The Taylors

Austin Soccer

2009-11-19T06:46:00.000-08:00

Abby's Baptism

2009-11-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2009

2009-11-19T06:29:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure why Autin is showing up so small? For Halloween Austin was a skeleton and Abby was "Scary Spa Girl".

Austin's Birthday

2009-11-19T06:14:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUTSIN!! 6 YEARS OLD!

Abby Soccer

2009-11-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

Abby played soccer this fall. She did a wonderful job! She is going to be on a traveling team in the spring!

Sweet ELIZA is 7!

2009-09-02T16:58:00.000-07:00

Eliza's birthday was Aug 11. She turned 7. Nothing rips my heart strings more than watching my baby girl grow. This is our conversation.

Me: "Eliza! Quit growing or I am going to have to use my magic wand and shrink you or put you in time out!"

Eliza: Mom, I am growing up. (and just to crush my heart a little more)I want to grow up so I can get my own house and get 7 cats and 4 dogs.

Me: Eliza, if you get cats, I can't visit. I am allergic to them. I hate cats.

Eliza: Well.... then you will need to stay outside when you visit.

Me: What if it's cold outside?

Eliza: Then I will come visit you. Mom, I need my 7 cats.

And so, during the next 11 years of Eliza's life, my job as Eliza's mother is to teach her to not like cats. (wasn't I nice to not say hate. Sorry to all the cat lovers. :)

Breanna, of course, "beauty shopped her up" for her grand entrace to the breakfast table where her 7 pancakes (and under her plate $7) were waiting.

Here's my 7 year old princess!

Pancakes!

Love you, always my BABY girl!

First Day of School

2009-09-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

First day of school was on Thursday, August 20, 2009. All of my kids couldn't wait! Okay, Justin wasn't thrilled, but everyone else wanted to see their friends. Here is a picture of everyone on the first day:

Justin after school!

Breanna! How did she grow up so fast!
The four littles! So, so, CUTE!

But these are my favorite! So glad to come home! I hope they are always this excited to come home.

These are the moments I will treasure!

I've never been six before...

2009-09-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

On the way home from dropping Caleb off to football and Abby off to soccer, Austin talked non-stop about his birthday.

Austin: Mom, I am so excited for my birthday!
Me: Me, too!
Austin: I am so excited to go to bed tonight, I can't wait. I only have to go to bed 2 more times after this night and then I am six.
Me: Great! I am so excited for you to go to sleep tonight, too! :)
Austin: It's going to be a day all about me. First we are going to eat pancakes, I'll get my dollars under my plate (a tradition in our family, they have to eat all their pancakes, one for every year, the they get a dollar, under their plate, for every year). Second: We go to the baptize (a little girl in our church is getting baptized, he's excited to watch); then we go to school WAIT....no... then he repeats it again. First: pancakes, second: baptize, third: change clothes then school. Wait, no..... First....
Me: Austin, your birthday is on Saturday! No School!
Austin: YAY! I love birthdays more than school but don't worry mom, I don't love them more than Jesus (so sweet, I know). Okay, so it's first: get dressed, second: dollars,third: baptize, four Chuck E Cheese fourth, presents!
Me: Sounds fun!
Austin: Mommy, I am so excited. It is going to be the best day of my life, I've NEVER been six before! I am so, so, so excited. Six is going to be so much fun!

I'm going to remember Austin's excitement on my next birthday and be so excited to turn 39! I have never been 39. That must mean it's my best birthday ever!

Scripture and Prayer

2009-09-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

On Sunday our ward kicked off a new program. We were asked to memorize the Book of Mormon Scripture Mastery Scriptures and to Read the Book of Mormon by December 31, 2009. As a family we decided to take on this feat and support our Bishopric. I, personally, feel very close to the Bishop and I know he is inspired and that if we follow his counsel he guide us to Christ. (he's also very good looking, I love to watch him on the stand)
We started our daily reading of 2 chapters of the Book of Mormon on Sunday, August 30, 2009. After checking every one's schedules, 6:00 AM was the only time available. YIKES! I'm tired already! However, we are serious about our commitment and we are up to the challenge. Like Nephi, I was raised by goodly parents who also had scripture in prayer in the wee hours of the morning, too. (thanks Mom and Dad!) I remember bringing my blanket and reading with my family half asleep.
I am happy to announce... We have accomplished two days rising at 6 AM! Our rules are: only one blanket and you must be in the room. We hope, as we continue to do our program, our kids will start participating a little bit more than what you see in this picture. Good job, Abby and Eliza!

