Happy 14th Birthday Taylor!

One of our Birthday Traditions is that the Birthday girl, or boy, gets to choose all the meals for the day.

Taylor had high standards for breakfast and dinner, but lunch was a breeze. 

For breakfast she chose Swedish pancakes, in our home they are known as roll-up pancakes. It took me over an hour of actual cooking time and 2 dozen eggs, 10 cups of milk and 8 cups of flour! 

I know she is really happy to not be eating gluten free right now. 

Taylor reading her new book from Grandma Chris to Liberty

 Lunch was super easy and I applauded her choice for dinner ~ Sean's homemade calzones. This was the first party that I didn't make the meal.  I loved being able to visit and take care of other small details. I think it was a bit stressful for Sean, calzones for 15 people.
other than the food, we don't have regular traditions or parties for our children. Some years we go all out, like here, other times we go more simple. We almost always combine the boys party.

Sean and Mark finally getting to enjoy some delicious Calzones. 

Our good friends, Mark and Christine and their children recently moved back to the area. We couldn't be more thrilled! Taylor didn't want a big friend party she only wanted to have the Landis' come over, eat calzones, and play in the woods then play 'ghost in the graveyard' which is hide and go seek in the dark outside. I'm still trying to come up with a better name for it than that, any suggestions?!

All the party guests! My mom and niece, Kimberly, the Landis' and my children.  

I cherish the fact that at 14 Taylor was equally thrilled with the books and clothes that she received and promised to share the Playmobile that Ruby, Liberty, and Ian gave her. A toy that entertains both the 2 year old and the 14 year old and everyone in-between is priceless!

This is one example of why I don't have any family photos!

I can hardly believe this was almost a month ago, Aaron is now officially taller than I am, and Taylor has been taller for almost a year.
Taylor is growing into a lovely young lady. She is learning to run a house quite efficiently. She is still the leader in the home and all the other children will happily oblige and play whatever she has in store for them. The other children wait for their turn to have a game with Taylor. She is very cleaver when it comes to using that time as a reward.
Taylor is my #1 kitchen and bathroom cleaner. I am thrilled with the work ethic I have seen develop this past year. I give her her work list for the week and she will work diligently to complete everything on her list. She will even be responsible enough to pass up something fun because she needs to do her work. I am looking for a way to clone that gene!
It is amazing to watch how God is molding her and shaping her into a young woman that is more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside. I am excited to watch her mature over the next year and see her become more responsible. She is a joy and I am so blessed to participate in the molding and shaping and teaching and training of her life.