Da Boyz

 We finally got some snow around here.  The boys were in heaven until I told them they probably should have picked up the dog poop before the snow storm like I had asked them to.  Yeah, that ain't chocolate people.  (Everything was properly scrubbed after the taking of this picture.)

 The highlight of the week was getting Em's cast off.  Hallelujah!

 Cast free and loving life (and showers).

 After the snowman incident the boys have been reluctant to play outside.  So I made them a laser spy maze, out of string, to keep them busy.  It was a hit. 

 Rugby's class had a talent show today.  He chose to bring lots of things he had built.  He brought a rocket, a Lego spaceship, a motorcycle, and a wooden golf hole.  He told his class all about each one.  It was really cute.

This is Mr. Man with his motorcycle.  When we found out about the talent show he had to send a note into the teacher with what he chose to share.  He was really excited.  He ran into the house and explained it all to me and concluded with, "I've decided to blow milk out my eyes!!"  I said, "Um... can you do that?"  He replied, "I don't know, but it sounds really cool."  So I send him off to the bathroom to do a preliminary try with water at the sink.  A few minutes later, he decided that wasn't working out so well, his eyes were still dry.  So his next idea was a magic show.  Since he didn't know any magic tricks, we decided to steer him towards things he was actually talented with.  He settled with his building skills.  We were very relieved.

Just a snip...

It has been really warm here.  The kids have been busting out the summer bikes and scooters.  It's been amazing.

B and Z out for a stroll. 

 Z and Goob, enjoying the wonderful weather.

 Goob has turned into quite a chef these days.  He is into learning how to cook.  He has mastered cheesy wraps, eggs, jello, pudding and muffins.  Whenever it's time to get dinner ready, he is there wanting in on the plans.  However, he still won't eat most of what he cooks, but it's progress.

 Scout

 He's so cute!

 Baden and I bonded over ice cream the other day.  It was awesome.

Cooper loves his sauces.  You got sauce to go with that?  He's all over it!

Ode to Emerson

Emerson is my last baby.  That is something that is special to me because I made my peace with each mile stone knowing that I'd never do it again with anyone else.  He has always been a very cheerful boy with an incessant need for love.  He can be completely angry with you and still accept and hug.  He melts with hugs and love. 
Em loves to be silly.  He likes to make everyone laugh.  He has been performing for his family from birth.  He sings, he dances, he tells jokes and does impressions.  It's hard to have a straight face with him around.  When he was little, we discovered that he had an obsession with cereal.  He would choose to eat it for every meal for the rest of his life.  One year when he was about 3, we gave him one of those little box variety packs of cereal for Christmas and it was his favorite gift.  He stopped opening presents, got a spoon, and went straight to the table to eat his love.
Em has a contagious smile and sparkling eyes.  He has a face you just want to squeeze.  Em loves to play outside.  He mastered his bike when he was 3 and keeps taking on new challenges.  He is a swimmer, a climber, a sledder and most often, fearless to try new things.  I think being the youngest has made him the family guinea pig.  The kids get him to try stuff and he loves it.  Inside is another story.  Em hates food.  He is very picky about what he eats.  He current diet consists of cereal, cheesy hot dogs, yogurt, bananas, toast, pancakes, pepperonis and crackers.  Anything outside that circle is unacceptable.  You'd think that he would eventually budge-- nope.  This guy knows what he wants and sticks to it at all costs.  He would rather go hungry than try something outside his circle.  We are thinking this stubbornness will serve him well later in life.  When he believes in something, he will go to the grave with it.
Emerson makes friends easily and plays hard.  He has attracted the neighborhood boys who gather here after school to take him on in hockey, soccer, baseball, and tether ball.  He is a good learner.  He likes to learn about new things.  He is interested in everything.  He has questions about everything and seems to weigh things in his mind.  It's fun to watch him work things out.  He has a bit of a dramatic side and tries to sell us his ideas with his passion. 
I had the opportunity to spend a year at home with him, before he went to kindergarten, when the other kids were already in school.  That was my favorite year as a Mom.  I had so many kids close together, it was my opportunity to spoil just one.  We went on so many adventures that year.  He probably won't remember them all but I will.  I would pick him up from preschool and ask him what adventure he wanted to go on.  We went to the lake to walk the piers, we went out for ice cream, through the car wash, out for walks, painted, shopped and explored.  It was great.  He has such a fun loving spirit, it is contagious.  Sending him to school was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.  Sometimes I miss hanging out with that guy. 
Emerson is just what this family needed as the caboose.  I love him so much.  He is so fun.  I'm glad he is all mine.

