Flash Back Friday...

I've always adored this little picture of Brooks taking a half time break. I guess the picture says it all.

My Mom and Dad are coming!

it's gonna be excited!!! (as Reagan would say) Hurry up and get here mom and dad!!! We can't wait to see you!! I'm gonna be exciting (again..Reago)

Six Month Old Greyson...

How is that possible?? My little baby...my last....my caboose....a half year already? Here's what he's into:

• pulling my hair til I'm forced into his face while he bites my cheeks
• "flubbering" my cheeks...or anything he can get ahold of
• NOT pacifiers
• sitting up
• working over the exercauser......he can make it move all across the living room by rocking it
• wearing 12 month clothing
• smiling whenever he sees Brooks or Reagan.
• loving the "wheels on the bus" song....especially the verse where the kids on the bus go up and down!
• not such a big fan of the solid foods as of yet...getting better. He doesn't gag on the bananas with oatmeal!
• he loves you to read, sing, dance to/with him
• he rolls...and kinda sorta..but not really crawls...but he does manage somehow to get places a little
• robs me of mine heart

Daily Occurences....

is that how you even spelll occurence?? occurrence? ocurrance? ocurrence? looks wrong for some reason...anyways. here goes:
The latest thing I continually hear out of Reagan is the following:...

• "When we go to Montana....can I bring my puppy and books?" (Not a real puppy..no to worry)
• and if it's getting dark out..because we once mentioned in passing that we'd either leave early in the morning or in the evening after G gets off of work...Reagan says..."it's dark out..can we get in the van for Montana now?" 15-19 times a day we hear this.

one might wonder...when ARE we actually really going to Montana?? yeah..that'd be the end of February..this has been going on about two weeks already. Maybe next time we'll wait to tell the kids we're going til a week or two before we're actually going to leave, ya THINK?

Greyson's latest work..

Greyson's been workin' overtime on these teeth. Go Greyson!

This "Ode" is for my ode Sister, Bev..aka "Aunt B" on her birthday...

Just a couple of reasons why we love Bev...

• She turns the "mundane" into a party!
• She took me to the Cayman Islands
• She is very generous....you can't "out-give her..."
• She laughs at my jokes....sometimes reallllly hard, even!
• She comes to all my major life events....(kids birthdays...births...and even massages me through them!)
• She is always encouraging.
• She's not afraid to admit her weakness.
• She'll always know the latest and greatest craft....or health food craze.
• She shows my kids soo much love...and fun!
• She takes my kiddos camping..even if its just in the yard!
• She'll take a reallllly long road trip with you...and make it seem like it's fun...as long as there's good snacks..."it's all about the snacks!'
• She's not afraid to try something new.
• She can drive a Harley...:)
• She takes care of people and anticipates their needs
• She always makes us feel super welcome in her home
• She gets excited about "juicing" things :)
• She lets my kids call her "Aunt B"
• She's the most encouraging person I know...always makes me feel like I can do anything.
• I LOVE you, BEV!! We're all so blessed to have you in our lives. Happy Birthday!!

last night of nights

Yippee!! tonight's the last night of geoff being on nights. Being on nights is incredibly difficult for soo many reasons. I've been feeling like "single mom". The kids are up giggling in the tent. I don't have the heart to bust it up cause it's such a treat to hear them up there actually getting along so well! Let's hope they sleep in til Geoff gets home (which is 7:30..and doesn't really constitute an actual sleep in in most houses) Tomorrow morning's "saturday breakfast!" I really hope G is able to get SOME sleep tonight!

Silly Announcement!

Ok...I know this is trivial..but I"m soooo excited!! I've been wanting to work out at the BEAUTIFUL new gym in N.L. ..she just called and to tell me I can start working there in their daycare. (this means FREE membership AND childcare!) I've been waitinggggggggg for a gym! Thanks, God! wooohoo! I'm encouraged.

