Three Generations!!!

My Grandma Yadon, Mom, and Me....at the weddin'. Found my memory card!!! hoooray!!!

Brooks and Reagan gettin' their groove on...

Montana, Montana...glory of the west...

this was the backdrop to my neice Emily's wedding. Wish I hadn't lost the memory card..cause I had some BEAUTIFUL pictures of her! (just imagine, k?)

Greyson is ONE!!!

just how did this happen?? Greyson celebrated his first birthday with a 'pool' party in Billings, Montana. Lots of family was there to help him eat birthday pizza and cake....and cool off in the little pool. I even got to see a great friend from highschool that I hadn't seen since....'91? yikes, I'm old!

here's the little man takin' in some cake and pizza..and a little dip to boot.

Home again..home again.....

we made it back home. It was a FABulOUS...and I DO mean fabulous trip!!! Kalispell was even better than I was expecting and seeing our family is ALWAYS a good thing. Dummy me lost the memory stick of our camera...so the pics of Kalispell are lost, along with the whole first part of the trip. Dangit!

I'll post more in detail later. I'm sure you're on the edge of your seat.

God's soo good.

packin'

that's what we're doing around here today. Geoff's on call today. (thank God its not 24 hour!) woohooo!

Alas....

Short Hair

Reagan got some.
Pictures pending...

Memory Lane

Hey..this is a 'tag' from my friend, Christie..a simple tag! All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog with a memory you have about you and me. If you leave a comment on my blog I'll assume you're "game" and leave one on your blog as well! Fun!?!

booger.

geoff," what is that, brooks?"

brooks, "booger."

geoff, "gross, go put that in the garbage!"

brooks, "k, back!" (1/2 second later)

geoff, "that was pretty fast, did you put it in the garbage really?"

brooks, "oops, no. i just put it on the carpet."

geoff, "gross, go put it in the garbage!"

brooks, "k. there. i did it!"

brooks (a few seconds later), "well, i couldn't really find it, so i just put something else in the garbage."

gross.

see?

see what i live with??

ew.

We did it!

we left the house. HOooray for us! We went to the pool with our dear neighbor, Kristan (gotta love that beauty of a name) and Lydia..her sweetie three year old. the kids were thrilled...especially Greyson. He didn't ever want to get out!
We might just do something again today! Over achievers, huh??

I DID mow already this morning..AND shower! I think this weather makes me want to melt into my house and not come out! No me gusta extremes!

the house

we need to get out of it tomorrow.

that's all I can say about the house.

Reago This Very Day...

Happy Four Year Anniversary, Reagan!!!

It's 'heart day" here today! That's such a good thing! I think it's our very best thing we ever have had to celebrate. On this day, July 7, 2004 Reagan received her open heart surgery at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines...and started on the path to being a HEALTHY girl! We are always soo thankful on this day, and everyday to the Lord for bringing her through such a big surgery..and that she's here with us now...strong, healthy, and full of so much joy and love! We had the awesome support of soo many friends and our family! Thanks, everyone..for being Jesus to us..and propping us up during this most difficult time of our lives!
Reagan often thinks that either Daddy (geoff) did her surgery..or God himself. We rarely have the heart to correct her! She brings us soo much joy..and today, especially...we celebrate YOU, Reagan!!!!

parade pics.....among other things..

Goofy Fourth Pics

We had unseasonably wonderful weather over the fourth of July weekend. Dr. Stinky had a THREE day weekend.....which was heaven. Here's a few pics of the haps around here the past couple of days. We kicked off with the kids and I sleeping out in the backyard in the tent. We were even chilly by morning. Chilly! yes..in Iowa.....in July! But...today's stinky hot and humid. Back to real Iowa summer weather again!

We got to hang with our dear friends, the Grady's...some pics of them as well! And Cindy and her kiddos with us at the big parade in Coralville (tons of candy was raked in by all)

Happy Fourth!

