The Taylor Family

Bleeding Blue

2011-05-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

We attended a BSU game in Boise with the Brownlee's. The weather was cold and windy but that didn't stop us from having a good time. Go BSU!

Kylee's Christmas Band Concert

2011-05-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Kylee also had a band concert in December. She plays the flute. She played it for one year prior to taking band at O'Leary so she is more experienced than the other kids in her class. She did an amazing job!

Christmas Concert

2011-05-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ashlynd and Maura looked very cute at their Christmas Concert. Ashy was chosen to play Rudolph in the Christmas play. That's my superstar!

Ashlynd turned "10"

2011-05-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Ashlynd had her 10th birthday in November (yes, I'm that far behind on posting). She wanted her nails done so I took her to the mall to get them done. She was very excited!

It'll be fun!

2010-11-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

During this summer we went camping with family and friends at Redfish Lake. Brenden said it was going to be a nice weekend and HE decided it would be fun to take the top off the jeep. I don't really get excited thinking of my hair blowing in the wind and then having to brush all the rats out of my hair but I decided to go along with it. If you haven't already guessed it......the weather was NOT good and it rained on us. Brenden, however, came up with a solution. I guess you could say, it kept the seats dry. Good thing we packed the beach umbrellas.....don't leave how without 'em;)
More Redfish pics coming soon!

Very Behind

2010-11-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've updated my blog and I really don't have a good excuse. Life has been extremely busy with work the restaurants (yes, I said restaurant"s") and school. I have a lot to share and most of it is very old. I'm gonna try to post something everyday until I get caught up. TRY not promise but try so don't hold me to it if I miss a day;)

Maura lost her first tooth

2010-08-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

Not counting the tooth that Maura had to have pulled due to an infection, she lost her first tooth. It's been loose for quite sometime but with a little coaxing from her aunts and sisters, she pulled it out herself. She also wrote a letter to the tooth fairy and she (?) responded. Very Cute!!

4th of July at Alturas Lake

2010-08-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

We used to camp at Alturas Lake, every year, with Brenden's family. It's been a while since we've been there so we decided to go for the weekend. It's still as beautiful as ever. We a have a fun time!

Eclipse Premier

2010-08-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know me, I wouldn't miss the premier to Eclipse. I even talked some of my family into going. We started waiting in line at about 9:30pm and good thing we did because it was the longest line I've ever seen....... but totally worth it.

Kindergarten Graduation

2010-08-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

My little girl graduated from kindergarten. She had wonderful teachers and friends!

a BIG thank you to Jordan!

2010-07-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

My final week in Montana was extremely stressful. Brenden was already in Idaho and I was left to pack the entire house and tie up all the loose ends. Jordan put off her other plans to stay with me for a week to help pack. I couldn't have done it without her. Thanks Jordan!

Activity Days

2010-07-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

I had the most wonderful opportunity to be a leader for the activity day girls. I'm going to miss all these beautiful young ladies!

Swinging Tree

2010-07-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

A fun pastime back in the days, was going to the swinging tree. Nothing has changed:) It's a lot higher than it looks.

Dustin

Ashlynd

Kylee

Dad helping Maura

Maura

Kaden

Kenadee

Brooklyn

Look...no training wheels!

2010-07-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

While uncle Dustin was visiting us, he taught Maura to ride her bike without training wheels! I'm so proud of her. Thanks uncle Dustin! Your the best!

Giant Springs

2010-07-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

Before we moved back to Idaho, my family came to visit us in Montana. The weather was good so we took them to Giant Springs to feed the fish and check out the beautiful scenery.

Good looking crew!

Dad & Lynette

All the kiddos!

Feeding the fish

watch your step

HELLO....

Dustin though he was pretty tough! Too bad it was already leaning before he arrived.

Dustin decided to climb the hill

"I'm the king of the world"

Unable to Update

2010-06-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

Right now we are in limbo....part of our things are in Idaho and the rest are still in Montana. I have so much to share but (silly me) I forgot the connector to my camera in Montana. So I won't be able to update my blog until I travel back to Montana to get it. Sorry:(

Ally's Dance Competition

2010-05-17T19:42:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY got a chance to see Ally dance. Let me tell you, that girl has got some moves! I really enjoyed watching her dance. We all had matching shirts to support Ally. Mine said "Allyson T's sis-in-law". My favorite dance was tap when she was wearing her [what I call] rainbow bright outfit and they won first place. Good job Ally;)

Jordan's Prom

2010-04-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

Jordan attended her first prom and I think I was just as excited as she was. She looked so amazingly beautiful in her dress and her date, Kevin, is a very nice young man (if only he'd learn to show up on time...just kidding Kevin)! Anyway, I hope they had a wonderful night!

Baby Lola's Blessing

2010-04-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we traveled to Rexburg for the blessing of baby Lola. She is the most adorable little girl. I can't believe how much she looks like her father. Congrats Bryan and Laura!!

