Weekend

It's been a super rainy, cold weekend.  I mean - literally has rained ALL WEEKEND.  Kinda stinks!

Friday:
Kayson was supposed to have baseball Friday night - no go.  So we grabbed supper out at the OP and headed back home.  Quiet night. 

Saturday:
We kept fairly busy all day Saturday...  this and that.  Ryan went to work for a bit.  I cleaned like crazy - bathrooms, kitchen (top to bottom), dusted... all those main things.  I even got some help from Cora.  We then went out to do an errand at the Learning Post.  Kayson (and all his friends), are going through the new fad of 'fidget spinners'.  Holy moly!  Kayson was pumped to get TWO - but he paid for them with his own money!  (Nice job Mom and Dad)! ha. 

Trish, Greg, Hope and Logan were in town, so we met them for lunch.  Good visit with them.  Then back home for more this and that.   Cora took a rest, I got groceries, a little more cleaning... 

Around 5:00, we took K to Carter's for the sleepover (see below post!), then Cora, Ryan and I went out to the mall for awhile.  Ryan needed a few new things for summer, we let Cora play a little, then we grabbed some ice cream.  It was a nice couple hours with just little miss.  

Home and bed...  but was super weird not having Kayson at home.  :(

Sunday:
Church... plus a yummy lunch provided. 

This afternoon I went over to a friends house for a meal-prepping hour (2 hours actually).  So I was invited to this last week - it's a freezer meal prep.  I got to choose a 'kind', which I chose the crockpot option, bought the groceries, and then this 'company' provides the spices, etc.  We met for a couple hours at a house and just prepped the meals.  It's pretty cool!  A lot of work - and just hope I didn't mess anything up, but it was fun.  I'm anxious to try them...  knowing Ryan and I will like them, but the kiddos probably won't.  ha. 

Anyway, meanwhile at home --- Cora AND Kayson rested.  Lucky Dad.  I'm glad K took a rest - he needed it.  

Tonight we are just snuggled in.  More rain, and just cold out.  

My little fairy cleaning lady.  :)

Church friends with their fidget spinners!

Kayson - 1st Sleepover!

Saturday night Kayson had his first sleepover AT a friends house.

One of his friends, Carter (yes, he knows several Carter's!) - was turning 8 and he has been wanting a sleepover... so he got his wish.  Kayson, along with 8 other boys!!!  headed over to Carter's around 5:00 Saturday night.  Pizza, cake, gifts, air hockey, bball, movie and tons of other fun with their fidget spinners!!  

I did check in with Carter's Mom around 8:30 - she said all was well!

The kiddos stayed up super late, but they did well, according to the Mom.  

We got Kayson this morning before church - he was all ready and seemed happy.  He said he had a great time, but after church - you could tell he was tired.  Ryan made him rest, and he slept about an hour and a half.  

Big stuff man!!

Had to have a 1st sleepover picture!

Kayson - More Baseball

We are a couple games into the season...  and I'm going to try to update the blog with more info and pics of K's games.  Whether or not he'll be a 'star' player, I better document this for him!! 

POSITIONS:
Second game of the season - he got to pitch!  Oh boy.  He's always said he wants to be a pitcher.  It's like the 'thing to do' apparently!   His cousin Duke pitches, so I think he just thinks it's cool.  And it is - if you are good!  

But in reality, this was his first time pitching... and he actually did OK.  He's 8 - so I would say he had about 70% not so good throws, and the rest were great.  He did strike out a few kiddos, which he loved - you could see a little smirk on his face.  

So that was pretty fun to watch.  I thought I'd be a nervous wreck and want to hide, but I didn't.  I kept it positive.  

Third game Kayson played 1st base for several innings, and did great!  He caught the ball!  ha.  He also caught a pop-fly, which was super exciting.  

