COUGARS

I admit I am a bit obsessed with BYU football. I record every game and watch it at least twice. I plan my whole Saturday around kickoff. I frequent BYU fan sites almost daily and read about every article I can find about the boys in blue. I even have this picture as my computer wall-paper at work.

I have felt a bit BLUE this week as the Cougs didn't have a game. Mostly I worried that because they didn't play, they would drop in the polls. However, today I read that BYU actually moved up!! They are now ranked 8th in the AP and 7th in the USA Today. I am stoked.

Day by Day ...

That's kind of how life has to go sometimes ... well, all the time, actually. But, lately - I've felt like I just need to tackle one day at a time. Not that life is bad or anything ... just lots of the same ... day after day after day after day after day. haha.

Anyway - it's been a week since we posted - so, just thought I'd take a minute to post SOMETHING. The other day, Krystal looked at my face with a very loving and concerned look in her eyes. She gently touched both sides of my cheek ... kind of by my mouth .... and said, "Mommy, your face haves scratches right there. That is so sad, Mommy!" A little confused, I had her show me in the mirror - and, to my horror - she was talking about my WRINKLES!!! Yep. I am officially wrinkly. I feel so SO old. But, I guess I can always say I've led a smiley life so far ... smiley enough that the "scratches" are permanent. :)

And ... she's one to talk .... with smiles like this ...

... her wrinkles will catch up with her too. hahaha.

Also - thank you, Marissa - for putting the kids to bed tonight. And, thank you - Melisa - for feeding me tonight. I feel SO much better!

Tyler Tag

My first name: T-Dawg, TyGuy, TyTy, Big T, T-Man, Daddy, Prince Charming, Dude (if your ever around my lil' Aaron - this is what you're called pretty much), Grover's-son (that's a pretty common one) ... but, I go by Tyler too.


My middle name: Scott - fitting, yeah? This could also be one of my favorite past times .... uh ... because I'm a therapist - and my clients need tear wipers ... yeah, that's it.


My last name: Jenson - be all that you can be is what I always say. JENSON USA!! I've thought about changing my name to Grover's-son ...


My favorite color: blue ... race car blue, that is.


My favorite animal: Dolphins. I actually swam with them once ... well, away from them - seeing as I thought I was about to be attacked by sharks. I realized they were dolphins by the time I reached shore.


My favorite food: baby back ribs. I told Krystal that they came from baby's backs, but she didn't believe me. Oh - the day a daughter doesn't believe a father ... my wife told me it would come sooner than later.



What I am doing right now: I just got off work and I am fried.


My favorite past time (and anytime): scuba diving. If I could live under water and still keep my wife - I would.



Place I would like to visit: Belize - and, believe you me - someday I will! Dad ... we gotta get you sinkin'!!



My favorite vacation: the beach. Anyone ready to leave now? Let's go!


I tag - Jeremy (that would be a re-tag, actually - seeing as he has now been tagged 3x for this particular event),Chris and Aaron.

Crash and Burn

Poor Marissee-roo crashed her face into the road last night when she fell off a scooter with the handle pushed all the way down. She seriously landed RIGHT on her face - no scratches anywhere else! Bless her heart. She couldn't sleep last night with how sore she feels - and she stayed home from school today with an ice pack in hand at all times. Apparantly road rash burns continually. Ouch. Here is a picture of her last night - and then later this afternoon. She's healing fast, thank heavens. She totally busted her glasses - I think they may have saved her eye.

And ... there's just somethin' about kids falling asleep with books in tow. I LOVE it - it's one of my most favorite things.

I love my kiddos so much! I hate to see them get sick or hurt ... but, at least Marissa's injuries are superficial - and will heal up just fine. We have been so blessed to be healthy and avoid the hospital lately. HOOOO-ray! Hopefully, that will keep up.

Learning ...

Aaron decided that he was old enough this year to start reading chapter books. I don't know what my problem is, because that honestly never even crossed my mind. He's a good reader, too!! Good thing he was thinkin'! :) So, anyway - Aaron's nose is in a book quite often now. I still die when I remember the "chapter books" you were reading in 1st grade, Kent ... ya know - the ones I read in 7th grade. ;) I tell ya what ... if you don't know how to read and write by first grade - life gets very difficult quickly. Aaron starts his spelling tests this week - and to be quite frank - I'm not sure he even knows how to write all of his lower case letters yet. They sure learn fast, though! It's amazing. Marissa is actually LOVING school this year. Perhaps it's due to the over-prepared-ness of her Orem 5th grade teacher ... or, even more convincing ... she has a healthly dose of homework each night rather than five hours every night like last year. She has good friends - including her best friend from Orem (Sierra) who moved to SF this Summer (and they are actually in the same class) - so that has been very helpful. So ... a huge sigh of relief from me, because 5th grade last year was pretty much torture - for our whole family. Here is a picture of the cute bag Aunt Cindy made for the family reunion auction. It was love at first sight for Marissa. She loves it!!



I was SO DANG excited to get my hands on Shannon Hale's new book, "Rapunzel's Revenge". So, needless to say, when I made a special trip to the library to pick up my copy that came in - I was surprisingly disappointed. This much anticipated novel, people, is a graphic novel .... A COMIC BOOK!!! I about DIED! However, due to my love for Hale's writing - I will be giving it a try. So ... I'll let ya all know ... probably on good reads ... how the experience goes. Maybe it'll be a learning experience! :)


I have been trying to download a video of Krystal all day - and have now given up. Is there a trick to getting blogger to work on video downloads? When it does work, it takes several hours. Lame. Anyway - Krystal FINALLY knows her ABC's ... and her pre-school is awesome. She's recognizing letters and knows their sounds - and can nearly write her name. Kids learn so fast.

