Jake & Elisa Taylor Family

a day in our life

2016-02-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

Family Pictures 2015

2016-02-03T22:48:00.006-08:00

Back To School

2015-10-06T23:08:00.001-07:00

gabriel – 3rd Grade

ariana – 3rd grade

isabella – 2nd grade

liam – preschool yr. 1

Liam’s 3rd Birthday Party in The Hundred Aker Woods

2015-08-27T23:16:00.001-07:00

Liam’s 3rd birthday was so fun this year. At the time of his birthday, there was pretty much nothing else on the brain except Winnie the Pooh. Mr. Pooh has been a favorite of Liam’s for a while, so I ran with the theme so he would know that the day was all about him. The menu was simple but substantial, because we were going to be swimming. No tiny hors d’oeuvres and dainty desserts to be found at this swim party, as we had a hungry group to feed. We had Honey BBQ Chicken Kebabs, Piglet’s Pasta Salad, Rabbit’s Garden Salad, Honey Comb Cereal (to snack on), Fresh Squeezed Honey Lemonade, Rice Krispy Treat Honey Hives, and Honey Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting. I threw in a few Bit of Honey candies in jars here and there, because they’re so good and also a throwback to my childhood.

Liam believes that a birthday party wouldn’t even be a birthday party without party hats. He talks about “bird-day hats” all the time. When he has something that is shaped like a birthday hat, he puts it on his head and tells me, “Look Mom… bird-day hat!” When he is holding an object that does not at all resemble a birthday hat (or any sort of hat for that matter), he’ll put it on his head and make the same exclamation. Theme or no theme, I knew that birthday hats were a must.

We swam in the swimming hole, had a picnic, and busted open a beehive (piñata) in search of sweets.

Missouri Daydream

2015-08-12T00:41:00.001-07:00

Going back to Missouri was akin to stepping back into a different place and time or jumping into the pages of a book. I had been to Jake’s birthplace only twice with him before. Only those times had been shortly before and after we were married and without any children by our sides. I remembered it being like we were living a country song, but only the ones that they barely play on the radio anymore… the songs about living each day to it’s fullest or the beautiful everyday simple minutia of the country. I had idealized it for years, and so much so that I was actually nervous to go back. I wondered, what if I exaggerated it in my mind? What if I remember more trees, creek swimming, and fireflies than there actually were? What if it simply wasn’t as magical with kids/after time has passed/in reality than the place I had cherished in my memory? When we arrived, it didn’t take me more than a few minutes to realize that the place I cherished in memory was real, and it was actually going to be better this time, because I had it to share with my children who drink in magic like lemonade.

We swam in a creek, and it won’t be soon forgotten. You know, the ocean can be so beautiful and massive and almost eternal-feeling, but the river (or creek in this case), is charming and lush and so peaceful. My kids went across, over, and under the waters of this little swimming hole. They lost their flip flops, chased, and found them again I don’t know how many times. They felt the crayfish pinch, and the pebbles between their toes, and the humid air in their hair. All around us it was green. We played for hours until a dark grey rain cloud rolled in suddenly and covered the warm sun and began to shower on us. We were ready for it. We were ready for the next part of our adventure.

While I didn’t document most of our experiences in Missouri with my “good camera”, because it was too cumbersome to carry around, and I wanted to get to play and not have to worry about my gear, I did record part of this day. I had a goal when we woke up at the late hour of 9 or 10 am one morning (as we were still on Arizona time… and vacation) that we would find a park with a creek. In my imagination, it would be something like a park I visited when I was no older than Bella’s age. It would have a little playground with a bridge that crossed over a narrow pond or creek and accessed a hiking trail through the woods. In my memory, we visited this park in autumn, so we couldn’t go in the water, but I had always wanted to. I had recently told the kids the story of this memory of mine at bedtime one night. It was such an enchanting but faded memory that I was never quite sure if it was part-dream. Being as I grew up in NY state and we were in Missouri, I had no reason to believe that such a place could be found, or that it even existed, but something told me to look. I researched parks and found one that I thought might fit the bill. Believe it or not, we drove the whole way there and decided it wasn’t the right park. That’s right, it wasn’t the park in my memory, and something was telling me that this search would not be in vain. So off we drove. After another search of Google images, I believed we might have something close. We pulled up and it was more than close – it could have easily been the same park! Because the hiking trail wasn’t wheelchair accessible, we didn’t make it far on the hike, but we played in the water inside of a cave instead. Small and simple miracles do happen every day.

