It's official!

Well, it's official! Parker is finished with Kindergarten! Today was her last day and I went along to help with "field day"...which never happened because of the rain and wind. So, we played games indoors and then ventured outside to hit a pinata. The kids were wild and had a blast, so I guess that's the important thing. Parker had a wonderful year and loved her teacher, Mrs. Bailey. She is reading chapter books and has a love for learning. We are so proud of her and the progress that she made this year. We love you, Parker and can't believe it's off to first grade you go! You are our sweet pea!

Pacie Graduates From Pre-School

On Monday night, Pacie officially graduated from "Bright Beginnings" Pre-School. Her teacher is Marilyn Anderson and she is FABULOUS. I feel lucky that both of the girls have been able to have her as their teacher. She is so loving and warm and makes every child feel so great about themselves. Pacie had a great year and asked me every single day what the next day was until we got to her pre-school days. I don't think she ever missed even one day! Here are just a few pictures of her special night. Thank you, Marilyn, for making such a difference in so many children's lives!!!

We love you, Little Niss and are so proud of you for the great job you did this year!

Proud sisters!

And a special thanks to Landon who made the night so special for us! This is what he looked like about 2 minutes after the singing ended and the certificates were being presented. You gotta love the look on the girls face behind him too.

Taking a moment to catch up!

Wow, things have been crazy for us the past week or so! I'm taking a moment to catch up and share a few of my favorite pictures from our crazy life. The girls had their major "Neverland" production last Saturday. They both did so well! It was great to see them perform and use all that they've learned this dance year and put it to good use. Pacie was a crocodile and Parker was a fish, a flower, (solo!) an Indian, and pirates treasure. Things were so crazy that day I only took a couple of pictures before the second show.

Here is Pacie as "A Crocodile".

Parker learned how to do leg extensions this year and is quite proud of hers...she does it all of the time! Daddy and Presley before the show.
Up close of Parker with her Indian costume on.
Parker and some of her Indian friends. Oh, and Michael too. (From Peter Pan)
Once we got through with the dance performances it has been field trip time! Parker and Pacie both had field trips to the zoo a day apart. So we got to go twice! On Parker's day we made it a family affair. Dad even took a long lunch and came with us. These are a few of my favorite pictures.

Okay, I know I shouldn't think this is funny-but Landon was so scared of this monkey! I timed the picture just right!! It did leap at him and banged on the glass. You'd think with his Curious George fascination it wouldn't bother him so much....we were wrong!

The girls in front of the scary black monkey's cell mate! Such a great pose!

Parker looking down at the lazy tiger. (Our zoo leaves a little to be desired...)

Day 2: Pacie's friend was feeding bubbles to the Pelicans....probably not the most healthy thing to do, but they were loving fighting over them!

Pacie brushing the goat. This seems so small town to me...I guess because we are! The kids and goats both liked it though so.....

Pacie with the flamingos! I don't know why, but all of our kids have been fascinated by flamingos! Luckily we have some here in Idaho Falls.

Our first lost tooth!

Parker with her tooth fairy pillow(My first sewing project ever....but that's a story for another day!)

Well, after weeks and weeks of wiggling, prodding, wobbling, wishing and praying, Parker lost her first tooth! She has been waiting all school year watching her classmates teeth fall out left and right! So last night during American Idol, I did the nightly check of the loose teeth. She has four that are loose right now-so it was only a matter of time. I felt the one I thought would fall out first and then the one next to it...and let's just say it was ready! It was so loose that when she smiled at me, it stuck out at me at a horizontal angle instead of sitting vertically in her mouth like teeth should. So, me being the wuss that I am got her dad to pull it out. (I realized when I was teaching first grade a few years back that I was NOT cut out to be a tooth puller outer. It gives me the chills.) But, not Scott. He grabs a couple of Kleenexes and viola! The tooth is out! I screamed and then started crying. Just a little. I guess because that was one of the first teeth she grew as a baby. I looked at Presley-just growing those same teeth and it made me sad for a moment realizing that time goes by way too quickly. The tooth fairy brought her $1 during the night. She came running into our room just before 7:00 this morning (which really says something because I'm usually coaxing her out of bed at 10:00) really proud. So, I'm sure there will be more to follow fairly quickly, but for now-a little milestone in the Taft house.

Just after it came out. You can kinda see the hole, but I just loved the really proud grin!

I love the tired face! But I had to capture the moment early-before the excitement wore off!

Tagged!

Here are Scott and I (and Presley in the blanket) at the Preston, England Temple in October, 2007.

I got tagged by Courtney to post a few things about Scott. So, here goes!

A- ATV of choice? Uhh, if you know anything about Scott you know it is a dirbike! Right now he rides a 2008 Honda 450F

B- Born? August 5th, 1971 (His b-day is a day after mine! It's fun to have two days to celebrate)

C- Cookies or Candy? Whatever's around-he's not a huge sweet tooth, unless peanut butter is invoved.

D- Date of Choice when we go out? What's a date? No, we usually do dinner and a movie. (I do know that he's ready to go to dinner alone the next time we go. Our Saturday night mother's day dinner out was somewhat of a disaster!)

E- Essential Item? His dirtbike, his cell phone, and his family.

F- Favorite Foods? Chinese, and he's stuck on edamame right now too.

G- Gas or Diesel vehicle? Gas, although he's ALWAYS telling me about his dream truck, which will be a diesel....that was before gas was $5/gallon though.....

H- Hobbies? Dirtbiking mostly-He'd probably say watching the girls dance as that has taken up a few of his race weekends already...(It's almost over, hon. I promise!)

