Football, Family, & Fall

Of course this blog post is LONG overdue, but we've stayed pretty busy so I have plenty to share. The school year is well underway, and we're loving the start to fall.

It's Bronco and Cyclone football time. Tate loves football. He loves watching and 'playing' it. I think I hear "Hut, Hut, Hike" about 50 times a day. I know this makes his Daddy happy!

So here's what we've been up to in September:

 

The Scheckels came to tailgate with us.

The moms and the kiddos.

Beth and June, Emma and Esdon, and Mommy and Tate

 

Go Broncos!

 

 

We also spent some time in Emmetsburg at my parents. Tate is always in heaven there. He loves the lake and is always right by Papa's side. A few weeks ago, my dad was sick. I'm so thankful that he's ok. Tate loves his papas!

 

Tate and Papa Tim grilling

 

 

 

Today we spent the afternoon at Center Grove Orchard with Ryan, Janelle, and the kids and my parents. The weather was perfect and there is SO much to do there.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm feeling so blessed this fall. We have so many things to be thankful for! Now let's just hope that fall last for a very long time, and winter stays away for awhile!  

 

 

 

July & August

Alright, it's time for a catch-up blog entry. You would think that since it's summer I'd have all this free time, and post on here all the time. For some reason it's harder for me to keep it up in the summer.

We've had such a great summer, and it has just flown by (I think I say this every year). We've spent time at the lake in Emmetsburg, played with lots of friends, went to Chicago, and so much more.
Tate has been loving summer and plays outside constantly. He loves anything to do with water, and can't get enough golf or t-ball.

I guess the best way to share is with pictures!




WATER!! Tate LOVES everything that involves water. He and Daddy washed the cars and he even had to wash his truck.

 

 

 

We got a new tractor from Papa Tim. He's been all over the place with this thing! 

 

 

 

We spent the week of the Fourth in Emmetsburg! We swam, played in the lake, and watched the fireworks.

 

We went to Chiago for the Cubs game with Papa and Grandma Taylor. We had a blast!

 

 

 

Now our summer is coming to an end and it's time to start thinking about school. Tate will head back to Deb's in a week! I'm sad that my time with him is ending, but I'm hoping for a wonderful school year. 







 

 

Taylor Reunion Weekend

This weekend was the annual Taylor Fam Reunion! We decided to make it a long weekend and head down to Creston on Thursday. I helped Jean Ann with a little catering, Blair played golf, and Tate just played like crazy!! Ryan, Janelle, Kayson, and Cora came for the weekend too. It was a lot of fun!

On Thursday, our good friends, Jenni, Cody, and Henry came over for visit! It was so good to see this little man. How stinkin cute is he?!

Tate loved Grandma and Papa's pool!

 

He waited all day on Friday for Kayson and Cora to get to Grandma and Papa's!

Tate tried so hard to be just like Kayson! He loves his big cousin!

On Saturday, the Taylor reunion was at the lake in Diagonal. It was so nice and the kids loved it!

Katie was such a great help. She and the boys threw rocks in the lake! Tate had a blast!

We love Katie!

Ice Cream!

And sparklers to end our fun with the BIG Taylor Fam!

 

Today we had lunch outside

and made ice cream!!

 

 

We had a wonderful, long weekend. Thank you Grandma and Papa Taylor! We love you!
 Now we're looking forward to celebrating the 4th of July! We are loving this summer thing! :)

Catch Up Time

I'm just now realizing that it's been forever since I've posted! I was uploading pictures this evening and thought I better get some on here. The pictures help me remember what we've been up to!
It's been very crazy, but it's a very happy time for us because SUMMER is here and this means we get to spend lots of time together as a family.

So in the last month....

Tate and Mommy went with  my co-worker, Emily, and her daughter to Seasame Street Live. Tate loved it! He sang along, watched, and enjoyed "ice cream balls" (Dippin Dots).

We got to spend a little time at the lake! It was cold and rainy, but that didn't stop Tate and Papa Tim.

 



We've been working on potty training. Let's face it- He's NOT interested! This is one of the only times he's even sat on it. "I just wear a diaper, Mom!"

 



The nice days have been pretty rare, but we've enjoyed a few!

