Just call me mom.

Landon has started coming to preschool with me two days a week. Things have been going pretty smoothly. It has been a little difficult establishing different boundaries during school time and then during normal time. But overall I have been really happy with his behavior and progress.

Yesterday we were talking about Clowns (and Cookies). I was helping a very sad boy with his paper when I hear Landon saying, "Mom. Mommy. Moooom.". I didn't react instantly, as I was really trying to get this sobbing little boy to be not so sobbing anymore.

All of the sudden I hear:

"MRS. TAFT!" come out of Landon's mouth.

I immediately turned and looked at him with a half smile, half shocked look on my face.

"I NEED HELP!".

I patted the sobbing boy on the back and went to help my own son.

It sounded so funny to hear him address me as "Mrs. Taft", but I guess he realized that was the only way to get my attention.

I will listen from now on when he says, "Mommy!!"

And just because he is so dang cute, here are a couple of his silly clown faces. I couldn't resist!

My little patch of heaven....

When Scott and I built our house, we had no idea how much work it would be to get the yard in. Scott has been working a ton in the yard and he (and I do mean he...I haven't done a thing out there!!!) finally has everything pretty much prepped and hopefully we will be planting here shortly. But for now, I have a little patch of heaven in my backyard.

My parents are doing an addition on the back of their house and had to cut away some sod to make room. They graciously offered to come and give it to us. We decided to put it right around our back door-kind of a natural dirt stopper, I hope!

They came and worked to get it ready and had most of it laid in no time. Scott and my dad worked on it the next morning to get it all finished up. I can't believe the difference a little grass makes!! It will be so fun to have a full yard of green grass in the spring. It really is the little things that make a girl happy!

One of my friends commented the other day about how great my parents are. I have to agree-and I'll add my brother Matt to the list. He does so much for us-I'm thankful he's right next door. He is a great uncle and friend to me and to my kids!

So thanks, mom and dad for our little patch of heaven in the backyard! And thanks again for your work in putting it in. Love you!

PS Don't we grow cute flowers around here??

Fun at the Fair

For the last five years, Scott and I have worked with our friends (the Smith Family) at the fair at their food booth. We serve teriyaki and sweet & sour chicken, philly cheese steak sandwiches and the all favorite fried candy bars, twinkies and oreos. It is always a great time!!

My parents have taken over fair touring duties with our kids the past couple of years and the kids have loved going to the fair with Mamie and Gramps. It is fun because they bring them to see us and then take them to see the animals, eat cotton candy, and basically spoil them because that's what grandparents do best. :) Thanks again, mom and dad for taking our kids and giving them a great time!

Here are a few highlights from the Fair, 2009.

Landon did NOT like the pigs. The closer my mom would push the stroller to the pigs, the farther apart he would put his legs so that he wasn't close to the snout. So funny!

Hard at work at Yan Kee Kan Kook. Even Parker and Pacie got to help for a few minutes and they each earned a dollar for their labors. :) Thanks to our wonderful friends for letting us be a part of your fair experience!

In the back, making the fried goodies. We did something like 400 twinkies and 4 boxes of snickers on Friday. (around 250) People like their fried sweets!! (Next year they are doing fried cheesecake and I'll tell you...it's a must try!!!)

I do.....

Love this little girl of mine.

Safety First!

Yesterday my dad and my brother, Matt, and Scott finished our basement. We had all of our base trim to do as well as three closets. It took the three of them 8 hours to do about 400 feet of trim. It looks AMAZING. I am so thankful to them for taking their Labor Day for my benefit. I'll have to post pictures of the finished products later once I take some.

The best part of the day was when my dad ascended the stairs wearing this hat.

He was doing the toy/play room and came across our hard hat collection.

Thankfully, there were enough to go around.

And good thing too. Mere seconds after this picture was taken, Matt "sort of accidentally" dropped his tape measure on my dad's head.

Not only that, but my other little man, Landon was so tired out after his long days play, this is how I found him after his bath.

Thanks again to some of my most favorite men. I really appreciate you.

And I dig the hats too.

Hippy Chic

Presley came into our room dressed in this outfit yesterday.

I especially like the bracelets on her legs.

She is the new Hippy Chic.

And sorry for the burred pictures, but she was shakin' it!!

Anyone up for an omelet?

So here is the story.

On the first day of school, I took the younger two to Sam's Club to do some shopping. When we got home, I thought to myself, "I better take the eggs in first so they don't get broken." I brought them inside and then went out to continue bringing in the other food. Landon had accidentally pushed out a giant jar of strawberry jam and it had broken all over the sidewalk. (Note to self: when you think you'd be better off buying the two squeezable jams as opposed to the giant glass jar....trust your first instict.)

So I get that mess cleaned up and come back inside to find this.

Presley had gotten out a bowl and had cracked 9 of the 18 eggs that I had just purchased into the said bowl and all over the floor. She was up to her elbows in egg. But-it was one of those moments where you either get REALLY mad, or laugh about it later. I chose to laugh about it. After all, she was just trying to be domestic.

And I have to say, I was really impressed with the lack of shells she got into the bowl. Maybe we have a chef in the making at our house. I'll keep you posted.