Most days you will see this guy with at the very least one lion---but many a time he can be found to carry 3 lions around--2 by their tails and one in hand......we've created a monster.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
OWEE
Most days you will see this guy with at the very least one lion---but many a time he can be found to carry 3 lions around--2 by their tails and one in hand......we've created a monster.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Just an update....
It's been awhile since I last posted. Nothing too big has happened lately. We are just getting into the routine of school and doing Collin's preschool here at home, as well as play dates and STILL decorating the house.
St. Louis feels like home now. It took a while--longer than Ohio did. But we are really happy here. I feel incredibly humbled with every move. At the start I tend to have poor attitude because none of the moves have been where I thought were the best for us. -But EVERY time I have been proven wrong.- and I am SO grateful for that. We have moved into a great ward-- where there are several other resident families. Mike's program has 4 LDS guys in it--and all 4 of them ended up in our ward- which has really helped with this whole transition. We've been able to make some GREAT friends--the kind that become like family.
Since there hasn't been anything big going on--I'm just going to do a breakdown on what each of us is doing--
MIKE is currently working in the NICU. Pretty intense to work with such sweet, tiny and heartbreakingly very sick little babies. Unfortunately, he has been scheduled for all the really hard rotations all at the first- but he has quickly adjusted to his long hours and seems to be really doing well. He is in his element- which is SO great to see.
Amberlee -I am also in the process of "training" for a 10k. Luckily, I agreed to do this with a friend--so I have her to keep me in line and prevent me from dropping out. :) I have never really liked running. In fact I rather dislike it. A lot. But I do like how I feel afterwards and I know it's "good for me". My dad enjoyed running--I can remember one Saturday morning he asked me if I wanted to join him--I quickly declined- and asked him WHY in the world he liked to. His response was "B- it just makes ya feel so good" (he of course was gritting his teeth while saying this, totally my dad). So I like to think that he would be proud of me doing this. I am also beginning to get ready to re-open my etsy shop. This time around I will be doing something different from jewelry. Fingers crossed it goes well and helps to fill in the gaps that residency pay doesn't cover!
SAMANTHA is just plugging along at school. She still LOVES it--and seems to have adjusted without a problem. Her favorite subjects are Music and Art. Every Tues. they have their library day--and in true Samantha style--she thinks of her brothers- and comes home with books that they would like (dinosaurs, dogs etc.) She just lost another tooth-which makes it her 6th tooth lost.
COLLIN is doing really well. We were going to place him in a preschool (which he was SOOO excited for) and decided against it for a few different reasons. It took me a little while to convince him that doing preschool at home with me was going to be just as fun ;) Lucky for me-- he actually really enjoys it! And is quickly learning. He and Owen have really started to play well together-which has been so fun to see.
OWEN is getting TOO old--way too fast! He is quite the little mimic'er - wanting to do EVERYTHING that his siblings are doing--and it's quite adorable. Everyday he is saying more and more words- and doing more and more new things. He loves nursery (which took a few weeks) and LOVES singing time.
All in all we are happy, healthy (kinda--just fighting colds right now) and enjoying our life here.
St. Louis feels like home now. It took a while--longer than Ohio did. But we are really happy here. I feel incredibly humbled with every move. At the start I tend to have poor attitude because none of the moves have been where I thought were the best for us. -But EVERY time I have been proven wrong.- and I am SO grateful for that. We have moved into a great ward-- where there are several other resident families. Mike's program has 4 LDS guys in it--and all 4 of them ended up in our ward- which has really helped with this whole transition. We've been able to make some GREAT friends--the kind that become like family.
Since there hasn't been anything big going on--I'm just going to do a breakdown on what each of us is doing--
MIKE is currently working in the NICU. Pretty intense to work with such sweet, tiny and heartbreakingly very sick little babies. Unfortunately, he has been scheduled for all the really hard rotations all at the first- but he has quickly adjusted to his long hours and seems to be really doing well. He is in his element- which is SO great to see.
Amberlee -I am also in the process of "training" for a 10k. Luckily, I agreed to do this with a friend--so I have her to keep me in line and prevent me from dropping out. :) I have never really liked running. In fact I rather dislike it. A lot. But I do like how I feel afterwards and I know it's "good for me". My dad enjoyed running--I can remember one Saturday morning he asked me if I wanted to join him--I quickly declined- and asked him WHY in the world he liked to. His response was "B- it just makes ya feel so good" (he of course was gritting his teeth while saying this, totally my dad). So I like to think that he would be proud of me doing this. I am also beginning to get ready to re-open my etsy shop. This time around I will be doing something different from jewelry. Fingers crossed it goes well and helps to fill in the gaps that residency pay doesn't cover!
