The Taylor Times: Family

Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Monday, July 27, 2015

Father's Day

Jane was excited for Daniel to celebrate Father's Day! She decided to have a little party for him. She created a pinata for Daniel to hit (doll hanging in the dresser = pinata, dusting wand = stick, scarf = blindfold)

After Daniel broke open the pinata they picked up all of the imaginary candy. Jane even let Daniel have her favorite ones!

Then Jane presented Daniel with a crown for being her favorite dad!

These two make a great team!

Jane loves her daddy, that is certain! She calls him her "love" and insists that she is going to marry him (she says that I won't mind sharing him!). She was upset a few weeks ago and when Daniel asked her what was wrong, the conversation was adorable.

D: What's the problem?
J: The problem is that I wish I was bigger first?
D: What does that mean?
J: It means that if I was bigger first then you would marry me first instead of Mom first.
D: You are right. But I had to marry Mom first so that we could have you be our little girl.
J: Ok.

So now Jane calls herself Daniel's "little love" and I am his "big love".

Oh she has such a tender heart!

One last picture, but it isn't Father's Day related. Daniel's brother, Chris came over and I found him in Jane's room listening to her new book-on-cd that she checked out from the library. She just has a way to get her uncles to hang out with her!

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

California 2015 part 1 (Friday- Sunday)

Last year when I went to California with the kids and left Daniel at home he felt rather left out of things, so he came with us this year! We found an awesome deal on plane tickets so we decided to fly instead of drive- it was the best decision!

Jane was excited to go on her first airplane ride and Seth was excited to go on an airplane ride now that he is old enough to remember it (he was 18 months old on his last flight).

So Friday June 5th my parents drove us to the airport and we were on our way for another California Adventure!

Our first stop was to see Grandpa and Grandma Taylor and then we all went to see Ben, Mieren and Alys. We drove down to the beach that is a few minutes away from Ben's apartment. Even though it was chilly and windy, the kids played in the water a bit. Janet and I stayed up at the top and visited. I was able to see a pod of whales blowing water out in the distance. Super cool!

Saturday we went to visit Janet's brother Steve and sister-in-law Pam at Pam's workplace. She works at a preserve called McClellan Ranch Preserve in Cupertino California. It was a lot of fun to visit with them and to see the animals and creatures that she works with.

Pam showing Jane a silk worm

Jane feeding a lizard

Jane using magnifying glass to view silk worms

Les and Seth holding a snake

Pam Daniel Paul Steve Seth Jane Mark

Seth feeding lizard

That afternoon we went to a beach the girls call Horse Beach.

It was really quite cold but it didn't keep the kids out of the water at all. Ben had a few wet suits for the older boys to wear, but Seth went into the water to use the boogie board with no reservations. He is one tough kid!

Sunday we took things easy- I wasn't feeling great. Sunday afternoon Ben and the girls came over for lunch. After lunch we went to the park to play Frisbee.

Me and Jane returning from the park

Just for fun- a picture of me and Jane returning from the park last year

Ben lifted Seth over some bushes to retrieve a Frisbee

Daniel, Jane and I went to Sunset Beach that evening. Mark, Paul, and Seth went with Ben to spend the night with him.

Our plan was to spend time at the beach every day because it is something that we just can't do in Utah. Even though it wasn't sunny it was delightful to experience time at the beach!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

A Quick Idaho Visit

This weekend Mark, Paul, Jane and I went to Idaho to visit my brother Kelly and his family. We had a tv and stand to bring up to him. It was a good thing that Seth wasn't planning on coming up because there wasn't room for him in the van! We traveled in a crazy rainstorm for a good part of the trip there and back. The weather while we were there was quite pleasant- warm and mostly sunny with just a touch of chill in the air.

This was a short visit but it is always great to see Kelly and get a hug from him. He seriously gives the best hugs!

Jane and Uncle Kelly

Jane showing Aunt Jenn her newly painted fingernails

We went for a walk along the Snake river that is next to Kelly and Jenn's house. Jane wanted to hold Eric's hand!

Tyler provided transportation for Jane when she got tired.

Paul provided transportation for Mark when he got tired! Jane thought it was hilarious!

The cousins played card games and had a great time.

Next time we go to visit we'll stay longer so the boys can play together longer. Tyler was not pleased that we were taking off so soon! (We got there at 7pm on Friday and left 1pm on Saturday). Hopefully the new tv setup will console him until we make it up there again! Haha!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Mark Earned His Black Belt

Mark has been taking Tae Kwon Do for the past 3 years. He earned his black belt this month and I am very proud of him. He has been really good about going to class twice a week. We only had one time where he really didn't want to go about 2 years ago. He was really mad at me for making him go- he wouldn't talk to me or look at me the entire ride to TKD. When I went to pick him up it was as though a completely different child stepped out of the doors. He was cheerful, excited and energized. He told me that he was really glad that he went because he felt so much better after working out. He said that if he ever throws a fit like he did earlier to tell him to just get in the van and go.

Tae Kwon Do has been excellent for Mark to work out the aggression and frustrations that come with being a teenage boy. He has enjoyed the instructors and the curriculum. I love that Daniel and Mark have been taking classes together. Seth joined 6 months ago and Paul just started this week!