Santa's "other" little helpers - Part II

Another go-around with the "elf dances" -- didn't want Cheryl and Breanna to feel left out. And, yes, I tried to find some of the sillier faces for the kids -- but not for Cheryl, because I have to live with her for the next eternity or so, and I don't want her to get mad ... or to get even!

Click on the dance of your choice (or try all three!) ... Charleston ... Country ... Disco!

Santa's little helpers

Please click on the title above, or click here - Charleston. I promise ... it will be well worth your time.

After you're done and you've composed yourself, you'll want to click here - country.

And my favorite: disco (click on the video below).

New web site - new job

Since returning from the Beijing Olympics, my work at the Deseret News has gone from sports writing to writing for the Church News section. Several weeks ago, I was asked to accept a new position in Church News - that of assistant editor, with responsibility over online content.

We are in the process of creating a new Church News web site - one that will be available for free to anyone throughout the world. Previously, the Church News' printed section was available for subscription with the Deseret News in the state of Utah, mail subscription outside the state of Utah and online for a $20 annual fee.

The First Presidency recently approved our request to make the Church News available for free - one of my primary jobs will be to make sure we have fresh content every day - right now, we transfer the Saturday section from the printed edition online once a week.

Also, we're in the process of testing a Beta version of the Web site. We still making improvements and changes all the time, but feel free to visit ... feel free to tell your family and friends, too. There will be some bigger announcements right around the first of the year.

The Web site for the Beta version is ldschurchnews.com/home/ (you need both back-slashes).

Aren't You Glad We Like Each Other?

You know...I look at Michelle's blog and how often she writes and how many cute things her little kids do and sort of miss those days.

But then we have some of those days around here too...not the funny old days when Breanna used to lick the sidewalk just to see how it tasted, or when Jenna jumped on the bed yelling "When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone"...yeah Tyrel...see what happens?

No, we have the "older generation" of kids to relate to on a daily basis and it may not be so funny all the time, but I find it immensely satisfying.

Jenna calls all the time to check in and report on day to day events and wanting to know the details of each life away from hers.

Austin and Laura come over regularly to hang out with us and to help Braden feel like he is not an only child...oh yeah, and to play XBox with him too!

Breanna calls and comes over and shares all the fun details of life at BYU and in the apartment...and brings tasty recipes or some pomegranate 7-up..yum!  She also takes Braden to play D&D now so they have a weekly date as well. What good siblings!

A while back Braden commented just out of the blue..."I'm glad we like each other in our family."  I asked why he was thinking about that and he told me that he hears so many kids at school or church saying things about their families that are negative or rude.  I told him that hopefully, some are just trying to get attention or seem cool to talk that way, but that I as well have friends that just do not like each other in extended family situations, or that just have crazy, mixed-up families.

So, "Aren't you glad we like each other?"  I know that I am glad!!!  We just love all our family and all our extended family.  We love Tyrel and Laura's families that we have added to our own and cannot imagine not having them in our circle as well.  

We appreciate all the great examples from all of you and want to tell you THANKS at this time of year.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you!!

BYU Tailgate

We followed a tradition that we started a couple years ago to host a "tailgate party" when the BYU vs. Utah game was "away."

Addie checks out our "Cougar" in a suspicious way!

Laura and Amanda decorated the tailgate in "true blue" cougar fashion for the event!

Braden invited over a bunch of friends to play some football in the yard and eat tons of food and yell and scream during the game.

It was humerous to see the mass exodus of middle school age boys to the kitchen at each commercial break or time out!  Thank goodness for lots of nachos!

We were pretty excited for the BYU team chances to win the game until halftime...and then it was one interception after another to a sad defeat.

But any woe can be gladdened by another hour or so of football under the street lights on a nice November evening! So...GO BYU!  We can't wait for next year!!

Calling all jack-o-lanterns

Jenna sent me a text-message earlier this week that brought a smile to my face and bunch of warm feelings and nice memories:

"Carved pumpkins tonight and thought of all the cool ones you have made over the years, Dad"

So, if anyone has "cool" carvings this year, forward the image and we'll post them the next day or two ... and maybe I'll dig into some scrapbooks and scan some images of pumpkins gone by.

Click here for slideshow of 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2002 pumpkins and costumes!