 

 

We've had lots of ice cream! The ice cream truck is such an awesome treat. We can hear it's music for about an hour before it finally gets to our block! I think it's just the coolest thing! Tate and Daddy LOVE it too.

 



 

 

 

Now I've promised myself that I'll keep up with the blog this summer! :) Let's see if that happens!



New Toilet!

Oh the joys of having a two-year-old in the house...

We had a very interesting and funny weekend (I can say that now). Tate is very into the exploring and seeing how everything works stage. Lately his interest has been the toilet. We've started introducing potty training, but he just has more interest in flushing the 'big potty'.

On Saturday, Blair made the comment that the toilet was very slow and wasn't flushing properly. My Uncle Dennis and Aunt Jan were at our house. So, my uncle (being the handy man that he is) helped Blair use an auger and work on solving the mystery. Before I knew it, the toilet was in the bathtub and the guys were  reaching and digging. They had decided that something was stuck!

Having fun, Daddy?

 

THE CULPRIT!

While the guys worked away- Tate entertained himself.

Yes, he's wearing one of Mommy's headbands (another infatuation he has about the bathroom)!

 

After what seemed liked forever, they came to the conclusion that whatever it was was stuck in the trap of the toilet and was NOT coming out. We knew that a trip to Lowe's to get a new toilet was now thrown into our evening plans. Of course we had to figure out just what it was...What did Mr. Tate flush down the toilet? Blair was determined it was a golf ball.

Well he was wrong...

 

He busted it open to find my pumice stone. haha!

 

Tate was thrilled about the new toilet, and loved the box even more! :)

 

 

 

 

I guess it makes a good story!



SpRiNg

I love this weather!! That is all there is to it...spring weather rocks! :)
This past weekend we spent lots of time with family! On Friday, my parents came down and took Tate and I out to eat. Blair had a golf meet.
Then on Saturday my brother arrived with my new neice-pup, KD. She's a Goldendoodle, and is as sweet as can be. I think the whole family fell in love with her! In the afternoon, we all headed to Story City to my Uncle Dennis' 70th surprise birthday party. It was so great to see all the family and my cousins really put on a great party.Tate loves Dennis and couldn't wait to see him!
My family headed home on Sunday and Ryan, Janelle, Kayson, and Cora came for lunch and to just hang out. We played so hard, went to the park, and had ice cream. Tate and Kayson played so well with eachother.

All this awesome weather makes me so excited for summer...the pool, the lake, and time playing outside with Buddy. Tonight after Tate's bath, I popped a bag of popcorn and we went on a stroller ride. It was so nice, because he's not really into the stroller anymore but with a bowl of popcorn on his lap he was quite content. We went on a long walk and waited for Daddy to come home from golf. We haven't been seeing much of Daddy, and it's so sweet when he tells me, "Mommy, I miss Daddy!"
Two weeks left of golf and then we get him back!

Here are some pictures from our fun weekend-

The boyz! :)

Not even scared to go down the big slide!!

 

B-ball with K and Uncle Ry!

Ice Cream in the Cozy Coupe

 

Poor Cora May was sick, but had a nice snooze on our trip to the park/

 

 

I think I heard one of my students tell me that we're down to 25 days of school....Bring on summer! :)

VEISHEA and Fun with Miss June

This past weekend was VEISHEA and we had soooo much fun.

My best friends- Kay, Emma, and Beth, along with Beth's hubby, Jared and their daughte,r June came to celebrate with us. We had a blast!!

On Friday, the girls headed to Des Moines for some shopping and dinner. We let the dads babysit the kiddos. The house looked like a tornado went through it when we got home, but both kiddos were sound asleep! :)

On Saturday, we went to the parade. It was sunny and warm, and it was so much fun to go onto campus. It always brings back so many memories! June and Tate loved the parade and both the kids sat so nice.

That afternoon we came home for naps and grilled. We ended the evening with a dual bath! :)

 

Cyclone Cookies! :)



 

 

 

 Tate sat on the curb for the longest time, but as soon as Cy approached he backed away! He likes him from a distance, but doesn't want to get too close.

 

 

I love progression of these next pictures. June thought it was hilarious to dump water on Tate.