Happy Birthday Taylor!

Today Taylor is 12 years old! I can't believe it...how the time flies. I hope her day is as special as she is! Here are some things you may not know about Taylor and a trip down memory lane....

~Two weeks old on her blessing day~

~One Year Old!~

Taylor's always had a bit of a goofy side, like her dad!

Taylor has always been a "Daddy's Girl".

~Two Years Old~

~Four Years Old~

Taylor is gentle and kind.

~Lauren & Taylor~

Taylor has always had the greatest laugh.

Riding four wheelers with Grandpa McDougall.

Taylor loves her Uncle Chad (my brother).

We love Disney!

Taylor LOVES dogs...she wants to be an ER vet when she grows up.

Taylor's never been afraid to touch bugs, lizards, frogs, you name it...if you look closely you'll see her holding a frog in this picture.

Taylor would love to have a horse she could call her own! She's a natural!

We love you Taylor!

A Quick Funny...

Today, after school, Carter & I were working on a project he is doing for school. He is researching the city of Lubbock, TX. He has to find out things like how it originated, climate, popular sites, where it is in relation to Austin, population, local restaurants etc. Then they are supposed to create a "model" of their city in a shoe box. They are calling it "Texas in a box". They have to decorate the outside of the shoebox to fit the characteristics of their city. Then collect or make objects to represent each category of information that was researched. So, I was helping him do his research on the computer when he turned to me and said, "I'm learning right now!" He was so pleased with himself and I couldn't help but chuckle because it was so cute. I'm so glad he's a part of our family.

This was taken last May at a special "Mother's Day Tea" at his school.

* Update on his eye...it is an infection, not a allergic reaction and the medicine is starting to help. It looks much better today.

Adrianne! (You know, from Rocky)

Yesterday, Carter woke up with his eye all swollen up. I asked him if he had hit in on something or gotten hit. He said no. As the day progressed, his eyelid started to get red. So, I took him to the doctor and he is either having an allergic reaction to something or his eye lid is infected. She is treating him for both and put him on an antibiotic and benadryl. He said he was sick of kids at school asking him what was wrong with his eye. I told him it made him look tough and to tell them they should see the other guy! :)
Poor little fella...

Suspicious Person Alert

We've had a suspicious person lurking around our neck of the woods. She's been seen chasing stray cats and sneaking cookies. Not to mention she is armed with an incredibly cute smile. If you have any information on this person of interest please contact your local authorities!

A trip to Waco Zoo!

I'm a little late with this post but wanted to tell you about our day at the Waco Zoo. On August 12th my friend Rachelle (mom to the quints), her sister Tiare, and I took 6 kids and 5 babies to the zoo in 97 degree weather! The babies and kids were great...I think only the adults complained about being EXTREMELY HOT & SWEATY!

All the kids...check out that stroller!

Tiare & Kassidy

Halli & Kyndall

Ryder & Rachelle

Kaydence & Tiare

Rustin

Next time I think we'll do the zoo in the fall or spring when it's not so HOT!

Freedom. Freedom! FREEDOM!!

First day of school is one of my favorite days of the year! WOO-HOO. Yes, I did the happy dance. :)

Taylor started middle school today (which starts one hour later than elementary). I was a bit teary eyed but I got over it rather quickly! :) She was sick yesterday with a 102 fever so we weren't sure if she was going to be able to go today but woke up fever free. I walked her to the classroom where she was assigned to get her schedule etc. There sat rows of kids with that "deer in headlights" look. And the room was super quiet...not a peep. I said to the teacher, "I bet this is your quietest day!" She was very nervous. I had to go back because I forgot to put money on her lunch account and happened to run into her. She was still pretty quiet but excited because her best friend, Samantha, was in her math class. So, hopefully she has a good first day of middle school!

Rachel & Taylor...they've been friends since kindergarten.

We're Back!

We had a great time in Oregon. We had a fun filled week and got to see lots of family. Here's a ton of pictures again!

We went to the Children's Museum....

Grandpa and the kiddos

Grandma & Grandpa with all the "Matheny Grand kids"...a.k.a. last name Matheny

Grandma & Carter

....and to the Airplane Museum.

Dave, Dave's Mom, Dave's little bro Andy

Christiana & Lauren

The adults got to go out for a nice meal at the Original Roadhouse...

Our last day we just hung out and had a BBQ. Dave's other little brother, Sam, came down from Corvalis to visit. It was his birthday!

A big group of Matheny's!

Grandma & Taylor

Lauren, Jade, & Carter

Dave, Carter, Andy, Sam

Thanks for having us Grandma & Grandpa! We had a great week! We love you...

Over the River and Through the Woods....

....To Grandmother's House We Go (& Grandpa's too!)

Carter sleeping on the plane (doesn't he look comfy?) Greetings from Oregon. Saturday night we flew to Portland, Oregon to see Dave's parents. Our plane left an hour late due to a thunderstorm in Austin. Luckily they held our connecting flight in Phoenix, AZ. Thank you Southwest! :) Anyhow, we flew into Portland about 1:00 a.m. our time (11:00 p.m. Oregon time). Dave's brother, Andy, picked us up from the airport and took us to his house. He & his wife Carrie have 4 kids and recently moved into their first home! It was so fun to see them and their home. The kids loved getting reacquainted with their cousins. We spent the night there and Sunday Dave's parents came up and we had a BBQ and had a fun day with our cousins. We also got to see Dave's Grandma Stanley. We headed to Dave's parents that night and will spend the rest of the week at their house.

Andy cooking us all dinner...

Lauren, Taylor, & Christiana

Hunter & Carter

Johnathan

Jade

Lauren & Jade

Me & Jade

Carrie & Andy

Grandma Matheny & Lauren

Great Grandma Stanley & Our Family

Stay tuned for more pictures as we have a fun week planned!