...Everything as loss...FOR GREAT GAIN

I had to post this video because it shows precious Avery being friendly with Rachel and well, they just don't understand hurting each other, nor does Rachel try to escape. As you will see my sweet daughter looks at mom to take care of her frustration...ya know. I think deep inside she's thinking.."mom, why don't you put her in time out and make her cry like you do with Malachi when he's mean to me?? Come on mom?". But Rachel is absolutely in love with her cousin and her brother even when they pick on her. It's cute but someday Rachel will get back at them...and I hope I have the camera ready! (Also...Rachel wasn't hurt in this video and don't think I'm not running to her aide when she's actually in pain..)

Rachel has always been our crazy fearless daughter...and so I wanted to show you one of our favorite Rachelisms ...she growls when she's happy and sad...this is her in her element!

A great idea to head to City Park and surprise Malachi with a train ride. He loved it...thanks Auntie Rachel....so after his ride we went to the playground..and well I am still laughing at this film...he is ok and absolutely not hurt bad...just so funny to watch!

So as many of you read last year we experienced "the fly" fear and from that came the fear of hair in the bath tub and then sock fuzz floating in the tub...yep...Malachi is still extremely afraid of one of those...can you guess??? Well a few days ago on Aaron's one day off we had a peaceful and productive morning around the house and then after the kids took their afternoon naps we decided to venture to Lowes to look at cabinets for the laundry room. Yes, the minute we got into the cool race car shopping cart it all began!!! "I need"..."I need"...push push..."I need"...and let me just note, Malachi had four cars in his hand and had a snack...but had to push his sister, steel her snacks...and needed more! Aaron was a bit shocked and frustrated...I explained that it's a crab shoot with the kids when I take them out. I usually end up taking all things away and doing super speed shopping so I can get things done and then Malachi is disci...

So here's what it looks like now. All we did outside was trim up the ugly bushes inthe front, and a chore of ours was putting the brick reinforcement walls on the two trees...one more to go in the back! Next year...we'll update you on the new front porch and other landscaping ideas we have in store. Malachi's bunk..and he needs buddies to come stay sometime! And of course, Daddy found some cool bedding for Malachi at his work...HE LOVES IT! He knows all the construction vehicles and this is perfect. Here's the office/entry room. We haven't found cool chairs and a coffee table yet, but we're hunting...most likely will be found at Sofa Mart...and I don't think Aaron will shop anywhere else! The back is very simiple...so we can make it our own! But most deffinetely one of the largest yards we could find in Ft Collins!! Here's precious Rachel's room. Here's looking down at the dinning table when it's open for eight!! Yipppee...more seats! And of ...

She's ONE! It's flown by and been great! Rachel is one and had our first birthday party we've ever thrown for our kids. It was fun. My sister from Pueblo came up with her three boys who've never met the kids and then Rachel and Brian came with Avery and my parents came up too! It was great. We barbequed and just enjoyed the fam. Yes...she's going up and down the stairs...but not walking. She actually slides extremely fast down the stairs on her tummy. It's a riot! This is Payton and Malachi..they're only three months apart and never really met each other accept once as little babies. And here's the other cousins...the oldest is Jeremiah and the cutie in the Bronco's jersey is Reece, than Payton, Rachel and Malachi....Avery wasn't there yet. Malachi's first hotdog...he liked it and once a year is plenty. And for Rachel's cake she had the Taylor fam tradition of a yogurt blueberry muffin...she dove right in and loved it.

So here's some fun photo's of the past few weeks moving in! This is Rachel's first time sleeping in Malachi's crib...and not the pack'n'play! She sleeps even better...if that's possible Yes...she's using the spork! She is very strong willed...like someone in our family???...and she just wants to feed herself all the time. It's great! Malachi's new bed!!! He loves it! If anyone needs ideas as to how to get your kids to eat..it's true. Have them help cook. He eats whatever we make every time! And he loves to watch the Food Network with mom. He asks every day to watch "cooking".

I know everyone wants to see pic's of the house....so here's what it looked like advertised and staged...before we moved in and did a small bit of clean up on the landscaping...the trees in the front. The back yard is pretty plain so it gives me an empty canvas to do landscaping and new patio and garden next summer...so fun! Everything inside is new. New carpet, new flooring, new countertops, new appliances never used, new doorknobs, new light fixtures and mirrors...it's awesome! This is the front entry we made into our office. Here's looking down on the entry, kitchen, and dining This is the kid's bathroom...yeh it's much bigger than ours...we had to settle in that area... This is the guest bath downstairs next to the guest bedroom Here's the master bath...it's much smaller than it looks...but we'll survive until the Lord provides enough to remodel the master room and bath

Here's the cuteness of our last days at Auntie Rachel and Uncle Brian's house... SUPER CHEESY Yes...she can take her pants off super easy...not my favorite trick of hers. So when Malachi says certain words they are hard to understand...well in the morning when he ask's for breakfast he says...."I need befkpks"...or something of the sort. This is Uncle Brian's surprise on the fridge for Malachi and never fear Uncle Brian says it every time he talks to Malachi. Yep...Avery's walking! Love's anyone's shoes...especially mommies.