Easter Dresses

2010-04-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

They had to wait an extra week before wearing their new Easter dresses due to General Conference. So adorable!

It's that time of year....ahhhh!

2010-04-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

Gotta get those teeth checked after eating all that Easter candy! Maura actually had a great time. She got to hold "Mr. Thirsty"....you know the suction thing. They are so good with my girls!

Missing You

2010-04-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

I miss this guy;)

Tired of driving!

2010-04-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Let's go fly a kite

2010-04-12T20:57:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday was cold but perfect kite flying weather. This was Maura's first time flying a kite and she had a ball:)

Happy Easter

2010-04-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

The Easter bunny spoiled my girls......

Look at all those eggs

Of course, Maura's happy...see all those goodies!

Now that's a full basket

It was cold but it didn't stop the girls from finding the Easter eggs

Kylee helping Maura. What a good sister!

"Ha ha Jordan, I got it first!"

I'll give you one guess who he used for target practice!

Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, we took the girls to the new Alice in Wonderland in 3D. Some might think it's a little scary for children but my girls liked it. Maura and I had a little discussion about the movie today and it went.....

Me: "Did you like the movie?"
Maura: "yes"
Me: "But you thought the Mad Hatter was scary?"
Maura: "I did at first but now..... not so much!"

I love her choice of words. The movie was very creative! I liked it as well!

Happy (late) Valentine's Day

2010-03-03T19:54:00.000-08:00

Growing up, Valentines day was always a special day. It wasn't just a holiday for mom and dad but for us kids as well. Mom would decorate the house with heart mobiles. We would have a nice dinner with a little treat next to our plate and, of course, it wouldn't be complete without heart shaped jello. I was truly blessed to have such an amazing mother. Now I do it for my children.

Brenden and the girls got a little carried away with the whipped cream.

We always buy the girls a stuffed animal for Valentine's day. This year Kylee got a frog, Ashlynd got a puppy dog and Maura got a Ladybug. Their wonderful grandparents sent them a care package as well with candy and the cutest stuffed animals. We have the greatest family!!

Wacky Wednesday

2010-03-03T19:27:00.000-08:00

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday this week, for Maura's homework, she was asked to dress up wacky. She wore a striped long sleeved shirt, with a blue and pink shirt over the top, plaid shoes and to complete the outfit, an off the wall hairdo. I still think she looked adorable. Adults should have a wacky day:)

Tooth Fairy Movie

2010-02-13T20:38:00.000-08:00

We just got home from a family Saturday night outing. We went out to dinner and our plans were to see Avatar at the movie theater. We checked the time on-line before we left so we wouldn't be late. Well it turns out they're not very good at updating their website and the movie already started. Instead, we decided to see the "Tooth Fairy". I'm sure glad we did because it was a cutest movie. For a good family night out I would suggest taking your kids to this movie. We loved it!!!

One of the bathrooms

2010-01-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

Here's some pictures of one bathroom in our new home. Its kinda challenging to take pictures of a small space but I think you get the idea. We chose the same cabinets in the kitchen. The tile was donated by my wonderful in-laws and installed by us. It was left over from their home and I think it matches perfectly! I found the mirror for a cheap price at Wal-Mart. Can't go wrong there. I also love the sink. It's a one piece and very easy to clean.

Visiting the Fam!

2010-01-18T18:22:00.000-08:00

We made a quick trip to Idaho. I must confess that I haven't been very good, lately, at taking pictures. I pulled out my camera at the last minute. Here's the results. Those darn kids need to quit growing. Brooklyn and Jordan are taller than me and Allyson is getting way too close.

Fairmont Hot Springs

2010-01-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas day we decided to surprise the girls. I packed up their clothes without them knowing and we took at drive. The suspense was killing them but the wait was worth it. We took them to Fairmont Hot springs (by Butte) where we stayed overnight and they swam until their little hearts were content. It took some persuasion to get them to go down the water slide but after one try they were hooked. All they kept saying was "Thanks mom and dad". I think it was they're favorite present. It was good quality family time!

You know it's cold when:

2009-12-14T21:20:00.000-08:00

1. You warm up your car for 10 minutes and when you get in it's still cold.

2. The kids are kept inside for the entire week from school recess.

3. You walk outside and your nose hairs immediately freeze up and it's hard to breathe.

4. You have frost build up on the INSIDE of your windows.

5. The high is negative fifteen degrees!!!!

Gotta love Montana weather!

