Taylor Christmas Party

Emma with Grammie

Emma, Mia, Grammie

Sierra and Grammie

Kayleen

Madison and her birthday Cake

Christmas Memories

Some of the fun things we did this christmas season...

Emma performed with her school,

she had a speaking part, and was so cute!

Emma sang during the Chrismas Service at Church.

She is wearing s red and black checked dress with white sleeves.


This was comming out of Build a Bear,
where she made a Christmas present for her sister.

This is the puppy she picked out for Madison.

We had movie night.

We snuggled in blankets with Hot Chocolate, and popcorn, and watched

The Grinch that Stole Christmas with Jim Carey.

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday Madison!

Emma was so excited that she could hardly contain herself.
She helped mommy wrap some of the presents,

and was so excited to get them open so she could play with them.

Madison got her first baby doll from Emma

Mommy and Daddy gave her some baby accessories.

She loves them so much.
Emma hasn't ever played much with dolls,

but they are Madison's favorite thing.

But this whole thing about her little sister getting fun things things that

she has never owned herself was a little too much for Emma.

For the first time since Madison was born, we watched Emma get so, so jealous.

She kept talking about how her sister needs to share, and taking things from Madison.
It made me realize how lucky we are that they usually get along so good.

Christmas Downtown

Since the weather has been so unseasonably warm, we decided we had better take advantage of it, and take the girls downtown to see the christmas lights.

Emma has been asking for some time if we could take a ride on a train, so we thought this would be a good chance to take tracks.

It ended up being a very good idea because when we got downtown the BYU vs. Utah State basketball game was about to start at the Arena, and the amount of cars and people were insane.

Madison didn't want to sit still, she was so excited not to be strapped in.

Emma said when she got on the train, "I don't know these people," I don't know what she was expecting, but she had a good time.

We ate dinner at Gateway, and went to see santa, but we got there just as he was leaving.

Good thing Santa is all over the valley.

We then walked to the Mormon Temple to see the Nativity Scene.
There were so many people we could hardly walk around.
Emma didn't seem as interested in the lights as I thought she would.
This picture is when she is looking at the fountain,
she was more excited about that then the lights.

Madison fell asleep for most of the walk, but was very content.

We then walked down the street to the Gallivan Center ice rink is.

(we were really going down there because there is a Starbucks there, but it had just closed).

Emma was excited to see the "dancers". We looked at some more lights, caught the train, and came home. We all had so much fun!

Christmas Tagged

I am not usually one to participate in something like this. I takes so long, but I really thought this Christmas one was fun. I wasn't even tagged, I just saw it on Chantelle's Blog, and loved it.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, & try not to be a SCROOGE! Copy this entire post & paste onto your own new post! Change all the answers so they apply to you. Then tag a bunch of people you know (although I didn't because I really hate to be tagged)....Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper!! It looks better under the tree, and is much more fun for the kids to unwrap. It is also harder for anyone to take a peek!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial because I love to have it up for such a long time, and it doesn't shead needles.

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving because that is the soonest Val will allow it. I would do it in the middle of November if he would let me!

4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime between Christmas and New Years! First up and first down.

5. Do you like Egg Nog? I loved it as a child when my mom would make it for scratch, but the storebought stuff is nasty.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember getting a strawberry shortcake house that I loved.

7. Hardest person to buy for? All the men on my list. Val, my dad, and in years past Val's Dad. It is a good year when we draw names in my family and I get all girls! (although I didn't have a hard time finding something for Will this year!)

8. Easiest person to buy for? Emma. I could buy her a hundred more things, although I am sure I have already gone over budget. The problem is I can't find anything for Madison (because she has all of Emma's old toys and clothes). So I have a ton of presents for Emma, and only one thing for Madison (so far).

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have 2 and we have two for the kids. I love them, I would like to get more.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, it doesn't seem like a Christmas card over the internet.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I shouldn't say!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Nativity Story, I like to watch it on Christmas Eve when The kids go to bed.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but I did recycle wedding presents.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I don't think I much care.

16. Lights on the tree? Colored because Val and the kids like them better, I would do all red or white if it was only up to me.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Mary did you know, Jingle Bells

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We always stay home on Christmas Day in our PJ's

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.... And RUDOLPH!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A very, very large Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning for most of them, but we do Jammies on Christmas Eve (the ones we stay in all day).

