Daddy's Little Helpers

Daniel has been busy this weekend starting to put in a flagstone patio in the backyard. It's pretty labor intensive work, but he had little helpers the whole time. The girls went with him to collect the rocks, helped him haul the sand to back yard, and lay the rock. They were very in to it! I wish I got more pictures of them, but this is what I have. Daniel's still got several more weekends to go until there is a finished product, but I'm excited about the start!

Last Week of Summer!

This past week was our last week of being care free and schedule free (before school starts), so we loaded up in the car a few times and made some special trips to the library, park, oak creek, and the pool! It is always so sad to see summer come to an end, but we tried to enjoy our last week and make it special!

The girls picking apples at the creek!

Rayna's really getting in to it!

Taylin reaching for hers!

sweet sisters (Rayna's currently going through a phase of not looking at the camera, don't you love it)

Hiking in the creek

Grandma and Tobyn

Tobyn endures being drugged around very well

Little Nathan at the pool, he sure keeps his mommy busy!

Hannah and Taylin

Rayna and Isaac, partners in crime (literally!)

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party!

Today, Taylin got to go to a friend's birthday party and was told to dress up! She was fully cooperative and great at picking out her own attire! She was thrilled with the oppurtunity to but her finest clothes on and get made up! (I have to admit I had fun doing her hair!) Here's our Fancy Nancy!

1st Day of Ballet!

The girls have been longing to go to ballet classes for a long time, and they finally got their wish yesterday! They are in the same class, which actually just ended up being them! Hopefully, some other little girls will join. They had a blast dancing and especially dressing up! Their teacher was so beautiful, the perfect ballerina! At the end of the class the girls got to play freeze dance. They danced their little hearts out any way they wanted to and when the music stopped they had to freeze. Well, while they were dancing their hearts out they also enjoyed looking at themselves in the mirrors! They were so funny! You could definitely tell their were dreams of fairy tales, princesses, and pink ballerinas in their heads!

stretching their legs

listening to directions

Rayna's trying so hard to get this mermaid crawl down

My ballerina

Dancing their hearts out!

I Did It! It's All Gone!

Today was the day, I chopped off my hair! I have been desiring to cut my hair for several months now. Probably for about 5 months I've been thinking I would donate my hair to Locks of Love if I ever decided to cut it. Well, I finally did it. My desire for cutting my hair has really increased since I've had Tobyn. It's always getting in the way, and then a little somebody, actually 3 somebodies, seem to find a way to pull it! So, it's gone! I can't honestly say that I love the new due right now, but I hoping that if I give it a week of playing with it and adjusting to it, I'll like. Rayna and I went together to get our hairs cut and after the hair stylist was done she said, "Mom, your kinda beautiful.... Well, a little beautiful.... Well, not really..." Thanks Rayna, I love your honesty! Taylin wasn't much better, she decided she likes it longer, too. But it was for a good cause and it was just to long for me right now! And the thing that makes feel best is that its only temporary, it will grow back! I told that to Taylin and she said,"Will you have some more in the morning?"

Allowance

Our latest thing lately has been to initiate an allowance for the kids. We wanted Taylin to start learning some of the principles of money and Rayna, honestly, is just along for the ride, but I do actually think she is learning a lot. We have initiated the typical plan of giving them money in return for doing some chores (making beds, emptying the dishwasher, cleaning off the table after dinner, and picking up their toys). If they whine, fight, complain, or don't finish their chores in time then they get money taken away (a nickel for each occurrence). They also have to give some of their money to God, save some of it, and then the rest is theirs. We have had some responses from the girls that have been interesting and I don't think I really expected some of them. I thought I was going to be the one teaching, but I've actually learned some things about my girls.

The first time the girls got their allowance and I explained the need to give some of it to God, Taylin was very upset. She did not want to give her money away. I tried to explain to her why we give our money to God and that it all comes from him in the first place. She was still not satisfied. This made me realize, "Wow, this really is something that we need to work on with her!" Then there was Rayna response, "I'll give God my money, he can have more."

