Lady Bug

I took Taylor to get a picture in her Halloween costume. She's a little lady bug. She likes her lady bug costume...
This is Taylor when she is done getting her picture taken...Thanks Taylor...one more smile for mommy.

Frustration...

I was so frustrated this morning. Taylor was fussy. Then she was being difficult about what she would eat. When she was eating, she was being so slow. I would ask if she was done and she would say "nope." I never want to take food away if she may eat it. She doesn't eat a lot anyway. Finally, I was done, and was going to get her down. Then she started singing..."Jesus loves the little children..." Ok...fine...she's cute, I need to stop being frustrated with her...she is two. When she was done singing, she said, "mommy, it your turn." I sang with her. It did help with my frustration.

I know you...

I walked with you once upon a dream. I know you the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam. And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem. But if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once. The way you did once, upon a dream...
This is one of Taylor's favorites. I have often waltzed her around the house and sang her this song...since she was little...so long ago. At the end, I dip her when we sing "dream." So, now she dances around with her little doggy and tilts her head back at the end of the song. Since Sleeping Beauty has been re-released, this clip has been played on the Disney channel. It's so cute when she recognizes it and dances around and then asks for me to play it again. Love that DVR...which allows us to play it again, and again and again...

Pumpkin Farm

My cousin Lorinda and I took the girls, Anissa (3), Makenna (1) and Taylor (2), to a little pumpkin patch and farm this week. They enjoyed running around and seeing the animals.
I pulled Taylor and Anissa in a wagon. The girls were a little concerned about the friendly turkeys. The animals were very friendly because there is the option to feed them, which we did not do, but the animals were hopeful.
There were horses, sheep, pigs, turkeys, chickens, goats, cats, and a dog on this little farm. You can see Makenna is not too sure about that horse getting so close to her mom. Taylor liked picking out a pumpkin...I'm glad Lorinda got this picture. Taylor didn't hold it for long, it was too heavy.
Anissa and Taylor are watching the animals as I pull them along. Taylor is sitting close to her pumpkin. She knows this one is hers.
These girls are so silly with this lazy dog. Anissa would scream and Taylor would giggle. They get so excited about dogs.
It was a fun afternoon, had by all! And Taylor has another pumpkin to go with her little pumpkin family...

Grandma comes to Play

I had a dentist appointment this week and Grandma came over to stay with Taylor. Taylor was so excited to see Grandma. When she saw her coming up the stairs she said, "hi grandma." Grandma took Taylor for a walk around the neighborhood on her tricycle, which Taylor loves. When I came home they were playing with puzzles. I was so happy they had such a good time!

"Mom"

Taylor has always called me "mommy" or "mama," but today she called me "mom." She said, "hi mom, whatcha doin?" It was so funny. She has said it a few times now. I like being mommy. Hearing her say mom makes her seem a little older. She is still calling me mommy and mama, but occasionally I am also "mom." We took her bike out to visit grandma and grandpa. When we got in the car to go to Canada she said, "go see grandpa and grandpa?" She will pretend to talk to grandma on the phone, but when she asks to go visit, she always says grandpa twice...it's cute. She always likes to see the horses too. She would copy their sound, whenever they made it. We then went up to our property.
Taylor was collecting pine cones...always fun...baby pine cones.
Daddy was carrying Taylor and helped her get an apple...which she loves, so he had me carry the gun. I think just because it is hunting season...someone had to carry a gun, of course. Taylor is carrying her little apple.

Fall Colors in British Columbia

Ben and I decided to wait for fall to take our trip to Canada. We stopped at a little diner for lunch. Here Taylor is sharing a strawberry icy with her daddy...right before she climbed across the table to get a little closer...yumm. We originally planned a longer trip, but were concerned at how Taylor may not enjoy too much driving. She was pretty good...she enjoys reading on the drive.
We stayed at the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson, so we could have a pool to take Taylor swimming. This was her first time in a pool. Unfortunately, I did not bring the camera to the pool. She hung on tightly to her daddy for the first 15-20 minutes. Then she would hang onto his shoulders and kick her feet a little. Then she finally let me hold her too.
This is why we went in October...the colors were beautiful...
Taylor enjoyed having her own big bed...
It really felt like fall too with the brisk mornings...
Taylor had an apple for breakfast. She wanted this apple really bad...and ate on it for a half an hour...
Yumm...and humus too...she likes humus...
We visited another little town...Kaslo, British Columbia. We love these cute little towns.
The view from the town of Kaslo. So Pretty!
It was a very nice little trip. I thought I took a lot of pictures, but now I wish I had more...the colors were amazing!

