VACATIOn

We're on one...well.....leaving today anyways...for Montana! Pics to follow...we're driving....kids are sick....say a prayer, will ya?

More Friday Flashbacks

These were taken in Feb of 2004. Geoff was a 4th year med student..and we were living in West Des Moines. Look at how tiny that apt. was! How'd we do that?? Reagan's torticollus (sp?) wow..we never thought THAT would resolve! also...loook at the NOT FROZEN pond! It really IS a cold winter this year!

The snow.....

see that mailbox??? do ya?? do you see it? Poor Rick...the mailman...he must be ready to quit about now. Oh...I hope he doesn't go postal!
Yes..I DO still have my Christmas wreath up okay? But check out the funky skinny snowman. P.S. we got five MORE inches since this.....wish I could say I wasn't bitter..

Grandpa's new Spider Man Valentine's Day "tat"
A mean game of "Membory" with Grandma...Reagan kicks everyone's boot on that one!
Grandma always loves a craft~
Sweet how they always squeeze in our big chair..

"sprinkling" the Valentine's cupcakes..Reagan and Grandma..

Can I Wake UP????

Reagan...
this is how she "wakes up"..rather...doesn't go to sleep when she's taking her afternoon nap!! I fear the worst. I'm troubled. Alarmed...frightened......I'm afraid..the afternoon naptime has come to an end. Reagan lays down now for about fifteen minutes..and then begins to hollar out, "CAN I WAKE UP?" She USED to just fall asleep! Yikes.....I really think her days of "napping" in the afternoon are over (not like Greyson will sleep while she is, anyways)..dangit. Oh..and today...I found her hidden in her closet eating her Valentine's Chocolate!! Where oh where...would she ever learn that kind of behaviour?????? :) Dear, Sweet, Reagan.

If you don't like the Weather....

just wait five minutes...it'll change? Ya know...we've lived in Montana, Texas, Colorado..and now, Iowa. EVERY place we've lived..the people love that phrase. I will say, however..that within FIVE minutes this morning....it finally rang true! (Geoff and I are always bugged, severely by this expression...just find it annoying to some degree) Anyways..weatherman "Schnackenberg" (yes....it IS his real name..I didn't make that up!) predicted rain today....although we just had about five inches of snow in the night. Being the conscious home owner that I am...coupled with the fact that we missed the little "window" of shoveling opportunity LAST time we had a big rain/ice storm predicted..I got my little hiney out about 6 before the kiddos were too roused to shovel! (G had already left for work about an hour prior..poor guy) anyways...I'm shoveling along like a regular person..when it started to THUNDER/LIGHTNING..and rain on me!!! about two minutes later...it hailed!!! True story.
and now..I'm getting old...because I'm a little too obsessed with weather.

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