Taylor Family Reunion 2008

Are you ready for a marathon? I took quite a few pictures. I'm only posting the ones of my immediate fam - so, cousins - if you know I took a picture of you - you should have had it e-mailed to you - and I will be looking for it on your blog! :) If I don't have your e-mail, then I sent all of them to Aunt Pam too. Anyway - thanks for such a great time everyone!! We had a blast!

These pics are in no order whatsover ...

Around the campfire: Ty and James ... grandpa and his princesses:

Me -n- my Ty ... a lot of the gang:

M and Kryssie (plus cute Kobe in the background) .... grandma and Aaron - snuggle bugs:

Yuuuuuummy s'mores ... Aaron and TyTy (Aaron loved the extra fluffy boa from the treasure hunt - hahaha! Hey -he knows when he needs a lil' extra style to keep him warm) :)

Pics from the Challenge Course. I really hope you Rassumssens and Taylors got pics of your group - I would love to see them:

It took us 2 attempts to get the tire over this pole. We all died our first try ... sang our song ... and were given a second chance. We were much more successful ... and EVERYone helped. Very fun.

"Take a picture of this, Mom" -- my kids all have a little of M in them. What can I say? She's their favorite ... she's everyone's favorite! :)

Grandma Pat's treasure hunt. Look at all of those faces - talk about a variety of emotions. Hanna is so determined - Krystal is obviously just along for the ride - and poor Oliver ... he is so, SO sad. Mandi - I sent you his "after" picture. He was quite pleased with his treasure at the end. What a cutie!

It doesn't get much more beautiful than this ... hahaha! Here I am suited and ready for the ropes course. And up I go ... this is about the point I started shaking with fear:

Terrifying .... I am shaking like crazy right here ... spaghetti legs! And Mom was a little trembly too - but she looks like a pro!

At the end of the "tight rope" walk - we zip-lined down to the bottom. I thought that THAT was even more terrifying. But, Mom let out a "Woo-Hoo" on her way down.

Balance beam/Teeter-totter log activities:

The kids had to work together leaning back or forward to make the log balance. They did really good! I loved this picture of Hanna's walky-walk!

Here are the grown-ups leaning to make the log balance ... it looks really easy in the picture, but it actually took a lot of team work.

James on the high-wire. I went right after him ... and he made it look SO easy. It took me at least 10x longer to get across than him. Krystal and Hanna playing in the cabin:

Hangin' out in the cabins:

Marissa ... Kobe and Aaron (Aaron sure looks forward to hangin' out with Kobe! I wish we got together more!)

A little volleyball:

I told you these pics were in no order whatsover - but, I wanted them all on here for posterity - hahaha! Here are some more balancing acts:

What a fun reunion together!! My camera stopped working Friday night. But, Saturday - we had an awesome breakfast and then the auction. Marissa saved all her bucks for the cute bag Aunt Cindy made - and loves it!!! She has it sitting out with her school clothes to wear for tomorrow. cute. We are so blessed to be so close and have such an awesome time together. Thanks all - I sure love ya!

Fun Fun FUN!

Thanks to the Merrill clan - we enjoyed one of the best weekends of our Summer - and the ONLY weekend away. Here are A LOT of the highlights ...

Immediately after arriving at the cabin, Chris and Melisa took us on a Rhino Ride through the mountains. SO FUN!! It took some getting used to for the kiddos. Here they are blocking their faces from the dust. Aaron still managed a few "wahoos" here and there, though.


First Rest Stop. Beautiful ... the view ... and the fam.


Our kids are good matches. We are so happy to count the Merrills as best friends.


The kiddos got used to the Rhino ride fairly quickly. Here they are "no hands"! It got surprisingly cold, so we were very grateful for the blankets Melisa stuck under the seats.


My gorgeous Kryssie M ... and then ... well, it doesn't get more gorgeous than us, huh? hahahaha. Chris - you're a stud ... and a half.


The kids had SO much fun at the "Carving Tree" stop. We forgot a carver - and I didn't take pictures of the tree - but, the kids hiked all over the place while we hung out here. I absolutely love this picture of them running down the trails ...


... and getting very dirty.


Annie B spotted this moose mom and baby - and we all turned off the engines and enjoyed the peaceful scenery. It was a perfect end to a perfect ride. We all especially loved the beginnings of fall colors.


And - back at the cabin. We enjoyed A.MAZE.ING. food - which I was too busy eating to get any pictures of, and had lots of fun just hangin' out. The girls had a giggle fest with Tyler first thing in the morning ... Tyler out-giggled both of 'em. Tina - you know what I'm talkin' about, yeah? haha.


The boys enjoyed the dirt and multiple sticks. Nothin' like a boy and his stick. ;) (that was Tyler's input) ... as if any of you didn't already know that.


The kids' "concoction" table. They went to town. And Sophie REALLY went to town with this awesome concoction - that Melisa caught her taking out of the oven. We laughed so hard ... and then Sophie even ate it - and loved it. I love her proud face.

Buds ...

... forever.

This is Marissa and Aaron's first time watching a coke explode (with mentos). It was quite exciting.

Thank you SO much for the greatest weekend you guys. We love ya!!