Red-Tailed Hawk

That's the bird, in case you were wondering. I was berated by my Montana cousin for not knowing that! Love you, Jaclyn! :)
he's still hanging around each morning on the neighbor's roof..and driving all the "little birds" crazy! I'm amazed by how 'brave' they are to peck at him while he sits on the roof and acts like he doesn't even know they exist. They must be humiliated that he ignores their taunting...I'm embarrased FOR them!
What a humid day. YOu know I'll be griping about how 'fly-away' my hair is..and how dry my skin is if we ever get to live back in Montana...remind me of the icky humidity then, k?
I gotta go find something productive to do with these little Taylors of mine.

Afternoon Hang out....I love these people!

Name that bird...

" Seriously, Mom!!! You gotta come SEE this bird!!" ..that's what Brooks said first thing this morning. He spied this raptor atop the neighbor's roof early early. He hung out with his other little bird friend and had all the neighborhood birds in a tizzy.
Anyone know what kind of bird this is???

11 Month Old Baby...

Can you believe that Greyson's ELEVEN months old already??? Here's some pics just this morning of the lad.

Yesterday was pretty great. For starters...we went to church as a family for the first time in about a month! (sick kids..Geoff had TWO 24 hour calls the past two Saturdays...etc) Greyson didn't make it in the nursery for more than 4 minutes...so he rocked out to the music...and we spent the remainder of the "sermon" listening from the lobby tvs.

Next I ran to Kohl's...where I purchased a "dressy" shirt for the resident graduation ceremony at Brown Deer (not John Deere...I had to back up there..because I have a reallly hard time saying brown deer for some reason) We had a babysitter! Yes!!! US!!! A sitter!!! She was great...and hopefully she'll be coming back Thursday night for a party at one of Geoff's "staff's" house. (I'm gonna be needy another swanky outfit...help!) oh! and....I only spent 4 minutes in Kohl's!! that's what going without kids can do for a panicked girl that has NO time to shop or try on clothes! got a shirt...and earrings!...four minutes...no lie! and...I tried it on even!
anyways.....I'm obviously rambling! There's the Brookster...up for the day.

but...we DID go to the North Liberty pool last night! What a great little place with a zero depth entry...lots of squirty things, floaty things...and water slides..all for SIX BUCKS for the whole fam! (were you expecting pictures?? sorry!)

Happy Monday!

More Flood Stuff

The website linky deal that I included previously, www.parkviewchurch.org now has some new pics..and CNN's interview with Pastor Jeff Gilmore. Muddy!

New Post

I figured it's time for a new post. I have nothing really to say...I just tire of seeing myself and those ridiculous sunglasses on this thing. Hopefully....this
will
take


up


enough space


such that....




I won't be


greeted by that fashion blunder





each time


I


log



on!


Hope everyone's having a happy Saturday!

it's gorgeous here!!

Here I am to Worship..

Here's a couple of pictures from the race I trained and trained for since last October. As many of you know, I had felt led to do this sometime last fall..and accidentally blurted that fact out to a whole group of bible study women that I barely knew! Well...be careful about doing that, okay?? I'm not some spiritual super giant..but I have learned soo much through training for this race about giving things over to the Lord..and that we REALLY can do ALL things through Christ, who gives us strength! It was 12.4 miles...so you KNOW that was a God thing for me, huh?

and I want to super thank Anne, for all the advice, and "long runs" (even though I know I slow her down), Angie...for making me sign up..and believe I could do it!, Bev..for calling me a runner and being excited each and every time I had run my farthest, Keri and Angie (again) for the swingin' bbq..and for being at the finish line to cheer for me (thanks for getting up at the crack, Ang..to take me to the drop off place!) Geoff- you never once complained when I would take off after you'd finally get home so I could run..and I'm come back sweaty and tired! thanks for being my ever encourager! Bryn...you did it first..and were soo inspiring! I know it wasn't an Oscar or anything...but I do feel like I have soo many people to thank!

and now..for another "blurt"! I'm signing up for the Marathon in October in Des Moines. Yikes!

oh.

and this song was my theme song...cause in the beginning I hated running so bad that I decided to make it my worship.