My Kitchen

2009-12-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love my kitchen. It was a challenge picking out the colors but I'm pleased the way it all came together. I wasn't interested in the color of the cabinets. I thought the chocolate brown was too dark. Brenden actually talked me into it. We paid extra money for our gas stove and now that I have cooked on it, I wouldn't have it any other way. We, of course, did the travertine tile ourselves. Brenden picked it out as well. Sometimes he's better at picking things out than I am. I still have to get some bar stools but they will have to come in time. The view out the glass doors is beautiful but it was dark when I took these so I'll have to get you those later. We got a killer deal on the appliances, so I able able to get my stainless steel.

n

The Living Room

2009-12-10T21:39:00.000-08:00

I get a little overwhelmed thinking about cleaning the entire house so I can post pictures on my blog. Well I had a fantastic idea. I will show you one room at a time. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't get around to it. We still have a ton of boxes to put away but it's livable. I've even managed to put out some Christmas decorations. Without further delay, here's the living room...........

Ashlynd's Nine

2009-12-10T21:31:00.000-08:00

Ashlynd had her birthday on the 29th of November. I wasn't a very good mom, so I don't have very many pictures. She got a cell phone, easy bake oven, DS game and other fun things. She even made her own birthday cake with her new oven so if your looking to get her items for Christmas, I have some good ideas (hint, hint). She's such a joy to have in our home. Love ya Ash!

Christmas Stroll

2009-12-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

Every year, there's a Christmas Stroll downtown Great Falls. All the shops stay open late and the entire street is covered in Christmas lights. Vendors line up the streets selling warm treats like hot chocolate, chili, pork rolls and donuts. They also have a light parade that wouldn't be complete with Santa Clause. We watched some kids sing songs in sign language and also stopped at the girls' favorite shop (Candy Masterpiece) where they pull there own taffy. You can find just about any goodie that you loved as a kid. Kylee went with a friend so Ashlynd, Maura and I hung out together. It was a lot of fun (don't forget cold) and we really enjoyed it!

Poor Kylee

2009-12-10T20:59:00.000-08:00

Long story short, Kylee tried going on the treadmill with Ashlynd and took a big spill. She got burns on her face, shoulder, and wrist. She was so concerned the kids at school would stare and ask her what happened so I let her stay home from school. I'm surprised she let me take a picture of her. The accident happened over a week ago so I'm happy to report, except for one little mark, she looks back to normal. I was concerned about scares so I was putting medicine on her every second I had a chance. I think it helped with healing because she recovered very quickly. You won't see my kids on the treadmill again!

Ashlynd's Baptism

2009-12-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

Ashlynd was baptised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on November 28, 2009. The baptism was beautiful and her father did an amazing job. The spirit was there. Thank you to all those who attended and helped make it happen! We are so proud of you Ashlynd! Love you honey!

My Little Monkey

2009-12-05T22:09:00.000-08:00

Maura came home from school one day and was so excited because she has mastered the monkey bars. She begs me to take her to the school so she can show me. So one day while I was visiting her school, she showed off her new talent. Way to go girl!!

New Moon

2009-12-05T21:57:00.000-08:00

New Moon came out on November 20th. For those of you who know me, I've been waiting for this day to arrive. So when I had a chance to go to the midnight showing with a bunch of friends, do you honestly think I would turn it down? Noooooo!!! I really enjoyed spending time with those women! As for the movie, loved it! Now I gotta wait another 6 months for the next one. Good thing I've already read the books because after this movie I would've been dying to find out what happens!

House Update

2009-11-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted pictures of the house and a LOT has happened. I get nervous and anxious at the same time when things start coming together because you never know how it's gonna look until it all comes together and I absolutely LOVE it!!! The paint, my cabinets, the light fixtures, the siding, the rock and the coolest back porch with a phenomenal view of the city. These aren't the best pictures because they were taken in the dark and we don't have power to the house yet (a big concern of mine) but they will have to do. They were taken tonight so you don't get more up-to-date than this. The wood is covered up for fear of it getting it scratched or chipped. It is dark like the cabinets and just as beautiful. A BIG thanks to Mike for helping us out with that!
If all goes well, we might be able to move in next weekend (yippee)! Enjoy the pics!

The Tile

2009-11-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

Man we have done a lot of tile lately but this one takes the cake. It may not look like much but it was hard work. We were there on Friday until about one o'clock in the morning laying the backer board. I was in charge of the screwdriver while Brenden cut and measured the board. On Saturday we worked on it until about three in the morning (Sunday). We HAD to finish it by Monday so I was there until 5:30 am Monday morning slept for about and hour and went to work. Brenden on the other hand did not work on Monday so he stayed all through the night until it was done. Which was about 1:00 Monday afternoon. Boy are we beat. We had some helpers and without them it would have taken us so much longer. Lance was kind enough to help cut the tile. I showed him how to use the saw and he turned into a pro in no time. Brad was a trooper and stuck it out the entire time with Brenden. Thank you so much everyone for all your help! I turned out beautiful!
Now Dustin, check out that tile next to the rounded tub. That was tricky but Brenden pulled it of nicely. We had to find some creative ways to measure the tile, including using a wire (don't ask) but it worked and I'm glad it's finished! You would be proud.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-01T20:47:00.000-08:00

My girls absolutely LOVE Halloween. You get to prance around the town in any costume you choose and ask people for free candy. What's not to love!?!?! I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween!

