Christmas Concert

We are celebrating Christmas with Mark's family this weekend. Today we went to the Christmas concert at the church he grew up in. We've been in the past, but it's been years.

My 4 neices and nephew were in the concert. It was amazing. They have dancing, singing, acting, and animals-a donkey, sheep and camels. They have a modern day storyline intermixed with the story of Jesus' birth through resurection. My camera wasn't overly cooperative, but I captured a few shots and a video.

BTW-I need a new camera-ours is on the fritz...anyone have suggestions?

Things I've Lost

No, this post isn't about my sanity, not yet at least. Over the past couple of months I've managed to lose some items...newly purchased I might add. Ugh!

Right after Halloween I bought my two boys costumes for next year. They were Star Wars characters and were 75% off. Well, they were $10/each and I set them in a large Target bag on the steps just outside our garage. Problem #1. Why didn't I just bring them into the mudroom...?

Anyway, a few days later, Mark told the boys to collect the trash. Conner collected it, brought it to the garage and Hayden loaded it into the trash cans. Problem #2. Out went the costumes...with the trash.

Then, that same week I bought Millie a bag of socks...yes a bag because I can never find her a pair of socks...matching and clean would be a bonus. Those somehow never made it out of the bag and into her room. A second item I've lost or thrown out in the trash. In my efforts to tidy up, I'm accidentally throwing out new things. Problem #3. The saying isn't, "out with the new, in with the old".

Anyway, I'm about to start wrapping Christmas presents and I sure hope I don't come up missing any items. :)

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!