Then, yesterday, Daniel and I took the girls to the store so that they could spend their money on what they wanted. Taylin had decided at home that she wanted to spend all of her money, $7.33. Rayna had decided that she didn't want to spend all of her money, but that she wanted to save some it. So, she left $3 at home. Once at the store, they both found some candy for about a dollar that they wanted to buy, and then they went to the toy section and looked for a while. Taylin found a princess camera with a camera case that she wanted, and that would take all of her money. Well, Rayna first thought she wanted the same thing and was about to get it and at the last minute decided she didn't want to spend her money. She did decide to get her candy, though. I thought for sure that she would be sad that she didn't end up with a new toy, but she was really happy about her decision to save her money. Taylin spent all of her money except 4 cents, and she was just as happy about her decision. I have one saver, and one with a hole in her pocket! I already knew I had at least one spender, but I didn't know I had a saver. It's interesting to see their personalities come out. I wonder what other things I will learn about my kids through this experiment with money!

Tobyn at 3 Months!

Can you believe it, Tobyn is 3 months! Time really is flying! He's getting pretty big! He has more than doubled his birth weight!

Uncle Ryan and Auntie Aimee Visiting!

This past weekend Daniel's sister and husband came out from Georgia to visit. We did a lot of traveling and exploring with them, down to Sedona and the Grand Canyon! We had lots of fun and the kids were all over them! They got to see us in all of our glory (crying spells, fits, rowdiness, disciplines, and chaos)! We're hoping they will want to come back! They just left this morning and the girls are already going through withdrawals!

At Grasshopper Point putting our feet in the cold water!

Tobyn had fun, too!


Rayna loves her uncle, I think she has a severe crush going on!

The Grand Canyon in all its Splendor!

Family photos are just so hard to get everyone at there best, here I think we got a good one of Taylin. One out of five isn't bad, right?

Stone Mountain

On our last day of vacation, we visited Stone Mountain. It is basically a huge stone mountain in the middle of Atlanta area with a lot of family activities centered around it. It was a hot day, but the kids had a lot of fun. We rode a train, a sky ride, did a ropes course, shot balls at each other, and enjoyed some italian ice!

In front of the Stone Mountain!

Waiting at the bathroom for everyone

Gathering balls up to shoot them at people through really cool air guns!

Rayna enjoyed her icy!

On top of the mountain!


Atlanta in the background

Lil' Manny, compliments of Taylin's photography!

Johnny, compliments of Taylin!

Auntie Denise and the boys waiting in line for their turn of the Sky High Adventure Ropes Course, compliments of Taylin!

Georgia!

After our time in Florida, we went back to Daniel's parents house in Georgia and enjoyed a lot of our time just relaxing and playing at their home. We spent time on the jet skis, the boat, the pool, and just hanging out with the family.

Rayna and Mommy having some fun!

Rayna on the boat

Grandpa taught Taylin how to drive the jet ski, so now she on to the boat!

Lil' Manny is not so little anymore!

Daniel's cousin Tyler ended up in Atlanta at the same time from Japan and we got to spend a day with him.

Christine and Jude chillin out on the boat dock

Lots of helping hands for the baby (I'm missing that now that I'm home!)

This particular morning I went jogging and was so hot when I came back I just decided to jump in the pool with clothes on and all. Well, the girls thought that was fun and they needed to get in too! We had a jammie pool day!

Johnny's lovin on Tobyn

Jude loves his Uncle Ryan!

Tobyn's enjoying his vacation

Snugglin on the couch with Auntie Denise

More From Our Vacation

While we were still in Florida we also took some time and went to the beach (which didn't last to long because of a storm), spent some time at the pool, and being a tourist at shops and parks! It was very hot weather, but beautiful scenery!

Playing in the sand at Cocoa Beach

Jumping the waves in the water, Rayna had a blast!

Jude's thinking about weather he really likes this sand.

Tobyn can chill out anywhere, just give him some shade!

Uncle Ryan with Tobyn at the pool

Enjoying the pool, no sand to get dirty with!

And there's a hot tub, too! Grandpa Dave's enjoying his time!


Trying to get Tobyn to smile for the camera!

Jude's got the hang of this smiling stuff!

Playing at the park, "Does Daddy really fit on there?"


Rayna's in the baby swing with Jude?

Tobyn's nice and cozy tucked away