Roadrunner the Coyote's After YOU!

I have seen a few interesting things on my runs here in Arizona...mostly things like big bugs or pretty flowers or hot air balloons, or things thrown on the side of the road...but last week was my so-far most interesting one. I was running up next to a busy road north of our neighborhood...keep in mind that we live next to a bunch of un-developed land, all of the desert variety. I saw a dog crossing the busy 6 lane road in front of me...don't like dogs very much when I am out running or walking. Then I recognized from years of going out to Park Valley and Malta that it was not in fact a dog, but a coyote. Cool.As I watched it go down into the brush near the sidewalk I saw three more coyotes waiting for it...yup, a whole pack. Lucky for me there are a lot of cottontails in the area so I did not figure they were hungry for larger game. A little bit creepy. I called Scott to tell him what I saw...and just in case they decided they were in fact hungry.

Now I just need to see the infamous javelina, wild boars, that supposedly roam the deserts as well. Look forward to that post!

HOW MANY DAYS?

For those of you who have not noticed...my daughters are extremely creative.

So it was not a big surprise to find out that Jenna made up this clever idea for a Christmas Countdown...this is how many days until she is coming to see us in Phoenix for Christmas!

This is how we feel about it...YAY! We cannot wait to spend time with family for the holidays and to share with them a little of what we do here in the Mission.

How many days until YOU come and see us?

A Little Worried

We are seeing a pattern lately...

Involving Braden and women's clothing...

and missionaries...

...and River Dancing.

Are You Worried?

FALL COLORS

I have noticed a pattern in colors around my house recently...

Even though the trees may not change color outside here in Phoenix,

the colors of fall are part of our lives inside!

HAPPY FALL ALL!!

ARIZONA STATE FAIR

Have you ever been to a state fair? We realized that I had been to one, but Scott and Braden never had...so we took advantage of "Family P-day to check one out.

When I told Jenna that we were going to the state fair, she asked if we were going to see the "Giant Pig." How did she know??? Yup, the giant pig, smallest horse and giant gator were all side shows at the fair! This is Braden and his friend Lance.

We forced them to go and see the livestock. We did not force them to watch the showing of the hogs and the selling of the calves that we watched while they were off doing manly stuff like walking all over the fairgrounds.

Scott and I meanwhile found the most tame ride possible, the

GIANT FERRIS WHEEL!

But the view from above was GREAT!

Lance and Braden found some of the fastest rides to go on. The big favorite was...

ZERO GRAVITY! They went on it three times.

I would have been so sick!

Great times at the STATE FAIR!

THUNDERBIRD HIKE

Saturday was "Family P-Day" This means we try to do family things...

sometimes even together.

Today we drove over to a nearby conservation area, Thunderbird Rec. There are lots of trails on the hills there. Bre and I went when she was out here in August.

We knew it would be a success when we saw the "Got Poop, SCOOP" sign at the start of the trail...yup, pottiemouth Braden was all about that!

The view from the top was pretty sweet though. You can see all over the valley, all the way to metro Phoenix and in all directions. Parts overlooked the new temple site, where we could see that pretty much nothing is going on down there yet. We think it will be a good two years before our temple is done.

This is a classic "Rock Me!" shadow with Mom and Braden.

And the fearless crew up on top! October 29 and warm, warm, warm by 10 AM. Nice and cool nights and mornings, but pretty hot during the days still.

Come see us...bring your hiking shoes and some snow!

TRUNK OR TREAT

We decided that we have been conditioned to Utah Trunk or Treat parties...we know how to decorate a trunk!! The AZ people mostly sit on camp chairs near their trunk and hand out candy...the invite did say to decorate the trunk, so I just followed directions, and it was pretty cool! The old silver sunshade was reflective and looked great with the orange lights.We wore our Halloween costumes...guess what we were? Yup, missionaries!

Scott did have a strange desire to borrow kids hats though...and we got pictures of him in a few.

