Jake & Elisa Taylor Family

Little Slugger

2012-01-31T23:36:00.001-08:00

After nearly five years of putting off organized sports, citing literature that kids this age just aren’t ready for that kind of thing (if only to conceal my true intentions of holding on for dear life to my sacred Saturday mornings), I finally caved in and signed Gabe up for T-ball. What I found was that Gabe is ready for anything, including team sports, if by ready we mean… willing to try anything, full of energy and enthusiasm, a true rule-stickler at heart, eager to make friends, wanting desperately to be as strong and as fast in real life as he is in his imagination, uber-focused, and a kid who just wants to have fun wherever he goes. If that’s what it takes to be ready, then I have to admit that he was probably ready months, maybe years ago.

Do the boys run at the right times, throw to the right places, or have anything other than a general clue what they are doing? Nope. Do they have a blast with their buddies in the fresh sixty-five degree weather, being active, learning about teamwork and sportsmanship, and entertaining the heck out of us all the while? Yep. So, I guess what I’m saying is that it turns out I actually love spending my Saturday mornings this way (at least for the time being)!

And their team name is the Little Sluggers.

Gabe takes himself very seriously out there!

Snacks and juice boxes might just be the highest highlight of the whole event each week.

Anniversary Staycation

2012-01-24T16:06:00.001-08:00

Every year on our anniversary, Jake and I try to do something that is reminiscent of our Aruba beach nuptials, which were perfect and amazing. One would think that the desert in January would offer slim pickings for that kind of thing, but we have found that we don’t have to go far to be reminded of how we felt on that day. This year, we decided to go out by ourselves (without kids is “by ourselves” in married speak) for the first part of the celebration, and then include them in the second half. We had a brunch at Lon’s at the Hermosa and then checked in at our resort at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa. After what seemed like only a few minutes to ourselves at the pool, we went and got the kids to join us for dinner and a family slumber party at the hotel, which they are still talking about three weeks later.

On the one hand, I can’t believe it’s been seven years, because seven years of anything just seems like a very long time to me. On the other, I look at my life when it’s peaceful and think, ‘of course it’s been seven years, look how much love there is, how many memories we’ve made, how much we’ve grown… look how many people there are!’. Seven is my lucky number (that and 11), and I fully expect to make it a lucky year for us.

We soaked in the 90 degree swimming pool, while it was not even sixty degrees outside!

First Snow

2012-01-17T23:37:00.001-08:00

This was our first ever snow experience with the kids. We were unprepared for just how cold it was out there, but they still had a blast for a good hour regardless. Things started out wonderful. They were really all troopers, despite the freezing temperatures. All of them loved sledding down the hill, which was so fun to watch. I loved seeing them all bundled up and chubby looking with their rosy cheeks smooshed between the sides of their hoods. My normally independent-spirited little Bella seemed so sweet and helpless as she struggled to trudge through without sinking to her thighs into the snow with every step. Gabe loved every minute of climbing the hills, attempting to make snow balls with his huge mittens, and sledding down at neck-break speeds. Since snow hills aren’t exactly handicapped accessible, Ari got a ride in the sled wherever we went. She was all smiles the whole time. The only time the girls began to feel a little less enthused was when they started to remove their clothing. After Bella took off her mitten, she stuck her hand into the snow, pulled it out wet and then at next glance, it was as though she was wearing an icicle glove. I stuck her hand in my mouth as I carried her the whole way back to the car, where we hung out until the other three met a similar end.

Jake was desperate to get the kids on video with a special message to Grammy & Papa for their 40th wedding anniversary. His timing was a little off, but it is the thought that counts.

Zoolights

2012-01-16T23:53:00.001-08:00

Like in many years past, we attended Zoolights with our friends the Edwards. The weather was really nice for December, and all the kids loved every minute of the night. Ari’s favorite moment was the musical dancing trees, Gabe’s was sliding down the Polar Slide side-by-side Lana (Bella wasn’t quite tall enough, which was okay, because she was a little nervous about it anyway), and Bella’s favorite experience was getting to converse with the talking giraffe (Ariana didn’t like him all that well). And none of this would’ve been complete without a tall bag of warm kettle corn to get everyone through the ride home.

Our Christmas

2012-01-11T01:00:00.001-08:00

I really enjoyed this Christmas season. It went fast, which is to be expected because every year is getting more and more that way. But, still, it felt like a break and it retained the special feelings that you always hope will surround you during this time of the year. Blog post coming almost a month after the fact should reflect my relaxed pace. This break meant wonderful lazy mornings with the littles waking at 8 instead of 7, brunch almost every day instead of a regimented breakfast and lunch, just enough under-the-weatherness to keep us indoors, holiday break from school/work/dance/sports class/t-ball/swim/all three therapies so we could just hang around and enjoy the togetherness and, of course, the toys that Santa brought our household.

We took a break from baking cookies this year and delivering them to all our friends. I wish I had a better excuse, but ‘Christmas fell on a weekend’ is my story and I’m sticking to it. The house did get decorated as is customary, and we did keep to most of our other traditions this year. My photos, unfortunately won’t reflect most of the magic, because it wasn’t the year for photos. I forgot to bring my camera on our first sledding adventure or for my sister Leah’s goodbye dinner, for example, so we’ll just have to keep many of those memories tucked into the coziest folds of our minds for safe keeping.

Christmas morning, the kids got up at around 8 (I know, we’re blessed) and, independent spirits that they are, took it upon themselves to begin unwrapping the presents under the tree in all their excitement. Jake and I awoke the the unusual sound of ripping paper and hurried down to delay the glorious process for another five minutes while we fetched Ari out of bed and got our heads on straight.

Some of Gabe’s highlight gifts were a VTech Mobigo from Grammy & Papa, a glider bike from Nana & Papa, Star Wars Lego sets and a Lego table, star wars figurines, a Star Wars Lego character encyclopedia, a headlight from Aunt Leah, and Transformer walkie-talkies from Aunt Marci.

Ari’s gift highlights were an IPad, lots of board games, a Fijit Friend from Nana & Papa, Xia Xia hermit crabs and playset from Grammy & Papa, a Dora microphone from Aunt Marci, Tag Reader books, and a Laugh & Learn Picnic Basket from Aunt Leah.

