He got it...

I have mixed feelings about this purchase, only because I don't want to loose a husband, but he is thrilled to death and I have to say, he earned it. He went riding with Lacey's husband, Brad, last summer and has wanted one ever since. I couldn't justify it when our kitchen was half done and other big projects needed to be done. While we were away we came to an agreement that as soon as he got a list of home projects done he could get his bike. It is a 350 if that means anything to anyone and he is going to get it street legal so he can ride it to work all summer. He is happy as can be and I don't have to worry about a Father's Day present!

About to take it for a quick ride.

Getting it started. He has only been on a bike like once before this so he is still getting the hang of everything, but once he gets going things go pretty smooth. I think I will let him practice a while longer before I get on!

As Lacey says, "A boy needs his toys!"

Circus! Circus!

The circus is back in town! This is what Taylee's cousin Quinton anounced all afternoon as we got ready to go the circus. My expectations were low, this is Rexburg after all, but I was very surprised at what the show had to offer. The kids loved it and I was pretty impressed too. It had it all from elephants, tigers, lions and bears to flashy dressed men and women doing crazy flexible things hanging from hula hoops and who knows what else! Except for one of the guys falling from way up high, (he turned out to be ok) the show was great and we had fun seeing it with ALL the Rexburg cousins!

Eating lunch before the circus. Thank goodness she ate something healthy that day. We had so many snacks I am surprised no one went home sick!

The big boys excited to get inside!

The whole crew! Even Alea and Avery were able to come!


Me with my girl! (If anyone was curious, her personality hasn't changed a bit... notice the familiar glare :)

Lacey and her girl!

Tiffany and her littlest girl!

Another great face from Tay

Quniton and Ryker

Ellie (in back) and Conner

To: Aunt Bonnie

Taylee's Aunt Bonnie came to see us for Memorial Day week-end and brought Tay this totally cute cowgirl hat and a beach chair with an umbrella. Taylee loved them both. This post is for Aunt Bonnie to check out how cute she looks in her new hat and to wish you a very Happy Birthday!

Taylee lifts off her hat and says,"Howdy Partner."

These are just a few fun times we had with Bonnie while she was living with us. We miss her and all the fun we had while she was here.


4th of July Parade '08

Bear World -Bonnie's B-day '08

Bonnie doing what she does best... keeping Tay happy. I forgot to tell you Bonnie after you left last time Taylee said, "Where she going?" "She supposed to stay here forever and ever." "She needs to go up to her room and stay here." She had so much with you that week-end and was so sad to see you go... even if she wouldn't give you a hug good-bye.

We hope you have had a very Happy Birthday and hope you know you are so loved and we think you are the best!

So nice to be home!

We are finally home! It has been so nice to be living in our home again! We were a little nervous coming home because we knew some crazy things had happened while we were gone like a very powerful windstorm that blew Taylee's swing set over and broke it and blew shingles off our roof. We knew our septic system needed a new motor and we had a whole other list of home improvement items we wanted to get going on. But, our amazing neighbors decided to get together for FHE the Monday night before we got home and they did so much. We got home and our lawn was mowed, our side weed field has been plowed out, our swing set was fixed, my house was clean, my flower beds were weeded..... they did so much and it took so much stress off coming home. Then our neighbor who is a roofer offered to fix our roof up if our insurance won't cover it! We feel so lucky to have such great neighbors.

Taylee is very happy to be home too!

So with most of the vital fixes out of they way, we were able to get going on some other projects. We had our countertops replaced almost a year ago and have needed a backsplash since then and we finally had our friend Nate over to do the job and we are so pleased with the work he did. He let Aaron help cut lots of the tiles and they got it done pretty fast. Thanks again Nate you did an awesome job!

It is nothing too fancy, but just enough to make our kitchen feel more finished and dress it up a little. We order new handles for our cabinets and are getting a new sink and faucet and then our kitchen will be about done. The tile still needs to be grouted so when everything is finished I will post a final picture. Aaron has been dying to get a dirt bike since before last summer, but I just couldn't do it when we had lots of project at the house that needed to be done. I told him while we were in Wa. that if he could get the kitchen done, get Tay a bed, and do something with our weed field on the side of the house I would be fine with him getting a dirt bike. We have only been home a little over a week and he already has two of the three done! Thanks babe, you've been working so hard!

Big Girl Bed

So this is Taylee's new "big girl" bed...

I love it! I think it so girly and cute and as you can see, she won't outgrow it for a very long time!

She was promised a big girl bed as soon as we got back from Wa. and her daddy delivered! She was so excited about it and has been telling everyone. I have been searching and searching for bedding so I can do her room now, but have been having such a hard time finding something I love. If anyone has any good suggestions of websites or stores to go to I would love some help. I am even considering finding cute fabric to make a duvet or something, but any ideas would be great!

Tay's Last Day at the Hospital

Technically this was not her "last" day at the hospital cause she still had her surgery coming, but as for routine visits we have been doing for the past 5 1/2 months, this was the last one. Tay, this is for you to see all the things you had to do and to see how brave and strong you were. We got to spend lots of time together and I know you and I will have a special bond because of this. I am so proud of you and so happy to be all done!

Taylee's "tummy tickle" or as big people call it, her ultrasound. You didn't mind this part too much cause you got to lay on your back for most of it and watch a show. It didn't hurt at all, but was gooey and tickly so you were so good to hold real still and let them get a good look inside your belly.

