Fireworks Show to the Max

We attended the most amazing fireworks show I have ever been to.  I was absolutely AWESOME.  He had the entire show coordinated to music.  My favorite part were the fire bombs.  I could literally feel the heat, and not just a little bit!

Next year, check out this show.  You will NOT be disappointed.

The kids really liked it at first.  It starts out a huge tailgating party with concessions, grills, and homemade games. 
As soon as the first firework went off, Tay dropped to the ground like she had been shot.  She wouldn't open her eyes for the rest of the event. 

 

Le Artiste

For school, we try to do a craft every week that kind of goes with what we're learning about.  The kids also do lots of crafts with my mom at her house.  Actually, they do some at my dad's house, too.  So, Christian has always been surrounded by different expressions of creativity.  I have really seem him blossom in his own creativity.

He made this snowman for me.  I love his smiling face.

 He drew this mama and baby alligator.

 He painted this board with water and hammered nails in all around it.

 This is his flag he made to go with one of our lessons.  It has a blue skateboard and his "big hairy friend" in the purple.  (Glen, Ryan's friend is really tall and has a massive afro)

 He made this sign and went around the neighborhood selling pictures he had colored.  I did not know he was doing this.  He just told me he was going outside to play and then came inside with $3.00!  I was going to make him return the money, but he didn't know who he had sold them to.

 

Right now, he likes to set up crafts for the kids to do.  His favorite materials at the moment are coffee filters, paint, glue, and beads. He usually glues the beads on as eyes for whatever creature he is making.  Yesterday, he made a kitty cat.

Tay, again

I need to write a book on this little girl. 

I guarantee it'd be hysterical.

I wish I didn't forget half of the things she said and did that make me laugh.

She makes me crack up hard on a daily basis.

 

She has some really crazy hair.  Its especially crazy in the morning after she has been rubbing around on her pillow all night. 

 I think it totally fits her personality!

 We went to Chick-fil-a for their "dress like a cow, get free food" deal.  Tay really wanted to hug the cow, but wasn't sure how to go about it.

 That cow made her day!

 As we all know, she loves shoes.  Especially flip flops and boots.  She also loves anything shiny.

 So, Penny's shiny flip flops were the best thing ever!

 She loves to dress up.  Sometimes its a Transformer or Ninja Turtle, other times its a princess.

 She loves to give a goofy smile and wrinkle up her nose.  (I got her hair in a full ponytail!)

 When we go out shopping, she will spot things and say "OH!  Those are cuuuuute, Momma!".  Like these shoes:

She is constantly getting into things.  Like, here she is rubbing sour cream all over the coffee table.

 Or, here, when she decorated her face (and the carpet) with stamps.

 She is being goofy 99% of the time.  She told me I needed to take this picture:

 She is getting really into clothes.  We went shopping this past weekend and she had to have this furry vest.  Its really cute, but not really practical in this Texas summer.  She doesn't seem to care, though.

 So, I let her pick out her own clothes and this is what she came up with.

 

Aside from all of that cute and goofy stuff, she is also so gross and weird at times.  She licks things.  Eats whatever she finds on the ground (no matter where we are).  Chews gum that she finds stuck to something.  She even told me she tried her tee-tee.  Gross!!!!!

 

I have a feeling, I will have lots and lots of posts completely dedicated to Taylor Rose and her quirky ways.

Picture Person

I decided to take a major leap out into the career world and start a photography business.  I even have a website!  Whoah.  Shut up!
matthewsfamilyphotography.com
I have been taking pictures since my age was in the single digits.  I am going to have to scan a few of those photos and post them to show where this hobby all began.  (obviously way before digital cameras, hence the scanning)  I have nothing to lose and it is something I really, really enjoy.  Perfect conditions, I say. 

I have taken quuuuuite a few pictures of the kids lately.  I need to practice, practice, practice my photography.  Its a good thing that I have some great models that live with me! 

 

 

 

Maven's Parts

Time has once again flown by and Maven is already FOUR months old.  She is such a sweet baby and harldly ever makes a fuss.  I usually put her to bed around 9:00 and she will sleep until about 12:30 or 1:00 pm.  She does wake up once or twice, but she is back to sleep right after she is fed.  She still sleeps a lot and is only awake for about 45 minutes to an hour before she is ready for another nap.

She really has good control over her hands and loves to grab anything nearby... this usually means her feet.  Her poor little tooties have scratches on them from her clawing at them.  She also loves playing with her tongue and chewing on her tiny fingers. 

I am going to blink and my baby will be on her first date.

When I realized how much she had suddenly grown, I quickly grabbed the nearest camera and started clicking away.  I want to remember these tiny baby parts forever: