Family Pictures

Kami at Salted Paper Photography took our family pics last year and they turned out so amazing that I decided I wanted her to do our photos again this year! We got them back last night and they are so beautiful. She definately has a gift and I will start saving again so I can get pictures done again next year!

Monty Compound

Alright people, are you ready for this? My husband is building a snowboard park in our back yard. This is the beginning stage of the drop in. I haven't personally measured it, but from my observations, it's 12-15 feet tall. There will be stairs up the back (by the tree) and there will be 2 drop ins coming off.

Here is what it looks like now, the 1st ramp is ready to be sheeted...

Here is the drop in and the rail these crazy boys will be

jumping onto after boarding down the ramp...

And the view from the top...

I'm sure that those of you who know Cory aren't all that surprised by this. But I've been a little bit surprised at people's reactions. They can't believe I am allowing this to happen in our back yard. I look at it like this... We will never be in a home that we will be able to do this at again. Cory was gone 2 nights a week last Winter boarding, so this will keep him at home a little bit more. And Cory is so excited about it and I really love to see how happy it makes him. Plus I have a constant parade of cute boys in my house, sometimes they even have their shirts off. Everyday when I get off work I walk to the back yard to hear all about the progress made, shaking my head in confusion. I really don't understand how boys can get so excited about this. But as far as I'm concerned, I'll let Cory play because it makes him happy. And Holdyn is going to have so much fun sledding down those ramps!

Another Crazy Weekend!

We had another busy weekend! We're trying to cram as much in as we can before the end of the nice weather. We had a blast all weekend, I love spending time with my boys! First Holdyn went to the fair with his Grandma and his aunts. He was a very good boy even after missing a nap and staying up way past his bedtime. He was a little weirded out by the animals...

Umm...

What is that?!?

On Saturday morning we went to see the FMX competition at the Dew Tour. It was a lot of fun, but despite Cory's hopes and dreams, I am pretty sure I'll never be able to watch my son do that kind of stuff so high in the air. This was Holdyn's face the entire time...

I'm a little bit scared of the trouble these two are going to get in...

After leaving the FMX competition, Cory and I decided to be extremely brave and take Holdyn to his cousin's birthday party with only a 30 minute nap in the car!

He was a very good boy and loved playing with Ben's toys. Happy Birthday Ben! We took Holdyn home and he slept from 5:30 to 8:30 the next morning!!

Sunday we went to the zoo and it was so much fun watching Holdyn (and Cory) ooh and ahh at all of the animals. Cory and I haven't been to the zoo for at least 5 years and it really is much nicer than I remembered. Holdyn loved everything about it. And much to my disgust, put his mouth on anything he possibly could. Thank god the animals were not in his reach. I expect a runny nose and coughing to begin any minute. Funny, sick little boy!

Holdyn again went to bed at 5:30 and slept until 8:30 the next morning. Such a good little boy! On a side note, I am proud to say that we walked out of the zoo without buying one thing. It was difficult, but I managed to make up for it by spending $24 on books from Costco last night. :)

The big 2 - 4!

Well, I've entered into my mid-twenties! I turned 24 last Saturday and it was a jam-packed weekend. Friday night we went to the Monty's to have a birthday Fiesta. I appreciate Guy and Lane so much that they take the time and energy to do this for me. And thank you Nicole for that delicious cake! I got to see my sugar sweet Ryn which always makes me happy...

Then Saturday morning, my mom, Amber, Maddy, Grace and BreAnne all got a pedicure. It was very relaxing. I can't remember the last time I had a pedicure. The highlight of that morning was when my mother told the Vietnamese people that "All of us white people look the same." My mother :) After the pedicure, my mom and my sister invited me to breakfast. When I got home, Kirby was there guarding the backyard and telling me "You stay where you are Taylor!" So I was extra curious. But then I was able to look outside and I saw my awesome husband standing next to a brand new picnic table with balloons, flowers, and my favorite candy covering the table. It was the perfect birthday present. Thanks babe! I decided I would like to go to Italian Village with my family, nice and early as we would never ever want to overlap into Holdyn's 7:30 bedtime, trust me! It was delicious, as usual! My grandma not only made a beautiful, delicious cake, she framed the first picture Holdyn ever colored and that was one of my favorite presents. It was a fun night, thanks family!

After dinner, we pawned Holdyn off on my mom so we could go home and party with all of our friends. It was so fun and I appreciate all of the family and friends who were able to make it! Love you all!

Sunday morning, we woke up 4 hours after going to bed and floated the river. Even Jamie made it, and she was super hung over. What a trooper! It was a little bit chilly, but very fun! I think it was the last river trip of 2008 :( And then to top it all off, Cory, Holdyn, and I drove up to Silver Lake to have family pictures done. I am very excited to see what Kami comes up with. She is extremely talented! All in all, it was a busy, fun-filled weekend! Thank you to everyone who made it wonderful!

My Husband

I just need to write about how much I love and appreciate my husband. He has been such an amazing support this last little while. I am pretty sure I would be a total and complete mess right now if it weren't for his support and love lately. I have noticed him gradually handling things better and better this last year, but this last trial has put me in complete awe of him. He is doing what he needs to do as a husband and daddy without any complaints. I am so proud of him for handling things at wonderfully as he is, when all I want to do is kick and scream on the floor and then punch people. But not Cory. Cory has been way more grown up than I could have ever thought. I love that he is doing what's right for our family, regardless of how painful it might be. Cory, you are a wonderful husband and I am lucky to have you. You have absolutely been my saving grace these last few days and please know that I will always appreciate you for that. I love you more than anything.

Last Bottle :(

Well, we did it. We gave Holdyn his last bottle. I have been dreading this from the day he was born because I knew that was the last thing that would really give me mommy/Holdyn cuddle time. Now all he wants to do is "Bonk!" or smack me! We made a plan that when Holdyn turned 1 on June 28th, we would take away his morning bottle. Then on July 28th, we took away his afternoon bottle. Then came the dreaded August 28th. He had his very last na-night bottle. Holdyn couldn't have cared less, but mommy was a mess.

This last year has flown by, and although I love who he is turning into, I really miss my little cuddly newborn.