The girls recently received some adorable hair accessories from their Grandma. Here they are showing off their favorite new styles.

A. gets ready to build some sand castles in the backyard while Mommy pulls the weeds.

This is how P. likes to do yard work.

Ah, the dirndls Grandma Sue brought back from Germany live on to grace the toddler bodies of yet another generation.

Likewise, Grandma Sue's exquisite needle and ribbon work create the same adorable, cotton- candy perfection on P. as they did on her aunts and Mommy three decades earlier.

A. attempts to stay cool at the Sonoran Desert Museum--an beautiful desert zoo and garden in West Tucson. It was 101 degrees in the shade that day.

August is monsoon season in Arizona--huge microburst storms originated off the gulf of California roll through the region. Here, A. enjoys a romp in the rain.

Daddy and his girls!

A momentous occasion: Jay is mowing his own lawn for the first time (and after only minimal nagging from his wife, too).

Just too cute not to put on the blog.

It's summertime and that means our annual trip to Utah! Here is A. with cousins B. & K. looking kind-of fishy at the Aquarium playground in Salt Lake.

The two little patriots are dressed and ready for the Provo City Independence Day Parade. Thank you Grandma Margaret for the beautiful dresses!

A. is not quite sure she likes sparklers.

Now she's really sure she doesn't like sparklers.

For Memorial Day the Tucson Taylors decided to do some exploring in our new habitat. Here we are on the Sabino Canyon Trail. This trail is located in the foothills and mountains bordering the northeastern side of Tucson.
It was rather pretty...for a desert.

The little grease monkey helps her Daddy clean his bike.

But grease isn't the only thing she likes to smear on her face. Little miss A. is 100% girl, afterall.

Ride 'em peacocks! Our little cowgirl gallops off into adventure at the Reid Zoo.

"Baby fat!?! What baby fat?"

She wore an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny, yellow poka dot swim thing-y.

"That's right, just keep all the attention on cute little me!"

A. Taylor would like to instruct all the visitors to this blog on how to covertly eat a cookie. First, use a chair to pull yourself up to the counter where the cookies are kept.

Second, take a bite of cookie.

Third, enjoy the bite of cookie. Ummmmm, yum!

Fourth, check to see if anyone is watching.

Fifth, check again to see if anyone is watching.

And finally, if someone is watching, widen your eyes, stick out your lower lip a bit and give a cute little look that says, "Ahh shucks, Mom, it's just one little cookie."

P. Taylor would like to instruct all the visitors to this blog on how to properly prepare for a baby blessing. First, an ordinary onesie and two itsy, bitsy white shows are required.

Next, you need to put on a beautifully embroidered slip that your Grandma Margaret made you. Then give a slightly anxious look when your Mommy snaps the picture.

Then you put on the the absolutely exquisite blessing dress your Grandma Margaret smocked and embroidered for you. Top it all off with a tiny white handband then repeat the look of anxiety when your Mommy takes another picture.

Take a moment to relax with Grandpa before the big moment. You deserve it, you've already had a tough morning of looking anxious.

Although it is not required to remain silent during one's baby blessing, I think it's polite to refrain from crying if possible. I had no problems myself when my Dad and Grandpa gave me my blessing but I don't hold it against any other babies for getting a bit fussy.

After the blessing.....

Smile and look cute for more pictures. This is a close-up of the lovely smocking work on my blessing dress. Sorry it's sideways, my technologically challenged Mommy can't seem to get it straight.

Give a little stretch then continue to look cute for more pictures. Notice the handmade baby blanket from Grandma Sue. I'm so adorable my relatives just can't resist spending hours on crafting precious heirlooms me. Oh the life.

Try not to get too fussy when your older sisters wants to share your glory.

And finally, end the morning with a good hug from the fount of all comfort, Great Grandma Sue.

The theme for the day at a recent session of toddler storytime was pigs. Here, A. shows off the pig hat she proudly made and wore the entire two hours we were at the library.

A little tax day humor.

Homeowners at last! We're thrilled to post pictures of our very first home purchase. Thank you to everyone who supported us through 7 different apartments in as many years. We appreciate your willingness to visit us even though we had little more than a couch and some floor space to offer you. You are all now cordially invited to stay with us anytime you happen to be in Tucson. The accomodations are much better. FYI--we haven't had time to do a thing to the house yet so all the window treatments, paint colors and landscaping are in the exact form and condition the previous owners left them. But before we begin the virtual tour, the first pic is a tribute to the two little reasons why we bought the house in the first place--here are A. and P. snuggled together for story time in their new house.

The front yard. No grass but we do have 5 varieties of succulents.

The front room/A.'s dancing room. We don't currently have any furniture for this room nor do we expect to in the near future but A. has taken advantage of its ample space to practice her twirling.

The kitchen. Ahhh, what a glorious thing counter space is!

The family room. Our shabby apartment furniture looks downright pathetic in this large space but it will do for now. Besides, I just don't think Jay or I can part with the "green dream" at this point. Too many intense X-box battles have been fought there, too many Jane Austen movies enjoyed. There are just too many memories involving that fake green leather couch to simply toss it out. Perhaps we'll put it in the office.

A.'s room.

The guest room, P.'s future room, or the room where we park the dolly strollers.

Front bathroom.

The office/P.'s current bedroom (it's just off the master bedroom which is why we have her sleeping here until she can go through the night without waking).

Master bedroom. Yes, we still use tupperware for a nightstand. It's becoming glaringly apparent that we need to get some furniture.

Master bathroom. It has two sinks and consequently has reduced Sunday morning squabbles over the importance of proper mascara application versus shaving by 85%.

The laundry room. (Actually, it's just a large hallway you go through on your way to the garage but having lived without any laundry facilities at all makes this little closet feel like a room.)

The garage. Thanks to this handy room with its automatically closing door, I no longer have to fear for my childrens' lives while I'm taking groceries into the apartment, er, house (still getting used to saying it).