I- Ice Cream Flavor? Depends on where we are. He loves anything peanut butter. Bubble Gum and Licorice at Reeds too.

J- Job? Dental supply salesman for Bridgerland Dental Supply

K- Kids? 4! Parker (6), Pacie (almost 5), Landon (2 1/2), and Presley (9 months)

L- Last vacation as a couple? England. We did have Presley with us, but she was only 6 weeks old. (And it was AMAZING)

M- Morning person or night owl? In his former life (before me) he was 100% a morning person. Since being married to me? He still has to be a morning person for work, but stays up late with me too!

N- Number of siblings? Four. 2 older sisters (Michele and Debbie) 1 older brother who is deceased (Richard-died about 9 years ago), and 1 younger brother (Robbie)

O- OCD or Sloppy? He's a good line down the middle. He likes things neat, especially in the garage!

P- Pet Peeves? (Mine or his?) He hates my stuff on his side of the bathroom counter, when I don't balance the checkbook, and when he trips over my shoes. (He also wanted me to add anytime he has to "clean up after me"....)

Q- Quiet or Loud? I'd say he's more quiet. He can be loud but is usually more reserved.

R- Restaurant? Hmmm. Carino's, Wingers, Snake Bite (Local little place)

S- Sports? Moto-X , Basketball, Soccer

T- Tight wad or spender? Depends on what we're buying!

U- Unknown fact about him? He knows all of the songs on Radio Disney. (NOT by choice!)

V- Vegetables? Yes, he'll eat anything, which is good!

W- Worst Habit? Is it bad I can't think of anything? Maybe "forgetting" to tell me things he buys for the motorcycles. I just don't ask anymore.....Oh, and dumping the clean laundry on the bed or couch for me to fold. Can't he follow through and just fold it too? :)

X- Xtra curricular activities in high school? (Again) Dirtbikes, Soccer, Basketball, and track-specifically the pole vault. (I'd love to see that!)

Y- Your favorite things about him? His eyes, his laugh, his sense of humor. He is an amazing dad, always helps me around the house without being asked, brings me a drink home from work almost every day, is a super hard worker, is great to my parents and grandparents, and is a spiritual giant. He makes me be a better person.

Z- Zodiac Sign? Leo. Just like me.

I tag Devri, Jules, Amy, and whoever else wants to do it!

Mother's Day 2008

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. It started off with church and hurrying to get everything/everyone ready by 9:00 a.m. Scott always packs the diaper bag and gets Landon ready, and usually gets Presley dressed as well. He did all of those things again this week so that I could get myself and the girls ready. During Sacrament meeting, several men in our ward talked about their mothers/wives and what they mean to them. They all (Bryce) did such a great job. Then, the primary children got up to sing their song. ( I have always had a soft spot for primary...and their singing especially. It has always made me feel the spirit so strongly.)
"Mother, I love you. Mother, I do. Father in Heaven has sent me to you. When I am near you, I love to hear you, Singing so softly that you love me too. Mother, I love you, I love you, I do."
Tears were rolling down my face as I watched my two beautiful daughters singing and signing I love you. Well, right after they finished, my sweet angel son YELLS out......
"Good job, Parker & Pacie!!!" Just like he would after they finish dancing.
Oh, my boy. That was one of my favorite moments of the day. As they're walking back down to sit, he keeps yelling and Scott has to keep his hand over his mouth! He was just so excited about the great job they did. The bishop then gets up and says, "That's right, Landon. They did a great job."
So, whoever didn't know it was Landon that yelled before, does now.
The rest of the day was wonderful. We came home and Scott cooked steaks on the grill. (Yum!)
the girls gave me the gifts they had made me at school. A sweet litle flower pot and a picture frame. Scott got me the Ogio bag I'd been eyeing for a while!
We went to see Grandma Landon and Mamie and then just came home to relax. We were out of dishwasher detergent, so Scott handwashed the entire load of dishes by hand to finish off my day. Thanks, Scott and family for making my mother's day so wonderful! I love you and love being a mother.

Like mother like...son?

Okay, so the other day I noticed how many pairs of shoes were just laying around in random places around the house. I've always known Landon to wear multiple pairs of shoes, but never really paid much attention, until the other day. I decided to document by photos, just how many different pairs of shoes he wore that day. Note that none of these pictures were a set up or recreated in any way. As soon as I'd see him, I'd grab the camera.

1. Saying goodbye to Parker on the bus. (Parker's little slip on flats)

2. Around the house. (Pacie's tinkerbell shoes)

3. Bird watching at Mamie and Gramps. (Parks snow boots)

4. Ready to go outside and play. (This is the usual...not matching randomness! One tennis shoe (Pacie's) one slip on play shoe (also Pacie's)

5. Helping dad cook dinner ont he grill. Snow boots....

6. After dinner-has the matching tennis shoes on now...

7. Ready for bed. (Two of Mommy's shoes-one high heeled and one flat) This is Scott's least favorite, I must say!

(To be fair, he does wear Scott's sometimes too. I think his are just too big to walk around in.)

I am and always have been a shoe lover. It's one of Scott's biggest pet peeves about me! I just never knew that it would be my son that would take after me-my girls maybe, but my boy? I'm just a little disappointed I didn't get him wearing the girls church shoes on this day....they are his favorite! I think it's the noise they make on the wood floors and the cement outside. Ahh well, maybe another day. Then again, maybe he'll soon realize he's wearing girly shoes and will only want his own. I'm sure I'll miss this when that day finally comes!