10 for Tuesday-This week we were treated to...

1. (Wednesday) Disney on Ice. My mother in law was gracious enough to take us and Scott's brother's family to dinner at Red Robin (our kids favorite) and then to see Disney on Ice. It was the 100 years of magic celebration and it was so much fun! Seriously, it had a feature from just about every Disney/Pixar movie made. We all had an amazing time! I had to put the twenty skating Genies on there too, just because it made me laugh when they all kept skating out onto the ice.

2. (Thursday) A massive sheep exodus right on our road. My friend Lisha snapped this pic of the phenomenon on her phone. There were literally hundreds (we think around 500) being herded right down the road. It was pretty amazing to see.

3.(Friday, Saturday, Sunday) A trip to our cabin to cut down our (AWESOME!) Christmas tree. All of our family was able to be there with the exception of Mitch, Sarah and Ari. (And we missed them a lot!) Highlights were:

4. Christmas t-shirts from Mamie and Gramps. The bonus accesory? Reindeer antlers. They were a HIT!

5. SO much food. We decided instead of leaving on Sunday, we should just stay until the food ran out. Two weeks maybe? Too bad real life goes on.....

6. Tripoly, Catch Phrase, Chinese Checkers, and the marble game....just to name our favorites. (Lots of "Go Fish" this year too...)

7. Unexpected and impromptu sledding (down a tiny hill on a plastic blanket case) that captured the kids attention and funny bones for almost an hour. (Thanks for playing, Mattie!)

8. Rock Band, courtesy of Uncle Matt. After another cabin trip this spring we purchased Guitar Hero. I think Rock Band may be on Scott's list to Santa.....

9. An amazing weekend with our family and our kids. I love going to our old tiny little cabin! We always have an amazing time and are so blessed to have a special retreat to go to that isn't far away and takes us away from the cares back at home.



10. (Monday) A trip to the Museum of Idaho. Back in February, they started showing an Egyptian display. On the outside of the Museum there are two rather large and really cool looking Egyptian people. EVERY TIME we would drive by, she would ask when we could go. And since we drive by there on our way to the dance studio, she was seeing/asking at least two times EVERY WEEK SINCE FEBRUARY. Since the display closes at the end of this month, we figured it was time to take them. I have to say, it wasn't that great. There were a few very cool artifacts and lots of old jewelry, but really, for $20.....well, let's just say I hope the Titanic display coming later in March is a little better. The two best parts were one, a mummified cat (I have to say, that was pretty cool. For all I know it could've been a beanie baby wrapped up. They claimed it was authentic) and two the hands on kids discovery center (where all of our pictures were taken.) They were pretty strict about not having food and cameras in there. So I couldn't sneak any photos (other than these I guess). And a public apology to my sweet Scott. I am sorry I gave Presley a sucker and you had to take the fall for it. I didn't want for you to get in trouble. That lady was just mean.

I do have to say, our kids could've played in this little area for hours! Maybe they were born in the wrong era....they do look pretty darn cute!

Phew. That's our week in a nutshell. Life is so daily....and this week it has certainly felt it!

10 for Tuesday-A day in the life of Presley

So I was noticing this week how many cute pictures I had already taken of Presley doing everyday things that a little girl of 15 months old does. So-here is an average day in the life.....

1. Presley ALWAYS wakes up super happy. I don't know why-maybe because she's one of the best sleepers we have. And I LOVE it.

2. She has her bath-usually with her brother. She loves bath time too. And loves to splash around and play with her little toys. Landon keeps her pretty entertained!

3. She loves to brush her teeth! So, after the bath it's teeth and hairtime. I did 2 little piggy tails in the back today. Usually she gets the "cindy lou who" ponytail on top of her head.....

4. Lots of play time with her older siblings. That's one benefit of being 4th in line. You always have someone to play with. (I'm not sure what Pacie's deal is in this pic-but I liked it anyway!)

