Taylor Made

Unwrapped…

Taylor Made — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:04:23 +0000

The chaos of Christmas morning is always more enjoyable through the eyes of our children. This is the first year Phoebe has really understood. Ivy has been building up the moment – asking daily if Santa was coming tonight. And it all culminated with Christmas Eve. Ivy was shouting and dancing. All while Phoebe literally ran back and forth between rooms joyfully shouting about Santa! The energy they use is really unbelievable. I expected both of them to both deflate like balloons. It was all we could to get them into bed, but they still talked into the night…

Thankfully Santa does not come until everyone is asleep.

And with the late night, they both awoke around seven thirty – later than normal! I made them wait on the stairs until Mom was up. All the while Phoebe was asking “where is Santa?” I guess she thought he was coming to drop off presents and stay for awhile. I could not help her understand that he had other places to deliver – we are the center of the world, right?

But then we went downstairs and the chaos ensued…

Darcy slept through the whole morning. Which was the gift her mom and dad would have really like on Christmas!

Gram and Pappy came over Christmas Evening and we had another round of Christmas gifts…

Audrey and Justin got the girls Walkie-Talkies. They were both thrilled, but Phoebe treated it like a cell phone. She would not push the yellow button, instead walking around the house chatting and answer Ivy!!! (But, as you can see, Ivy kept trying to explain it to Phoebe!)

The Hula-Hoop! Both girls were thrilled. And Ivy is pretty good! A talent which was not passed down from me – I can not hula, but Ivy has promised to teach me…

Some Random shots of the Girls Playing Games…

Rock Stars! The girls look to make tinker toy microphones and jam!

Robin Hood. While at Gram and Pappy’s the girls were in short supply of toys. So Robin Hood and Little John – all the men – became remote controls. Now, even with enough dolls, Ivy and Phoebe will break out the remotes for boys. The girls are of course lovely dolls…

People not yet featured holding little Darcy. Granny, me, and Pappy:

Taylor Made Arrival…

Taylor Made — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:37:23 +0000

Hey Friends, a couple of changes are occuring. Certainly the biggest is Darcy, but I am also changing the domain name to taylormadefamily.org. The old domain – seanmeganivy.wordpress.com – will still work. But it was not really fair to promote Ivy without Phoebe and Darcy!

Again, Darcy is the big event… so here are some photos:

Little Darcy arrived Sunday night at 10:53. Of course she was not so little, weighing in at 9lbs 3oz!! Baby and Meg are healthy!

No more footprints directly into the baby book. They now use stickers!

First outfit change. I can say this is the first of many cries relating to the right outfit…

Phoebe, to the right, is a good example of the “my baby” syndrome. She was infuriated when she could not hold her “all by myself” and angry when sister (or anyone else) got a turn.

I love the three sisters – patting one another!

Darcy gets the gifts, but the big girls get to open them!!!

Uncle Jake and Aunt Chrissy (almost) were the first to arrive and hold Darcy. The only ones still out and about at one in the morning!

Go Royals!

Taylor Made — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:45:11 +0000

Sean’s Aunt Kathi, from California, (or as Ivy would say, “out west”) flew in to go to a Royals’ game. I know, I know, Sean comes from a long line of LOYAL fans. Gram and Pappy took everybody to a Saturday night game. Ivy and Phoebe were SO excited to finally see the Royals play at the stadium we often pass while driving on the interstate.

Uncle Jake, Ivy, and Phoebe

Snacks are a must at any sporting event.

Daddy and Phoebe. She wanted to be with Pappy or wherever there was chocolate. Smart girl.

Last Saturday Gram, Ivy, Phoebe, and I went to a Princess Party. I can’t even describe the frills and costumes. There was an actual lady playing a REAL harp as we walked into the castle. Let’s just say the girls thought it was AMAZING!

Outside of the castle

A picture with the Tooth Fairy… Phoebe wasn’t so sure about the pink lady!

Getting “made up”

All made up for the ball!

Playing Princess Bingo

Everyone was a winner in the bingo room.

A Princess looking out the window in her carriage

Phoebe stuck her entire head out of the window.

Dancing…

They had so much fun!

Twirling and whirling!

After all of that dancing, a princess needs to refuel!

Decorating her cookie.

Yummy cookie!

Planting our first trees in Kearney…

Taylor Made — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:44:23 +0000

Unlike Augusta, our yard in Kearney is an empty slate. Sean loves envisioning complicated yard projects, but this weekend he started with planting two trees. The girls helped dig and play in the dirt, and they were both so proud of the trees! Phoebe runs to the window now and says, “Look, look, do you like my new tree?”

They patted the dirt over and over and over…

Doing a rain dance.

Working hard.

Face paint…

Phoebe tried to eat the dirt.

Silly girl.

They really do like each other.

Our first Kearney tree!

Poor Sean, and just think he is going to be outnumbered 4 to 1!

Phoebe arranged her own tea party.

She is waiting to begin.

The tea party ended and she raced around the coffee table with “Tapunzel”.

Celebrating Life

Taylor Made — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:25:10 +0000

It’s been a year since Grandpa passed away. Gram and Pappy decided they wanted to do something to celebrate his life and remember what he enjoyed doing with his family. Out came the fire pit and croquet set. It was so much fun to watch Ivy play croquet with Granny and Aunt Audrey. Phoebe ran around “surprising” everybody playing.

We ended the evening with s’mores. Phoebe pulled the chocolate out of her treat and ate it first; that’s my girl! Ivy helped with the firewood and roasted her own marshmallow. Our girls are getting so big!

