Friday Flashback

August 2005
The Taylor Family Final Summer Blow-Out!
We went to Flagstaff for a little bit of...
Scenery

Light Reading
Napping While Snuggled In Your Baby Sister's Blankie
Wheat Thins

PJ's all day
YEAH

Jumping On The Beds

Card Playing
AND
Teething On End Tables

Unfortunately our magical getaway didn't magically eliminate baby diarrhea blow-outs.

Doesn't One Summer Blow-Out Deserve Another?

Smooth Moves Ex-Lax

Yes, wii DO think wii can dance.

This Little Piggie

Would You Believe Me If I Told You
We Had
Swine Flu?
Well, technically not WE...
just McKay (*and Jon)
and
Would You Believe Me If I Told You He Happened To Be Stricken With A Severe Case Of The Swine Flu On The SECOND DAY Of His Week-Long Church Camp?
honestly.
the humanity...
so I loaded up the troops on a
rescue mission
3 hours
to Flagstaff
This is the scene that greeted us when we arrived home,
thanks to Sam & his mom.
Seriously, THANKS!
(even got a brief smile)

His fever was so high,
his eyeballs were RED.

So we went into QUARANTINE mode,
making sure he had no contact
with the littles.
McKay spent the next 5 days
in my bedroom.
Slowly but surely he got better.
He even had a few visitors
to cheer him up!
(and bring him candy)
Thanks ladies.
you rock!!!

And what would we have done
without our
Swine Flu Survival Kit?
(from the creative genius)
Thank You!
or the meals that came at just the right time.
my family Thanks You.

We are happy that our
"epidemic"
is over & happier still that it
did not pass on to
family or friends.
A huge
thank you
to our awesome friends for their
acts of kindness & support.

*side note: We did conclude that McKay
contracted the Swine Flu from none other than...
JON
(who so kindly brought it home with him
from EFY in Provo).
Thankfully, his case was very mild.

Summertime, Summertime, Sum Sum Summertime

The Summer Began with some Goodbyes...

and really... I Hate Goodbyes.
sniff.
we will miss you crazy kids.

Do You Feel Lucky?

I think this boy deserves a
{green clover}
or maybe an
{orange star}
for pouring his own bowl o' the Charms.
They're magically delicious
you know.

Bubble Bubble, Toot Toot, Chicken, Airplane, Soldier

Getting prepped & ready for swim lessons with Miss Celeste.
Tony is a fifth generation student of Miss Celeste, who also taught Jon, McKay, Courtney & Valerie to swim when they were his age...
We love Miss Celeste.
ok.
I love Miss Celeste.
the kids LEARN to love
Miss Celeste...
after they realize that she is the key to freedom from water wings.
she is firm.
"No crying Jon (McKay) (Courtney) (Valerie) (Tony)"
She Is Good.
And one by one, each of my children have learned to swim.
Thanks Celeste.

Freedom!

Call Me Suzie... Homemaker, part II

What's a mother to do when she:
a) has just arrived home from vacation
b) looks into the pantry, only to find it mostly empty
c) is informed that her son's church class is in charge of treats for the Bishop's fireside (tonight)?

Christmas in July, baby!
or April
I always knew that green plastic Christmas tree plate would come in handy one day...

A Simple "Thank You" Would Have Sufficed

So as any good (bad) wife would do,
I was helping Mike blow/suck all of the leaves & flowers
out of the rocks & pool area.

(ok... confession)
I have become obsessed with Mike's latest birthday gift.
The Toro Ultra Blower/Vac...It's truly a thing o' beauty...
(thanks Robin for coming to our aid with yours & introducing me to a whole new world of enjoyment)
And just as we had blown up all of the flowers,
before the sucking phase,
Mr. Funny Guy pushed me into the pool.
Fully clothed.
Fully shoed.
Sunglasses on.
Covered in oleander flowers,
which then stuck to my skin & clothing...
delightful.

This has become a yearly tradition...
much to the glee of our children.

I don't even want to know
how he will up the ante
next year.

(gotta keep those ratings up after all)

I'm Back... no, really.

For those of you who thought I may still be at Camp Lo Mia snuggled up in my sleeping bag & riding the zip line...
I am back.
Really.
I am.
I missed my family.
SOOOOooo so much.
However, I didn't miss THIS.
which has become all too frequent.
THIS is what I've been doing all week.

which led to THIS.

Yikes.
However, you'll be happy to know that I have conquered Mt. Saint Old Navy and can now turn my attention to more, uh...
enjoyable activities.

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

While the boys were out in the wild being "manly men",
what did the women-folk do
to pass the time?
Soft music?
Manis?
Pedis?
Finger sandwiches & pink lemonade?
Nope.
It was a meat-eating, finger-licking, butt-kicking night at the Taylor
house o' women.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!!!

sorry we didn't save any for you fellas...

Party Over Here... Party Over There

You Know It's Gonna Be A Party When...
Your 2-year-old is in charge
of a 165 piece bucket of bubblegum.

There are 6 boys packed into a Rhino...
with a 14-year-old maniac driving.

There are boys with sticks...
oh, and FIRE.

You get to enjoy Scott Carroll's
(smokin' hot) ankles
all night.

You eat hot dogs
for dinner
with a little dirt for extra flavor.

Oh yeah,
Father's & Son's
ALWAYS a party.

SPI... da man!

Watch out Spidey, there's a new Super Hero in town...

Therapy

The school year is winding down...
which means
Concerts
Graduations
Parties
Gifts
FINALS
I feel stressed
and when I feel stressed
THIS
is the type of thing I do

So...
if we don't have a decent meal
or clean clothes everyday
or maybe even a shower...
at least we'll have
Sharpened Colored Pencils.

Blog Blitz

Brace yourselves because
HERE
IT
COMES.

Have You Ever?

Have You Ever...

...BECOME so overcome with love for your children that you had to wrestle them down on the carpet and smother them with kisses?
...FELT so much joy at being with your children that you had to do an impromptu conga line with them?
...WANTED to nibble on some chubby cheeks rather than eat dinner? (definitely more satisfying)
...WISHED that you had no responsibilities & instead could spend an entire week (month, year?) partying with your peeps?
...BELIEVED your heart may burst from the sweet nothings they whisper in your ear?
...TRIED to put into words the immense love and gratitude you feel for a mother such as this?

Thank you, Thank you MOM.
for giving me
the greatest gift of all.
the absolute, unchanging
LOVE
of motherhood.
after all, motherhood
IS a party...
if you make it.

We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Blog Post

Yes, I thought I would be able to completely document the cruise-o-rama before moving on, alas, my mind has been deeply engrossed in "motherly thoughts" for the past week.
so, without further adieu.

FYI

Rookie Mistake

Cruise Wear & Cruise Hair

The cruise really brought out
the best in...
Cruise Hair
(thank you humidity + wind)

and
Cruise Wear
(thank you Jerry!)

Under the Table

And you thought all of the
fun happened
above the table...

Balcony Bliss

Eating my (near) daily
ice cream with peanut butter cups
on the balcony
with an amazing view
and the soothing sound of the waves

and my smokin' hot husband

Beckie likes this.