A Wonderful Trip

Last weekend I got to take a trip to California to visit a friend who lives there from college, along with two other college friends. I love my Taylor friends. I love that even though we've changed and our lives are different, at the core we are the same people we were in college with a heart for Jesus and for each other.

The first night we got to visit Jamie's home in Burlingame, CA. It was fun to see where she lives (an adorable town and home) and see Jeff and the kids. Jeff is one of those fun husbands to hang out with and will indulge us while we have girl talk. This picture is of the three friends I spent the weekend with (from left to right) Michelle, Jamie and Ann.
We spent the first night at Jamie's staying up late and catching up. I think we went to bed at 4am Indiana time, which worked out well...we adjusted to California time the first night.

Then we ate breakfast and leisurely got ready to head to Sonoma. Sonoma is a quaint wine country town with beautiful scenery and old wineries. It was rainy/misty most of the day so we tried had not to let that dampen our spirits.

We saw rows and rows and rows of grape vines...

That evening we stayed at a cottage in Sonoma. It was adorable...you can see the front door through the arch.
We drove into town and shopped downtown Sonoma and finished eating at a restaurant called The Girl and the Fig. It was a perfect way to end the day.

The next day was beautiful and sunny. Definitely made up for the deary weather the day before. We headed out to one more winery the to the city to spend the day in San Fransisco. The sky was so clear and the bridge was amazing to see from this angle. Conner asked me if I took a picture while on the bridge. I didn't even think of it, but I should have!


We drove down Lombard (picture below)...I always enjoy the drive on that famous street. Many hydrangeas were in bloom. Then we parked and walked though the city. We ate a late lunch/early dinner sitting by the water (above picture) with the bridge to our left and the bay to our right. There were several wedding parties taking photos...it was a great spot.
I kept trying to capture how incredibly steep the streets are, but I just couldn't do it justice in a photo...
The city at night...again, I didn't do it justice...

The next morning we had a brief trip back to where Jamie lived. I love the unique setting with a farmer's market and cute coffee shop, plus major stores like Pottery Barn, Gap and the Apple store.

It was a blast and I enjoyed seeing a bit of Jamie's life, catching up with good friends and seeing beautiful California. I've never been with someone who lives there and it's such a great way to see it!

Now back to 'real life'. :)

Trick or Treat!

This year my kids enjoyed trick or treating throughout our neighborhood and two of the dorms at TU. The weather was bright and sunny, a bit cool, and when the sun went down it got cold pretty fast. Conner was telling me he had enough candy and was ready to go home.

I had to laugh at the irony. I'm driving by saying, "just one more stop" when he want to go home. :)

As you can see we had a Knight, a Princess and a Ninja. They had a good time running from door to door.






This year my kids enjoyed trick or treating throughout our neighborhood and two of the dorms at TU. The weather was bright and sunny, a bit cool, and when the sun went down it got cold pretty fast. Conner was telling me he had enough candy and was ready to go home.

I had to laugh at the irony. I'm driving by saying, "just one more stop" when he want to go home. :)

As you can see we had a Knight, a Princess and a Ninja. They had a good time running from door to door.

I thought it was funny...

Today in the car I noticed Millie took off her boots and socks while sitting in her booster seat. I started trying to grab her feet (oh so safe while driving I know...). I said "I'm going to get those tootsies".

Millie said, while sticking out her foot, "get my left foot."

I wasn't sure what she said, so asked her, "what did you say?"

She said "get my left foot."

I said, Millie, are you saying "get my left foot?"

She said "yes."

I asked her, "which is your left foot?" She showed me her left foot. I said, "what's that?"

She said, "my right foot."

I started laughing. I said," how did you know that was your left foot and the other is your right?"

She said, "We read that book, left foot, left foot, right foot, right. Remember?"

Oh yes...the foot book.

It struck me as funny...I didn't know she knew that.

What kinds of things have your kids surprised you by knowing???

A Princess Party

Millie wanted a princess party for her 4th birthday. What mom of two older boys isn't willing to oblige a daughter's request for a princess party?

So the planning began and I looked into cakes and games and decorations. I found really cute (slightly overpriced) invitations so we were off with the princess theme. Millie made her guest list...many girls from preschool and a couple of older girls. We delivered the invitations and she was counting down to her birthday and her party about every hour.

A few days before she said she actually wanted a dancing party. I said, great...I guess the princesses will be headed to the ball. Then two days before the party she was on the phone with my mom and said told her she was having a tea party. I'm thinking, what? But she was flexible.

Yesterday was her party and it was really fun to having all the 'princesses' come over for the party.

They came and we danced...

They played "Pin the Crown on the Princess"
They passed the glass slipper (like musical chairs), they made bead necklaces and they colored pictures.They sang happy birthday and had cake and ice cream...Millie with her cake...It was fun and the girls were great.

Happy Birthday to our princess. We love to watch you dance and sing and you're full of personality.

We love you sooo much!

Bowling....

Hayden's birthday party was at the bowling alley this year. Ten boys in total (including Conner and Hayden) came ready to bowl. They were great. We split them into two lanes and they played a game. We took a break at the 6th frame to have cake and ice cream. Here are some pictures from the day...








Happy Birthday Hayden!

Hayden

Happy Birthday Hayden!

7...it's hard to believe.

We love the things that make you, you...such as ...
your zest for life,
your love for your brother (and sister at times :),
your affection for animals,
the way you put things that are special to you in particular places in your room,
your innate fascination with weaponry,
that you love ANY gift picked out just for you,
your love of bling,
the way you like to wear all of your favorite things...at once,
your obsession with your belt,
that you're often the one checking to see if we prayed before we eat,
your love of fishing and the special bond that gives you with your Great-Grandpa,
and so much more.

Happy birthday buddy, we love you!

Fall

Yes, I realize my new blog layout says "happy thanksgiving" and that it's a tad bit early to be sending those holiday greetings, but it was the only template I liked right now and it looked rather 'fallish' to me, so ignore the thanksgiving part...until after Halloween that is.

The other day we ventured over to a local farm that sells apples, pumpkins and a bit of other produce. It's not a pumpkin patch, but it is a great little place with a wonderful selection of apples and fairly inexpensive pumpkins (what is it with the price 0f pumpkins anyway?).

So, we gathered a big variety of apples to buy and four were eaten before we even left the farm. It really is a working farm too, as evidenced by the various smells we experienced while there. You can see the cows across the street (likely the source of said smell).

Here are a few pics from the visit...

Isn't this a beautiful pumpkin? I love how oversized the stem is!!



Anyone been to a good pumpkin patch this year?

Happy fall...