Taking Time with the Taylors

We brought out some pumpkins from our patch to share. This one was the greenest and the smallest, and the kids were having fun playing with it with Cash.


 Makayla is fixing Maycie up all pretty - since we have a hard time getting pretty at home :)

 The boys took a moment for a little fall football.








 Gee, we love technology!

 Our favorite view of the river! No matter the season - always beautiful - right out the window.

 Lydia was giving foot massages. She was loading up with lotion - and just kept rubbing. She did it to my arms earlier - and I have to say...very relaxing!

We decided to head south to Utah this Christmas, and go to the Bezzant Family Christmas brunch. We had a great time mingling with aunts, uncles and cousins that we haven't seen in a long time.
We don't all fit in the suburban - so Grandpa and Grandma drove a couple of kids with them. Josh was happy to be sandwiched between two very 'happy' girls! :)
Aunt Julene pulled out the coloring books, toys and juice boxes, and made quick friends with Maycie and Lydia.
Grandma Bezzant was a sweetie to provide a yummy breakfast buffet for such a big and crazy family.

We were thrilled that Jen and the kids came - and enjoyed a fun visit with our 'cousins in Japan' - who are now our 'cousins in Utah'!

Sweet Great Grandma Bezzant and Sweet little Benjamin. I need to find out how many great grands there are...A LOT!
Nothing says breakfast like cotton candy at the dessert buffet!  How can you say no to that?  It's Christmas!

And...Sweet Great Grandma Harward with Sweet Benjamin.
We were able to stay over night with Grandma Harward, and had a nice little visit with her. Our visits are never long - too many animals and such to get home to. Short...but, very sweet!
This was the last picture I took, on our visit to temple square. "Enough already, Mom!"
We LOVE to see the temple!
Bill was showing Lydia the pretty Mary and Joseph, nativity that was in the middle of the Reflecting pool.
We ran into Tyson's good friend and family in the visitors center - despite the crowd of thousands.
We waited in line over a half hour to go up to see the Christus. Umm.... I don't see Matthew...did he make it
home with us?

I have never seen it this crowded. Kind of hard to feel the peace of it all - but still very nice and memorable.


I've realized that it is difficult to get 10 people home - cleaned up - and happy all at the same time; and Bill has a new church calling which has not left us with a lot of time to pause and say cheese at the same time together since Benjamin was born. So, we took this snapshot at a little party - and it will have to serve as our family photo, until things settle down a little.
Four Generations with Great Grandma Bezzant, Grandpa Bezzant, Me and Benjamin.

I might have to blog backwards for a little while - if I want to document the past year! :)

 I have hoped Allyson would want to do Junior Miss, ever since she was a wee little lass. I don't know why. I guess because she seemed to love to be musical, and entertain us, and perhaps, I didn't want her to look back and have some regrets that she didn't do something hard (like her mother :)
So...She did it!

They had the 'oh so challenging' requirement of wearing right at the knee dresses - with vibrant colors - not too flashy - tight - poofy. And, after an exhausting search - we finally ordered a strapless long dress, that had the potential of being just right, IF we cut it off, and added sleeves.  With a little pleading for help from her generous and talented piano teacher (whom I asked for 'help' from, which really meant "will you do this for us?") She ended up with a lovely dress. And I have to admit...when all of the girls came out in their perfectly flowy - non flashy - right at the knee dresses - They were so beautiful! I think they achieved the desired effect!

 Some of her best guy friends were the escorts...they helped make for a fun night.
She got an award for "Be your best self", Chosen by the directors, so that was neat!

 You hear many girls speak of making new, lasting friendships in Jr. Miss, but, most of these girls already were great friends.

 The theme for the night was "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" - so their opening number was... in bare feet, and blue jeans!


 She learned I think 2 pieces before deciding on the one she played - with a little encouragement...she learned something harder, more dynamic and dramatic- and did it very well!! (Prelude in c# Minor, by Rachmaninoff)






It was very fun to see her do something so hard - and fulfilling.We couldn't be more proud of our beautiful, hardworking, honest, humble, good and dependable daughter!!  Wow...on to her Senior year!!!