Beggar's Night

Once again, I'm living through my child with all these fun things to do!  We had so much fun tonight for Trick-or-Treating!  Colleen, Mike & Cali joined us for some snacky foods before Beggar's Night officially started...  then we headed out right at 6:00!  It was chilly, but man, those two kids kept us busy!  Cali & Kayson did SO GREAT!  They would go up to the doors all by themselves - knock and say "Trick-or-Treat" (sometimes Kayson would add "Smell my feet" - Nice Daddy).  :)  They'd say "Thank You" and we'd move on!  It was a ton of fun!

Here are some great pictures of our little Fireman!

"I'm a FIREMAN"

All bundled up... and Lovin' it!

Friends - Fireman & LadyBug

They did SO GREAT!

Testing out some of the candy he got!

Kayson = Challenging

This week has been by far the most challenging week with Kayson and me.  He's been tired, he's been crabby, he's been hungry, he's been happy, he's been sad, and he's been whiny.  I know, I know - he's almost 3 years old!!!  Well, I understand that... however, I anticipate things being better when Ryan is actually home.  And it wasn't!  Ryan got home Wednesday night...  K and I talked about it Monday and Tuesday night, he was excited...  however, when the time came, K was NOT excited.  Man, we struggled this week.  We argued, we didn't listen (of course, him, not us!).  

According to BabyCenter.com's comments for his month (a 34 month old) - we are right on schedule with "Bossiness" and "Temperaments".  (and that's supposed to make us feel better!?) :)  I guess he's a normal toddler!

I'm glad tomorrow is Friday, just so we can be at home and concentrate on Kayson... and get some time at home alone...  however, I do think to myself - "Is Kayson going to drive us crazy this weekend?!?!"  Probably!! ...but that's what happens when you are parents right?! 

Please give us patience!  :)

My Favorites

I've decided to share a few of my favorite images from the past month or so of photo shoots.  I'm learning more and more at each shoot...  some have been super challenging and some have been so fun and relaxing, it makes me want to do this more and more!  I've decided I still have a ways to go, but I'm slowly starting to get more comfortable doing this...  

I'm also starting to apply some really neat 'effects' as I call them... it just kind of enhances the images.  Some people don't like it, some people love it...  that's another thing I'm learning - my favorites are not necessarily my client's favorites! 

Enjoy!

Taken by my SIL, Martina - Great shot & eye!

Random Stuff

First, we had a great weekend!  Even though Ryan was gone all day Saturday for the Iowa game, we still had a great weekend...  spur of the moment dinner with some friends, lots of time at home (on Saturday - for me), plus lunch with a friend, while Kayson was home with Grandma JeanAnn, lots of photography shoots happening this weekend... and more friends over Sunday night!  I mean, we got it all taken care of this weekend!  It was fun!!

Kayson is doing awesome at potty training!  Oh my goodness - do I dare say all of this out loud AND write it on the blog?!?!  I will!  Beginning last week, we started the big boy underware for daycare - all day (besides a pull-up at nap time), and he's done great.  He had one accident last Tuesday, and we've been golden since then!  He even pooped in the potty Friday night!  He is doing so well, I'm so proud of him!  And I tell you what, this whole "no diaper thing" rocks!  :) 

My photography is really picking up...  and I'm loving it, however, I am realizing even more that there is seriously not enough time in the day!  Working 40 hours and most of the time being a single Mom, my evenings are SHORT and I have limited time to really sit and look/edit/load, etc the images.  Somehow, I'm getting to it though. 

Ryan's traveling is starting to come to an end.  This will be his last week away, for awhile anyway...  We've adjusted, as we always do, but it'll be nice when it starts getting cold to have him around more often. 

