Taylor's new bike

Taylor and daddy made a special trip to the bike store and came home with a new bike for Taylor!!! This was a surprise to mommy and oh how happy I was. I just love Taylor and daddy having their special time together that mommy does not have to be a part of. Taylor LOVES her new bike that she has looked at so many times when she and daddy have gone to the bike store for daddy. This time it was to get her her very own bike. So cute!

Taylor's first week of Dolphins (Kindergarten Prep)

This week Taylor started her Dolphin class which she was so excited for! She has been talking about being a Dolphin and getting ready for Kindergarten for months now. A few of her friends moved over in June so she has been ready. She's been doing worksheets in a Preschool prep workbook, saying that it's her book that's getting her ready for Kindergarten. So cute!

So, she started this week and she has come home with new skills already! As I told her teachers (when emphasizing that I wanted her in one of the advanced classes), she will only learn as much as she is presented with and that is shown this week. She went in on Monday being able to write some letters of her name, all capitals, but not really in a line or in perfect order. On Wednesday she came home (her first full day in that class) writing her name in all capital letters on one line, in order, on multiple worksheets that they did throughout the day. She wanted to show us how she could do it and vuah-lah! That night I asked if she has started to write lowercase letters and she didn't really know what I was talking about. She was just proud of what she was showing us! On Friay, the NEXT DAY, she came home and told us she had something to show us. She got a marker and a paper and wrote her name in upper and lowercase letters, wonderfully! One day learning...truly awesome!

I am so proud of our girl and she's not even 4!!! I can't explain how happy I am to see her succeed and excel. I see her potential and can just imagine her success and happiness in life. More important than us being proud of her, she is proud of herself and excited to show us what she can do. It's just awesome. I'm a happy mommy right now.

Beach Day with mommy

Today was such a beautiful day so Taylor and I headed to the beach. I tried to actually get some work done in the morning but our server was down so with some encouraging from friends on facebook, I got outta dodge and headed to the beach. We packed up the wagon, the umbrella, some snacks, some toys, and some towels and had such a fun time! At one point Taylor had to pee so I took her out to the ocean and we got crashed hard by some waves! We ventured in after a no-pee adventure and she then just decided to pee while sitting on the sand and letting the water rush up on her. After not getting it all out, she just stood up and peed away. Oh the joys of being a kid!



Searching for shells to bring home to daddy



Cute!


Singing


Sun bathing like mommy (actually, she called it "napping", which didn't last that long)


Taking a break to finish the rest of our food while looking out over the beach


Me and my girl


Silly


The many faces of Taylor












I can't get enough of her!

Taylor paiting toe nails

While mommy and daddy went out to a friend's 30th birthday party last night Taylor and the babysitter painted fingernails. Well, today she wanted her toes done too so she got out the markers and took the liberty to do them herself.

Oh how I love having a girl!

The process


The results

4th of July

Today we had friends over for 4th of July and what a beautiful day it was! We BBQ'd, had the new inflatable pool set up for the kids, and played bean bags before going up on the rooftop to watch fireworks. A new drink favorite that we got from 4th of July commercials...Disarrono and cranberry juice! Would have never mixed the two but I could drink those all day (and I did!). Mmmm. Thanks for joining in the fun Noah, Laura, Simon and Jocelyn (and Aesa and Rawley!).

The Kids' Play Area


The Adults


Daddy jumped in with Taylor


Aesa and his daddy


Cheeeeese!


Friends getting dry


Taylor chose her outfit after seeing Aesa in his then they proceded to roll around in chalk...lovely!


Rawley and Noah lighting their firework


Horrible picture but the only one of the kids on the roof...they loved it!

Art with daddy

Taylor doing art with daddy over the weekend before bed.

Taylor's Dance rehearsal and recital

First we had the dance rehearsal on Friday night and then we had the actual Recital on Sunday. I got out of class by going to the section on Saturday so I was able to be there for Taylor this year! She was such a big girl, definitely demonstrating more confidence and comfort with being on stage than last year. I think being good friends with the girls who were doing the dance with her helped immensely.

During the rehearsal I was able to get to know the stage mom who was helping with the girls backstage. I introduced her to Taylor and had Taylor see her and talk with her for a bit. On the day of the rehearsal when I had to drop her off backstage I think having Taylor already knowing who this woman was helped. As a reference, Taylor screamed and would not let daddy leave her side last year. After being plopped on stage in the dark while screaming, she proceeded to scream the entire dance. This year she gave me kisses goodbye and got right into coloring and doing stickers with the other girls. I could not have asked this mom to be any better! They had to wait for a little over an hour backstage until it was their dance so we, a few of us parents, were very nervous about how they'd come out on stage. They were awesome! They were smiling and doing almost all of the steps of the dance. I am so proud of my baby girl growing up so quickly.

DANCE REHEARSAL



Happy Tappin with Elmo girls


Taylor and daddy


Taylor and Rachel on stage


So giddy up there!


The girls


DANCE RECITAL

All the dancers from Webby Dance Company at the end of the performance

Father's Day Kiting Adventure

On this Father's Day weekend daddy wanted us to go watch him kiting so we packed up for a fun day at the beach. It was windier than we expected so Taylor and I made a make-shift tent with our umbrella and daddy's bags. We had a ton of fun! Taylor learned to make drip sand castles and was so good at it!

Daddy and his kite


Notice the hand on the hip...she poses now


Our set-up


She made this entire drip castle all by herself!


Her first attempt at standing on a kiting board...she loves it!


Helping daddy undo his kite...she's going to be ready in no time for this kiting thing!

Disney's California Adventure w/Mommy

Today may have been the last trip to Disneyland before our summer blockout begins so we took advantage of our free day and headed to California Adventure to see the new Ariel ride. We had so much fun! This was Taylor's first time back to Ca. Adv. since she went with her cousin 1 year ago. We, of course, headed to ARiel's ride first, then went on the Golden Zephyr, then watched the Bug's Life 3D movie (wow, that was a loud, somewhat scary but fun experience!), then last, Taylor had a blast in the water area in the Bug's Life. We finished our day watching a Mr. Incredible parade and eating Taylor's favorite, a soft pretzel with cheese dip. Mmmm.

On the tram


Finally, after an hour wait, we arrive at the Ariel ride!


Climbing in line for the Zephyr


On the Zephyr


One of my favorite pictures of Taylor...on the carousel


Getting ready for our crazy 3D Bug's Life experience!


In the water area...still somewhat dry


Not dry anymore!


So cute (this woke her up a bit and obviated the need for a nap)!


Yay! Pretzel time!


An unexpected parade by Mr. Incredible


Snacking at the picnic area (letting mommy rest her feet) before heading to the car for the drive home