In All Things Give Thanks

Our Thanksgiving plans were up in the air this year. At one point we were going to Tennessee, then it was D.C. then we were hosting at our house and at the last minute all those plans fell through. We were so blessed to have The Woodbury's, some friends in the ward, invite us over to join their Thanksgiving feast. It worked out perfectly because Taycee adores the Woodbury's daughter Taylor and follows her around like a baby chick. Kaden and Spencer are also buds so the kids were thrilled to spend the day with them.

I decided to "throw together" this little turkey favor.....6 hours later I had 18 favors.

The men were frying the turkey outside when all of the sudden it started to hail. Chris had thrown our awning in the car just in case. I wish I had captured pictures of them frantically putting it up but all I got was a picture of them holding it down and waiting out the storm.

The turkey turned out beautifully and was probably the most moist turkey I've ever had. So I guess it was all worth it. 

There is always so much to be thankful for, but always ranking top at that list is family and friends (who often feel like family). Although we were far from so many of the people that we love, I am  immensely grateful to have so many people to miss and for an upbringing that has made my heart yearn to be home.

Taycee Lynn

My Tasty Sweet,

  You have decided you don't like that nick name any more and say "I am NOT TASTY!" but I call you that anyway because I just can't stop. (I try to stop dad from calling you Tasty Poo but I think that name is also here to stay. Maybe if you ignore him it will go away by your teen years.) You have been my little Tasty Sweet since the moment you were born and although there was a year or two in there that you were more my Tasty sour, those days have past and you are my best little friend. 

You find wonder in the smallest of things, and still belly laugh when you find things funny. You excel at everything you try. You're kindergarten teacher has a hard time keeping you challenged in class and you are usually the classroom helper. You love reading and your eyes light up when you see words on signs or buildings that you recognize. I often find you leaning over my shoulder reading whatever I may be typing or texting. 

You have the tenderest of hearts. At parent teacher conference your report card was perfect but what really made my heart happy was when your teacher said "she is such a good friend to everyone." You often tell us at dinner time about the boys who aren't very nice but that you tried to be like Jesus anyway. I would wager that your brains will take you far in life but your kind heart will take you further.

You are a natural nurturer and will be the best mommy someday. There is a small (teeny tiny, itsy bitsy)  part of me that wants to have another baby just because of the way you love to cuddle and cradle and care. You are the best big sister and I often find you singing to Brielle or helping Addison. Last week I asked you to watch Brielle in the bath while I helped Addison. By the time I came back you had washed Brielle  got her out of the tub wrapped her in a towel and you were carrying her to her room to get her dressed. You have a knack for knowing when I am feeling overwhelmed and always rush in and say "mommy I will take care of the babies" then you usually proceed to dance with them in the living room or sing them songs on the couch. 

You are strong willed and determined. For awhile those traits made me quite certain we would never be friends but you have grown into those qualities quite beautifully. You have yet to set your mind to anything and not accomplish it, including convincing daddy to have the "heel" boots you so desperately wanted for your birthday.  You aren't afraid to work for what you want and aren't discouraged easily.

You love being "pretty" and would wear heel boots and a petticoat to any event. Thursday's are your least favorite day at school because it is gym day and you have to wear tennis shoes. Doing our nails together has to be one of your favorite activities although you equally love peeling off the paint once it dries so your manicures never last long. Everyday you ask to wear lipstick and putting sparkle on your cheeks is right up there with Christmas morning in your book. 

You have sass girlfriend. It fills up every inch of you. Someone at grandma's house saw a picture of you and said "Is she as sassy as she looks?" and the answer is "Every bit... and more!" But you are also loads of fun. You tease your poor daddy to no end. You learn quickly what makes people squirm and you don't forget it. Your latest weapon is Jordan, your "husband" at school. You play house together at Recess and you are certain you will marry him when you get older. He broke up with you about a month ago. You came home and said "Jordan said he broke up with me this morning" you didn't seemed phased though. That was short lived and you are his girlfriend again and you take every opportunity to remind daddy about that. I have had to have several secret conversations with him about how his reactions feed your teasing. He is working on it. I also had to promise him that your idea of a boyfriend isn't his idea of a boyfriend... yet.