Kayson is plain fun now.  I mean, sure, we have our moments, but he's becoming such a big boy and with such a personality.  He's really showing his imagination lately...  which is way fun.   We just need him to want to play alone a little better... that's my only complaint (however, I probably shouldn't complain about it - cuz when he's 10, he won't want me around at all!)  Either way, he can do so much on his own now it's amazing...  he really is a good boy and I feel very blessed.  One 'funny' from this weekend was Grandma JeanAnn had told him to eat his pizza, then he could have a piece of candy... he paused and said "FINE."  haha...  Stinker.  :)  He ate every last drop of his meal!  :)

So I don't have any pictures to share from the weekend...  well maybe a few, but I didn't upload them!  I do want to share some of my recent photo shoots, so maybe that'll come in a couple weeks. 

Have a great week!

Kicks

There is one thing for sure...  Kayson is spoiled by getting new shoes.  Thanks Papa & Grandma.  

Weekend in Iowa City

This was our weekend to head over to Iowa City for some football and tailgating...  however, it didn't really end up being a lot of either one (story to come). 

We all headed over to North Liberty Friday after work to stay with our good friends, Corey & Angi, and their little boy Collin.  We had a great visit Friday night...   Saturday morning we all just hung out at their place, letting the boys play and we took our time getting up and ready for the day...  Collin is an early riser, so a nap was due for him... and Kayson of course couldn't miss a nap either.  The big boys (Corey & Ryan) headed to the tailgate and us girls and the little boys planned to meet up with them shortly after...  well - 2.5 hours into the little boys' naps, we were already behind schedule.  Oh well!   In the end, we did end up at the tailgate, but only for a short hour.   The boys played a little...  whined a lot (Kayson), and ate a little...  then we headed back to Corey & Angi's while the big boys enjoyed the night game with a win.  During the game, we were back at the house and the boys played some more... and we had more visitors, Holly and her two little ones...  we had a full house!  Pizza and playing was had... and we were all BEAT after a full two hours of playing hard.  However, it was a lot of fun.  

This morning we enjoyed breakfast out with Mike & JeanAnn (as they got to enjoy a football game as well).  Then we headed home...  a tired truck full of Taylor's.  :)  Kayson enjoyed a nap this afternoon, while I did a quick photo shoot... and it's not even 8:00 and he's been in bed since 7:30.  TIRED boy.  

We had a good weekend...  nice to spend some time with Corey & Angi...  big thanks to them for hosting us all weekend.  It's our turn next time.  

It's now back to reality unfortunately...  loads of laundry, mentally prepping myself for another work week... and Ryan traveling to Minnesota for the week.  

Enjoy a few pictures:

Go Hawks!

Lovin' Collin's John Deere Mower!

Having some tailgate food!

Snapshot with Papa and Grandma

Closed

I have closed yet another book.  I'm doing pretty good at this reading thing... HOWEVER, I don't have another book to read.  So - you readers out there - what suggestions do you have?  :)

This book, "Heaven is for Real" is amazing.  It made me think hard about heaven, about death, about life...  and most of all - it made me think about how I could see... and believe like a child.  

From the back of the book:

"With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton Burpo tells of meeting long-departed family members.  He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, REALLY big" God is, and how much God loves us.  Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, Heaven is for Real, offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

Two thumbs up.

Saturday Stress & Fun - All In One!

Well - Saturday was my 2nd wedding shoot I've done...  This wedding was much bigger than the 1st I did - this was the whole package - bridesmaids, groomsmen, lots of family, lots of friends, and a big celebration!  I had my sister-in-law, Martina, assist me Saturday...  just to kind of keep me in order/keep my nerves in line, etc... She did great and I appreciated everything she did.  The day went well - however, the weather was my challenge.  Some would be thinking - "it was a beautiful day!" and really... it was... however, it was SUPER sunny (1 downfall with outdoor photos) and SUPER windy (another BIG downfall).  I was stressed...  I was sweating...  and so was everyone else.  I rushed it a long too quickly and didn't get the photos that I really wanted...  There's enough to choose from though.  Once the photo portion of the day was over... it was time for the reception.  The bride and groom are our neighbors and friends... so we were invited to stay and have a good time.  And man, we did.  Several other neighbors were there as well, and we just had a great time.  The music being played was awesome and the drinks were flowing just right too!  :)  We sat and talked and talked all night long...  some of us danced a little too.  It was by far the most fun I've had in a really long time.  Success.  Congrats to Jon & Jess for a successful and happy day!

