Birthday Surprise

Hi everyone! I will post the rest of the photos from the boys' party as soon as I have edited them, but I just had to share this one...it is hilarious! My brother actually caught this one at just the right moment. As the boys were discovering this new found taste...sugar...Dylan tried to offer some to his brother, and Lucas took advatage of the situation. This is the result....so funny! :)

Mini trip to Selah

We had the opportunity to go see our great friends in Selah the other weekend. It was so nice to be able to relax a bit, not worry about everyday frets, and have some fun with our friends....even if it was just a few days. The weather was gorgeous! Better then I could have imagined, and the boys, Teage, and I tried the best we could to be outdoors as much as possible. I think the boys were a little confused, they had never seen so much sun before! :) I think I actually used sunblock on them...amazing! On Friday, Karine and I stayed home with all four kids and tried our best not to go crazy, while our husbands went off to work. The boys had their first experience with a real outdoor pool....well, kid style. :) Then that night, Karine's parents came over to watch the kids so all four of us could go out and relax "adult-style" for a bit. We went to dinner, sat there as long as we wanted :), and then dropped by a local winery where a few of my photographs are being displayed. It was a really neat experience to be able to see my art work on display...I liked it. I think I may do some more. :) Then on Saturday all of us relaxed while the kids played together, all in all having a wonderful time with our friends. Thank you Karine and Corey for letting us stay with you! We love you guys!

Lucas having a ton of fun in the pool. He didn't want to get out! Dylan on the other hand (bottom), was freaking out the minute his feet touched the water. I don't know why, he usually loves water, but he would not let go of me the whole time. This is the only shot I got of him since he was clinging to my shirt! You can't tell, but he really is standing in the pool. :)

Miss Maddie running after her dog, Annie. She was cracking me up the whole time we were there!

The boys had a ton of fun on Corey and Karine's tree swing. At first they were a little scared, but in by the end laughing up a storm. Dont' you love the jailbird PJ's?

Little Gibson, or Mr. Mellow as I call him. He really needs to teach the boys some lessons! Isn't that just an adorable face?

Me posing next to my photographs in the winery. You can't really see the third one up top, but I had the whole wall....so fun! It was actually a really neat experience for me, and made me feel like I could venture out of my comfort zone every once in a while with my photos.

Poor Teage, I just realized he isn't in any of these pictures! Sorry babe! :)

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

We love you Daddy! Happy first Father's Day!!

Love, Dylan and Lucas

The boys helping Daddy open his present. :)

Swinging along...

Since Teage has been home a little more lately, we thought we would take the opportunity to go up to a new park and try the boys out on the swings. They had never been on swings before, so I was a little nervous about their reaction. But much to my surprise, they did wonderfully! I was so excited that they embraced this new adventure. Here are some fun pictures from our little outing. :) The first two are Lucas, and the second two Dylan...hope you all are well!!

Boys on Youtube!

We thought you might all enjoy seeing the boys on Youtube! This was done by their uncle Brando at Easter while at Erin's moms house. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c7TTFIj-mM

Boys boys boys

So, I realized that I hadn't put some updated pictures, or stories, of the boys in a little while....so here goes!

They are both learning so much everyday, it really is a miracle to watch them as they grow. Lately, Dylan has been very interested in how to sound out certain words, and watches our mouths with complete attention as we are showing him examples. He surprised us all the other day when all of a sudden said "All done" out of the blue! I hadn't realized that I said that word very much, but apparantley I do! I have been trying to teach them some sign language, and that is one of the words, along with "more", that I use quite a bit. So now it is one of Teage and my favorite things to do....have Dylan say "All done" on que. He has also said "ouch" and "hot" on occasion as well. So much fun!

Lucas has not yet said anything other then the occasional "dada" or "mama" (usually only the mama when he is extremely upset :) ). But, he is definitely our more motor skills guy. He has always been the one to crawl first, sit up first, etc. and now it looks like he is also going to be the one to walk first as well. Teage and I are so excited about it...every chance we get we have him stand up and put out our hands for him to walk to us. He has now taken four steps on record....we will see what he does next! :)

Dylan trying desperatly to take his sunglasses off! Thanks for the adorable outfits Aunt Cathy!
Lucas was a little confused about why things got very dark all of a sudden
On our one very hot day this year, we decided to take the boys out for a little water time. They really were not sure how to take it, but I think ended up having a good time.

So, if you don't know already, I have extremely intelligent boys (not that I am biased or anything). I found them both in my bathroom the other day, trying to put my headbands on their own heads. I never showed them how to do that...they just figured it out from seeing me. How clever they are!