Maura was a butterfly

Ashlynd was Hannah Montana

Kylee was a pink witch

Maura Class Party

2009-11-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

On Friday, I joined Maura's school class for loads of Halloween fun. They made all sorts of crafts including the cutest spider hats. We also carved pumpkins and had some yummy treats. They even sang us the cutest little pumpkin song in sign language. When you see Maura you'll have to ask her to sing it to you!

Halloween Surprise

2009-11-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

The girls were so excited when we received a big box in the mail from Grandpa and Grandma Hymas. The box was full of fun and exciting goodies!! Thank you so much for the Halloween treats, Dad and Lynette! We love you!

More House Pics

2009-10-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

These pictures of the house were taken yesterday and since then they've already started putting up sheet rock. Like I said, they're moving so fast I can't keep up with the pictures. Today we had a big snow storm but they continued working on the house.

This is the living room when you walk in the front door.

The Kitchen
Basement

Maura's Room (main level)

Ashlynd's Room (downstairs)

Kylee's Room (downstairs)

Vaulted Ceilings

Finally....our NEW home!!

2009-10-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

My computer is still on vacation but thanks to my good friend (Rosanne), I can still update my blog:)
It's been a little rocky lately but now things are starting to look up. We sold our old house (the big renovation project) and have begun to start building our new home. Our builder has been amazing! He's knows our situation and is trying to get us in our home asap. They are working so fast that these pictures are now out of date. We broke ground on September 21st and ran into a little snag. You see we live on a hill, the covenants have a height restriction so the view of the city can't be blocked. As you've probably already guessed, our house is too tall. The covenants are not currently enforced so our realtor spoke and sent a letter to all neighbors to smooth things out. As luck would have it, all the neighbors have been really kind and have allowed us to continue on building without modifying our plans. So after a week and a half of working out details building has continued and look at what they've accomplished....

The lot before building began
Foundation
This is what the house looked like before we took a trip to Idaho on the 14th of October.

We have an amazing view.
We had a daylight basement in our old house and I loved it so much, it's gonna be in our new house too.
Three car garage with a small shop in the back on the left hand side.

Brenden is excited.

The front. Love it!!

d...e....a....d

2009-09-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

I bet your wondering why I haven't updated my blog in a while. Well it seems that our computer has taken a turn for the worst and it decided to take a break. So until I can talk my bro into fixing it for me......I will be unable to post anything new. Bummer!!!!

Back to School

2009-08-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

This year my little sweet Maura heads off to Kindergarten, Ashlynd is in 3rd grade, and Kylee is in 5th grade! I just can't believe it! We were in a bit of a hurry so I was only able to take a picture with Maura and her teacher.

Kylee's B-Day

2009-08-31T16:17:00.000-07:00

My oldest daughter has reached double digits. She has grown up to be the most beautiful young lady and I'm proud of what she has become. Kylee is so good to help me around and the house, she takes care of her sisters, and she makes the right decisions. In fact, I was approached by a parent in church yesterday because Kylee comforted her child on the first day of school when she was having a hard time. Kylee and Maura played with her and made her school experience more enjoyable. I am very proud of my girls!
For her birthday, Kylee received a new bike, cell phone (I know we're nuts), fake nails, books, a Hannah Montana CD, and lots of other little goodies. We love you Kylee!!

I love these girls!

2009-08-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

Montana State Fair

2009-08-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

Here's this year pics of the fair. Russ, Diane, Jordan and Ally joined us and it was a blast. This year, Maura was brave enough to ride on the big rides.

Mini Golf

2009-08-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

The girls went miniature golfing for activity days and like the mom that I'm, I was there taking pictures. They had so much fun!

The secret to the Missouri River

2009-06-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

We've lived in Montana for 2 years now and every time Brenden's gone fishing on the Missouri he has been skunked, until now! Now I can't keep him off it, that river calls his name. Not really, but he swears it does. With the girls in Idaho, he's even conned me into going but not without a good book to read. I don't do fish. It's so beautiful on the river and these pictures just don't do it any justice. Thanks Tony, for taking us out in your boat. Brenden's really gonna to miss it!
What's the secret to catching the fish.......your gonna have to talk to Brenden!

Hangin' with the Fam

2009-06-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

For The Love Of Sunflowers

2009-05-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

Here's another item I finished yesterday. One of my friends had a birthday and she LOVES sunflowers. So I made this fun little sign to hang in her home. I'm pleased that she loves it!

Congrats Maura!!