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The snow when I have to go outside. I would love to live where it didn't ever snow!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like things with a fun, playful look. I have a tree with very large sparkly bells with large ribbons on them, and Red and white striped wrapping paper.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? One with lots of different food. Like when my family gets togeather and everyone brings a dish or two, and it makes for so much food.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? for my kids to be so excited on Christmas morning, and to be able to relax the whole day.

Speghetti Dinner

Madison had her first Speghetti Dinner tonight.

She LOVED it, and ate at least three times as much as Emma ate!

There is a first time for Everything....

I am very excited to see lights going up on our house for the first time in my married life.
I have always wanted lights, but I had to wait until I had a cute little girl to ask her daddy for lights, and I am OK with that.

This is what we have so far. I think I will put some more on the bushes. It's kind of a weird angle, but you know what they say about bloging your address (which would have been in the pictures any other way.)

I Love that Baby

This is my dear, sweet Madison. I love this little baby so much.

She is so happy, and usually content (especially when she can't see mommy!)

She is just getting to an age where she plays with toys by herself. Although she loves playing with Emma, and Emma's toys more than playing with her own.

This is one of the baby dolls that Emma got for her birthday.
When Madison sees it from accross the room she squeals, and crawls for it as fast as she can.
She will hold it, and pat it's back, and then poke it's eyes!

I got her a baby doll for Christmas, but it is hard not to give it to her now.

I love this curious face, like she is saying,
"Can I have that camera for a minute, I want to put it in my mouth!"

Cute toothy grin!

I am always so Happy!

Look at me Chilling in my Stroller

The sign for "Live Long and Prosper"

Fire Pit Fun!

Here are the pictures of the new fire pit that I have been promising several people I would post for a couple weeks now.

We raided my parents camping supplies for marshmellow rosting sticks (because it is apparently the wrong season to
find them in the store), and had our first marshmellow roast.





Please also pay close attention to the pavers, which just got finished a couple days ago. This was a project that I started before getting pregnant with Madison. They turned out better then I expected, and even though it's not the best pictures of the pavers themselves you can get an idea from the following pictures.




Yummy!
My first smore ever.












Val is getting ready for a double decker!
Just kidding he was roasting mine while I helped Emma make her smore!


























Emma didn't want the sticky on her hands.
Just like mom to take one for the team.











It's fun to have a fire. We talked about how great it was that we didn't have to sleep in a tent after we put the fire out!

"I said I am 4"

This picture makes me laugh outloud every time I see it, so I wanted to share it with you. She got this cake from her teacher at school and we were asking her to pose for this picture while she was obviously busy. If you click on the picture, the face is even funnier!

Halloween!

This year for Halloween Emma wanted to be her favorite princess, Cinderella. After looking at the overpriced for the horrible quality costumes around town, I decided to make this dress, with a lot of help from my mom.

The day before halloween Emma went up to Red Butte Garden with her friend Timothy. They had a "storybook night in the gardens", and the kids dressed up like book charactors. (Thank you to my dear friend, Debbie for taking her without me because I had a cold.)

On October 31st, Emma had a fun party at school where they ate witches brew (apple cider), and orange cupcakes.

We went right from school to the Trunk-or-Treat at Grandma and Grandpa's church.

After that we went straight to our friend Troy and Julie's house.

We had dinner with a bunch of friends, and then went Trick or Treating togeather. It was so much fun. I guess I made the skirt too long because Emma would step on it every time she would walk up the steps to a new house.

What a crazy day!

Emma asked on the way home if we could have Halloween again next week.

Emma is showing off her hair.

Madison was surprisingly content wearing this costume.

Trunk or Treat

She doesn't even know that there is anything exciting going on,

she is just happy to look around and play.

We had to change shoes after school because the glass slippers were hurting her feet.

No wonder Cinderella lost one when trying to run!

Birthday Party

Emma had her 4th birthday party with her friends on Thursday from 11:00-1:00.

I really wanted to go to a party place for her birthday, but all Emma wanted to do was decorate cookies with her friends. She invited 11 kids, and 8 were able to come, so we had a house full of preschoolers. I was so glad that some of the parents were there, and that Val was able to come home during the party.

Everyone had so much fun. It was relaxing. The kids played well, and had a great time.

Some of the cookies that were decorated.

The big cookie mess! (and some left over pizza!)

Kendon

Daixa

Kennedy and Emma

Christain and Timothy

Serving Cookies to sing Happy Birthday,

(note to self, do not put the cookies out until after you sing,

as they will be gone, and then so will the kids!)

Opening presents

Smiley Riley

Emma showing off some of her presents after the party.

Thank you to all her friends, we had such a great time!