4 Years!

Last week, Teage and I celebrated our four year wedding anniversary. Thinking back, I still can't believe that it has been that long, but then, it really has gone by so quickly. Since we have two little rascals crawling around, we can't really go out for longer then a few hours. So, we decided to go to dinner after the boys were asleep at one of our favorite places...The Crab Pot! If you haven't been there, let me explain...The Crab Pot is a beautiful magical land where you have your food served to you on a slab of butcher paper in the middle of the table, the only utensils you are allowed to use are a mallot and your hands, and getting messy is the name of the game. They have a lovely array of crab, salmon, shrimp, and other yummy seafood, so of course this is a wonderful place for people like Teage and myself who can never get enough! We had a great time, and it was wonderful to sit and talk about our memories over the past four years. Love you baby!

Teage accidently wore his ankle socks! Love it!

Can you tell that I am excited about this?!

Teage chowing down, and loving every minute!

Gonna make a pie!

So, if any of you have seen the movie "The Waitress" you will know exactly what I am talking about.....I have been very inspired lately to create works of art in the form of a pie. I am not exactly sure where this came about, some of it from watching the movie over and over, some of it from my own sweet tooth...who really knows? But whatever the inspiration, I have been trying out new recipies just about every week, and loving it! Last week, Teage and I celebrated our anniversary, so in honor of that event, we decided to make a sweet strawberry pie. Teage even added a beautiful finishing touch to the top! Just had to share the final outcome...

"Love's Triumph"

I have been so blessed the past few weeks to be able to get a better glimpse into the lives of some of my anscestors. My mom and I came up with an idea that we wanted to make a "Bailey" family cookbook, including recipies from my grandmother, her mother, my grandfather's mom, cousins, etc, and bring it all together in one book for everyone to have a copy. We have been going through multiple family albums, recipe books, etc in the past little while, and it has been such an amazing experience for me. A beautiful look at some of my anscestors lives, their triumphs and low points, marriages and births, etc. I feel so blessed to have so much information at my finger tips. Just today, mom and I found some poems that my great-grandmother had written during her lifetime. I had no idea that she had written anything at all, let alone beautiful works of poetry, and stories of her life during the Great Depression and WWII. I had to share this poem that she wrote...we are not sure the exact date of when it was written, but are assuming in the 1950's sometime. It is a beautiful work of art, that I felt needed to be shared. It is entitled "Love's Triumph".

Night-- and the only light,

The rays of the crescent moon;

A bare-foot lad on a lonely street,

Whistling a well known tune.

Softly he passed by the darkened huts,

On to the Court beyond;

Felt secure in this squallid part

Of the City to which he belonged.

He reached the Court and sought a place

On a low, ricketty seat,

That rested against a damp, brick wall,

Shut off from the dingy street.

And here in this squallid quarter,

He fell into a deep, calm sleep;

He dreamed a dream of Angels,

Traversing a golden street.

They beckoned him on, and he followed,

Rejoicing at each new sight;

Twas like the Piper piping his tune,

Calling first to the left, then to right.

He followed the host of Angels,

On past the Castles rich;

They paused before two stately dwellings,

The Leader turned, and said "which?"

Written in jewelled letters,

Over the Mansion door,

Were the words "Love" and "Riches,"

Twas a wonderful chance for the Poor.

"Which?" repeated the Angel,

Twas now for the lad to choose,

"Riches" and "Love" in the balance, -

Would "Love" win, or would it lose?

The lad glanced at each dwelling,

"Riches" was more splended by far,

But "Love" had a homely appearance,

The door was a little ajar.

It seemed to welcome him, -calling--

"Love" won, and the boy went in;

By the door he paused to read the words

"Love overcometh all sin."

The leader of the Angels

Paused out, and closed the door;

The little lad was fast in "Love"

And from "Love" would depart no more.

Then when the tiny sunbeams,

Found their way to that filthy court,

They danced around his little form--

His Soul was safe in Port.

Left all alone in this old world,

He had worked and struggled along,

Hungry and weary he trudged around,

Still in his heart a song.

Cold, and lack of nourishment,

Soon told on his weakly form,

God called him Home, for best He knew,

He Ne'er could weather the storm.

'Tis but the story of one lad,

But many there are in this land,

Who need the kind word we can give them,

So lend a helping hand.

Remember the words of the Master,

'Tis a sacred, holy, plea,

"For as much as Ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren,

Ye have done it unto Me."

My great-grandmother, Alice Cooper Bailey 1904-1982

Family of Four

My boys are actually looking at the camera! A miracle! :) I didn't get smiles, but hey....this is a start!