The neighbors!

Girls -- Jen, Me, Nikki & Mere

Jess & Jon

Coughing

Kayson is still sick.  Monday we stayed home from daycare due to the fever and cough...  diagnosis from Doctor was 'Viral'.  (I personally hate that word)  :)  We fight through it...  Rough night Monday night.

Tuesday Kayson went to daycare...  no more fever, still a cough, runny nose...  but seemed ok.  Another super rough night.  (When I mean rough night - I mean awake nearly every hour to hour and a half from him coughing and gagging or crying).  It's like having a newborn!  ha.

Wednesday Kayson went to daycare...  cough is awful.  (Probably should have kept him home).  Daycare called a couple times - he had a rough day, coughing was really REALLY bad - turning into gagging and throwing up.  He was not happy, not napping very well, not eating well...  bad day for Kayson.  I called the Doctor again - talking to a couple different Nurses - still 'Viral' and fight through it.  We could try a cough medicine - Delsym.  Wednesday's night-time wasn't NEARLY as bad as the previous nights...  so we'll see.

Today Kayson is home with Grandma JeanAnn.  We just felt like it would be best (and probably smart) to keep him home today - away from his little friends and more germs...  We'll probably keep him home tomorrow too. 

My last post was about the things that make me smile...  this is NOT one of them!  This really stinks -- it's awful to see your own child suffer and not be happy...  it hurts and makes me sad!!  We are on Day 5 of this, and I'm hoping that we are over the worst part. 

Things that make me SMILE

#1: Kayson - his giggles, his smiles, his run, his sweet voice

#2: Ryan - his dimples, his laugh

#3: the Fall season - trees changing their colors & the smells

#4: My nieces and nephews

#5: Cooking a nice meal and having my family eat it!

#6: Friends - old and new

#7: El Rodeo Chips & Salsa - and their Chicken Fajitas!

#8: Pizza Hut Thin-Crust Cheese pizza

#9: Taking Pictures...  capturing a smile or a frown!

Sick little boy

With our great weekend... we've now starting a week with some sickness.  Late yesterday afternoon (Sunday), Kayson was telling us that his tummy hurt.  We had dinner out Sunday night with Mike and JeanAnn and he just wouldn't eat, and cried and told us his tummy hurt more...  he sat on our laps the entire meal.  Man, that breaks my heart.  He also was pretty warm to the touch.

Bedtime came super early and he slept hard til about 11:30... then we were up about every hour - coughing, crying that his tummy hurt and giving medicine when we could, as his temp was 101.  Poor kid.  I'm home with him today and he's still sleeping (8:15 am), which is really unlike him.  I'm just going to let him do whatever today - he obviously doesn't feel well.  

I'm hoping for a fast recovery and that fever to break soon!

Our weekend...In Pictures

We had a great weekend!  Here's the story..  in pictures.

We converted Kayson's crib into a 'big boy' bed.  He did pretty well both days and nights for naps and bedtime...  we hope it continues to go well!  Such a big boy he is!  :)

Saturday night we had our friends Jamie and Travis over... and their little boy, Braley.  Kayson and Braley played AWESOME together... so great!  We just did dinner and watched the boys play.  It was a great visit!

Today was a trip to the Howell's Pumpkin Patch in Cumming.  We had a GREAT time - Kayson was great... loved everything!  We rode on a tractor ride (wagon) out to the big pumpkin patch, then even walked through a cool corn maze!  Back to the farm we then picked out a couple great pumpkins, Kayson rode a pony, he played in some corn (messy)! and just got some great fresh air in.  I loved every second of the pumpkin patch - growing up, I don't remember doing things like that, so I'm totally living through Kayson!  Seeing him enjoy these things is the best feeling ever!

What a great weekend!  The weather was amazing too!