Taylor's Birthday/Pumpkin Patch

Well, I thought I was going to get my act together and blog about the last year since I took a very long blogging break.  I started with Kendal and Sabrina's wedding and you can see how far I got after that!  Oh well, maybe I'll chip away at it someday...

Today is Taylor's 9th birthday!  Wow!  9 years old is SO old!  I can't believe how big she has gotten so fast!  Taylor has always been an amazing kid.  She was a super smart baby that was talking well by a year old and has excelled ever since.  She decides that she is going to accomplish something and, boy, does she do it!  She ran for a position in student counsel and had to give a speech in front of the whole 3rd through 6th grade student body.  She was terrified, but she did it anyway!

She didn't win, but that didn't stop her.  She then decided she wanted to be in drama.  It is an after school program and there were real try-outs (meaning not everyone would make it).  She practiced a song and then performed it without music in front of a room full of parents and students.  Again, she was terrified, but she did it anyway!  This time a success and she is so happy and excited to learn her songs for the play. Taylor has such a strong moral compass.  She knows what is right and she does it.  She LOVES to read and has big goals in reading for this school year.  Not to mention, she is absolutely gorgeous.  This girl is going to accomplish great things in this life.  I love my Tay Tay!!!

So today we decide to head to Banducci's Family Farm.  We heard it had a great pumpkin patch and an awesome corn maze.  It didn't disappoint!  There were tons of pumpkins and lots of great places to take pictures.  Maybe next year, I'll have the kids go in their costumes.  They also had pony rides (which we didn't do...the line was too long) and a few peacocks.  The kids were entertained.

The corn maze...I don't know if I've ever been in a real corn maze, but this one was great.  It was really tricky!  We got totally lost so we were in there for quite a while.  Here are the kids enjoying the walk near the beginning:

  Looks like fun, right?

Well, that quickly ended when they realized what a corn maze actually was...getting lost and lots of walking.  We went in circles for a LONG time and then finally decided to try to make our way back to the start.  We eventually got out and everyone recovered.

We ended the day with cake and ice cream.  Yummy!  Here are the goofballs in action as we sing to Taylor!

Yay!  I blogged!  Hopefully I can keep it up, it's fun for me (and Rich and the kids) to look back and read about our lives. 

Kendal and Sabrina September 2011

We were so excited to welcome a new member to our family!  We love Sabrina (and Kendal)!  They had a destination wedding, so we all got to go up to beautiful Lake Tahoe.  The girls were so excited because they were asked to be the flower girls and they LOVED the dresses that Sabrina got for them.  The drive up was pretty uneventful and the kids were pretty well behaved.  We rented a big cabin so we could all stay together without it costing us an arm and a leg.  The cousins had a great time playing together and the grown ups were busy, busy, busy.

The girls at the rehearsal.

 

Cousins keeping themselves entertained.

After the rehearsal, we had a family BBQ at our cabin.  It was SUPER delicious and fun to get to know everyone in a laid back atmosphere.  The next morning was the wedding and the kids were excited to get on their wedding clothes.

Cooper was especially thrilled.  He specifically requested that he get to wear a bow tie for Kendal and Sabrina's wedding.  He did look pretty dapper!

The only downside about our cabin was the stairs!  Oh Nelly!  Those were intense and the thin air made them especially grueling!

Kendal waiting for his lovely bride.

Here come the girls.

Here comes the bride.

Dakota was a little bit naughty during the ceremony, it was hard to stand still when she had so many people that she could entertain.  Eventually, I had her come sit on my lap until the end.  Such a monkey!

The pastor gave a lovely speech and it really was a beautiful wedding.

The wedding party.

Like I said, Cooper felt REALLY awesome in his suit and tie!

Kendal and all his nieces and nephews...Faye was not a fan.

The reception was really fun.  We enjoyed the Italian food.  The kids tore up the dance floor with all their sweet moves.  I didn't get any pictures of that, but I can tell you, it was pretty fabulous!

The cake!

Tay Tay

Kendal making faces at the kiddos.

Cooper really wanted to dance with a beautiful maiden, Taylor finally agreed but was unimpressed by the whole situation.

The next morning, we went to a huge buffet.  The food was super good and I ate WAY too much!

The cute kids scoping out the view.

My mom likes to do treasure hunts for all the grandkids.  This time she had made them each a custom cape, complete with favorite colors and their initial.

We also went on a big hike.  My kids were slightly grumpy, but it was beautiful still.  We even saw a waterfall that the kids loved.  

It was a great trip punctuated by a HORRIFFIC!!!!! drive home!  Dakota and Cooper had complete melt downs.  My mom drove with me so I could keep my sanity and we sent poor Tay to drive with my dad, Loni, Clark, and Faye so she could get out from between Thing 1 and Thing 2!  Taylor reported on a lovely ride home...my mom and I were jealous!