Birthday Girl

Our beautiful little princess (her name, Taylee Mei, literally means "princess beautiful") celebrated her one year mark on Wednesday. The kids and I are in San Antonio, TX and Ty is in Washington DC on business, so we celebrated with him and the Kearns side of the family on Sunday...those pictures will come in the next post. These pics are from her actual birthday May 7. I had a blast being near Krista and making a really fun cake. Carter had a blast being near Annie and playing all kinds of make-believe (which I think took a little adapting from his kind of make-believe...she is a three year old girl) and Taylee had a blast screaming, banging things, and playing with cousin Katy...they are definitely two peas in a pod.

I really wanted a fun & girly cake for her birthday. K and I found a picture online and adapted it to Taylee's colors...or rather the colors I have chosen for Taylee's favorite colors. Her room is pinks and brown polka-dots. SO...we decided to make a pinks and brown polka-dot cake with stripes. I LOVE making cakes and have really missed living by Krista to experiment...she has all the good equipment and tools. Taylee really wanted to dig into it when we first put her by it for pictures, but by the time dinner was over-she was being timid. I gave her a little push to taste the top part, and then she went right in...head first. Ty did this same thing during her "sunday party" and she absolutely loved eating that way.

Don't take it away!

The damage

Her special birthday dinner consisted of potato wedges, carrots, and chicken sticks...a few of her favorite things. She also had a leftover chicken salad sandwich...another thing I discovered on this trip that she really likes. She was such a good eater...even leaving her party hat on the entire time.

Taylee also loved opening presents. She's at such a fun age when she knows what's going on. Grandma and Grandpa got her a doll and she LOVED it...she was seriously loving on it. She has been really cute with dolls for the past little while. She squeals and hugs and kisses and rocks...so cute! She is such a girl...she loves sunglasses, shoes, necklaces, dolls. Thank you Thank you to Krista, Grandma, Grandpa, and all Tay's aunts and uncles and cousins for helping her have a very special day

Happy Happy Birthday to our sweet little gal. We love you and are so grateful to have you in our family!

Changing misperceptions...

So...at a recent BYU-I graduation, the graduates were encouraged to spread the gospel online and be active about changing the misperceptions of the church through the internet. I read a blog by the chief information officer of the church sites and he was saying that there is a big push to have people be "internet missionaries" every day by writing in response to false ideas or perceptions of the church wherever we come across them (even the comments on everyday news sites are bringing up some crazy "mormon" ideas...especially with the polygamy deal in Texas). I was talking to my sister Sara about this over the weekend and brainstorming ways I can help. I think it's awesome when I see people talking about our beliefs in just describing their everyday living on their blogs. Here's one of my favorite examples: http://wilkinsonquints.blogspot.com/2008/04/day-in-life.html. This LDS family lives in Austin TX, has quints, and from the first day the babies came home, have relied on the community to be in their home helping with the babies. The community has totally come through for them and they always have volunteers at their house...night and day. Even news stations take shifts and document it all. What an awesome example of a real LDS family....I doubt anyone who knows them will confuse them with the FLDS images they see on the news. Another favorite of mine is this blog I happened upon tonight: http://thegabblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/just-for-record.html I'm thinking about starting another blog (would this be four for me? ...hmm...probably couldn't keep it up) that I update once a week with things going on in my life that testify of Christ. It could randomly be happened upon and maybe I can change just one misperception of Latter-day Saints. What can you do to help with this effort online?

Welcome baby Sadie!

Our newest little niece, Sadie Rae, was born April 15, 2008 at 3:30am. She is such a little doll. Congrats Jamin and Shanda....and Shanda did it all natural-what a feat!

Beautiful!

Check out this amazing video called Reflections of Christ....

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

I watched this first thing this morning...what a way to wake up. I am so grateful for our Savior and his Redeeming Love.

Typing test

I've always loved typing...and taking typing tests...one of those weird, quirky things I inherited from my mother. Mom...let's see what your score is on this.

87 words

Speed test

My new favorite thing...

http://www.myfoodstoragedeals.com/

This is the COOLEST site! I found out about it last week, looked around, bought a month membership, and have had the past two weeks meals completely planned out for me (and they are really yummy foods!). My grocery lists have been planned based on the meals (which are planned around foods on sale locally) and I finally feel like I can conquer food storage based on this sites sale info and knowledge. The lady that does this site is so knowledgeable on food storage and self-reliance and is a really smart shopper, so she does all the busy and tedious work for you. All you have to do is print out her tips for the week and the grocery list and go to the store. She even tells you how much you'll spend by following the list...and what your food storage will look like...and how long it will last. She also incorporates your food storage into your everyday eating so (1) you rotate your food storage and (2) you know how to actually cook with your food storage and feed your family in case of emergency. I could go on and on. If you want to see more, call me and I'll let you use my sign-in info to see what exactly the $7 a month membership pays for.

Tagged...again

....by Krista

you're feeling: excited about conference and hanging out with Sara

to your left: Sara

on your mind: cleaning, grocery shopping, getting the house ready for conference and friends tomorrow

last meal included: eggs, sausage, pancakes, cantaloupe, honeydew, and milk

the weather: sunny and really windy

something you have a collection of: thimbles and pez dispensers

a smell that cheers you up: cookies

a smell that can ruin your mood: skunk...and we have had them a lot lately in our neighborhood

how long since you last shaved: 2 days

the current state of your hair: straightened and up in a pony

the largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): lamp?

which section you head for first in a bookstore: home decor, cooking, kids (non-fiction)

something you're craving: a trip with Ty and the kids

your general thoughts on the presidential race: hmmm...I'm trying really hard lately not to focus on the negative

how many times have you been hospitalized this year: none

favorite place to go for a quiet moment: car drive

you've always secretly thought you'd be a good: lawyer or political activist/lobbyist

something that freaks you out a little: bugs....a lot!

something you've eaten too much of lately: M&M's...thanks a lot Aunt Sara for bringing treats

you have never: been to Europe...and I so want to!

K....I tag Shanda, Heather, Shaunte', Jill, Michelle, Lynsey, and Lindsay