The thing about Missouri that I wish I had captured more of is family. Family – extended and our own – was the heart of this trip and every trip to Missouri. I always feel a little let down by my photos of family though, because it is so hard to capture the way that we felt so welcomed, the coziness of a small but full-of-love home, what it looks like to have an easy 12 people around a kitchen table and how good that food tastes when it is being passed around hand to hand, or what it sounds like when the kids are off playing and the grown-up cousins are remembering and reminiscing from when they were kids doing the same. Such things are difficult to capture in photos, no matter the camera.

The following photos I took with my phone camera. They are printed in our little coffee table Chatbooks for all to see in our home. Lord knows they get a lot of play, and I am so glad they do.

Easter Egg Hunt

2015-06-25T01:03:00.001-07:00

Everyday Miracles

2015-05-11T01:12:00.001-07:00

Aunt Marci took Gabe on a birthday yesterday and he had the time of his life // arcade, dog park, art park, and Marvel Universe Live!

We didn't go away for spring break, but I'm not sad about it either.

We found this treasure in a most unlikely place // proof that silver linings exist.

Never gets old.

Another country party on the best street ever. Ever.

A beautiful night in the neighborhood.

Ari and I went on a mommy daughter date today. Of course, this means we rode the bumper cars repeatedly. Girl after my own heart.

No date would be complete without dessert.

Sushi date with my other best girlfriend // I could tell she didn't love the shrimp tempura roll, but she pretended to because she's awesome // she loved the spicy tuna though!

First full mani pedi for this beauty.

Trampoline dodgeball and boba date with this awesome little man // I have to admit that I was surprised by his dodgeball skills // and yes, I played from start to finish too.

St. Patrick's Day green smoothies got me mad props from my crew this morning!

Blue suede shoes.

Sunday dinner.

She loves animals...

Attempting to use up last year's frozen peaches before this year's overtake our lives // peach pies, peach lemonade, and peach smoothies are on the menu.

Gabe & Ari’s Baptism

2015-05-11T00:12:00.001-07:00

Gabe and Ari decided to be baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on April 11, 2015. We were joined in witnessing and celebrating this milestone event by several of our closest family friends and family members. I will always remember… the feeling of excitement – the “buzz” – in the air that day. Ari’s squeals of glee at watching her brother get baptized and anticipating the moment when her time would come. The love and support we felt from the people who attended. Gabe and Ari’s happiness. The heartbreaking beauty of their Aunt Chantelle’s musical number.

I felt the spirit that day within the walls of a church, and I must admit, that I am the type who usually feels the spirit in places where there are no walls of any kind. It was kind of a perfect morning.

On Ari: Dress // Zara

On Gabe: Shirt // Gap, Pants // Gap, Tie // The Children’s Place

On Ari: shoes // Salt Water Sandals, dress // Zara

Gabe & Ari’s Movie Night Birthday Party

2015-04-17T23:55:00.001-07:00

I tell my friends and family every year that this will be the year that I scale back on the birthday party. Now, I am by no means a pro at this, BUT I have to admit do get a little out of hand with the idea that everything should be made by hand and from scratch. I have this idea that I want to stick within a budget and, at the same time, invite every friend that my child requests to be there. In Ari’s case, the list is a combination of the kids her aide at school tells me are extra awesome with her and the kids that I know Ari loves and that have loved Ari for years. So, if I am to invite 50 (yes fifty) kids to a birthday party for the twins, it demands a little creativity.

