mckay's gift

First of all, I am 32 weeks and 3 days today. I look like I have a basketball under my tummy. Today at church someone asked me (again!) if I am having twins!! What is wrong with these people?!!! I really don't think I am THAT big.

McKay gave me a gift that will make my life so much easier when the baby boy comes. He can FINALLY put on his own seat belt in the car. So now I only have to buckle two--Maren and new baby boy. Hurray!

Now, I need to start working on Maren's gift....POTTY TRAINING!! Wouldn't it be awesome if I only had one tiny bum in diapers in September? That would be a darn good gift.

So, tell me, how can I push this on my child and make it work?

Taylor and McKay were both three before I had success. Come on Maren! Give me the darn good gift!

piano

Taylor has been dedicated to learning how to play the piano. We have a beginner piano book that we are trying to teach her from.

She's playing "Pitter Patter" in this clip.

And she taught McKay a little piece of work they call "Sandman's Doo-doo"

summer beach trip

I love really fine sand, but it got everywhere!

Even though it was a HIGH of 65 degrees, these two still got in the water!!!

I brought sweatshirts for the kids, but I sure wish I had one.

Carmel Beach

I couldn't take much of this rock-climbing business.

Get off of there, my precious ones!

Taylor & McKay found hermit crabs! He thought it was really cool. He brought it into the car with us. We were on our way to Pacific Grove to look at tide pools.

All of the sudden McKay started screaming. His crab had come out of the shell!

Then he dropped it.

We gave it back to him and a few moments later he was screaming again

and dropped his crab again.

Then, through his tears, he said, "I don't like my crab anymore".

This doesn't freak her out like it does her little brother.
So, Taylor got two crabs. She loves little critters.

Here's a clip of the kids running from those cold waves.

july birthdays

Taylor gave me the sweetest gift.

She woke up on my birthday wearing a beautiful dress and then she picked out a cute dress for Maren.

She said she wanted to look really pretty on my birthday!

Lunch at "the Vineyard"


One of McKay's gifts

Batman Pj's from Grandma B.

Spencer got me this! Yay! Thanks honey!

4th of July Outfits

Madera Fireworks were awesome--the best I've ever seen!

A great friend came over and brought me this! Thanks Shannon!

I love how the card and candle match.

I requested an ice cream cake and I got it! Spencer did an incredible job.

Spencer and I thoroughly enjoyed eating this cake.

Oh, so yummy.

My mom got me an ice cream cake as well!

my little singers

Taylor knows A of F # 1,2,3.

If you ask Maren what song she would like to sing, it will most likely be "Jesus Christ", which means, "I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ". It's her all-time fav.

(If you ask Maren what the name of her doll is, she will also tell you Jesus Christ).

She's always telling me, "Mommy, sing a song."

McKay can sing well, too. He just didn't want to this time. Maybe next time.

I'm not sure why Taylor is crying in the background. I think it's because I told her she sang quietly. She's very sensitive and needed more praise than "that was quiet". Sorry Taylor, I still thought it was beautiful! Oh, and maybe she's crying because Maren wouldn't let her sing with her? Maybe she's tired? Maybe all three reasons? Who knows?

taylor loses her very first tooth

Sorry these pictures are a little slimy.

She also had a bad sinus infection and a skin rash broke out on her face.

The footh fairy gave her two quarters.

She bought chocolate M&M's...maybe to rot out her next tooth?

summer days

The summer has flown by! We have a nice schedule to keep us busy all week.

Mondays: Picnic in the park
Tuesdays: Free Movie in Fresno & possible out to lunch
Wednesdays: Water park, shopping, and possible library
Thursdays: Library
Fridays: Play at home!

We read each day from the library books we check out. Taylor is quite the reader.

All three of the children have become little fish in the water. Taylor can swim! (I need to take pictures!)

We have acquired way too much stuff this summer. I'll blog more about it later, but sometimes I feel like we have compiled a whole childhood of entertainment into one summer. We got a trampoline, a playground, two new puppies, 15 new chickens, and a piano. Plus little birthday toys to keep us busy. Crazy.

So we have not been bored this summer by any means.

I can't believe school starts in one month. So sad. "Summer days are drifting away...."

mckay

Time for a hair cut!
Here's a super-hero/pajama outfit Spencer made for McKay out of an old ugly t-shirt.

reaping what we sow

I am LOVING the garden. The kids love it too. They love sharing it with neighbors and friends. And they are eating lots of veggies! As you can see, we are getting way more than what we need! (But still, we neglected some plants and didn't utilize them when they were ready. We are learning to be more vigilant for next year's crop)


Here's Maren with a cucumber picked straight from the garden.I tried to get a good shot of McKay with his cucumber.... but he wasn't cooperating.

These are the best I could get.