My baby

Charlotte has decided she is no longer a baby.  This week she mastered walking (at 11 months) and crawling DOWN the stairs.  That is huge.  I don't have to worry as much that she is going to tumble all the way down now.

I've said it before, but this girl has us all wrapped around her little finger.
  In Lucy's words, "Charlotte doesn't play with me because all she likes to do is eat and sleep."  I don't know where Lucy is for the 12 hours in the day that Lottie is awake.  And she doesn't eat all the time, just most of the time.

Lucy's big day

This sweet little lady is growing up faster than I like.

She was so excited to start school today, and this year should be wonderful.

Soon she'll know how to read, write all her letters and numbers, and be on her way to knowing more than her mom and dad put together.

It won't be long now.

She didn't even look up as we walked out the door.  I'm glad she's so well-adjusted.  Now I just need to work on myself!

First Day of Third Grade

My house is quiet.

The beds are made.

The laundry is going.

The baby is napping.

The school year has begun.

I wasn't ready, and then I was.  But mostly I wasn't.
It came anyway and my boys were excited and ready.  They found out they were in the class they wanted, with the teacher they wanted, and with the best friend from school they couldn't live without.

I think it's going to be a great year.
(and to all of you who wondered, no, I didn't cry.)

Taylor Family Reunion Midway 2010

I've decided that I'm just going to start from now and try to be a better blogger.  I can't let my past failures define me!

We have had a wonderful summer, and it has ended much too soon and just at the right time all at once.  I think you have to be a mother/summer activities coordinator to understand what I mean.

One of the highlights of our summer was our Taylor family reunion in Midway at the beginning of August.  We took the chance to do family pictures since everyone was there.  Of course, this is only a current picture until Holli's baby is born in February!

Can I tell you how much I love my sweet little family?

Two parents couldn't love their children more.

All the goofy brothers and in-laws--does everyone's family do this?

So my sisters-in-law convinced me to go on my first mountain biking ride.  Once we got to the actual trail, I enjoyed it, but I did more than my fair share of complaining.  I'm sure they wanted me to get lost at some point!

After watching the big boys, Cooper had to try a gainer!

We spent the evenings playing games together.  It was such a blast to have all these cousins together.  They all get along so well and love hanging out.

We spent time riding bikes, wiggle cars, trikes, playing at the park, and fishing.  Charlotte grabbed that nasty worm and was happy until I screamed and scared her.  What was I thinking?

We are already looking forward to next year's reunion and not just because Shea and I are in charge!

Any ideas?

My nemesis

has been blogging lately.  With three computers, two phones, and a camera, I can never find all the pictures I want or they are in the wrong format or I just don't have the patience/time to figure it all out.
Summer has been great, so far.  We went to St. George and saw Tarzan at Tuacahn, have been boating, have been swimming and at the splash pad so often that I wash pool towels every day, celebrated Independence Day for four days, had bbqs, done cub scout activities, Shea has been to youth conference, Lucy visited the princess festival, been to the temple with Marcus, saw "110 in the Shade" at the Hale Center Theater with the special cast, experienced "Eclipse", and attended more baby showers, wedding showers and receptions than I can count.
Also, Lottie is happily drinking formula now.  I have begun the weaning process which isn't fun, but neither is her biting!  She is almost 10 months old and is so happy eating big people food that I figure she doesn't miss too many meals.  Shea and I have been able to start dating again--without kids!

Boys in Uniform

Camden and Cooper played machine-pitch baseball this year.  It was really fun to watch them bat, and not as fun to watch them field.  However, they are getting much better and catching since Shea has been working with them.  They both can hit really well and are loving playing all these sports.

Camden and Cooper's Baptism

Camden and Cooper were baptized and confirmed by Shea on May 29th.  Because my in-laws were going to be out of town, we got special permission to have our own family baptism instead of having a stake baptism.  It was honestly a perfect day and a perfect program. 

Each grandpa gave either the invocation or the benediction.

Uncle Marc gave a talk on baptism.  

Aunt Kelly gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.

Our wonderful James sang "I Feel My Savior's Love," and of course it was beautiful.

After the baptisms, we headed to our house for a yummy brunch.  It was so wonderful to celebrate my sweet boys on such a big occasion.  I love them so much--they are truly good boys with very tender hearts.  I know their baptism day ranks as one of my favorite and most special days as a mother.

A trampoline!

The kids all got a trampoline for their birthdays.  We decided that since they all fall so close together and at the beginning of summer, we would combine gifts.  It was so nice to buy one and be done with that part of it.  We set it up while the boys were at school on Lucy's birthday, so it was two days early for them.
It has been heavenly, and it's already the main summer hangout.

Lucy turned 4!

Lucy wanted an Ariel birthday party.  We made cute under the sea invitations and glued on glitter sand and real shells.  She was counting down for days!

Livi was the first to arrive, and these two girls looked so cute in their matching Ariel costumes.

Our first activity was making under the sea bead bracelets.  All the little girls loved it!

After, we played pin the seashell on Ariel's necklace.  Another huge thank you to Kelly and Jerianne (my dear friends) for drawing and coloring the perfect Ariel!  

We then went outside for a treasure hunt...where we searched for things that Ariel would like to find.

A hairbrush, a shoe, a dingelhopper, a spoon, a phone (because mermaids don't use phones), a rolling pin, and more were the treasure!

Sebastian the crab races were funny to watch.  The little girls didn't love is as much as these crazy boys.  They wouldn't go to their baseball game, but stayed to pester the girls instead.

We went inside for presents and dinner.  I think opening the gifts was Lucy's favorite part!

For dinner under the sea?  cheesy seashells, octodogs, and grapes, of course!

The girls loved the Ariel toys on top of the cupcakes almost as much as the cupcakes!

Thank you for coming, all you beautiful princesses!

school programs

Okay, so the camera settings were messed up.  I couldn't get a clear photo.  I was so bugged.  

Lucy had a mother's day program at school.  The classes sang two sweet songs to the moms.  I loved watching my Lulu perform.  She knew every word and sang them--even if she is a little shy in those situations!

She also made me a beautiful mother's day necklace.  What a lucky mommy!

I love these boys!  They are getting so grown up, but they are still not too old to sing!  They had a musical program at school, and each grade sang 3-4 songs for the parents.  My kids all LOVE to sing.  They sing song with each other for hours some days.  They love to teach each other new songs and sometimes they make up their own crazy words.  That's definitely a Burr trait.

This darling sweetheart just loves being around her older brothers and sister.  If they're around, she is happy!  Oh, I could kiss those cheeks all day long.

Getting what you want for your birthday?

PRICELESS!!!!