2009-05-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Maura had preschool graduation on Friday. They did a little program, handed out diplomas and fed us lunch. Maura did a wonderful job. I absolutely Love this daycare. They've taught Maura so much. She is more than prepared for her next big step! My baby's moving on to Kindergarten!

Maura getting her diploma

Maura and her teacher, Miss Melissa.

Maura and her friend Kaylee

{Beautiful Day For Fishing}

2009-05-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

More Crafting

2009-05-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been doing very well at updating my blog but it doesn't mean I haven't been busy. Here's another craft project I made and I absolutely love how it turned out!

First I used my favorite tool (the saw) and cut a piece of wood. Then I sanded the edges to make them smooth.

Then came the paint.

I bought these flowers at Michael's and the knobs at Home Depot.

I took apart the flowers, drilled holes in the wood, inserted the knobs and tada!!

Something adorable to hang up Maura's dress up clothes.

The Best Grandparents

2009-05-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

Maura was ecstatic when she received a big box in the mail! For her birthday, her grandpa, grandma and aunts got her all sorts of goodies! A desk with a dry erase board, coloring supplies, foam stickers, etc. She was so happy! Maura says THANKS!!l

Maura's Five

2009-05-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Where have the years gone? My baby just turned 5 years old. This morning I registered her for Kindergarten and it's a little hard for me to grasp!!!
Like I said before Maura has been difficult to buy for this year. She got clothes, shoes, make your own jewelery set, a purse with tons of fun things to fill it with, and her very own camera. Call us crazy but it was a heck of a deal. Brenden took the day off and took her out to a buffet breakfast. I took a half day off work and we all went to lunch at Pizza Hut. When the girls came home from school we went bowling, had dinner at Chili's, and came home for some ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Talk about indulging! What a great day! We are so very blessed to have such a sweet spirit in our home. We love you Maura!

Early B-Day Present

2009-05-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

Maura's birthday has been a little challenging. She doesn't know what she wants and we have no idea what to get her. I decided I wanted to pierce her ears but every time I asked her about it she would say "not until I'm eight". Well I did a bad and decided to do it anyway. I went to the mall on Saturday and stopped in to see what the best time would be to come in on Tuesday. I wanted both ears done at the same time but on Tuesday they are going to be short handed. Sooooooo...... I went ahead and did it then. Maura had no idea what was about to happen until she had to sit in the "chair". When she figured it out, she was as worried as can be. She cried for just a moment but after that was all smiles. In fact, she couldn't wait to show everyone. She looks absolutely gorgimous (I know it's not a word but my dad always said it when we were little) !!!

What the.........

2009-05-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I thought it was May but I'm beginning the wonder. Yes, that white stuff on the ground is snow. It snowed for 3 days straight and I'm beginning the think that Spring just isn't coming this year. The snow was so thick and heavy that Brenden had to shovel it off the roof, almost 3 feet deep. Craziness....

Somebody got a hold of my camera

2009-04-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

These made me laugh so hard!!

Fun with the Blakeslee's

2009-04-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Tony's (Chili's GM) family came to Great Falls. They currently live in Idaho Falls, while Tony works here, until they sale their home. We took the kids to Giant Springs. They were able to see the fish hatchery and feed the fish. Giant Springs is located on the Missouri River so the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. We took a walk along the river but turned around after we all started getting cold. After Giant Springs, we took the kids to the Children's museum where they did some exercising, played dress-up, put on a puppet show, played in a sand box, and much much more. It was loads of fun!

I'm hooked!!!

2009-04-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

Holy cow! What a movie.....I absolutely love Twilight. I loved it so much that I've begun reading the books (along with everyone else in the country). If you haven't seen the movie your missing out!

Paige

2009-04-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Tony, the manager of Chili's, brought his daughter to visit. She was so much fun and a joy to have around. My girls absolutely love her. We played all weekend!! Which included making crafts, finding goods at the dollar store, and swimming. Thanks Paige for playing with us. Can't wait till you come to visit again!!

Now that's a big sucker

2009-03-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

During our trip to Sun Valley we bought the girls some extra large suckers. I can't count the number of times the girls have begged us to buy them. So on our vacation we decided to bring them home. The girls were on a sugar high for a week. I don't think I'll be purchasing them again any time soon.

Sun Valley Trip

2009-03-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Since I'm so far behind on blogging, here's some highlights of our fun trip to Sun Valley, Idaho. Our last stay in Sun Valley was our honeymoon (10 years ago, WOW) so it brought back good memories! We took the trip with our good friends Fred and Heather Hoffman and they're not here to comment but I would say they had a wonderful time as well.

Just arrived!!

We decided to spend some time on the ice and I must say Brenden has some "smooth moves". He surprised me!!

Now Heather used to be a professional ice skater so she put us all to shame.

We even took some time out to bowl the old fashioned way. How do you keep score?

