Coast Guard Race

The annual Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven kicked off this past weekend with a running race. I did the 5K and then all four of us did the 1 mile fun run. We had a great time and Caden was the fourth runner through the finish line---okay I am bragging, but that is what moms do!!! (The second picture is hard to see, but Dennis and Olivia are crossing the finish line.)

Princess Party

Olivia went to a Princess Birthday party last week and the dad just sent me these photos. Wow, who taught Olivia how to put on lipstick? It certainly wasn't her mother!!!

Football or Ballet?

I remember hearing "fancy footwork" out of Dennis' mouth when he talked about football, but I didn't know what he was talking about until this week when Caden was at football camp. It was a blast watching Caden participate in the camp that the High school coaches run for younger kids. It will be fun when I can go watch both my boys on the field.

Family of Six? How do you do it?????

Saturday afternoon and evening, Dennis and I babysat for my sisters two boys, Simon and Henry. They are two adorable kids, BUT they are 21 months and 10 months! We had a great idea and thought we would go out to dinner and then take a nice stroll on the boardwalk. We went to Taco Bell (if that can be considered "out to dinner") and then headed down to the boardwalk. Simon loves "Ya, Ya" (his name for Olivia) and wanted to walk next to her, not ride in the stroller. Being an aunt, I obliged and put his "safety bear" (teether) on with Olivia at the other end. The two of them took off running while Caden took off full speed pushing Henry towards the water to see some ducks! Dennis was chatting with some friends we ran into, while I was yelling to Caden to slow down or he and Henry were going to end up in the water. At the same time I was running and weaving through the masses of people trying to catch Simon and Olivia. I am sure it was a sight as a few different people offered to help. Needless to say, it was not as easy as I thought taking four kids out on a Saturday night to a crowded area. Dennis and I continue to be certain that our man to man defense/family of four is a perfect fit for us!!!! I have a new appreciation for all those large families out there.

Why am I starting this?????

Okay, I am giving in to "peer pressure" and starting a blog. I was just reading Tiberi's and Wally's and realized how neat it will be for their kids to look back on as a journal of their lives and got the urge to do something similar for my kids. This is totally unlike me, but I am doing this (as Heather said) for my kids! I am not creative--enough laughs from all you Taylor girls--but am going to do my best. So here's to "Striegle's Dynamic Duo"!!!!



The name....well is speaks for itself. My two kids are a dynamic duo for many reasons. They love life and live it to the fullest. So the story I am about to tell you all is a little embarrassing, but I think everyone will get a good laugh and Olivia will find in hilarious some day.



Caden and Olivia were at football conditioning with Dennis yesterday. They were in the woods playing when Olivia told Caden she needed to go the bathroom really bad. Caden told her that there was no way to get to a bathroom quick enough so she should just go in the woods. Olivia obliged and preceded to take her pants down and go. Unfortunately, this is a difficult task for a 5 year old girl. She had gone all over her shorts and was quite upset with her brother. When Dennis came to get the kids he noticed the wet shorts and asked Olivia about it. Well this was her response (and completely serious, with a straight face) "Daddy, Caden told me I didn't have time to make it to the bathroom so I should just go in the woods. I pulled down my pants, but I didn't have one of those stick out potty things (she was also using her hands to describe what she was talking about) so I couldn't aim my potty. It was an accident daddy, it was hard without one of the long, pointy things." Dennis tried to keep a straight face as Olivia was completely serious, but when he told me the story later, we were both in tears laughing so hard.