Justin at 5:55 AM

Disclaimer

2009-09-01T12:46:00.001-07:00

Today I decided.... I need to blog. I just need to have an exit point for all the thoughts that are constantly going through my head. I thought, if I start to record the ramblings of my mind then perhaps I can reflect on them during my times of insanity and get a good laugh and remember, seriously, Who I am, Where I am and Where I am going.

Remember, these are my thoughts. I am not representing anyone but myself. If you don't agree or if I offend you in anyway please, simply click the red x on the right hand side of your computer. I promise, it will all go away.

This is my DISCLAIMER. :)

Two clips!

2009-08-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

Justin suprising everyone at his voice recital. What? Who knew? OUR BOY CAN SING!!

I was going to post Eliza's recital but the uploading has taken forever!! So just Justin for now...

The best big sister ever! BREANNA!

2009-08-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

This post is all about BREANNA! I love you, Sweetie! Breanna is the best big sister in the whole world! She also is such a help to me. She is a bright star in our family. Heaven knew I needed her!! She is the BEST!

A day at Breanna's spa!

2009-08-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

A Blog UPDATE!!

This blue writing is part of the reason why I don't blog. Why is it blue? I DON'T KNOW??
What can I do to stop it? I DON'T KNOW? But I will proceed updating my blog, even though it looks to me like one big web link!!

This first picture is of Abby and Austin with their CPS social worker Evan when she brought them to us from Texas. They came to live with us May 2009.

Yeah....now it's black. What the hay? Why? I DON'T KNOW! Anyways.... back to the update.
This picture is of Eliza. She had her first dance recital this year. So cute!!

Caleb..... Caleb is always happy playing sports. He had a blast on field day in May and came home with lots of ribbons.

Breanna attended her first YW girls camp this year. We missed her horribly!!! She didn't miss us too much! :) Before camp she told me she was excited to go and that she wouldn't be homesick at all! At first I was so sad, but them a quick flash back to 30 years ago reminded me that I said that same thing, too. I am thrilled she had so much fun! I am also grateful for all the wonderful leaders she adores. Thank you so much!

Justin loves water!! He is very proud of his Santa gift this year (life jacket) and has loved wearing it this summer. He loves to wake board. I thank heaven everyday for giving me the gift of a wonderful older son to help lead the way. Love you, Justin!

Rick needed a family picture to update his work profile so we took this quick family picture after church today. Not too shabby of a group. Look how each of their personalities shine right through!

Breanna's Haircut

2008-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

I got my hair dyed, cut, layered, thinned, and highlighted! It was a lot of fun. It is a lot shorter and thinner, and I mean a LOT! But I still like it! :)

Eliza's big night!

2008-12-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

Eliza's Hair
Eliza's Hair

And Eliza before her big daddy daughter date!

So Eliza went on a daddy-daughter date! It was so fun. My dad and Eliza went to a class Christmas party! I got to get Eliza all dressed up and do her hair. I just LOVE doing hair! But here are some pics of Eliza all dressed up before she left! :)

Justin's Christmas Play

2008-12-11T16:08:00.001-08:00

All of the cast singing together
Santa and Rudolph

My Mom and Justin

the cast together singing again

Justin and this other girl

Justin had his big Christmas play Saturday! He did FANTASTIC! :) I liked it is was a cute little play for the kids. But anyway here are some pics of his play!

one more

2008-09-07T17:07:00.001-07:00

A little bigger pictures....hopefully

2008-09-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Wish I had Ashley's gift with photos. I tried to make these a bit larger. Hope it works.

Just a little blood.....

2008-09-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

I Know this sounds crazy....but.....I miss football. Justin choose to play soccer this fall. (the midwest makes you choose because they have boys soccer in the fall) I totally support him, however, I didn't realize my blood runs apparently for the tackle..... You should see me at these games. "Get him, Justin!" "Come on! Block him to the ground!"....you get the picture. Needless to say.....I am a fish out of water. I get thrilled everytime I see a little push or side jab. Luckly, he's 6 feet and 200 lbs (my sweet baby boy) When he left for his game Saturday he told me he would show me a little blood, just for me. How sweet is that! He had a least two players flat on their backs. Way to go, JUSTIN!!! Nice and clean, no cards called. He's so thoughtful. :) What do you expect...I was raised with 7 football crazed brothers!