What's a Sun Valley trip without spending time on the mountain and holy cow it is huge. I've never seen so many lifts it my entire life and the view was beautiful.

Look at all those runs and that's just one side of the mountain.

Still smiling after a long day of boarding.

Look who we caught up with, Erik and Karrie. She is pregnant with, can you believe it, their fourth child. I remember thinking when are they going to catch up with us and now they've passed us. Congratulations!! It was so nice to see them. Where have the years gone?

And finally, this is us on our sleigh ride. It was cold but fun.

Dinner was amazing and Heather really enjoyed pushing Tim's buttons. hehe!!

I'm not the "Biggest Loser"

2009-02-25T19:57:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone. Yes, we're still alive. Life just seems so crazy and I've found myself with no spare time.
Starting January 5th, everyone at my work decided to have a Biggest Loser competition. I like to watch the Bigger Loser because it helps keep me motivated. What makes me more motivated is competition. So for 4 weeks I ate healthier than I ever have and I exercised 2 sometimes 3 times a day. It was hard work. I'm sad to report that I got second place. I first place winner beat me by two stinking ounces. What the heck is that. Plus I had to do my final weigh-in one day earlier than everyone else because I took a much needed vacation (that's to come). So if I would have had one more day to loss the weight I think I could have beat him. It's not all bad news, I missed out on $225.00 but on the bright side I got $75.00 and I lost a whopping 19 pounds. So looking at the glass half full, I still won. Now I just need to keep it up. How's your new years resolution going??

Smart Cookie

2009-01-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

Maura is learning so much in preschool. She can already write her first and last name, she knows the sounds of the letters in the alphabet, she can point to a letter and tell me what it is and she can spell small words like "cat". Maura was playing with a boggle game and I was so amazed at what she did. She did the alphabet (well as good as she could with the letters she had to work with). She is going to do so good in kindergarten.

Snowboarding

2009-01-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

While we were in Idaho, we planned a trip to go boarding with Russ, Diane, Jordan and Ally. I've never boarded before so this was a challenging experience. Jordan, Ally and Russ haven't snowboarded either so I wasn't the only one learning. Even though I spend a LOT of time on my bottom, it was fun. I'm definitely gonna need a lot more practice.

Happy Birthday Jordan

2009-01-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone? Wasn't it not to long ago when Jordan was wearing a beautiful white dress walking down the isle during my wedding. Now she's fifteen and driving a car. Ahhhh!!!
Jordan you are such a wonderful aunt to my girls and a good example to everyone around you. We enjoyed celebrating your birthday with you. We went Nascar racing and rock climbing and then out to dinner. It was so much fun! Happy birthday and thanks for being a part of our lives!

X-mas @ Grandpa & Grandma's

2009-01-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

We visited Grandma & Grandpa Taylor and Jordan and Allyson during New Years. We celebrated our x-mas together and, once again, the girls were spoiled AND so was Brenden and I. We had such a fun time. My only regret, I should have taken more pictures.

Merry Christmas........late!!!

2009-01-06T19:33:00.001-08:00

This was our first Christmas with just our little family. The girls we're spoiled, of course, and Santa keep good on his word. Kylee and Ashlynd got their nintendo DS' and Maura got her barbie. Ashlynd wouldn't let me take a picture of her with all her loot, so I just have Kylee and Maura. Santa even brought the dogs a stocking full of treats. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Oh, the street sign up above was found in Twin Falls, Idaho. I made Brenden stop so I could take a picture. I though it went along with the theme!

Christmas Comes Early

2008-12-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

Brenden had last Saturday off and that's a rare thing. He wanted to take the girls out and test their new Christmas presents so they opened their new snowboards, goggles, snow pants and coats early. I forgot to send the camera with Brenden so I don't have any pictures of them snowboarding (bummer)! We'll get some next time. Of course both of them struggled, which is to be expected, but overall they had a great time. All I hear is "When are we going again?".

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2008-12-21T22:54:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all! Here's a little peak into our holiday decorations. Brenden decided we needed a big tree because of our vaulted ceiling. I had no idea it was going to be 9 feet tall.

I got this idea from a craft fair. What could be easier, it's ribbon and bulbs. They look simple yet elegant. Why buy them when I can make them for so much cheaper. I think that's turned into my new motto.
This is my most recent accomplishment. I have always loved the way lighting looks on top of cabinets but I've never had it. I knew there was a plug-in in the cabinet above the microwave but in never donned on me until now that I should just drill a hole in the top and add lighting. I also added garland to add a little bit of Christmas flare. I get excited over the silliest things.

I like to wrap berries around my light fixtures in the kitchen. It really dresses them up.

I was so excited because this is the first Christmas that I've actually had a mantle to hang our stockings on. I finished painting it just in time for Christmas. Hey Lindsey, thanks for those most awesome candlestick holders (bottom left hand corner). They fit into my home decor real well.

