Paris ~ The Eiffel Tower

It took us a few days to work out way to the City of Lights, but we finally made it. Due to the rainy weather, a "holiday" that kept most people out of the city, and the phone call from work at 5, my dad drove us in, instead of taking the train. It turned out to be a good thing. We were able to drive by all the cool stuff in Paris without getting wet! And see the Eiffel tower in an unusual way. With fog surrounding it. It was so cool. Now when we take the train in, we'll be prepared for where we want to go and what we want to see.

My New Look!

This is the new fall look for all those stress echoers who will need to have their hearts checked. We believe that it is very fashion forward, yet with hint of classic thrown in as well. It is accessible for the things you could possibly have/need during the echo, and still comfortable, wearable and modest.  A must have for the girl on the go with a heart to match.
A big shout out to the two designers if this gown - Ashley, who was instrumental in the design and Keith for its practical application. You guys are awesome.

What the.....?

Today Stephen received an email from his work. In the email there was a link to the school's semi-annual BC Magazine. While scrolling through the pages he came across the BEST PAGE EVER!

He thought that there was going to be an article featuring the cafe, but they decided to go for the REAL story and featured him instead.

I wonder if the fame will go to his head and change him?
Probably not. He'll just take it in stride!



If you want to read the article click here and go to page #13.

Say It Ain't So

This may be the coolest way that I've bogged, from my phone! With this fun new app I can now blog from wherever I happen to be. For better or for worse I've gone mobile! Woot! Woot!

Awwww Nuts

It is currently 6:00 in the A.M. this fine Thursday morning and after I drove Stephen to the Trax station I headed off to work to catch about an hour and a half of OT. To my surprise after months and months of unlimited OT, it was no longer available! We in the JetBlue Groups Department are caught up! So while that is awesome for the department, I now get to sit here until 7 and not get paid, catch up on my blogging, twiddle my thumbs and think of how grateful I am that I won't be late to work ;)

BYU vs. San Diego State (aka JimmerTime)

When we realized that we would be on vacation in San Diego the same weekend that BYU would be playing SDSU we looked to see if any tickets would be available to go see the game. The answer was a resounding NO, there was nothing! But what the heck, we'd still go around San Diego in our BYU gear and feel proud.

However, we found something even better. Stephen is a proud member of CougarBoard and while perusing all the posts of the TrueBlue he came across one inviting all BYU fans to come watch the game in a movie theater- for FREE! So my new hero is Robert Sheffield of the MultiPlex in Carlsbad, CA. We were able to share the win with about 100+ other BYU fans and it was AWESOME! Every 3 point shot, every free throw made was celebrated with cheers and clapping and "wahoos!". It was about the most fun with out going to the actual game I've ever had.

The game would have been enough, but the cool folks who put together this incredible event also had drawing giving away such things, as part of the old Marriott Center floor, BYU stickers, Media Guides, hats, and our fav, a license plate holder, which Stephen won and it will adorn the Olds as soon as we get home.

Mormon Battalion

After the fun time watching BYU win we still had most of the day to enjoy Southern California. So off we went to Old San Diego.

When Aikah came down with Dave and Franny last August he fell in love with the Mormon Battalion Museum, and after going there I understand why. It was so much fun to learn about the 2000 mile trek that our ancestors made that helped so many people. I never knew.

I recommend this as a go-see when in San Diego. It was fun, kept my attention, taught me something, and in the end we got to pan for gold, get our picture taken and look to see if we were descendants of any of those brave men, women and children. We weren't, but what they did certainly helped my ancestors who crossed the plains after them.

The Manliest of Men

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it, when the men in my life, do the "men things"

(shoveling snow, taking out the garbage, washing the car, etc.) so I don't have to.

So thank you Sage for manning the snow-blower (in your bowling shoes, minus coat, hat or gloves no less - very manly).

Thank you Lukas for manning the shovel (and being practical and wearing outdoor gear).

And thank you Stephen, for watching over the whole production!