Bella’s favorite gifts were a VTech Mobigo from Grammy & Papa, a glider bike from Nana & Papa, an art easel, Disney fairies and princesses play sets.

This Fijit Friend was returned by me when I mistakenly thought it was broken, but later realized it only needed a change of batteries! Now, it’s sold out everywhere or is costing twice the price it was when I bought it ($40). Ari loves the thing, so if you see it in a store or online, please let me know!

You may have noticed that my face or my pregnant tum didn’t make it into even one photo of any part of Christmas or the following two posts (including my anniversary!), and amending that has become a new years resolution of mine – Jake even got a camera tutorial from me tonight so that he can feel more confident behind the lens and then maybe there will be a record of my interactions with my kids as they grow. I may not miss seeing my Christmas morning dreary-eyed face sans make-up in photos, but my kids will, so I resolve to be less absent from the pics.

We went to Holbrook for our second round of Christmas celebrating. There with us were Grammy and Papa (our gracious hosts), Ryan, Chantelle, Ali, Darren, Rob, his fiance Ligia, and cousins Brayden, Trevor, Kendrick, Vance, Madison, Margaret, and Katherine. That made twenty (and often more) people in the house. It didn’t feel crowded (busy, yes), but it was cozy and comforting to hear all those voices and know that everyone was there for one reason… to be together. I wasn’t feeling well for most of the time we were there, which cramped my party-lovin’ style, but it still felt sweet watching my kids play with all their cousins and get loved all over everywhere they turned.

The kids did a Nativity pageant (at least I think that’s what it’s called). Gabe wanted to be a king, Bella wanted to be the angel but preferred the headdress of a biblical man to the tinsel halo that went with her costume, and Ari wanted to wear the least costuming as possible (she was only the cow for a minute really). It was cute, of course, and I will love showing them this picture when they’re teenagers :).

One of the very few moments I photographed over Christmas was the Christmas carols-turned-dance party we had on Christmas night. It lasted probably over an hour. We are a dancing family, if you didn’t know it by now.

It was merry. I hope yours was too.

Family Photos 2011

2011-12-29T17:39:00.001-08:00

ISABELLA JULIET

GABRIEL PIERCE

ARIANA ELISE

Polar Express

2011-12-28T16:45:00.001-08:00

This was our first year to get to ride the Polar Express, and it turned out to be the perfect time for us to round up our little elves and go on the adventure. They had all watched the movie, they were now very aware of Santa Claus and his enchanted purpose, and they were all basically old enough to sit still and enjoy just being on a train… a magical train, yes, but still a one hour train ride nonetheless.

We took a crew of thirteen along with us (eighteen if you count our family), which included both sets of grandparents, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Chantelle, cousins Brayden, Trevor, and Kendrick, and our forever friends the Edwards’s. It was a special occasion, and those are meant to be shared.

The Polar Express is located about four miles away from home. It was a long day, but what we came for made it all worthwhile.

Hot chocolate and giant snickerdoodle cookies were served along the way. They were too excited to finish the mammoth-sized cookies, hence the stack on the seat beside me.

Everyone listened to the story of the Polar Express, sang Christmas carols, played with little toys and trinkets from Nana, and played musical chairs between the rows and rows of seats that we claimed.

When it became apparent that we had finally arrived at our destination… The North Pole of course!… all the kids gathered on the one side of the train to see the glittering little town complete with Santa and his reindeer-led sleigh.

To everyone’s surprise, Santa boarded the train and visited with each child individually, gifting them their own bell as a token to remember the day.

Ari was not so sure about Santa. Little sweet has overcome so many fears, but Santa is still kinda scary.

We rode back singing songs, jingling bells, and laughing all the way. Ari soon forgot all about the man in red velvet and danced harder and smiled wider than anyone else on the train. Tradition in the making, I’m thinking.

Thankful

2011-11-29T21:00:00.001-08:00

I am thankful …

For a happy life,

and for the trials that have allowed me to know what it is to lead a happy life.

For our health, each and every day that we have it,

for our home, especially during these hard times,

for my education,

for the opportunity I have been given to help kids and make a small but meaningful difference,

and for Jake’s employment and the life it has afforded us.

To have sisters who are my best friends and soul sistas,

family who loves and supports us on both sides,

the love of a wonderful man,

the most lovable kids in the world,

and for the new life growing inside me.

Hippotherapy

2011-11-24T10:30:00.001-08:00

Ariana began hippotherapy this month. I have been so excited for this time to come ever since she was just a chubby baby! Hippo is actually a Latin word, meaning horse. So, hippotherapy is actually a type of physical therapy that is conducted while Ariana is riding horseback. The main benefits that we are looking forward to include, but are not limited to, increased trunk and core strength, increase in balance, more flexibility/less tone in her inner thighs, proper weight shifting pattern in preparation for a good gait (pre-walking), and FUN!

I was nervous for a few years that the last goal wouldn’t be feasible, given her previous phobia of large animals. But as I mentioned before in a very recent post, she appears to have outgrown that fear completely and now believes herself to be Jessie the cowgirl from Toy Story! I am amazed and overjoyed and SO proud of her! Her balance is better atop the horse than I ever could have hoped. She stays erect on the horse with very little assistance from her handles or her PT. I am so grateful that we found our PT, Melissa, and this wonderful service provided by Hoofbeats with Heart through Lauren’s Institute for Education (LIFE).

The rest of us have a morning of play on the farm while Ari rides her horsey, Cody. This usually means playing on the jungle gym and in the sandbox, petting goats and horses, holding chickens, and even riding a horse (by accident… don’t ask).

Ari rides sideways and backwards as well as forwards. She also rides with one leg lifted and in other different positions to provide more of a challenge. I bet her legs were so sore after the first couple Saturdays she rode, but she didn’t complain once!

Ari has obstacles along the course, which include bells and mailboxes and ring toss and flags. Cody also takes her on different terrain and a couple little inclines to push her further.

I love our new Saturday morning adventures!

