Running through the water hose!

This and That

• Tan Lines?  Kayson has tan lines already!!  A nice line around his neck... and some on his arms too! I can't believe it!!  It's not even summer yet!  I hope to get a nice tan soon!
• Grilling.  Grilling is going to be a popular thing to do from here on out...  tonight was great chicken breasts... tomorrow, burgers & brats.  
• Neighbors.  I really, REALLY like our neighbors...  we are just comfortable with them... and I sure hope they feel the same way about us.  It's so nice having little ones that Kayson can play with... and adults for us to talk with...  so refreshing.
• Comedy.  Monday nights, there are some great shows on!  Mike & Molly and Mad Love are our new fav shows.  Hilarious!  I just can't stop laughing.
• Music.  Ryan (and Kayson) got me an iPod for Mother's Day.  I've been 'borrowing' Ryan's old iPod, and it's been giving me fits over the last few months...  now I have a new one, and I love it!  I listened to music all day today while working... it was so nice!
• Dirty.  When we are outside from 5pm til 8 pm, we get dirty.  Kayson's feet stunk so bad tonight!!  And we just get dirty... hands, feet, everything.  I'll be soaking in a bath tonight for sure!

Nice Weekend

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there...  it's been a nice (WINDY) day for us. We've been outside nearly the entire day... starting off with a great breakfast at Hy-Vee!!  YUM!  We played outside til lunch, then napped (well, Kayson napped), Ryan and I did sit down for a little bit during that time... and then we were back outside.  It's been a nice day with my boys...   and to top off the evening, we had a great dinner at El Rodeo!  YUM YUM!  ;)  We were joined by Mike & JeanAnn. 

Saturday we attended a wedding in the afternoon - one of Ryan's secretary's got married.  Beautiful wedding... very nice.  We really enjoyed ourselves.  My parents watched Kayson and they had a great time...  Mom just ooo's and awww's about that little boy.  It's so funny and so sweet.  It's so nice to know how much Kayson loves his grandparents!

It's just been a nice weekend overall...  always crabby when it's Sunday night, but oh well.  I'm ready to sit and watch some TV and NOT DO LAUNDRY!  ha.  That'll come tomorrow night... 

As Kayson was going to bed tonight, he said to me "Happy Mommy's Day".  Oooo how I love him.  And Ryan reminded him to thank me for having him... and he did.  ha. 

We purchased Kayson a sand table - and he LOVES it!  It'll be a nice toy for summer time!

Five Question Friday

1. Have you ever had roommates?
YES!  I had a great roommate my first year of college...  we were different enough that we would have our own space plus got along really well.  Then after my first marriage went down the 'crapper', my best friend, Lacey, and I moved in together...  that was fun!  We were each other's 'rocks' at that time in our lives and we really enjoyed living together. 

2.  How many names do you/your children have? (i.e. Prince Charming William Phillip Arthur Louis John Jacob Jingleheimer-Schmidt)
Kayson has several 'names' --- Buster Brown, Buster, Honey Bear, K, Stinker!

3. Did you watch the Royal Wedding?
Not really... I mean, I wasn't up at 3 am to watch it 'live'!  Ryan and I watched a little of the coverage that morning...  I really only cared about what Kate was wearing!  And she looked beautiful!  But after I saw the dress and a few other minutes of the vows, that's all I really needed to see!

4.  What is the messiest room in your house?
The 3rd bedroom.  It's our 'catch-all' room and I hate it!  ha.  I don't hate it, I just know it's messy...  it gathers dust, it gathers papers and old bills, it's our place to hang our clothes that we can't dry, it's just a mess - and eye-sore, so the door is always closed.  Someday, baby #2 would be in there, and then it'll be a wonderful room, but for now, the door stays closed!

5.  What is your ideal Mother's Day?
Uninterrupted sleep...  wait, I've been getting that for about 2 weeks now.  (Now that I've said that, Kayson will for sure be up Saturday night/Sunday morn!)  ha. Or maybe a nice long nap!  But more seriously, just spending time with Ryan and Kayson... and maybe, just maybe, having a day where Kayson doesn't scream, throw a tantrum and whine!  (That would be heavenly!)  ;) 

I actually would like to go for breakfast at HyVee and just spend the day outside with my boys...  maybe getting some flowers too?! 

A taste??

Ryan and I are getting a taste of what things are going to be like this summer...  or just when the weather is even nicer than it is right now...  we are outside ALL OF THE TIME!  Kayson's always liked being outside...  and I don't blame him!!  

This past weekend we were outside as much as we could be (before and after nap, after dinner too!)  The past two evenings we've been outside literally the minute we pull in the driveway!  Last night he had such a fit when I wanted to go change my clothes, I didn't fight him... so I was outside playing in my dress clothes.  (And for those who really know me - sweats and T-shirt is what I want to be in, the SECOND I get home!)

The fresh air is wonderful...  Kayson eats a little better (when we can get him inside!) and he sleeps super well too.  And this passes onto his Momma too...  I'm completely wiped out!