SAMANTHA is just plugging along at school. She still LOVES it--and seems to have adjusted without a problem. Her favorite subjects are Music and Art. Every Tues. they have their library day--and in true Samantha style--she thinks of her brothers- and comes home with books that they would like (dinosaurs, dogs etc.) She just lost another tooth-which makes it her 6th tooth lost.
COLLIN is doing really well. We were going to place him in a preschool (which he was SOOO excited for) and decided against it for a few different reasons. It took me a little while to convince him that doing preschool at home with me was going to be just as fun ;) Lucky for me-- he actually really enjoys it! And is quickly learning. He and Owen have really started to play well together-which has been so fun to see.
OWEN is getting TOO old--way too fast! He is quite the little mimic'er - wanting to do EVERYTHING that his siblings are doing--and it's quite adorable. Everyday he is saying more and more words- and doing more and more new things. He loves nursery (which took a few weeks) and LOVES singing time.
All in all we are happy, healthy (kinda--just fighting colds right now) and enjoying our life here.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
FIRST day of FIRST grade
Samantha officially started First grade last Wednesday (Aug. 17th). One of the million of things that we LOVE about Samantha is how well she adjusts to change. That little girl just rolls with it. We have moved 3 times in the last 4 years-- and each time she has been so great,- she is always excited to meet and make new friends. She was THRILLED to start first grade--especially when she realized that she would have her OWN desk, her OWN supplies and her very OWN locker (SO grown-up). Her teachers name is Mrs. Nickolaus
Before School: SO EXCITED
All dressed and ready to go!
All dressed and ready to go!
A picture with her brothers....
Silly kids...
In front of her new class room
After School:JUST as EXCITED. She loved her first day---and now a week later-she loves it just as much!
Collin has now adjusted to having Samantha gone--on the first day he called out to her a few times-and then realized that she wasn't home. So cute--and a little heartbreaking.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The 4th
This year we had only been in St. Louis for a week--and honestly I was going to totally ignore it. Mike had to work--and I just didn't have it in me to do fireworks alone with the kids. But thankfully Natalie (a friend from Kirksville whose husband is doing residency here) totally saved me! Plus I was able to meet a new friend who also ended up being in our ward!
This was Owen the whole night---going from one adult to the other trying to get them to light his sparkler.
He finally gave up and just pretended :)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Utah/Yosemite Part 2
Since we had the whole family in Yosemite we took the opportunity to take family pictures. The kids cooperated (7 kids under in the age of 7 could have gotten really interesting!) and all in all it was very painless! -love family
Utah
Since we had all the Stevens cousins around we decided to have Collin's birthday party a little early. We went to Thanksgiving for a BUG Safari party. Really, it was a tad disappointing for the money---and it wasn't all that was promised--but the kids did have a fun time.
Love my little Capt' America
Everytime we are all together we make it possible for the guys to go out and do something (usually golfing) and then the girls figure out something. This year we did pedicures and went to Sweet Tomatoes. So fun :)
We also made it down to visit Grandma Taylor. She is always so sweet and loved the chance we had to visit with her!
We loved our time in Utah/California. It was JAMMED pack with so much but we enjoyed every minute of it (ok--maybe not the drive there OR the drive back to St. Louis)
Friday, July 15, 2011
UTAH/YOSEMITE (Part One)
Documenting our time in Utah and California is going to take some time...so I've decided to do it in parts. I am working from the end of out trip to the beginning....
For a week in June we spent time in an awesome cabin an hour (or so) outside of Yosemite National Park. It was great...all the Taylors together for the first time in years. It was the perfect. I'd say one of my favorite kinds of vacations. We had a blasts swimming (ok, so maybe I didn't swim...but everyone else did), talking,reading,playing games(Marissa even brought things to play some "Minute to Win It"),making the Taylor Bunch movie(explanation below), seeing beautiful Yosemite (AMAZING) and attending the Fresno temple all together as a family.
