Bailey is 5

It's hard to believe that I am the mother of a 5 year old. The time has just flown by and I feel like it is getting away from me. It seems just like yesterday that Russell and I brought home this sweet little baby girl with more hair on her head and personality in her body than one person should be allowed. Bailey is such a gift! She has the amazing ability to read people and to connect with everyone and bring joy and happiness into all our lives. She is continually smiling or goofing around, she gets a pure kick out of life and is always searching for the next big adventure. I decided to put 5 of my favorite pictures of Bug throughout the years on this birthday blog, the only problem was looking through all the old pics I realized that they are all my favorite. I had such a hard time breaking it down to just 5. I have truly enjoyed every moment that I have had with my girl. Watching her grow and develop with each new stage has been a joy and a blessing.
Miss Personality
Always making us laugh. She is known for making Dress-ups out of anything, even a bucket.
She grew up so much the day she became a Big Sister. I was so proud of the way she took care of her baby brother. So Loving and protective.
Bailey Picked out her own Christmas outfit

which was supposed to be Red but she talked me into all pink.

I guess you could say it's her signature color.

The Morning of Bug's birthday she woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed and had a revelation to tell me, she was no longer a toddler interested in silly little kid things, she was now a big 5 year old. In her own words, "I am practically a grown up". (Yes, she actually said this to me)
In honor of her 5th birthday here is a Tribute to Bailey in all 5's.

5 of Bailey's favorite Foods:
Crab, Pomegranates, Waffles, Lasagna, Tuna Fish (funny thing about her liking Tuna is that it was the only thing I craved while I was pregnant with her. Coincidence?)
5 of Bailey's Favorite Shows:
Enchanted, Stardust, The Little Mermaid, All of the Shirley Temple Movies, Sound of Music
5 favorite Places Bailey has been:
Arizona with Gram Faye and Kathy to see Gracie perform her Irish step Dance. South Dakota road trip, California with Reagan and Chiristine, St.George to visit Aunt Annie and Bear Lake with the Taylor family.
5 of Bailey's favorite things:
Polly Pocket dolls, Stuffed Cat, American Girl baby doll, my ipod, Dress up clothes
5 facts about Bug:
She is an amazing little artist with a fascinating imagination, She is a true Social Butterfly, She wakes up with a smile every day, She has a beautiful singing voice and likes to make up songs, She is kind to everyone and does a great job to make sure no one is left out, even if that means including her little brother.
Bailey's best Friends:
Brooklyn, Reagan, Kaylie, Mia, Saydi, Riley, Gram Kathy, Gram Faye, Annie, Rolene and Janine
5 things Bailey would like to be when she grows up: Artist, Scientist, Ballet Dancer, Singer or a Princess. (I say shoot for the moon and go for them all!)
5 things that Bailey looks forward to about getting older:
"loosing my teeth"
"getting my ears pierced"
"Kindergarten"
"Getting Married"
"Going to bed when ever I want"

It's a Birthady Party!

Bug, Luke and Kaylie could not wait for the party! Infact, they were all so hyped up and ready to go that while looking for Lukie's tennis shoes Kaylie and Bug accidentally locked his bedroom door from the inside and I had no way of getting in until Russ got home from work. So, what do you do in this kind of situation - you improvise right? Lukie sucked it up and ran all of our last minute Birthday errands in Girly Pretty Pink Princess shoes.

Don't you think they look gorgeous with the Camo pants?Per Lukie's request,

we celebrated this year at Bouncin' off the Walls.

Our cousin Dylan also has an October Birthday so we included him to make it a Super Duper Party for 3 lucky birthday kids.

Luke and Russ horsing around
Stacie and Bug

Jackson Bell
(Bug tells me all the time that she is going to marry him someday)

So much fun!

Jake using me as a toboggan

I'm holding on to Autumn
Heather, me and Stacie

Big 3 year old birthday boy Dylan

Mass carnage!

I'm embarrassed to say that the evening got a little out of hand.

The place completely lived up to its name and everyone children and adults included

"bounced off of the walls", ceiling and floor.

Can you say DAN-GER-OUS

The injury count was as follows:

Mia age 4- Bloody Nose -ran into Russell's massive Popeye forearm

Jager age 1- Badly sprained arm- going to fast down the steep slide (we thought it was broken)

Ali age 2 - Near concussion- malfunction in basketball bouncer, flipped her on the floor

Lukie age 3 - Near spinal cord injury and concussion- basketball bouncer once again.

I know there were a few others but can't remember specifically who and what exactly happened.

Other than these few "unfortunate incidents" the night was a total blast!

What? Who's this? Could it be.........

"Love goddess" Rita Hayworth, "Pin up girl" Betty Grable, and "Bombshell" Mae West.

Better believe it, we're a pretty classy crowd.

