Derek's Birthday

The big number "1"

 

Baby D sure enjoyed ripping into his gifts and stuffing his mouth with a delicious homemade vanilla butter cake for his first birthday.  Thanks so much to everyone who wished him well on his one year anniversary of birth.

 

 

I was going for a car design, but it ended up looking more like a spaceship.  Oh well, those both work well for boys, right?

 

 



Piano Recital

We're so proud of Alexis...

...and all the hard work she put into preparing her piano recital piece, "Turkey in the Straw".

 

 



Preschool Spring Program

Little Sparks' Preschool proudly presents...

...its 2015 moving-on-up student, Audrey!

 

 

Mary Had a Little Lamb Recitation

 

Easter 2015

If you're hoppy and you know it...

 

 



Audrey's Birthday

Fabulous four!

 

Turning 4 in our family is a big deal because that's when the Taylor kids get to host their first "friend" birthday party.  Audrey chose to mark the occasion with a Frozen-themed affair including lunch and games for all her preschool friends.

 Pin the Nose of Olaf

 

Ring around the reindeer

 

Snowball fight

 

Blowing out the candles

 



Paige's Birthday

It's heaven being seven!

 

A big thank you to everyone who made Pink #2's day so special.  She had a great time with her sisters and a good friend at her activity of choice:  an enormous indoor tree house venue called

Makutu's Island.

 

 



Room For a Boy

When Derek turned 4 months...

...we decided it was time he moved out of Mom and Dad's room and into his own.  That required installing new baseboards to match the rest of the house, repainting, and a little redecorating, too.

 

 

BEFORE: 

 IN PROCESS:

Alexis proved to be a very good painter.

 

AFTER:

Great Grandma Sue made the beautiful baby quilt hanging on the way which was our inspiration in decorating the room.

 

 

And for those of you who've known us since our California days, yes, that furniture is the same set that we purchased at the Palo Alto Ikea back when Alexis was a baby.  It's graced the rooms of Taylor children for nine years now and in six different apartments/houses.



 



Christmas 2014

Having a baby boy around...

...made the holidays extra special this year as Derek's presence helped us feel, reflect, and appreciate in a very real way the marvelous gift of the Christ child's birth.  Here are a few pics of our family festivities.

 

Baking cookies for neighbors

Assembling gingerbread houses for FHE

 

Visiting the Mesa Temple Christmas lights



 

The aftermath of Christmas morning

 

 

 



Holiday Concerts

All 3 Pinks performed in recitals or concerts during the 2014 holiday season.

Pink #1 "rocked" her Christmas piano recital

 

Pink #2 shined on the stage of the Mesa Arts Center as she sang with the East Valley Millennial Choirs and Orchestra in this year's production entitled Heavenly Peace

 

 And finally, Pink #3 gets in touch with her inner elf during her preschool holiday program.  She's the one in a springtime hued dress. (Her choice, not mine)

 

The Pinks got a little silly afterwards

 

 



Alexis' Birthday

It's so fine being 9!!

 

Alexis celebrated her birthday multiple times this year (it's both a curse and a blessing being born a week before Christmas).  She got an evening out at a fancy restaurant with Grandma Deena earlier in the month AND a birthday activity at a local amusement venue with two friends from school on her actual birthday.

 

 

She's growing up to be such a fun, sweet, smart, and responsible girl.  We depend on her a lot to help us keep track of her younger siblings and she does a great job.  Love you, Lexi-Lou!



Thanksgiving

The only thing better than Thanksgiving...

...is celebrating it twice!  We were lucky enough to get to spend the holiday with our good friends, the Ross's, and then to recreate Turkey Day all over again a few days later with another good friend, Jaime Fletcher, who happens to be the world's best ward choir accompanist.

 

 

Derek gets his first taste of a Taylor Family Holiday Tradition:

Cranberry Ice (he liked it).

 

Well said, Derek.  Well said.

 

 

 

Six Months Old

Growing Up Way Too Fast!

A few pictures from the last 3 months

 

Future missionary

Those legs never stop!

 

First taste of rice cereal.

Just chillin' with his shades on.

 

I've never seen a baby do this before but Derek has learned how to rock himself in his car carrier.  He started doing this around 4 months old.  Check it out.

 



Halloween 2014

Trick-or-Treat!  See our Feet!

The Taylor kids' toes were all tricked out this year in red sequins, rainbow flip flops, "frozen" sandals, and super hero booties.  Here's a pictorial recap of our spooky season.

 

Alexis and Paige carved their own Jack-o-lanterns.  Audrey still graciously allowed her Daddy to assist in carving hers.

 

 

There's no place like home to eat all your candy.

 

Rainbow Dash (a My Little Pony character) is the fastest trick-or-treater on the block.

 

Audrey can't wait to just "let it go" out in the neighborhood (along with, like, a million other 3-yr old girls).

 

Kryptonite can't touch this super-cutie.



School Fundraiser

It's the 3rd Annual Apex Fun Run at Haley Elementary School

Many thanks to everyone who sponsored Pinks 1 & 2 in their yearly fundraiser.

 

 

Alexis ran the maximum of 36 laps and she did it all in jean shorts. (Because she doesn't like gym shorts.  I know. Weird.)

 

Paige, who doesn't have an aversion to gym shorts, especially bright neon pink ones, ran 29 laps.

 

Way to go, girls!



First Loose Tooth

The Tooth Fairy Cometh...

...then two weeks later the Tooth Fairy cameth again when Paige lost her second tooth.  So what's the going rate for incisors these days?



Fall Break

Fall Break for the Taylor's...

...means a trip to Utah to escape the heat, a chance to introduce Derek to his extended family, and lots of fun at Grandma's house.

 

MAPLETON

 "Hey, that girl who feeds us is back!  Quick, quick, everyone to the fence."

 

 Pottery painting with Grandma Margaret.

 

 Going for a hay ride at the Red Barn.

 

 Looking for the Great Pumpkin at the Red Barn patch.

 

Grandma Margaret makes the best treats!

 

SPRING CITY

 Flying kites with the cousins

 

With Grandma Deena's help, the cousins put on a real tea party with invitations, special dishes, hot chocolate and yummy zucchini muffins.

 

SALT LAKE CITY

Hiking with the cousins at Cascade Springs. 

 

 We love Grandma Deena!

 

Meeting Great Grandma Sue for the first time.  A few days later, Pinks 1 & 2 got to have a special afternoon out with their "Mama Sue."  Activities included lunch and a rousing game of Enchanted Forest.

 

"Abracadabra" was the magic word that got Grandma Deena's rock fountain flowing.  Sometimes it would spout water right into the face of an unsuspecting Pink. 

 

 

We had so much fun on our trip to Utah and we can't thank our extended family enough for all they did to accommodate us.  A special thank you to Sterling for sharing his television with us so we could watch the BYU and USC games, thank you to Grandpa Greg for holding still for 2 hours so Derek could get some much needed sleep in his lap, thank you to Aunt Shellie for cutting everyone's hair, to Aunt Stacy and Aunt Amy for putting together a fabulous craft night and a thank you to Katie, Sue and Kellie for making themselves available for a crash visit from their out-of-state cousin/friend.