Birthdays are a special time for me as a mom. They are a time to take pause and reflect on the years that have passed – always too quickly – and be thankful for all the time with my children and the memories that we’ve made together. It serves as a reminder that their childhoods are so fleeting and to enjoy every precious moment that I can with them. Their parties are also a time when I make up for lost time. Life gets to be so busy and the weeks are jam packed with soccer and tennis and therapies and cheer and riding and swim and homework and dinner that we don’t get to spend as much time having as many play dates as we would like to have sometimes. Over years of birthday parties – ours and those of other kids’ – we have had the amazing opportunity to get to know so many people in our school community very well. At the parties, we parents meet, we reconnect, we laugh and bond and watch our kids play. I get to know each child more each time and get to know a side of them that they don’t let out at school. I know this is called community, but even the word community doesn’t seem to cover it. It sounds too formal and not warm enough. For us, we are extending our family.

So, even though I may not get any sleep in the nights leading up to the party; at the conclusion of the event, I am always left with a blissful and satisfied feeling. A glow even. As I am cleaning up and feeling almost too exhausted to take one more step, my heart is swelling and as I reflect on some beautiful interaction that I witnessed as the kids played. I am remembering how Ari took off in her power chair alongside her friends without even a backwards glance in my direction. I am remembering how my kids and their friends laughed and smiled their wide-mouthed smiles the whole evening. I feel gladness remembering a heart-to-heart I had with some other parents. I feel overwhelmed with such deep gratitude for the children that are growing up alongside my children and for the people who are raising them. It is so good for the soul, I am telling you. For Jake and I, birthday parties do that and more.

So, for me, it was well worth it to go balls to the wall with the cupcakes and bake five dozen of them from scratch and decorate them to look like movie theater popcorn. I’ll make the soft pretzels from scratch while I’m at it and not read the directions when I start at 11 pm and it requires 3 hours of rising/baking time. Why not use the abundant lemons on our tree to make fresh squeezed lemonade in the middle of the night too? You see where I’m going with this. It’s a flipping TON of work, and thankfully, I have had my sister to help me, because she knows me too well and she takes pity on me in my hour of weakness while I’m separating tissue paper poms and whatnot. I can also thank a few friends for volunteering their time to snipping five hundred mini marshmallows three times each or dipping magic pretzel wands in two-toned melted white chocolate (the year before). I am reluctant to accept help, so if I did accept your help, it is because I love you and I know you won’t judge me too harshly for asking you to tediously make food look like other objects. Also, thank you to Harkins Theaters for donating the movie trays, because they rocked, and the kids loved them because they were authentic and I loved them because it made clean-up so much easier!

I served hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls, soft pretzels, fresh popped popcorn, veggie cups, nachos, lemonade, hot cocoa, movie theater candy, and of course, cupcakes.

Harkins donated the trays, which was amazing because the cup holders held two drinks, and each kid got to have their lemonade/hot cocoa/water bottle and their food all in one place. I used color-coded tickets to represent each item that they could “buy” by trading in their tickets. For example, red for hot dog, orange for nachos, yellow for lemonade, etc etc.). There were ten tickets given to every kid. Ten different colors. It was kind of cray cray of me to do that, but the reactions from the kids made it so worth it! They took that ticket system super seriously and darn near would not accept food or drink without “paying” first!

We watched Nacho Libre, because my kids requested it, and it’s hilarious. It’s also only PG, which was a pleasant surprise when I saw it again.

We let the kids run amok until the sun set. Before the movie started, we showed a slideshow of the twins as babies :).

I’m sure that we broke some trampoline safety regulations.

I have a saying that I made up. It’s “full backyard, full heart.” It’s true for me, and that’s all I can say.

I am not always sappy and sentimental. Sometimes, I can even be quite the opposite. But birthday parties and times like these, I let it show… let it show… can’t hold it back anymoooore.

Everyday Miracles

2015-04-16T23:48:00.001-07:00

I am getting my craft on today because the spring decor I like is out of my budget. I think the spray paint and hot glue fumes are getting to me though.

Flower garland for spring // felt is my new thing.

This guy scored the first goal that the team made all season so far (he wasn't at the first game). I am so proud of him, but he was beaming! He is growing up too fast. All too soon, he will tower over me like this when I'm standing up beside him.

New leaves on the fiddle leaf fig.

Shells for my friend.

Our beautiful one year old Paulownia tree is now taller than me.

Grabbing a spinach snack to go.

Vines have started their ascent.

My lunch date.

Field day fun // girls beat the boys in Bella's class 8-0.