Hot Vote Now

Saw this online online at krispykreme.com and brought back some memories ... of Election Night 2000 and Austin making a late-night (or early morning) run to Krispy Kreme to celebrate a George W. Bush victory over Al W.W.W. Gore (that's W.W.W. - for the World Wide Web, that he invented). Think about that historic chit-for-chat winning margin.

And, hey, "think me up a chocolate doughnut with some of those little sprinkles on top, just as long as you're thinking."

"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS"

I am glad to say that my football team the Provo Dixon "Lions" are going to the championships Saturday November 1st and hopefully will be able to take home the Championship trophy to Dixon - Braden

DAD ADDS ...

   Braden was very concise, and the whole situation needs a little more explanation.

   Dixon played Canyon View in a game between two teams that tied for second place among the five 8th grade teams. Wasatch, the first-place team, had an opening round bye and will play the winner of Tuesday night's late game between the two teams at the bottom of the regular-season standings, Orem/Lakeridge and Centennial.

   Last night's Dixon-Canyon View game was played on the artificial turf at Timpview High, with the 100-yard field shortened to 80 yards long but the width remaining the same (much wider than the regular fields played at Orem's community fields. Braden's team was missing its starting QB for the first quarter or so - he had a band concert! But the team did OK on offense (moving fairly well but never scoring in the first half) and did the same on defense. The first half ended in a scoreless tie 0-0, and I told Austin as we were watching that some flukey play would probably decide the game.

   Early in the fourth quarter, the Dixon offense - with Braden playing tight end all the game as well as being a frequent contributor on defense at all the linebacker spots and defensive end - was at midfield on third or fourth down. They ran a reverse - but not very well, as the QB dropped the snap, the running back dropped the handoff and the exchange to the receiver wasn't very clean either. The Canyon View defense had several chances for a tackle for a big loss - but they didn't and the end around went all the way around the left side for a touchdown. The eighth-grade teams don't kick for the PAT - they try from about 1 1/2 yards out for one point or 3 yards for two points - and Dixon's one-point try failed, making it 6-0.

   After the kickoff, the Dixon defense held and forced Canyon View to punt. Dixon got the ball and just needed to move the ball like it had for much of the game just to run out the clock ... but one of the back's fumbled the ball, giving Canyon View the ball again with a couple minutes remaining and only about 15 yards to go for the score. Canyon View was able to score without much trouble, but it missed its try for the go-ahead PAT, tying the score at 6-6. Regulation time ended soon thereafter, forcing overtime.

   For overtime, each team would start at the 10-yard line and have four downs to try and score. Dixon went first on defense. On Canyon View's first attempt, the ballcarrier tried to run off tackle and got stacked up short of the goal line - and one of the Dixon defenders stripped the ball and returned it 80 yards for the game-winning score, 12-6.

   So, Wasatch plays Orem/Lakeridge Tuesday night, and the winner of that game (likely Wasatch) faces Dixon for the championship on Nov. 1 (noon at Timpview, unless Timpview needs its field for a H.S. playoff game, then somewhere else). In the regular-season meeting, Dixon lost at Wasatch (yes, up in Heber City), 13-7. Also, Dixon lost to Orem/Lakeridge in their regular-season game, 21-15 in overtime, so Dixon can exact a little revenge either way.

   And a final note - Cheryl helped distribute all the team and player photos that they took the previous week (she had helped arrange for the prints and enlargements and everyone was pleased with the result - they looked as good or better than the "professional" ones that the league had arranged for on the week Dixon had its bye). Also, all the team members and coaches and parents and family members went to a nearby pavilion for a Polynesian barbeque - complete with rice, potato salad, chicken, teriyaki burgers, teriyaki chicken and a great dessert called "pani popo" which is bread (in this case, large round rolls) covered with a sweet sauce of coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk and sugar.

Team Pictures

Braden's football season is almost over and no one had arranged team photos so...

We offered to do it ourselves!!! 

Y'know, someone has to do it!!

We came to the practice before Braden's game with Amy Torgersen and Austin to help out.  We did individual photos of all the guys and then Austin took some serious and crazy team photos.

Our photos will now get to be part of the yearbook!  

Good times!!  

Braden starts tournament next Tuesday so wish him luck!

New blog link below

Cheryl recently added a blog link to our family links - on the bottom of the right-side menu. It is the site for Emily Sparks, who has taken a bunch of family photos (engagements, bridals, weddings, receptions, family portraits). If you go to her site and see the slideshows for the various submenus, you'll see a lot of familiar faces and relive some important events from the past two-plus years (Jenna & Tyrel, Austin & Laura, Syd & Carolyn, the Taylor family).

