CaKeS & Birthday Girls!!

We celebrated Katleyn's and Tayler's birthdays this weekend! I was crazy and decided to bake 2 cakes in one day...did I mention I was CRAZY!! Eight hours later I was done with both and had two happy little girls! That's all that matters!!

BUT...

I have been nominated for bad mom of the year award!

Katelyn's birthday was August 12th (yes, last month)! That was also Rich's last night of school and if you read this blog, you will know that we were at school surprising him that night. Well, she did get to open her presents that night when we got home...BUT, I told her she would get her cake and ice cream later. She was fine with that, but she informed me that she would have to stay 5 1/2 years old until she had her cake! Now comes the bad mom part...she had to wait until September 13th (a whole month) to officially turn 6!! I know...so sad! Needless to say, Katelyn is finally 6...YAY!!

Here are a few pictures to enjoy...

Katelyn July 2009

Katelyn's Cake - she wanted a butterfly cake

She's 2 now!!

I couldn't decide what kind of cake to make her, so...
I decided to do a basket with her favorite things in it...
(her pink blanket, shoes, jewelry, baby dolls, rubber duckies, school buses)

Her cake with her name on the blocks...
(notice the finger marks in the fondant blanket)

Have I told you she LOVES jewelry, shoes, and babies?

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Tayler

Could it be...she is 2 already? Where has the time gone?
September 11, 2007
...one of the most important days of my life!

Tayler Brielle Mickelsen


My little baby girl Tayler came into our lives!
This sweet little angel has been a miracle and blessing to our family!


TAYLER:
hazel eyes

brown hair
tiny, petite build
loves to smile
gives tight hugs

lots of kisses
talks up a storm

LOVES:
Mommy, Daddy, and all of her brothers and sisters,
her blanket, her thumb, her baby dolls, shoes (of any kind), jewelry, dresses and skirts,
school busses, and dogs


Other facts:
hates her hands being dirty
loves nursery
loves to be outside
loves to have her picture taken
loves to sing
loves getting into mommy's make-up

Favorite songs: I sing her these songs every night at bedtime
(yep, every one...and sometimes more than once!)


Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Popcorn Popping
Wheels On The Bus
You Are My Sunshine
You Are So Beautiful To ME
ABC's
I Am A Child Of God
I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus (imagine that-haha)
her Tayler song: I changed a few words to a primary song

(to the tune of Mother, I Love You)

Tayler, I LOVE you!
Tayler, I do!
Father in heaven has sent you to me!
When I am near you,
I love to feel you...
squeezing so tightly
that you love me too!
Tayler, I LOVE you!
I LOVE YOU...I DO!!!!

September 11th - Remembering

September 11, 2001
Never Forget...

I sit here this morning thinking back and remembering the horrific events that occurred on this very morning 8 years ago. Has it really been 8 years? I only had 3 children when those planes hit the towers, the pentagon and flight 93 went down...now I have 6.

I can still vividly remember everything that happened that morning. I got a phone call from Rich to turn on the tv because a plane had just crashed into the world trade center. I was glued to the tv...was this a terrorist attack on our country? How could people do that? What were those on the planes going through and thinking? What about the thousands of people in the towers and the pentagon. How many phone calls home became their last words to their loved ones? What must those people in the towers have been going through that they felt their better option was to jump out of the windows...unimaginable terror! Those poor families wondering if their loved ones were ok or not.

As I got ready this morning I thought about how many people were doing this exact thing eight years ago, not knowing that their lives were about to be changed forever and in such an unfathomable way.

I remember the days after, there were no planes in the skies. It was so wierd to look up , only to see nothing. I can also remember the very first plane I did see in the sky after planes were allowed to fly again.

Most of all, I just remember the immense sadness and state of shock that I felt! My heart still aches for those lives lost and their loved ones and friends!

I think of the heroes that emerged on that day! I recall the many images I have seen of firefighters climbing the stairs as thousands are making their way down. The heavy equipment on their back, the screams, the panic, the smells...they must have been terrified! Would I have been willing to do what they did? I hope that I would have. How many heroes emerged in those stairwells as strangers came together and comforted each other, maybe carried someone, maybe held someone's hand, put their own fears aside to comfort someone else. I hope everyone had someone.

How thankful I am every day for the men and women who risk their lives to serve our country and fight for our freedoms...freedoms that many of us take for granted! I'm thankful to their families for their sacrifice also.

I'm so thankful to be an American and to live in this beautiful country and for my freedom!

I will always remember...will you?

A little girl & her daddy

Rich came home from work one day and Tayler immediately wanted to go for a walk. She was in a onsie t-shirt and striped pants with her high heel shoes on, but Daddy didn't care. He immediately handed his stuff over and grabbed her hand and took her on a walk! He sure loves his baby girl and she LOVES her daddy! This is a picture I will treasure forever!

BUSY, BUSY BEES

Ok, here it is...my weekly schedule.
This will explain my lack of blogging!

Our Family Tree

Monday: Christopher soccer practice: 6-7:30
Family Home Evening

Tuesday: Katelyn & Kehli Gymnastics: 5-6
Brenden gymnastics : 6-7

Wednesday: Christopher Soccer: 6-7
Christopher Mutual: 7-8:30
Kehli Activity Days: 7-8
Brittaney Showchoir practice: 6-9

Thursday: Cheri teaches piano
Brenden Gymnastics: 7-8
Brittaney Mutual: 7-8:30

Friday: Cheri teaches piano
Brenden Private Gymnastics: 5:30-6

Saturday: Soccer Games

In addition to all of these activities we have homework, chores, dinner, showers and play time! Thankfully, I have a great husband who is definitely a team player and helps make this all possible. Believe me, it takes the both of us! We love watching the kids having fun doing these activities. I will post about each of them and their activities later.
I am so proud of my kids and their passion for life. They are all doing great in school and they are thoroughly enjoying their activities. They definitely help to keep me feeling young! I love these 6 little people more than life itself! I live to make them happy, but I also try to make sure they are great human beings at the same time! Trust me...they are fabulous! :)