Taryn turned 5!

I still can't believe Taryn is 5!!!  On her actual birthday, Taryn got to pick our dinner and a family activity.  She went with her favorite-BBQ- and we opted for take out since she wanted to go swimming at the rec center.  That girl is a true carnivore: drumsticks, ribs, pulled pork; you name it, she loves it.  She's our only kid that I get excited about for their birthday dinner.  Swimming was a fun change.  We never go, but the kids loved it.  Luckily, my mom was able to watch MJ so we could easily take the 3 bigger kids.  

As for Taryn's friend party, she pretty much decided and planned everything.  I just helped her.  I've realized that I don't like friend parties so much (I think it's because they've always been at our house and our kids' expectations are too high; and Pinterest, let's be honest).  So I made a decision to hand the reins over.  Best decision ever.  She decided on a snowman theme.

She helped me make the cake.

They wrapped each other into snowmen.  (Taryn wrapping Livvie).

Debbie, Aaron, and Lincoln

Macie, Taryn, and Livvie

Normally I would definitely not allow a show at a party, but I was really trying to allow her to do what she wanted.  So they watched Frosty the Snowman and it ended up being a nice break (they had also found hidden snowmen-cut out and hidden by Taryn; and a snowball fight with white balloons).

Opening presents (favorites were treats and a book)

Blowing out FIVE candles!

The birthday crew: Aaron, Macie, Corbin, Lincoln, Taryn, Livvie, Debbie

(Reed was skiing with Oma)

Cutest baby ever

It ended up being the best party ever!  Hardly any stress on me, and Taryn and her friends had a really good time.  We still plan on switching birthday "parties" in the future, but it was a good one to end on.

5 things we love about Taryn:

1.  Her spunk!  She has the most personality.  She loves to feel good and have fun!

2.  Her taste for good food.  In fact, she asks me what is for dinner every. single. morning.  I'm       starting to think her obsession for food could be a problem, but maybe we can harness it into a love for cooking.  She is the first at the table and the last to leave.  Even at get-togethers with friends or cousins.  Food ALWAYS takes precedence for her.

3. How much she cares for her siblings.  I called her my sister-wife for a while.  She is the biggest help with MJ and she has changed Corbin's diaper and into PJs several times.

4. She is about the silliest girl in the world.  She's always joking and teasing.  It borderline lying, but we'll figure that out later.

5. How she is always thinking about others.  She loves to give gifts.  That is definitely her love language.  She is constantly drawing pictures, writing notes, and making necklaces for grandma or friends.  

We love you, Tar-Bear!

Sledding

With all the snow in Utah this year, we've had a lot of opportunities to go sledding.  We've spent most of our sledding adventures right in our backyard, but Kevin was able to take them by the school on Christmas Eve and I was able to take them 10 minutes down the road at an amphitheater.  I'm going to be honest, the hill made me a little nervous!  Kids are so brave though (or maybe naive?).  I'm getting too old, I guess.  Breaking my body doesn't sound as appealing anymore.

Snow tubing

I took Reed on a really fun double date with my good friend, AnneMarie and her son, Josh (who is also friends with Reed).  We did a co-op preschool together when we were in the same ward in Orem, and now they live only 10 minutes away in Lehi.  Snow tubing was a blast!

Christmas Morning

We always make the kids wait outside in the hall before they bust through this wall of wrapping paper (Reed had woken up by 7am but had to wait until after 8:30am until Corbin and Taryn finally woke up.  He was miserable!  I think it was worth it though.

Happy baby girl

The aftermath

Reed's favorite gift- Monopoly (he has played it at least 15 times in the last month)

Taryn's favorite part of Christmas- snacks and treats

Corbin's new puzzle

A dancing baby

Another favorite- snap circuits.  They are so cool!

Christmas Eve

A snowman breakfast (Taryn ended up eating everyone's bacon.  She loooves bacon!)

We always open up a new game the morning of Christmas Eve.  I love this tradition, because then we spend the morning playing games.  We actually opened up a new puzzle that we worked on as a family, and then we played a few new games that we got from grandparents (like this game where you throw stuffed dogs in the air and try to catch them).

 Kevin took the 3 bigger kids sledding at the hill behind Reed's school.  They had a blast!  It was so perfect, because we had a ton of snow and it was even snowing on Christmas Eve! 

Our own version of the Nativity.  We do it every year and they pretty much hate doing it every year.  But they do love to hold the baby.

Putting cookies out for Santa

Friends

Sometimes you love to read so much that you have to grab a book even when your friends are over.  And then you decide that you will read to your friends.  I love this.

Gingerbread Houses

We've kind of started a new tradition of decorating gingerbread houses with friends.  We have been friends with our Orem friends for about 5 years now.  Luckily, 4 out of the 5 of us now live in Lehi/Saratoga Springs with one still in Orem, so we still get together on occasion.  Last minute, 2 of the families couldn't make it, but we had a blast with the others.  I was so happy to finally decorate gingerbread houses on Dec. 22, because Taryn kept bugging me about doing it since the beginning of December.

Harry, the veteran 

Apparently Corbin didn't want to get his fingers dirty.

Cousin Christmas Day

In lieu of a cousin Christmas gift exchange, we opted to spend a couple hours at Hangtime, a really fun trampoline place.  It was perfect for the range of ages 2-14 (babies were content with their moms).  They had designated areas for bigger kids (which Reed is apparently) to play dodgeball and basketball.  And the little kids had a blast jumping into foam pits.  It was so much fun and nobody wanted to leave.  Success!  In the evening, we went to Alpine to play games and act out the Nativity.

Part 1: Hangtime

Part 2: acting out the Nativity 

(Corbin cried nearly the whole time)

Mary, a shepherd, and a wiseman

Part 3: Games

(Wrap a teammate like a snowman)

(Make reindeer antlers with balloons and pantyhose and wear on your head)