Gabe, the Thanksgiving ham

2011-11-24T10:27:00.001-08:00

Gabe’s preschool class put on a Thanksgiving program and hosted a little “feast” for the parents. Gabe asked me at least five times a day for a week if I would please come to his Thanksgiving feast. I said “yes” every time. I ducked out of work so I could accept the invitation. Gabe wanted me to know that when I came to the feast, he planned to introduce me to each of his friends and his teacher too (I’ve met them all before, but this was his idea). When I arrived, he greeted me with the warmest welcome I’ve ever received anywhere, and true to his promise, he introduced me to every person there, one-by-one. He sang his little heart out and remembered all of his lines without any prompting in the program. He hammed it up, let.me.tell.you. It was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen him do.

I love this crazy kid.

Halloweentime

2011-11-10T23:12:00.001-08:00

We are feeling crazy busy this year. Like we’re a little bit in over our heads crazy. I don’t know if it’s the idea of a new baby coming or the hormones or if it’s the fact that I work 25 hours a week now or if it’s just getting used to each of the kids having separate schools and separate activities on their separate schedules. Not sure, but I’ve been feeling more than ever the need to nap at nap time and less than ever the time or ability to do so. So there you have my overgeneralized excuse for not posting more frequently.

That said, the things that are important to our family still stay that way. Like celebrating holidays.

We carved an award-winning jack-o-lantern together this year. It was “Jack” from the Nightmare Before Christmas movie, carved from a white pumpkin. The kids loved it, because they recognized Jack (or “Sandy Clause”) from the Haunted Mansion ride in Disneyland. Although he is as friendly as any skeleton could be, the kids found him to be sufficiently spooky, and they felt like they had to be a little brave every time they even passed him by.

Gabe and Ari helped with cleaning out the pumpkin. Bella wasn’t so enchanted with the idea of putting her hand in the goop so she helped in her own little way by keeping us all entertained.

Did I happen to mention that our jack-o-lantern was award-winning? Oh, just checking.

We went to trunk-r-treat in the church parking lot and got to socialize with all the cool people we see every week but rarely get to really talk to. And there was a chili dinner with nearly thirty pots of chili (bonus, right?).

Aaaand, Gabe got to fight his nemesis once again in the flesh.

On Halloween night, we attended our annual Lantana Halloween Block Party, which I feel so so lucky to be a part of each year. Every year, they close off our street for a huge soiree with a Halloween feast, costume contests, jack-o-lantern contests, hayrides, and merrymaking. We then go off trick-or-treating as the child-free adults on the street stay out and pass out candy for all the houses with children so all the parents can accompany their kids around the neighborhood. It’s one of our traditions that we always invite our good family friends, the Edwards’ to join us. It’s an awesome time every single year.

I had two Disney princesses: Cinderella and Snow White <3.

Gabe was going to be a knight (to go along with the royal theme), but he desperately wanted to be Obi Wan Kenobi. I caved and let him have his way :). He really got into character.

We went out trick-or-treating. They had a blast. I barely got any pictures of them, because the crew paraded at least thirty paces ahead of us, in quick pursuit of their next piece of booty. Nobody was timid of soliciting the candy and ringing doorbells and greeting new faces anymore. Not even Ari. She was all smiles, all the time. However, they were all very imaginative when it came to the neighbors’ spooky decorations. Some were found to be fascinating, while others were at times downright terrifying to Gabe and Bella especially. It’s nearly Thanksgiving, and I’m still hearing about the who had which scary ghost that came up from behind a gravestone, or a caged man (don’t remember this one myself), or a courtyard full of spiders. Anytime Bella encountered dry ice sublimating, she began to worry that Ursula was in the process of stealing her voice. They like the thrill of being spooked, and I love watching it. That is, after all, the point of Halloween I think.

I’m starting to believe that the kids eat more candy with each passing year than they did the year before…

But with the increase in candy consumption seems to come a corresponding increase in fun. And for only one day a year, I am good with that.

Cinderbella

2011-11-02T22:56:00.001-07:00

Isabella’s 3rd Birthday Party

I loved throwing this Cinderella-inspired birthday party for my little Bella.

The Treats

Magic Wands, Enchanted Cakes, and lots and lots of candy made up the treat display.

Cinderella Models

(Not every guest is pictured, because some were a little shy)

The Spread

What royal party would be complete without fancy food? On the menu were Cinderella’s Garden Salad, Gus Gus Cheese Cubes, Carriage Wheel roll-up sandwiches, Royal Invitations sandwiches, heart sandwiches, Fairy Godmother Fruit, Pumpkin Bread, Princess Pumch, and lots of dessert treats.

Prince Gabriel & Princess Ariana

The Table

Each princess got a tiara and a glass slipper filled with yogurt-covered raisins at their place setting.

Create a Carriage

This is the part when, with the help of our resident godmother, Rachel, the girls transformed plain old pumpkins into dazzling carriages fit for a princess.

Bippidy Boppidy Bootique

This is the part when, with the help of godmother Leah, the beautiful little girls were transformed into enchanting little princesses.

Celebratory Feast

We ate, drank (princess punch and water, that is), and were merry.

Royal Ball

This is when the girls danced to Cinderella themed music and played the “freeze” dance game.

At the end of the ball, they all gave us their most lovely curtsies.

Enchanted Cupcake Time

Unwrapping Gifts

Bella loved all of her sweet and fun gifts. Thank you so much!

It was a magical day. Thank you to all who were a part of making it so special.

And Baby Makes… Six!

2011-10-27T23:26:00.001-07:00

As if the photo didn’t already say it all, we are happy to announce that we are expecting our fourth (and last) baby! We had been on the fence about it for about three years now, and I had always felt like someone was missing from our bunch. I had heard people say that before, but I didn’t really know what they meant until I felt it myself. I am about seven weeks along, and I’m pleased to say that I’m feeling great so far! A little tired, but that kind of just comes with the territory when you’re me. We are busy now, and we will be much. busier. then… but it will all be worth it. We are very excited.

