Happy 7th Birthday Taylor!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR ANN!

Taylor Ann is 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 Taylor's birthday always sneaks up after Christmas, but to be honest, her party always ends up to be one BIG party because everyone is off for the holidays and ready for FUN!

This year we invited lots of friends and family to a Bloomington hotel with a big pool for everyone to gather and swim.  We spent the night there with family and friends.  Taylor couldn't have been happier.  Friends are very important to Taylor and she was so excited to be with all of them at once.

The adults got to chat and watch the big Vikings/Packers game in the lounge.

 Taylor and her Calvin sweeties.

 Kylie and Taylor

Here are all the kiddos gathered right before the money dive.  (I wish that bright light wouldn't have been there).  I threw $40 worth of change in the pool and Taylor managed to get $10 of it!  That is our Taylor!

 Taylor and cousin Maddie

 The party room at the hotel as packed with more than 24 kids!

 Auntie Pam gave Taylor the cuties jammies!

Carter, Taylor, and Kensie

Newton Ave. Christmas..............

 Back in Bloomington we celebrated with our good neighbors on Newton Ave.  As always, Hailey and Olivia put on a show; this year it was to "Let it Snow" with the finale being miniature marshmallows flying everywhere.

 Josh's rink was better than ever this year

We made a trip for lunch back to "Wally's" for Carter's most favorite blue plate special

Our time on Newton Ave was a little bitter sweet as we looked longingly over at our home.  The kids had so much fun with their friends that they didn't seem to think it was weird that we were staying next door.  We played games, did some ice skating and of course.......ping pong.

The Miedema family Christmas..............

 The Miedema family Christmas party was out at Uncle Loren's farm.  Why "Uncle" Loren?  Because just 2 hours before we arrived out at his house he proposed to Julie!!!!  Yeah... a wedding to come in the Miedema family!  We are so excited and the kids were attacking them with tons of wedding questions....poor Loren was bombarded.

 All of the Miedema cousins minus Brit.

 Grandma Miedema and Julie showing off her new bling

 Loren and Julie

  Who would think that Big Bird would would show up at a Christmas party!!!!!!!!!

 The Zeinstras' sporting their Boston gear.

 The big favorite was the blanket poncho

Grandma Miedema and the kids had a tea party.  They talked very proper and their server was "Jeeves" also known as Carter.

Our Vis family Christmas...................

 Our flight from Boston landed in Minneapolis at 11pm, but we were feeling like it was midnight.  The kids had fallen asleep on the plane and were rudely awakened by popping ears and sub-zero temps.  We decided to head straight to Leota yet that night while the kids slept in our rental jeep from Josh & Jodi.  I was feeling horrible and was spiking fevers with tones of chest pain from the nasty virus that Hailey had earlier in the week.  

Despite the illness, the parties proceeded as planned as all 19 of us moved in at Mom and Dad in Leota.  The kids loved their time with cousins as always while the rest of the adults strived to solve all of life's greatest problems in the living room.

Carter loves to hang out with his boy cousins and was wrestling with them whenever possible.

 Above is Mom and Dad with all 10 grandchildren....soon to be 11.

 The cousins don't skip a beat with each other.  They stay so very busy and love to mother Kensie continuously.  Three of my nieces and nephews have now passed me up in height!

Mike was struck by the virus next, followed by Taylor on Christmas day.

 Brad, Pam, and family

 Stephanie, Eric, and family

 Our very sick family......our memory of Christmas 2012

Wil, Ginnie, crabby Kensie, and baby Zobel

Our Boston Christmas...December 20,2012

 We kept up our traditional ham, potatoes, and corn meal with peppermint stick icecream with the kiddos this year!  It was a big success!

 It was an electronic Christmas for our kids this year.  Hailey got a kindle fire and Taylor an Ipod touch.  Hailey loves to read and Taylor loves to listen to music.

Carter got hockey sticks and a punching bag.

Hanging out before Christmas...........

 The first part of December seemed long for us as we were anticipating our trip for Christmas back to Minnesota.  The temps dropped outside and it was dark outside by 4:15pm.  These pictures were captured just because I thought it was cute that they were hanging together without fighting and because Carter insisted on doing some of the dishes after dinner.

Taylor learned this from a friend at school and so this is the official duet that the girls can perform together.

You're a mean one.................

The Grinch has been a favorite at our home for many, many years.  The kids love when it is time to pull out the Christmas DVDs each year.  Our favorites include: The Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and The Grinch that Stole Christmas!  From the moment we saw the advertisements that The Grinch Musical would be put on in the theatre district downtown, we knew we just had to take the kids for a holiday treat.

 The Wang Theatre was absolutely beautiful.  The kids were glued to the show the entire time!

We were so very glad we took them.  There was a live orchestra, incredible costumes, some fright, some laughter, and lots of singing.

 Merry Christmas!

35......yikes

 Let it snow, let it snow................

 Special day spent with the family on my 35th birthday.

I think I will just stop with birthdays now