We LOVE Santa's Village

We finally scheduled in our family night to Santa's Village that the city puts on. It is so fun for the kids - and us too! We took pizza went around 5:15 and ate there. We didn't want to wait forever for the Santa line which is long to the extreme if you wait much after 5:30 to get in! We didn't get a family picture because the kids were T-I-R-E-D, so I insisted on at least one with me in it! Annie trying on a fireman's coat. Ben came in with us, but that was way too far into his personal space!

I pretty much fell in love with this sweet little puppy! It easily would have fit into my hands! Available for adoption on 12/21!!!

Ever since our first time (two years ago), Annie has loved Frosty the Snowman! She saw him walk out of his house and ran to give him the biggest hug!!!

This is the REAL Santa! He's been the same one for the last 3 years and looks awesome! Emily wasn't so excited about sitting on a strange man's lap...but she did get candy from him!

Annie got to be a reindeer and pull the sleigh.

I love the sweet sibling pictures!!!

Annie couldn't get enough of this kitty. See any similarities???

Emily was very concerned watching the kittens wrestle with one another. She feels the same way when anyone is wrestling. That's how I normally escape being tickled because Emily gets very concerned and comes to save me.

While Mom is Away...

I took home a babysitter the other afternoon and returned to find my family in the chair... Sunday afternoon Ben and I were reading books. I heard a noise in the living room. It didn't sound super important, so we finished our book before going to check it out. Somehow both the adult and the kid Christmas trees were laying on the ground! I called out a couple of times for Annie to come help clean up (Emily was having a nap), but she didn't come. I found two of my ornaments were broken. :( Ben helped me pick it up, and then we went to find Annie. When she does something naughty, she normally hides (we're trying to break that habit). We found her in the office...under the desk...asleep.

Hesitation

Ben has been after me for at least a week to decorate for Christmas. He is SOOOO excited to put up the trees. He LOVES Christmas! So, this afternoon, I took a deep breath and got the tubs out of the garage to put away Thanksgiving. Ben and Annie helped me dust (which unfortunately only occurs when we change decorations) throughout the house. Since we don't normally put up any Christmas anything until Andy comes home because the decorations are so high up, it was a real treat that I was able to slide the trees out.

We have two Christmas trees; one is small and all ornaments can be touched, the other is Mom's and Dad's and is not touchable. While I was putting on Journey (somehow the Christmas CD from the other night is missing), Ben got a knife and opened both boxes - without me knowing. He is so quick to just do what needs to be done! :( :) (mixed feelings there) I told him it was his job to do the kids' tree and he got right to work! Then he helped me with the bigger tree because each branch goes in separately.

As much as I have been dreading this because it is normally very chaotic - this year it was really fun! No one was too naughty, and we just had a great time! I think it helped that we were only working on the tree and not the decorations at the same time. It only took us 7 Journey songs to put both trees together! Thankfully we ended just before Cyberchase came on because my patience was waning.

Thanksgiving

My brother and his family drove to Texas from St.George and we had a great time! His two older daughters took turns sleeping at our house, putting the kids to bed and playing with me. And yes, I AM smarter than a 5th grader! We were kind of dragging one night, so we turned on some music and danced around Grandma's living room. This is my brother and his oldest daughter.

Ty is just a few months older than Annie and they had SO MUCH FUN playing together. Each meal that we ate as a large family necessitated Annie and Ty next to each other "eating."

Cutie Trevor has this little flirty grin that I ADORE! I was so glad that when we said goodbye on Thanksgiving night he finally bestowed me with a sweet kiss!

Uncle Roy left his Wii at Grandma's house. Everyone learned more about taking turns, but this turn was my favorite! Both little faces are so intense, and their entire bodies got a workout!

We took my first trip to Sam Moon. WOW!!!! That place is amazing! I think Andy will be giving me some money to shop there for my Christmas gift! The kids had quite a bit of fun playing with the accessories, so Emily, Annie, and I cut out early!

The kids love to climb Grandma's little tree in front of her house! Looking at these two, I would say the Taylor family genes are quite strong!

A bit of family fun

I have just completed my first piano practice session! wow - it feels good, but my hands are tired and don't want to type. However, I don't want to get blasted for lack of posting. I must confess two weeks ago I joined Facebook and haven't been the same since. :) My blog is suffering greatly! However, Andy has also been home A LOT lately (like for breakfast and dinner), so we've all been so happy and just had a lot of fun! (and my kitchen/living room has now stayed clean for 5 consecutive days!!! I seriously don't think that has EVER happened before except when we are on vacation! :) I have a helpful and happy husband!)