5. Getting into stuff seems to be her new favorite hobby. She will tear my cabinets apart fifty times a day. She loves to string the toilet paper clear out of the bathrooms and down the hall and this is her new favorite hiding spot. I just hope Landon doesn't figure out how to turn on the dryer.....

6. We don't make it through the day without one or two fits. And this one was because I wouldn't give her the camera...

7. Just looking cute! Sometimes I just look at her and think...seriously kid? You are so darling! ( On this day, my actual thoughts were that she was "Cheetah-licious")
8. Eating! Here is a play by play of dinner the other night. "Hmm, I think I'm done eating-so I'm going to put my bowl on my head while it's still full of mashed potato's and gravy. Oh, everyone is laughing? I know it's funny now so I'll squish it on even harder! I better look at mom and make sure it's okay. No? Oh well. I think I'll just enjoy an ice cream since I did such a great job on eating my dinner."

9. Presley LOVES her blankies. I don't know how I don't have a picture of her with one of the many she drags around all day long. When it's nap or bed time, all I have to do is put her in her bed with it, and she's a happy girl.

10. Speaking of sleep....it's dream time! Love you, Little Darlin' Ooh.

Surf's Up, Pacie!

Just to let you know....
Pacie's song that she is dancing to in her winter recital is, "I behold for Christmas"-better known as "I'll be home for Christmas." I'm not about to correct her!!

And today, we finally bought a new ironing board. We had been needing one since we moved and left our old one at our other house. Well, on the way home, Pacie said:

Pacie: "Daddy, have you been surfing before?"
Scott: "Yes, a LONG time ago. It was actually body surfing."
Pacie: "Oh. Well then why did you buy a new surf board?"
Scott: "Pacie-it's an ironing board so I can iron my shirts."
Pacie: (The lightbulb coming on....) "OOohhh. and your pants too?"

Okay. That is dedicated to our friends and family who are fortunate enough to live by a beach where their children don't grow up thinking that ironing boards are surf boards. Surfs-up, Pacie. And I promise that someday, we'll take you surfing....

Ten For Tuesday-Election Day Edition

1. I woke up early this morning and voting was the first thing on my mind.

2. To remind us all of just how involved and controversial this election has been,and how it is affecting people everywhere, two of my 4 year old preschoolers got into a debate today about who should be our next President. (I stayed impartial...I didn't want to influence their decisions...I was just amazed that they had an opinion at such a young age and was impressed that they had been listening to the debates and their parents at such a young age.)

3. I was seriously emotional when the lady at my voting location said, "Jill Taft has voted." I felt a surge of American pride.

4. I know that I will support whichever candidate wins-despite the fact that I won't agree with some of his politics.

5. I am proud to say that I voted in an election that will make history in one way or another. (First African American President, or first woman Vice President.)

6. Scott thinks I look like Sarah Palin when I wear my glasses. (That's so random, I know, but I just thought it as I was typing.) And I have a lot of respect for her. There was a funny part on SNL this week where she was selling Palin 2012 T-shirts. Maybe I'll invest in one early.....

7. Our kids were also very into the vote this year and made sure to remind us to go. We didn't need the prodding.

8. A local radio station played Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" tonight on my way home from dance with Parker. She was singing her heart out and I realized again how much I believe in the title of that song.

9. "I Voted." And proud of it. Maybe my one little vote didn't make a difference. Maybe Idaho only gets 4 measly electoral votes. But I took my democratic right and went to the polls and voted for those that I felt would represent my ideals and steer our country in the direction that will best lead us.

10. I now see the Barack Obama will be our next President. I hope that he will live up to the challenge and lead our country into prosperity and that he will keep the patriotism alive that makes our country who we are.

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2008

First thing I must say-I guess my Trick or Treat was a new camera! I stated in a previous entry that our other one was on the verge of dying. Well, it died. So we went and got a new one and I am loving it so far! So-when you see the slide show and some of the pictures are really bad quality and color-it's because they were taken with the video camera!

