The kids in their Christmas best. Taylor has turned into quite the cheesey poser. Blake and Heather brought our "Go Away" bear up from Bakersfield a few years ago. We always get people asking if we really want them to go away (ha ha ha). The rest of the front porch has welcome signs and usually flowers. We had to include the bear so that Lylee has a picture of her with her first boyfriend. Everytime we go in or out of the house, Lylee has to give him a hug and kiss. 
Lylee automatically ran to snuggle with Grandma Vicki under the blanket that Jacci made for Grandma.
Daddy and Grandpa Bob both got to go to Taylor's Class party. This was pretty special that both of them were not at work that day.
This is from Taylor's class Christmas party. Don't you love the red noses? We're all ready for him to back to school next. He misses school and his friends.
This year we decided to do something a little different. I love real trees, and have had one every year since I moved out of my my parents house, but this year I just couldn't do it with all of the other things going on in our family's life.
I just love this picture for some reason!
You can probably imagine the knots and tangles that build up in this beautiful curly hair. (I can call it beautiful without bragging because 1) it's totally from Daddy, 2) it really is beautiful and 3) moms automatically get bragging rights.I have trimmed her little bangs to keep them of her little eyes, and it is out of her eyes, but I am definately not a haircutter. In fact, the lady who trimmed her hair made it a point to let me know how short her bangs were. I proceeded to let her know that that is why we were there. She only needed a trim, but I wasn't taking any chances on a horrific home haircut, especially right before Christmas, and with her sweet curls!
Anyway, she did great and was a very quiet big girl!
Our unconventional Christmas trees. Taylor has a green tinsel, green lighted mini tree in his room and Lylee has a mini pink one to match. We've scaled back a lot from our traditional holiday decor, but we've had a lot of fun so far. Merry Merry to one and all!!!
A few weeks ago, Taylor asked me for a white shirt and a tie for church. We found two ties and a white shirt. Last Sunday, Taylor was very specific about how he looked. I had found two ties, one was a funny one with Santa and his reindeer playing football. I thought he would pick this one. He ended up picking the solid green tie in the pictures. He was also very insistent about his shirt being tucked in and wearing a belt. (I thought we must have some pretty good examples in our ward.)That Sunday happened to be fast Sunday. As people got up to bear their testimonies, Taylor started bouncing up and down with anticipation. I asked him if he wanted to go up there. He put out his hand and we went up to the stand together. One of the Young Women was kind enough to let us go ahead of her. When it was our turn, Taylor looked around for the stool (thanks, primary program). Then he whispered that he wanted me to go first. I quickly realized what was going on, I had born my testimony the month before, and now Taylor wanted to try.
When I finished, Taylor gave his 4-year-old testimony, which was very simple and pure. This is one of the best experiences that I have had as a mom. I am so thankful to have the priviledge to be this sweet boy's mother.
He can practice this one all that he wants, but I'm definately not ready to even think of this yet!
Every year, Roseville has a Holiday Parade, which we have always missed. You see, we figured the "Holidays" have their official kickoff on Thanksgiving. This is not the case in Roseville, the Holiday Parade is the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We actually made it this year. These are some of the highlights. It was so fun to have Daddy off of work, and get Jacci, Pete and Hyrum to join us too. 
Sorry, Lylee, but we humiliated Taylor too.
Taylor would not get up this morning. He said that he needed to rest and curled up in his blanket on his bed until his other big move of the day, climbing into my bed, curling up and going to sleep. 
Lylee had a little spill today, racing up and down the nieghbors driveway. Unfortunately, the sidewalk won. She's been a brave litttle one without a lot of pouting and with a lot of snuggling. We're just hoping she doesn't have a black eye. 
We'll see how long it stays in, but Lylee can finally have a ponytail! As a mom, it's so fun to go through all of the little daily milestones that I get to share and go through with my kids.
Yesterday we had the blessing to go vote. I did not mark a single "oval" without thinking about my children and their future. I always bring my kids so that they can learn that we live in a very special country, a country that gives each of have their say. I would like them to know that every person in the United States of America has an opportunity to become what ever thay want, including having their say.
This is the sign in our front yard. Which one makes you feel best? We are voting yes on prop 8. For our family, for our religious beliefs and our children's future. 
Some of you may be appaulled at this, but we're a pretty political family. That's just how it is. In case you don't understand what Taylor is saying, it's "No How, No Way, No McCain!" This was a memorable quote from Hillary Clinton during the Democratic National Convention. Grandpa Bob said it a few times and Taylor picked it up.
Taylor knows all about the United States of America. He knows the Pledge of Allegiance. One day he asked me what an Obama was, so we taught him about the elections, our beliefs and presidents We also told him why we want Obama to be our next president so that our family and his family have a chance at a better future.
Taylor also knows about prayer. He knows that people came to America and fought so that we have the opportunity to practice religion freely. He knows that this is because of a plan that our Heavenly Father had for us.
I'm very happy to know that my children can know and learn about government at school and home. I also feel very blessed to be here in a time when we can go to any church and believe anything that we want, that we can learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus at church on Sunday and every day at home. He loves reading scriptures and having family home evening.
He also says some of the most beautiful, heart felt prayers that I have ever heard given by any single soul.
So you can see that church and state can come together, if we are willing to help our children learn how the things that we learn at school can work together. We can also teach them the differences. But it is up to us as parents and family members to teach our children our knowledge, our faith and any other thing that will help them and the rest of the country, and the world progress into the future.
This is actually the end of the night. After collecting their loot, the kids like to sample the goods. We also like to hang out and visit for a few minutes before heading home.
This is one of the very few pictures I caught of Lylee in her little pixie hat.
Taylor really, really wanted to be a ghost. I kept trying to get him to pick something else and even bought another costume, but he still wanted to be a ghost. 
These are our nieghbor friends that came with us, Terrell and his sister Jaida. Jaida is one of Taylor's favorite friends in the whole world!
This is Lylee being herself. She looks so very innocent, but do you see that mischievious little glint in her eye?
We had a very fun night with family, ward family and friends. Daddy even got to come, which doesn't happen often.
Unfortunately, Taylor was sneaking as we were Trunk or Treating and became very sick from the corn and the dyes in the candy. (We were planning on letting him trade in his candy for a new game.) We are now detoxing and trying to treat the hives, itches, tantrums and the hyper-activity.
Lesson learned.
Taylor LOVES his friends! This is one of his friends from across the street. They were even so nice that they let Lylee play Star Wars with them!
Remember this guy from oh, about 6 months ago? Well, yesterday Taylor went back for his 6 month checkup. We did lots of mental preparation (he just one of those kids who needs to know what he's getting into).
I got to go on a date with my mom on Saturday morning to see The Secret Life of Bees. I got two treats in one. I got to have some girl time with my mom, and I also got a chance to see a wonderful story unfold on the big screen. Amazingly, the movie did not ruin the book.
After our successful Summer mini garden, we decided to go big with our fall/winter garden. We have a large area of dirt just waiting to grow things. Chris and my dad rotatilled their little hearts out until the dirt (soil) was ready. 