I also made this sign. There are so many options with wood and vinyl. Can you tell I'm totally into the bow thing.

Candy Trains

2008-12-21T22:41:00.000-08:00

I went to Kylee's school last week to help make candy trains. Ashylnd gets out of school before Kylee so she was able to come in her class and make a candy train as well. Kylee made them with her best friend Ally. They looked darn cute and don't forget yummy too!

Christmas Hymas Style

2008-12-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

While the big blizzard came through Montana, I was in Idaho having Christmas with my family. Lynette made a wonderful dinner that included all the fixings, we had a very fun and entertaining gift exchange, and I even attended Brooklyn's basketball game. I seriously thought I was going to be stuck there because of the weather but the roads turned out alright. The girls and I had so much fun. Thank you so much everyone for the wonderful weekend! Here's just a few pictures.....

Christmas Programs

2008-12-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

All the girls had Christmas programs and they did a wonderful job. I loved all the fun and cute songs they sang. Kylee even played the recorder.

Birthday's

2008-12-21T16:51:00.000-08:00

We have also celebrated two birthday's in our house. First my sweet, not so little anymore, Ashlynd. She turned eight years old and is so excited to be baptized. She received her first set of scriptures and an X box game called "Lips" which is perfect for her because she has such a beautiful voice.
Our second birthday, is my wonderful husband. He had to work the entire day because a big banquet so we celebrated it a little early. He got a big tool box for the garage which he has wanted for a long time. I love you honey!!

Finally...... I'm back on-line and see what I've been up to!

2008-12-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

Yippee!!! We have the internet again and I couldn't be happier. I have been busy and still have a ton of things left to do before Christmas (Thursday), ahhhhh!! Around Thanksgiving I made this but I wasn't able to post it so here's to a late Happy Thanksgiving!

This is one of the most favorite things I finished. I made the frames, found some glass at the dollar store and put vinyl letters on it with my cricut. I love that thing.

This project has been a long time coming. I have had the hardest time figuring out what to do with the back splash in the kitchen. It was the ugliest brown tile you've ever seen and I tried to remove it but the tile is so old that the wall came off with it. Brenden tried painting it white but it just didn't look right. We even tried a little red to match the walls but I was too afraid that it would clash with the wall because trying to match it is impossible. Then I had this brainy idea to spray paint it black. That's right, I said spray paint. So I taped off the cabinets and the counter top and started spraying. I'm so glad it did because it turned out so nice. The black matches the appliances and really ties things together. I also finished painting the window and hung the blinds. That was a huge weight off my shoulders but I still have more touch-ups from the home remodel!

I also hung the girls new school pictures but I decided to dress them up. I attached ribbon to the frames and hung them on the wall using 3 left over knobs from the kitchen cabinets.

And finally, remember that frame I made a long time ago. I finally painted it and attached some chicken wire to the back. Using binder clips I can attached papers (the girls bring home from school). Now my fridge isn't completely covered.

We're still alive

2008-12-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. I haven't posted anything in a while. I have a lot to share with you but unfortunately, our internet is down(maybe permantely). The computer got knocked over and the wireless device broke. It will cost us $250.00 to fix it. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! So I'm not sure where we're gonna go from here. So updating you from work and I will try to let you know of any changes. What in the world am I going to do without the internet???????

Bon Appetit

2008-11-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

Here's another project I completed (when you get tired of my crafts, let me know). I started by making a sign. Then I cut, put together, and painted the frame. All that was left is to put it all together and hang it in the kitchen. Not too bad for a nights work!

Gettin' Crafty

2008-11-18T20:51:00.000-08:00

I've been inspired to make my own crafts instead of buying them. I made this project a little harder than it really is. I was too impatient to wait for the paint to dry so I had some setbacks but all in all it turn out nice. I always get so excited when I finish a project.

Now that I have Brenden's saw down pat, I also took a stab at making a picture frame. I wanted to make it for our wedding picture but I didn't have enough wood. I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for but there's endless possibilities. I'll post the finished project later.

Christmas Lights

2008-11-16T19:06:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again and I'm getting excited for Christmas. I talked Brenden into putting the lights up. I don't want to deal with it after the snow comes. Apparently our neighborhood is the one with all the amazing Christmas lights and everyone drives through to check out. No pressure!! So we have a lot of work to do. This is a start.

Confession Time

2008-11-16T18:23:00.001-08:00

Everyone seems to be in a confessing mood so I guess it's my turn. I think I've turned into a thrift store junky. Rosanne introduced me to a new blog (Joys of Home) and I'm hooked. This gal buys all her home decor from thrift stores and dollars stores and makes them into the most amazing things. So I had to test it out and look what I found.

I found these babies at the local thrift store and transformed them into this. I wish I would have taken a before picture because they looked pretty rough. It amazing what a little spray paint can do.

