Lots of "new!"

So, we'll catch up quick...we've had a lot this week!

Taylor's birthday was Tuesday, and he had a superhero dress-up party with cousins and a friend. Being six is much bigger and better than being five! Wolverine and Spiderman (and Taylor) are the best!

Wednesday, Janey got cute new glasses! She's adorable, of course, and looks very studious!

Saturday we went to our new favorite swimming spot at the lake, and went on to explore more fun bays and beaches to play at on future outings! The kiddos had a blast in the water, and we even got them both to jump off the rocks into the "deep end" (with life jackets, of course)! We saw a few fish, lots of lizards, and Taylor discovered a crawdad! We loved playing in the waves that crashed when boats went by, and exploring underwater with a snorkel. What fun we have at the lake!

First Grade!

Taylor has finished his first week of FIRST GRADE!!! We are so proud and excited for him! He got an awesome new Transformers lunch box, along with a Crayon sandwich box and thermos. He has decided that he wants the same lunch every day for school...we'll see how long that lasts! Anyway, Tay is so pumped for school! He was a little nervous at first, but after we went to meet his teacher the day before his first day, and he saw that she was his old primary teacher and that they have a cool classroom (with gerbils!), he got super excited. He kept saying: "When is it going to be nighttime? I want to go to bed so I can go to school!" He has even stayed excited all week! He tells us each afternoon the new friends he made that day. Hurray!

Congrats buddy; what a big boy!

first day--COOL DUDE

David Taylor

My eldest brother died on June 26th. What a sad day! We had his funeral July 6, and that was a hard day! David was a closed person, so we didn't know him as well as we'd have liked to. We'd been out of contact with him for the last few years. He was somewhat a mystery to us when this whole thing started! However, after a week at my Dad's house looking at pictures and listening to stories and remembering memories, I feel I know him much better, and I'm grateful! My brother was a strong-willed, compassionate, dedicated person. He was a passionate learner and doer. He was a great example of character! He was (is) loved by so many! He is missed dearly, and we will be anxious to see him again!

Through this experience, my family has really been brought much closer together! We've learned a lot about love and forgiveness. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father's tender mercies! I am grateful for eternal families! Although I am terribly sad that he is gone, I am so glad that he is in a place of love and happiness!

We love you, David!

This is sooo cool!

We're here!!

So, we made it to Page! We officially moved here the first week of the month, right after my brother Aaron got married to Krista Luke (Taylor), whom we love! I haven't blogged because we've misplaced the cord for our camera, and can't get the pictures on my computer! (I figure blogs with pictures are much more interesting than those without.)

We're hanging out in the hotel for a couple more weeks until we close on the house, and we're slowly getting familiar with the area. There is so much involved in moving to a different state..sheesh! I still haven't gotten everything transferred, because I'm not familiar with Arizona stuff. But we are loving this little town, especially our ward. Ryan really likes his job, too. The best thing about this hotel is that its a mini habitat for small creatures: bunnies, chipmunks, lizards, birds and lots of bugs! (Outside, of course; not in!) There has been one tiny bunny hanging out by our sliding door, and we've enjoyed watching it munching on the grass and hopping around. The temperature has already creeped above 90 degrees, but then we got a major rainstorm and it cooled the area off very nicely! We also got flash flooding, which made some cool little "canyons" around town. There is so much to explore here!

Life is good in Northern Arizona!!!

Here are a few pictures from the wedding...dang, we have cute kids!

This was a good picture of us-we don't have many where both turn out looking good!

Callie, Taylor and cousin Joseph

Gramma Shell and snuugly Janey

the newlyweds!

(We're so happy for you!!!)

Visiting Daddy!!

Ryan's grandpa came down to help me pack stuff, then accompanied us to Page for the weekend. Grandpa let us work on him to move down here with us. He really likes Page, and the lake and golf course help a lot! Ryan took us discovering! We had a ton of fun, and are sad to be separated again.

these are some of the "stripey rocks" we pass on the way to Page

Janey stole Grandpa's heart! Here she is "copiloting."

Glen Canyon Dam and kids on the bridge

a scenic view trail

Taylor and Callie exploring

The Colorado River

Lone Rock beach

Janey's lovin the beach life!

Happy Easter everyone!!

We wanted to bear testimony that Christ is our Savior, and that He did, in fact die for us so that we can live again! We've been pretty excited to talk about the resurrection today, because we look forward to it some day! How wonderful to know that we can be together as a family forever! We watched the movie Testaments tonight, and Taylor (in reference to the story of Jesus) said "I believe it." Wow! What an awesome boy! He's an example to me!

We were so excited to have Daddy here for the weekend to spend the holiday with us. We just sent him back to Page, and we miss him already! We love you sweetheart!

I got this really cool book, A Christ Centered Easter, from Deseret Book last week. It's got lots of ideas and activities for making Easter more about Christ and the resurrection. We tried a few things, and really enjoyed it! I highly recommend the book!