"I help you..."

It's that camera phone again...not the best pictures, but always available. Ben dropped a grape under the stove. Taylor got down on the floor with him. She had her hand pushing on his head...it was so funny. She said, "I help you daddy. I find a grape." Then when he got it..."good job...you find it." She was so proud of him. She is so supportive!

Elk in the Freezer

I don't have any pictures yet, but we do have tender, fresh elk in the freezer. Tender is code for calf. It's the best and that is what I like. Ben said he was not going to get a calf this year, but he did...he's so good to me. He also got the money...which goes to the person who gets the calf...so he can get another tag if he wants more meat. It's not that small...it just doesn't have a huge rack.

Apparently, we have a serious wolf problem. The elk were quiet and the wolf tracks were many. The liberals decided the most aggressive wolves (imported from Canada) should be protected. There are more important things to protect! These wolves are not nice. Vote Republican! We need Sarah Palin to okay some helicopters to rid us of these killers. They are killing our elk for sport.

Two Year Check-Up

Taylor took her "baby horsie" to the doctor with us. Taylor is now 23.8 lbs and 34.25 inches tall.

Although it was a little cool, we went for a bike ride later in our neighborhood. She loves to ride her bike...but, the look on her face says she didn't want me to stop to take her picture...

Taylor's little "Pumpkin Family"

Learning with Dora

Matt bought Taylor this Dora TV Adventure Globe. We are learning which animal you can find on which continent.

Taylor Turns Two

The day before her birthday, Taylor woke up with a 103.5 temperature. She did not really act sick, and there were no other symptoms, but 103.5 is definitely a temperature. Needless to say, we could not have any other children over for a party, just in case. She was a little tired and wanted me to carry her more than usual.
The day of her birthday, grandma stopped by with Jade, Mikayla, Mariah, and Yeo Won, on their way to Canada to say happy birthday to Taylor.

We bought Taylor a bike. She was so excited!
Matt came over for pizza and brought Taylor a few gifts. I think he likes being a big brother!
I took more movies than pictures. We sang and Taylor did blow out her candle. I was surprised that she just knew what to do and did it so well.
Taylor's birthday was Thursday, and by Friday she had no more fever. It was a happy birthday, even though we couldn't have other small children over to play. Maybe next year.

Trip to Seattle

While Ben was out chasing elk, Taylor and I drove to visit my friend Krista and her son Ashton (4) for the week. Krista's husband was also away on business, not involving elk. Soon after we arrived, Taylor discovered Ashton's bike. It was a little big for her, but she loved it just the same.
Notice the sticker on her forehead. Ashton put one on his forehead, so Taylor did too. She liked to mimic Ashton. Ashton pulled out his sleeping bags for them to play with...
We went to the zoo on Tuesday...Taylor is taking her turn driving the tractor. I'm sure her daddy would be so proud...
Taylor is pointing at the butterflies. The have classical music playing. Taylor was dancing around to the music...she really liked that...
This is Krista and Ashton. Krista and I have been friends for 24 years...wow...time flies. Taylor loved the "Merrigin-a-round!" We rode it three times and she screamed when we left the building. She would hold onto my jacket while the "merrigin-a-round" was in motion.
Taylor going down the big slide...always fun!
On the way back to Krista's from the zoo the kids were so funny. Ashton would do something silly and Taylor would copy him. She said, "you cracking me." Which we think meant you are cracking me up, but the "ck" sounded a little like "pp." She was in a giggling frenzie.
She said to Ashton, "hold hands." That was so sweet...