Summer Fun!

We sure to miss this sweet gal! Chelsee officially left us and moved to Morgan to teach 1st grade. I am so happy for her and her new adventure, but we really miss our picnics in the park, late night chats, phone calls, having her just stop in to say hi, and the endless amount of fun that Beck has with his Aunt Chels. She is the best!
Love these two!
Chelsee was in charge of a fundraiser at the Logan Aquatic Center, so of course we had to go and enjoy a free Chic-fil-a sandwich, swimming in the kiddy pool with Beck, and getting our pictures with Cow and Andy Armadillo from Texas Roadhouse. We had a great time and it was so fun to be there to support our "Chits!"
Beck wasn't so sure about this situation!
Oh how I love these two boys of mine and their cute faces!
We got to go to the Jackson Hole Firework Show at Snow King Resort. We decided to hang out in Star Valley while Mark worked his tail off. Then we drove up to see him for his show that night. It was so great to finally be with him again. I am the luckiest gal on the planet! Love me some Bubs :)
Beck LOVES fluffy dandelions and was in heaven because the hill was filled with them. He was so happy to be with his Daddy again and get all of his attention!
My Aunt Laurie is on the left and she is one of the most amazing women I know. I am so thankful for every chance I have to spend with her. She is the greatest! (Note: Beck is playing with the IPAD that we had only had for a few days. At this point he has totally figured it out and is teaching me new tricks! AMAZING!)
Our little rascal and his cute cousin TaeLynn!
Hanging out with his fave cousin TayLynn. She sure is a sweetie!



We had to catch Mark's firework show in action! We sure love to enjoy all of his hard work!

Show me a Scotsman!

One of my very favorite moments of being a true blooded Aggie happened this morning. I went upstairs to get Beck out of bed, sat down on the floor next to his bed, and we just chatted away. He pointed to my sweatshirt and said "s" and then made the "s" sound (everywhere we go he points out the letters that we see - I love it!), I said, "Ya, Beck that says USU!" He then put his hands into fists and started moving them up and down like we do when we sing the Scotsman song. I was the happiest mom on the planet! We then started our morning off the right way by singing the Scotsman and doing the actions. I just LOVE my little TRUE BLOODED AGGIE!

Yikes!

What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been. We have been busy with school, school, playing with Beck, school, work, and more school! Over the past few weeks I have been reflecting on some of the simple pleasures in my life and want to take time to write them down. I am so thankful for moments at home together. I cherish the time I get to spend with my two boys... I am so BLESSED! Mark is such a loving, kind, and patient husband and I am so blessed to walk hand in hand through this life and eternity together. I love him more than words can say! I love being a Mom! What a blessing it is to learn from my little munchkin each and everyday.

I love to watch him discover our world, try new things, go for walks to feed the ducks, take turns "pushing" the stroller, listen to music together - especially Big Bad John, reading, reading, and more reading, doing the dishes together (I hope he will always help me with the dishes). I love it when he pats the grass for me to sit down next to him and we pick grass and throw it on each other, giggling and laughing together, snuggling, singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Popcorn Popping," and "If You're Happy and You Know It," playing "cheese" aka Photo Booth, and my most favorite part of the day is when I get to see Mark and Beckam at the end of a long day of teaching. I love being greeted at the door with their sweet smiles. I am the LUCKIEST!

Baby You're a Firework!

Wow! I am way behind on this whole blogging thing... just trying to stay above it all right now. Life is kind of crazy... I need to get movin on my posting :)

I just love this little rascal! We enjoyed some Mommy and Beckam time this summer while Daddy was working hard for us. We sure appreciate all he does for our family!
This was his favorite activity at our family's cabin in Star Valley. He would push the chair along the deck, back and forth, back and forth. He is entertained by simple things and I LOVE it!
His favorite song this summer was "Baby You're a Firework," by Katy Perry. I thought it was quite fitting since his Daddy is a pyro-technician... we were blessed to see lots of great firework shows this summer.
Spending time with Grandma at the USU stadium. Getting ready to see Diamond Rio in concert and Daddy's firework show.
The sun was blazing! We were trying to be troopers in the blistering heat!
Beck's face says it all... we were both very excited to have all access passes to the stadium floor! We got to walk down onto the field and go see Daddy out back behind the sports complex building. He set up his show in the middle of the track and we went to check it out.
This man is amazing to me! I am so thankful for all he does for our family and for his positive attitude. He worked 80 hours in a four day period and needless to say was EXHAUSTED! We enjoyed watching all of his hard work, but we were so glad to have him back home with us.
At USU's stadium, hanging with Daddy before he shot his firework show.
I love these two more than words can say!

I love Sanpete!

