Taryn's birthday

I cannot believe how time flies. Taryn celebrated her fourth birthday last Sunday the 11th. Since it fell on a Sunday we played on Saturday and she begged to go to Sandhallow, a swimming pool with a huge water slide. She loves going down that thing but the water was super cold so it didn't last too long. We went to Wed Wobin (red robin) for dinner because they have crayons and balloons and she loved getting all the waiters to sing to her. Sunday we had the local family over for cake and ice cream. She was pretty wired all day having to wait to open presents.

She is such a joyful happy passionate child and we are so lucky to have her. Other than that first year (colic and constant screaming and no sleep) she is so fun and just a really nice kid to have around. She has so much energy for life and she sparkles when she smiles. She is a very accommodating sister and gets to be the kitty or puppy a lot when they play-and does so happily. She also is a phenomenal independent player. Just give her some books or puzzles or polly pockets and she can entertain herself for hours. She is still pint sized (27 pounds now I think if she has just eaten and is fully clothed) but when she is hungry she can out eat anyone. She is so excited for her baby sister and sings to her and reads to hear and smooches her constantly. She is really brave and will try anything and I love that I don't have to talk her into swimming lessons or talking in church. She just gets up and goes for it and is a good example to Cami. She is also feisty when the need arises and no one is ever going to make her do anything she doesn't want to. She has the cutest, high pitched, fast voice I have ever heard. Half the time we have no idea what she is saying but the way she talks and sings just cracks us up-loud and proud baby! (We are getting her into some speech therapy to help with her actually being able to make consonant sounds.)

Anyway we just really love her so much and we feel so blessed to be her parents. Our family would not have half the happiness or the laughs without her. She can always be counted on to light up the room and for that I will love her forever.

Brent videoed instead of taking actual pictures so we only have about two but here she is opening presents....Amazing how many times a kid can say "WOW!!!" in ten minutes. Her big gift was a two wheeler. She is so coordinated. She just hopped on and took off...we're hoping with Taryn riding it that Cami will get brave and let us take off the training wheels someday.

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