DETOUR

I have been trying and trying and trying to get this video on Blogger but it just won't work. So come check it out on my flickr site.

Tay

General Contractor In the Making

Today I got to help Daddy and Mommy out with the bathroom project. I took some measurements, checked for structural integrity and handed screws to Daddy.

(They call me "Bruiser" now. The cut on my eye is from a tumble I took down the stairs Thursday night when Mom and I visited the house to get some more clothes and the door to the basement was left open and well, oops.)

The project is taking longer than anticipated and means that our two nights at Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bob's is probably going to turn into close to two weeks, but Dad says we'll have a real snazzy bathroom when it's all done. And me, well I just may have found my calling.

Taylor the Toolgirl Oster

Good Luck Greatgrandpa Swede!

My Great Grandpa Swede was released from the rehab facility yesterday. Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bob drove him home. Mom talked to him today and he's very happy to be back at his house. He said it was real clean and he didn't want to mess it up so he took a sleeping bag to the garage and slept out there. He's such a crazy guy! Good thing he's got lots of people's campers stored out there so he has a bed to sleep in.

It was really nice having Great Grandpa Swede just two miles away instead of two hours. We didn't get to visit as much as we wanted (life gets in the way of live you know) but were happy for the visits we did have. I got real good at walking the halls and charming the residents and staff. They'll probably miss me. Maybe I'll have to become their mascot and have weekly visits.

Mom and I have been saying prayers at night for Great Grandpa to get better and we'll continue to ask God to help his knees get better and better and to help him get around his house safely. Cuz we love that funny old man lots and lots and lots!

Welcome Aiden Russell!!!

I have a new cousin! I think he's actually a third cousin or something like that-his dad is my dad's cousin, Nick. His name is Aiden Russell Oster and he's super cute! I got to meet him last night and I even got to hold him for a little bit. But just a little bit, then the adults got all nervous-like and took him away from me. Be sure to check out Nick, Lacy and Aiden's website at www.theosterfamily.babywindow.com/.

Here are some pictures from our visit...

Mommy got to practice holding a little one since she'll be doing lots of that in approximately 18 weeks. (Ugh! Only 18 weeks!?! I've got to get to work and get me potty-trained and sleeping in a big girl bed!)

My turn to hold Aiden. He's so tiny and floppy!

I decided my visit wasn't complete without some good ol' fashioned toddler-style entertainment. I donned Mom's Bearpaws and got the crowd going with my falling all over the place routine.

That's that. Time to get back to my bathroom project. I'll update you on that one next time I have a break. (Meaning next time Dad goes to Home Depot. You know the people, "You can do it. We can help.")

Peace out-Tay

Winter Water Play

Good Thursday to you all. Just stopping in to report on our fun trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota over last weekend. Mom, Dad and I met Tim, Tara, Peyton, Brylee and Morgan (our dear dear friends from Omaha) at a hotel with a water park. It was tons of fun!!! I love to swim and go down water slides. Here are some pictures. I apologize that there aren't too many and for the sketchy photography. The photographers report that it's tough to get good pictures AND watch out for a toddler at a water park at the same time.

Mom and I poolside.

Mom and I on the big slide.

Dad and I coming off the big slide.

Peyton on the big slide.

Morgan posing poolside.

Brylee splashing around like a fishy.

Daddy and I swimming in the pool.

It's been a busy week around here as usual. And things will only be getting crazier from what I hear as Dad plans to start a DIY renovation project on the bathroom this weekend. I'm cool with it though because I hear it means I'll get to spend lots of time at Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bob's house.

Tata for now!

Taylor

It's a Boy!

I would like to be the first to inform you of the happy news that we're having a baby boy at our house! Baby Boy Oster's gender was confirmed via ultrasound tonight at United Hospital. Look closely at the arrow in the ultrasound pictures for "The Proof".



Toodles!
The Big Sis

The Year in Review

A look back at yours truly and how I grew in 2008...

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Happy New Year!

Taylor McKenna

Skating Update

Mom and Dad took me skating again last night. We went to the rink by Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bob's house. It was snowing/sleeting at the time, so the ice was covered with the white stuff. Turns out that's a good thing for me. It offered just enough "traction" for me to sprout wings (and independence) and take off across the ice sans parental (or any other type of) intervention. Meggie tried to hold my hands to help me but I just told her, "No, my," meaning, "No, I can do this by myself cuz I'm a hotshot like that". Everybody thought I would only last 10 minutes, so we brought two cars to the rink and the plan was that Mom and Aunt Jenni would take me back when I pooped out. I showed them. Aunt Jenni went to the truck after about 15 minutes, and I kept Mom out on the ice (following at my beck and call, intervening only to place me back on my skates when I had fallen down) for another 15 minutes. I wouldn't call what I do "skating" but I do walk across the ice and sometimes even glide a little. And when I get a little off balance, I'm able to recover about 50% of the time. Pretty darn good for 20 months old and only my third time on the ice.

Of course, being my parents, they neglected to bring any form of digital recording device to document the event. We'd like to go again today, but with a projected high of only 7 degrees, that's unlikely to happen. But when we do get out on the ice again, I will be sure the proper digital recording devices are with us.

Peace Out!
Taylor "Twinkle Toes" Oster

How Minnesota Osters Do Winter Outdoor Fun

Tonight we got to go to Kevin, Kris and Haley's house for dinner and to pick up Christmas presents that we missed since we were in Texas during the Oster Christmas. We had tacos and enchiladas for dinner. And Kris made guacamole-it was fantastic! After dinner and presents (thanks Kev, Kris and Haley) we went to a local outdoor rink for some skating. I had a lot of fun spending time in the warm outdoors in Texas, but I also love me some brisk fresh Minnesota air.

Kev is a really good skater (he's one of the best hockey players South St. Paul ever had) and zoomed me all over the ice. It was lots of fun and I'm excited to go again tomorrow with Dad, Uncle John, Megan and Nate if it's not too cold.

Here are some pictures and a video of our outdoor fun...

(Swings and slides aren't just for summer anymore!)

Stay Warm!

Taylor

Almost There

We (finally) made it through Grandpa Steve's pictures. There were many many many great pictures, but not all of them made the cut. Because loading pictures onto flickr is a lot faster than loading them here on Blogger, I'll have to detour you once again. Check out flickr.com/photos/larajtay to see more documentation of our trip to Austin.

Mom is still figuring out how to edit movies and she hopes to condense the many videos into smaller videos. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow we're going to Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bob's to celebrate Christmas Behnken style. I'm sure we'll have lots more pics and videos from that gathering.

Until Then...
Monk