SEATTLE TRIP AUGUST 2014

We had the greatest time heading to Seattle area to visit Austin, Laura, Brooklyn and Evan this month.  We had been looking forward to it for about 2+ years!

 The thing that was the best about this trip was that we actually had time to just spend with the kids!  Often when someone would visit on the mission, we were totally busy and distracted with mission stuff, and when we are together as a large family group, we get busy with the big things going on and it is too chaotic to just relax.

We loved scripture time at night with Brooklyn...

We loved that Brooklyn shared her bedroom with us so we could have a place to sleep...

And we could read and talk and just play whenever we had time!

 Morning walks became a tradition...as well as some feeding of lucky ducks!

I brought some projects with me to do with Brooklyn and we really had so much fun together!


One of them was bringing my sticker maker and helping her make a MEMORY STAR with things that are her favorites right now in her life!

 She chose some things and we printed out pictures and made them into stickers!



They will put her photo in the center.
This is something I do for all my Pre-K students that I really enjoy and they love!


























We were really excited to find some masa flour that Scott could use to make us AREPAS the second night we were there!  They were so yummy!  I know it was good for him to have some down time!  We really needed this trip too!

 The next day project was to make cards with EVERYTHING POSSIBLE PINK!

I brought all my pink flowers, paper, ink pads etc. so we could create some cards for Brooklyn to use.

We got to meet Austin at his work to see the MICROSOFT VISITOR CENTER and it was really cool.

 We spent some time there trying out some interesting projects...seriously crazy what technology is able to do today!!!

Then we went to a nearby berry farm to pick BLUEBERRIES!

It was a pretty warm day, but that did not phase Miss Brooklyn!  She was in this for the long haul and we just had the best time!

 She was intent upon finding all the berries she could.

When we would pick some and put into her bucket, she would always tell us THANK YOU!  So cute!

We were there long enough to pick about 3 1/2 pounds, which is quite a bit!

We had to entice her to come bush by bush towards the end of the row to get her to leave.

That night the boys had a night out to go to a MARINERS GAME and had a really good time together.

We had some good times ourselves.

The next morning was time to make BLUEBERRY PANCAKES!

I had a helper in an apron to measure and mix!

We made a bunch of pancake batter to use a bunch of our berries up!

 They did not turn out amazing, but they were fun since we picked the berries!

 That day Austin took the day off and we went to the WOODLAND PARK ZOO.

Brooklyn said that the FLAMINGOS were her favorite...I wonder why???  Could it be because they are PINK???














Baby Evan was just along for the ride and to entertain us and be SO CUTE!!!

















Brooklyn really did love the carousel! We did not know if she would be scared, but she did great!















Somebody is getting so big...

and Somebody loves to tickle grandpa!!!

 She loved the carousel so much that Grandma got to take her a second time!

The penguins were in fine form and swimming close to the wall for us!

 That night we got out another PINK PLAY PROJECT...

KINETIC SAND!  It is really so fun to play with and because it was pink it kept her attention for hours!

Saturday we drove to Snoqualmie Falls and it was so beautiful there!  We got someone to take our photo...but Evan was in his stroller asleep so you cannot see him.

Here is proof that he was there and still as cute as ever!   He smiles so easily, really a happy baby!


That afternoon, we left Austin and Laura and went to the Seattle Temple to meet up with a RM whose brother was getting sealed there that day.  We had a great visit with Harrison Beck and his girlfriend.






 When we got back to Redmond, we walked over to the neighborhood Farmers Market just a couple blocks away and got a shave ice and walked around.  Both kids were totally asleep in strollers!


We had such a great visit with this sweet family!  They are doing such a good job raising their family, supporting each other in interests and job and in basing what they do on Gospel Principles.  It is apparent in every aspect of their lives.


WE LOVE YOU!!  THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL WEEK!!!

"Fear Not, I Am With Thee"

This conference talk was by Sister Jean Stevens from the General Primary Presidency.
You can view her talk at:
FEAR NOT I AM WITH THEE

COUNSEL:

• Have more faith and trust in God
• Follow the promptings of the Spirit
• Pray for his help and guidance

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• We can access his power to deliver us
• God will hear and answer your prayers
• Our Father knows us and answers our prayers one person at a time in the way that is best for us to grow
• You can overcome ANY of life's challenges
• Our families can be together forever
• You can feel peace in the midst of turmoil
• He will strengthen us,  help us and uphold us

Sister Stevens shared the story of the Gatrell family whose father was diagnosed with cancer with only several weeks to live.  They had a sweet experience together before he passed away.