Farm Weekend

2011-10-27T22:58:00.001-07:00

Every autumn, we make it a point to get out in the beautiful summery weather and pretend that it’s actually fall. We do this by going to the farm. A couple weekends ago, we actually made a weekend out of farm-going and on a very small scale, brought the kids back to Jake’s rural roots. We visited Schnepf Farms one night, and since the kids were begging to go back, we hiked over to Dewitt Stables the next day. Between the two days out in the country, we pet animals (even carried, and ahem… threw a couple animals at one point), went on a hayride, picked pumpkins, put the pumpkins back when we realized they were $9 a piece, rode ponies (twice), went on Pumpkin Festival fair rides with our friends, rode on a haunted railroad, and got dirtier and dustier than I ever thought possible :).

Ari decided that she’s too big to be afraid of animals this year! Wahooo! Don’t worry, no goats were carried or thrown. Just a couple unlucky ducks and a chicken on day 2 of our farm experience.

We went on three rides. One was a rollercoaster, which wasn’t huge, but as far as fair rides go, it was decent sized. We all went on it. Daddy and Ari, me and Bella, Gabe and his friend Jax, my friend Natalie and her nephew. Gabe and Ari had a great time, but poor Bella kept begging me to go home almost the whole ride. When she got off, she told everyone that she liked it, but mentioned to me on the side, “I didn’t raise my hand and say ‘yaaaaay! like everybody else did’… I just cried.” I just want to squeeze her ;).

When we went on the Haunted Railroad, Gabe clung to Mike as though he’d known him for years. It was too funny. The ride got creepy at times. There was one moment in particular that spooked Ari and my poor little Bella (they make fun targets I think). Crazy, big handed, candy corn toothed, ghoul demon (see below) snuck up behind them both without saying a word. When Bella finally turned around, she (understandably) decided that my lap was the best place for her face right then and there. Don’t worry, she hasn’t mentioned it since, save for asking to go back.

We stayed out a little late, but it was worth it. Such a fun night.

Yes, that is a duck in Bella’s arms. She reminds me a little of Elmyra Duff; "I'm gonna hug you and kiss you and love you forever!”, “I love cats I love kitties, squeeze them into itty bittys!"

The next morning, Ari showed us that she is a brave cowgirl at Dewitt Stables. I am so happy that she’s overcome her fear of horses!

Ari’s pony ride

Happiest Place on Earth Day 3: The Favorite Day

2011-10-26T00:44:00.001-07:00

Our third and final day at the park greeted us with a bright, shining sun. Being that it was our last day, we had to make sure that we pulled out all the stops. That is, we had big plans to hit nearly everything we hadn’t done yet.

My three kids are so different when it comes to amusement park rides. Gabe is a little hesitant and nervous at first when it comes to the bigger rides and rollercoasters, but he always goes on because he just can’t stand to me the one who chickened out. The social pressure gets him every time… and then he ends up loving it every time too. Gabe is also more sensitive to “spooky” features of a ride, and not so much the thrilling motion of it all. Ari is the thrill seeker of the bunch. Her face will tell you otherwise in a picture or two, but that was just an off moment for her. Ari nods and gestures excitedly whenever she’s asked if she wants to go on a scary ride. And while she’s on, she has a big open-mouth grin the whole time. Bella is my most ride-timid child. She reminds me of me when I was a little girl (heck, even now). She doesn’t mind anything that spins or shakes or is spooky, but if it drops even a little bit, she will tell you her “stomach hurts.” I was always sensitive to the drops and falls too, so I can empathize, but I don’t let that stop us.

Ari and Gabe were tall enough to go on nearly every ride in Disneyland, so they got to experience Space Mountain (Gabe once, Ari twice), Thunder Mountain, Star Tours (twice), Soarin’ (twice), and the Matterhorn. Bella also got to ride the Matterhorn, which she didn’t love, but it was nice to get to do a bigger ride as a family :). I have to admit that the first time Ari rode Space Mountain, she was with me, and I covered her eyes the entire time, because it was Haunted Space Mountain due to it being Halloweentime. The second time, she requested to ride with Daddy and have him leave her eyes alone, so she got her way and loved every minute of it. Gabe didn’t care to ride the first time on Space Mountain, because he was forewarned of it’s spook factor, but decided to ride it once he officially became a Jedi (read on). Ultimately, it turned out that both of the kids thought that Haunted Mansion was scarier than Haunted Space Mountain. Who knew?

The absolute highlight of the trip was something we’d all been looking forward to for months! Gabe has, for some odd reason, been under the impression that he is Obi Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. The thing is, that’s just pretend. But I figured, why couldn’t he be a young Jedi or Padawan himself? We let Gabe know that, if he was helpful and honest and kind and generous (and ate all his healthy “Jedi” food) that we would take him to the Jedi Training Academy, which just so happened to be in the heart of Disneyland. Gabe complied (most) of the time, so we set aside the last day of the trip to honor our end of the bargain. When we arrived, we realized just how risky it was of us to make that promise, because the Jedi in training are chosen at random from the audience (based solely on the strength of ‘the force’ they carry with them ;)). The first time we went, Gabe was not chosen *gasp*. I had to try so hard to contain my own horror, so we could teach him the important lesson that we aren’t always chosen for the things we desire. As luck (or the force) would have it, he was among the first selected the second time we came. Let me just say, it was totally worth every minute of waiting and anticipation, for him to get to experience this and for us to get to witness.

Gabe was trained in the ways of the Jedi by Mase Windu, Jedi Master.

Gabe’s Jedi Training

All of a sudden, Darth Vadar and Darth Maul appeared and attempted the hijack the training academy in an effort to get the young Padawan(s?) to be tempted by power to join forces with the dark side!

Gabe fought fearlessly against his foe using the force of good. He didn’t hesitate to shout “never!!!!” when he was invited to join the dark side, and he had some pretty good moves out there on the battlefield. But what I loved watching most was how proud he was. He was the final boy to fight Darth Vadar, so it could be said that he defeated Darth Vadar, as in, he scared him off. We go with this version of the story.

Gabe fights Darth Vadar!