Neighbors James and Adam

Adam is leaning over the infamous Basketball Bouncer

that needs to be renamed the "Death Trap"

Aunt grandma Sue and Dylan Liz, Cindy, Darrin, Bree, Strawberry

Madison Good friends Jenn and Mia

Cousin Claire

Bug's entourage; Jordan, Mia, Reagan and Brooklyn Presents.........

presents............

and more presents!

This year I decided to try Cupcake cakes.

I Loved them because they were so easy and made very little mess.

(Once again, thank you Sunny for the wonderful suggestion)

Luke's Birthday cake was Spiderman

Bug had Tinkerbell

and Dylan wanted Fire Engines.

The evening was a little chaotic, it felt a bit like a 3 ring circus with everything going on at once. But we managed to get through it and really had a fantastic time. Thank you to everyone that came to support the kids and to make this birthday such a memorable year! You know it was a successful Party when the evening ends on this note.

Happy Birthday and Goodnight my big 3 year old

Tagged for the very first time

Never been tagged before but thanks to Kristi I'll give it my best:
My 8 Favorite TV Shows:
Office
Lost
So you think you can Dance
Fame
Old SNL (preferably the ones with the hottie that plays a wicked cow bell!)
Amazing Race (one day Russ and I are going to be on that show!)
Anything on Discovery
Anything semi-educational that holds the kids attention for 1/2 hour so I can squeeze in a quick shower or cat nap
8 Favorite Restaurants:
Outback
Bombay House (Indian)
The Other Place (Greek)
Chipotle (Mexican, I never thought I'd say it but much better than Cafe Rio)
Red Mango, Mmmmm Red Mango... does Frozen Yogurt Count??
Chin Wah (guessed it? Chinese)
Anything that offers a kids meal and has a slippery slide
The Sev (What can I say, I LOVE slurpees!)
8 Things that Happened Yesterday:
Washed the kids bedding
Organized the kids new birthday toys in the playroom (thanks to everyone!)
Made Salmon and Broccoli for dinner
Finished a book that I really enjoyed and highly recommend titled "It's all Good"
Went to lunch
Colored with the kids
Picked up around the house
Went to a Pumpkin Patch with Heather.Kaylie, Dylan and my kids
8 Things I Look Forward to:
Remodeled House
Halloween with the kids
Christmas
Going to the Nutcracker with Bug
Spending the day with Gram Faye and Aunt Annie Wednesday
Girls night out
Thanksgiving at the Grand America Hotel (Love, love, love this tradition!)
Dates with Russ
8 Things I Love about Fall:
Leaves (that's a given)
The Harvest Moon
Soup for dinner
Hoodies
Crisp Air
Apple Cider
Fire in the Fireplace
Snuggling in bed for a few minutes longer because it's chilly outside the covers
8 Things on My Wish list:
Happy Healthy Children
World Peace
Remodeled House
More Energy!
Did I mention a Remodeled House?
For my brother and his son to move to up to Salt Lake closer to me and my fam
Travel more
Disney Land soon
8 People I am Tagging:Heather,Liz,Bree,Sunny,Christine,Sandi,Nat,Traci

10th Anniversay!

Russ and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary last weekend in San Francisco. Can you believe it? 10 whole adventurous, exciting, never a dull moment, years! It took a little work to get out of town - making sure the kids were cared for and dog fed but thanks t0 the Walker family and Brayden Orgle it was all made possible and boy was it worth it!

We badly needed some time away together! Luke couldn't understand why he wasn't invited because he is so much fun. I had everything packed and ready to go then walked out of my room to pick up the house, when I returned I found a the cutest little stow away in my suitcase instead clothes. Russ grew up north of San Fran just on the other side of the Bay so we decided to spend our first night at the Courtyard Marriott in Novato. That evening we had a very thoughtful "Welcoming Gift" -a red rose, yummy smelling bath candle and bath soaps along with a decorative towel and a note pad - waiting in our room courtesy of Sherine and Nelson, a lovely couple who live in Olympus Cove that Russ is currently building for. We have met
some of the most genuine and caring people through Russell's work over the years, many of whom remain close family friends forever. We are truly blessed to have have so many supportive wonderful people surrounding our little family. I woke up to my hubby's old stompin' grounds and little did I know I was in for a first hand education in the History of Russell Taylor, what a treat! We spent the day visiting all of Russell's old Haunts and a few old friends and I got to learn some new things about my husband. I am making Russ "Man Post" the history attached to all these pictures for posterity and all of man kind because it is his history not mine and I want an authentic account in the books. Hopefully it gets done sooner than later so until then you will all have to pardon the picutres with out captions.

This is his childhood home on CORTE NORTE in a cul de sac perfect for playing night games and riding your bike, jumping cars on roller blades or riding your skateboard.
This is the infamous "hill" that the boys had to weed. I don't know about you but it looks like a mountain to me.

Best Buddy Johnny's house
Safeway that Russ broke his arm at.

Kevin the barber.

He knew exactly who Russell was even though he hasn't seen him for over 15 years.