Now - to the details. Emily has this obsession with soap. She loves it. She likes to carry it around, she likes to push it in Tupperware, she will walk it in the stroller, and yes, she also likes to eat it. I don't understand, but we've finally decided it's time to lock the soap up in the medicine cabinet so we don't lose any more bars! She is so funny about it! This was her outfit today. We were supposed to wear yellow yesterday (I remembered Monday night but it slipped while I was sleeping!) but did it today instead. :) Along with her regular clothes, Emily insisted on this beautiful skirt. She wore it to my moms' club meeting, to her Nursery leader's house, and I carefully pulled it off while she was dozing for her nap. It is right next to her crib now so she can put it on in the morning. What a joy she is! I think I have finally found my favorite age!!!

Rub a dub; 3 kids in a tub!

Sunday was a beautiful day, so we spent time outside doing sidewalk paint!

While Andy and I cleaned up the kitchen Sunday night, the kids got out the puppets. They do amazingly creative things with the coffee table, but this night was great! There was a clean crib sheet sitting on the couch that was folded up and waiting to be put away. Ben decided it would make a great stage! Yes, it does!

I always love my little family, but the last week or so we've had so much fun together! We've been able to play games after jammies are on. Andy or I take a few minutes before Ben each night to work with Ben on reading while the other one has a little alone time with Annie. It's been so nice and peaceful around our house lately, especially when we are able to play Primary songs quietly in the background! I LOVE IT!!!

I little love poke

Well - reason for sore throat has been determined. Strep, just as painful as I remember - although it's never been so bad as to be offered two shots before. I can't even think of the last time I got a shot! I should have asked for my pertussis booster while I was there!

Thankfully (?) my sweet husband is also sick so we have shared duties today - I took kids to school, he picked up Annie and took she and Emily to library. I came home twenty minutes later from Dr office to find him crashed on the bed, so I fed girls lunch and put Em down for a nap and will put a movie on for Annie that will allow me an hour nap as well.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my dr. If the shot doesn't work (works 3 out of 4 times), she also gave me prescription and one for the kids in case they get it in the next 48 hours. For some reason, I can't get sick at the beginning of the week. I have to wait until the end, so that if we need to go back because medicine isn't working, it would be an after-hours call.

She did give me a dirty look that I didn't come in two days ago. The nurse could even tell it was strep just by looking at it. I just hate paying the silly co-pay and then for a prescription if it will go away on its own! Oh well - maybe I will start answering my phone again tomorrow..if people are lucky! :)

Unattended

This is what happens when you leave mischievous children unattended; the worst part is that it is Stephen's hot chocolate which I brought back from Utah and love completely and unconditionally! Unfortunately, I feel so horrible that I didn't even have the energy to get mad. Just took a picture and tossed them in the tub. I hate being sick...especially when my children aren't and haven't slowed down! I think we will do some early naps today and pray for Daddy to get home tonight instead of tomorrow. The sad thing is he also feels horrible and if he takes the day off tomorrow, he will be the one sleeping while I try to keep kids quiet. I know; woe is me. :) At least I have a bed to sleep on and PBS for kids to watch!

And you're it!

8 Things About Me
I'm not one to do these things but I'm playing along. So y'all have to play along too. Joey Pauga tagged me so here is my post. Enjoy!

RULES
1) Post rules on your blog
2) Answer the six "8" items
3) Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment

8 Favorite TV Shows
since i watch tv so much...
1. Mavs games
2. calliou (30 uninterrupted minutes of quiet time!!!)
3. cyberchase
4. dragon tales
5. COSBY SHOW!!!!
6. Murder She Wrote
7. Price is Right
8. Press Your Luck


8 Things I did Yesterday
1. went to temple
2. ran errands (bread store, Sprouts, Eye Care Associates)
3. swam at gym
4. made three loaves of pb and j sandwiches to stick in freezer
5. unloaded and reloaded dishwasher
6. thought about doing laundry
7. made dinner
8. did reverse trick-or-treating at nursing home (we gave them candy)

8 Things I look forward to
1. being skinny
2. Andy's retirement (no one said these had to be soon!)
3. canning more food
4. finding great deals on food
5. making sugar cookies for Christmas
6. running to school with Ben
7. playing volleyball
8. dates with my honey