Today was of the most fun birthday parties we have ever had! // Gabe and Ari, life is so full of joy with you two in it! // Movie night with "Nacho Libre", because my kids love to laugh.

Grateful for the wonderful friends in our lives // friendship is the best gift that we can receive.

A happy day in our backyard.

Chillin' and enjoying the female attention before the movie.

I would love him either way, but the birthday boy is growing up to be someone I'm truly proud to call my son.

It's midnight and we are finally cleaned up from the party // time for cupcakes!

The mud pie she baked almost looks good enough to eat.

Everyday Miracles

2015-04-16T23:29:00.001-07:00

My first babies are a big

kid age, and for the first time their birthdays are making me weepy and nostalgic // slow down babies!

Had a sugar-and-laughter-filled day celebrating my twins.

My girls are both daddy's girls and they don't share him very well // every girl should be so lucky to have a dad like him.

Nighttime game of croquet with the little miss // and what a beautiful night it was.

Everyone had a good time at the beautiful wedding of Noel and Daniel last night... even this little one who wouldn't part ways with the dessert table.

It was an overall great day in the garden.

Turns out, despite people telling me for most of my life, I was a "city girl" and "pampered", that I am a "country girl" and "outdoorsy". So there.

Two peas in a pod hard at it // work around here doesn't pause for potty training.

Spring dinners outside are back on with this crew.

Where the neighborhood kids were after school today.

Rainy day birthday party backup plan.

Blossoms are the promise of wonderful things soon to come. Popcorn poppin' on the apricot tree... and the apple and the peach trees too.

Baby sissy Marci. My childhood home videos have been the evening entertainment recently.

Spring allows for after school neighbor play dates almost every day.

Getting back inside after a walk around the yard // so beautiful out, but it's nice returning to this cozy place too.

Ari participated in her first cheer competition of the year with AZ Heat Inferno. She stole the show with her amazing smile and enthusiasm! She was so happy to perform with this awesome group of girls!

.

Sneaking Away

2015-04-06T01:08:00.001-07:00

We only got to visit for two days, but it was worth it in every way. Disneyland is where we went for our three day weekend back in February. We wanted to beat the spring break crowds, and while it was as crowded as ever for Valentine’s Day, the weather was perfect and so was just about everything else.

We spent one day at Disneyland and one day at California Adventure, and we got to ride most of the rides that were open. Liam was just an inch too short for some of the rides, but we gave him an E for Effort. He stood on his tip toes and put his arms up in the air in a vain attempt at making himself appear taller. We had to rush around quite a bit to fit everything in that we wanted to see and do, as compared with our typical three day trips, but it was awesome to be spontaneous and just get away from everything for a weekend.

I didn’t take many pictures at all, because we had our hands pretty full, and I wanted to enjoy every moment without the distraction of my camera. I am kind of regretting not taking a few more in hindsight. I wish that I could have captured every magical moment.

Liam was pretty brave. He was content to go on every ride we brought him on. Ari was the same, and she was the only one who wanted to ride Space Mountain with both Jake and I when we did Rider Switch. Bella was the most apprehensive about the rides. She reminds me so much of myself when I was her age, and I still get a little nervous on new rides or rides with big drops.

Some of our favorite spots in the park were closed, like Liam’s Whinnie the Pooh ride/corner, the Grizzly River Run, and the Adventure Trail, and we didn’t ever make it on the Jungle Cruise, because Liam had a blow-out right in front of the ride just as we were about to get on it. That was awesome. At least we’ll get to laugh about it for years to come. And we now have one more excuse to try to make it back again this year.

We convinced/bribed Bella to go on Thunder Mountain Railroad for the first time this trip, and she loved it. She said it was her new favorite ride. Hopefully, she remembers feeling that way for next time, so I don’t have to repeat the whole convincing process again.

We attended a Frozen sing-a-long, which was actually not really a Disney caliber experience, BUT my kids, and especially Ari, were so enthralled by it that it moved me to tears right then and there. So it ended up being a true Disney experience after all, because you can count on Disney to, if nothing else, make me cry happy tears in ten minutes or less.