Plates at the dollar store.

I found this at the thrift store as well and I'm not sure what it is but I like it.

I'm even starting my own collection of T's for, you guessed it, Taylor. So if you see some you gotta let me know. Crazy, I know but I'm hooked. There's more things to come.

I don't want my picture taken!!!!

2008-11-09T21:51:00.000-08:00

I was trying to get a good picture of Maura and this is what I got. I had to share it. Too funny!!

Quirk Tag

2008-11-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

Candice tagged me to list 6 quirks about myself and tag 6 people.

1) While eating a sandwich, I eat the crust first and then the rest.
2) My thumbs bend back more than any persons should (hitchhikers thumb).
3) It drives me crazy when the TP roll is on backwards.
4) When I eat candy (like starbursts or skittles) I always eat the flavors I least like first (namely yellow).
5) I like the smell of potato sellers (Idaho girl).
6) I have to drive fast (I sometimes scare Brenden).

I tag Rosanne, Lindsey, Kim, Kami, Megan and Laura.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

My kids LOVE Halloween. Just a guess but maybe it's because they can play dress-up and get as much free candy as their little hearts desire or until I get tired of taking them around. Before we even started trick or treating Maura came home with a big ol' bag of candy from daycare (they went trick or treating downtown to all the shops). Then we went the church and Ashlynd must have decided not to give up until her bucket was full because she succeeded. Then we went around the neighborhood with our friends. I guess you could say they made out like bandits. My girls are going to lose all their teeth. Well not Ashlynd because she doesn't have any to lose.
Happy Halloween to all!!

Pumpkin Carving

2008-11-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

The girls were so excited to carve pumpkins. I knew it was going to be a project, so we only did three. It was funny watching the girls take out the guts. Ashlynd's word was "gross"! They turned out very cute but I forgot to take a picture of Kylee and Ashlynd with theirs. Sorry! Ashlynd's was a cute face that she drew herself and Kylee's was a spider by its web.

BOO-ed

2008-10-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

My good friend Rosanne (Little Hatz's) BOO-ed me.

Here are the rules: Pick some people to BOO and let them know that they have been BOO-ed. Have them link back to your blog to pick up their treat (picture) so they can BOO their friends. Put the picture on your sidebar so everyone knows that you have been BOO-ed.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Score

2008-10-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

I attended out super Saturday and after a lot of frustration I finished my project. Long story short, I messed the whole thing up so I took it home sanded down the whole entire thing, spray painted it (because I was too lazy to try and repaint it), cut out new vinyl letters, put it all together and tada. I was so proud of myself because I though it was ruined. Yippee!!

Since I was already in the crafty mood. I made this. I saw it on another blog (The McIllece Spot) and thought I would try it. I found a cheapo picture frame for three bucks at Wal-Mart and the paper cost me a mire $1.50. I cut the letters out with my cricut and glued them on. What an awesome idea. I always have to check out her blog for new creative ideas and recipes. Thanks Amber and Rosanne (for introducing me to the blog)!!!

aMAZEing fun

2008-10-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

About a week ago the girls and I, along with some friends, decided to go to the corn maze. As you can tell by all the pictures, the girls had a blast. Not only do they have a corn maze but the girls were able to play in some hay and corn kernels, go on a cow ride, go down a big bumpy slide, and see how they measured up. It was fantastic!!!

Halloween Crafts

2008-10-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

Lately around our house, we've been getting in the Halloween mood. The girls and I found some cute crafts and have been having fun putting them together. We made some candy corns, refrigerator magnets, and masks. They really turned out cute!

Check This Out

2008-10-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

How awesome is this? My father and mother-in-law gave this to me for my birthday and I thought it was so neat, I have to share it with all of you. My mother-in-law has her own engraving business and she engraved this on granite. Thank you so much Diane. I love it!!

What kind of monster am I?

2008-10-12T19:16:00.001-07:00

You Are a Witch (or Warlock)

You are deviously brilliant and a perfect manipulator.
You somehow always end up getting what you want - without anyone knowing you're working behind the scenes.
Crafty and cunning, you can work your way out of any jam.
And it's easy for you to get people to do what you want, whether you're working for good or evil.

Your greatest power: Mind control

Your greatest weakness: Making people your puppets

You play well with: Ghosts

What Kind of Monster Are You?

First Snowfall

2008-10-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

We received our first snowfall the other day. Is it Halloween or Christmas? I'm unsure but this sure gets me excited for Christmas. The girls have really enjoyed it!

Go Saints!

2008-10-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 11th, we traveled to Helena and attended a Carroll College football game. Brenden , Luis (Helena Mac Grill Manager) and Billy (Helena Chili's manager) were there for the tailgate. It was so c-c-c-cold. Of course the Saints won, 24 to 21. It was fun just to be there and spent time together as a family.