We remember.

Thank you to all that have made the ultimate sacrifice and thank you to their families.   We are so thankful we get to spend this Memorial Day with our hero, Daddy. 

Saying Good-bye

  Today has been a very emotional, difficult day.  God has blessed me with a FANTASTIC friend in Allison.  We met each other just as we both moved to Jacksonville and have become very, very close over the past 4 1/2 years.  We have birthed 4 children, gone through 5 deployments and countless ER visits :).   What do you call a friend that is more then a friend?  More then a sister?  More then an accountability partner?  She has been iron that has sharpened my life.  This crazy Marine Corps lifestyle can be very lonely and challenging.  I truly believe that God provided us with each other to get through the past 4 1/2 years.  I couldn’t even list all the things God has taught/shown me through our friendship.  How do you walk through so much together and then say good-bye?  It is with tears that I write this.  I do know that God has great things in store for the Schneider family very soon and we already have plans to visit.  Jace, Bailey, Taylor and Sydney love each other and I just can’t wait to see them all together again in a new place.  We love you Schneiders!  You will be GREATLY missed!

Happy Birthday Taylor…Little Mermaid Style!

Taylor had 2 Birthday Parties…the first was in Gainesville and was Little Mermaid themed.  (Her FAVORITE)

My mother-in-law did all the decorations and made this amazing cake!

Grammie and Daddy showing Taylor how old she is now!

So glad Daddy was home to celebrate with us :)

Present time.  Aunt Lindsay made a Taylor-mermaid card

Whoa…Airel and her sisters

Cousin sweetness!  

Taylor pushing Alice in the babydoll stroller

Taylor showing us her new Mermaid top

Grammie finishing the last touches to Taylor’s Mermaid costume for her big day!  Such a great idea Grammie!

All the cousins ready to do some Mermaid partying!

University of Florida :)

Each visit to Gainesville we try and take a walk on campus as a family.  The day we choose ended up being perfect weather!

Rocky and Grammie Papa…we miss you!

Gator.   Best Mascot ever :)

This is the road that goes right past the stadium.  Isn’t UF just gorgeous?  It is so pretty…

We had a picnic Subway lunch and the girls got to go play with Grammie some more.  They had a blast looking at all the natural wildlife (bugs, squirrels, etc!)

Blair and I went and ran stadiums one evening while in Gainesville .  It is so neat to be able to go back there and remember those 6 great years of college.  This trip we were able to show Bailey where Blair/I/ Mrs. C went to our classes and where Blair and I met (BCM).  SO neat!

Taylor is 2!

It is hard to belive that my baby girl is now 2! She had two fantastic birthday parties while we were in Florida. It is such a blessing to be able to share these special days with Daddy AND all our other family :).

Taylor, at 2 you are:

- 28lbs weight (70%), 34.5 in tall (70%), and 46.5cm head (50%).

-You are healthy as can be except your eczema and food allergies. Those are both getting better with time though. You take Zyrtec when the allergies are bad and we are using Vanicream for your skin-that helps a lot! You can now eat cheese and peanuts if they happen to be in something (not just a handful). You still can't have a lot of milk or straight eggs. You still drink your formula (elecare) in the mornings....soy milk doesn't agree with you either.

- You love most foods, especially salty ones. You are not a big fan of desserts. We tried to give you cotton candy and some sno cone tonight and you wouldn't eat either. We aren't sure where you get this from! Your fav. foods are cheese, bananas (you eat at least one/day), Mac n Cheese and Chicken n'fries. You know exactly what to order at Chick-Fil-A :).

-You are talking well now and have some favorite phrases....some of them are

"stop it"

"Siiiiisssssssyyyyyyyyy...."

"kitty stinky poopoo"

"WHAT"

"No Momma".

(yes...you are now 2 and are working on your attitude in using these phrases :)).

-You are a joy to be around and are fairly easy tempered. You have had some 2-year old moments lately that just have me laughing. It is just like hormones have taken over your little body. You get very made very easy at times and throw yourself on the floor kicking and screaming. While defiant at times, you are not strong-willed and will choose the right path when given options :).

-You love your big Sissy and look to her often. We are continuing to learn how to share. Your new favorite shows are My Little Pony and Strawberry Shortcake (thanks Sophie!).

-You rode a pony at an Easter party a few months ago and have been in love with them since.

-You LOVE Mermaids. Like every other word out of your mouth is Mermaid :)

-you are LOVED by your Mommy, Daddy and Sissy.

We're back :)

So sorry for the long break from blogging. We have been back in town for a week now and had a GREAT 2 week visit to Florida. It was so nice to finally spend time as a family of four for 2 weeks straight (as well as see all our extended family). I promise to get caught up on blogging! In the meantime here is my fav pic from SeaWorld. We had a blast and the girls loved it:).

All-American Kind of Day

We have been enjoying the wonderful weather here after the tornados ripped through our area this weekend.  Bailey wanted to wear her new “red, white,blue” shorts and we just “had” to dress Taylor up to match!  April 19th is just a good a day as any to celebrate being an American~! 

They really do love each other :)

Sweet Sisters…aren’t they both getting to be big girls?  tear….

Little girl pigtails and sandals…nothing sweeter :)

All Aboard!

I was cleaning/cooking in the kitchen the other day and this is what I came out to!  Bailey and Taylor had made a “Train” out of their chairs on TOP of the ottoman.  They have really started to play well together and entertain each other!  So cute.

Pre-School Spirit Week

This past week was “Spirit” week at Bales and Tales preschool.  Tuesday was PJ day and Thursday was favorite sport day.  The girls loved wearing their matching Mickey Jammies to school!  Bailey came home with a full report of her friend’s PJ’s :). 

Tales…being goofy! While only Bailey goes to school on Thursday’s, Taylor and I wore Gator gear too!   My MIL made Taylor’s outfit. So thankful it will fit her this year too :). 

Gator CHOMP!

Bales…sweet, silly, crazy Bales.

Pool time!

It was a picture perfect day here today…plenty of sunshine :).  We broke out the pool and the girls LOVED playing in water for the first time this year.  While a little chilly for my taste, the girls “moved” around enough to keep warm!  We are going to have so much fun this summer visiting the beach/pool as both girls just have a blast.

Sissy kisses

Both girls would run around the yard and then come back to the pool/water table to “rinse” off.  So funny!

Big Sis and Lil Sis

……potato-head version :)