WEATHER:
oh... Iowa spring weather for you.  
Along with the second game - it was FREEZING!  We were all bundled up, and still cold.  The wind was awful!  I kept thinking - February might have been warmer.  eek.  

and then the third game it was BEAUTIFUL weather!  Warm, sunny and a nice breeze.  Now that's the weather I like for baseball. 

Tonight he has another game - at 7:15.  The weather right now is in the 50's and they won't be cancelling due to cold weather.  Cora and I will be skipping the game!!

Cora is NOT the boss!

There is a little girl in our home that I'm completely smitten over.  She's beautiful, she's caring, she's funny, and she has a lot of love for us.

But over all of those wonderful characteristics, she also believes she's the boss.  Of everything!

We've been struggling (as I've posted before) with a lot.  She literally thinks she can ignore us.  Here are a few examples of how miss Cora can act at the lovely age of 4 1/2.  

• on a chilly morning - 40 degrees to be exact.  I got her coat out, and she proceeded to put this around her waist.  She thinks that's pretty cool when she does that.  I said to her - "Please put your coat on your arms, it's super cold out this morning."  She failed to do so...  continued with the tying around her waist.  Then Ryan said to her the same thing...  again, ignoring.  So then she gets hollered at, and tears fall.  
• at tumbling, she likes to push my buttons to see my reaction when she decides she won't get in line for class with the other girls.  She'll just sit in the chair and start to get antsy and drag her feet.  I'll explain to her that it's time to get in line or we will leave.  It doesn't matter... she typically throws some sort of fit - whether it's just falling out of the chair or dropping to her knees and crying at the door to the studio.  She'll eventually get into the studio, and is fine. 
• Everyday when she gets in the car, she asks for a piece of gum... I do give this to her, maybe that's not right, but I do.  Then when we get home (which is a short 15 minutes), she's asking for another piece or something to eat.  Everyday I tell her no and everyday she throws a mini fit about it.  
• The clothing thing is still a fight... again, she thinks she's the boss of this.  And unfortunately, she's not due to the weather being so off and on right now...  I tell her every night and morning - "you have to listen to me when it comes to clothes and what you wear today."  There are usually tears. 
• in addition to things going on at home... she's been having some rough days at school as well.  We are being told that she's being very sassy and talking back to the teachers, as well as being rude or not nice to her friends.  This does not fly in our home... not an option Cora.  :( 

I find that all these things happen when she's under my watch...  she rarely EVER does any of this stuff when Ryan is around.  I find it very frustrating and disappointing.  But again, I love her so damn much... I guess this is just the way she is with me.    I also re-read this and realize to some people she may seem like a little brat.  She may be sometimes...  :(

*not complaining, just tracking what's going on with Cora at 4 1/2.  I can't wait to read these blog posts over in a year or 3.  :)

Arizona family

It appears I failed to post the one pic I got of our Arizona cousins and Aunt.  

I did get back up to Clarion, yesterday to just spend some more time with our cousins.  I got up there about 9:00...  we met for brunch at a little cafe in town, which was yummy, then we went back to Tricia's and sat and talked for hours... literally.  Man, it was great.  I love that family so much. 

Weekend - Prom & Arizona family

Busy weekend, but oh so much fun. 
Friday night we grabbed supper out... then back home to bed and packing. 

Saturday:
We got up and headed out the door right about 8:30.  Onward to Clarion.  My aunt (Mom's twin sister) and her two daughters, Jacqui (and son Derick) and Kellie flew to Iowa Friday afternoon.  Ryan and I drove separate cars, cuz he had to get back for church today... but we all headed up there at the same time. 