Meanwhile, Darth Maul battled other young Jedi on the ground right in front of us, wielding his double bladed light saber and looking like a true demon. Ari was taken aback by him to say the least, but she didn’t cry once (so proud of her). Just then, out of nowhere, Darth Maul decided that even he has a good side and put his fist out in front of Ari to offer a friendly fist bump. She was off in her own la la land at the time so she didn’t notice until Jake put her hand up to meet his. When her eyes refocused to meet his gaze and realize what was happening, she almost fell back in shock and breathed in an audible GASP. Everyone in the audience around us started laughing, because it was just too CUTE. I half expected that Ari would loose her stuff at that point, with the freakish looking visitor, the social attention on her, and everything else. Was not the case… Ari shocked us all by deciding that she loved Darth Maul from that moment forward. She kept signing “I love you” to him. We did not catch the moment of the fist bump on video, I’m ashamed to say. However, we did get her cheers on video after the fact. I know most of her rooting and cheering for Gabe, as if to say, ‘I know you’ve been waiting your whole life for this moment! I’m so happy for you!’, but there is no denying that there were some loving gazes in the direction of Mr. Maul.

I have never seen Gabe look so proud and accomplished as when he received his diploma from The Academy. My heart was beaming for him even before he exclaimed “That was AWESOME! Mom and Dad, thank you SO much for bringing me to the Jedi Training Macademy”… (tee hee, he calls it a “macademy”) so you can imagine how I felt after that moment. Daddy and Gabe had a special time where they made a customized light saber for Gabe (you know, every Jedi must build their own light saber and each one is unique). Each light saber is unique… except for Gabe’s that is, which he requested to be an exact replica of Obi Wan Kenobi’s! So it was, and the mission was complete.

Both of my girls love the Tinkerbell movies with the fairies of Pixie Hollow. We waited ever so patiently for our turn to get to meet the Tink and another one of her fairy friends. Bella practiced acting fairyish as we stood in line.

Meeting Rosetta was so special. Gabe was still very entranced with his new weapon, but the girls couldn’t have been more excited. I, in turn, was super excited that Ari was not crying or anxious at all. She loved meeting the fairies and instantly recognized them. She was very quick to point out that they were on her shirt (again, so glad she wore that). Ari was full of bashful smiles, and Bella was trying her best to act as graceful and sweet as a fairy.

I really wanted Bella to meet Jessie (notice the outfit), but alas, these things cannot always be controlled in Disneyland. We did get to meet Woody though, which was very cool, because he wasn’t too busy and he spent quite a bit of time with us, even stopping to color a picture with my kids.

We went on the Mark Twain River Boat, which was another first for us in Disneyland. See, one of the amazing things about this place, in my opinion, is that no matter how many times you come here, you can still spend a ton of your time with first-time experiences. And then fill in the spaces with the classic ones that you would’ve come back for anyway. We called the Riverboat the Princess and the Frog boat, because it looks just like it and plays jazz music.

We spent about fifteen minutes visiting our favorite prince and princess (ok, it’s only Bella’s second favorite princess, but still). They were very sweet. Rider was not quite as dashing, charming, handsome, or witty in person as he was in the movie, but hey, everyone has off days.

My husband is clearly the hotter of the two princes, without a doubt ;).

Dumbo ride is still Ari’s favorite. Gotta love that face.

There’s something about that Dumbo ride that brings out the true spirit of Disney in children's’ faces. I feel like every picture ever taken in a flying Dumbo could be a poster photo for Disney.

After a day full of rides and character meet-and-greet and skipping a nap completely, we met up for dinner with two of our favorite families, The Ericksons and the Gessners. We slammed down some amazing gumbo and a Monte Cristo, before cracking open the light-up bracelets and hitting one last ride for the grown-ups. We had so much fun, and considering the fact that it was almost midnight when we headed back and there were seven kids under the age of five in tow, I think that’s saying a lot.

We wanted to make the most of it. We wanted to create memories and make the kids smile… really and truly smile, even on the inside. We wanted to wear ourselves out with fun and laughs and maybe even get some exercise in the process. I think we made a good dent in each of those goals. And I’m one happy mama.

Happiest Place on Earth Days 1 & 2: The Rainy Days

2011-10-18T02:39:00.001-07:00

I’ve been looking forward to this trip for so long. I ordered the Disney planning DVD, I YouTube’d videos, and got the kids revved up day after day. All this and you might think it was our first time as a family to venture to what is known round these parts to be the happiest place on Earth. Well, it was our third trip to Disneyland as a family of five, and still just as magical as the first.

The weather was one thing that was less than stellar. It rained almost two out of our three days in the park. And this was no ordinary drizzle, come-and-go shower either. No, it full-on poured! So much so that our jeans were soaked clear up to our thighs and we had to go back to the hotel to dry our clothes mid-way through the day. I hardly got any photos of those first days (IMO), and whatever ones I did happen to get were grab-n-go, filled with flash, and with hair plastered to our heads from the rain. That said, just trust me when I say that it was fun anyway.

The first day, we hit mostly indoor rides and ventured outdoors when there was a break in the weather.

No matter how many times they’ve been on it, the carousel remains a favorite.

Jake loved to get the kids spooked on the rides. He had them convinced that Pinocchio was among the scariest rides in the park, because of his sound effects and sudden movements. Haunted Space Mountain, on the other hand, was not considered scary by either of my twins. I covered Ari’s eyes the whole time we were on it, and the next day, she requested a different riding partner.

This is how it was pretty much all of Day 2. The kids had never actually been in the rain before... Arizona babies, you know. It made for some interesting reactions. Despite the natural delay that comes from tying and retying oversized ponchos, kids walking at a snail’s pace because they had soggy shoes and socks, watching the kids run into people with the umbrellas when they were holding them, and listening to them whine when they weren’t; we actually rode every ride (except Splash Mountain) that was open in Disneyland and most of the highlight rides in California Adventure. The handicapped pass was and always is our saving grace, and our Disney Mobile Magic app was pretty helpful too.

We had made reservations for the Princess Character breakfast. It was a good excuse to be indoors and yet still be immersed in the magic of Disney.

I actually blow dried both girls’ hair for this event and it looked fabulous right before we left the hotel. It was bouncy and shiny and perfect. Imagine it.

Gabe had a major crush on Princess Ariel. He could not stop grinning and bashfully wringing his hands whenever she addressed him. Adorable! Bella launched right into her princess love, while Ari took five minutes to warm up to the idea of meeting the princesses.