I love you guys!

Triumphant Turkey Day 2010

Another Thanksgiving, another year to be grateful for all that we have and have been blessed with.

I am SO thankful for our health, for our home, for our jobs and for all of my family.

I am thankful that I am a mom who has the world's most awesome, fantastic, brilliant, kind, funny, beautiful kids.

I am thankful for a husband who loves me and treats me with respect and honors me and our children.

I am thankful that I have brothers and sisters who are completely wonderful and always there.

I am thankful for the gospel and all that I have been blessed with.

I am thankful to have good friends around me that uplift my life and make it better just by being there.

I am also grateful that Linc and Rae along with their two boys were able to come celebrate Thanksgiving with us this year. We always have so much fun when they are around!

Fall Piano Recital

It's that time of year again when the weather turns cool and crisp and leaves start falling to the ground. It's also when we get to get dressed up and go and hear how the piano lessons have been going.

This was Sarah's last hoo-rah, she did 't want to take lessons anymore due to her schedule. She still plays the piano everyday and that makes her happy. Lukas has taken over Sarah's piano time-slot and he seems to be enjoying learning something totally new. Isaac is doing well and becoming quite the little pianist. Good Job Guys!

The program for the evening was typed out with a type-writer and looked like it was copied on a mimeograph - Stephen had to explain to the kids what that actually was, and of course how it smelled! Their teacher had a little description of each song that was played, so I thought it would only be appropriate to share it here as well.

Isaac Taylor - - Ancient Temple (Olson) Feel the mystery of the ruins in Rome. Notice the big range on the piano keyboard.

Sarah Taylor - - Memory (Webber) A timeless song from the musical "Cats"

Best Letter Ever!

Ever since we got Beatles Rock Band, my kids have really enjoyed listening/singing along to all of their great songs. I had to show them my favorite "Beetles" video.

I hope you enjoy it too!

Viva Las Vegas

First off -

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY HANNAH!!!!

Can't believe you're 16! Love you!!!

Well due to the awesome generosity of my brother and his darling wife, we were able to go down to Las Vegas for a quick trip to relax and hang out in the sun (and of course get in the school time). To make it a little more fun, Anya and Lil came along.

We decided to rent a car and drive down (it was more economical), and left after church on Sunday. The car was smooth and sweet and there was little traffic. We stopped for a leg-stretching break at "the world's best McDonalds!" - due to the basketball games, air hockey, and a room filled with all different size balls that you could kick to your heart's content - and played for awhile at the playland. This was also the first McDonald's Playland that Lil had ever been to! We are such a wonderful influence on that girl. (BTW She totally loved it! She loved the slide and tunnels, the bright colors etc.) Lil sat in her car seat between Lukas and Isaac and they laughed and giggled most of the way down and still wasn't quite ready to go when we were but, we persuaded her to come back to the car. Lily loves her cousins and her cousins love her back.

We sang along to the Beatles and Les Miz, rolled down the windows while on the free-way to "get some fresh air” and generally had a blast. Once we were in Nevada, my body decided that being up for 17 hours (I had to go to work at 5 that morning) was long enough, and we pulled over so that Anya could finish driving the final hour. When we got off the free way to make the change, was in the middle of the desert where there were no lights and we could see what looked like a billion stars. It was so beautiful. Everyone had to get out of the car to take a look. We even got Lily out of her car seat, it was pretty cool.

We arrived at the very lovely Grandview Las Vegas and spent the next three days having fun, enjoying the sun, and just relaxing.

These Feet Weren't Made for Walking

I have learned something very interesting about our Nation's Capitol, it is full of running/jogging/walking/biking freaks. I mean everyone seems to LOVE to run. They have their fancy outfits, iPods, and sweet shoes. They run around the capitol, they run around all the monuments, they run around on the streets, wherever you go, you'll see someone running. Needless to say I don't think I could live here, I just don't have the feet for it.