Getting your "tubee". As you can see by your face, this wasn't your favorite part. The nurses were so quick and tried so hard to distract you with shows and bubbles and toys, but you knew that tubee was coming. We put "lotion" or numbing cream on before we got to the hospital, but they said you could still feel the pressure of the poke, but I think maybe it still hurt a little when they stuck it in. Once it was in, you did much better. You even helped the nurse push in the different things to flush your tubee and keep your blood flowing. Once again, you were very brave!

Tay's little face is so pathetic don't you think? What little girl should have to do something that makes her face look like that?

Waiting to talk to the doctor. This was the "balls". One of you favorite things to play with while we waited.

Still waiting.....

Getting checked out by the doctor. This was Dr. Ehling. She was a great doctor. She waited and waited to get a smile out of Tay, and by the end of the visit, she got one!

This is Deb our schedualist. Mom talked with her lots on the phone setting up all your appointments and we would stop by and see her after every visit. Deb always had a new toy or candy to give you and loved when we would stop by.

This is the pig bench outside of "Whale 6" where we parked and went in every time we came to the hospital.

So happy to have that day behind us!

Trip to Vancouver, WA

Aaron's brother Micah and his wife Nancy live over in Vancouver so Aaron, Tay and I and Danny and Makay and Addi and Isaac and Nathan all went to visit a couple week-ends ago. We had such a great time! Nancy fed us well and the entire week-end was packed with stuff to do. It was really nice to actually feel like we got away. Thanks for having us you guys, we had a blast.

We got there late Fri night and sat up and talked. We also checked out their house that they recently bought.

Sat. morning we got up and went to what we were told was a "walk" but ended up being a hike. It wasn't bad at all and the sights were beautiful. Good thing Aaron and Danny have strong shoulders to carry two little two-year-olds the entire way.

Hikin' it

This is the water going "super fast".

Aaron and Tay outside the cave.

Three boys bums... going in the cave. Tay and Addi were brave and went with their dads, while Nancy, Makay and I (and Isaac) decided to do with out the spiders.

Finishing the hike.

After the hike we went to a fish hatchery and found a picnic table to eat lunch. We walked around the "fish zoo" as Taylee called it until we heard the thunder and decided to walk back to the car. We definatly did not walk fast enough because we got caught in the worst down pour I have ever been in and were totally drenched when we reached the car 20 secs. later. We dried off on our way to the outlet malls and did some shopping. That's where Tay and Addi found the boat. Then that night we ate gourmet pizza and played games. Thanks for a great week-end!

Too Much TV!

Jenni caught this picture of Jacey, Broden and Taylee snuggeling. As cute as it is, it is just a sad reminder of how much tv Taylee has watched since we have lived at Grandma's. Maybe that is what is inspiring her crazy imagination (see below). I feel like such a bad mom cause I know she shouldn't be sitting in front of the tv so much, it is just hard finding enough to do to keep the day full when you aren't at your own house with any of your own things. Fortunatly for Taylee's brain, and my conscience, we are going home soon. We are grateful for good company though!

Super Fast Runner Girl

Introducing...... Super Fast Runner Girl!

"I'm gonna win da race."

My daughter has quite the personality as you can see! I was making dinner and up Taylee came with this get-up on and was striking poses like this over and over. We all got a good laugh! Anyways, who wouldn't be able to run super fast with shoes that are too big, a backwards headband and a polka dot belt?! You're the best Taylee!

The One Side Effect

The chemotherapy Taylee has been on is supposed to come with some pretty major side effects. Most likely kids experience sore jaws and legs. They get clumsy and have trouble walking, low energy from low blood counts often resulting in blood transfusions, constipation, nausea, trouble grasping and of course, hair loss. We have pain medicine, anti-nausua medicine, stool softeners and so on and have barely needed to use any of them. Why can't they come up with an anti-hair loss medicine?? From these pictures you can see she still has hair, but it is so so thin. She bonked her head on my parents BBQ the other day and you could actually see the scrape on her head. Good thing she is two and has no idea that she has less hair and could care less. Lacey requested these pictures to show how much hair she has left.

I thought I would also add in some updated pictures of her belly all healed up. I know I posted pictures of her scar right after surgery, but I think it is good to see how well she has healed. The surgeon did such a good job!

Spring Fair

I had only been to the Spring Fair a couple times, but I didn't remember it being so much less of a fair then it is in the fall. We did still get to get a taste of all the best stuff though!

Makay and I took Addi and Tay late afternoon and tried to get them to ride as many rides as we could get them on. I thought they would be nervous, but they wanted to ride everything they saw. Unfortunatly, they aren't quite tall enough yet, but we were able to sneak them on two rides anyways. These crazy girls walked all the way up to the top of this slide with me following behind. I thought they were going to take off without me!

Makay took them on this roller coaster and they were so unafraid I say them putting their arms up in the air.



This was the one ride they were actually allowed to go on and they loved it too. I think they rode it three times.

The other best part of the fair is the food. Now they are sharing boring french fries, but I had just scarfed down a Krusty Pup. Those of you who are from Puyallup know what that is and how yummy they are. I meant to get a caramel apple or an elephant ear before we left, but we did something a little crazy instead.

This is the 15oft sling shot ride they have at the fair.

Who do you think is crazy enough to ride this ride? Me or Aaron?

Makay is the other passenger and doing this was her crazy idea!

The guys met up with us after work and ate dinner with us and then watched the kids as Makay and I, yes me, got shot up into the air and bounced around like crazy. Don't tell Makay, but I had my eyes shut for the beginning! I am not quite as daring as she is!! I did finally open my eyes and I have to say this was so much fun even if I was screaming the whole time.