{New Years}

 New Years Eve was a lot of work and we managed a lot of play too.  With Aunt Jenny passing away a few weeks ago, Mom inherited some big pieces of furniture that my parents had to try to fit into their house.  She got a huge entertainment center that we thought measured 12 feet (someone else did the measuring) so the only place that was large enough to fit it was in their family room.  Some brick had to be taken out in order for things to fit so Scott and Dad hammered away...

 The kids vacuumed and swept...

 and the entertainment center was put together...wait a minute, it is only ten feet?  So it could have fit on different walls, and we didn't need to knock out all the brick?  Blast, well too late now.  Grrr.

 This baby literally took 8 hours to get put together (including brick demo).  Sheesh!

 The day before was spent putting this desk together in the office.  Aunt Jenny didn't go for small furniture; everything was done right. 

 In the midst of all the moving, furniture building and chaos, we managed to fit a New Years Party in there.  We started out the night with a bubble gum blowing contest.  I really don't know who won, Brittni had some great ones, Haylee, Kelli and I were also contendors.

 Poor Brigham didn't know how to blow a bubble but he put in a valiant effort.

 We played a game of Bingo.  Brigham did not have a very good card and quit during the middle of this game. 

 With a lot of convincing and pep talks we got him to come back for another try.  Grandpa cheered him on and rubbed it in when he got one but Brigham ended this game victorious.  Priceless and not even rigged.  He actually won and this was a much needed win since he has only ever won twice in his entire life.  Phew!, the night could go on with happiness.

 It is never a party if you don't break out the Wii.  We even got Brittni to dance so next year it is our goal to get Whitney up there too.  Pump Up the Jam nearly killed us all.

 Our family loves this game.  There is never a dull moment.  See Logan all sad about something?

 and Mom having a laugh attack that went on for several minutes.

 Then Wacy joined us with his girlfriend and her family who were visiting from California.  He lost this round and was not happy!

 Since we had worked moving stuff around and assembling stuff all day we thought we would make midnight really be 10 o'clock but we managed to last until the real midnight and here are ALL of the kids (that's right none of them crashed) celebrating the New Year.

Happy New Year everyone, may this year bring many more great memories.

Christmas 2011

We had a very Merry Christmas this year!  Macy woke up at 7 a.m. and wandered into the living room.  I heard her kitchen making bubble noises and jumped out of bed.  I walked out to find her playing with her kitchen.  She looked up at me and said "a kitchen!?!" like it was weird that it was just there in her living room.  Too funny. Enjoy some pictures from our day:

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Thanksgiving 2012

 

We got to enjoy two Thanksgivings this year.  We celebrated early with the Ricks family and I forgot my camera thus no pictures of games, food or 11 cute kids running around.  These pics are from the McGarry fams Thanksgiving.  We went fancy and used goblets, plates and actual silverware...no paper products for us. (which meant 3 hours of dishes later)  :)

                                         Here is the Taylor Clan

                        Shane, Logan, Whitney, Kelli and part of Kliss :)

                               Scotty(loner) Brigham and Ashtyn

            Macy attempted a big bite of jello.  This did end up on the floor.

                                   Grandpa being Grandpa with Ben.

 Now it is Ashtyn's turn.  No grandkid is ever safe if they are close to Grandpa!

 We had a lot of performances by the grandkids.   This may have been a time when they were trying to get us to have a sleep over.  (it makes it harder to say no when they have put so much effort into it)

 Alittle game of "ha ha"

It was fun hanging out with family all weekend.  We hit the movies and a two hour long dinner at Applebees (sheesh!) and we did a lot of gaming.  Our new favorite game is Time's Up. We must have played it at least 10 times over the weekend.  We learned that my Mom has a mean Scrrrreeeech!  ha ha  Farkle and Bannana grams were also fun favorites.


Here is Haylee and Zack performing a Thanksgiving song they composed and had to perform for all of us.   There are a lot of reasons to be thankful this year.

Halloween 2011

 2011 Halloween brought us Miss America, A Knight, a Princess and a Maid.

 A cowboy joined us to celebrate at the Kennedy Spookfest.  Macy only lasted part way through but the rest of the kids had a great time.

 I always dread pumpkin carving time but this year it went a little smoother.  The kids can mostly do it on their own-- with or without clothes.

 Trick or Treating was a lot of fun.  Macy thought it was really great that people kept putting chocolate in her bucket.

We were the first and probably one of the only trick-or-treaters at this house.  Boo Grandpa!

Brigham Ricks is Six

Brigham turned six on 10-23 and since it fell on a Sunday and we had family in town for Logan's wedding, we made a weekend of it.

 He got this bullet bike a few weeks before his bday so he would get a chance to ride it before it got too cold and snowy outside.  He has a lot of fun cruising around on that little thing...so does Scott.

 We were lucky enough to have family in town so on Saturday we got everyone together and headed off to a straw maze.  Brigham, Brock, Noah and Macy got separated from us for nearly an hour.  I was really happy to finally meet up with them again and know that Noah had Macy...that had me nervous for awhile there!

 Brigham picked this cake since I did not have time to bake one up myself. 

 Brock, Brigham, Haylee and Zack playing the Lego game he got from Grandma and Grandpa McGarry

We built lots of Legos on Sunday together and had a lot of fun playing with his new toys.  Thank you to everyone who made this birthday special for him.  :)

Family Photos 2011

 We had our family pictures taken at the BYU-I gardens this year.  I am thankful for my little family. (especially when they are all sitting still and smiling ha ha)

 Ashtyn-10 years old

 Haylee- 8 years old







Brigham...almost six

Macy Turns 2!

On September 8th Macy turned two.  We celebrated on a Monday night during FHE with the McGarry's and then with the Ricks' on her birthday.  She got spoiled twice!

She has been in a phase where she wears my shoes all over the house.  Good thing Grandma got her some shoes that fit her a little better.  She wears them every day now.

 Hanging out by her pile of gifts.  She had no idea that there was some good loot in those things or we probably wouldn't have kept her out of them.

 She got a lot of help opening her gifts and playing with them for that matter. 

 She loves anything princess so this cake was a big hit.  The sucker was also a favorite.  (thanks Grandma!)

 When we got home that night she got to open all of the packages and play, play, play.

 She had a great pre-birthday!

 Now, here is Macy when she is officially two.  She was so excited that we kept telling her it was her Birthday because she now understoon what it meant.  Anytime you ask her how old she is she will tell you three and start to giggle because she knows it isn't right and that I tease her that she is only two.  Funny girl.

 She got a Birthday card in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Ricks with $2 in it.  How fun!

 Balloons are a lot of fun too!

 We took her to Smith Park for a picnic and to play on the toys while Grandma and Grandpa Ricks came to give her some more gifts. 

 She enjoyed some cupcakes...

and her new tent.   We love you Macy Lou, Happy Birthday!