Funny Videos

Hey, I have found some pretty funny Muppets youtube videos that I would like to show. I got a few from my Dad and others from me -- well, here they are. (Don't be on BYU campus or it won't let you watch)

ENJOY!!!!! - Braden

MAHNA MAHNA

MUPPETS SING COLDPLAY'S "YELLOW"

ODE TO JOY

HABANERA

DANNY BOY

MUPPET BLOOPERS

Belfast Telegraph: What if Mormons are right and Catholics and Protestants wrong?

Here's a link to a very interesting commentary from a Belfast Telegraph columnist named Eamonn McCann (if Jon liked "Fanga" as a name, I'll bet he likes "Eamonn" just as much).

But I digress. Mr. McCann takes a well-spoken (rather, "well-written") look at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' ordinance of baptism for the dead.

Take a read for yourself. Either click on the title of this blog item or click here!

CONFERENCE WEEKEND 2 (Braden's point of View)

Dad Rocks out after priesthood session still in his suit. I would like to say that he and Austin love to rock out after a BYU football game, after one of my football games, after school, and after PRIESTHOOD SESSION!!!!! I would like to have everyone know that my Dad would like to be a "JUKE BOX HERO" when he is a few years older. 

   

And be a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes

He's a juke box hero He took one guitar, juke box hero, stars in his eyes Juke box hero, he'll come alive tonight

After first and the second session of the Sunday's conference Austin really wanted to play Fifa 08. There was Anger coming from Austin after every cheap slide tackle and it wasn't called. Then every tackle that was small and fair he would get a yellow or red card. I enjoy watching his anger climb after every call or a should've been called. We were only supposed to play 4 games and we ended up playing 8 games. 

-Braden

CONFERENCE WEEKEND

Just a couple of pictures and thoughts on the weekend.  We just finished conference and it was so good!

It was fun to watch conference with family most of the weekend and to have Amanda join us from Idaho.  It just seems right having more people at the house since it is more empty most of the time lately.

There was some creative conference watching, with Mieka happy to sit with Braden only in a little box..

Scott did not want us to take his picture playing guitar hero in his suit and made an escape behind Breanna the first time, but Amanda caught him later that evening.  See Braden's post...Oh yeah, rockin out in a suit!

OK, I am bragging on this one.  Those of you who know me well enough, know that cinnamon rolls have been a tough thing for me to have success with.  They usually turn out more like a rock.  Well, I went online this year to some "conference weekend idea" posts and several mentioned having cinnamon rolls as a tradition.  Several talked about these amazing rolls that took at least three hours to make and that you start the night before etc.  Not my style.  Then I saw a post with a lady who said hers only take one hour total from start to finish.  More my style.  I printed out the recipe and saved it.  Saturday night when we were at Nicolitalias getting dough, the girl helping us mentioned that they add a little wheat flour to the dough in Utah since it is so dry here, it makes it more moist.  So, this morning I made the rolls using 1 cup of wheat flour out of the five total.  They really were SO QUICK! and SO YUMMY!  Here's the recipe:

CONFERENCE CINNAMON ROLLS

1 1/2 c. warm water

1/2 c. oil

1/4 c. sugar

2 T. yeast

1/2 T. salt

Mix these together and let sit 10 minutes until frothy.

Add 1 large egg, beaten.  Then add 4 1/2-5 cups flour- enough to make a good soft dough.

Turn out on a floured board and knead until it feels good.  Roll out dough and spread cinnamon mixture: 1/2 c. melted butter mixed with 3/4 c. sugar (I used part brown and part white), 6 t. cinnamon.

Roll up.   Cut with a string and place on greased jellyroll pan.  Let rise 10-20 minutes (I like to put it in a barely warm oven to raise it faster.  Bake 11 minutes at 400.

Frost while warm but not hot:  3 T. melted butter, 2 c. powdered sugar, 1/8 c. milk 3/4 t. vanilla, I add a little almond, you can add orange zest and orange flavor if you want. YUM!

LADIES NIGHT!

"Oh it's Ladies Night on General Priesthood Night, oh yes it's Ladies Night, 

OH WHAT A NIGHT!"

