Arizona Museum for Youth

We decided to try visiting a new place today so we took the kids to the Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa. It is a fun place for the kids to get crafty. :)

There were two different areas, one for ages 0-4 and one for the 5+. We decided to visit the toddler room first for Delaney. The kids got right to work building with the big blocks, Delaney shopped for groceries, and sat to listen to a story.

Waiting for storytime. The story teller was horrible! But the kids were so patient and sat through the whole story...unlike the rest of the audience!

Next we headed to the bigger kid area to build and create.

These were the "thinking chairs."

All done!

Beautiful masterpiece Delaney!

Makenna drawing the Earth.

There was a space exhibit there right now. The kids got to go into a space room, decorate astronauts and learn all about space.

Here we all are in front of a special camera.

Then Makenna and Camden put on a puppet show with aliens and astronauts.

It was a fun place to visit and the kids seemed to have a great time. I just love trying new, fun places with the kids! :)

Christmas with the Taylors

The day after Christmas we went to Christian's parents to celebrate Christmas. It worked out perfect because Aunt Audrey came to town and we could celebrate with her. I decided to still dress the kids up because that is always fun! :) These two are so close (either so close they are inseperable or so close they are at each others throats, but close nonetheless!)

Aww, sweet Laney.

Close sisters. Makenna takes such good care of her.

Each year we all get to open our "boxes" which are 4 boxes on top of each other, each containing gifts. We go around the room taking turns. I thought it would be a great idea to take a picture of the kids with them each year so we could see how they grow each Christmas. :)

Makenna did change clothes into something more comfortable.

Aunt Audrey and Camden
Daddy and Laneybug

I didn't get pictures of everyone (myself included!) but we all had a great day and got WAY too many presents. The next week is just finding a place for everything!

Santa Claus is Coming To Town

Christmas Eve:
We split our time for Christmas Eve to see both sides of the family and it was my parents first.. I don't really take pictures with my camera over at my parents though. I tend to love playing with my mom's camera, so I take a TON with that. Someday maybe I'll get those pictures! :)


After my parents house, we headed to Christian's parents, who always have pasties for dinner. Before dinner the kids got to each open a little something.


Here is messy face Delaney after some MnM's.

Then we headed home to get ready for Santa. Earlier in the week we baked cookies and made a gingerbread house. We decided to take a picture of our group effort.

Then the house neeeded to be prepped for the big guy. We had to leave out milk and cookies (of course), reindeer food in the front yard which consisted of oats and glitter....all of which ended up in Delaney's hair (okay, we can do this) and cheese for the Santa Mouse (what?!?!) Makenna had it all planned out. The mouse did eat the cheese, in case you are wondering.

This is what Santa left them the next morning!

Delaney loved her new Rapunzel doll that has hair that glows when you brush it! She also got a ferris wheel for her ponies, a little doggie in a purse that she named "Paws" and much more.

Camden was super excited about his DSI!!!!! He LOVES playing Makenna's, so he was so stoked to get his own. He also got Mario Brothers for it (his favorite), a Lego set and a Voltron toy.

Look how excited he is about this!Makenna thought her pillow pet and doggie with a purse were perfect from Santa. She named her little chihuahau, "Chloe" after the dog in Beverly Hills Chihuahua. She also got a craft box where she can be as creative as she want. It is filled with all sorts of crafts.

It was pretty funny because it took the kids a while to realize something was behind all these toys...their own balance beam! The girls especially were interested in this new item. In no time, Makenna was doing cartwheels.Daddy liked it too! Delaney with Rapunzel, Makenna with her pillowpet, and Camden with the DSi. The kids loved everything that Santa brought and wondered how he knew them so well. ;)

After Santa gifts we opened our gifts to each other. My favorite part of the whole day was watching how excited Makenna was during this. She had a Santa store at her school and she brought money and picked out a gift for each of us. She put so much thought into each gift she chose and I loved how eager she was for us to open. So sweet.

For me, she picked out a magnet for the fridge that says, "World's Best Mom."

For Christian, it was a pen for this work that says, "World's Best Dad."

For Camden, it was a squishy little football, and for Delaney it was a little puppy. She was so proud of her gifts and I was so proud of her excitement to give! :)

After more playing, we got the kids ready to go.

Look at sweet little Delaney.

And beautiful Makenna.

And cool Camden.

Our sweet Christmas angels.

We went to my parents next and I still have to get all the pictures for mom, so hopefully I will be able to get more posted. What a great day it was!!!

Company Showcase

Makenna had her Company Showcase the Saturday before Christmas. She was in 9 routines!!! It was such a nice, small audience because there were only 23 girls in the whole show. With tons of costume changes it was a crazy 1 1/2 hours, but Makenna had a blast. Megan was awesome and came to change Makenna between routines so I could help with the backstage stuff.

The first routine was the whole company tumbling, but unfortunately Christian was unable to tape this one. The next routine was one with just her Mini Company. This routine will compete this year.

My Momma Told Me

With a VERY fast costume change, she was back with her solo.

Cooties

Next was her tap routine. The elastic in her skirt broke RIGHT before they went on stage and we had to safety pin it to her leotard. This is not a competition routine, just for fun!

Dig That Crazy Santa Claus

They are competing one routine again this year that they had last year.

Rockstar


This is just a fun, silly dance they learned in Musical Theater. It is a very different style of dance for these girls, but they had fun with it!

Living in a Nursery Rhyme

Of course the trio performed their new routine, Mr. Postman.

Mr. Postman

In Lyrical they learned this pretty routine. I always love when the girls get to slow down and do pretty routines. :) They will be learning a new lyrical routine that hopefully will compete too.

Where are you Christmas


The last routine of the night was the entire company, and I do think the girls were tired! There was a lot of craziness going on in this routine, but I think when they clean it up and get costumes it will do well!
Can't Turn You Loose


The show went well and Makenna thanks Daddy, Camden, Delaney, Nana, Papa, Neena, Poppy, Aunt Kelley, Aunt Amy, Uncle Ross and Aunt Megan for coming!!!

Christmas with Aunt Kelley

After the Christmas show on Saturday, Aunt Kelley brought over some Christmas gifts for the kids. As the first gifts of the season...they were VERY excited! Of course she bought them way too much, but they had so much fun. :)Delaney loved her new puppy purse! Okay the outfit is NOT what she was wearing that day! She was cold at lunch so she put one of the shirts Makenna wore for one of her routines and wanted to keep it on all day.Camden loved all his Megamind stuff!

Makenna has been very into scarves and loved her new sparkly purple scarf...her favorite color! And Aunt Kelley never forgets the nail polish and chapstick. Delaney is kind of obsessed now.

After opening presents, Kelley, Makenna and I went to see the Nutcracker.

This was her first time seeing it and she loved it!! She wants to audition next year, and I think she will be old enough to try out for one of the mice. She, however, wants to be Clara, of course. :)

Fund, fun day!!