I can't get enough of these two

okay................sometimes I could use a break but most of the time I love being with them. I feel so blessed to have such beautiful, happy, healthy, and fun children. They really love each other even though Matthew has his moments sharing and such. Today when Matthew woke up from his nap he asked where Taylor was. I told him that she was asleep and he started crying saying"I want Taylor to wake up, I will go get her." This was not the first time that this happened. I told Glen the other day how much I love being at home with them and being able to just wake up and do whatever we want. We are having such a fun summer swimming, going to the zoo and library, going to walking group and playgroup, playing outside, spending lots of time with friends and most importantly each other. I love these two so much! Matthew is always talking and just cracks me up. Lately he goes on and on telling me stories. They are usually about Taylor Princess and Matthew Dragon, pirates, giants, and other funny things. He will tell me part of the story and then say AND THEN.........,AND THEN. I love being able to just sit and have long conversations with him. He also gives me a rundown of our day. Today he said "now we are going to Costco, AND THEN we will eat a hot dog and pizza at Costco, AND THEN we will go home and have a nap, AND THEN, we will wake up and do something fun, is that a good idea?". Those really were his words. So funny!! He makes me laugh all day.

Taylor is now 10 months old. WOW! She also cracks me up. It is so fun seeing the differences between her and Matthew. She is just such a girl. She is always jabbering and is much more squeally (word?) than Matthew was. In stores she points at stuff and does her cute little squeal. She loves playing with all of us and just giggles. She LOVES Matthew and always wants to be right with him which Matthew doesn't always appreciate these days. She is WAY to happy at 6 in the morning, if not before, but we sure love her.

Catch up

Most of the these pictures are a little old since I haven't been keeping up with the blog very well. A few weeks ago it was cool enough to wear sweatshirts outside which was great. I love going on walks around our neighborhood especially Sunday walks where Glen can go with us.

We spend a lot of time in our little front yard which isn't fenced in and is small but at least it is grass and is right out our front door. Matthew is really good about not going on the road which I am sure Taylor will not be as good once she starts walking.

These two love apples!

We went swimming for playgroup awhile ago. Matthew and his friend Sam giving me their best cheeses.

I have this same picture of Matthew doing this. It makes the biggest mess but if it keeps Taylor entertained for awhile she can do it all she wants.

Silly Taylor! Lately she loves playing peek a boo by putting clothes on her head/face.

4th of July

Glen's parents and his sister came down to Toledo to celebrate the 4th. We ate dinner at our house and then went to the park. We went and got ice cream and had just enough time for some sparklers on our driveway before Matthew went to bed. It was a lot of fun. We went to fireworks in Maumee the night before and they were great. We had a lot of fun before Glen started up school swimming, going to the zoo, shopping, and just being outside. His first week back was like vacation still a little. This first month of his rotations is not very busy. Yesterday and today he has been doing a lot with youth conference though but the next couple of weeks we should have nice long weekends.

YEAH!!!!!

A little confused maybe??

The rest of our trip

I was sad I forgot my camera at the zoo the other day. We went to the new children's part and it was a lot of fun. Glen painted Matthew's face like a puppy. Cutest puppy I have ever seen.

Glen learned a song while we were in Idaho and sang it for us at our talent show. Below is the kids doing bubbles

It rained a lot while we were there. Matthew wanted to go out in it one day after church so my mom gave him an umbrella. Happy boy

Matthew and Thomas......so sweet

My mom has the greatest fisher price toys that I had growing up. The kids loved playing with them

Heidi, Thomas, and Matthew all rode in the tractor with my Dad at the same time

Matthew just being his silly self. He always manages to find some glasses and the hat was a doll's hat. My mom and Taylor at their new house on the river.

Matthew loved his Grandpa!!

We had a talent show which is a tradition for family reunions. The kids loved the popcorn and decided it would be fun to pour it all over as you can see in the picture below.

We had a babysitter for all of the kids so us older kids could go do something fun. Taylor still came with us however but she was good. We went boating and ate dinner.

I had a nasty cough and my ears were killing me so I didn't ski or anything that night. I got to try surfing for the first time since last summer I was prego. I only wakeboarded once......dumb cold. So this is a very attractive picture of me with a towel around my head because the wind was hurting my ears.

Just hanging out

My Dad with Taylor and Grace

This picture was taken the morning we left....so sad to leave. Matthew, Jordan, and Thomas were being so funny. Matthew was saying "to infinity and beyond" and then they would jump up and land on their bums. I have a video of it so I will have to get it on here.

More of Idaho

Our trip to Idaho was great. My first weeks there it rained and rained. When Glen got there it started warming up and we got to play in the water. Matthew had so much fun with his cousins. I hardly saw him sometimes because he was either outside in the sandbox, trampoline, or across the street at his cousins house. It was heaven having so much space in the house and out for Matthew to play. He loved sitting in the tractors and rode with my Dad a few times and was being very helpful by putting the tractor into nuetral as my Dad was trying to drive. It was great to see everyone and is always hard to leave but it is also nice to be home. I have tons of pictures so we will have more posts to come of this trip. Taylor turned 9 months old on our trip; I can't believe she is that old. She started crawling a lot better and faster in Malta and is cruising on furniture, clapping, and climbing up to everything. She is so sweet and smiley and we love her so much.

Cousin Heidi......almost a year older than Matthew. They live across the street from my parents. I loved watching all the cousins playing together. They were so cute and had so much fun together.

Slip n Slide!!! It was fun to watch Matthew do this.

Playing in the sandbox was a favorite activity

While you were out...

I know I'm not usually the one doing the posts, but I just felt the need to contribute. Since Jill has been gone, I have been all alone at home and studying for Step 1 of the Boards. However, I have to admit that my energy has not been entirely focused on my studies. I have also been spending my time in another pursuit, which I would like to now share with the world. I have been growing this...

This is the official STEP 1 PLAYOFF BEARD!!!!! (or at least all that I could get grown in 9 days). Since I gave up my dream of becoming a professional hockey player at the age of 13, I have either never had reason to or never had Jill allow me to grow it out. So, here it is in all of its glory and I will make sure and shave it for you before I come out to Idaho, Jill...

First week in Idaho....for you Glen!

Little Taylor and Grace.....2 weeks apart

We have been having a great time here in Idaho. It's always refreshing to be out on the farm and see for miles. Our plane ride was a little rough with the kids but we survived and luckily Glen will be with me on the way home. Matthew has been in heaven here; playing in the sandbox, getting dirty, playing with cousins, sitting in all the tractors and combines, going on 4-wheeler rides, and riding on the kayak at my parents house on the river. Matthew had a some cough/asthma issues but he is getting better now. Taylor had a high fever and we ended up taking her to the doctor. She ended up having an ear infection. She is also getting better thankfully. So besides a few hard nights things have been great.

Heidi, Matthew, and Thomas had so much fun being pulled by the 4-wheeler in this little wagon all over the yard and over by the tractors. They didn't want to get off. Ashley and I went yesterday for a ride with the babies and the boys.

This was a fun park in Burley that we went to yesterday called Story Book Park. It was really cute.

Thomas and Matthew....one month apart

I hope you like the pictures Glen!! We love you so much and miss you tons. I am so proud of you for working so hard. You are going to do awesome tomorrow on your test and I am so excited for you to be done. I know you will do great and I wish I was there to be with you and cheer you on. We are always thinking about you though and are so excited to see you on Monday. I love you!