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a checklist of things to do; rather, it lives in our hearts. The gospel “is not weight; it is wings.” It carries us. It carried the Gatrells. They felt peace in the midst of the storm. They held fast to each other and to temple covenants they had made and kept. They grew in their ability to trust in the Lord and were strengthened by their faith in Jesus Christ and in His atoning power.

Wherever we find ourselves on the path of discipleship, whatever our worries and challenges may be, we are not alone. You are not forgotten. Like Deric, the Saints of Africa, and the Gatrell family, we can choose to reach for God’s hand in our need. We can face our challenges with prayer and trust in the Lord. And in the process we become more like Him."

I testify that our covenants we made at baptism and in temples are valid and powerful.  We promised to always remember him and to keep his commandments.  In return we were promised to always have his Spirit to be with us.  We each have our own struggles and challenges, but we all have access to that power through the Spirit.  I personally rely on the peace that comes and the power and strength that bear me up in challenges that I continue to work through.  

Some TAYLOR TIMES during July

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THE TAYLOR FAMILY EVENTS NOT ALREADY POSTED


As we told you, we picked up Jenna, Tyrel and boys before the moving truck even dropped off our pods from the AZ move!  We were grateful for their help!!!
Seriously, they were a huge help those first couple of weeks!

The boys found some of the boxes pretty fun as well.

It was a steady stream of activities and lots of hard work from then on.


We made time to walk/run up near Bridal Veil Falls while Ty was running with an old friend nearby.  We made the hike up to the falls themselves, and that was pretty cool!

We have noticed some positive changes in Provo since we left.  One is the PIONEER PARK near our home.  It has been completely renovated to include a spray ground that was perfect on a hot summer day!  Bennett was not so sure, so Grandma got to get a bit wet too.

 Carter was an old pro though.

 The highlight from our visit from Austin and Laura who came the following Saturday, was BLESSING BABY EVAN!  We got to meet him and share in this special event.  We were so glad that the Self family could also be there, and we had a nice brunch that Sunday morning before we reported in our home ward.

 It was sweet to get to help dress him for the blessing.

Brooklyn was not so excited about things, so many people and so much commotion.

 We were glad to have family with us from both sides!

 Here is our most current family picture.  We are only missing Braden who is in New Zealand on his LDS mission.


We were so glad to have Breanna with us for several weeks in July before she had to return to begin teaching this month!  We really miss having her close!




Aaron and Lori made it down for the blessing and stayed for our sacrament meeting.

We appreciated so much the help our family also gave us after our report in Church...it was so busy and chaotic, and Jenna was taking Ty to the airport, so the rest just helped with the Potluck Open House at our church and we really did not get any more time with them that day because of all our guests.  THANK YOU FAMILY!!!

 The next day, we had Daniel and Nathan over for a playdate while Jenny got her hair cut.  They had lots of fun with planes and trains and playing guitar with Austin.  He was super patient with them!

 The following Sunday after our responsibilites at the MTC, we went up to Pleasantview to have lunch with Jenna and Carole and John.  Then we all went to Brigham City to attend the viewing of Scott's uncle Gordon who passed away during the week.  It was great to honor him and see many of his family.

On the way home, we stopped at the new Brigham City Temple.  It was just beautiful!  It was dedicated just after we left for our mission 3 years ago.




We decided that we were on a roll, and got off in Odgen to see the new temple there too...the old Ogden temple was redone completely!















As we were trying to find the interstate again, we happened to go past a very cool RAILROAD MUSEUM that was outdoors...so we hurried to stop and take the boys on a walk.  It was just what they wanted!  We spent a long time there walking and looking and climbing on some old trains.

 We got some great shots of them, like this one of Bennett!  SO HANDSOME!  He LOVES TRAINS so he really is showing that in this photo!

 We were grateful we happened upon this museum.  It will probably not be the last time we go there now that we know it is there.  (I think Nathan would love it as well!)

 After our race on the 24th, we took the boys to the BYU track to see where their parents raced and trained while students at BYU.

Carter is a natural athlete and runner...I just love watching him run, he makes it look so easy, the mark of a good runner!

I don't know if this video will work, I may have to use another format to download it...let me know.

 Cute shot of our runner family...wish Ty could have stayed longer, but we were just grateful he could come at all!

We enjoyed very much having Jimmy and Amanda stay with us.  We did smores one night in our new fire table, and sparklers and fireworks another night with the boys.


I may add photos as people send additions to me, so check back if you think we are missing some activities.
WE LOVE OUR FAMILY!!!