This year was Janey's first "fun" Easter, so it was exciting. She (ok, the rest of us, too) munched on candy and edible grass all day, played with plastic eggs and tried hard boiled eggs. They didn't go over very well...

We have some dang cute Easter chicks and bunnies, and the proof is in the photos!

...busted, Jane!

CUTIES!!!

FOR RYAN:

Dear Dad, I hope you have a good day. I love you so much and I miss you. I want to see you soon. Love, Taylor

jh bnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrrrrv h Love, Janey

I love you Daddy! I hope you have a good day. love you, love, Callie

Separated...

Well, Ryan moved out! The kids are already missing Daddy. He has officially started his new job in Page, and I get the pleasant job of packing and cleaning all by myself! I'm so excited! No, I've got parents coming in a couple of weeks to help us out, and I have really great friends and neighbors around who'll entertain the kiddos so I can focus! I know everyone says this, but you really don't realize how much stuff you have until you have to pack it all up and move it! Anyway, the kids and I will be here until Taylor is done with this term at school. We'll be out of Cedar City the first weekend in May. Page, here we come!

Paisley is coming home!!!

Our friends, Luke and Clover Dunn, had a baby 3 months early...like Janey! The baby has been in the University Hospital NICU for 3 months now, and she 's finally coming home! HURRAY!!! It's been a long road for the Dunn family, but they've been very faithful-and loving for that sweet Paisley! And what a feisty little girl she is! She started out at 1 pound 10 ounces, and is now about 5 pounds, and doing fantastic! What an amazing miracle baby! And what a blessing that little angel is to her adoring family! This is an example of those sweet tender mercies that our loving Heavenly Father bestows upon us. I want to testify that our Heavenly Father knows and loves each and every one of us! And through our trials, He blesses us immeasurably!

Congratulations Clover, Luke and Blake; you made it!

And welcome home Paisley!

LAKE POWELL!!!

Ryan got an awesome new job!!! He's going to be managing a full service Marriott Courtyard in Page, Arizona! WE ARE SOOOO EXCITED!!! We went down to Page this last weekend to check out the town and start looking for a place to live. It's a nice little place- much nicer than I thought! We will be minutes from Lake Powell, and within 2 hours of 4 other national parks/monuments. The kids are excited to live by the beach, and mom and dad are just excited for "new." Now you all have even more incentive to come visit us!

Vacation!!!

We've been California dreamin' for a while now, and we finally made it happen!!!

Last week we got back from our trip to San Diego! It was awesome! We LOVE the beach! We got to spend lots of time with Gramma Shell (Mel's mom), went to Seaworld and did some surfing! What a trip!

On Sunday we got to recupe from a day in the van, and we got to visit with Uncle Brett and Jonathan and Gramma Shell. We walked the Oceanside pier that night, and Taylor said "This is so cool! I can't believe we're walking on water!" Then Callie got to feel the sand in her toes for the first time!


We spent Monday and Wednesday at the beach, catching some sun, surfing, feeding and chasing birds, making friends and sandcastles, playing in the cold water, collecting seashells (including an intact sand dollar!), and totally enjoying the experience! Callie proved to be a true beach girl at heart-she loved the water, and was pretty excited to be able to surf with Dad! Ryan and I had renewed our love for the ocean, and starting thinking we'd like to live near one someday.(My Mom will be pretty thrilled at that confession!) I could sit and watch and listen all day! Even Janey got really excited when we took her down by the waves!


Tuesday we went to SeaWorld, and were thoroughly entertained! Taylor and Callie loved Shamu the best, and both said they'd like to be trainers when they grow up. The show does say anything is possible if you just believe... Anyway, we sat in the soak zone and really did get very soaked! The show was great-we'd highly recommend it! We saw all the different creatures, including turtles and sharks and rays, which we got to pet, and we saw the Clyde and Seamore sea lion show, which was a favorite of the kids.
Tuesday night Ryan took me on a date to restaurant at Oceanside Harbor. We met friends Jeff and Kristy there, and I ate fish! Thats a big step for me, because I don't like fish, but that fresh stuff was really good!

A few more highlights: we got to see Grandpa Eric, watch dolphins surf the waves with the surfers, and stay at a really awesome hotel!

Visit www.moblyng.com to make your own!

We drove down to see the temple before we left Thursday morning, and the kids said goodbye to the ocean several times. Gramma Shell, you've won us all over! We had such an awesome time we can't wait to go back!

BEAUTIFUL!

Happy Dr Seuss Day!

We celebrated Dr Seuss' birthday today, by eating green eggs and ham for dinner along with some other "different" green foods. The kids tried everything, and Taylor even said he liked the asparagus! We had fun making other crafts, too! (Including making Janey into the cat's hat.)

A really cool site to find games and stuff is www.seussville.com