We decided to spend the day going to museums and see the monuments up close and personal. The only way to accomplish this is by foot. I wore the proper shoes and didn't push myself, drank plenty of water, and stopped and rested and still by the end of the day I was glad I did it, but thinking I won't be doing it again for awhile.

The National Archives

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The Declaration of Independence

I wanted to make sure that the boys were able to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Bill of Rights, and let them know how important these documents are. It took Isaac a minutes to figure out the importance of that he was looking at, and Lukas started reading and realized that he has memorized the preamble to the Constitution. It was fun to see how he was able to relate and enjoy where we were and what were seeing.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Preamble to the U S Constitution

The Air & Space Museum

We started out at the National Air & Space Museum. We saw the Spirit of St. Louis, and bomber, carrier, jet, single engine, twin engine and no engine planes (enough planes to keep Paul happy for a million and a half years), NASA stuff, Planets stuff, and we saw a life-sized Yoda (only $900), and ended where we should have started, in the "How Things Fly" exhibit.

Lukas and Isaac LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this exhibit. It was interactive and they learned some cool stuff. Seeing as this was their science class for the day, it worked out wonderfully. I think they could have spent the whole day there, in fact when we were on our way out Lukas said, "Hey I didn't even see this stuff here!" There was a lot to do and see there.

The American History Museum

The American History Museum was the museum that I wanted to go and see. This is the one that I could relate to the most, and I really enjoyed it. (The boys were not so sure of this museum after leaving Air & Space, but they soon discovered the Spark! Lab and the Invention at Play exhibit and found that American History has something to it).

The boys getting light bulbs to light up

with out plugging them into anything

I personally enjoyed seeing Julia Child's kitchen, Fonzie's jacket, Archie's chair, Dorothy's shoes and Kermit the Frog. Lukas thought it was awesome to see Apollo Ono's skates. There was an entire exhibit dedicated to an enormous American Flag that inspired the "Star-Spangled Banner" (not the one that Betsy Ross made
- so sad).



But my favorite of the day would have to have been the Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life Exhibit. It was so cool to see his top hat, to learn more about that great man, and to be able to teach Lukas & Isaac things that they didn't know before (this was US History class for the day!) There was an entire exhibit on all the US Presidents, with different things that they accomplished during their presidency, and clothes they wore (like the monogrammed
med silk jammies worn by Warren G. Harding).

Lukas with Apollo Ono's Skates

Isaac & Lukas with a flying Pikachu!!

The Monuments

After spending the day inside, we went for a walk. A very long walk.

We wanted see the monuments we'd only driven by on our previous days. We headed towards the Washington Monument, which was the closest. At first the humidity, which had really only been noticeable today, started getting more pronounced. It was no big deal, we could handle it. The Washington Monument was so cool, with all the flags and everything. It was fun to see up close, and to realize how big it really is.


Then off to the World War II Memorial. This is a totally cool place. It is full of symbolism. I loved the water and the fountains. By the time we got there it was a little more humid, but doable, and little warmer, but we managed. But if they had given us the option of dipping in a toe to cool off, I just might have taken it!


While we were at the WWII Memorial the sky started make some suspicious noise, there was no lightening, just thunder, and we thought that since we really couldn't see any clouds, it was all bluster. Not so, it decided to rain. Thank heavens is was a light rain, we could carry on.

The place that Isaac wanted to see more than anywhere else was the Lincoln Memorial. It was at the end of the Mall, and we were just about at the end of our energy. While it was raining we headed off to the Lincoln Memorial, and on the way we stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I was quickly running out of steam (or maybe there was just too much of it in the air) to spend a lot of time there. We saw the wall, and felt some of the names that were engraved in it. I told the boys that we should be very grateful that we weren't related to any names on that wall. I know I am.

