Happy 7th Birthday Tayler!

Seven!
Tayler is such loving and thoughtful girl with everyone in her family. Some of her favorites this year are horses(which she begs for constantly), being out doors, and playing with animals or bugs. Though she has toughened up a great deal she is still as feisty and dramatic as ever! Still the girly girl interested clothes, shoes, make up, and jewelry  She is a blessing to have and always has us laughing by her crazy phrases and words she makes up for things. We love you Pie Pie and are so grateful God gave you to us, looking forward to our many years to come!

Josh was out of town so we put him on speaker phone to sing Happy Birthday with us! Here she is listening to him sing with us.

First piece goes to the birthday girl! Ha Brenden snuck his plate to me thinking he was going to trick me.

Eating their cake and ice cream too!

On Tayler's birthday she chose Chocolate Chip Pancakes for breakfast, Ramon noodles for lunch, and Cheesy Chicken Burritos for dinner. Corey, Tayler, and I stayed up and had a girls night. We watched Flicka, while I painted their toes and fingers, and then we played make over, doing pretty make up on each other, and then clown make up. It was so much fun though I don't think the girls were as kind as I when it came to the clown part. I am so upset I can't seem find the pictures on my computer! I think I may have lost them. :( But here are pictures of Tayler Rayn and her cake. She chose to have a girls day out as her present. So when we meet Corey's parents in Tuscaloosa Al. we will go mall shopping hitting all the good spots Claires, Bath and Body Works, toy stores and such. She is wanting new clothes, shoes, jewelry  and even smell good. She was glad to get lots of birthday money from her grandparents. We even plan to have Olive Garden for lunch or dinner (yummy) depending on how our day falls. The boys will stay behind and hang out together probably playing Wii. Ha!

Pictures of our shopping trip to come later...

Taylers #7 Cake

Not my typical cake, but Tayler wanted chocolate on chocolate. I was actually relieved. For some reason I wasn't as motivated, I think the humidity here discouraged me.
If you look close some of the icing has a tye dye effect.

On the phone with daddy. He wasn't able to be home so he sung happy birthday with us!

Blowing out the candles. I used this same one for Brenden when he was 7. Of course I washed it though.

Visit From The Johnsons'

Shophie, Chesney, Tayler, Joshua, and Brenden
Sophie Kate and Tayler Rayn have their sock puppets.

Getting started making puppets.

All the kiddos swimming in the pond.

Sophie, and Tayler on floats.

Where is Sophie? Maybe that lump on the left side? :)
Brings back memories of when Adrianne and I slept together!

Tayler and Sophie, many a time Adge and I wound wind up much like this but Age's rear was usually in the air and my feet in on her. 

I got a semi surprise(I had to give her directions) visit from my life long best friend last week. She and the girls came on Wednesday and left Sunday. We were thrilled to have them, the last time they were able to come was about 6 1/2 years ago. Thursday we rested and just hung out letting them play. Tayler needed some little girls to teach her how to play barbies, doll house and such! She doesn't get much of that with two brothers. We planned to go the lake beach Friday, after all our effort we were stormed out. And of course if rained all day Saturday to, leaving a beautiful day for the beach Sunday when they had to go home. We were able to eat lots of good food thanks to Josh, make sock puppets, play Wii, board games, and stay up talking though. I can't wait to see them again soon!

Library Summer Reading Rewards

Brenden's permanent sand castle. We used a sand, cornstarch, alum, and water mixture heated until thickened on the stove to make this. It had almost a play doh consistency and dried hard. Bren won second place.

Tayler won 1st place for most mysterious, and Joshua 1st place for most colorful.

Joshua also won overall in his division being awarded a $10 Walmart gift card. Here is what he bought with his money.

                                            Brenden and Joshua with their reading certificates.

 Brenden won a prize from the reading drawing.