We met at Tricia's... and just started our day.  Lots of laughs and stories, and more laughs.  Ryan and Kayson took a break from 'girl talk' and went out to the farm to spend some time with Dad. They did some farm stuff.  :)   So nice of them.   Meanwhile, me, Cora, Hope, Jac, Kells, Aunt Caroyl, Monette & Shanna and Trish just hung out at the house.  It was such a nice time.  Doing nothing with them is great - just catching up.  It was also Prom in Clarion... so Eden, Lindsay AND Ryan were busy, but we got to see them all dressed up.  I have to put a plug in here - I'm so proud of my nieces and nephew.  Not many Aunts can say how proud they are of them... and how beautiful/handsome they are.  They are just good kids, and I couldn't be more happy for them, and love them more.  It's amazing how when kiddos get older, things just click.  I know that's not the case for all families, but we are certainly very lucky.  

Anyway...  Cora and I, along with most everyone else, went up to the HS to watch the Prom Grand March.  A big to-do, that takes forever.  ha.  But it was fun to see all the pretty girls.  

After that we went back to Tricia's - had a yummy supper and some drinks... and some more good laughs.  I got the kids to bed at a decent time...  the Arizona folks headed back to their hotel, but me, my sisters and our spouses, plus Ashley, Hope and Logan sat in the kitchen and talked for hours!  Literally til midnight... I've never laughed so hard at Ashley and just all the stuff we talked about.  It was so much fun.  

Sunday:
Tired adults.  :)
We just hung out at Tricia's most of the morning.  Ryan headed back to Waukee for church.  The rest of us went out to the farm for lunch.  It was a beautiful day (a little windy), but nice enough to sit outside.  The kids played fairly well, Cora was beyond tired, but did ok.  Kayson and Ryan rode the gator 1,000 times.  It was a nice afternoon. 

Then the kids and I headed back about 3:00 cuz K had baseball practice tonight. 

Pizza was ordered, and we had a quiet night...  and bed came early for the kids.  

What a great little weekend.  I'm lucky enough to get to go back to Clarion on Tuesday - just me.  I'll spend the day with Trish and my cousins a little more... adult time.  :)

Here are a ton of pictures from the last couple days. 

Visiting Grandma Cheryl

Fun girls!

My ornery kids at my favorite place.

We trusted Kayson to drive us in the gator!

This & That

• Kayson's allergies are in an uproar!  POOR KID.  Wednesday morning he woke and his eyes were all puffy, watery and itchy.  It just broke my heart, cuz I (and Ryan) know exactly how he feels.  And it's NO FUN.  So we are doing some liquid meds and also the oils.  I'm really hoping we can cut the meds down a little week by week, and then just use the oils...  More to come. 
• Cora has had a rough couple weeks with her mornings.  (I mean - we go from being a brat at night, to a brat in the morning!)  We have been fighting over clothes.  OMG - typical girl.  Anyway, the night before I always sit out their clothes, cuz we don't have time in the morning to deal with that.  So for awhile now, I've been talking with Cora about the outfit/shirt, etc that I'm picking out.  Typically she's ok with the choice, but most of the time she ends up throwing a fit and wanting something different.  And that's been the routine for the last week.  Half of the problem is that she needs spring/summer clothes... but of course, the weather is so off and on, I can't predict anything!!  We'll be going shopping soon.  
• JeanAnn got Kayson the game BINGO for Easter.  Except it's not with 'balls' it's with cards... and it's perfect.  We have been playing BINGO each night before bed...  it's really good, good quiet time, and also really good for Cora.  She recognizes the numbers really well, and I think this will help her with double digits.
• RANDOM - I have been styling my hair differently.  Lacey has helped me of course, but I'm really really liking it.  As I don't have many pictures of myself, I just wanted to write this down, so I don't forget.  :)
• Only 5 more weeks til Kayson is done with 2nd grade.  Unbelievable.  
• We need new deck furniture...  last year, on a whim, I sold our old furniture.  So now our deck is bare, and we'll start having nice weather... so we need to purchase something.  Even if it's cheap, I don't care!  :)

BINGO in our pjs.

Easter 2017

This year, we celebrated Easter in Creston/Diagonal.  As much as I wanted to be with Dad, I knew we needed to spend time with Ryan's family, and all the cousins/aunts/uncles.  Plus we'll be heading to Clarion next weekend!