Russell loves to watch the Brady Bunch. One day (about a year ago) after watching an episode of the Bunch he decided that he wanted his family to reproduce that exact episode and record it---so he got to work. Rosalie said that he would sit at his computer with the episode online and watch it for a second--pause it ---and then type it in WORD. Rosalie would then have to go in and proof read it to make sure that it all made sense, sometimes having to go back and watch some it herself. Russell then assigned all the parts. Rosalie copied it on big paper and then had a script for everyone--highlighting their parts. The kid is AWESOME. He even brought props (of course he had to be limited to one box)
Here is how Russell had it set up for the "read through"---all the scripts. Over the next few days they acted it out and recorded it. Marissa is now editing it. It was pretty great to see everyone act it out--I have to hand it to the actors for being such great sports!
I just have to say that it is an absolute privilege and blessing to know Russell. What an amazing example he is. We are better people for having him in our lives.......
The kids standing out on the deck....beautiful view.
Back in Utah....
Mike flew out the day after we returned from California. He had to begin his orientation. We decided to follow out a week after---to give the kids (and I) a break from driving.
THE ZOO
On Collin's actual birthday we thought that we should atleast do something fun even though we had already celebrated his birthday earlier in the month. This little boy loves dinosaurs and loves dinosaur dan (a cute show on pbs). So Hogle Zoo was doing Zoorasic Park-----
For a week in June we spent time in an awesome cabin an hour (or so) outside of Yosemite National Park. It was great...all the Taylors together for the first time in years. It was the perfect. I'd say one of my favorite kinds of vacations. We had a blasts swimming (ok, so maybe I didn't swim...but everyone else did), talking,reading,playing games(Marissa even brought things to play some "Minute to Win It"),making the Taylor Bunch movie(explanation below), seeing beautiful Yosemite (AMAZING) and attending the Fresno temple all together as a family.
Russell loves to watch the Brady Bunch. One day (about a year ago) after watching an episode of the Bunch he decided that he wanted his family to reproduce that exact episode and record it---so he got to work. Rosalie said that he would sit at his computer with the episode online and watch it for a second--pause it ---and then type it in WORD. Rosalie would then have to go in and proof read it to make sure that it all made sense, sometimes having to go back and watch some it herself. Russell then assigned all the parts. Rosalie copied it on big paper and then had a script for everyone--highlighting their parts. The kid is AWESOME. He even brought props (of course he had to be limited to one box)
Here is how Russell had it set up for the "read through"---all the scripts. Over the next few days they acted it out and recorded it. Marissa is now editing it. It was pretty great to see everyone act it out--I have to hand it to the actors for being such great sports!
I just have to say that it is an absolute privilege and blessing to know Russell. What an amazing example he is. We are better people for having him in our lives.......
The kids standing out on the deck....beautiful view.
Back in Utah....
Mike flew out the day after we returned from California. He had to begin his orientation. We decided to follow out a week after---to give the kids (and I) a break from driving.
THE ZOO
On Collin's actual birthday we thought that we should atleast do something fun even though we had already celebrated his birthday earlier in the month. This little boy loves dinosaurs and loves dinosaur dan (a cute show on pbs). So Hogle Zoo was doing Zoorasic Park-----
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Doesn't Matter the Age
I've come to realize that it doesn't matter how old I become, I will always cry when I have to say goodbye to my mom. Goodbyes are NEVER easy-- and they don't get any easier. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm not only saying goodbye to my mom--but I am also saying goodbye to one of my best friends.
I took my parents to the airport earlier today. They drove the kids and I out here a week ago and stayed to help us get settled. Mike flew out here 2 weeks ago to begin orientation. Let's just say that the list of debts that we owe to them has gotten increasingly longer this past week. My dad worked his tail off making and installing closet shelves in all bedroom closets, figuring out what was wrong with our kitchen sink, hanging my huge (beautiful)pain in the rear mirror, making it so our electric dryer worked in a place wired for a gas dryer, made me a picture frame and did many other little small things that my mom or I needed help with. My mom spent her time helping me unpack, clean, organize, entertain the kids and DECORATE! I actually have things on my wall BEFORE we've been in the home for 6 months. She also sensed when I needed the "Just remember that you didn't necessarily want to move to Ohio and you absolutely loved it there" pep talks.
We are SO grateful for the sacrifice it was for them to come out for the week (especially since my dad leaves again on Tuesday to drive out to California to fix up his mom's house) We are so blessed to have such loving and supportive parents on both sides- parents who continually give and give and give. Thank you
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