I see you

Ty walked around with his "oculars" glued to his head for a good 20 minutes today. He is so funny, we try to tell they are backwards but he insists on using the binoculars the wrong way.

That's as hard as a rock...

Wait, it is a rock! Tatum loves to be outside with her brother. But oh my gosh, keeping her away from the rocks is almost impossible. I hate to compare my kids but I never had to worry about Ty putting rocks in his mouth. Tater on the other hand, I can't keep them out of her mouth.
This is Ty on his perch yelling at Tatum not to put rocks her in her mouth. What a good little helper he is...

Tater pushing one of Ty's bikes around.

Never say never

About five years ago, I said that I would NEVER drive a mini van. I also said that I would NEVER drive a Kia. Well...yesterday we bought a Kia Sedona mini van and I LOVE it! It drives nice, great safety ratings and it can haul my kids, other people's kids and a lot of stuff.

I don't have any pictures for the blog today, I can't believe I haven't taken any pictures in 5 days. I actually left both kids for the entire day on Saturday with Pat while I coached a volleyball tournament. It was nice to have a break from the day to day routine. Pat had wonderful time with the kids, they were perfect for them...of course!

How is Ty doing in his big boy bed you ask? Well, he is doing great. He still calls for me when he wakes up in the morning and after his nap. He hasn't figured out that he can get out of bed without me getting him...I know I just jinxed myself...oh well.

What do you get with four moms?

• Four double strollers
• 8 kids
• Lots of snacks to keep the toddlers and babies content
• lots of blankets
• Four moms who want to get out and exercise
• And most of all PATIENCE!

Three other moms and I met at Washington Park to go for a walk and then to let our kids play at the park when we were done. Ty and Tatum did pretty well...besides the constant grabbing each other and taking each others toys. Overall it was fun, I got a good work out in and then kids came home exhausted!

11 month Birthday

My little baby girl is one month away from turning 1. I can't believe how fast time goes by. This past month Tatum...

• has mastered walking, she almost runs now


• started taking a bottle (did she really need to wait that long?)


• signing "more" comsistently (still working on others)


• only eats real food (she has refused baby food for the last couple of months)


• give high fives


• gives kisses on command


• listens to us when we say "no"


• wakes up several times a night and leaves her parents sleep deprived on a daily basis


• poops several times a day (at least 5)


• got her first pair of "walking" shoes


• laughs constantly, especially at her brother


• going through a phase of stranger anxiety


• plays in the toilet if I forget to close the bathroom door (I think she just waits all day for me to forget to close the door and then goes as fast as she can to get her hands in the water...gross!)


• she is now taking baths in the big tub

The Rally Fries go to...

LIANNA! If you watched the Mariners today you should have seen my best friend Lianna 9 months preggo get the rally fries! If you want to see the creative sign that won, click here.

Our little gardener

I was making Tatum lunch and Ty was outside and he was begging me to plant flowers. I wanted to wait for a nicer day but he kept saying, "I want my dirt thing!" His "dirt thing" meaning his rake. So, I put Tatum in her high chair, gave her some noodles, put it in front of the sliding glass door so she could watch us and we planted the flowers. Ty loved planting the flowers and asked to do more. Every plant that I have ever had, has died so hopefully Ty will have more of a green thumb than his mom.


Step 1: Put some dirt in the pot
Step 2: Put the flower in the pot and add some more dirt

Step 3: Water the plant

Easter Part III

For Easter dinner we went over to my Aunt Vivi and Uncle Mike's house. It was very fun and we really enjoyed the great food!
Daddy playing the piano with his kids...so cute!

Kendyl keeping an eye on Tater on the stairs.

This is Tater in her Easter dress before I did her wild hair.

Easter Part II

The Easter Bunny brought Tatum a bathing suit. Isn't it cute on her?

Daddy just thought Tatum was the cutest little girl EVER!

Grandma Maggie and Papa Tom brought over some Easter presents for the kids.

Happy Easter

Ty woke up this morning not really understanding the concept of the Easter Bunny, but by the time it was over, he totally gets it. He loved finding eggs and the Easter Bunny left two Easter baskets for Ty. One with the movie Cars, bouncy balls and some cars and the other one was filled with flowers, pots, gardening gloves, a rake, and a watering can. I wonder how the Easter Bunny knew Ty liked to plant flowers?


Ty wearing his gardening gloves while watching Cars with daddy.
Ty's garden basket.

Mommy putting on Ty's gloves (excuse how I look in the morning...it's not pretty!)

A 30th Birthday Party...(not mine!)

My friend Julie turned 30 so her parents had a party for her. We have been friends for 22 years, wow...that's a long time! I had a great time catching up with Julie, Dawn and the rest of the family. All of the kids had a wonderful time. They Gagon's have a lot of property so the kids play outside the entire time with sticks, water and a quad! Ty and his favorite cousin Kendyl entertained each other. Ty was completely soaked and exhausted when it was time for it to be over.

Me, Julie and Kayla
Jordan (Dawn and Eric Gagon's little boy)

Uncle Shawn giving Ty and Kendyl a ride on the quad. I am just glad that I was inside with Tater and not watching...it made me nervous! Ty loved it!

My dad and Kennadi

Kendyl and Ty just playing outside

Tatum playing with Julie's 30 necklace.

Kendyl and Tater at it again.

Me, Tater, Midge (Julie's mom) and Jordan

All of the girls (Kayla, me, Julie, Dawn and Midge)

Easter Egg Hunt at the Neyens'

Yesterday we went over to my best friend Lianna's house for an Easter Egg hunt that her and her mom Linda put together. They have a huge yard so it was perfect for an egg hunt. The picture below is the prize table, for each shiny egg they found they got to pick a prize!

Ty and Xavier riding the Gator.

It was pretty windy and cold so Tater and I stayed inside during most of the hunt.

Ready to find eggs!

Tatum and her wonderful Mommy!

"Ohh, look what I found mom?" One egg kept Tatum busy.

Thanks Lianna and Linda for a wonderful time!

Easter Eggs

Last year I was a lame mom and we didn't color Easter eggs so this year I thought I would step it up a notch. It was very easy to do and Ty loved it!

a little of this and a little of that

Thanks Auntie Dawn for the cute pink John Deere shirt!

My grandpa, who Ty calls "Old Papa," pretending to sleep on Ty's big boy bed.

Ty, Addison, Scarlett, and Tater playing in Ty's room. I tried to get a picture of the two babies together but it didn't quite work.

Ty and Addison eating their lunch.

We have spent this week with play dates, baseball and playing outside. Ty and Tatum have been wonderful this week, it helps when we aren't teething, don't have colds and the flu. These are weeks that I just cherish and LOVE that I am home with them.

Orange Beard

We got home from my parents and grandparent's house and I decided to put the kids in the jogger and run a few miles to Pat's mom's house to let Pat be alone while he took down Ty's crib and reassemble it for Tatum. (Tatum's crib which we bought on craigslist ended up being a piece of *#@! even though it was from Pottery Barn) Pat and I have a deal, when he puts things together, he should be alone...he gets a little cranky!
Grandma Maggie made us spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, it's Ty and Tatum's favorite, as you can see in the pictures!

The end result of a plate full of spaghetti with a 10 1/2 month old is a little strip down to the diaper!