Ode to Rugby

Rugby is in 3rd grade this year.  He was born knowing who he was and what he wanted.  He oozes cool and confidence.  He attracts people with his relaxed leadership.  Rugby has always been a moody little guy.  We have pictures of him from birth with a tiny scowl on his face.  He takes himself seriously.  Things are important and deserve consideration to him.  We have discovered in recent years that he respects authority and always chooses the right.  He is a rules guy at school and likes to keep it that way.  At home, he lets loose.  He pushes the boundaries and questions everything.  Sometimes I ask him why he saves all of his crazy for home.  He looks at me very seriously and tells me he needs to follow the rules at school.  While I'm extremely thankful that he behaves outside our home, I still long for some of that after school.
Rugby is a perfectionist.  When he was little, he used to take his woobie and lay it flat on the ground.  Then he would carefully smooth out all the wrinkles and fold.  He repeated these steps until he had a square about the size of a piece of paper and carefully place it on his bed with his stuffed animal on top.  He likes things to be just so.  He enjoys drawing.  He will draw the same characters over and over again until he has them perfect.  Then he moves on to new things.
Rugby loves telling a story.  Most of the time he practically yells what he has to say with big wide eyes and waving hands.  It's hard not to love what he is saying.  But be careful not to laugh, because he is serious about what he is telling you.  He has recently started making noise day and night.  He hums, sings, or makes boy noises constantly.  This is something I could do without, but it shows his confidence and persistence.
One of my favorite times of the day is dinner time when we get to hear all about Rugby's recess adventures.  He tells us very specifically his games, his feelings about other kids, his triumphs and failures.  He keeps us updated on who's the fastest kid.  No one has beaten Rugs yet.  He just loves to run.  He picks the proper shoes for running everyday.  I'm not sure he knows how to walk.  Why walk when you can run?
One of my favorite things about Rugby is something he has in common with his father.  They both act all rough and tough, but they are both gushy sweethearts.  Rugby loves a good hug and to have his head scratched.  He has a smattering of freckles across his nose that makes him look so cute and mischievous.  It's easy to be Rugby's mom because you know exactly how you stand with him all the time.  He hides nothing.  I just love this guy.  He is so full of energy and love.  He is amazing.

I love you buddy.

Ode To Zoey

Zoey is in the 5th grade.  She amazes me with her knowledge.  She likes to act like she is ordinary but all of her work and test indicate that she is anything but.  Zoey enjoys diving into books and picking them apart, like her father.  She gets so involved in a story and dedicated to the characters, that that's about all she can talk about for a few days.  I love to hear her insight on a book that I've already read.  She sees things that I miss and remembers every tiny detail.

Zoey has a way of making everyone feel loved.  She invites people in with her smile and laughs easily.  She is constantly the source of laughter in our home.  She knows how to get all of her siblings barrel laughing.  She is a music hound.  She has a talent for remembering details.  She can tell you the name of a song, the album, the artist and the words.  She is very specific with her requests when she gets into the car.  It makes me smile.

Z has surprised me with her independence and self motivation.  She has the cleanest room in the house, by far.  I never have to remind her to make her bed or clean up-- it's already done.  She knows what she likes and she goes after it.  She has always been one to proclaim her love from a very small age.  She has always loved the color pink and anything sparkly.  When she was two, she had a mad love for Elmo.  Then when she was 5 she was enthralled with Dr. Seuss.  She loves life and isn't afraid to tell the world.  She wears her opinions proudly.

Zoey is a chit chatter.  In fact, it's hard to get her to have a moment of quiet.  She has oodles of friends.  People are drawn to her and her big rosy cheeks.  When I see her it's evident that she has lived up to her name.  It means "life" and she is full of life. 

This little girl came into the world loud and hasn't stopped since.  She is on the fringes of getting older.  Soon she will follow her big sister's footsteps.  She is already starting to babysit and take on more responsibilities.  I know it's not going to stop there.  I'm excited to see what the future holds for my Zoey, or rather, what Zoey holds for the future.  She is amazing and I love her to death.  She has sped through childhood always on the coat tails of her sister.  They are my little twins, always into everything together.  That's what I hoped for, having them so close together.  It's nice to have a friend to go through life together.  It's the best gift I could think of to give them.  Good luck girlies.  I sure do love you.

Ode To Breckyn

The kids are getting so big.  I've been looking through some older posts and I can't believe how much they've grown.  Each one of them has grown into something amazing.

Breckyn is in the 6th grade now and just ushering in the idea of growing up.  Their class has been practicing dance etiquette for an up coming Valentine's dance.  She is really into it and loves learning about anything that would make her "old."  Her class has been working on a big art project doing Egyptian masks, which she adored.  She is so artsy and full of ideas, it was right up her ally.  She has been babysitting like a maniac and saving money so she can go back and visit her friends in Wisconsin.

She has also just recently completed her Faith in God program so she can move onto Young Women's in a few short months.  She has become even more independent, if that's possible.  She writes in her journal nightly and has taken to doing the laundry like a pro.  (I love that)  She will be 12 in just a pinch and I have to say that it makes me ill. 

I look at her face and I can still see that chubby faced toddler begging for a tippy cup and some crackers while she watched another moving episode of Blue's Clues.  I expect to look in the rear view mirror and see her singing along to the music, covered in fruit loops and clutching her woobie.  Time plays cruel tricks and right now it's taking my little girl away. 

She is an amazing young lady and I'm so proud of her.  She is becoming something even better than I ever could have dreamed of.  She has a heart two sizes too big for her tiny body.  She is always trying to save someone or something.  She is dedicated and willing to go the extra mile, literally in some cases.  If you can't already tell, I really like her.  I always tell my kids, "No matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby."  I guess it's true.  So here's to you B, my almost 12 year old baby.  I love you kid.

Snow Fun!

The Taylors welcomed in the new year by having some fun in the snow.

 We took the kids to Soldier's Hollow and introduced them to tubing Utah style. 

 They had rope tows so this guy didn't have to do all the heavy lifting.  He really liked that.

 The cousins joined us and made it a play date.

Em broke this arm, for the second time in his wee little life, while we were skiing last week.  He is pretty excited to have all of his friends sign it when school starts again.

Happy New Year!