pieces of me

it's july, it must be another birthday

july is birthday month.  yesterday was will today is mg tomorrow is... well we do get a little break before the next round of b'days.  mary grace, mg, mar-mar, mrs. taylor (that still sounds a little weird to me) she answers to them all.  as she has grown she has taken on many identities and roles but she will always be my baby girl.  i just don't want to get this look that she gave ben the other day.

too bad dad or candy always has a camera handy, huh?  anyway she is an accomplished young woman now, having gained tenure at her teaching job, about to finish her master's degree, and many other things.  but in this family she will always be mar-mar or mg, big sister and daughter.

we love you,
dads and candy
ps remember to smile when the camera is out

my baby

turned 3 today!  i can't believe he is already 3!  it just seems like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital.  time is going by sooo very fast.  i really wish i could stop time and keep him a baby a little longer.  it really hurts my heart to see him grow up so fast.  will is so proud of becoming a "big boy".  he tells me everyday that he is a big boy now and is growing up as high as benny.  he will be on his tippy toes reaching up for the sky as he says, "as high as benny".  he is such a joy in our lives and really completes our family.  he is loved by everyone that knows him.  he is spoiled rotten and loves all the attention he gets. 

here are some of the things he is doing right now at 3:

1. can count to 5.
2. can sing his abc's.  which he only gets to c. 
3. he knows about a quarter of the alphabet and can name the letters.
4. he loves to play ball and can hit a baseball off of a tee.
5. he loves to go to the park with his big sister laura.  he loves to go in her car.
6. he is totally potty trained and trained within a week.
7. he can throw a ball with a lot of force.
8. he fights off "bad guys" with any stick he finds outside.
9. he loves to play cars.
10. he loves to aggravate his older sister especially emily.
11. he loves to watch the backyardigans.
12. he will point his laser at you and shoot.  (learned that from buzz lightyear who he loves)
13. he favorite blankies are blue dots and little blue which he still calls them mmmm, mmmms.
14. yum yums are candy and his favorites are skittles and mints.
15, favorite saying is "i don't really know".
16. asks why about 1000 times a day.
17. loves to eat: strawberries, corn on the cob, tomatoes, fruit snacks, cold hot dogs, peaches, oranges.
18. is saying "i love you too."

and we love you, will!
happy birthday, mommy and daddy.

7 years old

yep...our baby girl is 7.  can you believe it?  emily is a very sweet and compassionate child.  she likes to help others and is always wanting to please everyone around her.  she will usually think about others before herself.  anytime she has her own money to spend she will buy something for hannah and will before she will look for herself.  she loves school. she is often put in leadership roles at school.   she loves to dance and sing.  she is all into picking out the perfect outfit and often can be found in front of the mirror fixing her hair.  her daddy says she is becoming more and more like her mother everyday.  she is not a baby anymore and that makes me so sad.  daddy loves to have them grow up and i would love to freeze this time and keep them little forever.  but i guess if they do have to grow up, i am glad she is growing into the person she is. 

our sweet emmy.  we love you and you make us very proud. 

happy birthday gramma

happy birthday gramma!  my number one fan of this blog.  i asked the kids why they love gramma and these were the responses i got.......
she is nice
she gives the best hugs
she is special and the only gramma like she is
she is someone i can look up to when something is the matter
because she is gramma
we love you gramma and hope you have a wonderful birthday!!! :)

happy birthday to me

yep, not only is it the first day of the year it is my birthday.  it was a great day.  just hanging out with the kiddos.  pat did manage to get laura to watch the little ones while we snuck away to enjoy a nice lunch just the two of us.  that was fabulous!  pat fixed us a great dinner and afterwards we had chocolate birthday cake, of course!  this year i had help with blowing out the candles.

really i am not sure how i ever did it without his help. :)  great beginning to what we hope is a great year.  happy new year to everyone!