Saturday morning we got up and headed to Grandma Janis' farm.  Everyone was there, including Great Grandma Ann, so that was great.  We spent all day there - eating, playing inside, playing outside in the SUPER STRONG wind, back inside, etc.  It was a great little day.  So much fresh air.  The kiddos did pretty well... Kayson was in heaven with Duke there.  All the kids (boys mainly) played ball - basketball and baseball, lots of 4-wheeler rides, tractor rides and just farm stuff. 
Cora and Lanny were in the mix most of the time... but they were kind of 'hot messes' by mid-afternoon.  SO TIRED.  Neither of them rested, which is just super hard when we are there with everyone...  But we all survived!  

We got our kiddos to bed at a decent time...  and then just hung out and visited at Ryan's folks.  It was a nice day.

This morning we attended church in Creston.  Kids were good, and looked adorable to top it off.  The church service was very nice.  We sang "In the Garden", which was one of the songs at Mom's funeral.  Tears just fell and fell.  I held Ryan's hand and just lost my breath a couple times.  She was there... she was with us.  I felt her.  I miss her so much. 

Then the rest of the day was just hanging out.  JeanAnn made a great little brunch for us, and then the kids played outside.  It was a beautiful day (not as windy!!)  Unfortunately, the kids were pretty owly - well, especially Cora and Landry.  Man they fight like cats and dogs sometimes!!!  Someday they won't!  We headed back to DSM around 3ish...  

It was a nice weekend.  I had Friday off from work, so the 3 day weekend (as always) went super fast.  

These boys are great!!!

Boys plus Katie!

Ryan and his favorite girls.

Great Grandm Ann and Cora colored.  Sweetest thing ever.

Only the 800th time she held Rhett in 2 days.

Boy they are pretty little girls.

The Taylor crew.  #love

"Count the Kicks"

My friend, Jess, invited me and several other of her friends/clients/coworkers to join her at the Every Woman Counts luncheon today.  A group of five women (one being a very close friend of Jess') founded 'Count the Kicks' in 2009.  These five women had lost their babies (stillborn) in their 3rd trimesters.  They gathered and grieved together, and launched the program and app.  Since then, Iowa's stillbirth rate has decreased by 26%.  Amazing.  Iowa went from the 33rd WORST stillbirth rate in the county to the 3rd lowest while the rest of the county remained stagnant.  Again, amazing.  

So this program... and luncheon was a fundraiser and all the proceeds will be spread out to expectant mothers, doctors offices, clinics, etc.  

During the luncheon, a well-known author, Rachel Macy Stafford joined us and spoke about her life and making meaningful connections with people around you.  She's a busy mom and she talked about how she was a 'terrible mother' to her children because she was too 'busy' and was the 'make the to-do lists and stick to it' type of mom.  Her girls were scared of her because she was negative, she was overwhelmed and unhappy.  She's now living Hands-Free --- to let go of distractions, perfection and the pressure to grasp what really matters.   Her new book is called "Only Love Today" - going to be purchasing that!!

During her short time talking with us, I just felt the tears fall on my face and on all the women around me.  It was so touching... to know (and we all deeply know this), we aren't alone.  Every mother is overwhelmed - but life needs to just slow down.  We need to slow down for your kids.  Slow down for your family.  For your job.  For everything.  

I left that 2 hour luncheon overwhelmed with emotions.  I'm obviously still grieving the loss of Mom, but this hit home for me.  I've realized that we as a family are tough on our kids, tough on life around us, we put way too much pressure on things.  It's ok if we are a few minutes late.  It's ok if supper isn't perfect.  It's ok.  I'm going to TRY HARD to start letting go of things... I have to.  I've always said - "you just gotta pick your battles", and that's so true.  I have to be better with our kids.  I have to be more positive.  I have to give more love.  I do not want my kids growing up and thinking myself or Ryan were crabby all the time.  I'm done.  I love my kids more than anything in this world, and they are going to know it.  

