5x7 Folded Card

Plaid Camel 5x7 folded card

Shutterfly custom cards for Valentines Day, Easter & Mother's Day.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Oldest Cyclist

Of what I am not sure, but he is pretty dang old. I was exercising at my YMCA a couple weeks ago when I heard an old man talking about the annual road bike ride from Houston to Austin. He said he didn't like it much which caught my attention. I initiated a conversation with him by asking why... As it turned out the man on the other side of me was a cyclist too and joined the conversation. This other man was probably in his late 50s early 60s. A few minutes passed and the two older men discussed various rides they participate in and the younger said "I was at the La Grange ride and they had the Oldest Competitive Cyclist come up and be introduced. That wouldn't happen to be you would it?"

IT WAS!

He is 96!

If he can do it, I can do it.

The Long Awaited Post

Or Posts...

Of course its been a while since my last post and yes much has happened. As to whether its super exciting, that can question can only be answered by the eye of the beholder...

First Missed post: Max's Epic Poop Exposion



This party started at the park. He was about 6 or 8 weeks old and was enjoying one of his first trips to the playground with his big brother. There were not enough wipes, clothes or blankets we had...

Second: Grayden's Halloween Costume


Actually his "Dash" costume didn't arrive until two days after Halloween. I was the saddest. Grayden was fine with being the only thing left at target in his remote size; a ninja. Not to worry however, he wears it A LOT, sometimes even in public!

Third: Max Discovers How to use Elbows


This was at least a month ago. Troy managed to get a nice pic of Max propping himself up for the first time.

Fourth: Grayden's GQ Photo Shoot




These were taken in late January with the new DSLR my dad gave me for Christmas. Grayden is not the easiest model to work with. He much prefers to be behind the camera. I had to lure him with an old camera that serves as "Grayden's camera" and take turns shooting pictures. He knows how to wind his camera so his shutter closed when takes a picture.

Side note: He loves wearing his "soup" to church. He wore it three Sundays in a row before he put anything else on and then wore again today.

Fifth: Max's First taste of Food




Grayden insisted he help feed Baby Max.

Sixth: Grayden can Dress Himself!


Well sort of. Some time over the Holiday Break Grayden figured out how to get his shorts on and off. A few weeks ago he decided he need to change his shirt. He went upstairs all by himself took off is shirt and put on his green tractor t-shirt. I didn't actually get to see him do it, but I got this picture afterwards. Its backward, but not bad for a first try. He now can fully dress himself with some assistance with socks and his left shoe. He can get the right one on without any trouble.

Seventh: Grayden MUST sit with Max in the Chair


The picture quality is not so hot, but it was the cutest...

Milestones For Max

Max just rolled from his back to front for the first time literally 10 minutes ago! Hurray!

Max's Blessing

It was a beautiful day Sunday. Perfect weather for a baby blessing and family gathering. Everyone made it on time and we had a yummy brunch afterward. Thanks to all family and friends who came from various parts of the state and those who participated in the blessing. What a wonderful gift of the Priesthood. The Spirit was most evident and Troy gave a beautiful blessing that was certainly inspired by the Lord.

Here are a couple pictures of those who attended. (David Johnston took the pictures and Sarah was inside cooking the bacon).

Out of Reach?

I think not! Ok so the stool didn't provide enough hight to reach on top of the microwave sitting on the counter. His goal: a piece of gum. To solve his predicament he dragged his slide from the living room and pushed the ladder side against the cabinet. Success. Yummy strawberry trident!

Movies Movies Movies

Ok so Troy has hooked Grayden on movies. In the last two weeks Grayden has decided the TV is entertaining. We got him two disney movies. He already had Cars and we bought him Monsters Inc. and The Incredibles. Now Grayden runs around the house and EVERYwhere else like "Dash".

He has become so savvy has just managed to trade out the Incredibles dvd in the player for Monsters inc all while I was in the bathroom. I am beginning to see a pattern. He uses the precious time I am stuck in the bathroom as license to exercise his mischievous plans!

"Hold it"

Grayden always wants to hold Max. To express this he says "hold it". We frequently take Taylor Family naps together which are exceptionally nice since we got our new king size bed! Now that Max is here he is included. Grayden wanted to hold him the other day when we were going to take a snooze. I told him he could not hold him laying in bed, but he could put his arm on his tummy. Now that has become the daily ritual. (Don't tell Grayden Max gets moved after they pass out!)

Trash Cans

Apparently turning over a small trash can works just like your common stool. Grayden used this technique today to reach a pack of gum sitting on the bar next to the kitchen. He has now chewed 3/4 of a pack of trident in the last two days! Sneaky!

P.S. Here are some pics...

Can you tell?

Max finally arrived!

We made it through the hottest summer I can remember! Hoorah! Max came on 9.08.09, one day before his due date at 9:09 in the morning. He weighed in at 9lbs 9ozs, technically .01 ounce less than his big brother did! Crazy!

