It's Official - She's a Teenager

My baby is 13. Just crazy! I love celebrating birthdays. We have quite a few fun traditions.

First - we always hide our presents. This year Taylor just wanted clothes. Now that she is getting older, it is hard to buy the correct things without her with me. The solution - 100 one dollar bills....hidden, of course!Can you tell how happy Ethan is about this? "Why does she get money? I need some money! Taylor, can't I have just some?"
We always decorate the house (or at least their door) the night before:They eat their meals on the birthday plate: (made by yours truly)
They get to request their own menu for the day. Sometimes it involves a restaurant, sometimes not. Taylor's picks this year: pancakes/bacon for breakfast, tri-tip/mash potatoes for dinner and mud pie for her bday cake:
One of their favorite traditions is that they don't have to do any chores. It's not like a normally work them to death, so I don't know why it's such a big deal - but it is! We finished off the night at mutual (I filled in for the beehives) with a flour fight. Fun times! Notice that Taylor is now taller than me. Darn her!
Happy Birthday, my sweet girl! I love you more than words can describe. You are everything I wish I was when I was your age.

TCGFSA

This is the only picture I got of Taylor's jamboree on Saturday. I'm sure I'll have plenty more to share later...

Soccer Sadness

Emma is so sad that soccer is over. She loved every bit of it and can't wait until it starts back up again in the fall. She, too, had a great season and learned SOOO much.

Her face in the picture makes me laugh!Throw-in:Her good friend, Nattie:
Goal kick:
Eating oranges at half-time:
Score!

Proud Parenting Moment

At Kaden's preschool they have a 'Day at the Park' to celebrate the summer birthdays. The class meets at the park to play, then they gather to celebrate the bdays. Everyone that has summer birthdays bring a treat to share. Miss Patty (the director) brings ice cream. I am showing you this picture for a reason. Notice the bag of yummy caramel popcorn? Don't you think that most kids LOVE caramel popcorn? Obviously one little birthday girl named Nicole did! She proudly passed around her bags of popcorn to all her friends. Each one said, "Happy Birthday" and "Thank You"......all but one. One loud and boisterous kid screams, "Ewwww! That's gross! MOM!!! MOMMM!!! I don't want this stuff - it's disgusting! MOM! COME GET IT!!!"Yeah, all the parents look at me and are anxiously awaiting my reply. What is this mom going to do? Is she as crazy as her son? Has she not taught him any manners? How is she going to handle this embarrassing situation?

I did what any good mother would do! I screamed back in likewise manner, "Kaden Christopher! Sit back down and be quiet!", turned bright red and buried my face in my hands.

...and enjoyed that bag of popcorn the whole way home!

Big Shoe

Emmaline as a Native American:

With BFF, Ellie:Ethan's 5th grade "sticks":

My camera died right when they were getting to the good stuff...

Somethin's Missin'...

Before:
After:Yes, worth the money for sure!

School Softball

Taylor is done with school softball....just in time for TCGFSA to start! She had a great season and especially enjoyed playing with her friends on the team.

Good hit:Awesome shortstop:She's an awesome base runner:

Friend Friday Fun

Our weekdays are so crazy that we set Friday afternoons aside for friends. The kids get out early at 1:15 so they have extra time to play (or 'hang-out' as Ethan would say).

Kaden with his best buddy, Brett:Emmy and Amy:
Ethan and Cannon:

Mother's Day Tea

One of my favorite events is Mother's Day Tea at Kaden's preschool. The kids serve us cake and "tea" and sing us songs. Can't believe my baby is growing up!

Getting ready to sing:
His infamous CHEESY grin:
Love this kid!

T-Ball Madness

Kaden had his first T-ball game...

He is such a fun kid and loved every minute of that crazy game! Kids were coming out of the woodworks diving on top of each other to get the ball. So fun to watch!

And of course, half of the fun is holding these 2: