Tis the Season 2006

Taylor family Christmas! I love the Cactus!


What do you do to "warm up" and kick off the Holiday season in Arizona? Well we took the opportunity to take the kids to the Mesa Temple (1 1/2 hours drive) to see the lights and listen to the music and festivities on the Temple ground (15 minute walk around the grounds - 20 minutes tops) It really was beautiful - but the drive - 3 hours for 20 minutes of "ooh's and ahh's? Well we had to do it once right?

Grandpa and Grandma Taylor were here, they have rented a spot in a RV park to park their 5th Wheel trailer - about 15 minutes from our house. It was so awesome to have them here and help us decorate our Christmas Tree this year! Good to know we weren't left alone in the desert, They made it feel like home. We love their visits and so glad that we get to see them regularly!

Dear Santa - All I want for Christmas is to get off your lap!
Our Ward Christmas party! Believe it or not, but this little activity knocked about 15 families in the ward out in a 2 week period! That's right boys and girls can you say "flu bug"? Here's how we figure it works... Ward party, activity - frosting sugar cookies, you were probably safe if you went directly to this activity, however if you choose to stand in line for Santa first, you were doomed! Some sweet infected child or children (same sick family perhaps?) double dipped in the frosting bowls, leaving their knives and germs behind for the unsuspecting "next guy". No body was the wiser - until the connection was made weeks later - it had us down - not pretty! BTW this is reason #2 as to why Dean has a hard time eating at Ward "Potluck" functions!

The kids had their Choir performances at their school. This is Zachery after performing "Jingle Bell Rap" it was very cute. Brittney missed hers due to "the flu" :(

The kids leave their letters for Santa in their shoes - we find this quicker and easier than the US mail! Not to mention the little "goodie" left behind is like a receipt that Santa got your letter!

Zachery's Baptism

What a special Day! We had Grandpa and Grandma Wilson and Aunt Danielle come in to join us for this special day! Of course the Henson's were with us too!

Our Stake here in Surprise, baptizes children who choose to be baptized on the 1st Saturday of each month. So Zachery was baptized with another boy from our Ward. We all met together in the Chapel, where we listened to a talk on "Baptism"

Then ward by ward we were sent to the Font, Where Dowlin Baptized Zachery. Dean and I cried (obviously) Dean allowed Dowlin this privilege, it was so awesome to see Dowlin taking part in this sacred ordinance for Zachery. As a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, he is able to baptize...

Dean did Confirm Zachery a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a short talk on the "Holy Ghost"

It was a wonderful day (A long one for a little guy) ~ Although we missed having Grandma and Grandpa Taylor with us (Jan just had her Knee replaced in October) we felt they were there in Spirit, it was Grandma's birthday!

Great Grandma Taylor

We knew when we saw Great Grandma Taylor in October that it would be the last time. It was so good to see her before she died and returned to Heavenly Father and Great Grandpa Taylor.

She was a very nice funeral, many friends and loved ones were there to celebrate her life. Just like when Great Grandpa died 2 years ago, President Thomas S. Monson spoke.
They worked together in Canada "in the beginning". And have remained friends ever since. Great Grandma had a love for Missionary work! She and Great Grandpa served several missions for the Church. She will be missed here on earth, for the many lives she touched, however Heaven is rejoicing as she goes home!


We were able to enjoy time with the Taylor family. We miss them so much since moving to AZ.

Here is Bob with his sisters Arlene & Patricia, and brother Bill.

A Grandson's honor

Our Family

Zachery's 8th Birthday

This has been a busy Fall for us! And what a way to finish off ~
Zachery turned 8 on November 20.

He has been busy learning soccer this Fall! He loves it and says there is no way he will ever play football again! Dowlin is having a hard time with that!

Zach also began Cub Scouts! What a guy ~ Zach will be Baptized in December, so watch for that post! Can't wait!

Halloween

It starts with the perfect pumpkin... Olivia kept yelling at Mercedes to clean her hands off! Guts - yuck!
Believe it or not, there are thieves in Arizona! We started with 5 pumpkins, one per kid. Sounds logical right? Well aparently some body thought we were over our pumpkin quota - and they stole 2! Stole 2 pumpkins! It was sad, but we managed to have fun carving anyway!
Two of my favorite things to do - Carve pumpkins, and pick out and cut the family Christmas tree! Thanks for the great memories Daddy!


For the first time in FOREVER we were able to Trick or Treat with the Hensons! What a treat! They are by far the biggest "perk" to moving here! We love them tons!


We had a great Halloween and loved the socializing at the Ward Trunk er Treat too! Who ever had the idea to serve Pizza wins the "smarty pants" award! Dean ate at a ward party! OMHeck!



I love catching these little snapshots into the "real" Dean! This is the man who has banned the word "booger" from our home!

Missy Baby gets Married

Mr Cassidy Moss marries Miss Melissa Ross

Introducing Mr & Mrs Cassidy Moss

October in Salt Lake City is apparently a bit windy!

Dean & I in the underground SLC Temple parking garage. We were married October 16, 1987 - it was nice to be in a Temple so close to our own Wedding Anniversary.

