Best of 2024: Favorite Payton Moment

Payton just continues to grow up. I know what most people will say “I bet you wish time would stay still!” But honestly, I do not. I love seeing how the kids grow. Payton had some big moments this year. She had her first sleepover (and a few more after that one), she improved at softball, became a bird owner, had another excellent dance recital, tried more rides at Disney, and almost danced with me at the Someone Special Dance (maybe year three will be the winner). 

My favorite Payton moment this year was one that I was not involved in: she went to her first concert. Payton and Lindsey went to a Kidz Bop concert in Pittsburgh with some friends. They had a great time. But this goes to my point about seeing the kids grow and change. Payton loves music. She listens to her Alexa in her room all the time. If you read some of my Decades posts, the more modern stuff was heavily influenced by Payton. When we sat down together and wrote the Taylor Swift post, I was blown away with how much thought she put into the songs. Some of my favorite days are when we are listening to AJR or Milky Chance, just jammin’ away. Or I will introduce her to a new song, and she will listen and tell me what she thinks. 

One of my favorite nights was when the kids were dancing to songs, and they wanted me to record them. Then Payton wanted to sing a Taylor Swift song. It was a longer song, but she totally nailed it. Granted, she is singing with the song, but still, she knows all the words (more than I can say for myself). So you may be wondering what music she listens to. Obviously she loves Taylor Swift. She also loves Kidz Bop (she is still shocked to discover the real version–when appropriate). She likes my alternative rock, especially newer stuff. She does not really like older music. I tried to get her to listen to Bob Dylan or John Prine, and she was not impressed. She also does not care for Lindsey’s early 2000s alt-rock. Maybe that will change as she gets older.

For now though, it seems like listening to music together will be our thing. And I am definitely cool with that…