Ivy and Granny

With Granny’s help, Ivy did fairly well.

Ivy took her own approach to swinging the mallet.

Mommy is trying to teach Phoebe how to swing.

Ivy helped carry firewood to the fire pit.

Phoebe helped too.

Pappy showed Phoebe how to break the sticks.

Phoebe tried breaking the sticks all by herself.

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Phoebe tried breaking the sticks all by herself.

Aunt Audrey and Ivy planning their next move.

Nice shot!

Phoebe “surprised” everybody several times.

Sean taught Ivy how to throw sticks into the fire. Hmmm… maybe not the best idea!

Yummy!

Eating s’mores.

Oh so good!

Water Slide

Taylor Made — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:14:52 +0000

We had a huge kick-off last week for all Wednesday night activities at the church. Sean was in a dunk tank for half of the night, and then Phoebe commandeered him for the inflatable water slide. He is such a good Dad and didn’t complain once!

Up the steps…

Down the slide!

Off of the slide

Ivy going down the slide with her friend, Alex.

Phoebe holds you around the neck so tightly. It feels so good!

Sean and Phoebe going down the slide.

Ivy going up the steps.

Phoebe and Daddy.

Phoebe is “smiling”.

Ivy with her tea party friends.

The First Day of School

Taylor Made — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:06:13 +0000

It has arrived. Kindergarten. I have such mixed feelings. I am so excited for Ivy. She loves to learn, play, and be with other kids. She LOVES her teacher. She has gone more than a week without moving her “bug”. (the second day of school she spent the first five minutes of recess walking back and forth because her bug was on blue, not green, not yellow, but blue)

I went to eat lunch with her today, and the first words out of her mouth are, “Hi Mom! I had to move my bug to yellow.” She is so forthright, most of the time, and so kind to others, most of the time. She asks about Phoebe, and poor Phoebe misses her I-Dee. For the first two weeks Phoebe cried every morning when we dropped Ivy off in car line. She would say, “I lost I-Dee!” When we picked her up several hours later, “I found I-Dee!” I don’t know if its the pregnancy hormones or what, but I have a hard time not crying with Phoebe. Our girls love each other, and that more than anything makes me so proud…

Doing the first day of school dance.

They dance and sing wherever they are. The dancing they get from me. The singing they get from Sean. I laugh every time I hear Phoebe singing “Cuckoo, cuckoo” from the Sound of Music.

They love to dance together or at least side by side.

The first day of school!

It was a windy first day of school.

Ivy received her Kindergarten Bible during her first church service on Sunday. She sits with me on the second row, right behind Sean. So far, so good.

Ivy kept asking me the first Sunday, “When is Daddy going to preach?” About midway through his sermon she was asking, “Is he almost done?”

Fun with Family

Taylor Made — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:12:30 +0000

Phoebe loves her megablocks.

Ivy can play Legos for hours.

Aunt Audrey and Uncle Justin gave the girls Royals attire this summer. Ivy wore her Royals shirt to school today. She makes her Daddy proud!

Using her princess bat, she is going to hit the ball out of the park…

Uncle Justin was coaching her swing technique. (along with her Daddy!)

Phoebe rode her unicorn, while wearing her new Royals dress!

What is it about a school bus that both of my girls find fascinating?

It is special to watch the girls interact with Great Granny. She keeps them on their toes.

Ivy likes her “cotton candy” hair. From the mouth of babes…

Ivy, Granny, and Phoebe

Super Silly Girl

Little People have taken over our house!

Ivy is a ham; there isn’t any other way to put it.

They are sisters, so they fight, but they laugh and love each other too.

The Owens

Taylor Made — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:51:13 +0000

Our friends from from Augusta, the Owens, came to visit us in July. We had such a great time! It was nice to pick back up where we left off in November.

We went to Kaleidoscope and had so much fun making arts and crafts.

Phoebe is painting a visor.

Katelyn and Ivy made magnify glasses.

It was crazy inside the center.

Ivy and Katelyn watching the polar bear.

Enjoying the air conditioned building.

Eating at Frits’ Railroad Restaurant. The girls loved it!

Phoebe loved the polar bear!

Even superheroes have to brush their teeth.

Mr. Russell helped put the world together.

Phoebe loves Mrs. Pam!

Snow in August

Taylor Made — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:17:19 +0000

Last week temperatures soared here in Missouri. On the hottest day of the week, Ivy decided to pretend it was snowing and build snowmen. She and Phoebe pulled out stocking hats, scarves, and mittens. It was fun to see them pretend. The girls play with each other so well. Phoebe is going to be so sad when Ivy starts kindergarten next week!

Phoebe loved wearing mittens.

She is a ham and loves to pose for the camera.

Both girls in scarves made by Gram. Phoebe is showing her support for the Royals. Every time we drive by the stadium both girls cheer for their Dad’s favorite team.

Phoebe showing more support for KC.

Ivy has announced that she wants to be a rock star/movie star. She loves “The Hills Are Alive”, her name for The Sound of Music, and she sings songs from State Fair and White Christmas. Apparently her little sister is into performing also. We don’t know what we are going to do! Both girls sang during the VBS Sunday worship time.

I was surprised by Phoebe’s enthusiasm. She shouted, “ready!” right before they started singing.

I love that Phoebe moved to be next to Ivy.

The girls helped me make pizza dough.

Phoebe worked real well with the flour.

Our big girl…