What has life looked like for Callie leading up to the big teen years?
Swiss Days—Sept 4, 2021
She ended the summer by working at Swiss Days with her pal Mercy. While you were off playing patty-cake, she made $65 bucks!
After we dropped her off that morning, we watched Graham in the parade, then headed home. For some reason, her watch wasn't working so we couldn't get a hold of her to know when/if she needed a ride. Matt wanted to go back for the BBQ dinner at 4:30 pm. We didn't see her at her booth. During dinner, we concurred with Graham that either she was still working and totally fine, or she too had been trying to reach us all day, to which we were going to be in BIG trouble. We hoped it wasn't the latter. Though it was weird to not know where my baby was in that big crowd of people! Matt said a prayer and we found her soon after. She was happily working away.
PHEW.
X-Country—Sept 8, 2021
RUNNING! Her races are usually at the basin, a two-hour drive. I volunteered to carpool the week before my semester started. Course, that week happened to be when I was elbow deep in a paint project, but a promise is a promise. Road trip! We were giddy! Lots of laughs, tunes, and hee-hawin' on the way to Vernal. I guess being on the road was just what I needed to break up my project-full week. Boy, did we get laughing! Such cute, fun girls.
She had a good season! Her last race was conveniently at Kiwanis in Provo.
(Not too old for a Capri sun after the race:)
Ready for a Change—Sept. 21, 2021
Before:
Literally 45-minutes later:
Other Updates: Fall 2021
Playing cornhole at the ward party with her dad. I loved that one of my previous Laurels approached me and wanted us to be a team. Game on!
Artisté during G-Con October 3, 2021
Yes, a temple was announced in HEBER VALLEY!!!!
K-I was waaaaaay impressed with this.
A year into braces!
Three years into PLAYING the violin!
AND she still PLAYS with my hair!
She's getting gooooood.
November 3, 2021
THIRTEEN!
In the weeks leading up to her birthday, Callie decided she wanted to have a friend birthday party. While she was deciding, her friend Gloria asked, "Are you going to invite me to your birthday party?"
Callie, "Yeah, if we're still friends."
Ha-ha. Always hee-hawin'.
Callie, "Yeah, if we're still friends."
Ha-ha. Always hee-hawin'.
We decided on a Dinner Party to be held on Nov. 2nd, the night before her actual birthday. She sent out evites and got 100% commitment +1!
Callie made sweet-looking name tags for each place.
Of their own accord, most girls arrived dressed up.
I was happy that I picked up these pastel dishes from Savers during my last visit. They were calling to me, now I know why. I never like to give candy for a party favor since her birthday is right after Halloween. Instead, each girl took home a small vase of blush tone roses.
Believe it or not, we kept it simple, but it turned out oh-so-lovely. Matt was gone that evening as was Graham, so I was a one-man-band putting on the courses. I dressed the part in black slacks and a white button-down. Though it was Callie who made and served the appetizer during her ghost magic trick. The guests were as delighted as Grandma had been.
We had simple games and activities that went with each course, which consisted of:
Apple and Pecan Salad
Maple Glazed Pork Loin
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes
French Green Beans
Dinner Roll
Strawberries and Cream Cake
I guess there was quite the chatter leading up to the event. The girls did not know what to expect at a birthday dinner party. One was nervous that she'd be seated next to Callie's dad. Most of the fears concerned Matt, oddly enough. He wasn't even there!
Once they saw the pretty table, things started clicking. I heard such things as, "I'm starving," "Which fork do I use first?" and "Are those real flowers? I could cry." Ahhh.
As I prepped the main course, Callie led them in the Tray Game. A Taylor family classic!
The food turned out yummy. I realized that I hadn't eaten much between all of my errands that day. I nibbled as I served;) They each had a question taped under their plate that they took turns answering and discussing. It was sweet to hear them chatter and laugh.
I even went outside and took a picture through the window, so cozy they looked.
Callie's main birthday wish was to have a full-size bed in her room. Check. While visiting Grandma Donna one Saturday, Grandma asked her what else she wanted for her birthday. Callie pointed to Grandma's cookies, "Some of those." I don't know if it was a coincidence, or if Grandma remembered, but she brought those cookies the Sunday before. Double check. So, what to get Callie!?!
Her friends came through, generously!
When I was buying a few party supplies, I almost bought a new "one" for the cake topper. I decided against it. I am endeared to the "one" I have.
One of the perks of having your birthday cake the day before is that you can have birthday cake for breakfast on your birthday!
Her friends each made a toast to her with a glass of bubbly during dessert.
The dinner party took two hours. At 8 pm, Graham texted to say he was ready to be picked up from band practice. I let the girls know, "If you need a ride, now is your chance." They all assured me they did not need a ride. They played games for another hour.
Callie is blessed with a good friend group. Like me though, she is fine being alone as well. I was impressed last night when she opted to go alone to the school play. She was certain she would find someone she knew to sit with—and she did.
After the last guest left, and Matt and Graham had made a delicious plate of food, I said, "Well Callie, are you glad you had your party is over?"
She looked stunned, "Why would anyone ever be glad a party is over???"
She looked stunned, "Why would anyone ever be glad a party is over???"
My bad.
Lucky for her, it wasn't over since her actual birthday was the very next day!
She got a Peruvian alpaca from Mallerie.
And from me? A sweatshirt and SOCKS:/
With the festivities over, I feared her actual birthday was a bit of a letdown. We had plans for dinner that night, but that middle part of the day, after she got home from school, was a bit of a bore.
I guessed correctly when I found her melancholy on her bed. I handed her a gift bag. Inside was an index card that read, "I get to have my Ipad screen fixed for my birthday!" She perked right up.
We went straight-away to Phone Doc and they fixed it that very day.
Since she is now a teenager, I also gave her the flipchart, 52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens. Kept on the counter, we flip to a new page each week.
(Though she is so great at everything anyway!) She is the poster child for this week's topic: "PITCH IN. If food is being prepared, or an area is being cleaned, ask what you can do to help."
After we read it aloud during breakfast, Matt chimed in, "Oh, I won't be home for dinner tonight."
I asked, "Is that so you don't have to pitch in???"
I asked, "Is that so you don't have to pitch in???"
Like last year, Callie's birthday dinner was at The Corner in Midway. New owners, still great food. And check out the charcuterie board!
And…the birthday girl still gets to choose a dessert. This pumpkin cheesecake was perfect since the boys don't like it. She continued to have it for breakfast the next day.
Back at home, we enjoyed watching Coco. In honor of the birthday AND Dia de Los Muertos.
Callie and I noted that two years ago, the friends she had her birthday party at Color Me Mine have all moved away. The group this year was entirely new. Friends can be like that. Our family dinner party might not have been as giggly as her friend group, but we are her people. We will be here.
Forever and Always.
