Sentimental

I guess I'm more sentimental then I thought. This Jessi doll was Kelsi's most favorite toy when she was 4 years old. Back then, Woody's round up gang from Toy Story 2 were as popular as Bella and Edward from 'Twilight' are now.
When Kelsi grew older, she let her younger cousin borrow Jessi. But when her cousin was done with it, I was sure that Kelsi would want to keep it somewhere special. She just laughed at me--'mom, why would I want to save a doll?' she said. So, we compromised on taking a picture, which she eventually agreed to.

Ah, mom!

'OK fine, take the picture'
(Kelsi)
Maybe some day she'll thank me,
or maybe I'm just being overly sentimental.

Sam thought Jessi was pretty cool, and even let her ride 'horse'.
He played with her for a couple days, and then he was done.
So now Jessi is gone, and I fear that
I'm the only one who is sad about it.

Dinosaur!

About once a year we go to
the Dinosaur Museum
at Thanksgiving Point.
This year we went on Martin Luther King Day.
It was crowded, but still fun. I think Sam had the most fun.
(Sam, Jacob, Karissa, Kelsi)

Sam said his most favorite part was
digging for dinosaur bones at the end.
(Jacob, Sam)

Dig out those bones boys!
(Jacob, Sam)

Sam, Jacob

Look what we did!
(Jacob, Sam)

Jacob's favorite part was building
in the sand and water table.

Sam, Karissa

Roll up those sleeves!
(Kelsi, Karissa, Sam)

Ride that dinosaur!
(Sam)

Jacob

Karissa

Help!
(Kelsi, Sam)

Future Missionary!

I hope they call me on a mission!

When I have grown a foot or two.

I hope by then I will be ready,
to teach and preach and work
as missionaries do.
'Elder Sam Taylor'

Happy New Year--2009!

We had 2 parties this new years--
it was our cousin, Kaitlyn's birthday!
Fun times at Kaitlyn's birthday party.
Jacob got to be the 'mummy' in the party game.
(Alyssa, Makayla, Jacob, Hayley, Matthew, Jeffery, Kelsi)

Karissa and Sam sorting out the treasure
from the treasure hunt at Kaitlyn's party.

We celebrated the New Year in Cache Valley...
...at the Johnson's and Hiatt's!
(Bryan, Mindy, Lisa
Brad, Kristi, Julie)

Sam

Karissa, Hayley, Kelsi

Jacob, Blake

Christmas Day 2008!

CHRISTMAS DAY 2008!

Bryan got right to work with the new sewing maching
we got for Christmas.
(Bryan, Karissa)

Bryan sewed some great outfits for
Karissa and Kelsi's new American girl dolls.
(Bryan, Karissa)

And Jacob got right to work building
his Lego Ferris Wheel that he got for Christmas.
Wow! Great job Jacob!

We went to Grandma Blake's for Christmas dinner
(Kristi, Grandma Blake, Mindy, Julie, Lisa)

Alan, Josh, Grandpa Blake, Bryan, Dave, Brad

So happy together!
Blake, Jacob

'The 3 Musketeers'
(Hayley, Kelsi, Karissa)

So fun to see our cousins!
(Melanie, Alyssa, Kaitlyn, Sam, Makayla)

Yeah! Alyssa gets to come to my house!

Our cousins came up for Pizza!
Pizza and Bread sticks are Sam's favorite.
(Sam, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Melanie)

CHRISTMAS MORNING 2008!

Yahoo! It's Christmas Morning!
The kids woke us up at 6:00am,
ready for some Christmas Fun!

"Wow! The reindeer ate the food we left!" -Sam

Anxious and ready to see what Santa brought!

Santa brought Sam "Biscuit" --a 'fur real friend' dog!

Santa brought Jacob a Lego Creator!

Santa brought Karissa an American Girl Doll.

Santa brought Kelsi, "Emily", an American Girl Doll.

Sam's buffalo webkinz was his favorite surprise from Santa.

Bryan got Mindy the "Twilight" books!
Bryan was the most surprised about this!

(Mindy, Bryan)

Mindy got Bryan an electric toothbrush!

Let's open Presents!

Fun Stuff!

Grandma Blake gave Kelsi a special
Madame Alexander doll---"Anne of Green Gables"

Grandma Blake gave Karissa a special
Madame Alexander doll--"Mary Quite Contrary"

CHRISTMAS EVE WITH GRANDPARENTS

We had lots of fun spending Christmas Eve with Grandparents!
(Sam, Jacob, Grandpa Blake, Kelsi, Grandma Blake, Karissa)

Jacob played some great Christmas music for us!

It's always fun when Grandpa comes!
(Grandpa Blake, Sam)

Grandma Taylor made us an awesome Gingerbread house!
(Karissa, Grandma Taylor, Kelsi)

WOW!--that's some house!
(It had lights and everything)

(Sam, Grandma Taylor, Jacob)