Taylee's Piano Recital

Taylee has taken piano lessons for about 2 years now. 

Her first piano teacher was Margaret Tew (a sister in our ward). Margaret and her family moved to Colorado this winter, so Taylee then started taking from Gloria Small (another sister in our ward).

On the evening of the last day of school, we attended Taylee's piano recital in the Small's home.

Gloria did a great job and made it a special night. 

She had sent out invitations, decorated, made programs and treats.

Gloria Small-Grace Baldwin-Taylee-Alicia Small

Madison Jensen-?-Ainsley Ashby

The day of the recital, Taylee told me she didn't want our family to attend. As we talked more, she told me she was embarrassed and felt awkward being the OLDEST piano student. She said it was frustrating seeing the younger students playing better than her. I told her I understood her concern, but still wanted the family to support her by going. She wasn't happy about it...but we went anyway.

At the recital, I noticed Sister Small's daughter-in-law (married with 2 kids) was also taking lessons. I commented to Taylee about her not being the OLDEST student....but it didn't really make her feel any better. 

The Small's also set up a video recorder, so that the audience could see the pianist playing. 

I took some video on my phone...enjoy!

I'm proud of Taylee for participating and think she is doing a fine beginner's job.

Go Taylee!

Taylee is FINALLY 14!

This cutie just had a birthday and turned 14!

Photo background: This lucky shot was snapped when we were taking a "break" from Taylee's uncooperative 2 yr old photo session. She was being such a stinker I think the photographer was about to give up on us. As Taylee looked over her shoulder, the photographer saw it and snapped it. 

I was so grateful..it's one of my favorite pictures of her.

I definitely didn't escape the "mother's curse" when it comes to photo sessions. I was a terrible photo taker as a child and I've had my share of  terrible photo sessions with my kids. Sorry Mom! 

I wanted to give Taylee a "First Dance Kit"..since she can FINALLY go to the Stake dances. Here's what I came up with..kinda cheesy, but I think she liked it.

She says she is the very LAST one of her friends to turn 14..and some of them even got to go to the Stake dance BEFORE they were 14..oh well. I have to admit, I was a little tempted to give in when I learned there was a dance 2 days before her birthday, but she didn't even ask and I would have said no anyway..I hope. :) 

Polish remover, mascara, Baby Lips lip gloss, bracelet, flower headband, Ice Breaker mints, Extra gum and Milk Duds.

Abree had saved up enough "money" at school, to earn this monkey, from their class store. She was so excited to give it to Taylee for her birthday. She drew her a Pooh bear picture too. --I think it's so sweet when siblings are thoughtful of one another. --Treyson bought Taylee some candy with his own money and gave her some Crayola Twistables crayons.

Grandma McKinley gave Taylee a cool artist book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards . Looks like something I would like to read as well.

Of course we re-stocked her with 5 rolls of duct tape.. she can never get enough of it. She got some converse-type shoes and an i-tunes gift card too.

Grandpa Waite took her out for a milkshake and gave her a card and money.

For dinner she chose chicken alfredo and green salad. 

And chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and Mud Slide ice cream. 

Happy Birthday beautiful Taylee!!!

Trunk-or-Treat

Our bishop wanted this year's ward Trunk-or-Treat to be more of a community/neighborhood event. We got permission from the nearby elementary school to have it in their parking lot.

I was asked to make signs to put around the neighborhood and school. 

 

I made a little pocket, on each sign, with flyers about the Trunk-or-Treat.

My kids are good sports about dressing up...I think they actually like it.

Treyson the chef.

One of my favorite parts of Treyson's costume was his chef hat. I wanted to buy him a professional one, but ran out of time, so I quickly made one out of a strip of posterboard and some inside-out wrapping paper. Voila...chef hat!

Abree the pink pig.

Taylee made Abree's pig nose and ears with felt and a milk jug lid.

Taylee the BSU vampire fan???

Rylee the "cute nerd"...of course not a nerdy-nerd.

Treyson and his good friend Dylan.

Notice the funky rubber chicken..the final touch to Treyson's costume.

TRUNK-OR-TREAT!

Red Ribbon Week

The end of October is Red Ribbon week.

The schools around here have dress up days which include things like; crazy hair day, funny hat day, wear your favorite team jersey day, etc.