Here we are at Missy and Cassidy's reception

(Dowlin was hanging out with his other cousins, Taylor and Seth)

Mercedes was in Missy's line - as a brides maid. I copied Mercedes dress for Brittney and Olivia. Zachery was the doorman

This is Olivia with Caden (Jason's) and Payton (Devin's)

Scott, Dad , Jenni & Taleen

I had a wonderful time seeing family and friends that I havent seen in years! I love weddings! :)

We were able to sneak in a quick visit with Great Grandma Taylor before we had to leave Utah! What a treat! She is living in an assisted living village, just a few minutes from Bob and Jan's. Right by Mt Timpanogas Temple, in Pleasant Grove.

Great Grandma is doing well as she can for a lady in her 90's! We are so glad we got to see her!

Mercedes 14th Birthday!

What a day! Mercedes turned 14! we went out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Taylor to Applebee's where we gave Mercedes a little box with a cute bow on it! Suddenly it began to ring! Yes ~ she got her 1st cell phone! Heaven help us all!

In Arizona 9-12 is in HS. And K-8th is in Elementary school ~ this is going to be a hard year for Mercedes, after all the freedoms she enjoyed in Jr High in Kansas, she's stepped back in time to "specials" and she's not happy! But she is playing Volleyball and Softball for Western Peaks Elementary! :)


She also gets to start going to Church Stake Dances! This is her 1st dance ~ with her Daddy! (yes, I got Dowlin's) We are very proud of her!

Football Injury

Well - I just found another thing to add to my ever growing list of
"Things I never want my kids to experience!" BROKEN BACK


As I mentioned in previous posts, Dowlin began weight training and practicing as soon as we got here with the HS football team. All was going well! He was playing with the Varsity players in the passing clinics all summer.

August 2 - 1st week of full pads, he came home in a lot of pain. He had gone up to catch a pass and was hit in the air, hurting his back. The coach and trainer took him out for 2 weeks. He iced and heated, and waited. 1st day back - hit again. Out for another week - obviously not ready yet... He practiced 1 week, played 1/2 the 1st game - hit again - Mom said "No more!" We went to his Dr. the next day, he couldn't move! The pain was so bad. He gave him some muscle relaxers, and I made an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon at the CORE Institute, they work with Willow Canyon HS.

It was Labor Day, and Dean's Bday, so we headed North to Sedona, and Flagstaff, then East to Snowflake for the weekend. Dowlin was "ok" but pretty dopey. (Kinda funny, we met a "Healer" at the hotel pool... Lol - It's a different story, ask Dow if you want a good laugh. I'm just going to quote a little tidbit for your amusement - healer, "repeat after me...(balh blah blah)" -healer, "Ok, we're done." Dowlin, "Ok, we're done," HA HA! Hilarious!

When we finally got into see Dr Greene, it was clear that he would be out for the season. Xrays were hard to see the spine, but he ordered a Radioactive Full Body Scan which took about an hour. (it was pretty cool - if you've never seen a 360 degree Xray) It confirmed that he had fractures in his spine. (L4 I believe) "Out for the Season" are tough words to hear for a guy who loves football!
Options - Permanent damage, or paralysis - you decide.

After weighing the REAL options, we decided to wait out the months of recovery - not do surgery.
UPDATE - Dowlin was in a hard, removable only for shower, cast for 6 weeks. And we defied the "No Spohomore drivers" rule with a note from the Dr stating he should not be made to walk extreeme distances or carry heavy back pack on his back. (lol - I win!)

This has been a very disappointing thing for Dowlin, as you can imagine. He will be unable to play Basketball this year as well. We are hoping that by February or March, he will be well enough to tryout for Baseball.

UPDATE - Dowlin has healed remarkably well! He did miss Basketball, but made the JV Baseball team and so far no problems other than an ache here or there! He's even ramming into guys and sliding head first into home plate - We're wondering if it was his back or maybe a head injury he got in football, LOL.

Fun Fact - The Texas Rangers and KANSAS CITY ROYALS have their Spring Training here in Surprise! This is at the Royals/Rangers Stadium. The kids get to use it in the off season - cool huh!

Brittney's Birthday

Brittney turned 10 on September 16! She walked away from summer with a killer tan! She is a Cheerleader for the Pop Warner football team the Cobra's - what a busy schedule she is keeping!

July Birthdays

Dowlin turned 16 on July 21! Where does the time go? He has spent this summer working out at his new High School, and playing football. What a great kid!

Olivia turned 1 on July 25! She was lots of fun to watch, she's a joy to us all!

Kids keep cool!

We have quickly learned to survive in Arizona - WATER is a must! Thankfully we have Cheri to be our "Follow me to Fun" tour guide!

We went to this "splash pad" to play for the afternoon. Ya, we packed lunches and lot of water to drink - Otis even brought us popsicles! The kids had tons of fun!

Disneyland

While in CA we took the kids to the "Happiest Place on Earth" - it was fun, really it was, I think we waited to long to take the older kids, they were kinda bored :( (I'll try not to post pictures of the painful faces)

Despite waiting in lines, and "baby rides" and having some of the "classics" closed, we all enjoyed the day together.

Favorite moments were Daddy "Booing" Snow Whites Step Mother, the evil witch as she passed us and having her turn and "hiss" at him. "Oooh's" from the crowd cracked us up!

The Parade was pretty good, you know how Dean loves "Ariel" LOL. Then as we sat on the curb eating ice cream waiting for the fireworks to start... looking at the tired kids, thinking about the walk to the car and the long drive home, Dean and I had a "magical moment" of our own... "Let's go!" No complaints - we were lucky to get to the van before the snoring began.

It was a great day. Family fun - that's what life's about, right?!