So...
here's Mr. Greyson as of the other day. He's still growing at an alarming rate, yes. The following is Geoff's brother, Andy (Greyson Andrew...see?) with Geoff's mom, Sandy...aka "grandma magnet...due to the tshirt I purchased Reagan which somehow thinks that's somehow her new name)..and of course, Reagan.
The bottom photo is Margo (yes, she's available..tell your single doctor friends :) We miss you Taylors of Montana!! Thanks fer coming!

Visit from the Montana Taylors

Visit from the Montana Taylors

Here's a few little pictures of the visit we had with Aunt Margo, Uncle Andy, and Grandma "Magnet". (I bought Reagan a shirt with that on it...'grandma magnet, durrh :) and she thought that was Geoff's mom's new name or something)

update on stuff

So...Christmas was wonderful. Ok...not perfect cause I missed my Montana peops...but nearly! We had tons of snow (by the way...if I"m missing any "d's"...it's because something's going on with my 'd"..an I have to push it super har for some reason...grr!
Geoff's family (mom, Margo, an Andy) will be here tonight! wooopp whoop! The kids are soo anxious! Geoff's been on nights..but it's been the greatest because for some reason they haven't been doing much cases in the night...so he basically goes there to sleep! (I just jinxed it, huh?) Greyson's FIVE months old! He's a champ! He works over the exersaucer pretty good..and LOVES Brooks. I'll be posting some pics soon, I hope! Hooray for cable internet!!

birthday shots

here's those chiddrins on their birthday...

Brookser is SEVEN! Reago is FOUR

Wow....Seven.....I'm a mother of a seven year old. Surreal.
My sweet Brooks turned seven yesterday...and Reagan...four today. I could go on and on about how impossible this seems...but I'll spare us.
I so love these kiddos. Brooks had his good buddy, Dawson over after school on Monday..and then we went to Chuck E.Cheese's in Cedar Rapids. I found myself laughing out loud at the seven year old conversations going on in the back of the van...here's a few quotes:

Dawson," Brooks, if you want to have a girlfriend...I can catch one for you." "I'll even train her for you!"

Brooks, "I wish we weren't so good looking so the girls at recess wouldn't chase us!"

Brooks: "I stink. I smell like a bunch of rotten old strawberries"

What???
Strange. That's all I can say...

Reagan's day wasn't quite as exciting. She had great plans for "sharing" at preschool....made some cookies for her classmates..and it was to be her special day. ICE STORM! NO preschool today..bummer! They do this awesome little interview of the kids as they bring something from home to talk about and answer questions about. (I've learned the other kids just really keep asking them differing renditions of the same question...."where'd you get that?? who gave it to you?? where'd you buy it? who bought that for you? where'd you buy that?") cute...nonetheless.

Reagan....a little sick today..runny nose still getting the best of her. What a blessing that she's not "sick sick" though.
Love those kids! Wish I could download pics so you could love em, too!

Thanksgiving with Friends

So...this past week our dear friends from med school visited the Taylor Fam. They drove from Detroit, MI..and arrived Monday morning. The kids had SUCH a blast hanging out with each other, eating too much, watching too many movies, playing too many video games, playing outside in the too cold of weather, and staying up too late. It was soo great to see them again! We just cherish them so much and their friendship has meant so much to us over the years. We love you Hollands! I'd sure post the awesome pictures we took IF I COULD GET THEM TO LOAD!! Grrr...sorry!
Anyways....we're shoveling out the house today and getting caught up on things that went undone all week. Back to reality, eating better, and running, I guess. Sad!

The Tag Thing...

I've been tagged. Here goes:

Name Five Things You were doing Ten years ago:

1. Living in Ft.Collins, Colorado
2. doing home health care
3. went to Cayman Islands with my sisters, Bev and Renee (thanks, Bev!)
4. driving a leased '97 Nissan Altima (another one of our dumb financial decisions)
5. hanging out with Anne, Crystal, and Eric most of the time.