My kids love to participate.

This year at the middle school, they had a "Genius Day" (a.k.a. Nerd Day). Treyson went all out and was a perfect nerd. Some of my favorite touches were the inside-out pockets, one pant leg rolled up and his tweeky hair-do.

Do you see the Alfalfa-inspired tweeky in the back?

I don't know if I would call this "crazy hair" ....more like "scary hair".

Who would have thought to have a crazy chicken hair-do like this, but Taylee?

Funny thing is she went babysitting like this. I told her I thought she might want to take it out before, so she wouldn't scare the kids. She didn't.

She also went to a bishopbric's interview (temple re-dedication) looking like this. Yikes!

Back to School!!!

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, it's the most WONDERFUL time of the year...

Back to School!

Rylee is a BIG sophomore.. so NOT a freshman. :)

Taylee is an 8th grader.. the TOP of the school.

Treyson is a sixth grader..a middle schooler?!..no way.

And Abree is a second grader...WAY too big to be my baby!

Here's to a great year.

Middle School

Can you believe it???

Treyson is going into 6th grade this year... middle school!

After gettting registered (and paying BIG bucks),Treyson and Taylee wanted to find their lockers and get set up.

Treyson was excited to find he got a top locker!

Taylee is going into 8th grade.. the top of the school.. the expert of middle school.

For the remaining of the year, this locker will NEVER look this clean and organized again, Taylee joked.
I'm thinking this is a true statement. :)

They're ready... let school begin.
The most WONDERFUL time of the year!

Girl's Camp

Happy Campers?
We'll see...

This year girl's camp was at the ward level. My friend Keri was called as Camp Director. She spent a lot of time and energy making it cute for the girls. I'm pretty sure they will have LOTS of fun.

Taylee the Baker, Maker and Cake Decor-a-ter

Taylee said to me, "I wish I could make and decorate a cake for someone."

(I'm guessing she secretly would have liked to have made/decorated Treyson's cake.)

I suggested she call Candice and offer her services for Levi's upcoming birthday party.

She didn't call.

Then as Candice and I were texting later on that week, she mentioned Levi's cake and not being excited about making it. I told her what Taylee said to me and offered her services. She thought that sounded like a great idea... an answer to her prayers. :) 

Later that day, she asked Taylee to make a CARS cake, like one she had seen on Pinterest. Taylee was sooo excited!

The morning of the party, Taylee got to work.

Taylee did the bulk of the cake, but I have to admit I jumped in a few times..just couldn't resist so much fun.

Taylee couldn't wait to use this sugar paper. It worked perfect for the checkered sides.

Look what I made!

The finished cake on location with Lightening McQueen candle.

Nice job Taylee!

Water skiing with the Hodges

For our family vacation this year, we went North...Post Falls, ID. We stayed with Krissi and Steve Goodmansen, and their family, in their brand new home. They had just moved in on a Tuesday and we were there on that Saturday!

When Bob and Karen Hodge found out that we would be in the area, they invited us out to their home in Medical Lake, WA, for some lunch and water skiing.

The Hodge's home on their private lake.

Abree modeling her brand new swimsuit.

Are we ready for some FUN?!

Bob Hodge

Jason was first up..or should I say down. 

On his second or third try, he did the splits and pulled his hamstring. Later it turned black and blue and he had a big knot on the back of his thigh. It's been weeks and it still bothers him occasionally. He hurt himself good.

Bob showing us how it's done.

Taylee was next up.

She struggled to keep her skis straight up, so Bob got in the water to try and help. After many tries without success, it was someone else's turn.

Rylee tried to get up on the wake board.

She was determined, but didn't have success that day.

Bobby, Bob's oldest son, was a patient, kind teacher and boat driver.

Bob thought he had a solution to Taylee's problem. He duct taped rocks to the back of the skis so that they would stay down in the water. Taylee got a second chance. The skis stayed down... but so did Taylee. Lots of close calls, but no success at getting up.

Treyson decided he would try it too. After several attempts he called it quits.

He said, "Mom... I'm a quitter."

I said, "I don't think you're a quitter. I'm proud of you for trying."

Funny kid.

Our family didn't actually get up that day, but I appreciated their determination and was glad they had the opportunity.

Thank you to the Hodge Family for your kindness and generosity.