You are my first little girl and you have surpassed all of my hopes for what you would be. You are a chaser of dreams, and boys. You are a comforter, and the master button pusher.  You are the "Sing me the goodnight song mommy" at the end of every day. You are the bouncing yellow curls down the hallway and the cartwheels across the living room floor. You will always be the first one who brought sparkles and hair bows into our house. Watching you grow from a little 5 lb baby into a beautiful little girl has been a privilege and I am so grateful the privilege is mine.

Taycee Lynn 6 years old

xoxo- Mom

Birthday shenanigans

Taycee requested a frozen cake for her birthday this year and although I wasn't sure exactly how to pull that off I promised her I would try. I spent the better part of two hours making icicles on the the side of a blue spray-painted cake. 

I make a sheet of candy glass broke it into shards and we had Frozen goodness. 

Taycee invited Ava her best friend from school over. I think she was more excited to bring a friend home on the bus than any of the party activities. 

We headed to Monkey Joe's (a large inflatable play park) for a couple of hours.

And ended with the long awaited frozen cake. 

On Taycee's actual birthday I was running my boutique at a craft show. She came along and we got to spend the entire day together. She was an angel and had no less than 5 people give her free things just because she was "too adorable" or "too sweet". She thought everyone just magically knew it was her birthday so they were giving her gifts.

 When we got home that night she opened up her presents from the family. 

I was worried about spending her whole birthday at a craft fair, but she didn't complain once. When I thanked her for coming with me she said "I couldn't let my mommy be bored all by herself!" She really is such a tender hearted little lady and I am so grateful she is mine. 

All Hallows Eve

I am a fan of all Hollidays even the strange ones....like Halloween. I'll take any excuse to dress up and have a party. Since Chris is over the Young Men in our ward he was in charge of the spook alley at the ward party. Which therefore meant I was in charge of the spook alley at the ward party. We dressed up in our scariest attire and spent the next 5 hours decorating, cooking hot dogs, fixing black lights, mixing up a smoking brew of home made rootbeer and inhaling more fog than was healthy. I had the best intentions to take pictures but once we got there there wasn't a spare second to even think about a picture let alone make it happen. 

I did capture this picture about 10:30 when we finally made it home and got the kids in bed. We were beat up and exhausted and most of our costumes had been shed sweated off.

I did capture this picture on my phone in the car on our way to the church. 

We took advantage of the dry ice at home and did a little chemistry lesson on liquid gas. The kids found it all fascinating and called both grandma's to explain what they had learned. -- side note-- I am so grateful to have a husband who can give lessons on liquid gas as if he was talking about how to walk down the stairs. Because if it was up to the momma well, we would just create a rootbeer ice cream compound. 

 Halloween morning I put on my purple wig and wings. When I woke Addison up she said "Woah Mom... what happened?" We made pumpkin pancakes and drank magic green potion that I informed the kids (after they drank it) would make all candy poison for the rest of the day. --They weren't believers. The schools here do not celebrate Halloween but they were allowed to dress up as whatever career they wanted to choose when they grew up. Taycee chose a teacher and Kaden was a firefighter. 

When the kids got home from school the real fun began. Before long we had a whole crew of trick or treaters ready to hit the road.

We were having some friends over for games and treats that night after trick or treating so I got the kids all dressed up and while I prepared things at home Chris did the trick or treating. After which he swore off trick or treating for the rest of forever. Good thing he has 365 days to forget that promise.  To his defense trick or treating here was crazy. The streets were swarmed with people going from house to house. Addison also thought that each person who opened their door was actually inviting her in. Chris had to pull her out of a few entryways. 

The kids made a haul. People in Virginia are very generous with their candy. The kids were getting handfuls at each house. They still have their supplies stashed and get to choose 2 pieces every day. On Halloween night they were allowed to eat all they wanted. I think they maybe had 3 pieces each. 

We finished the nights with good friends and good food. I made the traditional ghost cake. We sang our Halloween song the kids watched Hotel Transylvania and the adults played a few rounds of "Wolf" (which is quite similar to Mafia)