Name Five Things you were doing FIVE years ago:

1. living in West Des Moines, Iowa
2. getting excited for my parents to come help celebrate Brooks' TWO year birthday!
3. living in Sun Prairie Apts. (ick)
4. working part-time at Mercy Hospital in the PACU
5. driving a 95 Honda Passport that we bought from Geoff's mom (notice it's five years later..and we're driving a car SEVEN years old..we're learning!)

Name Five things you were doing ONE year ago:

1. Just finding out I was pregnant with Greyson.
2. pondering ways to break it to the fam!
3. getting excited for my parents to come celebrate Brooks' SIX year, and Reagan's THREE year birthdays from Montana.
4. volunteering in Brooks' kindergarten class
5. painting my kitchen for the fourth time

Name five jobs you've held:

1. Very first job was at TCBY (we got one free small yogurt per shift...yummy White Chocolate Mousse!)
2. worked as a dietary aid in a nursing home with my highschool buddies
3. Parkview Nursing home as an activities assistant for the Alzheimer's patients in their locked unit....interesting.
4. ER and PACU tech
5. massage therapist

Name Five of your favorite snacks:

1. Baked Cheetos
2. 94% fat free microwave popcorn....100 cal bags
3. fat free vanilla pudding snacks
4. bananas
5. Diet A&W Rootbeer (we're both addicts as of late...it's a sickness around here...don't get started on it!)

Name Five things you did yesterday:

1. went to a mom's prayer thingy for the kids/staff at Brooks' school.
2. ran (more like trotted) 3 miles on the trail in the cool air a through some leaves
3. bought groceries at Fareway
4. two loads of laundry.....grr...
5. talked on the phone to friends/(and Bev, and my mom)

Name Five things you'd do with a million dollars:

1. pay off student loans/medical school loans
2. buy a house for my mom and dad..and pay Geoff's mom's house off.
3. do some serious upgrades to the sorry wardrobes of Geoff and I (the kids get all the cool stuff around here)
4. take a vacation with just Geoff and I sans kids (never been done)
5. bless random strangers with buying their dinner, paying for their groceries/gas...stuff like that...

Name Five things I hate doing:

1. when I don't control my tongue and give in to gossiping/complaining.
2. loosing my temper with my kids
3. moving
4. emptying the dishwasher
5. waking up in the night and not be able to fall back asleep

Name Five shows I like:

1. The Office
2. Grey's Anatomy (now on at the same time as the Office...conspiracy!)
3. almost anything on HGTV
4. Oprah..usually
5. When Beth Moore comes on Wednesday mornings

Name Five of the Biggest joys of my life:

1. being married to Geoffrey...it just keeps getting better and better...really!
2. being close to God
3. being a mom to Brooks, Reagan, and Greyson...and being able to stay home with them full-time
4. decorating the house
5. shopping/getting my hair done/massages/getting my nails done/being DONE with exercise for the day/eating out/my great girlfriends.....I could go on!

Name Five People to "Tag"

1. Christie Wall
2. Rebecca Cannon
3. Athena Grady
4. Laura McCarragher
5. Corey Ward

Greyson just hanging out...
Reagan wanted to sneak into the picture..
Greyson's favorite entertainment

Ode to MARGO!

happy birthday, Margo...

Here's just some of the reasons why we love ya...