I wasn’t sure how Ari was going to do, because she still has her social anxiety around new faces (especially female faces), but she recognized all the princesses we met, and she had a wonderful time. Masked characters are still another story, but she has made real progress. I am so proud of her! Ari showed each princess she met her shirt and pointed out the face of that princess. I normally don’t dress my kids with character outfits, but I’m so glad that I did, because it was a perfect conversation starter for her.

((Hugs)).

I love these new bashful, big girl smiles that Ari gives. It has been said that she has a smile that can light up the room, brighten anyone’s day, or even launch a thousand ships. These days, she’s hiding it behind her shy smiles, I guess because she’s growing up, and she wants to play it cool. It melts my heart anyway.

At the meet and greet, they each claimed a favorite princess. For Gabe, it was Ariel. Ari bonded with Belle. And Bella clung to Cinderella, which was no surprise :).

Their looks of anticipation.

On the Jungle Cruise, Gabe got to co-captain the ship and steer us out of a waterfall.

He saved the boat from certain ruin and got a well-deserved high five from our guide.

We stayed up late every night to make the most of the time, and squeeze in every memory that we could.

Bella loved on every character we met. She really can be such a tender and sweet. Especially if you’re an oversized stuffed animal.

Our first night, we went to see World of Color, which was beautiful and everything Disney promises it will be.

We finished off our second night on the Small World ride before we went to Buca di Beppo with some friends.

Some of my favorite moments from Days 1 & 2 have to be going on some of the more “thrilling” rides with Ari and Gabe (Bella wasn’t tall enough this year, much to her relief), like Star Tours, Soarin’, and Space Mountain. We all ate beignets and whatever else we felt like indulging in. We went to several really cool indoor attractions and shows that we probably would’ve skipped had it been a sunny day, like Turtle Talk with Crush, the Sorcerer’s Workshop, and Disney Jr. Live. And the Princess Breakfast was one of those experiences that, while I can’t say was priceless… $130 later, created priceless memories for my kids and brought the magic to life for them… and for me too.

Day 3 was everyone’s favorite day. I will post on it soon :).

Baby is Three

2011-10-15T15:59:00.001-07:00

My baby, Bella, turned three a just a couple weeks ago. We haven’t had our big celebration yet, which is to come in just one more week, but I did the celebrating in my heart already. Her birthday was a day of peaceful reflection for me. I remembered how light her coloring was when she was first born -- so white that I called her my “marshmallow”; how soft and warm she was in my arms the night she was born – a swaddled little cozy sack of flour. She was my only baby that I got to hold on their first day or sleep beside during those first precious days/weeks in this world (because the other two were in the NICU). She was my only baby who was able to nurse, and it was a wonderful, amazing experience that kind of makes me want to weep with joy whenever I think about how it was. I still remember the way she would look up at me with her big, wise eyes and her serious brow and then she would smile, still eating, but grinning all the while.

Now, she’s everything I hoped she’d be at three years and then some. The “then some” is both terrible and terribly wonderful. She is an old soul. She has never really had the innocence of a child, the way my other two did, or at least she doesn’t show it. She is independent, individualistic, creative, confident, compassionate, sassy, caring, girly, dramatic, intelligent, straightforward, strangely intuitive, savvy, sweet, bold, shy, and fun-loving all at once. It could be said that she is a leader among our three children and in other circles as well. She is especially protective, caring, and loyal when it comes to her sister and brother. She loves to giggle. She has to change into a princess outfit at least once a day. She adores tea parties, going to the park, swimming, dancing, Disney, and doing anything artsy. She is athletically inclined. She can operate her myoelectric prosthesis and uses it to manipulate toys, uncap markers, hold down paper while she draws, hold bottles while she unscrews or plays with bubbles. When I can’t find her, she is usually in the dining room at her white table, coloring to her little heart’s content. She has at least thirty different facial expressions that she uses on a regular basis.

She is my Bellarina, my Tinkerbella, my Cinderbella. My baby, Bella. And I love her more than words can say.

Recent art samples:

Number Four

2011-10-12T23:33:00.001-07:00

Excuse the absence of posts please. Rest assured, there is much good stuff that’s gone on and that I will not forget to talk about in a whole lot of detail very soon, but all that’s been put on brief hold. Priority shift, if I may.

Ari had her fourth (post-NICU) seizure on Sunday. She woke up crabby and feeling mildly feverish, so I gave her some children’s Ibuprofen and we set out to run some errands as a family. Thankfully, Ari doesn’t get sick a lot. Like my other children, she catches what’s going around and we push on through, encouraging liquids and more rest, but generally not putting life on hold. Every once in a while, life puts us on hold.

We had a late lunch at Paradise Bakery, and Ari ate like she hadn’t tasted anything that delicious in her life. Ari sometimes eats well, but more often has to be bribed with singing and silly games and fruit to eat her sandwiches. This time, she pounded those ripped pieces of sandwich into her mouth before she even had time to swallow the previous one. I was so excited to see her with such an appetite that I didn’t remember until later that she had a comfort-eating binge just before her last seizure in June 2010. And then, just like the last time, Ari threw up just as she began seizing. In case of seizure, Ari is prescribed Klonopin wafers and a Valium suppository by her neurologist, and I am authorized to administer them in lieu of calling the ambulance as a first resort. I had the meds at home. Live and learn, right? So we knew we were in for it, and I called 911 from the restaurant. The EMTs gave her Versed IM, and we thought that the seizure had stopped, but by the time the ambulance arrived at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, she was (still?) seizing. They gave her Ativan and Versed again in the ED, and she finally rested after about a 30-45 minute seizure.

You’d think that I would be used to the drill by now. In a way, it’s true that I am. Certain things fly on autopilot. But, I’ll tell you, there are some things that I’m sure I’ll never get used to. For one thing, the blue. There is something in a mother’s composition that instinctively panics when they see their baby looking blue. If I had to choose, I’d take the terrifying repeated movements of a seizure any day over a blue face. For another thing, the reminder of the fragility of our mortal lives is something that is always there… it’s an awareness that I’d shun if I could, but I just can’t.