8 Favorite Restaurants (this is a hard one!!!)
1. Chuy's in Austin
2. Olive Garden
3. Rudy's BBQ
4. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
5. Maggiano's
6. Cold Stone
7. Braum's
8. breakfast at Mom's house

8 Things on my wishlist
1. a few more kids
2. car to be paid off
3. cancer obliterated
4. people to embrace the Gospel and Christ as Savior
5. even hormones
6. my sister and family to live much much closer
7. everyone to be happy and look for ways to serve
8. help with dinner and bedtime each night

8 People to tag (this isn't my favorite part, but this blog has been really fun to think about!)
1. Kim R
2. Angie C
3. Autumn S
4. Tonia P (maybe double tags will help)
5. Kristie M
6. Sarah B
7. Nicole P (how fun to still be able to type that!)
8. Jamie - what is your last name? married to Travis!

Wish I had such a loving way with words...

This is an article from the LDS Church (the link is to the right) about all of the propositions that were voted on yesterday. Please take the time to read it all. I wish I could stay so calm while stating my beliefs! "Emotionally-charged" would probably describe me. This topic is a little bit too personal for me to discuss in my quiet voice. Obama I can learn to love and support; marriage for two people of the same sex I cannot.

Since Proposition 8 was placed on the ballot in June of this year, the citizens of California have considered the arguments for and against same-sex marriage. After extensive debate between those of different persuasions, voters have chosen to amend the California State Constitution to state that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Voters in Arizona and Florida took the same course and amended their constitutions to establish that marriage will continue to be between a man and a woman.
Such an emotionally charged issue concerning the most personal and cherished aspects of life — family, identity, intimacy and equality — stirs fervent and deep feelings.
Most likely, the election results for these constitutional amendments will not mean an end to the debate over same-sex marriage in this country.
We hope that now and in the future all parties involved in this issue will be well informed and act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different position. No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information.
It is important to understand that this issue for the Church has always been about the sacred and divine institution of marriage — a union between a man and a woman.
Allegations of bigotry or persecution made against the Church were and are simply wrong. The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians. Even more, the Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.

Some, however, have mistakenly asserted that churches should not ever be involved in politics when moral issues are involved. In fact, churches and religious organizations are well within their constitutional rights to speak out and be engaged in the many moral and ethical problems facing society. While the Church does not endorse candidates or platforms, it does reserve the right to speak out on important issues.

Before it accepted the invitation to join broad-based coalitions for the amendments, the Church knew that some of its members would choose not to support its position. Voting choices by Latter-day Saints, like all other people, are influenced by their own unique experiences and circumstances. As we move forward from the election, Church members need to be understanding and accepting of each other and work together for a better society.
Even though the democratic process can be demanding and difficult, Latter-day Saints are profoundly grateful for and respect the ideals of a true democracy.

The Church expresses deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the many Latter-day Saints and others who supported the coalitions in efforts regarding these amendments.

Happy Halloween!!!

Well, apparently what I remember and actual events are quite different. My sweet little children were tired of trick-or-treating so quickly! I thought for sure the lure of more free candy would keep them going all night. I was wrong, and poor Emily has a huge scratch on her nose (she was tired and her candy was heavy and she fell on the concrete) because I made them continue even after they told me they were tired. But this is so fun, I said. I got over-ruled!

Two good witches and a princess that disappears and appears at doors. It's so rare to have a picture of me with the kids; so I included two! That's what you get when you update the blog...

My sassy little cowboy was out of sorts that night. He wasn't so happy to have to do this! (like I forced him to trick or treat! okay - i really did. I love Halloween!!!)

We are family... (notice my little green plants that are supposed to fill in within the next year)

This is my very favorite part; the candy sorting!!! Emily just kept unwrapping candy, taking a few licks and then putting it back into her bucket. She was hilarious! I always knew what candy came from Em because it was all STICKY!!!

Happy Halloween! Here's to next year when we will have longer legs!!!

Halloween Festival

We went to a Halloween festival at the rec center. Emily did EVERYTHING that Annie did except play in the super fun balloon room! I couldn't understand why she didn't want to go in. Emily was totally overloaded with the NEED for more candy! She didn't want to play the games; she just wanted the candy.

They both loved the petting area. Annie worked so hard to pet the chickens and finally got one!

What a beautiful princess and witch!