1. You're soo real....no fakey stuff there
2. You have the best hair of anyone I know.
3. You're genuine.
4. You are one of the funniest people I know.
5. You send great/thoughtful packages to the kids...even when you can't afford it because you know how much it means to them.
6. You give the best "force hugs"
7. You know how to have fun and relax.
8. You work hard.
9. You're humble..but not a push-over.
10. You speak your mind.
11. You can type really really fast.
12. You can figure most anything out about a computer.
13. You like animals.
14. If you feel prompted to give/help someone else...you just DO it....you don't overanalyze it..you just do it.
15. You said I was "cool" on the back of the school picture you gave me when I started dating your brother...(and you were in the fifth grade)
16. you're beautiful (although we'd still like you even if you weren't)
17. You would stick up for me when Geoff and I would argue and try to help me prove my point :)
18. You love my kids to pieces.
19. You're one of my husband's favorite people....well, mine too, for that matter
20. You're up front.
21. You can remember the lines to movies like nobody's business.
22. You like to laugh.
23. You love your family
24. You'd drop everything for a trip to Target or a great coffee drink
25. I can turn to you for fashion advice.
26. You're not afraid to get dirty.
27. You're not afraid to dress all up!
28. You're willing to be transparent.
29. <----your age today:)

Happy Birthday, Margo! We love you soo soo much!

Health Check...

Yes, in case you were wondering...Greyson and Reagan are STILL coughing! Grrr....
Poor little muffins! I think we're on the mend though...(feeling a little puney myself). Geoff's been working an awesome schedule this month (I LOVE you ambulatory surgery!) Brooks is learning how to tell time, add/subtract/count by fives,tens, twos..etc. First grade is fun..and fast-paced! Reagan got lost in Target on Saturday...amongst the entire town of Iowa City. She was a "Code Yellow" and everything. A lady found her and brought her to a Target workerperson. Yesterday, I was in TJMaxx with a friend...(in Cedar Rapids, mind you...twenty minutes from my house) and a lady came up to Reagan and said, "aren't you Reagan?" I didn't recognize this woman at all..and she told me she had found Reagan in Target on Saturday! I got the details of the ordeal of her "lostness"...and was glad to be able to tell this woman that we had always trained our children to find a "pretty lady" if they ever found themselves lost. She liked that :) Long story short...Reago was lost for about five minutes....which is a sicknin' amount of time, actually. I'm soo thankful that she was found and safe...now you can be, too.
Greyson...Greyson's forgoing sleeping through the night due to his cough/cold. Ya kinda have to throw all the rules out the window when they're sick...so I've spent the past four nights on the couch....next to Greyson....plunking my finger in his mouth whenever he wakes up sad/screaming/furious/coughing. (no...still won't take the pacifier....despite enormous effort). I guess that about wraps up life around the Taylor household these past couple of days.

Halloween Tidings...

Happy Halloween. We have one sick dragon (Reagan) today. icky. She's got "the" (big D)...a runny nose..and nasty cough. Greyson's thinking of having a cough, too. Here's a couple of pics of the other week when Cody and Sydney (their cousins...Renee's kiddos) were here! Hopefully there will be a little trick or treating later on tonight...hopefully!

3 Months old!!

That's right....Greyson's three months old already. He's getting a better personality! :) He went through an ultra-crabby phase..and now he's fairly content..which is cool. He smiles alot, too...which is fun...and seems to be really ticklish. We went to Des Moines over the weekend. It was soo nice to catch up with some old friends (thanks for your awesome hospitality...and togo coffee drinks, Tows!) We had a great time. The kids got to eat licorice in bed..which was cool, swim, eat Coldstone...play the NASCAR game at Jordan Creek..and play in the play area. I will still say that the highlight was visiting our old church, Valley...oh..how we miss that church and its people! Anyways...here are a couple pictures of the growing lad and kiddos.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I think I might be having a mid-life crisis. Is this possible at 34?? And does that mean...I'll live to be 68?? I mean, it feels like this is all going by SOOO fast! I blame Greyson. I've felt this way since he's been born. Before I know it we'll be putting on pjs, brushing teeth, reading stories, praying, and tucking in for the night (after a quick rendition of "Old MacDonald" for Reagan..it's non-negotiable). Where do the days go??? They should do a study....

Jaguar VICTORY!

Just had to share that Brooks' football team won their first game this afternoon! First one out of four..so it's a big deal over here! woohoo! Been lots of fun watching these boys improve on their game!