Our Taylor family reunion was in Sanpete County this summer! It was so fun for me (Mark was a good sport about it) to take a walk down memory lane and revisit my good old Snow College days. I LOVED my two years in that great valley and have many fond memories! We set out on the long drive in the late afternoon on Thursday, because I had a Core Academy training, and arrived at the Manti pageant with one or two hours to spare. We walked around, took a ride on a tractor train, and visited with Mark's family. Our carefree time came to a screeching halt when Beck puked all over Mark, our blankets, and our chairs. AHHHH!!! We felt so bad and it was a tricky beginning to a short lived reunion.

Last year we did an Amazing Race for our family reunion and it was so much fun. This year I created an Amazing Race - Sanpete Style - and I think it went well. Mark, Beck, and I took a few detours so this is Beck hanging out on the rock benches with rock books on Snow College campus.

Just like True Aggie Night - there was a True Badger Night at Snow and I never became a True Badger. So we did our own little re-enactment. Don't mind out smooching :)


Please excuse my frumpiness... The "natural" side of me comes out when camping! This is where I spent my two years at Snow College - Mountain View Apartments.
First stop on our race around Sanpete Valley - the statue of Moroni on the Manti Temple grounds.
Our friendly tractor train conductor. He was such a nice man and gave Beck a free ride, but don't worry we took care of him after he told us how much his little business was struggling ;)
Our cute little family on the train... I just love my boys! Unfortunately our adventures in Sanpete valley were cut short, because Beck continued to throw up and feel really sick for the rest of the night on Thursday and Friday morning. So we headed back to beautiful Cache Valley after only 24 hours... oh well! We had a good time while it lasted!

Summer Adventures!

I am L-O-V-E LOVING this summer with Beck! We are having so much fun and trying to make the most of every day together. We have been going for lots of walks, splashing and playing in our backyard pool, eating sno cones, playing on his favorite "cat" (aka ipad), taking Daddy lunch and drinks at work, learning the ABC's and trying to count to ten, and just enjoying all of the time we get to spend together.




He LOVES his Chelsee! We are sure going to miss her!
This is just one of the many messes Beck has created over the past few months. He insists on becoming a tornado first thing in the morning and continues throughout the day.

Last Sunday Mark and I almost had a heart attack. He was being so quiet upstairs and we automatically knew something was up. We called for Beck to come downstairs and upon seeing him I thought something was seriously wrong. He had taken my prescription strength hand cream and smeared it all over his head, face, neck, and hands. He looked like a walking tube of vaseline. I was freaking out, not knowing what he had gotten into, and didn't get a picture of the craziness. I was too worried that his eyes were going to start burning, since there was a thick layer of cream on his eyelashes. I know that this is only the beginning of many more adventures to come, but my goal is to try and document them so that someday Beck will know how crazy and curious he was! :)

Celebrations!

Oh how I love this face!
and this face too :)

Our Christmas gift from Mark's parents is to get together twice a year and have dinner with all of his siblings. We love the time we get to spend with everyone and this time it was at the Union Grill in Ogden. We got there a little early and explored the trains that are stationed there... it was so fun to "climb aboard" and see what they were like. I sure do love that good lookin man :)

Out for a little birthday treat at Casper's with my sweetheart!

Congratulations to Chelsee! She graduated and will now be an official first grade teacher at Morgan Elementary! I love how Beck is giving her a shout out in this picture :)

Beck and Uncle Kyle
Mark and my brother Kyle's birthday are a day apart, so we had a celebration for both of them when Kyle came up to visit.
I had such a fun birthday! Mark and I celebrated the Saturday before with breakfast in bed. This is a tradition for birthdays at our house and Mark is so sweet to wake up early and pamper me. I just love that man! Later that day we went to dinner and a movie. It was so fun to spend time with my sweet little family. On my birthday Mark and Beckam sent me beautiful flowers and then showed up for one of the funnest birthday parties I have ever had!

My students are the cutest and sneakiest bunch around! I couldn't believe what they pulled off this year, without me knowing about very much of it at all. Together they planned, prepared, and threw the funnest surprise birthday party for me!

I just LOVED this group of kids and was so impressed with their mad party skills. They designed an invitation, assigned specific tasks to each student, and informed their parents of what was needed to pull this whole shindig together. It was seriously adorable and I felt so loved and appreciated. They asked me to leave during lunch and eat with my teacher friends in the conference room in the office, while they were busy decorating our classroom.


When I returned from lunch I was so surprised and teared up a little at the sight of all they had done. Their parents were there with a full birthday cake, cupcakes for the kids, and lots of gifts. Two of my students had even prepared entertainment for our enjoyment during the party. I have truly felt so blessed this year to teacher such amazing kids! They have been so much fun and definitely a group of kids I will miss very much. To make it all that much better, they invited Mark and Beckam. Mark shared fun facts with my students about me and my childhood. It was so neat to have them there and I was definitely speechless for all they did to make my day great!

My fun day ended with dinner made for me by my sweetheart and yummy ice cream pie. I feel so blessed to have such an amazing husband and sweet baby boy. What a wonderful feeling to know that I am surrounded and loved by so many wonderful people!

Thankful!