Everyone’s favorite ride was Radiator Springs Racers. It is impossible not to love it when you’re sitting next to Ari, who is squealing and laughing with joy the entire time you’re on the ride. Bella, however, somehow managed not to love it because of how it made her butt feel when we went down the drops, so she blacklisted it. Hopefully, she’ll forget for next time.

Faces of Liam

2015-03-12T23:50:00.001-07:00

Daddy Daughter Dance

2015-03-12T22:51:00.001-07:00

This was posted before, but it bears repeating in its own post. The girls loved their Daddy Daughter Dance so much. How lucky they were to have not one, but two handsome dates. The same could be said for the guys as well. What a special night.

Everyday Miracles

2015-03-11T23:47:00.001-07:00

Dinner under a canopy of trees, a separate kids table and live music because it's Valentine's Day // Disney does it again.

Just one of a million magical moments.

Radiator Springs Racers was Gabe and Ari's favorite ride. Ari hooted and hollered the whole time, kicking her feet with excitement. I so wish I had taken a video. Bella didn't like the drops, because they made her "butt feel weird". Liam was just an inch shy of making the 40" cutoff. I guess we'll have to come back to celebrate when he grows that inch..

Pretty awesome to get to ride with these guys // I can't believe I gave birth to them four days shy of 8 years ago!

Every day in Disneyland is the best day ever // even when Liam has a blowout on the Jungle Cruise // you read that right.

I'm so lucky // Gabe told me out of the blue "Mom... I love you." // it may not seem like a big deal but it was one of the best parts of my day.

She may look vulnerable, but don't let that fool you. She's the bravest of them all.

Three good lookin’ cowboys.

Someone's having a good time.

My Valentines.

Family pictures are getting trickier // I love my motley crew.

Goofball will actually wear her 3-D glasses now. Every milestone counts.

Apparently Disneyland didn't offer enough thrills for Bella, because she felt the need to get stuck in and nearly fall 30 ft. out of our mulberry tree today. Jake: "How are you feeling Bella?" Bella: "Like I'm going to FALL!"

He knows he's cute and he works it… in the rearview mirror.

I had all but given up on the idea that we would have any cauliflower, but surprise surprise // it has only just begun.

We will start and end this day with celebrating two of the most amazing people I know. These two made me a mommy for the first time 8 years ago, and I can't even comprehend how that much time has passed. I am so grateful for their joyful, humorous, and loving presence in our lives. I can't imagine our family without either one. I love them so much my heart hurts!

Everyday Miracles

2015-03-10T18:50:00.001-07:00

My little ones love holiday decorations. If they had their way, our house would always look like the seasonal isle of the grocery store. Last night, I spent a few hours with a hot glue gun and went for it.

Making juice.

80 degrees. I guess it's summer again.

It's wonderful to see Ari growing up and establishing her own friendships.

All girls all day.

Yeah, I have no idea what beats this // Ari and Bella's cousin, Madison's birthday party was their favorite day this year.

This conversation: Me: "Bella, doesn't she sound just like Elsa from the movie?" Elsa: "Umm… that's because I am the same Elsa from the movie."

Daddy Daughter Dance with Daddy and Papa // the girls were so excited to be the center of their attention all evening // I hear they danced like no tomorrow.

Official Daddy-Papa-Daughter Dance pic // three generations // melting...

Ari and her IRun4 buddy got the chance to meet in person today, and it was so awesome // perfect match, these two.

Just about to begin gardening and other weekend to do's, but that corner and a cuppa are calling my name // and I got tulips from Ari's IRun4 buddy Tracy, so that's one more reason to stay right here.

Picnicking with our next door neighbors // I love our country life.

Nothing makes me happier than watching my sweetest childhood memories being fulfilled in my childrens' present day // Gabe is making a dash for home base.

I love when my yard is full of life // the cousins have arrived // every spring day is the best day ever

I don't know where she came from, and I have no idea how to feel about this. I have a crazy, fearless girl.

It's all about letting loose at the rest stop and then when we get back in the car, I'll pull out my peace and calming essential oils.

Everyday Miracles

2015-03-10T18:42:00.001-07:00

Thank goodness for funny movies on the mornings after he keeps us up all night.

