our darling daughters

A couple of weeks ago I got the girls dressed nicely, which can be rare around this house, and took them to a place outside of Weston that Chad and I stumbled upon and thought would make for some fun photos.  I was able to capture a few, though it was a bit chilly and the girls were more interested in being done so we could go play at Taya's house :)  Enjoy!

 {oh, how I adore those curls}

 {this two-year-old loves to explore}

 {the girls were discussing what/who lived in this old house- Chloe decided it must've been cows because there was cow poop inside}

 {love}

 {words between sisters}

 {a pair of smiles}

{Chloe showing a mostly genuine smile.  Embrace it, it doesn't happen often, in photos, anyway}

Halloween

Halloween is a fun holiday, but it is usually stressful for me- fussing over how the girls look, attempting to try to keep them looking good, taking pictures (and doing everything to ensure they are good pictures), Skype-ing with my parents, running the kids to the Taylors' and to see Grandma Griffeth, and the trunk-or-treat.  It is just all systems go from about lunchtime until bedtime and that certainly wears me out. Thankfully the girls always look cute, and it is only one night.  Thank goodness!  The girls had fun, though they both had fussy times.  Berkley pooped in her costume, which took about 10 minutes to take off and put back on (oh, how we love layers)!  Chloe fell out of the van as she was trying to get in on the way to the trunk-or-treat.  Oh drama.  It was fun, we got just enough candy to be dangerous, and the girls were exhausted and slept well  that night :)

Mom & Dad always get the girls a fun & cute gift for Halloween.  This year they sent them a popcorn ball decorating kit from the Popcorn Factory- delicious and fun :)

 {Chloe showing off one of her popcorn balls}

 {she said she wanted to look scary- I think she just looks silly!}

 {Berkley was being a goof while decorating}

 {and here is her lovely popcorn ball (one of three, I might add) with lots of white chocolate "hair"}

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On Halloween night we took some fun pictures outside. Unfortunately, attitudes toward pictures were hit and miss, but I think I got some cute and funny pictures :)

 {my dear Chloe trying to talk her little sister into being more cooperative for pictures}

 {hahahaha.  isn't this fantastic?!? The stink eye from both of them, and who can't love that pouty lip Berk is sporting?}

 {Chad was behind me trying to get them to both at least look in the same direction}

 {Our Minnie had a bit of fun playing with the leaves}

 {our bright and shining Rapunzel}

 {those beautiful blues get this girlie almost anything she wants}

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The girls both designed their own jack-o-lanterns.  We gave them each a permanent marker and free reign.  Then Chad, our master carver, carved these fun faces!

 {Berkley was looking for the black candle inside her pumpkin- I love how crooked it's mouth is and the small size of his nose}

 {darling Minnie so proud of her pumpkin}

{and sweet Rapunzel not looking too enthused about her pumpkin, though she really did love it.  She drew teeth on it, but they just simply were to small to cut out, so it instead had a mustache :)  See those little black dots?  Chloe informed us that those were his ears.  Oh, the creativity of children}

A taste of our October

OK, ok.  I realize that it has been f.o.r.e.v.e.r.  And, it has.  But we have been super busy around here with many different projects and exciting things :)  I decided that for my time, which seems to be pretty precious this time of year, and sanity that I'd simply combine most of October into this single, yet wonderful post!

My quest this fall has been to incorporate at least one sensory activity or cooking experience and two art activities/projects a day.  We have been having so much fun, but we are also running low on art supplies... go figure!  The girls have been loving it; and trust me, we aren't always perfect every day, but I try very hard to make it work!  

On this day we played with cooked spaghetti noodles and cars & trucks in our sensory "bin" (still patiently waiting for my dear husband to build us a new sensory table).  It basically turned into a "Let's put our whole bodies into the spaghetti" activity.  They had so. much. fun. 

 {sprinkling it all over their legs}

 {...and into their toes}

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We also made an unexpected, but very welcome trip to Hogle Zoo with Melanie & Taya at the beginning of the month.  We had so much fun!  Our trip also included Tai Pan Trading & Ruby Snap :)  It was so much fun to get out of the house with a wonderful friend!  Love you, Mel <3 p="p">

 {sweet Chloe playing in the tunnel with Taya}

 {Berkley, Chloe, Taya- I love this picture, but it was super bright!}

 {little mini}

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And, of course, since it was Halloween and I was on my quest for art activities galore, the girls made a plethora of Halloween related pictures, paintings, and even this cute little Kleenex box monsters!

 {Berkley's monster had tons of eyes in each eye ball}

 {Chloe's monster had cotton ball eyes and lots of teeth!}

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Naturally, Finn was here all October.  I love this little pup, I really do, but he isn't always on my good side (or should I say he is usually on my bad side)!  He doesn't always listen, and he definitely knows how to push my buttons, but there are good moments that are strung together that make me love him.  Chad and I laugh about it and say that he is "... just good enough to keep around."  We love you Finn, but if you could listen a bit better than you have lately, that would be STUPENDOUS!

