We're Back.....

Merry Christmas!! From our family to yours!!

Good good good byes..

Just a little brotherly love
Boys + Daddy = Love

Being silly

Well it's really hitting me...we are moving. I've been taking pictures of some of our landmarks here on Washington Street. Here is Caleb [yes, he is wearing a Santa hat...the best is whenever he puts this hat on he say, "Okay now I'm ready to answer any animal questions you may have." Oh brother ] okay, so here is Caleb next to the tree we planted him the summer he was born. It is now a four year old tree and I can't believe how big it has grown. Just like my little peanut!

Micah's tree on the other hand...struggling a bit due to the fact that Trav ran over it while mowing one day. We just tell Micah that his tree is 'special' and that God loves us no matter our size- which is a great lesson for sweet, LITTLE Micah ;)

So Monday marks the last day for Internet usage and home phone. Both will be turned off so that I don't have to pay for an entire month of service. Since I have a pre-paid phone from Walmart I lack the ability to be connected to the good ol' world wide web. Therefore, my blogging will cease for several weeks and my connection to the outside world may be minimal. I hope to use this time to reconnect with Nature...who am I fooling, I'll be visiting Travis at work to use his Internet daily I"m sure!

Night night

It is official!!!

Big changes await the Taflinger Household this Fall as we prepare for a new chapter in our lives! MOVING. I know people do it all the time, but WOW, it's a ton of work! The process began back in May when we put our house on the market. Thus began the decluttering, cleaning, and staging process. Then came showings, opening houses, and then an ACCEPTED offer! Thank you Jesus for your grace and provision! Thank you Andy Hardie from the Hardie Group who was so supportive and kind throughout the whole process. And thank you Candace and Ben Williamson for loving our house as much as we do!

So....where are we headed? Well, still in Kokomo [as Travis says, "Til Death Do Us Part"]. However, we don't have any permanent housing lined up. We have an offer in on a short sale home but it has been 6 weeks and have not heard. So we push on. We really like a house that will be up for a Sheriff's Sale next month so we will place a bid on that house Oct 11th [say your prayers]. Then there are two other homes that we like but are still debating on if they are 'our' house. In the mean time, we will be living in a nice efficiency in Greentown [right outside of Kokomo]. A lovely couple from our church is allowing us to stay there until we locate housing. Isn't God good? He has truly worked out every detail of our move and we are certain He's not done. I am calm, relaxed, and busy. Packing up can be exhausting ;)

Love ya

Frances Park, Labor Day 2011

We took the family to France Park in Logansport, IN for Labor Day weekend and had a blast!
Cuddlin' by the Cliff

Micah is squeezing sooo tight!

Waterfall...seriously!! This place was amazing!

The Boys

Cousins to Visit!!

Had the honor of hosting these lovely ladies for four days last week and it was a blast! Here are the cousins enjoying a Porch Swing Ride during a Snack Break.
Auntie Ann's Pretzels with Auntie Laurie ;) Delicious

Trip to IUK playroom for expressive play!

And what's a trip to Kokomo without a TROLLEY ride!

This last month each of my family members came to Kokomo for a nice visit, somewhat of a last hooray before we move. Each trip had it's highlights and here are some from my time with Auntie Laurie and the girlies....

1. House Hunting

2. Watching Tyler Perry Movies "Byronnnn"
3. Abnormally friendly people on the Trolley

4. Family meals

5. Cousins playing

6. Frosties
7. Loved every minute of it!

And finally, Lia and Micah embracing in the 'box o' fun." They were inseparable!

Happy 4th Birthday Caleb Jay!

I goes without saying that I just can't believe my boy is already four!! We had his party at Planet Mind [formally known as Pointy Pencil]. It was a great day!
"Hot Potato!"

In the playroom

Hanging with some friends. I enjoy Micah's face here....

I looked out my kitchen window and this was the adorable thing that I beheld.... in case you can't tell-that amazon-type thing is our 'garden'
It amazes me how different my two boys are! Micah loves balls, bulldozers, and the great outdoors. Caleb enjoys ANIMALS, crafts, and indoors. Hard to believe they are from the same womb! Here's Micah showing off his skills.



Here's my outdoors man [with Caleb hiding/crying behind him].

