Riding In A Fire Truck To School!

G won a "Ride to school in a Fire Truck" for Avery at a silent auction last year. Avery picked her friend Austyn to ride with her and they had a blast. The firefighters could NOT have been nicer to the kids. They showed them everything in the truck and had hats for all the neighborhood kids. Avery and Austyn got to wear special headsets on the ride over that they thought were pretty cool.

Tay was SOOOOO jealous he couldn't go in the truck and threw a massive tantrum. Besides that melt down it was an awesome start to the week :)

Taylor's 26 Month Update

Here are some Tay-Tay updates:

• His speech is really, really improving and we are so happy with the progress we are seeing from Speech Therapy. The other day I said "I like you" and he replied with "I like you, too". We are hearing lots of little phrases "I do this" "I not done" "I want to go" "I want show" "I need wawa" etc. etc. He's a little hard to understand but we're getting there!
• Tay still loves his tools. Whenever Hung gets his out to do a project or a service person comes to the house, Tay runs for his tools to help out. So cute!
• Sleep has been rough this month. He has been taking forever to fall asleep for nap, then napping until 6 or 7pm and then falling asleep late and often crying some in the night. Hoping it's a phase.....He tries so hard to keep himself awake in his crib when he knows he's tired. He'll pinch himself, kick, roll around, do whatever he can to stay awake and not give in to sleep. Also talks and sings a ton in his crib - probably another way to not sleep. He also finally started using a pillow and blanket but still likes his sleep sack - He will take it off when we wakes OR when he's trying to not fall asleep :)
• He LOVES wearing his Spiderman costume for halloween and turning into a super hero. He makes this squinched up, fighter face that is SO cute. He would pretend fight and rough house with Hung all day. And he has been sleeping with the giant stuffed spiderman.
• For sure in a heavy "mama" phase. Everything is MAMA. It makes Hung, G and Ashley a little crazy at times!
• Tay is also really into "sissy" - Loves to copy Avery, be included in her activities and follow her around. It melts my heart!
• Some favorite toys are tools, animals (G got him this farm set that he loves), trains, "coloring", and just tinkering with things. He also loves chasing/scaring and hide n seek. One time he hid SO good in the guest room in the basement that Hung couldn't find him. He was under a blanket silently giggling and totally not giving himself away.
• Despite limited language, he is really great at telling/showing us things. Yesterday he wanted a granola bar. He went and got it from the pantry and I offered to open it, got a firm "NO", and then he took me to the planning center and pointed to the kids scissors. He wanted to open them himself. lol. He REALLY likes to do things on his own which can be both good (glad he tries and wants to) and bad (takes forever and are sometimes things he simply can't or shouldn't do yet).
• Tay is still a pretty little guy - Wears size 7 shoes, anywhere from 12mos to 2T clothes depending on the brand.
• Appetite goes up and down. Usually eats a big breakfast and lunch and then is too busy for dinner. He no longer uses his high chair and is on a booster at the table or just kneels next to Avery on the bench. He has found where the candy and treats are in the pantry and is always trying to ask for them for a meal and gets really mad and sad when you tell him no. 
• Tay continues to be a head strong boy who knows what he wants and his MAD when things don't go his way. He is also SO darn cute and can be really sweet and funny. Couldn't love him more!!

Not into getting his picture taken....But you can see the toll obsession below :)

Bye Bye Tooth #5

Avery lost her 5th tooth last night while we were listening to a speaker at UHS. I was telling her to stop talking and then realized she was holding a tooth with a bloody mouth - oops! She was excited and looks SO cute with that front tooth gone. The other front one is not far behind.....

Headless Horseman

We had a fun time a Conner Prairie this year with the Silcock's at Headless Horseman. It was pretty crowded but the kids had fun. We checked out the corn maze, saw some of a magic show, had dinner (while Tay played in the music tent) and then Avery and I braved the haunted hayride. Last year she left in tears and really wanted to do it again this year. Every other kid with us chickened out in line but Avery was determined. Despite burying her head in the hay for the scary parts she made it through and decided it can't really be the headless horseman because he would have cut our heads off if it was the real one. 

We spent the rest of the night playing in the corn kernel pit. Tay could have stayed for hours and was REALLY sad when it was time to go.

One funny Avery thing - There were characters dressed up as people from the 1800's that would talk to you in line for the hay ride and try to scare you some. They were in old gowns with bonnets, etc. Avery goes "So are we like supposed to be in the 80's or 90's. That's the olden days right?". And she did NOT mean the 1880's - she meant 1980's. LOL. 

Tay at the music tent - he was happier than the pic shows :)

 In line before Austyn and Smith got too scared

 Hayride Selfie

 Corn Pit Fun

And then it was time to go...

When Dad's Away The Kids Will Play!

Hung went to Peoria this weekend for his 20th HS reunion. It was a rainy weekend in Indy, but the kids and I still had fun. 

We colored Saturday morning, had Austyn over to play and then Avery and I went to Lila's Salon Birthday party. That night we went to watch UHS play soccer with Cullen and KJ.

On Sunday we took Lila to the Children's museum and did the Haunted House. Tay loved practicing his Trick or Treating. And then Austyn came over to play until bedtime. LOTS of friend time for Avery and Tay loves following all the big kids around :)

Friday night snuggles and playing "Doggy" before bed. They were obsessed with getting punished and sent to their dog beds. Avery was the orchestrator and tay could not stop laughing.

 Craft Time

 Avery, Lila and Lena at the Salon - They wanted to look like Mal and Evie

 That HAIR!

Saturday night Soccer Game

 Museum Fun with Lila

 Tay LOVED taking care of the baby Pandas - He even nursed one LOL.

 China was the favorite exhibit this trip!

 Survived the Haunted House

 SUPER SCARY!

Stuckey Farms Fieldtrip

I was able to take the morning off work and chaperons Avery's class trip to Stuckey Farms. Despite the rain (and there was A LOT) we had a great time. It was so sweet seeing Avery in her element and meeting the new friends she has made this year. 

Bus Selfies with her buddy Emily

 Avery as the winter apple tree during our apple and honey lesson

 A WET hayride

 Attempting a Class Picture

 Checking out the Bees