We had such fun on "LADIES NIGHT" while the guys were at Priesthood.  Amanda joined Breanna and Laura and I for the weekend.  First we stopped at Roberts to pick up some beading supplies for the evening.  We laughed when we saw the line outside of Deseret Book...especially considering it had been raining all day!  Couldn't resist a picture to show you the girls on the way in.  I think we worried some of the ladies in line that we were trying to cut it!

Next we stopped at Jamba Juice to try Breanna's new favorite smoothie "Pink Starburst."  Then we picked up some pizza dough at Nicolitalias and headed home to start creating our jewelry.

We put on Pride and Prejudice just to tease the men when they got home shortly after.  The great thing was that we got Austin to cook for us...YUM!

Amanda shows us one of her neat new necklaces, everything turned out so good, and it was the best ladies night ever...except for missing Jenna.  She will get her earrings through the mail!  Love you Jenna!

One Handsome Dude!

Jenna, this is for you!  We do not have as exciting lives as some of you and have to make up things to post about.  This is a picture of Braden, Nathan and Fanga on their way to the game in Heber last week.  That game was a loss, but we have good news, they won their game this week against Canyon view 12-0.  The celebrating was intense!  

We really enjoy going to the games each week and love having Austin and Laura come each week, and Breanna when she does not have class.  

We'll keep you posted next week!  Looking forward to a "Girls Night" this Saturday evening while the guys are at Priesthood.  Oh, and Amanda is coming to visit so we are really excited about that!  

Breanna will probably tell you about the "blind date" that I got her into for this weekend too...hope she has a good time!!  She will have a good weekend because SHE IS HAVING HER 19th BIRTHDAY!!  Maybe we will have more to blog about soon!  Love you all!  Cheryl

ONE HANDSOME DUDE!

I have been ordered to post more by Jenna so here goes.  We have not taken any photos recently of anyone in the family except for Braden's football so here is one of Braden and Nathan and Fanga on the way to their game in Heber last week; wish we could report a win there, but no such luck.

We can report that there has finally been a win for Braden's team this week.  They beat Canyon View 12-0 and the celebrating was intense!  Go Lions!

We sure love having Austin and Laura, and sometimes Breanna, come to Braden's games with us.  They are really supportive of him and remind him that he is not an only child yet!

We are looking forward to a fun weekend with Amanda visiting from BYU Idaho and celebrating Breanna's 19th Birthday...YEAH!  I think we are planning on a "Ladies Night" during priesthood...any ideas?

Breanna has a goal to do something each week with someone that she did not know before starting BYU and is doing great so far!  I am proud of her for that goal, it sounds like fun.

We may have reports next week on her date to the Chinese Acrobat show this weekend with a new young man in our home ward.  He teaches primary for us and his class just loves him.  He will go on a mission this winter.

Have a good Conference Weekend!  Love to you all!  Cheryl

Julie's Baby Shower

This is Julie with her Mother, Caroline Baker.  She decorated using her old baby clothes.


This weekend I helped Jennifer with a baby shower for our friend Julie Martin who is expecting twins, a boy and a girl. I tried something new, making a "diaper cake"for the centerpiece.  I should have gotten a closer picture to show all the toys attached, but it turned out really cute, and was not hard at all to make.  

It was fun to be at the shower with Jennifer and LeAnn--"sisters''

Thursday's football injury

Well, it was a GREAT and a BAD day for Braden Taylor.

Let's start on a good vibe. Well we were missing 1 out of our 23 players - 5 including those who could not play. So we were going through RBs and FBs pretty quick because none of them were doing so well. Well they had gone through the back-up RB and a LB. The coach was in a bad mood and I was on mock Defense and they called for a RB and they sent me in.

Well I go in there and it is a sweep, Well I get it and go running through tackles to the end of the field untouched, (take notice that there were 10 players on field, this is after someone is hurt). Well the coach yells to everyone, "that is how you run," so me and Greg (other RB) are on a roll, tearing though the Defense.

Then the unexpected happens, (Bad Part) I am going on a 36 sweep, (Greg lead blocker is hitting hard) I go through and get stuck between one of my blockers and a defender, so I roll off and I get a couple more yards, and then someone clings on to my leg. So you can imagine that I am hopping for extra yardage, then I get hit from somewhere (can not remember where) and my knee gets twisted. I was down and was not coming up very soon. The coaches are pretty 99.9% positive that it is a strain and should be able to get on it after a day or two.

Worst Case: I get the thing where mom had to get surgery on and can't play for a season or two (or more).

