Traditional Swim on Memorial Day

Growing up, Memorial Day was the opening of the neighborhood pools. Although the B's pool never closes, we had to celebrate the weekend with a BBQ and a swim.

Taylor & Riley getting ready

Hanging with Mason in my cool floaty

A little sun protection...

Chilling with Dad

Wiped out at the end of the day!

8 (Months) Is Great!

Taylor is 8 months this week! She is doing great - talking, rolling, scooting, eating, laughing, etc. She is a great sleeper - and you know she is tired when she starts sucking her fingers just like she is in the picture. And she sleeps great in her halo sleep sack. She rolls around so much when she sleeps now that this keeps her warm and we don't have to worry about her getting the blanket in her face. And she loves sleeping with her "lambie"!

Here is some great bed head after having a bath the night before - nice...!what a face!

A duck stuck!

Mother's Day

My first official Mother's Day - how blessed am I?!?!?!

Elder Turner Has His Call!

Johnathan has always wanted to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and submitted his application this spring to go. He has been very patiently waiting to get his mission call (assignment). It came in the mail today and we had a fun conference call as he opened his letter stating he is assigned the

Domincan Republic, Santo Domingo East Mission

and will enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on September 23, 2009 to study Spanish for 2 months prior to heading to the DR for 2 years. Congratulations, Johnathan! We are so excited for you and very proud!

map courtesy of worldatlas.comLDS Temple in Santo Domingo, DR

Photo courtesy of LDS.org

Sadness & Reflection

I spent 4 very formative years in Boston between undergrad and graduate school. How I love that city and the memories there. The life-long friendships, the growth personally, professionally, spiritually - all greatly influence who I am today. A lot of time was spent at the church I attended in Boston - actually in Cambridge, a few blocks from Harvard Square and across the street from the historical home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This chapel was beautiful inside and out with a New England style architecture and style. Many worship services, lesson and social events happened there. My social life revolved around the singles congregation I attended. This is where my testimony of Christ was strengthened as I observed the many ways others show their love and devotion. photo courtesy of the Boston Globe

Yesterday this beautiful building caught on fire, and unfortunately, while there were services going on. No one was hurt, thankfully, but the building is now a shell. What a heartbreak! As I have received notes from those dear friends, its caused me to reflect on my time there and with them. How blessed I am to have had this time in Boston, for the relationships and experiences. And as with all things, the faith will continue, and actually strengthen as you see that God is in the details and all are safe.

Here is an article, some pictures and a video - you'll see Gordon Low is in this video - he was the bishop of the singles ward when I was there.

Music Appreciation

Taylor loves dancing with her Dad!

Progress

If you have a house built in Texas in the 1980s or 90s, you most likely have a wet bar, (or two!like we do). The dated built in wine rack was never my favorite and so John took it out for me. Luckily it did not mess up the dry wall.
I also didn't care for the rust wall color so we went with Caliente (Pottery Barn Summer 2009 colors) to tie in some of the red accents we have used in the living room. John painted and hung the floating shelves. Thanks, Sweetheart!
We are also working on the yard still....we have been busy!

Orange tree topiary

Our garden - Tomato & Basil plants in EarthBoxes - my neighbor loves them, Hopefully they will help us!

A Few News...

Taylor is wearing the sweetest dress that KelleyAnne found at an antique store and her daughter Hope and granddaughters have worn. Isn't it beautiful?! The handwork and detail is precious!

My second tooth!

My new hairstyle

7 Months!

She is 7 months and growing! Its been a great month - her first tooth, lots of rolling, sleeping great, and loves to jump in her new jumper (thanks, Tanner, for sharing it with us!). She continues to be so happy and cheerful - how we love her!

Peek A Boo!

Taylor is so funny when she plays peek-a-boo! She doesn't think to pull the blanket down, so she tilts her head up trying to see over the blanket!

Eating Progress

Taylor has not enjoyed solid foods. Not sure if its the taste, the texture, the spoon - all the above. We did find a feeder that you can put food pieces in and she can suck on it and the cold feels good on her gums. Last weekend we caught a few clips of her eating experiences. Then Sunday night we were eating some of Robyn's wonderful guacomole and for fun I gave Taylor a little to eat off a chip and she loved it! I had heard that avacado was a good food to start babies with so why not?!

Look at her cute frog feet!

Sucking on an apple slice

A little guac please!

A true Texan!

A Full Trip...

We took off for 10 days combining work and play up the east coast. John & I both had work in NC, my parents drove down from DE to watch Taylor (thanks!) and then we ended the week in Philadelphia for Easter with the boys - but in between we got to see lots of dear friends - Lisa & Josh & Tanner in Chapel Hill; Julie in Potomac, MD; Laurie et al in Wilmington...it was action packed but a great trip. We also saw both brothers and their families - a fun bonus! So here is some of the pictures of the week...

Pinehurst

The annual conference for the Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI) was in Pinehurst, NC again. Since it would be my first trip overnight away from Taylor, and since John also had business in NC, and because my parents were so willing to come babysit Taylor during my meetings, she came along! For those who are big golfers, Pinehurst has a rich history and has beautiful grounds (and spa!).

Pinehurst has some fun memories for me - the first time I came for meetings (2006), I had just started this job as the market manager for our PE pipe industry. I also had just met John and had our first date. PPI came back in 2007, it was a week before our wedding! I remember having fun memories with a couple of women at the spa (we go there during the golf outing) talking about all the changes over the year. I am now on the board of PPI and truly enjoy the great people in this industry. I missed their fall meeting because I was on maternity leave - but some of my friends had a baby shower in my honor! It was so fun to receive a box in the mail with fun gifts they had brought! So it was only fitting that I brought Taylor this time. She came to the reception before the final dinner, and John came just in time as well to join us and relieved my parents. It worked out so well. Thanks Mom & Dad for taking such good care of Taylor!

Catching Up with Dear Friends

Visiting Julie! It was so fun to see her and enjoy the beautiful spring in Maryland!

I love this little chair Julie has for her granddaughter!

Beep beep!

Easter Bunny Encounters

Driving from NC to Delaware we stopped at McDonalds and ran into this fuzzy friend.

Drive Down Memory Lane

My old neighborhood in Maryland - I love the Bradford Pear Trees in bloom every spring!

Our house in Potomac in Fox Hills West development

New New Business Development

Laurie & I worked together at Dow in our New Business Development group - we both were the market managers for new technologies at Dow - it was a great team. We have had some fun times over the years - hanging in Midland, white elephant parties, book clubs, her fabulous wedding in Breckenridge, CO, and shopping in Hong Kong while on business. She has since left Dow and lives near my parents so it was great to catch up with her and her darling twins!
Caitlin, Derek & Taylor
Derek & Caitlin
I love this picture of Derek!