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)

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-----

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

From this........

 ......To this.

WOW. When I think back to the beginning, we had NO idea what we were in for. It's been hard, it's been great, it's been challenging, it's been rewarding. It's pretty hard to believe that we are to this point- we've seen reached the end of this "tunnel"-- headed for another one! It's amazing to think back on all that we experienced and the way that we've all grown. I am unbelievably proud of Mike. I love him for the sacrifices that he has made and for all of his hard work.

I love the life long friendships that we've made.

Our time in Kirksville for graduation went by too fast, I left feeling like we didn't get enough time together. Plus the weather for graduation was FREEZING, so we didn't get nearly the pictures that I wanted to get. 

 The 3 families. Perry's, Us and the Flanagan's.

 Mike, with his parents and brother Russell. We are SO grateful for all their love and constant support through this.

 Jena and I (we couldn't find Tasha yet)

 There we are! LOVE these girls, SO grateful for them

He did it! We did it!

Thanks Ohio.....

Man, it was a hard day when we pulled out of Curtis Knoll Drive and headed west to St. Louis. We LOVED our first home, loved our friends, loved our ward, loved Samantha's school, we LOVED Ohio.

We have been so blessed to live there and to have met so many amazing people. We wish that it could have been for a bit longer.
Ohio will always hold a special place in our hearts.

My fabulous friends at craft group. LOVE them

Samantha's Kindergarten class

A quick visit home

A few months ago, my mom received a letter in the mail telling her that she had been selected to speak in a class at BYU's Women's Conference. I love to hear my mom talk, and I knew that this would be a neat experience- so I wanted to find some way to get home. I was talking with some friends at our craft night, telling them how I was trying to find a way to earn money for a plane ticket- so that I could hear my mom speak. A few days later, one of these friends approached me and told me that her and her husband had some airline credit that they wanted me to have. I was blown away - I couldn't believe it. 
It all worked out so perfectly, Mike would be done with his rotations so he could stay with the older kids, and then I could take Owen with me.
The trip quickly came. Unfortunately, I threw out my back a day before I left, so I was in a lot of pain, and for most of my time at home I spent it laying flat on the floor- but it was WORTH IT.  Owen was lucky and got to be spoiled by his Grandma and Grandpa Taylor (and Russell end even Marissa!) while I went down to the conference with my sisters. It was SO great to hear my mom speak. I know that I am not biased when I say that she did an absolutely beautiful job. I am SO blessed to have such an amazing example. LOVED her talk- LOVED the way that she presented her theme- her and my dad, Joseph are quite the team--- she comes up with the idea and he does all the technical stuff. I wish that I could have video taped it. I can't believe that I don't even have a picture of me with my mom. I STINK at taking pictures- All I got was a picture with my sisters (which I love). It was just that there were so many people that wanted to talk to her afterwards, that by the time we were leaving, I totally forgot to get the picture-- still so mad about it.

It all went by so quickly but I am SO grateful for great friends who helped make it happen, and for a wonderful, supportive husband who played mister mom for 3 days. I am grateful for my beautiful, amazing mom.

Easter

 We were going to be in St. Louis over Easter weekend, so we decorated our eggs earlier on in the week. I know I may have said this before, but I have a very organized and clean husband and that was the least messy egg coloring experience that I've ever had! It was great!

 LOVE THIS-- it was so sweet, we had to take a picture

The Easter Bunny was smart, he knew where to find us, even if we were in a hotel. We went to church with the Johnson's (friends from medical school) Lucky for us they are also doing their residency in St. Louis! After church we got together with the Johnson's and the Jenk's(more friends from school). It was so great to just catch up and visit.