Hayden's First Day of School

Sisterly love before the first day

Quick shot with Mommy at orientationGetting crafty

Hayden is the class craft girl... I think she spends MOST of her day doing crafts at school! Her teacher and parents have commented on the amount of paintings that go home with her every week..... that's my girl!

Showing Daddy how to do it

Moving on to dressing up

First day daddy and daughter shot

Walking in by herself...this is where she waved us away and told us she was headed to school!

Coat Tag

Gettin her dough on

Hayden started school once a week this fall and she LOVES it! I was thinking that she would have a tough time staying by herself but apparently that is not the case! The first day of school she waved to us while walking in and told us goodbye she was going to school!! It did sting a little I am not gonna lie but I guess that it is better than listening to her cry. Coady, one of her good friends, is also in the class so I know she has a good time. While she was in school Brady and I went and picked up a Tinkerbell backpack for her as a surprise.... she was THRILLED and wore it for the rest of the day. Here are some pics of her orientation and first day.

Taylor's 4th Birthday Part 2

I know I know.... I finally updated the blog!

Taylor really wanted to have her birthday party at Inflation Nation, a new bounce house in Williamsburg. After a couple of months of calling and a delayed opening it finally happened. It actually worked out perfectly because they opened it early just for Tay's party. We had it all to ourselves and were the first people to experience the inflatables!!! Taylor had so much fun bouncing with her friends and LOVING being the center of attention! It was probably the first year that she really looked forward to her party and talked about it up until it happened. The kids and adults played hard until we went into the party room for pizza and cake. We don't have too many shots because we were in on the action as well but here is what we were able to capture.

Taylor opening her presents

She couldn't wait to get Ariel out of her cake!
Yum... pizza after all that bouncing!

Party favors... CDs, candy necklaces, and wands

This year we decided to make a CD of Taylor's favorite songs from Disney to Beyonce and give them to her guests. There were a couple of parents I had to warn about the Single Ladies track! Taylor listens to it EVERY night before she goes to bed!

Ariel Cake

I had a little Cake Boss of my own this year! Taylor was very specific about her cake. It had to be an Ariel cake and it had to be purple. I waited until she went to her room for quiet time and began decorating. The plan was to make her wearing a fluffy purple ballgown. Next thing I know Tay shows up in the kitchen and tells me that she has to have fins as well so she took off to show me a picture to copy!!! The compromise was half dress half mermaid.... whatever!! She watched me decorate the entire time giving me tips and suggestions :) Luckily she moved on to decorating cupcakes with LOTS of sprinkles!

Hayden chowing down!

The Party Room

Taylor and some of the girls from her school

Hayden waiting for the Birthday Girl

Daddy and daughter on a mission

Super excited waiting to go out the door to the party

Brady and I decided that parties out are the way to go!! It took a ton of pressure off of us, especially since he was out of town all week up until the day of the party. For the first time we were able to enjoy the party with Taylor which was so much fun! We all had a great time!

Taylor Addison Turns 4! Part 1

Happy 4th Birthday Taylor Addison!

A couple of weeks ago Taylor celebrated her 4th birthday! She was SUPER excited about her special day and was able to tell us exactly how she wanted to spend it......

We started it of with a chocolate chip pancake cake complete with a candle. She insisted that we sing Happy Birthday to her.... Hayden loved it because it is her favorite song :)

She wanted to wear a spinning skirt and her crown in her favorite color... purple.

We took her to gymnastics wearing her new purple leotard and then out to lunch at the "chips and dip place" aka Plaza Azteca. I think Brady secretly put her up to it! It was yummy! Taylor wanted to go to Water Country so we headed out in the evening for a family trip to the park. We closed it down and headed home for cake and presents. One of our traditions is a personal cake so here is Tay with hers.. purple of course!

Taylor excited about her gifts!

After her gifts we watched Brady's tradition for the girls on their birthdays.... the slide show. It gets harder to watch every year as the gap grows from the day she was born until today. She is definitely looking more grown up these days! I asked her if she would stop growing and stay little for me. She explained that Hayden could stay little but she wanted to get bigger. She did say that she would keep giving me hugs... even when she was grown up! I need that in writing :)

We waited until the end to give her the big gift from us... a bike. She was so excited and that was exactly what we wanted to see! We were not sure if she would get the hang of pedalling and turning the handles right away but she jumped right on and took of in circles around the first floor! She went around.... and around.... and around! Grandma called and she was complaining that she couldn't talk and ride at the same time. This is what she came up with! She is just like her daddy!

We concluded her birthday with a new tradition.... an interview!

Here is Taylor at 4!

Favorite

• Food- pancakes


• Color- purple


• Sport/activity- soccer and gymnastics


• Song- Backyardigans Theme Song


• Show/Movie- Princess and the Frog


• Place to Eat- Chick fil A, Plaza Azteca, and Burger King for the playground


• Place to Go- Busch Gardens and Water Country

What do you want to be when you grow up? Cheerleader (huh? we do not support this and will spend the next year trying to change her mind before the next interview) and Soccer Player.. yes!

Favorite part of your day? Opening presents and eating cake

Favorite things to do with

• Mommy- go to CFA or BK (really?! that's it? Yup)


• Daddy- play and go to Plaza... they had daddy/daughter date night there a couple weeks ago


• Hayden- slide with her at Water Country

This next one was tough on both of us....

Best part about turning 4? GROWING UP!! :(

I am good at..... listening and forward rolls in gymnastics

Ya never know what is going to come out of her mouth :) We have enjoyed the past 4 years and look forward to many more!

Spring Gymnastics

The girls have been keeping busy with their activities at the WISC this spring. We were able to get some photos during the last classes of the session. Hayden just started gymnastics so look for more to come in the next several months!

The girls and Coach Brandi. She always makes Hayden feel like part of the group!

Hayden saw Taylor on the podium getting her ribbon and she flew up to her side!! It was too funny!

Tah Dah!

Taylor and Henry

Our little gymnist

Handstand on the beam... I was panicking!

Coach Karissa helping Taylor on the beam

The Monday Gymnastics Crew

The girls having some fun!

Family Bowling

A couple of weeks ago we decided to take the girls bowling... oh was Brady happy!!! Lucky for us he left all of his bowling accessories at home! Taylor really gets into it and enjoys cheering for herself after she releases the ball. Hayden... well Hayden was afraid of bowling at first but warmed up to it when she got some lessons from Brady and Tay. We could have some future professional bowlers :) Brady's dream... family team tournaments!

Some seriously excited bowlers

Taylor helping Hayden set it up

So last year the man working the desk gave Taylor a Shrek bowling ball! We bring it with us every time and she is in heaven!

Big grin!

Her celebration dance

Team effort

Taylor is jumping and yelling at the ball

Hmmmm... looks like Brady is getting pretty serious about the set up!

Cheese!