Happy 1/2 Birthday Taylor

Party time with friends to celebrate Taylor's 1/2 birthday. The beauty of throwing a party for a 13 1/2 year old and his friends is all you need is food and a place for them to hang out, they kind of take care of the rest :) 

They played the ball of saran wrap game and watched a movie. Easy and Fun! 

Taylor has some really good friends! (a big bonus for one of those friends being his cousin!) They are kind, fun, and incredibly easy going. I hope the rest of these teen years goes this way!

our second teenager

I feel like every time Taylor reaches a new milestone, it hits harder than it did when Corbin would reach them. Something about our second child getting older really solidifies that our family is growing up....and fast.

Taylor is an incredible delight to our family. He is full of kindness and goodness. He is so helpful and his hard work with playing the piano is really starting to pay off, I love hearing him play.

It seems we often have some kind of Christmas party on Taylor's birthday. He is always so willing to celebrate his birthday somewhere else and to have such a good attitude about it. (which is why the half birthday celebration works so well!)  We enjoyed being at his Aunt Alayna and Uncle Jeff's house this year. Taylor requested ice cream sundaes and it was delicious (and super easy!) 

We love you Taylor!!! Still can't believe that our Christmas baby is a teenager! ♥♥

Taylor is twelve!

Taylor is a huge light in our family. He is so thoughtful, kind, and a peacemaker. He loves to make up new lyrics to songs and play four square at school (especially with his cousin Hunter!!) He really enjoys reading and is quick to obey.  He plays the piano beautifully and thinks school lunch is the grossest (so home lunch it is nearly every day). He loves his tablet and any chance he can sit back and create a world on minecraft or play roblox. 

This year daddy had the day off, so the two of them went out for a special birthday lunch at a Mexican restaurant (currently Taylor's favorite). We spent the rest of the day together and for dinner we had chili dogs and an almond danish from Trader Joes. (so easy!!)

I look at Taylor and wonder how on earth twelve years could go so fast. I feel so grateful for all that he has taught me and all the love he has given. And FYI, his hugs are THE best! And so is his sense of humor.

Taylor is SO excited to be in young mens and especially to be in there with his brother for two months. (and I really love that Corbin is so excited too) I think it is so fitting that Taylor will receive the Priesthood on Christmas Eve day ♥♥♥

eleventh birthday

 It has been such a privilege to be this boy's mom. Taylor was due at the end of the year in 2005, but my doctor said there was a good chance I would be in the hospital during Christmas and so, being the awesome doctor that he is, said he would induce me one week early. I was all over that! December 22nd is definitely a crazy time to have a birthday and can easily be overlooked. It has taken some time to figure out how to make it less Christmasy and special for him, but I have to say that the older Taylor gets the more I realize that this boy's birthday couldn't be at a more perfect time for him. He reminds me of everything good about Christmas. 

This day, as usual, didn't go as I had hoped, but I think he still had a good day. Breakfast in bed, candybar posters, and cards from both grandparents is always fun for him! A few years ago, Taylor decided that having his gift from mom and dad come at his half birthday would be a good idea, and then on his actual birthday we give him a book about each year of his life. We are on year two. (so just a little behind) :) He was SO excited to get his book! 

We were going to spend the day doing crafts and just be together, but plans changed a little and he ended up playing with a friend all afternoon. We came together

Happy Birthday Taylor!!

this kid

I love this boy. He is a genuinely good kid.

First, life has been crazy, to say the least, with five kids. So many schedules to keep up with and way too much nagging to get things accomplished. A couple of weeks ago, Justin and I were talking and I realized that Taylor was never getting nagged. I asked him once and it was taken care of. Homework and piano got done without constantly reminding him. When it was time to go to bed, he went right away (probably has something to do with his love of reading Harry Potter and he was excited to get back to his book, he's on #4), but still.

Sadly, it took me sitting down and reflecting on the last couple of weeks to realize, 'goodness, Taylor is making life easy right now!'. He definitely needed a reward. So Justin took him on a special outing and Taylor was in heaven! 

Second, the other day Taylor and I were talking, I don't even remember what it was about, but I told him I needed help from everyone so that I would have more time to play with them. He said, 'you never play with us.' :'(   Even though I am the mom and I shouldn't be their entertainer, it still broke my heart.  The next day, Taylor and I happened to be outside and so I told him we ought to go jump on the trampoline. So we did. While we were jumping I asked him what were the hardest and best parts of his day. He said, 'This is the best part!' 

It really doesn't take a lot to make someone's day. When you think of something kind to do for someone, just stop what you're doing and do it. It can make that person feel like the most special person on earth. That's what I have learned from Taylor recently!

ten

When the Christmas excitement is just about to burst, we get to pause a moment and celebrate this young man for a day. We are so grateful for his kind heart and contagious smile!

For his birthday he got crepes with hot chocolate for breakfast in bed (actually in Corbin's bed, because they are on Christmas break and they made a goal to sleep in his bed every night). He got a candy bar poster from his brothers and cards from grandparents. He played with his brothers all afternoon. We went and saw the new star wars in the big city and we were all a little excited about that! Then we ended the day with pizza for dinner and brownies for dessert! Happiest Birthday Taylor, our Christmas baby!!

9.5 years

Happiest half birthday to this young man. Last night we were looking at posts that I have done of each individual boy. Tay was amazed at how much older he looks now. I completely agree. He loved seeing his chubbier cheeks from only a few years ago and he also thinks he looks better with his hair short. :)

I love how easily he smiles, the sparkle in his eyes, and the kindness in his heart. We are loving watching this boy turn into a young man. 

His food requests for the day: crepes for breakfast, lasagna for dinner, and lemon cheesecake for dessert. And the boys played and played and played. It was a good day.

remember the hearts and mailboxes

Every February I try my best to be consistent in making the boys feel a little extra special the first fourteen days of February. When they come home from school there is a heart by their bed with a special message and something fun in their mailboxes. Usually a simple treat.

This year I feel like I have actually been on top of it, but last weekend I completely forgot. I think Taylor was getting concerned that I was slipping back into my old ways of forgetfulness. So he wrote me a simple reminder.

And I haven't forgotten a day since last Sunday. It's a good thing Valentine's Day is tomorrow.

12.22.2014 - happy birthday taylor

We are still a bit shocked that our Taylor is nine. Nine. 

He woke up to crepes with chocolate mousse. He went to piano lessons. The brothers gave him their 'candy poster' (we decided to chang from a poster to a bag of treats with sayings on them). We spent the rest of the day downstairs building lego sets...everyone... even mom and dad. We also watched the 1st and 2nd Harry Potter while building. It was so perfect just being together.

Happy Birthday to our Christmas baby. We love you.

6.22.2014 - taylor's half birthday

On June 22 we like to celebrate Taylor's half birthday. We treat the day like it is his real birthday. He gets breakfast in bed, presents from mom and dad, a dessert, and this year he got a simple friend pizza party.

It was a good day. The only problem is that two of the brothers now think they need a 1/2 birthday party, too.