Best Case: Gets better so I can do some things with the team and hopefully be fully or almost fully recovered by Tuesday

Well I am glad to tell you that the past few week I have been with the team the coaches think I have the most Heart out of all the players, (that is until they have Fanga play). Speaking of Fanga he joined the team today and he is now our starting WR even before he practiced with pads, (he is the fastest guy on my team and can juke and run at the same time and get down the field.

P.S. Hopefully, I will be able to walk up the stairs for the game on Saturday so I can go to our seats, unless Dad wants to buy all of us FIELD TICKETS (YES)!!!!!!!!

[Dad's note and Friday update: No, none of these photos are of Braden ... yet! He kept ice on his knee all night Thursday night and was up on it Friday night, although he wanted the knee wrapped with an Ace bandage before going to school ... and when you wear shorts to school, the wrap makes for a nice badge of courage. We think he'll survive . . . but he's still thinking field tickets to the BYU football game.]

Jenna online

    Found a little something online about Jenna and a former BYU track/XC teammate,  Carolyn Quebe, competing for the mormontimes.com racing team in a New Jersey race over Labor Day weekend. 

    The header of the article has the two of them running together (was that taken at the DesNews 10K on July 24th?). Click on this blog item's title or click here to go to the link.

Stumbling across "OBIT: NOTED DOUGH BOY DIES"

   I was cleaning off old files from one of my old office computers and ran across something funny I saved 12-15 years ago. Hope you enjoy it. - Scott

   Veteran Pillsbury spokesman Pop N. Fresh died Wednesday of severe yeast infection. He was 71.

   He was buried Friday in one of the biggest funerals in years. Dozens of celebrities turned out, including Mrs. Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker, and the Hostess Twinkies.

   The graveside was piled high with flours, as longtime friend Aunt Gemima delivered the eulogy, discribing Fresh as a man who "never knew he was kneaded."

   Fresh rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a smart cookie, and wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Still, even as a crusty old man, he was a roll model to millions.

   Fresh is survived by his second wife. They have two children, and one in the oven.

Cheryl checking in ...

   [Scott's first note: Cheryl added this at the end of the previous blog about the family , but it kinda got lost and needed its own spotlight as a separate blog item.]

   "OK, Cheryl checking in . . . I do want you to know that I have been abandoned by the women of this family and have succumbed to the whole football pick thing.

   "I have no idea what I am doing - I just look at stats that make no sense and look for the longest lines on the bar graphs. :)

   "So far so good? Makes life more interesting in a male-dominated home.

   "Thanks, Laura and Jenny, for coming along for the ride."

   [Scott's second note: Yes, the "lowly" Cheryl outpicked everybody this past weekend with our group's best score of Saturday's 10 games. Don't let her fool you with all the "woe is me" talk.]

   [Scott's latest addition: After three weeks of football picks, Austin is the early runaway leader, with Laura, Cheryl and Scott tied for second.]

Playing catch-up

   A few things from the past few weeks involving our family . . .

   BREANNA competed in her first triathlon last weekend ("first" . . . will there be more). She did the "sprint" triathlon, which is a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike course and a 5-kilometer run. For those of you who are metrically challenged - half-mile swim, 12.4-mile cycling and 3.1-mile running. It's the fastest-growing discipline in the triathlon family of distances. Click here for a link to her "beginnings and changes" blog entry on the event.

   JENNA AND TYREL surprised us two weekends ago with a quick visit to Provo. They came out for the wedding of one of Tyrel's cousins and surprised Braden, Cheryl and I by showing up unannounced at our house Friday evening (Breanna, Austin and Laura were in on plan). Before they left for New Jersey late Saturday night, we went as a family to the BYU-Northern Iowa football game (half in the north stands, half in the south). Click here for a link to Jenna's blog entry "best surprise ever" on the visit.

   THE FAMILY is having fun with one of Braden's fall creations - a weekly college football pick-'em contest sponsored by ESPN. I think Cheryl is wanting to weigh in on this - she's taking her weekly selections pretty seriously. Here's the latest ESPN family standings - click on the standings image below to get a bigger, better view.  OK  Cheryl checking in...I do want you to know that I have been abandoned by the women of this family and have succumbed to the whole football pick thing.  I have no idea what I am doing I just look at stats that make no sense and look for the longest lines on the bar graphs:)  So far so good?  Makes life more interesting in a male dominated home.  Thanks Laura and Jenny for coming along for the ride!