Remember Lite Brights!

We spent a week in Ohio this summer and the Bridges kids just happen to be 'passing through' on their way to New York and were able to stop at my parents house for lunch!! Great trip!

9.3.11

Aunt BZ and some of her favorite boys!
Micah 2.5 Caleb 4 years old

I wanted to share something that I read in Siesmic Shifts by K. Harney

"7 Indicators You areGrowing Spiritually"

1. You are learning to feed yourselves

2 You are learning to TALK and LISTEN

3. You are able to share your heart with others.

4. You are helping others.

5. You are loving people.

6. You are loving God

7. You are living in a bigger world.

Great Challenge for me today!

Fundraising!!

Travis and I are working together as a team to help do some Fundraising for Bridges Outreach Inc.
Click on our link to read more!

http://championevents.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=562&participantID=4177

What we've been up to...

Before I get to the updates let me ask a question....Does any other mother's (of boys) have toilets that look like this? Potty training sweet little Micah has been such a messy experience! Micah refuses to use his little potty because he's a "Big Boy" and I'm not going to come between a boy and his potty but oh the MESS!!! :)
So back to what we've been up to:
This game is called "Puddle Jumping." The object is to jump [teaching movement] from puddle to paddle without stepping in the carpet. Under each paddle you can put a number or a site word that the child needs to read. There are many variations of this game- including dressing in rain boats and rain gear! Enjoy it!

We made a pinata for Caleb's Fourth Birthday party!

And...we've been dating! Travis and I used some gift cards for dinner and then headed to the local Kokomo Library for FREE dance lessons! :)

Chicago!!

Can anyone guess what our experiment was this week? Answer at the end of this blog entry!
So Travis and I travelled up to Chicago this past weekend for a dear friends' wedding. Here is a picture of Travis with his college buds a.k.a. "The Porch"



The Happy Couple

While in the windy city we were able to enjoy a morning walk on the Beach, hit up the Taste of Chicago, catch up with friends and just enjoy some quality time together! We are so blessed with loving grandparents who not only watch our kids but truly enjoy their time together. I received a call from them informing us that they were at the zoo [the boys couldn't have been more thrilled]. It's reassuring to know that our boys are in good hands!

Da Taste!

Answer: We microwaved SOAP [Ivory] and the soap expanded to form 'snowballs!' Now my microwave smells like soap...which is much better then what it was smelling like!

Summer is in full swing here at the Taflinger Household. We have had 8 showings on our house in 1 month [which I think is GREAT] but no offers :( No worries because we know that it is in God's hands now. :)

Travis is playing softball and I'm helping out with church on Wednesday nights [which has been such an amazing blessing to teach! I can hardly wait to get into a classroom..until then my home is my classroom and we shall continue our 'sandbox theology' for now!]. Just as a reminder to all you Kokomo-ians...Boz II Men is coming to Kokomo Saturday at 8:15 for a free concert [whoo whoo] so grab a lawn chair and come on down for a little flashback followed by some fireworks- feel free to park in our drive if you need to! :)

Verse of the Week: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to the Lord!

Ohio....

While in Ohio we took the kids to Memphis Kiddie Park...we went there as little girls so it was neat to be able to take the boys there. The same man runs it and it was perfect for the kiddos.
Lake Farm Park with Grammy and Paw

Cornerstone Christian Academy's 10 year Reunion. I know it small but it's all we had. And I loved it! : )

My man!

Micah and I had the same thought....we should have stayed on the Carousel!!

So my mom passed on the book, "The Me I Want To Be" after completing a small group study at her church. Although it sound like another 'self-help' book it is not! I'm almost done and it would be an excellent quick summer read for those hanging pool-side this summer. It deals with the fact that God has wired us for greatness in Him and he wants us to obtain that! God has been speaking to me lately about being ALIVE in Him and what it means to have life to the fullest!

Landen turns three!!!

In the Jumping Dino at Landen's Birthday Bash!!
BALLS!!

Well Hellllo Beautiful!

What's a party without a little 'Pin the Basketball On the Goal?"

Pinata! {Made by Angela...she is an unbelievable party planner!}
I just refuse to believe that Landen in three!! Where does time go? Happy Birthday lil guy!