Mexico June '09

March coming to an End

In the last couple weeks we have started softball for the girls', survived spring break with the help of our wonderful friends letting the girls hang out with them, and many more activities.
The Monday of spring break the kids and I took a trip to the zoo with our friends the Keomala's. This was Tayte's first trip to the zoo and he loved it. Here I thought he said "Waz sthat" a lot before. I was pointing at everything and loved the animals. Something he really enjoyed was the fish aquariums and the jellyfish. He continues to amaze us everyday. I know I have probably said that many times before but truly he does. It's so hard to get him to come back inside after playing, we have now began throwing tantrums. If any of you remember what Peyton was like when she was little, it's not quite that bad. We try to keep those to a minimal.
The weekend ending spring break my nephew Rigby came and stayed with us. Kennedey had a birthday party to go to at the rollerskating rink so we decided to tag along. After and afternoon of skating Matt and I took Peyton and Rigby to the Iowa Chops hockey game. The kids had a blast.
The next day after picking up Kennedey at her friends and leaving Rigby with Uncle Matt and Tayte, the girls and I went to the musical "Hairspray". This was their first musical they had gone to at the Civic Center and what a good one it was. The girls got dressed up and off we went. I think we may have to make it a yearly event.
This past week we had some good news that our continuous was granted for the trial coming up for Matt's accident. We were so thankful for this because Matt's back is starting to get bad again. They have now moved the trial date to October. We went in for Matt's appt on Friday and Matt is unfortunately looking at another surgery. This one would be three times the recovery time (per the Dr) We still are not sure if it will involve two of his discs or one. We'll keep you up to date. Please keep him in your prayers.
Friday the day started off very well when I received my passport in the mail. I know most people probably have passports but this just made it more real that Matt and I will finally be going on our trip that we have been wanting to go on for so long!
Friday night my cousin Nicole hung out with the kids while Matt and I went to our friend's birthday party. Let's just say i'm glad that doesn't happen very often, it was a long day the next day :)
Yesterday the kids and I were invited over for lunch at the Keomala household while Matt was at work. The kids played for quite a while then we headed home to make supper before Matt got there. Sunday night it was nice to just sit around and relax.

Our little man








On our way to eat out with Aunt Tricia and family


My Helper


Tayte loves to dance





Part of the clan at the Juvenile Diabetes walk


Tayte LOVES to be outside


We even got a little muddy cleaning up the back yard


He was excited to find the bucket of balls


Meg and Ethan


Ryley, Jenna and Kennedey


Dawn and Nolan


Shannon and Meg


Allen and Felicia


Peyton


Dawn, Felicia, Meg and Oaklee


Matt and I


Peyton bowling


The girls eating a late night snack


Meg and Ty


Felicia and Ty (being a baby..lol)


Meg, Peyton and Mandy



Here we are March and i'm a little behind on posting things. Our lives continue to as busy as usual this past month. It has finally gotten nice enough out that Tayte can play outside. He loves to be outside and screams when he has to come in. It's so fun to watch him discover new things and new noises outside.
I think the month of Februrary was the month to win tickets for my family. First off my sister won tickets to the musical Legally Blonde at the Civic Center. She had asked me to go with her so I got off work early that Tuesday and I took her out to eat at a restaurant called Centro downtown for her birthday and then headed to the 7 o'clock show. I had never seen the movie before so I didn't know what to expect. Tricia and I both really enjoyed it. We had a great sister's night out.
That same week I had won tickets from a different radio station to the production of To Kill a Mockingbird. It was being put on at Stephens Auditorium in Ames by a company out of Montana. Matt and I ventured to Ames for the play and out for pizza at my favorite pizza place in Ames. It was the first professional play that I had seen in a long time and the first for Matt. We really enjoyed it and you could say Matt got into too. If you have never heard of To Kill a Mockingbird it is a novel by Harper Lee. I read it in high school in my english class and loved the book.
The last weekend in February the girls were off for conferences. We basically just hung out along with having our usual get together with friends which was nice to do since we are usually so busy. That Sunday Matt experienced his first craft show. The state fairgrounds were having a huge craft show that they have every few months so Matt and I took the kids. We found a lot of neat stuff. You could tell Matt's wheels were still turning when we left there. Matt and the kids found travel chalkboards that roll up there. If you know Matt well enough it won't surprise you when he said "We can make that". So when we got home he was on a mission. He found a fabric store in Wisconsin that had the chalkboard part that you sew onto the fabric, a couple nights later they went and picked out fabric. Well I can say that they did start them but still have yet to finish one.
Last week we all, except Matt, had a day of being sick with the stomach flu. I think we have had our share now of being sick this year. Hopefully we're done. In between us all being sick last Saturday the kids and I walked with my team from work for Juvenile Diabetes. It has been a yearly thing to do with my cousin Nicole and friends from work. After the walk we hurried home and we were off again to softball tryouts for the girls. This year Kennedey has decided to play and Peyton moves up to a new age bracket so this year they will play together on the same team. They were picked to be on the Phillies team this year who is coached by Peyton's friend Isabel's dad. It should be fun.
Something new is Matt and I are finally going on vacation!! YAY!!! I'm so excited! We are going to be staying at a resort called The Ocean Coral resort in Puerto Morelos, Mexico with our friends the Keomala's. We are so thankful to Matt's sisters for taking the kiddos that week. It feels like June is going to take a long time to get here.
This weekend marked the beginning of spring break for the girls. Friday night Matt and I took the kids, including Tayte, to the movie Race to Witch Mountain. The girls loved the movie and Tayte even sat through it!
Last night we had an outing with our friends and their kids at the bowling alley. It's just the beginning of another fun and busy week.

