This time of year we love going to the pumpkin patch, picking out our Halloween pumpkins, going on the hayride, and seeing the animals at the petting zoo. We timed it just right and as we pulled out of the parking lot, rain started pouring. It was Matt's only free Saturday in months, so we're really glad it worked out. I'm kind of sad we won't be here for grandma's pumpkin patch next year! (Pictures are in no particular order.)
Cole didn't really know what to make of the baby chick.
Jack liked picking out the different sized pumpkins.
He actually went on the little train this year...last year he was terrified and wouldn't go.
Cole loved the hayride. He spent most of the time like this...laying on Matt's arm and grinning.
Is there anything quite as cute as a baby pig?
The turkeys were as big as Jack. And for some reason they really liked gobbling at Matt. He could get them to "talk" every time he tried.
The cow liked me and kept licking me and nibbling at my clothes and hair.
The baby cows were pretty cute too.

Cole's Birthday

Our little Cole had a birthday this week! I can't believe it's been a whole year. He's such a good natured, easy going, sweet, happy little boy (as long as you keep his belly full). He and Jack are starting to play together and it is amazing to watch. We're so glad he's part of our family! I have some video, but it's on the other camera with a dead battery and a missing charger.
He loved the balloons. I think we could have stopped there and he would have thought it was a pretty great day.

His cake didn't turn out perfectly, but he liked it and that's all that matters. He LOVES dogs (especially Sunga), so we went with a puppy cake.
He was surprisingly a little reluctant with the cake at first, but once he tasted it, he really went for it.He liked the presents, but didn't really get the whole wrapping paper thing.
The big hit was the ride on fire truck toy from grandma and popo. He seemed so grown up on it!
The next morning the two boys played for hours. They were either doing this....or Jack was running over Cole the whole morning.

Baby!!

We are excited to be expecting baby #3 on April 25! I'm about 15 weeks and feeling pretty good. We had a rough month or so with Matt working nights and out of town and me with a pretty good run of morning (?!?) sickness. Jack started taking his stuffed animals into the bathroom saying "me and ____ don't feel good, we have to throw up." Then he'd shut the door and make sound effects. We'll probably have another ultrasound in the next couple months and hopefully be able to find out the gender.

He/she seems to be a thumb sucker.

This is the first picture I've been able to get of Cole's top teeth--I love his little gap. He is never quite so happy as he is in the tub.Cole's new favorite activity: doing laps around the coffee table.
Lately Jack has been really into light, shadows, and shade. He love to play in the light coming in through the windows in the morning.
We've also been making lots of forts (thanks for starting that grandma!). The house is a constant disaster, but both boys love it!
Oh, if you notice the quality of my pictures has slightly increased, it's due to a very cool camera that was recently donated to us! I haven't worked out how to use it outside of the automatic settings yet, but I already like it 100x more than our stupid point and shoot. (I can actually take the picture when I want, instead of waiting 10 seconds until the moment has passed!)

Balloon Festival

Our little town has a balloon festival every year that is so much fun. It's the perfect size; enough balloons to impress the kids, but not so many people that you have to fight huge crowds. We go meet a bunch of families in the evening. We eat dinner, watch the balloons launch, watch for the skydivers, and then wait until it gets dark so the balloons can "glow". Jack and Cole both thought it was wonderful and I must admit I think it's pretty cool, too.
The balloons don't all launch from the same place. You just start to see them rising into the air...pretty fun.
Just chillin' out waiting for balloons.
Gotta love that wide stance! He is not going anywhere.
"Afterglow"We all look a little glassy eyed...it's really late for the kids and Matt was working nights this last rotation...but, we made it (he finished Friday) and it's the last one ever (we hope)!!

My mom was nice enough to drive from Salt Lake, stop in Denver, and drive a trailer full of furniture my aunt was kind enough to donate to us, all the way to Michigan. She stayed about a week and the boys LOVED having her here. True to form, I have no pictures. Sorry Mom...you were here for a couple of these!
It has been time for Cole to get a haircut for awhile now...curly and shaggy in back, long and straight on top...very odd. But hey, at least he has hair...that seems to be rare among the Taylor children at this age. He wasn't so sure about the clippers, but did pretty well. He looks so much more grown up to me! (not the greatest pictures, sorry)
Before...

After...We've been going to Dow gardens a lot lately (it's kind of like Red Butte). Jack loves these steps and insists on going up to the top "and right back down" all by himself on our way out every time.
Jack got into the Desitin, the pic doesn't do it justice...7 washes later he was still greasy. I'm really glad he isn't a kid that does this all the time (I know there are some out there)....but I definitely wasn't prepared.

Cole's new trick..."so big!"

"but my cousins said..."

This was Jack's mantra for awhile. (it's now changed to "but the monsters are coming right now!", but that's another story) Matt's brother, Preston and his wife, Rebecca, and their four kids came to visit a couple weeks ago. Jack (and the rest of us, but especially Jack) absolutely loved it! Cole went from crying at the sight of anyone new to being happy with everyone. We tried to do something fun everyday, and then get naps in for the younger kids (and parents) in the afternoon. We went swimming, to a baseball game, to the local science and art museum, blueberry picking, played at various parks and ate lots of good food (and I ate a few too many cookies). Matt had to work (of course) for a lot of the time, but was able to come for some of the best stuff. "Aunt Babecca" was kind enough to put her photography skills to work and take pictures the whole week. (I, knowing she had superior skills and equipment, didn't take a single one) Thanks for coming guys, you can come back any time. Jack keeps telling me "my cousins are coming back tomorrow". He also can't decide whether to call you all cousins, friends, or brothers.

I just love these pictures of Jack and William. Aren't they just too cute? They really did play amazingly well together!

Cole has always liked to swing pretty well, but this day it gave him the giggles. We need to swing more often, I think.
And another fave...Rebecca just needs to follow us around so I have good pictures!

The Dow Museum of Science and Art. Not a huge museum (that's not a dinosaur, just a mastadon), but fun for the kids. They have some fun temporary exhibits throughout the year.
The museum had a Lego exhibit going and, at the end, about a thousand sets of legos to play with. The giant ones were the biggest hit and the kids had fun building little forts.
Cole was there, too, but he just watched. He has a little orange carrot nose because I got a little carried away making carrot baby food and he'd been eating some with every meal. At least it goes with his hair! (we did run out that week and I haven't made them again yet)
Little Preston told me that blueberry picking was his favorite thing we did all week because he learned that he likes blueberries. Sorry we never got around to making blueberry coffee cake...next time.

Look! Cole isn't in the stroller! We went to a local splash park, ate lunch and got wet.Rebecca claims she is not a photographer. But we are definitely not models, and half of us are under three. So, if she isn't a photographer, I really don't know how these pictures came about. Thanks so much for being willing to shoot these! I so understand why you don't love doing family portraits, but I love how they turned out... there is an 8x10 hanging on the wall that looks fantastic.
Is it safe to let Matt throw him that high?