Moving on!  It was a great couple hours today.  And to see that there were over 1,000 women there!  This was the 3rd annual luncheon, and they said the attendance just keeps growing and growing!  So awesome!  They have a new campaign going on called - #Save6000Babies

There were several others from the group that didn't get in the pic...  not sure where they were!  ha.

Weekend

Friday:
Scooted out of work a little early - had lunch with my friend Melissa, who I see about twice a year.  She was in our wedding, and man how time gets away from someone/us.  We decided we would try to do lunch more than twice a year... 

Cora then got her hairs cut.  Man, it had been awhile!!  And now it looks soooo much better. 

Friday night we grabbed pizza at Gusto, then back home and just hung out. 

Saturday:
Ryan worked at work, then did some church finances, and a few errands.  He wasn't around much!  Kids and I just hung out at home...  it was a super windy day, so we ended up just hanging out inside in the morning.  Finally in the afternoon we got outside a little.  Kayson played with the neighbor kids a bit, and Cora snoozed on my lap for a bit.  I soaked that in.  

I got groceries, then more of hanging out.  Ryan and Kayson practiced some more baseball at the park nearby.   And Cora and I just played.  She was pretty sweet for me, but then it turned ugly.  She was then rotten by the time bedtime got here on Saturday night.  Lots of hollering and she got her bottom spanked.  

I know I was over it.  #MakesMeMad

Sunday:
We had a great time at church this morning.  I just feel more and more comfortable there...  we seem happy there.  The people are just... great.  Ryan had a board meeting, so the kids and I headed home...  just made a quick lunch.    Kayson went over to his buddy, Carter's house for a couple hours.   The rest of us didn't do much during those couple of hours.  I always think I'll be productive when I'm minus a kid... nope, I did a few random things around the house, and watched Ryan snooze.  ha.  Oh boy.  

Once K was home, the kids and I went outside to get some more fresh air.  Well, windy air!   The neighbor girls came over and played with Cora, so that was nice for her... and me.  I think they played for a good hour and a half.  I know I was wiped out.  

Supper was had... baths were done... and bedtime early.  Especially for Cora.  Night time has been a struggle for her... which is no fun. 

Here are some pics from the weekend.  I'm doing a LITTLE better job at taking pics.  

Ya know... just a 'normal' afternoon outfit.  :)

Snoozin' in Dad's chair.

 

Nice rain boots.  ha.

Ridin' and playin' with Livvy & Sydney

Just cruisin' with Livvy.  :)

Laundry Room to "Laundry & Drop Room"

When we moved into this house...  we just had one kiddo...  and felt that there was enough space.  We were good.  Then Cora came along, and the kids just continue to get bigger and bigger.  And so does their 'stuff' - like coats, shoes, bags, etc.  

We have a laundry room between the garage and kitchen... it's the space of a washer and dryer... and that's it.  It's small, and seems to get smaller and smaller as the kids get bigger and bigger.  

So...  I may or may not have been complaining for the past year or so - yes, I have.  When the kids and I get home, there is NO place to hang their coats (or a place that they can reach at least), we put their shoes in a basket which is overflowing.  So I've been pinning and pinning more pins on Pinterest... and finally threw out the idea to Ryan.  Stack-able washer/dryer.  

After lots of talk... and ideas being thrown out, we contacted the general contractor that worked on our basement.  And we have now have a better laundry/drop room.  It's still the same size (we unfortunately didn't think it was in the budget to build out 6 feet - oh but that would have been heaven!!!), but we now have a space for the kids to actually hang their coats and bags (and have THEM do it, not me!!!)

This was my vision -- 

This is an example of what it used to look like... including the coats and 'crap' everywhere.  :) 

And here is the process of cleaning/moving the old out... and in with the new!  LOVE LOVE.