President Vader

President Mouse/Sorceror

President Ernie

And last but not least...what he really feels like doing much of the time...

President SCREAM!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL!!!

THE FIELD IS WHITE

We have been waiting all summer for the cotton to ripen...I guess that is what it does?

We were waiting to do this.

These are Braden's "The field is white all ready to harvest" pictures.

Pretty sweet huh?

Yes, there are things that thrive and grow in Arizona...

Cotton and Braden!

Sunrise Mountain Hike

Saturday Oct. 15 we went on a hike with the APs in preparation for Zone Leader Council later this month. It was a beautiful sunny day in AZ. Braden has been joking around about "Sunrise Mountain ever since we moved here...he calls it Sunrise Hill. Coincidentally, his high school is named after this "mountain" very near our home.It was a good hike, not too strenuous at all, and some pretty scenery on the way.
Great views from the top of Sunrise Mountain. Braden at the top.

Braden, President Taylor, Elder Falconer and Elder Perkins.

The Taylor Family at the top.

We look forward to hiking more areas of Phoenix. This will be a place we enjoy with our missionaries and family when they come to visit for sure!

Quick Trip to Utah...Many Meetings

We had not planned on my visiting either of the new grandbabies, but with a little rough delivery of baby Brooklyn, it was great to be able to go up and help after Grandma Self had to leave.

We went up into the canyon for a photo op...see Austin's blog for more pics of that.

We introduced Brooklyn to her little 2nd cousins??? Not sure the relationship there.

Daniel on the left and Nathan on the right. SO CUTE!!!

We introduced her to Grandma Olsen and to Aunt Lori...and through webcam to Jenna, Ty, Carter and Bennett.

I spent one more night playing with Nathan and Daniel up at their place and it was so wonderful.

Breanna had a darling nap with baby Brooklyn. It was good to do a little shopping and a lot of talking with Breanna while I was there. I really miss that!

I happened to be there when my dear friend Amy Torgersen

had her sweet little Elizabeth after 6 months of bed rest. She was a miracle.

We also had a visit from one of our first APs, Jason Brase. It was great to visit with him, although embarrassing that I was on the roof taking down Christmas lights when he came.

He had great advice for how to survive after a mission.

It was a wonderful visit to Utah, to see how devoted Laura and Austin are as parents...we knew they would be, but it was just awesome to see it in person. Good visit, and good to be back "home" now in Arizona.

WELCOME BROOKLYN TAYLOR

The Austin and Laura Taylor family is proud to announce the birth of baby

Brooklyn Diane Taylor

September 29, 2011 5:44 AM

6 Lb. 2 oz

19 inches

This is the wall banner that I made during my trip up to meet her from Arizona.

Look at her! She is a perfect little princess!

And she has the most adorable parents ever!

Austin and Laura did a great job! I cannot imagine them without her already!

Welcome Brooklyn, our family is more complete with you in it!

NEW PHOTO WALL!

I am super excited about my new photo wall. I had been wanting a place to be able to display photos, wedding invites etc. as we expect to have many of both of these while we are serving here in Phoenix.
I looked online for ideas but really did not come up with anything that quite fit what I was thinking of...so, in talking with Jenna and Breanna, this is what I came up with.
It is a regular curtain rod, but hung on hooks closer to the wall(I would even like them to keep the rod closer to the wall if possible). I sewed grosgrain ribbon in long strips to hang from the rod and then used drapery hooks to hang the frames where I wanted to. I ordered 1 1/4 inch wide bulldog clips and sprayed them bronze, then sewed them to the ribbon about 7 1/2 inches apart. I tied ribbon through the hole in the front and around the grosgrain above the frames after I hung them.

Can you see how handy this will be when we have 400 returned missionaries out there hunting companions!

All I need now are some more pictures HINT HINT!!
I am already trying to decide where I would create one of these in our home in Provo...not enough wall space there...but we shall see!