Now that the Lincoln Memorial was in spitting distance we all got a little more jazzed and trotted on over to see this very impressive statue of one of the coolest men to ever live. I think it's appropriate that his memorial is larger than life. When we reached the bottom and saw what seemed like a million stairs, I have to say that I almost said forget it. But with my dad's voice in my head saying "you can't come this far and not go to the top!" and "You'll be glad you did" we headed up. Slowly. I am so glad that I did. (I guess my Dad was right). This was one of the neatest things I have ever seen. So impressive, and Isaac was in Happy Heaven. We walked around to the back of the monument and just enjoyed being there.




So at the end of the day, we walked a over 3 miles (hot, humid, never ending miles) and got to see what we wanted to see, go where we wanted to go and basically have an awesome time.

Arlington National Cemetary

One of our favorite places that we went, was Arlington National Cemetery, in fact it was Isaac's favorite place. We arrived at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just as the changing of the guard was taking place. There is a guard there 24 hours a day 365 days a year. In the summer they change every half hour, in the winter, every hour. It is quite the honor for these men to be able to guard the 3 fallen men. It is a solemn place and quite moving to see the thousands of head stones of people who have died for us, and our freedoms.

We were also able to see where they buried the crew from Challenger, one of the captains that died in the 9/11 attacks and JFK.

Mama Never Had Field Trips Like This

When I was in elementary school, I thought going to the Hogle Zoo was a serious field trip and was always excited to go. My boys now are having quite a difference experience. With all the pieces falling into place, I am able to give Lukas and Isaac some fun memories that I hope they will always cherish. I know I will.

Now that I have both boys doing home school and working at JetBlue, what else is a mom to do but go on some extreme field trips? First off - Our Nation's Capitol - Washington DC. With all the history, museums and sheer magnitude of this place, I should probably spend a good month here with the boys. But because I actually have to work so that we can keep our flight benefits, we only are getting 4 days. So far I believe we've used them well.

Here is some photographic evidence until I can take some time to write all about it. Washington DC is an energy using type of place. I don't think you come here to "vacation", and I really need to get some sleep so I can get back at it tomorrow!

Fun fUn fuN on the 4th!

Well we did it again.

We went back up to Evanston, WY to enjoy what must be, really, the only awesome day there. The 4th of July!

We went with the Ellsworths again (why mess with a good thing?) and brought along Andrew as well, and we all had so much fun that we've begun planning next year's event (this will include sleeping accommodations in the city's nicest hotel the Hampton Inn, no more driving home at midnight)!

This year started out with a delicious bbq in the Ellsworth's back yard along with Frisbee throwing and good conversations! Then, because it was Sunday we bypassed the Chocolate Factory in Park City (a for-sure stop for next year) and headed straight into Evanston.

We did the two-car version this year because the adults wanted to ride together and the kids didn't really want to ride with the adults, so we gave Sage the wonderful opportunity of driving the Suburban with all the kids. He did a great job! It took him a while to find his rhythm (as he doesn't do a lot of free-way driving) and he took it nice and slow for awhile. Since he was being safe, and we were in no hurry, I really couldn't fault him for it.

When we got to Evanston we found the school's football field and hung out there for some time. We played Frisbee again (can't bring along an Ultimate Frisbee Player and not clock some considerable playing time), blew bubbles - or should I say the wind blew the bubbles - and watched Sage run around the track, to which we had to yell "Run Forest! Run!".
We found the Wal-Mart in Evanston (for potty breaks) and then we found a sweet spot to watch the 'works!

Now the spot that we went to last year, was in my mind, ideal. We were able to watch the city's fireworks and light our own in relative solitude. Just my kind of thing. But this year we went up the road a bit and thought we'd found and even better spot. Which in a way we did. Because we'd gotten there so early we didn't know that this was THE spot for people to go. But by the time 10 that night rolled around there were so many people you could hardly move. The pros of this were, we got to enjoy so many different kinds of fireworks and the city's all at the same time (it really was cool). The cons - well... there really were a lot of people and cars and fireworks going off, it was chaotic and just a bit nerve wracking, and yet we made it though. Who knows where we'll end up next year. I just know that I can't wait to find out!