A Camping We Will Go

Last week we went on our yearly camping trip to Horse Thief Reservoir near Cascade, ID.  It was good to get away and spend some time up in them there hills!!! 

The boys had a great time fishing (even though we ALMOST got skunked--Mike and Brian finally each caught one the LAST day. . . . whew. . . .we cannot get skunked!) and swimming and riding their bikes around.

It was good for me to get out and do something a little different than being inside my house ALL day long.  I am getting used to the newborn thing again and realizing that I had forgotten a lot of what it is like to have a baby. 

Benjamin is doing great. . . . we had his 2 week check-up today and he is now 9 lbs. 4 oz. That is a 2 lb. gain in 2 weeks! WhooHoo!!! Love the chubby babies!!!


Here are some highlights from the trip:
                                                

Benjamin Brian Taylor

Introducing.......weighing in at 7 lbs. 5 oz. and at staggering 20.5 inches long......Benjamin Brian Taylor!!!  Ben was born on June 10th (my Grandma Butikofer's birthday....who says I don't have pull?) at 10:37 PM after 20 hours of labor (why do my labors get longer not shorter like normal people?).

We are so glad he is here and are just trying to remember how to do this again!!!  If memory serves me, it is something like eat, sleep, poop, repeat, repeat, and repeat!

We know that Luke was there with us when he was born.  I am so glad I have the knowledge that Ben was with Luke just days ago....together as brothers.....forever as brothers.....just like our family is.....FOREVER!

Handy Husband Strikes Again!!

A few months ago, I had the boys wake up their father on a beautiful Sunday morning.  By the time they were done, my bed was completely trashed (sheets of and everything)!  In the bliss of that moment, the boys discovered that Mom and Dad's bed was really comfortable. . . . way more comfortable than their's.  So we told them we would get new mattresses for them for their birthday's.  And if you are going to get new mattresses, then we must have new bed frames, right?

Brian finished them yesterday and we set them up!  Don't they look FANTASTIC!  And the boys are so excited! 

So it's out with the old. . . . .

And in with the new. . . . .


                                        

We are so lucky to have someone so handy!

Did you really say 15 YEARS?

15 years ago, at this time, I was getting ready to be sealed to Brian for time and eternity. Although I knew it was right, and I loved him, I was nervous, very nervous. . . .had I made the right decision. . . . was I ready to be married. . . . .would we be able to "make" it? All these questions did get answered through the years.
  

     

Our first year of marriage, of course, was an adjustment, but I think it was one of our best. During that year, I figured out that I had made the right decision and THIS boy was for me!!!! I loved being married. I loved running a house. I loved Brian!!

I learned so many things about him that I hadn't figured out while we were dating....like he could fix just about anything and I didn't have to call my dad up to fix it for us. He is a HARD worker. He takes pride in his job and everything he does. He NEVER complains about ANYTHING. . . .okay, that is not totally true, he has always complained about my spending habits, and he used to complain about my OCD with the house, but I have learned from him that having dishes in the sink is okay and he has learned from me that its okay to spend money. . . . .who are we kidding, he still hasn't learned that!!!

We have had the the normal ups and downs through the years. But, our 12th year of marriage solidified that we would "make" it together. We have survived the hardest trial either of us has ever had to endure and we are "making" it. We found strength and comfort and love from each other that has brought us closer together!

So, this morning, I asked Brian a few questions:

Question 1: What words of wisdom do you have for others who are getting married?
Answer: Don't do it! (with a grin)

Question 2: Are you glad you married me?
Answer: Yes (first serious answer ever. . . shocking!)

Question 3: Do you want to leave me?
 Answer: Not yet (I thought that one was hilarious--I guess we will have to see how the next 15 go!)

Happy 15th Anniversary, My B! I love you more than anything and I am so grateful that I found a husband and best friend in one man!!!

Good Friends, Good Times

So my wonderful friend Whitney, and my awesome sis-in-law Tina, planned an amazing baby shower for me!! They did it all, from a fruit carrier (with baby included) to balloons, to even a glitter crown (And you know how I LOVE glitter!) We had so much fun! Thanks to EVERYONE who helped and came and showed us your support. . . . it is so appreciated. . . .more than you'll ever know! Here are some highlights:

Handy Husband

Brian has ALWAYS disliked our mantle.



I thought it looked just fine, but he wanted one that wrapped around the fireplace, so..........he decided to build one! It only took him 3 days to build!! Take a good look at that mess--see you all thought my house was never a mess. It drove me crazy, but I kept my cool for my wonderful, hard working husband.




Here it is, finished and ready to be painted. That became my job. . . .



And, it turned out beautifully! Just don't look too close to the paint job. I am no professional and I wish I would have hired someone to paint it (not that Brian would have let me). Don't you think I have a handy husband?

Security Blankets

I remember as a child having several "security blankets"......I had that one special blanket that could comfort me when nothing else could. I still remember what it used to smell like. When I would get really sick as a child, I liked to get into a pair of my mom's flannel pajamas that were green and white striped. It always made me feel just a little bit better to be in them. I had a stuffed bunny that I got one Easter that I slept with every night. My chin fit perfectly in between its ears and I could just snuggle into it and everything became fine. The funny thing is, I don't know where any of those things are anymore or when I stopped using them. I must have moved on or grown up or something to not need them, right?

Yesterday, I let go of another security blanket. But this time, I will remember every second of losing it. We took down Luke's room yesterday.

After Luke's passing, his room was a source of pain for me. I wanted to take it down several times in the months that followed his death, but Brian insisted we needed to leave it, and darn it, he was right. His room became my security blanket. It was comforting. It was what we had left of him that was tangible. It stood for everything we needed to remember for 2 1/2 years. And now it's gone.

It was gut wrenching and horribly sad and I really, really wish I had my blanket, my mom's pj's, and my bunny.