Bok choy rice noodle soup with turkey and tofu meatballs because my sister is coming over tonight, and I'm bound and determined to cure everyone's winter colds.

It's hard to believe that we are already at the start of a new season, and we're planting five rows of our summer garden! // Three varieties of tomatoes, bell peppers, three types of watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe were started this weekend. // Meanwhile, we are still reaping all that the winter garden has to offer, and feeling so blessed.

Birthday parties full of good friends are happy reminders that I love this little community we have and this place we call home.

I scratched the itch and came up with this guy // he isn't finished, but at least I can work on my taxes now.

Busy day of grocery shopping, a downtown neurology appointment for Ari, prepping for a twin birthday party, cheer practice, and speaking at out R.S. activity tonight in simplifying the way we eat... and running on 4 hrs. of sleep // I need s glass half full. Of fresh squeezed tangelo juice.

Lemon bars in my beehive cake stand // I would be lying if I said I didn't spend a very long time searching for a beehive cake stand.

Is it just me or does she look way older than six here? // impatient to play in the rain and get soaked to the bone // rainy day ritual.

Of course I got her to smile two seconds later and here comes my six year old running back.

Bathtime sweetness.

Friday night movie favorite "My Girl".

I didn't even think it was possible to have this much fog in Phoenix // this is definitely a cuddle day..

I sketched this out for Bella, and here's what she did with it // I have a painting budd.

I came home from a photo shoot last weekend, and Jake was baking lemon merengue pie! What?! It was so good too!

Sunday family walks are the perfect way to close the weekend.

We don't always eat Cold Stone ice cream, but when we do, it looks like this.

Everyday Miracles

2015-03-10T18:34:00.001-07:00

Rewinding a bit to remember some earlier everyday miracles

Pomegranate gift to Marci.

Cheeseburger gift to Leah

Hot chocolate date with with my two favorite women // mommy-daughter time.

I love my little buddy so much in spite of the fact that he can be so naughty sometimes... he threw his Converse shoe at my head with amazing aim when I was driving this morning, because he was mad that I changed the radio station.

Ready for the adventure of potty training.

Born to fly.

About to embark on another day with my mini me.

Baking pies for company with my apron twin // fig pecan from my favorite restaurant Beckett’s Table // I have been waiting for this all week.

Fish love “Let it Go” too.

Beautiful day for the zoo with cousins.

We can't seem to get enough of pampering goats.

Thank the Lord.

One plateful of kale and quinoa salad is never enough.

One of those rare days when I've had eight hours of sleep, go to two back-to-back classes at the gym, and eat a salad for lunch // feels pretty good I have to say.

Sometimes I hate putting him down for a nap, because it just means less time with him.

My budding photographer snaps photos of every sunset, zoo animal, and "cool scene" that there is.

Makeover Madness

2015-03-10T17:58:00.001-07:00

Normally, my sisters-in-laws and I like to do our makeup at the kitchen table when we’re together so we don’t have to miss out on quality time while we get ready. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. So our daughters see this and, of course, want in on the primping and preening. We made them over and voilà – a pretty, yet slightly awkward look into the future.

Ari was trying so hard to perfect her kissy face.

Four gorgeous, overdone little girls. I know I’ve got my work cut out for me with the one in the red.

Ari took her cues on how to pose from her cousin, Madison. She is such a girlie girl at heart. But then again, they all are.

Snowy New Years

2015-03-10T16:28:00.001-07:00

We spent a wonderful New Years at Grammy and Papa’s house in Holbrook with most of the cousins. We weren’t expecting snow, but we were lucky that we came prepared, because it snowed hard and all at once. We didn’t have to go far at all to play in it either. They boys had snowball fights and made some type of bomb out of snow. They shot paintballs at snow targets too. Bella helped me make her a snowwoman. Even the little ones had fun.

Ari did not like to wear her gloves, and then she realized that she didn’t like how the snow felt without her gloves on either.

