Phraseology
9:12 PM - Posted by Erin - 1 comments
Taylor is going through a phase where she says various sentences that are hilarious (at least to us)!

I'm thinking I'll share them as they occur.

She's learning to express herself and I can't get enough of it!

Taylor's new favorite phrase, always said with a straight face, and usually said while leading me into the kitchen: "Mommy, I gotta eat."

Girl after my own heart!


Wrestling Anyone?
10:28 PM - Posted by Erin - 1 comments
Last night I came home from work to find the bed pillows strategically arranged on the bed.
Apparently, Rob and Taylor had been "wrestling!"

Tonight I came home from work and found the pillows in the same arrangement and said, "So, did you and Taylor wrestle again today?"

Rob's response (with a hint of a grimace): "No, we danced."

Taylor knows how to turn the alarm clock's radio on and uses that to bust a move dragging anyone in the room along with her! Daddy's make the best dance partners, don't they?!?
Even if dancing isn't quite their thing...


What a great daddy!
This is going to be one heck of a summer.



Our Bounty
1:28 PM - Posted by Erin - 0 comments
At the beginning of April we started a garden.

Nothing huge... about 8 feet by 16 feet.
We worked hard to remove the grass, till the soil, mix in good soil and natural fertilizer.
We planted a few plants and bunches of seeds.

This is the picture after we first planted everything...
About a month later we had all sorts of sprouts!!
And almost two months after we started everything has grown!
We've got green beans, strawberries, peppers (bell and jalepeno), cucumbers, squash, zucchini, herbs (basil, parsley and cilantro), tomatoes (roma and some other ones - can't remember their names!), onions... I think that's everything...

These are zucchini plants! The were seeds to begin with...

Cucumber plant... see the little cucumber just below the big leaf?
Strawberries!! These were our first edible items from the garden!
Never having done this before we were very excited to actually have tangible results!!
What's a garden in Texas without jalepeno peppers?! Can't wait to try to make some salsa using these, our various varieties of tomatoes and our onions!
Taylor helps!

A couple days ago we had our first dinner from the garden!! It's true... home-grown veggies are the BEST!
More to come!
Sure would be nice if we'd get a little rain!!


Our Oasis
8:02 PM - Posted by Erin - 2 comments
My husband is awesome.
And I'm not just saying that.
After this, you'll think so too.

He's got such a vision when it comes to many things.
One vision I LOVE revolves around turning our 1983-built house into a home that is inviting, comfortable, and outdoor-centric.

We want our home to be an oasis - a getaway in this crazy world - not only for us, but also for our family and friends.

Last summer, in the heat of July, Rob (and family/friends) got to work on our deck!
Check out the progress pictures!

Here's the final product as of a couple months ago!
We eat dinner out here on a regular basis and just enjoy being outside.

Our vines have taken off! These three flowering vines have reached the top of the trellis and are starting to fill in up there! This added cover is natures air conditioning!

Here's the mastermind himself enjoying the evening!
We've got more of our backyard oasis to share, but that will have to wait for another post!
Get ready for pictures of our vegetable garden!!

Oh, and feel free to drop by to make our oasis a little oasis of your own!


Happy BIrthday Pups!
8:33 PM - Posted by Erin - 0 comments

Today Toby and Daisy are eight years old.

Seems like only yesterday we were carrying them up and down the stairs of our first apartment!



I didn't really know what I was getting into when we got these pups... I still haven't gotten used to all the HAIR or how expensive dogs can be.

But the love they give us daily is just awesome!

Did you see the news recently about the kid that went to heaven (his dad wrote a book about it)? Well, at one point he mentioned that there were lots of animals in heaven... I sure hope that means Toby and Daisy will be with us in heaven someday!

This was their first camping trip - Pedernales Falls State Park- we were quite proud of this family picture.


Toby will always and forever be a lap dog and a little lover boy.


And Daisy always greets us with a smile and a spunky attitude.


They've been our adventure companions on numerous camping trips.
They've followed us up mountains!


And paddled along with us on the river!


And at home, there's never a shortage of snuggling!




Preview of What is to Come
2:41 PM - Posted by Erin - 1 comments
What a day...

Within an hour of getting my new-to-me camera (Thanks SC!!) in proper working order, I snapped the following pictures!

Hopefully, having the pictures that capture all these different faces will help me really remember these times - I don't want to forget ANYTHING.

Especially these deep, dark eyes from the backseat...

Or this cheerful giggle...

This squeal of delight!!

Or this generous spirit...

Say "Cheese!!"





Bedtime Routine
9:01 PM - Posted by Erin - 0 comments
Every night we tend to spend a little QT with Miss T before putting her to bed. Tonight was not much different...

We like to read books.
She's starting to remember the stories and tends to "read" books to/with us as opposed to us just reading them to her. This is one of her favorites! The video will give you a little insight into her reading, our interpreting, and other bed time activities.
"

Daddy gets a good smooch.
Isn't her hair starting to get long?!? I've attempted "tony tails" but if I can keep her still long enough to get her hair pulled up and out of her face she pulls it out after a few minutes. Any suggestions on how to make that work?

Wish this photo came out better - Mom, can you work your magic?!?
Taylor and Mommy act silly.
Taylor usually brings me a crocheted blanket for my head and then puts one on her head too. Lately we've been singing "Matchmaker, Matchmaker make me a match... find me a find... catch me a catch..."
And after we put all her babies to bed she lays down too... head on pillow, babies within arms reach. We say a little prayer... usually something like, "Dear God, thank you for this wonderful day, thank you for Taylor Rose, Daddy, Mommy, Toby, and Daisy. Please be with Taylor and help her have a good night sleep, and thank you most of all for Jesus. Amen."

Tonight, as I got close to her with the camera she was sticking her feet through the slats in the crib to "get me!" Appropriately I called her a goober which brought on a string of sweet giggles.
To which I responded, "Night, night, Sweet Sugar, I love you."
All precious things I don't ever want to forget!