Kennedey's Basketball Season at an End

This weekend was the end to Kennedey's regular season of basketball. We find out this week if they will be playing in a tournament. For the last game Kennedey's friend Sammie brought them all a pair of knee high crazy socks for Valentine's and to wear for the game. The team did an awesome job this year. Kennedey was usually able to get a basket in for each game. Good job Kennedey Mae and St Joes Hawks!

Tayte

Tayte and his favorite books


Yummmm


Separating his food


Offering Mom a pear


Okay so I couldn't wait to post these. Tayte is growing up so fast and amazing us everyday with new things. This weekend he was sitting eating lunch and he had his spaghetti and pears together on his tray. I left the room for a quick second and came back to see him separating his pears and spaghetti. He was putting all his pears in the cup holder on his tray. What a smart boy!
The other pictures were taken when I was in the kitchen cooking supper and he had gone into his room and I found him sitting looking at his books.

January

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


The Science Center before the balloon drop



Peyton, Kennedey and Kennedey's friend Natalie



Tayte visiting Peyton at school


Grandpa found a seat for Tayte outside Kennedey's classroom


Matt, Kennedey and cousin Cole at the hockey game


Pey and I


Watching the big game


Tayte and Sis cuddling


Tayte loves Peyton's pink glasses


Tayte's first time sledding


He loved watching the kids go down the hill


Tayte opening his blocks


Where's Tayte?


I think this gift got the most annoying award, thanks Mom and Dad


Happy Birthday Tater!


Doesn't like it so much


Uncle Mike and Tayte


Maya and Peyton


Kennedey and Tayte


The girls' made a hat for Tayte too!


Tayte loved the playhouse at the YMCA





Watching the Monsters vs Aliens during halftime of the Super Bowl



I thought I would post some pictures from this past month. I'm starting to think maybe I should start updating maybe every two weeks instead of the beginning of each month.
This was a big month. We celebrated Tayte's 1st birthday and my niece Maya's 5th birthday. It's hard to believe a year has gone by already. We are so thankful and blessed to have Tayte in our lives. He is now eating all table food and one bottle a day. He is such a big boy now. He loves to walk all over and especially likes it if you chase him. He has also discovered some cupboards that the child protection locks don't work on anymore along with being able to push the buttons for the DVR and TV. He really thinks that is funny.
This month the girls' attended their first hockey game. Of all games a Des Moines Buccaneers game, if you don't know the Buccaneers they are known to have a few fights during their games. They had a blast.
Tayte experienced his first time sledding. He loved it. He was trying to crawl around in the snow.
Back tracking a little for New Year's Eve Matt took the kids to the science center for their noon balloon drop. Matt said it was pretty neat minus a few people. He said it was a little crowded.
Last but not least this past weekend after Peyton's basketball game, the kids and I and our cousin Nicole were able to go to my niece's birthday party in Moline. Maya turned 5 on the 30th of January. It was great to see them all since we hadn't seen them since Christmas. Maya had a Little Mermaid themed party at the YMCA that my brother is Assoc. Director at. I wish I had more pictures but my battery kept depleting on me. A few minutes after we got the party my sister-in-law Deanna came out in an Ursula costume and her sisters in King Tritan and Aerial costumes. It was pretty impressive :)
Sunday we ended our last weekend in January with a Super Bowl Party at our house. We had a lot of friends show up. Too bad my pictures turned out a little blurry. I think it was the 3D glasses :)
Well that does it for this month.