Because of the length of Ari’s seizure, she was admitted to the ICU. She slept the rest of the day on Sunday and awoke for just a couple hours before going back to sleep again for the night. She was very weak and exhausted and still post ictal, but she enjoyed the company of her visitors and the few sips of water that she was allowed to drink during her short time awake. Her cultures all looked fine, as did the rest of her blood work, other than a slightly elevated white blood cell count (likely due to the stress of the seizure). We assumed that we’d be out by the next day, which was silly of us, because we’ve never had a one night stay in the hospital that I can remember. In the hospital, there’s always something.

On Monday, the something was that Ari had elevated creatinine levels in her morning blood work (normal for her size is about .75, her baseline coming in to the ED was .81, which rose to 1.05 in the morning). This made sense to me, seeing as this is a common result of dehydration and illness. She had both, as she was still running a low grade fever and she had been NPO (nothing by mouth) except for a few sips just before bed. But on the grounds that elevated creatinine also could be an indication of kidney failure, she needed to stay one more night so she could prove that she was able to eat and drink enough to cause it to drop in a 24 hour period. Prove herself she did, three big meals and nearly a half gallon of liquids later. She brought her levels down to .50 and kicked her fever in the process!

Gabe and Bella were so worried about Ari, protective of her things (her crayons, stickers, bed), and genuinely missing her during her entire absence. I thought they would be crying for their mama, but instead they were begging for Ari’s return, which truthfully was so much more rewarding than if they had missed me terribly (even though I was missing them like crazy).

Ari was discharged on Tuesday at 3 pm, which was not a moment too soon for any of us. I might have lost my marbles if it weren’t for all the support we had too from Nana, Auntie (Nurse) Marci, Auntie Leah, my friends (thank you Erin!), our nanny Rachel, and my amazing husband, Jake. I often hear myself talking about how life passes you by too quickly. Two days can fly by in the blink of an eye. But then we have a couple days like these, it makes you stop and think about how two days can have such an impact too. For better or for worse. These two days were hard, but it made me stop my fast-paced life and devote energy to what matters. It allowed me to stop and care for my child, not just take care of my child, if that makes any sense. It also made me so grateful for having my whole family together, when I got to be reminded of the horrible feeling of a fragmented life with pieces of my heart separated by necessity. I felt blessed to be their mom, not like I normally do, but really honestly grateful and happy. And for a silver lining, that ain’t too bad.

Mommy Works

2011-09-17T16:02:00.001-07:00

It’s been taking me a little longer to get up and blogging, because I’ve been working part-time at Chandler High School as an intern counselor. It’s hard work, but good work. It can be so dark at times, and yet so rewarding at others. While, as a newbie, I often leave work feeling like breaking down in tears (or actually doing just that), the tears are not just ones of sadness for the hardships that some kids endure, but also for the feelings of appreciation that I feel at being given the opportunity to help these young people in some small way. I also feel so blessed at the three precious lives that I’ve been chosen to nurture and protect and teach and love throughout the years. When I get home every day, I want nothing more than to hold them and kiss their chubby cheeks and tell them how much they mean to me. I want to talk to them and listen to them tell me about what they know, think, feel, and did that day.

While I hate to be gone from them for even a couple hours, I am beginning to feel happy that this new work experience shows me something that somehow amplifies the joys that come from being a mom and wife. It’s like my family is my steak (the nourishment), and my internship experience is the salt on my steak (the flavor enhancer). There have been days where the salt was spilt, and I was overwhelmed and that afternoon was pretty unpalatable. But more often than not, I have to say, the harmony is delicious.

Labor Day

2011-09-11T16:22:00.001-07:00

We spent our Labor Day exactly how it was meant to be spent… doing anything but labor. Our day of leisure took place at one of my kids’ favorite places to visit; Nana and Papa’s house. We went in the morning with the intention that they could have the entire day to play minus the nap time. But they foiled me again by spending what should’ve been their nap time giggling and roughhousing in the bedroom. So really, the entire day was devoted to play, minus no time at all.

The kids showed off their fishy skills to cheers of applause from our crowd.

The day was made all the more fun, because we were joined by Aunt Marci and her boyfriend, Adam – two of our favorites.

Gabe wasn’t about to let daddy be the only one rockin’ the diving board. Like father like son, as they say.

And yes, we forgot Gabe’s bathing suit, but that wasn’t going to stop him from swimming, and it wasn’t going to stop me from photographing him either, despite the fact that underpants don’t offer much coverage. So, as you’ll notice, I’ve had to make some adjustments.

Ari was trying her bestest to swim on her own. She did get all the way to Papa by herself, kicking the whole way, and not sinking!

This is how we both entertain ourselves and resolve conflicts in the Starr family ;).

We ate two amazing meals while we were here, and never stopped eating in between. It’s just how we do.

After dinner, we sang karaoke. And we got into it. No really, we’re kind of crazy about karaoke, as it turns out. Maybe it’s the quarter-Asian blood that my kids claim. Or… maybe it’s just us. We’re kind of crazy about life, come to think of it.

Gabe’s getting dowwwwn.

The girl can sing. I told you we got into it.

Musical baby dolly.

R-Word: Spread the Word to End the Word

2011-08-30T15:52:00.001-07:00

I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

If you would like to join me or would like to hear how others are spreading the word, please go to www.r-word.org.

Public Service Announcement declaring the “r-word” to be just as hurtful as any other slur.

The following article was borrowed from http://www.r-word.org/r-word-dialog-1.aspx

HOW TO DISCUSS THE R-WORD WITH OTHERS

Having a conversation about the r-word can be difficult and often uncomfortable. Use the dialogues and tips below to help you successfully articulate why the r-word is hurtful and harmful in everyday speech.

Dialogue Scenario 1: When a friend/family member uses the r-word

Person 1: I am such a retard; I forgot to get milk at the grocery store.

Person 2: Hey, I would appreciate it if you didn’t use the word retard around me anymore.

Person 1: Oh don’t worry about it; it’s not a big deal.

Person 2: It actually is a big deal, when you use retard as a synonym for stupid or idiot, you are saying that all people with intellectual disabilities are stupid, and that’s definitely not true.

Person 1: But I’m not making fun of people who are mentally retarded, it’s just a figure of speech. It’s how I talk.