Unwrapping Christmas

2015-02-23T00:53:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve is always hard to beat, but Christmas Day just may have tied it this year. The kids got many presents. Ari received a lot of Frozen toys like an Olaf, a wand, a microphone, a boom box, and a several other things. Bella asked for Lego Friends, a fish, a real professional sports bra (for cheer), and a stuffed peacock. Her wishes came true. She also received her own big girl bike and scooter so she and Gabe wouldn’t have to share his. Gabe wanted mostly Lego sets, but he also got a tree ladder, some sports balls, books, binoculars, and a few other things. Liam got his first remote control car, Duplo sets, sword, among other things, but he loves playing with Ari’s toys the most.

All four of my little ones were so grateful and excited about every gift, no matter how small. It was a pure joy to give to them and watch them receive. They also had made us gifts from school, and were equally excited to give them to us. I will always cherish the moments in which they’ve given us gifts and cards over the years. Nothing is more special than watching their pride and anticipation at our appreciative reactions. In my experience, there is no truer happiness felt in life than in giving to others, and especially to my own children. I love watching them experience this joy.

Both of my sisters were here as well as Grammy and Papa. I served a green chile egg casserole, because it was easy, but everyone loved it. We took our time unwrapping, eating, and eventually cleaning up, and I don’t remember hearing a whine or a complaint all day. The feeling was so playful and peaceful. I feel happy just remembering the day. After a nap, just the six of us went to Chinese food at Magic Noodle House and to watch a movie in the theater. This year, we saw Big Hero 6. This has become very much a tradition to us on the years that we are in town. It is so relaxed, and yet so fun. We get noodles, because I remember that as a child, my family sometimes used to eat noodles around New Years to represent long life or something like that. When I was young, we also had a tradition of going to a movie and Chinese on Christmas Eve, because I was raised Jewish, and not much else was open on Christmas Eve that still felt festive. Jake and I have decided to incorporate this tradition, because after cooking many consecutive elaborate meals and prepping/shopping/wrapping/decorating/baking/singing/reading/reflecting all month long, it is nice to have a break but still be celebratory and have something to look forward to.

I didn’t take hardly any pictures this year, because I’ve been relying on my iPhone camera too much. I’m kind of sad about it. I want to start using my real camera again and be better about documenting detail the way that I used to.

All I can say is, I hope we remember this. When things are hard and kids are whining and I am tired and crabby, I want to remember this. When they are older and it seems like they care less and less (I hope this never happens, but I know it can), I want to remember this. This day will never happen again. At least not quite like this. And I want to remember that it did and how it did for ever and ever and ever.

Everyday Miracles

2015-02-11T00:09:00.001-08:00

Snow day with the people I love most // Bella commissioned me to build a snowman taller than me, and I did not let her down // so much fun!!!

The cold isn't her favorite but her smile pervades no matter where we are.

Do you want to build a snowman? // I love how focused she was.

It makes me so happy to play with my children in the snow // I got to relive a piece of my snowy childhood with them // it was a beautiful winter day in Arizona.

Jam sesh with Ari and her cousin Vance.

Winter wonderland.

Go ahead, give me a reason to send you a card // I'm ready. Thanks to my sweet in-laws for gifting me the coolest stamp ever.

All is pretty. Even through a dirty windshield.

It's been seven years since we have been on skis. I was a little rusty, but we had an amazing time. We even FaceTimed our kids the whole way down the mountain on one run.

We celebrated 10 years of marriage today. I am one lucky girl. Love him so much!

Close of a perfect day.

Meet "Grayson", the Taylor family pet // one of Bella's favorite Christmas gifts.

Scatter sunshine all along your way.

Garden beets baby.

Cilantro grows like a weed // a weed that I love to eat.

Flat leaf parsley // the garden goods keep coming.

Everyday Miracles

2015-02-10T23:55:00.001-08:00

"This is how you cut your food with one hand."

And sometimes they really love each other.

Gabe told me that he wanted to plan things just like I do // he rescued this mini weekly planner from the recycle bin... It was a gift from our financial planner // here is is showing me his schedule.

Prepping for the feast // Bella learned how to crush garlic // prime rib underway.

Prime rib with sage jus, Yorkshire pudding, beet arugula and goat cheese salad, leek and potato au gratin, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, pecan fig pie a la mode // Christmas Eve menu.

