Green Thumbs

Have we ever got a plan for our garden this year! And we're so excited. Grow, baby, grow!

The Arboretum and the Arabesquing Turtle

We had a lovely spring day with a visit from Grammy and Poppy. We had a lovely time at the Morton Arboretum - riding bikes, playing in the playhouses, having Auntie take a few shots for Leo's 2-year pictures  and.....we saw a turtle doing an arabesque! No joke - you can also see me demonstrating said arabesque.

Downtown Day

We've started a tradition. Mom and Dad have a special Mommy, Daddy and Daughter Day and we get to go downtown. We take the train, ride the bus, take a taxi, visit Daddy's work, go shopping and of course - go to the Art Institute. It's my favorite. So here is the second annual trip...

Come on, Weather!

My Bro and I have some big plans. We plan to be on the MOVE this Spring and Summer!

Trains and Human Trampolines

Dubuque weekends are always fun. Even better is when all my cousins are there, including my Uncle Will and Auntie Kelly. Even better? Poppy goes crazy nuts and buys lots of trains. Oh, and we jump on Uncle Will. He needs practice, of course.

Leo's First Day of School

Today was the day! My brother got to go to preschool with me today! He started in the 2s classroom and when Mom picked us up, he was nicely sitting at circle-time (on my lap!) and listening to a story. Wow. Just plain wow.

Leo's Family Birthday Party

My brother and about 40 of our closest family members (eh, yeah - we are big) rung in Leo's second birthday on Sunday. Mom went a little nutty with her cake skills and it was all worth it - Leo blew out his candle by himself! Big accomplishment for my little bro. See for yourself! He was pretty darn proud of himself. And if you look closely, you can see my poppy fighting away tears. Though, we all know his reputation in that department.

Gym Rats

Look at me! Look at Soph! We love gymnastics.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Leo!

Here comes our little man!.....

Skills

I've been taking Ice Skating lessons since January. And despite Dad's report that the teacher moved me up to the advanced class because I talked too much (nice, Dad) - I moved up to the advanced ice skating class already! And turns out it's the same teacher. So there, Dad. And I even got my very own pair of ice skates. Watch out world!

Me and my ice skating report card

Is it November?

Well, we have finally gotten some snow. Honestly, it could have been timed a little bit better so the neighbors didn't complain we still have our Christmas lights up(!!). But, we are happy we got some play time and saw our pretty lights in the snow. 

All He Wants to do is Jump. And Dance.

So yes, there are a lot of posts of my dancing brother. Truly, he does it all the time. And this one he is showing talent for wearing his shoes on the wrong feet and still executing choice moves. Though Mom and Dad are VERY sick of this song. 

He's Going Out With Quite an Impression!

So, it's my brother's last month being 1. He is sure making some memories. Picture one shows him in the bathtub in his PJs. What happened, you ask? Well, he was in his PJs all day because it was cold in the house. So, at bath time  Mom runs the water, walks out for a few seconds and we hear, "Leo IN!" And in he went. We won't tell you what was also IN Leo's diaper.

Then, Leo has figured out all the funny faces he can make at people as they come up to our door. Makes for a very messy window.

Big News From Leo's Mouth

Leo has been quite the dude lately. He loves his trains, Yo Gabba Gabba, going to gymnastics....and (drumroll) - he finally said "Daddy." What a proud day it was - you see, mom tells me since Leo didn't have part of his mouth when he was learning to baby talk and big boy talk, well - some of his words just don't sound like they usually do for most kids. So - Leo has been working very hard in speech therapy (he has 2+ hours a week AND the drills Mom puts him through). So, all this hard work paid off, and after a year of hearing "gaga" for daddy - Leo said "daddy" this weekend as clear as day. There was a very happy dad who heard him and smiled as Leo crawled up the stairs to use his crayons on the wall. 

Finally, Some Snow

Well, it snowed. Finally! Some were happy, some were not.

Dance Lessons from Leo

My brother loves his music. You'll recall there is a similar video of me from a couple years back. At least my brother has better taste in music! 

Watch Out Peggy Fleming!

I got Ice Skating lessons for Christmas from my Grammy and Poppy. 

It went MUCH better than expected. I've never been on skates before this and 

by the end of the 45 minutes, I was actually skating! I can't wait to go back next week. Mom and Dad may have had a few tears in their eyes while watching. 

Whose Toy is This?

My brother got a Plasma Car from Auntie Mel & Uncle Matt. 

It's kind of a hit. Gee, I wonder who with?

Christmas 2012, Etc.

As usual, Christmas at the Taylor house was the regular free for all. And a fun one at that. We got to have our Uncle Will, Auntie Kelly, and Dori with us. We had the Christmas Eve Bash, Christmas Day wind-down, and Christmas at my Grandma and Grandpa T's. We took a trip to Dubuque to see some snow and go sledding (you'll see this event got it's own post, now you know why), and had a lovely New Year's Eve party with our wonderful neighbors. Happy 2013 to all!

Please note, we all know my mom is not as good as taking pictures as my Auntie Ellen, so there will be more Christmas pictures to come, I'm sure. 

 I suppose it's good Uncle Will works for Trek - hello Santa Will! We rode them all around the house immediately after this picture. Leo cried when we had to go to the Christmas Eve party. Nice.

Christmas morning, AKA - Falling into Christmas

"What are you talking about, Grandpa T?"

Our last Strautman Tree Farm Christmas tree - so proud of 

my Great Grandpa for having a Christmas tree farm for 50 years. 

Where we are going to go from now on, who knows?!

Happy New Year from the Pine Street clan!

 2013 has to be perfect after hanging out with this bunch.

Our First Sledding Outing - AKA "When Mom Yelled at Poppy"

Off to Dubuque we went to spend more time with Uncle Will and Auntie Kelly. We were so excited for our first sled. I mean, really? We live in Chicago and we had to travel to Dubuque for Snow? Pitiful. It definitely is a trip that will go down in the history books. I'll do a play by play for you below....

First, you'll see Mom and Auntie Kelly chatting away while we all think Poppy is going to get in the gigantic deer carcass sled with us.... 

Poppy was being Poppy, and pushed us down the big hill all by ourselves. Repeat, this was our first time sledding. Ever. Note the goofy smile on my Poppy's face and my mom's expression of our lives flashing before her eyes as she grabs the sled...

 Mom still trying to save us...

Poppy did run down to rescue us, but we were smiling and all ended well. 

For us. Poppy got yelled at. Big time. At least Dori was there waiting for us. 

At least we wanted to go again and this time, 

Uncle Will took us. Good Uncle Will.

 Mom and Me. And Dori of course.