We really had a fun Halloween. The kids were looking forward to it for so long and now it's crazy that it's over and Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away.

Wednesday night we carved pumpkins. The kids were so excited and I have to say that Scott can gut a pumpkin faster than anyone I know! I think he did 4 in the time I did 2! Both of the girls insisted on wearing rubber gloves so that their hands didn't get gooey. Serious light-weights! Parker did give in near the end and got a little messy. I think our end results were pretty fun.

Mom and Dad L. were going to Logan for Halloween this year, so they took us out to dinner the night before with the kids in costume. We went to Craigo's and had a great time!
Our Halloween was busy! Scott stayed with the little kids so that I could go and be room mom for Parker and Pacie's classroom parties. We came home and prepared for a fun trunk or treat and trick-or-treating and visiting friends we haven't seen in a while. Everyone slept well, which I think usually means a successful day.

Ten For Tuesday- Landon Edition

I thought this week I would focus on our boy. The lone (little) man in the Taft household. Ten reasons why we love Landon, and why we're glad he's ours!

1. He is a fighter. First display-he made it here! Some of you may not know that Landon is a twin. We lost our other baby at 20 weeks-but I carried them both full term and delivered them together. We were so glad to find out we were having a boy, and then so thankful to find out that he was a fighter and that he made it here with no further complications. He was tiny! (For our standards anyway) weighing only 5 lbs. 5 oz. When we brought him home he was 4-11. SO TINY! Here he is inside of his Christmas stocking. (He was born December 18th, 2005)

2. His smile! Right from the start, he had this wide smile that covers his whole face. He can light up a room with his little grin! This was one of his very first smiles that we caught on camera. And here's another one that just shows that big wide smile!

3. His blue eyes, which he gets from his dad! I've heard that he looks "just like his daddy" maybe 500 THOUSAND times in the last almost 3 years. I think it's a good thing for little boys to look like their daddies...better that than their moms!

4. His personality! He has always been full of life. And the older he gets the more he likes to be silly and make his sisters and others laugh. Even if it means showing off a bit. He learns a lot from his older sisters, including their dance moves and tumbling tricks. He has always loved to sing and entertain.

5. He is a monkey. Literally fearless. When he was 8 months old and not even walking, I went into the girls bedroom to find him on the top bunk of their bed. Just standing against the railing smiling at me. I FREAKED! He climbed the ladder and was just hanging out. Hence, the nickname Curious George. He is so adventurous. I just think I will have to harness it...before he starts riding dirtbikes...






6. He is ALL BOY. He loves balls, trucks and cars, and mostly dirtbikes. He loves to be outside getting dirty with his dad. Even though he can sing Hannah Montana songs by heart, we know that deep down, he's all all boy. Love it.








7. He is very loving with his sisters. Yes they drive him crazy. Yes he probably wishes they weren't around sometimes, but overall, he is super loving-especially with Presley. He always gives them hugs and loves, even when they're not wanted or reciprocated. (Pacie~) But he is just a little gentleman. I hope we can continue to teach him how important that quality is...to respect womanhood and appreciate them!


8. He never, ever makes messes for me to clean up. And he is always a great example to Presley. And I'm totally lying right now-but hey..at least I can laugh about it! Remember the red fingernail polish incident? How about the great paper shredder extravaganza of '08? Yep. He's all mine! The latest involves him, Presley, and half a bag of Krusteaz pancake mix. That's what you get when you get on the computer in the morning and don't listen to the repeated pleas for pancakes... At least he tried to clean up for me!


9. He is sweet and asks me for "my hugs" and says, "give me my kiss mom.". He really is a sweet and loving little boy and I am thankful that he has such a positive influence in his life. Scott teaches him by example and I know he will continue to do so throughout his lifetime. So thanks, Scott for teaching our son to love his mommy!

10. He is super strong willed. I think he's been in here about 15 times while I've been putting this post together because he wanted to play on the computer. Once he even turned it off for me! I know that determination will take him far! We love you, Little Buggy!