You Gotta See It To Believe It!!

So McKay & his friends have been having a blast playing Softball 

with our church Youth Group... 

an activity I encouraged:

* good group of kids

* adult supervision

* good physical activity

* Safe... Safe... right?

until Mckay came home one night a bit disoriented with  

THIS...

Apparently he decided to 

Text & Play Softball

Simultaneously, 

and took a Softball to the Head.

It hit him so hard 

it left "stitch marks" on his forehead.

(nice arm Sam)

Friday Flashback

April 2004

Monkey See Monkey Do

Monkey Get In Trouble Too

(remember that shirt, V?)

It's the Thought That Counts

so I come 
into the kitchen 
and find 

THIS

McKay, 
being the dutiful son 
that he is, 
had just finished his 
nightly dishes.

He even went the 
"extra mile" 
and took the time to refill the 
rinse aid dispenser.

Aw thanks buddy.

Too bad he thought the 

cool blue stuff 

in the rinse aid dispenser was

Dawn 

Thank goodness 
it only took me a 
WEEK 

(and about 30 empty loads run through) 

to get all the soap 
cleared out of the 
dishwasher.

Boy vs Asphalt

I should never have told McKay that

Chicks Dig Scars.

I think he's taking this a bit too far.

Friday Flashback

The Four Musketeers

1998

Mike & I met at BYU in Provo, married and lived there while he finished his degree. 

My sister Lori & her husband Dwayne also met at BYU, married and lived there while completing their degrees.

We had our first babies within weeks of each other & our second babies within 6 months of each other.

Our kids went to the same babysitter during our working/school years.

JT and Chan attended the same preschool.

We lived nearly next door for several years.

We shared vacations, holidays, birthdays,

happiness, heartache & many "firsts".

Our boys were best buddies, partners in crime, inseparable.

The Four Musketeers

MacDaddy

Case

JT

Chan

All for one, one for All.

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.

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.

GiddyUp

Grandpa Taylor was so excited to introduce the kids to his newest horse, Mysti.
And vice versa.

Courtney started out on Mysti with McKay leading. Courtney has come a long way since she first started riding the horses. She can even ride solo now!

Then Valerie got a turn on Mysti with Grandpa leading and McKay assisting. She was really enamored with the "sparkly white" horse.

And of course we could not forget Tony, who kept saying, "my turn, my turn". He got to have a ride on Lacy (who happens to be Mysti's aunt).

Courtney going solo on Lacy.

I think this girl was born to wear a cowboy (girl) hat.

Finally, after all of the little ones had their turns riding, McKay & Grandpa took Lacy & Mysti for some real riding up in the mountains. Lacy really loves McKay & always give him a "horse hug" at the end of their ride.

The kids really look forward to their "cowboy time" with Grandpa.
Thanks Grandpa!
and thanks Larry, Grandpa's long-time friend, for helping us ride
Thanks Lacy & Mysti for being so kind & generous!!!
we'll be back...

Following in his Bootsteps

Everyone is so giddy(up) when Grandpa brings out the cowboy hats.

Anticipation... smiles.
Then off to the barn to meet the newest member of the Taylor family,
Mysti (as in short for Mystical).

Beautiful pure white joy.
Grandpa helps McKay ready the horses for riding.
McKay has such a gentle touch.

cute lil' cowpokes

howdy partner.

off to ride

Happy Trails
To You...

Snapshots of Heaven

For a mother, is there anything more heavenly than your 5 children being together and ENJOYING it?

Or snuggling in the sunshine
in your PJ's...

Or realizing your baby has fallen asleep
as you gently swing him
under the blue skies.

Oh yes, heaven on earth.

We Interrupt This Program

For a short injury time-out...
and while we're at it,
let's play a little game
WHO'S (bloody, gashed) LEG IS IT ?

'
'
'
'
'
v

and the winner is....
McKay !!!

and let this be a lesson to you... never try & balance on a razor-sharp, non-stable object to try & win the affection of the lady folk.

unless you live by the old mantra
"Chicks Dig Scars"

Try Not To Giggle

Tony seemed a bit bewildered when he came to me in tears & I immediately grabbed the camera...
can you blame me?

how cute is THAT??

and apparently the love of wearing Mr. Potato Head's accessories runs in the family.

looking spiffy McKay!