Can you believe he just turned 16!!

Our Good Old Trips

2008-07-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hey! It's Breanna again and I hope you guys like this smilebox slideshow. It's about the trips we have gone on, but anyway I would like to thank Tim for letting me interview him for my career fashion show, I was an orthapedic surgeon. There's a picture of me right before I go on stage, but I don't have my scrubs on though. I would also like to thank Gabby for giving me the awesome idea. Well I hope you guys will like this slideshow. But there's one picture of me and my friends with oatmeal on our faces I can't explain about that and that wasn't a trip my friends and I like to do funny things though. Well, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!! :) :] :}

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2008-07-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

Hey! It's Breanna again I just made my 3rd slideshow but anyway I think I could do this all day well I hope you enjoy this and I thank Gabby again for giving me the great idea!!!! And if you do have anything to say just comment it!!!!!!

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2008-07-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hey! I'ts Breanna and I just made my 2nd slideshow I will be making more slideshows and we will have more posts. I would like to send a shout out to Gabby for giving me the fabulous idea of making my 1st slideshow, 2nd slideshow, and the following slideshows I will soon be making! Well I hope you will enjoy the slideshow and if you have any thing to say just send a comment!!! ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):):):) Make a Smilebox slideshow :#ffff33;">:):):):):)

Our Indy Get-Away

2008-03-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, March 20 (Happy Birthday, Josh!) we left Mahomet at 4:10 pm and headed out to Indy (Indianapolis). We met Patrice and her family, Mom, Julie, Matt and kids at Spaghetti Factory and (thanks to priceline) stayed in a great suite hotel for $45! We swam and played and went to the Indy Zoo the next day! Here are some of our fun pictures .

Eliza, Anne and Jillian enjoying the hot tub.

My favorite part of this picture is Porter and Justin. Porter is a guy smiley!

Petting the sharks!

Eliza, Patrice, Jillian, Zachary, Abby, Erik, and Tyler...

Tyler and Caleb...Julie and Anne.....

Grandma and Breanna...

Abby, Jillian, Rick, Eliza and Tyler..

Zach, Abby, Justin, Tyler, Eliza and Caleb..

Rick and Eliza..
Jill and Porter...:)

There are all types of monkeys at the zoo! (Breanna and Julie..Abby watching)

Cute cousins!!!

Here's our group! What a perfect outing!! Can't wait to do it again!

The Leprechaun Hunt

2008-03-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 17, proved to be quite an eventful day! Leprechauns were everywhere at our house and at school today. They caused quite a mess! Abby, Eliza and Walker (Eliza's friend) went around the house setting traps and calling out for the leprechauns to show themselves. However, those tricky things, they were never caught. While the kids set up a trap in the basement, they would hear a noise upstairs. They ran upstairs to find out that the leprechauns ate their treats and trashed the traps upstairs. While they were upstairs the leprechauns ran down stairs and ruined their trap in the basement AND wrote them a note, "you can't catch me, I am too tricky!" They did this for 4 hours! It was hysterical! It's a good thing those tricky leprechauns come only once a year and the most important fact.....they have to leave by dark to go back to their rainbows on St. Patrick's day. WHEW!! Everyone slept great!

*I would love to show you all pictures, however, my photographer/editor/downloader is at school. Breanna will get the pictures on as soon as her schedule allows. :)

HE SHOOTS.....HE SCORES!!

2008-03-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

Caleb scored the last basket of the game for the season! Here he is with his team.He gives a lot of his sport agility credit to his cool shoes. You know the song....All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth......well......Caleb's song went like this, "All I want for Christmas is my two cool shoes! And that is all he got! He designed them himself. He thinks it was the best decision EVER! Who needs toys when you can wear these cool shoes!!
Caleb after his game.

Caleb is showing his strength by holding up all his medals. He loves sports!

GO CALEB!!

The Ugly FLU BUG!!