Pajamas

I love kids in pajamas!!! It is just about the cutest thing in the world! These blue jammies are ones that Andy's favorite college friend brought back from a trip to China for Ben. However, Ben has always been a bit big around the middle for them. I was so excited changes clothes for season to find they fit Annie. She was greatly enjoying showing them off and kept rubbing her hands all over them. Thanks Jason! We miss you and think about you a lot and still talk about you to our children!!! "The door is a jar." We spent many nights during grad school playing Settlers of Catan while he and I ganged up on Andy - and still lost! And Emily is just about ready to jump off the table - not doing any other 'business.' :)

Vocal Nodules

Well, for the past several weeks I have noticed Ben's voice is hoarse. I emailed the speech therapist that he is working with at school for articulation and asked about it. We met, discussed, and I called the pediatrician to get a referral for a pediatric ENT. This morning we went to see our favorite (Dr. Bauer if you ever need one!!!), and he had the same prediction as the speech therapist: vocal nodules.

The only way to confirm this is with a little camera that goes in through your nose. Ben did INCREDIBLE!!!! Especially with the numbing nose spray (he is anti-anything to do with his nose; just ask the nurse he kicked with his cowboy boots after the flu shot!) that tasted horrible. I think it also helped that the nurse was young and blonde with a friendly smile. :)

So, we all watched the computer screen as the scope went in. I felt like I was part of Magic School Bus! As the camera went down into Ben's throat, Dr Bauer immediately confirmed that yes, Ben does have vocal nodules and pointed out where they were. Then he continued having Ben talk and take deep breaths.

He showed me where there were two 'large' bumps that looked like swollen gums in a mouth. To me they looked about 10 times the size of the vocal nodules, but they were closer to the camera and I really have no concept of spacial application - just ask Andy. :) This is what reflux looks like! Therefore, Ben has started a daily dosage of prevacid and we'll go back for a checkup.

(((Let me just say, prevacid is the most awesome heartburn drug in the world!!! I love it! With each pregnancy I got heartburn almost immediately. With Annie, the Dr gave me nexium but that did nothing compared to prevacid, so I requested my beloved prescription! It saved my life! And my family's as I was miserable to be around...)))

Ben has been complaining occasionally that his throat hurt, mainly when he was very hoarse and pretty drippy. A few times he has cried complaining that his chest was burning. Now, I feel like a horrible mother for not picking up the cues! Anyway, hopefully this will mend some of the pain and reduce some of the hoarseness as the throat (?) inflammation decreases. I'm also hoping Ben will stop waking up between midnight and 2 am - another fabulous side effect I had before the prevacid kicked in.

Anyway, that is what I have been dealing with today. Now I will email his speech teacher and we will look into what options there are to help Ben now. According to the Dr. there isn't much that can be done for kids with vocal nodules and hopefully he will outgrow it. However, if Ben really wants to work at it, he can learn to no further abuse his voice.

I did a little bit of researching on it and learned a little bit more than I already knew. The most interesting information was the descriptions of children that are prone to this condition. I thought this was funny:

"a loud, outgoing, enthusiastic, competitive personality with a tendency to “act out” emotionally (their parents can often remember them as terrible “terrible two’s” who tantrumed loud and long and who could whinge endlessly). Some babies just seem to be born loud and lovable, and grow into loud and lovable toddlers and children, some of whom are, unfortunately, 'at risk' for voice problems. "

add to that reflux, allergies, clearing his throat, dry nose, recess with other kindergartners, and Ben is a prime candidate!

SSSOOOOO EXCITING!!!

When we lived in Austin, Andy found the greatest apartment - just down the street from AMAZING Rudy's BBQ and Chuy's Mexican. We probably frequented those two establishments more often than we should have.

So, for about a year, we would drive to Denton to get some Rudy's (the sauce is the BEST in the entire world!!!), but last fall they opened one in Frisco! Yippeee!!!

There is a Chuy's downtown, but every time we have been there, the service has been horrible, the food tasting old, and just yucky dining experiences all the way around. Nothing like our love in Austin. HOWEVER, per a friend's sweet phone call yesterday, there is a Chuy's opening just a few minutes away from us in one short month!!! We are so excited and have such high hopes for more experiences like those in Austin (and San Antonio)!!!

Still Recovering

We had the FUNNEST weekend that we have had in a LONG time! Friday we pulled Ben from school a little bit early so we could go to the Texas State Fair!!! I haven't been since I went with a friend in 8th grade - almost shameful to admit! We had the BEST time! The kids were amazed with pretty much everything; we loved the food and had fabulous friends to show us around and keep us on track! We did everything we wanted to - except my dream - to see Jessica Simpson in concert; we left 30 minutes before she came on stage. :) (Just kidding; I've heard her sing before...granted, I was next to her in choir in 8th grade then..a lot happened in 8th grade, didn't it? That was my best year of school - or 11th grade...)