Person 2: The thing is, when you use the R-word as slang, you really are hurting people with intellectual disabilities because of the negative connotation of your comment. The R-word has been associated with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since its inception, so when you use the word in a negative context, you’re putting down people with intellectual disabilities, regardless of if you mean to or not.

Person 1: I appreciate what you’re saying, but it’s imbedded into my vocabulary. I couldn’t stop saying it if I tried.

Person 2: I’m not trying to tell you what you can or cannot say, but what I want you to recognize is that people with intellectual disabilities deserve respect, and using another word instead of the R-word is one step towards making them feel respected and valued in society.

Person 1: Ok, I can understand it might be hurtful to use the word when a person with an intellectual disability is around, but why does it matter now, when I’m just hanging out and joking with my friends?

Person 2: Using the R-word doesn’t just hurt people with intellectual disabilities, but it also hurt their friends and families. [Discuss personal story about why this is important to you]. Having seen the hurt that the R-word can cause, I know it’s important for me to take a stand and try to change the conversation. I hope you can understand why it hurts and upsets me when the R-word is used and why I would appreciate if you chose another word to use.

Person 1: I’m sorry; I didn’t realize how much the R-word upset you. I will try to use another word instead.

Person 2: Thank you for understanding.

Tips for a successful conversation:

Stay calm and collected, it will not help the other person see your point if you are angry and emotional.
Try to understand the reason he/she disagrees with you. Listen, be respectful and then provide a counterargument that highlights the harmful and hurtful effects of using the R-word.
Share a personal story about why the R-word is hurtful to you. Personal stories will help people more easily relate to what you are saying because it illustrates your personal commitment to the campaign.
If you encounter a question you are unable to answer, direct the individual to the Spread the Word to End the Word website (www.r-word.org) to learn more about the campaign, Special Olympics and Best Buddies.

Water Babies

2011-08-25T00:11:00.001-07:00

All three of the Taylor kiddos are in group swim classes now at EVO Swim School. They love it, but I think I may love it as much or more than they do… and that’s saying a lot. Ari is our most recent joiner, as I wasn’t sure for a couple months that the group lessons would be a good fit for her. Turned out I was wrong about that, and I couldn’t be happier to be wrong at that.

Ari feels completely at home in her lessons and has already improved so much. She doesn’t stop grinning the entire time she swims, and she took to her teacher, John, immediately. It goes without saying that anyone who puts Ari in the water is automatically added to her favorite people list, but John is incredibly good with her and really believes in her potential to learn to swim. I know that she can sense his confidence in her and that she appreciates being treated just like all the other swimmers.

Ari is already an old pro at holding her breath underwater, but now she is learning how to coordinate kicking at the same time, which is challenging but definitely doable for her. Ari is also learning how to float on her back, which might be a little harder due to her balance and tone issues, but she is comfortable in that position and is willing to try anything.

Ari gives John a high five and claps for herself whenever she has completed a drill. I would bring her to swimming lessons even if it was just for these moments during which I get to watch her beam with pride at her achievement. Of course, I’m on the side of the pool hooting and hollering like a cheerleader with a crush on the football captain.

Gabe has graduated two levels and is now in the Sea Lion class (Ari is in the Otters – level 1, Bella is in Seals – level 2). He has mastered his kicking and back floats, and now he’s working on learning “big arms” among other things. His instructor, Ben, doesn’t think he’ll be in this class much longer (he’s only been in two weeks anyhow), as Gabe is quickly mastering these skills in preparation to move up to the Porpoise class already.

I can’t believe this is the same kid who wouldn’t jump off the side of the pool with his floaties on at the beginning of the summer. A big THANK YOU to our friends, the Stotens, who introduced us to EVO Swim School.

Bella loves swim class as much as the others. I am still being constantly amazed at the things Bella manages to do without a left hand. I tell you, nothing will hold this girl back. Right now, she is working on demonstrating her breath control by swimming the width of the pool without rolling onto her back, and doing back floats with kicks.

We plan on keeping the kids in swim year round to keep them active and so that they continue to improve on their swim skills even during the cooler months. As long as they keep on loving it, I’ll keep on packing our bag every week.

Shout Out to My Readers

2011-08-18T23:35:00.001-07:00

If you are one of our readers and don’t want to miss an update, please subscribe to follow our blog! I also love reading your blogs and learning more about our community of readers (you), so come on and join us if you haven’t already :).

Therapy Sampling

2011-08-18T23:26:00.001-07:00

Since I’ve been doing a little exposé on our extracurricular activities, I thought I’d drop in Ari’s favorite activity (besides swim, which will come later) – Occupational Therapy. Ari does some of the most fun things in OT, and she has really taken off since we began taking her to clinic-based therapy with Miss Becky. No two weeks are alike when it comes to activities, because our therapist just happens to be one of the most creative and innovative and child-focused minds I’ve ever met.

Some things they worked on this week was using two hands to hold and pull a bubble maker to blow bubbles (switching hands so both had to work on each different activity), and playing with water beads, alternately switching hands to weight-bear and play in the beads.

Gabe and Bella love to come along, because everything they do here is so fun and stimulating. Of course, Ari has an even better time knowing that they think what she’s working on is cool and exciting too.

And He’s Off

2011-08-17T22:54:00.001-07:00

See Gabe.

See Gabe run.

The boy had his first “sports class” this week. The learned how to correctly throw a basketball, run backwards, run cones, swing a baseball bat, run bases, somersault, and do hops over a beam. Most importantly, though, Gabe got the opportunity to do something just for him. No sisters allowed. And the no sister rule is not because my view on gender roles is inflexible, but because I believe Gabe and each of my children deserve their own time to shine and excel in something that is 100% their own. Gabe wanted to play sports, so here we are :), and we are loving it!

Cheering on his team mates.

Coach Lance challenged Gabe to a race and taught him how to cut in close to the cone, so that no one can cut him off on the left.

Gabe takes himself very seriously :). I can’t take credit for his athleticism, which he obviously got from Daddy, but I’m fully to blame for his competitiveness.

Gabe was bound and determined to win this race against his long-time buddy, Cole. Hands to yourself, Gabe!

Run, Gabe, run!