{this is one of Finn's favorite spots to relax}

sometimes...

... we have a bad day.  sometimes we have a bad week.  sometimes we go weeks without a bad one, but this sometime was this week.  it's been long.  it's been stressful.

But, and this is more important than all of that, there were small blessings, moments of joy and happiness, smiles, giggles, tickles, and play.  It's often difficult (for me anyway) to always keep that in mind.  Times get hard, emotionally, physically, financially, spiritually, or in any other way (or a combination), and it is often the focus of my attention.  Sometimes I cannot let go of things.  Sometimes I cannot see past things that are tough to see the brightness.  Sometimes I try, and sometimes I fail.  But, more importantly, sometimes I can see the good through the tough, stressful, upsetting, or sad.

Sometimes I feel like I'm not the greatest mom, sometimes I am a great mom.  This week was long, stressful, difficult.  We had tears (not just the girls, me too- ahh, who doesn't love increased hormones due to pregnancy), bickering, two little girls who would not listen, more bickering, biting (yes, biting by both of them- Wednesday afternoon was no fun), did I mention bickering?!  I got frustrated, I attempted to be patient, I did my very best to be understanding of circumstances and development, I prayed for patience and understanding, yet there were times when I was not.  I had to be more firm with Chloe than I like.  I had to lay down the law after giving the benefit of the doubt.  I had to physically restrain Berkley when she was so overtired tonight that she wouldn't stop screaming, hitting, and kicking me.  I don't like to do those things.  I don't like to feel like I'm losing my cool.  Patience is my goal, always.  I usually keep it well, but after a week like this past week, I simply couldn't, and today was my breaking point.

I hate feeling hard on my girls; I hate raising my voice; I hate having to say "no" (I am sure many of you are rolling your eyes and thinking, 'Seriously?!?!?' but yes, "no" is never my word of choice.  Among many reasons for disliking using "no" with my girls is this one); I don't like to feel like an enemy or one to be disliked especially from a little and a mini that I love so much.  Unfortunately, sometimes being a parent includes these things.  They are often inevitable, but that doesn't make it any easier...

Being a mom is the greatest blessing.  Even though being a mom is also hard at times, it is still the greatest, most amazing blessing.  It's not always easy, some days it isn't all that fun, but when I think back on the good versus the bad, I realize the good is greater, more frequent, and oh so amazing.  The stress, the hard days, the loss of complete patience, the physical pain pregnancy can bring, the emotional aspect of being a mother, the inability to jump on the tramp without peeing your pants, peeing a little when you cough, sneeze, or laugh (wow, I never imagined being a mom would lead to so many urinary problems), crying when you don't know how to handle a situation, hours of prayer that your children will be safe and that you will be good enough for them and many other things that I'm sure I've not included here are far inferior to the happiness, joy, and blessings I've experienced being a mom.  And I'm so extremely grateful that I get to relive all of those wonderful things with the sweet spirit I am carrying now.  I never knew that being a mom would end up being exactly what I've always wanted to be when I grew up- what a delightful, glorious, no words can compare feeling.

To sweet Chloe, mini Berkley, and our little bean: I love you so much, and your Daddy does, too.  We are so blessed to have you.  Because of you we have the world.  Because of you we know what true happiness is.  Because of you we know true love.  Because of you we are eternally blessed :)

Sometimes it is hard, but it will always, always be worth it!

Our family is...

... growing. We're expecting, you see!  Where before we had two, we now will have THREE!

We are so incredibly excited to be having another baby!  This baby has been long awaited for, and we simply want to shout it out :)  Baby Taylor #3 will be making his or her appearance April 5th 2013.  I have been feeling well overall, and the baby is doing wonderfully!  Another fast heartbeat- 183bpm- and both of my girls had faster heartbeats, but time will tell (hopefully in November we will know)!  The girls are super excited, especially Chloe.  We are so blessed and beyond happy to be having another sweet spirit in our home :)

1st day of dance + dance photos

Chloe & Berkley are so lucky to both be taking dance this year!  They started a couple of weeks ago, but we were running behind and I wasn't able to take very many first day photos (plus, we weren't in my ideal situation)!  Here are the pictures I got right before their first class: 

 {The girls together- yep, this is literally the best one I could get of them together!  Berkley was obviously very unwilling to take any pictures}

 {sweet Chloe ready for dance}

 {darling Berk with her pony not wanting to smile or show any emotion}

 {Do these two scream 'deer in the headlights' or what?!  I think Berkley likes dance a lot because of Taya}

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And here are the photos from our mini "shoot" earlier today in Weston: 

 {Silly faced Chloe}

 {She loves to twirl in this skirt!}

 {how darling}

 {I really love this one!}

 {sweet mini dancer}

 {Yeah, I'm not really sure what was up with the weird faces today!!}

 {Poor mini always pushing her curls out of her face!  I can relate, well minus the curls!  Chloe can, too!}

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I snapped these two while Chloe was at preschool!  Berkley and I have really enjoyed having some one-on-one time :)

 {a mini and her pup}

{a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e.}