Okay - the Maases with Big Tex! We saw the most amazing puppet/marionette show. This was our group waiting so patiently...I've never seen Emily so entranced before. She sat completely still on my lap the entire show, without food! It was just incredible!
Andy and I got a kick out of this pig and the fact that the piglets were basically bouncing up and down as they nursed. Each piglet looks small in the picture, but they were about 18 inches each and the mama was HUGE!!!
The kids all loved going through the 'working' farm. I loved there were signs telling the kids what to do and how to take care of each happening on the farm. It would have been great to go through a little bit slower, but it was the end of a busy day and there was a long line behind us!
Annie keeps wanting to go back to the Fairy; I explained it only comes around once a year - just like Christmas!

We got a few fair samplings and ate dinner on the grass. It was dusk and we tried to get a picture of all six kids. I've never taken a picture like this before, but they turned out great!
I just included this because I love this picture! So romantic; and if you couldn't tell, it's not Andy and I. :)
Emily fell asleep going with Andy looking for the fried banana split. He couldn't find it, but made it back in time to see the parade with us. We did do a small detour on the way back to the car to find his fried banana split - he'd waited patiently all day for it! It was really good to me, but Andy thought it had too much peanut butter. I'm just sad I didn't get the fried cheesecake, which was my fair food of choice, but when I went to get it, I made the mistake of watching the girl putting them in and pulling them out of the grease and about gagged... oh well!
We were completely wiped out by the end of the day! But, lucky me got to leave at 5:30 Saturday morning to do produce shopping downtown! I'm so glad I went because we found an awesome deal on blueberries ($5 for 12 1/2 pints), so I got 24. I also found a 25 pound box of pears for $3. They were really ripe and the store was just trying to move them because they were all brown. I was so irritated I didn't get two boxes when I got home!!!

So, home by 7:20 to sort the food. Started some pear sauce in the crockpot. Andy went to play in the regional volleyball tournament (a disappointing loss in the first game). Then my mom and sister came to take the kids to Owen's Farm! I went along and we had such a fun time!!!

Look at that stud cowboy!
Waiting for the barrel ride to start...
Emily got terrified as soon as they started the motor for the ride, so Grandma rescued her! She didn't quite love the hay ride until the 2nd time around.

This was so sweet. Ben and Annie got along SO WELL this weekend; it really made my heart happy! They just love to be outside and are such cheerful little kids!

A 'good' picture - at least it's symmetrical. :)
We came home from the farm, put Emily down for a nap and then the adults (minus Andy) went to get my birthday present from my parents! Off to Bruce Miller Nursery, where the most patient kindest man looked at my little sketch and walked us around the nursery showing me examples of plants that would work in my sad completely empty planters. Yes, that would be VERY patient because for every suggestion, I had to get confirmation from mom or Jamie. An hour later, we were out of there with 92 plants for me, 16 for mom and 4 for Jamie.

Side note - we also got some dried molasses to spread on the grass. According to a friend (and several websites) it is incredible at keeping fire ants off the yard. It's also nitrogen free (all organic or natural ingredients). So, if you live in Texas and are super frustrated and tired of fire ants moving all around your yard, go buy some dried molasses!

We came home (by way of Brahms), mom and Jamie left, and we planted all the grass/flowers in my beds. I still need 5 bushes, but they will come a little bit slower! Then I made dinner (will starting another batch of pear sauce), and put the kids in bed. Andy mowed, spread the molasses, went to Lowe's and set up my front sprinklers in the flower bed, and then went to work in the garage while I started on my next project: canning the rest of the pears. I love them!!! So beautiful and easy! Even though the outsides were brown and yucky, the pears tasted fabulous and I didn't throw even one away - 110 pears for $3!!! Then I started to make jam from the raspberries I'd purchased the day before. Apparently they don't last very long... Still cooking jam - at 11:30 at night...

My beautiful treasures. Can I tell you how much I love canning?!? Had I been more confident in the canning process, I would have been like a gal at church who also happened upon the pears and bought THREE boxes and made pear butter all day... next time! (the pink cans are also pear sauce - like applesauce but made with pears - but I used red hots instead of cinnamon to flavor them. YUMMY!!!!)
And yes, I am so tired right now and still paying for my incredibly busy, but FUN!!!, weekend! Good night...