2008-03-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

The Flu Bug has come to visit and we really do not know how to make him GO AWAY!! I watch, helplessly, as my family one by one gets bitten by this horrible monster. It's hard to imagine a bug so little could do so much damage. I was sick two weeks ago, poor Eliza had 103 fevers for 9 DAYS! She ended up with pneumonia. Monday night I dreamt my skin was burning. and I had to keep rolling away from the fire.....after hours, entranced in that limbo sleep (you know the sleep....where you are asleep but not really BUT you can't wake up, I hate that!). (TAKE NOTE: I'm such a great wife....notice I dreamt my skin was burning ....I thought, I better move away from the fire... not......poor Rick is hot, maybe he has a fever and I should get him some motrin).
So where was I...oh yes, Rick has been home all week. CALEB came down with toilet paper stuffed up each nostril.... crying because his head hurt on Wednesday. (Just like his Uncle Tim when he was a kid :)) UGH!! I decided that we all needed to get out of the house so I planned a family outing to the movies. We are going to see "College Road Trip". Breanna was so excited, invited a friend to come and ride the bus home with her....they walked in the door and she looked like she just woke up. I took her temp......103.2!!!! UGH!! Is SPRING HERE YET!!! I don't care! I am still going to the movies. If you see a house with windows boarded up and a DO NOT ENTER sign hanging from the door.....it's us the TAYLORS.......NO MORE BUGS ALLOWED!

Tag Your IT!

2008-02-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

Two Names You've Gone By: Rick: Rickster, Big John Anne: Banana, Queen Anne
Two Things I Am Wearing Right Now: Rick: White Shirt and Tie (of course) Anne: Jeans and a sweater
Two things you Want (or have) in a Relationship: Rick: Trust & Friendship Anne: Rick & Fun ;)
Two of Your Favorite Things to do: Rick: Hunt and Camp Anne: Dates nights and movies
Two things you did last night: Rick: taught Institute, took Caleb to Basketball practice AND meetings! Anne: Math Homework with Justin, Cleaned up dinner
Two people you Last Talked To: Rick: Justin and Anne Anne: Justin and Rick
Two things You're doing tomorrow: Rick: leaving at 4:30 am to visit a seminary class and going to Justin's concert Anne: Timmy's Nemo Birthday Party and taking Eliza to the dentist to get a tooth pulled (YIKES!)
Two Longest Car Rides: Rick: Going back to work after a great vacation Anne: Illinois to Lake Powell and back with a baby that cried the whole way......,
Two Favorite Holidays: Rick: Deer Season, Goose Season Anne: Christmas and my anniversary
Favorite Drinks: Rick: Strawberry Banana Pina Colada (of course, not spiked), Milk Anne: Water
Two Things About Me you may not have known: Rick: I got knifed in the back by a Dr named Dr. Harms Anne: I sing really and I mean really loud with the radio when I am alone in the car :)
Two Movies I would watch over and over: Rick: any John Wayne western Anne: Sweet Home Alabama, The Saint, August Rush
Two Favorite Foods: Rick: Steak, potatoes and rolls Anne: MEXICAN and Seafood
Two places I'd rather be right now: Rick: Brazil and Tahiti Anne: Skiing in Utah with my family (staying in a cabin) , on the Disney Cruise

We tag anyone who has not yet completed this questionaire

Breanna's Slideshow

2008-02-20T15:22:00.000-08:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Hi!!! This is Breanna and I made my first Smilebox Slideshow!!! I had more pictures but they didn't fit in. But these are from the pictures when I either went somewhere or a celebration!!! But anyway hope you like my slideshow!!! :) And by the way I would like to thank Gabby for inspiring me to do my own slideshow!!! :)

-Breanna Taylor

OUR FAMILY

2008-02-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, this shows you how ill-equiped I am at posting blogs! I can't seem to move the pictures where I want them!..... Here is a recent picture taken of our children. (personally, I don't claim the dog) Justin (15), Breanna (11), Caleb (9) and Eliza (6).

This picture fits Eliza with a capital "E"!

Here is Rick and Justin, freezing to death! Not my idea of fun, however, every spare moment they could find, they grabbed their camo and hot chocolate and headed for the fields. Caleb even joined a time or two.

Thanks, Julie!

2008-02-13T12:38:00.001-08:00

I love reading blogs! I wanted to start one, however, I could never squeeze it in! Plus, I really had no idea how to do it! I mentioned this to Julie and within in minutes, I'M A BLOGGER! So, Thanks, JULIE!