We joined the summer reading program this year at our local library. The kids and I really enjoyed it. There were two programs each week at the library, ranging from science with water to the Museum of Natural Science. We were able to make it to all but three. Joshua has come so far and sat through each one for over and hour being a trooper. Along with the programs the kids had to read a certain number of books each week Brenden and Tayler 4 each and Joshua to be read to 1 hour a week. They were awarded a coupons each week for things such as cookies, ice cream and kids meals from local food restaurants. At the end there was an art contest. The only rule was that the project had to contain sand. Above you can see how well they did. :) For every number of books they read their names were also put in a drawing for prizes.

Our New Addition to the Jones Family

Joshua shows her to her food and water right away!
We went to the pet store to exchange a fish for Brenden.He had one that had outgrown his 10 gallon aquarium. And of course the kids had to pet and hold all the kittens and puppies. Tayler and I fell in love with this little girly! Daddys' girls can be very persuasive! We love her and she fits right in with all of us! We are still trying to find the purrfect name though. ;)

Wide eyed about her new surroundings.

She is pretty darn cute!

Layin in Mamas' Lap

Shadowfox is an outdoor/indoor cat. He had been gone for 7 days the longest ever. I really though after 3 years of having him we had lost him. He came home the night we brought this girly home. Fox really surprised us and loves her, giving her kisses every time he sees her. Before you even think it, no kittens here Fox is fixed and girly will be to. We plan on keeping her inside only. I am tired of the stress of an outside cat not knowing if something happened.

Stylin

Only Joshua can pull this off inside at night before bed.

Brenden needs a trip to the dentist. Warning its not pretty.

Top

Those of you (my family) know way back when I tripped and fell over a tree root and chipped my front tooth about this age. Well chips his plus two more! All while wrestling with Corey and Tayler. He says he hit his head on Taylers', how he managed this I have no idea.
Both front teeth and bottom second from the middle. Going to the dentist Friday to see what can be done...

Mud and A Water Hose War

Corey and Tayler walkin in mud. You can see here Tayler is missing a front tooth. :)

Joshua Flying.

Brenden contemplating.

Tayler running through the mud puddles.

Brenden hides and call everyone.
Joshua is curious and doesn't have a clue.

Run Tayler RUN!

Corey get second squirt. Brenden doesn't have know Corey has motive!

He isn't enjoying himself is he?

Corey attempting to ...

Gain control of the hose sprayer and...
She is successful!

Everybody watch out!

Brenden grabs Joshua not to leave him out of the wet fun!

Tayer says na na na... And Then

She gets shot unexpectedly.

Corey goes down tripping over Brenden.

Still spraying in the process.

Brenden tries to hold the water off with his invisible shield.

Now he comes at them with the come on guys give me a break look.

And shes up and STILL spraying. Brenden puts his hand out saying Enough I am done!
This was so much fun to watch and shoot especially from the safety of the pond levee.

Rain is a good thing!

View from the porch of our first rain in over a month. You can tell the grass needed it! I am still learning lots about my camera and enjoying taking pictures to share :)

I love all the elements in this the rain drops falling into the pond, the steam from the water, the shadows, and the contrast in color.

Homemade Playdoh

Joshua and I made homemade play doh last week. This is the best recipe I have found so far so
we thought we would share.

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup boiling water
2 tbsp. cream of tarter
1/2 cup of salt
1 tbsp. oil
food coloring

Mix and knead together.
This play doh is not sticky and does not dry out. We actually like this better than store bought, so we saved out containers to store it in and plan on making our own from now.
Joshua choose blue. :)

New Seat

Joshua was excited to have birthday money for a new car seat he has been wanting. Although it is hard to tell here this one has lights one each side of the head rest. Riding at night has always been no fun for him, our car interior lights were to bright for us to see and drive safely. These lights don't bother us a bit and allow him to be able to keep himself busy even at night. He loves his new big boy seat!

After A Hards Days Work

I just love this picture of Joshua. He really enjoys working around the house. After his recent Birthday he has he has a complete set of construction equipment. No matter how hot or cold it is outside, Joshua is willing to brave it! He loves the outdoors as much as I!