This Christmas Eve, we welcomed family into our home to celebrate, and it was one of the most memorable and fulfilling holidays I've had // I love Christmas.

Christmas with my people // I love them.

T'was the night before Christmas // waiting up for Santa and doing a gift exchange with my love.

We go big on Christmas Eve when we're home. I love the anticipation and hope of that day. Christmas night is like one big joyous exhale for us, and the last thing we want to do is cook again after cleaning up from a brunch on Christmas Day. So unless we are with extended family, we opt for the simple and casual tradition of going out to Chinese and a movie on Christmas night // last night we saw Big Hero 6, which may be one of my favorite movies ever // I rank movies by how much I cry in them.

We shared the last slice of Grammy's pecan fig pie from Christmas // recipe by Beckett's Table, our favorite restaurant for the past few years

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you a blessed New Year!

8 kids eating around my table, 5 more playing football in the yard, 4 men around a bonfire, 4 women in the kitchen // a good night with good friends.

A great way to end a great night.

Cuddles with my biggest little guy.

Having a moment watching kids who are not arguing // thank you Monopoly.

We were super excited to become super heroes // thanks to my sis for taking our whole family on this fun adventure!.

Marvel Experience with my babes and my sissy.

Christmas Eve

2015-02-10T23:10:00.001-08:00

Right now, somehow, life seems busier than before. We are settled into our home, and Ari’s surgery is well in the past, so I don’t know the reason it is that way, but it is. I have picked up some new hobbies, maybe, like gardening and baking and dabbling in watercolor, but this blog still matters to me. This project that I’ve had for the past seven years. I see it as a legacy for my kids, a journal in a way, of major milestone events and celebrations in our lives. I don’t really care that my grammar is poor and my writing sounds like it rambles… okay, I do, but not enough to quit writing over it. So, I am aware that it’s February, and I’ve skipped a few posts along the way, and still I’m no farther than Christmas Eve, but I want to remember this past Christmas Eve.

I want my kids to remember it if it’s possible. It was my favorite one so far. It was warm and perfect in every way. At least I thought so. I loved that we were here and we had a beautiful mix of both sides of our family. We ate prime rib and Yorkshire pudding, potato leek au gratin, beet and arugula salad, stuffed mushrooms, and had our favorite pecan fig pies. Everyone contributed something to the meal, but more importantly, our home was full of love and laughter and every seat at our table was occupied by wonderful company. We cooked together and ate our “feast”, as Gabe would say, and went on a family walk in the cold night, and it was so lovely. Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the Christmas season. There is so much anticipation and it’s so festive, yet it has hardly anything to do with presents. This song just about sums it up for me: http://nj1015.com/watch-excellent-christmas-version-of-hallelujah/

Sweet Traditions

2015-01-24T11:26:00.001-08:00

Baking Christmas cookies is one of my favorite traditions of the season. It goes without saying that it is possibly the favorite Christmas tradition for my kids. It is, after all, an entire weekend devoted to cookies and Christmas movies (movies in case, you know, you need a break from eating cookie dough and frosting cookies). Each year, we assume that the process will get quicker and more efficient, because we have one year more experience, but it just never works out quite that way. And that’s okay, because our memories of these days are something that I always want to remember. Truthfully, I would love to think that this is something that we will repeat in our home for years to come, even when our kids come home from college or have chubby cheeked children of their own.

This year, we added our new favorite chocolate chip cookies to the standard sugars and ginger molasses cookies. I already have a couple new recipes in mind of cookies I want to add in 2015 (thumbprints and snickerdoodles, in case I forget). The schedule is that we spend Friday night making dough, Saturday baking and usually making more dough, Sunday decorating and bagging, and Monday evening delivering to our friends and neighbors. Tempting as it is to eat 500 Christmas cookies, our favorite part of the whole ritual is making the deliveries. In a small but significant way, we are getting to celebrate with each of our friends. The kids take turns walking up to the door and personally making the deliveries. This is one errand they never complain about running, no matter how cold or dark it is outside. The chance to present their friends with a treat that they helped to make all weekend long is an honor that they compete for at each stop along our route.

These are the tiny things that make up our season. It’s these tiny things, these everyday things, that I appreciate so much.