It is 8:00 and Beck is still sleeping... a miracle! I am so thankful for the schedule of a teacher, it has been such a joy to be home with my little boy for the past few days and I am really looking forward to the rest of this summer. I am so thankful for the joy that being a mom brings into my life each day. Beck is learning and growing so much! I love watching him try new things and learn how everything works around him. He is 27 months and is so dang fast!

Mark and I have wondered if he is going to be a football player, because he has this amazing ability to run at lightning speed and when I finally get close enough to catch him he knows just the right move to dodge my grasp and keep running! Ahhh!

He knows lots of his letters - B, C, F, I, K, M, O, P, R, S, and T and he LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, to read! Of course as a teacher it makes my day when I walk in and find him sitting on the couch reading a book. Adorable.

He is a singer! At least a few times a day he will stick his bottom lip out, that is his way of asking us to sing "If You Chance to Meet a Frown," then he follows with putting his finger to his mouth and saying "Shhh," and we sing "The Chapel Doors." He is the sweetest little guy and I just love everything about his happy and bubbly personality! In addition to his singing ability - he has some amazing dance moves and it not afraid to show it. Any time we play some upbeat music, he is quick to get his groove thing on :)

His vocabulary and speech improve daily and it is so fun to hear him say new words. I have a little parrot with me everywhere I go and I LOVE it! Lately he has figured out what a butterfly is and says, "fa fly."
I don't want to forget how he says:
Candy = "I you" (don't get it :)
happy = hppy
Beckam = Geckam
bath = bass
swimming = bass
Grandma = Bumpa
Grandpa = Bumpa

What an adventure motherhood is - I am so grateful for it! The last few weeks have been rather awful for sweet Beck. He is pushing through his two year old molars and he is in so much pain. It seriously breaks my heart! I wish there was more I could do for him.

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing man I know! I am so thankful for the joy and happiness you bring to our lives each day! Thank you for treating me like a queen and being the best Daddy in the whole wide world. We love you more than words can say and are so thankful that we get to have you forever and always!

Angels

I couldn't believe it was happening. I saw the suburban pull out 30 yards in front of me to try and cross a four lane highway with cars traveling at 60 mph. I said to myself I can't believe this is happening I am going to hit him, I am going to hit him, followed by screeching brakes and plowing straight into his plywood sided trailer. I remember screaming, bracing myself for the impact, and then it happened. The smoke of the airbags filled my lungs and I was spinning out of control, only to come to a stop 180 degrees in the other direction in the center lane of traffic with a semi coming straight for me. I have never been so scared in all of my life! I can honestly say I felt the hand of the Lord and of angels watching over me. When I finally realized I was okay I looked over to see the sweetest lady coming toward me to hold my hand and reassure me that everything was going to be okay and that most importantly my baby was okay. I can't even begin to express the gratitude I feel for so many people - complete strangers- coming to my rescue today. It was 2:47 p.m. and we were driving back to Logan after a fun filled lunch with friends for me and play date with Beck's cousins for him. I had just hung up with my sweetheart who had gone to Brigham to play golf with my brother and brother-in-law. I was only a few miles from home and Beck had fallen fast asleep in his car seat.

The part I feel so unsettled about was that I didn't really have a good feeling about traveling over to Brigham today, but I did it anyway... thinking I was just paranoid. I will NEVER ignore that feeling again! I am trying not to play the "what if" game, but I just can't help but think how it might have been different if I would have listened to the Spirit prompting me to not go. I have forever learned my lesson and will always listen to the feeling whether it is the Spirit or just my paranoia!

My eyes well with tears each time I think about the many miracles that happened in my life today! I feel so blessed to have walked away from that experience with very few problems or discomforts. I am amazed at the love that complete strangers from all walks of life showed me today. I feel so blessed that a retired fire fighter happened to witness it all and was one of the first on the scene. She comforted me, treated me for shock, made sure my baby was okay, and continued to monitor my well being. Grateful for those who stepped up to call 911, attend to sweet Beckam, and direct the traffic around the accident. Thankful for the EMT's who were so patient, kind, and thoughtful. The silver lining on such a hard day was watching Beckam explore the ambulance and give one of the EMT's a run for his money. I immediately knew he was okay when I saw him climbing up on the seat and counters, running around the gurney, and trying to escape out the back doors. While I don't usually encourage this type of behavior, it was a very clear indication to me that Beck was okay. It warmed my heart to see this burly fire fighter play with Beck using a stuffed animal and then try to distract him from wreaking havoc in that small space.

Most of all I was overcome with joy when I looked through the ambulance window and saw my sweetheart walking up the side of the road from the Acura. He is truly my angel and I feel blessed beyond words for his unconditional love for Beckam and me. What a blessing he is in my life and I am grateful beyond belief that I get to sit next to him on the couch tonight and know that everything is okay. I feel humbled and forever grateful for our safety, our health, and the gift of angels that are watching over us.