My Big Helper!

Tobyn loves to get into my cabinets. He especially loves the drawer where the dish towels and bibs are. This particular day, we found him cleaning with the one of the dish towels. He was rubbing his little heart away and oh so proud of himself! I actually got a really cute little video of it and then when I went to watch it, I realized I filmed it crooked! So, here is a still frame instead:(

"Now what else can I get into?"

A Nurses' Heart

We have had the flu bug in our house for the past several days, and last night it finally hit my rock, Daniel. So, today he was laid up on the couch feeling miserable and sleeping for most of the day. Somewhere around elevenish, I found Rayna sitting on the couch next to her big dad, stroking his forehead and rubbing his hair. I thought this would maybe last a minute or two, but she actually sat there for at least 15 minutes pampering him. She does seem to have a very loving and nurturing nature in her. I only see it come out every once in a while, because the other times she is too busy just doing something. She was much more sympathetic to her Dad then I was (maybe because she had just gotten over it herself and remembered how bad it was). So, here is my little nurse in training.

Taylin's Style

Yesterday, Taylin walked out of her room as proud as could be and said, "Mom, doesn't this look soo cool together?" I turned to my child and found her dressed in her boots and shorts and a tank top. Hmm........ "Well, Taylin, not really. They don't really go together." I know. Talk about bursting a kids bubble, but I had to be honest with her. "Yeah they do Mom. My boots are cool," was her response. I told her she could wear them while we were at home and would have to change if we went somewhere. Fortunately, we stayed home for most of the day, so she thought she was the bomb! I couldn't pass up this opportunity to show you Taylin, so here she is!

It looks like Taylin is throwing up some gangster signs, but that's just her way of being silly.

Taylin's Playing Softball!

So, it's really T-ball, but they seem to call it softball. The kids are just so cute when they're trying to figure out the game. Here is a few pictures of her in all her glory. The season actually ended last week and now we are starting up soccer!

She's a Dodger!

It's always fun to have buds to goof around with!

Taylin's playing catcher!

She was so cute trying to figure out what she was suppose to do! "Where do I throw the ball? Who am I suppose to tag?"

Here's Taylin playing second.

A little footage of Taylin hitting the ball. You'll have to excuse the fence!

Rayna's 4th Birthday!

Here are finally some pictures of Rayna's 4th Birthday! It was quite a day. Full of fun and excitement. We started out the day with presents and a favorite breakfast, then church, her birthday party, and then cousins still to play with!

Rayna definitely had the present thing figured out this year. Maybe a little too figured out! Daniel and I were like, "Slow down girl!"

Sporting her goods.

Rayna's lovely posing. We had her birthday party at a park this year. We BBQed, had a water balloon fight, rode bikes, had sidewalk chalk and bubbles, a good old pinata, and of course cake!

It's always fun having cousins up for your birthday!

Taylin's sporting Rayna's new bike and helmet!

Yummy chocolate cake!

Rayna's partner in crime (Isaac)!


Yeah for water balloons!


The kids refilling their squirt guns!


Daddy's always good for a good water fight.

Yeah for water on a hot day!

Here's a little bit of the footage!

Crashed out after a long hard day!

(Taylin, Rayna, Jennica, and Henry)

Some More of Tobyn

Here is a few glimpses of Tobyn. He is getting so fun. I have really been enjoying him the last month or two. From one to two years of age seems to be my favorite stage. They are little sponges and are learning something new everyday. His personality is coming out more and more everyday as well. Yet, he is still so sweet and still loves his mama! He hasn't developed the attitude quite yet, although I can see glimpses of it emerging! He is not walking yet. He's getting there, but he doesn't seem to have the patience to wait to get his balance, instead he wants to just take off. He does seem to love to climb and get into anything he can, and he is getting faster everyday! Things he has learned: the toilet paper roll in the bathroom is a lot of fun to unroll when no one is looking, the handle on the toilet makes the water go down the little hole, doors are fun to open and close, the wipes container has a button on it to push and you can pull all the wipes out, the silverware in the dish washer are fun to pull out and throw on the ground, maybe occasionally their fun to put back in, and the VCR/DVD player has cool buttons to push and slots to put things in! Words he can say: Mama, dog, ball, more, no, and night-night.

"Did you say the stove was a no? I can't remember this one."

"I am such big stuff Mom!"

"The dishwasher is my favorite place to climb!"

