Taylor Family Halloween Party 2009

We all had a great time, as usual, at the Taylor Family Halloween Party. Being with everybody and seeing all the fun costumes is always a big hit! Vivi and Krystal were twinner Thumbelina's this year. Super cute!I sure love my grandma and grandpa so much. They are such fabulous people ... and we owe these traditional get-togethers to grandma's devotion and insistence. I'm so grateful! (gotta love Paul's background pics ... always)

This year the kids were able to fish for prizes in an awesome fishing pond ... and we all danced to "The Monster Mash" after watching videos of previous years' skits and dances. It's kindof crazy to think that we have had this Halloween Party every year for over 30 years ... and skits and video-ed dances to prove it!

My kids don't see these guys often ... but they sure seem to love being together when they can. :) Aaron and Kobe ----- Krystal and Oliver. Cuteness flowing over.

I really think the hit of the party (besides the skits, of course) was the face painting. Look at this amazing crown Krystal got. Aaron didn't want his face painted - but, he can be an original "Paul" if given a goofy prop. LOL.

Thanks Taylor clan for another spook-tacular Halloween party!

Pumpkin Land

Master Aaron

Aaron really has a knack for deciding to do something ... and then practicing - practicing - practicing. Here he is on day three of learning how to ride Marissa's rip-stick. It is SO HARD!!! Have any of you tried before? I've nearly killed myself on the thing many times.



Here he has it mastered 2 weeks later. Huh. I'm just noticing the safety measures differences between the two videos. Could we have GONE from one extreme to the other so easily?

Good job, Aaron!

Home Sweet Home

To be honest - I never in a million years thought I would live in a little hick town such as Spanish Fork. I complained mightily about the long drive when our real estate agent told us to "just come look" out here. And now that we're here - I just canNOT even imagine being somewhere else. I love this town. I love that people volunteer to keep the planter boxes on Main Street looking nice. I love that our ward has a 90% attendance. I love that this city is very involved in 4H - and gives us many opportunities to be involved in bettering ourselves as well. I love that the library here offers endless free classes and activities for my children. I love the open spaces - and cows in the fields within walking distance from my house :). I love that traffic is minimal ... and still drive-able during rush hour. I love that my kids can ride their bikes around the block (we didn't have that when we lived in our Orem condo - it wasnt' safe). I LOVE that my parents live close. I love that there are just a few restaurants - and because we frequent so often - we are offered our "usual" when our server sees us. I am grateful for a home that is big enough for my family - and for friends and neighbors that are incredible people. I love the decorations along Main Street for each holiday. Spanish Fork ... this is my home .... my home sweet home - and we are here to stay.

(Pictures of our favorite Scarecrow Contest entries along Main Street)

October Fun

I love October ... the chilly weather, Halloween decorations, a little bit of "holiday" in the air ...

We got Aaron these really funny Halloween glasses. He wore them for HOURS - and kept doing all kinds of weird moves and stuff. So funny. We had Grandpa Brent and Grandma Pat over for dinner - so, of course, Grandpa Brent had to take a turn. Those glasses helped HIM do all kinds of weird moves too. :)


This giant thing has been basically in our back yard for over a month now. It literally looks like it is about to fall over. I hate it there - but, the kids love it.


The library had a cute "Cowboy Party" for kids ages 4-7. Perfect for Krystal and Aaron! I love the library! They do so many fun things for the kiddos.


Just a random October post.

The Pink Panther

Aaron REALLY loves the piano! Here he is playing "The Pink Panther". So cool.

All My Children

Marissa-isms:

Marissa and her cousins were walking back to the condo up in Midway after a swim at the swimming pool when a group of older teenage boys whistled at them from a balcony. Marissa turned around to see who it was ... saw them ... and said, "Who DOES that?" :) (Later, when we asked her about it - she said that she meant to say, "Who goes there?") hahaha! Don't know which one is funnier!

Marissa came home on a Friday after school and told me that she was suppose to do her oral book report on the following Monday. I immediately say ... "oh crap - only the weekend to prepare? Do you want me to help you put together a visual aid or write an outline?" Marissa gives me the most exasperated look I've ever seen and says, "MOM!! I don't want to OVER prepare!" Well. Her plan: wing it. We could NOT be more different. :)



Aaron is at a fabulous age right now. He is motivated, determined, sweet, responsible .... hopefully all these qualities are HIS - and not just the age. Back in September (on Labor Day) he asked me, "Mom, what is Labor Day for?" I told him ... and he replied, "Oh - I thought it was because of Laborham Lincoln's birthday." LOL!

Not too long ago he told Tyler and I (in ALL seriousness, mind you) ... "I'm not that scared of the dark, because I have eyes like a Vampire. In fact, I think I might BE part Vampire." [Ooooooookay. ;) - we seriously didn't even know how to respond to that.]



This Krystal of mine - I honestly have no words. She is sooooooo determined to be a part of every little thing. Several weeks ago, I was teaching Marissa how to do a GOOD job cleaning the bath tub - aaaand how to scrub out the inside of the toilet. Krystal's little body was squirming all over and trying to squish into every spot possible so she could get her little eyes as close as possible to what I was doing. She is always there trying to observe and learn every detail possible. And - I was kind of annoyed with her being in the way that day. But ... it really taught me a lesson. I really need to let her DO more. So - I have made a conscious effort:

We painted our bedroom - and I was putting all of the outlet covers back on - and she got her little nose about 2 inches away from where I was working (like usual) ... asking a million questions (like usual) - and asked if she could have a go. There were 2 left ... and she put both of them on lickety split/no problem while I wiped the rest down. I was amazed.

I also let her paint (almost entirely on her own) the tires for our Cub-Anapolis car. Again - I was amazed at what a good job she did ... with just a few basic instructions.

She is now the offical "dinner helper" also. She can crack eggs no problem - stir without splashing - flip pancakes - really ANYTHING she can get involved in she's happy about. I wish I would have been more patient with my other two ... but, I'm not sure they were as interested and persistent as Krystal has been.



Krystal says millions of funny and adorable things daily - but, I forget to write them down - and then forget them. When she's in the shower - she sings non-stop, and it's so funny when she washes her face (with a washcloth), because she says, "OH yeah. Oooooooah Yeaaaaaah." hahah! Anyway - she is just a busy body and joy to be with.

Just for the record. :)

Cub-Anapolis 500

For those of you that don't know ... Tyler is the Cub-Master in our ward. He has been for a year now ... and he is starting to like it (just a little) bit better. :) Anyway - he put together a Cub-Anapolis (thanks to Angie's awesome post) - and it was a huge hit. Here are a few of the details.

The invites: (I did a lot of work for this event - so, I'll post EVERY little tidbit :))


This is the car I made ... the Incident Management car. Marissa is modeling it at the race:


The pit stops included: 1) Washing Windshield (boys' goggles), 2) Changing tires (boys' shoes and socks), 3) Re-Fueling (boys drink lemonade thru a straw), and 4) Photo-Op (boys comb hair and get a picture). I've never seen boys move so fast and sibling cheer so loud. It was awesome.




Here is the sibling/xtra kids ;) race:


My kids were all over this race!


We served flat tires for dessert (how'd we do following everything to a tee, Ange? haha) - donuts with icecream and chocolate sauce. They were yummy.




Tyler might be on his own preparing for November -- preparation for events like this is exhausting . . . I just got called as the Primary Chorister - and THAT is going to take some adjusting on my end. :)