Everything started around noon on Labor Day finally escalating to undeniable contractions at about 2:30 am on the 8th. I woke Troy just after 4am. He politely asked "Are you sure?" and "How do you know?". We dropped Grayden off at Kerry and Kevin Keys' house (THANK YOU! We would have been lost without you!) and headed for the hospital.

Around 5:30 they finally checked me and said I could stay because I was at a 4! I was so afraid they were going to send me home. Another HOORAH! My doctor was called around 7:00 and he told the nurse to put me on the pit to make sure my contractions kept going, but she had been monitoring me for the last couple hours and decided I didn't need it. She said "I'll give you one drop per hour that way I did what the doc told me, but it won't do much, your body is working fine on its own." Thank You Nurse! My doctor arrived at 8:00 and checked me. Drum roll please... 9cms! WHAT? Everyone was shocked. In just over an hour Max made his debut.

I am thankful for a short labor and delivery!

Grayden's New Traveling Buddy

Recently Grayden has discovered the great possibilities a stool can offer. Not only can he reach the grapes in the sink, but he can now get to light switched, food, the dead bolt (Yes the one up high!) and various other off limits things. Here is going for a box mix of blueberry muffins!

Grayden has just figured out how to use a stool! He took the step stool out of the bathroom took it to the kitchen and used it to reach the bowl of grapes sitting in the sink.lol I was not even sure he knew where I was getting them from each time I got him some. I guess he was paying attention.

Pee!

Ok so this happened minutes ago and I just had to document it. Grayden stood next to my desk laughing while I typed. I heard a dripping sound, drip, stream, drip. I looked at him again and watched as liquid poured from his lower half. I then looked to his right and saw the absolutely clean and dry diaper had on moments earlier precariously parked within inches of his toosh!

Needless to say he peed on the floor! And of course thought it was funny.

Hello my friends... I actually got 2 count them 2 replacement phones for Christmas, so I should have them up and going soon. If I forgot to tell you what happened to my latest phone its probably because I don't have one.

My dear sweet gentle Grayden boy decided it was fun to chuck things out of our second story dining room window. After a week or so of not finding it our gracious neighbor brought us a stack of items left on their porch below. Needless to say the phone was dead.

Grayden is a Gentleman

Ok so we just got back from the grocery store, and I am holding three bags and a bag of dog food. All the while I am trying to coax Grayden along, slowly. We get up the stairs and he wants to linger by a well known pair of bikes locked to the railing on the way home. My arms are dying. He offers his services. I tell him its heavy, not having a light bag to offer, but he insists. After he tries he grunts to lift it and I offer to take it back. "Oh NO!" he says and this is what the little man accomplished!

I am so proud.










p.s. He promptly closed the door just after I barely retrieve the dog food...

First Suit

Today Grayden wore his first suit to church! He was so handsome. I forgot to get a picture before we left so all we've got is this one which as you can see is not the best. He was not very happy by the time we got home and he woke up from a nap. Although he is screaming in the shot he did manage to make it to the third hour of church before his shirt came untucked and home before the tie was all the way off...

my pic won't load so I will try again later...

Scary Story

Ok so its been a huge drought in writing on the blog, but we have not had internet at home since the hurricane and we were somewhat MIA for about the entire month of August. That being said here is a heart racing tale about Grayden.

Yesterday at playgroup all the little toddlers, seven to be exact, and four mothers enjoyed each other's company staying indoors on a rainy day. Grayden and our hosts daughter Cally apparently made good friends and decided to go on an adventure together. Grayden being the dashing young man that he is with his charm and good looks whisked the lovely Cally on a dangerous journey without the safety of the apartment walls, unbeknown to us.

One second we were laughing and chitchatting the next, Crystal, the other mommy, and I were panicked searching for out little ones. There were only about 1000 square feet to cover looking for the two. The thought to check OUTSIDE didn't cross my mind until several passes over the same places produced no children.

Running out the front door I yelled Grayden's name trying not to get hysterical. Crystal called from above on the next floor up, screaming with relief, "I've got them!" Ohhhhhhh!

Grayden was the obvious culprit being that he was the only one able to reach the door handle and formerly discovering he could open that particular kind. Of course the children were completely unaware and wondering what all the fuss was about.

After several minutes of breathing deeply and commiserating the craziness of the situation Kerry, another mommy (of twins!) took the children to the well protected balcony. But alas not even 3x3 metal gridded bars can prevent out little escape artist from trying. Not two minutes passed before he was scaling the railing trying to climb over the edge.

Seriously... Seriously!

Grayden's First Birthday

We had a tiny party with our friends here in San Antonio. Here are a few pics. He really dug the cake and the he and his pal Brooke were into the bubbles she gave him!