"I'm hungry mom, what can I have?"

Enjoying Summer!

We took a fun little day trip with our friends the Finney's down to Red Rock State Park to enjoy some warm weather and water. The kids had so much fun playing in the water and the mud. They could have camped out and stayed the night. We tried to up their spirits when we left with a traditional stop at DQ! Ice cream does always work!

Taylin and Isaac

Tobyn even loves it. Although his legs took a beating! He's really got to learn to walk!

My perky Rayna!

Taylin being mischievous.

Rayna was the target!

Ballet Recital

The girls were in their first ballet recital together, "Decade of Dance." They were so cute and they both did well being up on stage. It was a class with 3-5 year olds. Taylin got to be the ring leader sense she was the oldest. It was fun to have them together. It probably will be their first and last time :( They both loved getting their make up done and putting on their costumes! I was happy when it was over with, the last week we had something for ballet almost every single day. It was a little overwhelming! But I'm sure this is something we will do again. This was right up both of their allies!

Taylin at home getting ready.

Rayna loves the make-up!

We gave the girls roses after their recital was over with and they were so excited! Their first roses!

Taylin, wasn't ready to be done. She wanted to do more dances on stage. What does that say?

Okay, mom. Really another picture?

This is just a little clip of the one of the girls' dances. (I was not suppose to video tape, instead I was suppose to buy a $42 DVD so that I could keep the memories.) The girls are on the right side of the stage.

School's Out!!!

We finished up all of our school obligations on the May 24th! Yeah!! I think I'm more excited than the girls (they still think school is fun)! So, here are some pictures of our end of the year stuff, although, I did not take pictures of some of our stuff! I know, bad mom and bad blogger!

Both of the girls did AWANA's this year. They did an awesome job memorizing scripture every week. Both of them, loved the gamed time the most. It's always so fun to win! Taylin did a really awesome job in Sparky's. She was one of a handful of kids to go through and memorize her whole book! (Daddy is a very proud dad, he wanted me to let you know.) This is Taylin walking up to the front with her class.

This is the back of Rayna's head. She is getting her award from her teacher. We've never had to deal with Taylin getting in trouble with her teachers before, but this year we have been enlightened! Rayna's buds are all boys, and she happens to desire to keep up with them all!

This is our Discovery Group. We met on Wednesdays this past year and we did some of our science, art, and history together (along with several field trips). So, for our last time together, we met at the park and had a water balloon fight, played with bubbles, ate pizza and cupcakes, and simply played on the park equipment! It wasn't quite as warm as we had hoped for a May day, but the kids didn't know the difference!

The kids are trying to accomplish a water balloon toss!

Nobody ever tires of bubbles!

Taylin's a little wet and cold from being a target of a water balloon!

Toddlers and their guns.

Babies and their guns!

Girls' and their guns!

Tobyn's 1st Birthday!

Has a year really gone by since we met Tobyn for the first time!? I know I sound like a broken record, but it really is amazing at how fast the time has gone. And yet at the same time, it's hard for me to remember life with out him. I guess you could say he enjoyed his birthday, but I seriously doubt he really new what was going on! All he really new was that he got a lot of attention and he got some good sugar!

Here's Tobyn first thing in the morning. He's really not very excited about his presents, but he is all into the balloons that were on the floor!

Ribbon is a very cool present!

I had fun with Tobyn's birthday theme, Mickey Mouse! Daniel was thinking the Transformers. I figure that day will come, but I can choose now!

MMM... Cake....!!

The two birthday boys! Exactly one year apart. Nathan, so graciously, got to have his party the night before, so that Tobyn could have his first birthday party on the real date. I never would have guessed that the two of them would share a birthday! But hey, I guess God's timing is perfect!

Here is a video of us singing Happy Birthday to Tobyn with his cake. You will have to excuse the camera man, he wasn't thinking clearly. Also, please know the high chair has been fixed and Tobyn is once again safe in his chair!

Mother's Day!

Okay, so I'm a slacker! I can't say I've had much motivation to stay up late lately to blog, but I have no excuse the girls are out of town at Grandma and Grandpa's house right now. So, here is my attempt to fill you in again, on the last month! Below are some pictures of my Mother's Day. We went on a little family hike, which turned out okay. We had one really enthusiastic hiker and one who was not quite so interested. I'll let you see if you can guess who was who from the pictures.