Farting Games

Tonight Cole was teaching the kids the hand slapping games, where one person places their hands in the palms of the second person. The second person tries to slap the first person's hands... Well anyway, he taught them a second game where you stand with your arms outstretched and palms together. The second person stands facing you with their hands at their sides, they then try to slap your hands before you move them.... Anyways... Shyler and Easton were playing each other and Shyler went to smack Easton's hands and suddenly...Pphhhht!  Cole and I just started laughing so hard. Cole's face went so red, and he couldn't breathe..haven't seen him laugh so hard in a while...so funny.  So grateful that our family can have fun/funny nights like tonight.

Love Day 2013

We chose to stay home this year and make Valentines Day a family event.  The kids helped me set the table while Cole and I cooked.  Pink mashed potatoes and steak and cherry 7-up.  Pretty basic, but the kids loved it.

Ok, this isn't Valentines Day...but still, an actual picture of Cole and I.  It's pretty rare. ha

Go Green! Go White! Go Wolves- Fight Fight!

Took Grandpa T to the UVU Wolverines Mens Basketball Game last night.  He had such a good time and we loved spending the time with him and creating great memories.  I'm worried about him now that Grandma is gone, I want to make sure he knows that we are all there for him and love being with him.  His favorite part was watch the band play- they had some great drummers in full green body suits. I don't know why I didn't think to take a picture! But you can see them behind and below Shyler in the video.

Shyler even got to dance with the wolverine mascot...

 

My Grandmother

My Grandmother

Ronella Helquist Taylor
November 10, 1932 - February 12, 2013

Helquist Family- My Grandpa Clip and Grandma Ronella were newleyweds (back left)

Clip and Ronella Taylor and their children- Kendall, Catherine, Sharmayne, LaRayne and Anna

Taylor Family 2004-- Shyler was about 4 months old

Clip and Ronella Taylor

 My grandmother had beautiful handwriting.  She told me many times about how in school they had to practice their handwriting and that she even practiced for hours and hours on her own. Even at 80, it was beautiful, curvy and a work of art-each note she wrote.  She always had a pencil and piece of paper handy, to jot down a thought, or a number, or a quote she read.

When I was a little girl, I loved having sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We got to sleep in the bedroom upstairs and it was pretty cool to have our own room to sleep in.  I had a bit of a bed-wetting problem and Grandma always let me use the "Magic Spoon" at her house so I wouldn't wet the bed.  Grandma even brought me my own "Magic Spoon" to use at my house.  Somehow- that thing worked if I just rested it under my pillow at nights.  I never did ask her where that idea came from.

Grandma loved the color yellow.  Anything yellow brightened her day.  Tomorrow at the funeral, we'll each be wearing something with yellow just for her.  I picked out a bright yellow scarf that I know she will love. :)

Living just a few blocks away these past 10+ years has been such a blessing.  This summer and fall, Shyler and her good friend spent many afternoons down at Grandma and Grandpa's house just hanging out and enjoying Grandpa's peeled apples, while Grandma shared stories with them. I could stop by frequently just to say hello.

I miss her.  I found out just 2 weeks ago just how badly her heart had gotten.  It just couldn't do the necessary work anymore.  Since it wasn't something they could fix- they decided to just take her home.  I went to see her almost every evening, and then every evening this last week.  Each night she got a little weaker.  Monday she just slept and slept. About 9:30, my mom called to tell me she had woken up.  I ran back down to see her.  I told her how much I love her, that I was going to miss her.   Tuesday afternoon after work, mom called me to tell me to come down, it was time.  I went over and joined the family gathered around her.  We told her how much we love her, kissed her, hugged her.  She couldn't respond anymore, but I know she wanted to.  Grandpa sat by her side holding and rubbing her hand and telling her it was ok.  We sang some hymns and talked.  Later that evening she slipped away.    I know she is ok.  I know she's not sad.  But I am so sad.  Death is so hard.  The way it makes you look back and wish you had spent more time sitting and talking.  More time appreciating the silly phonecalls and voicemails Grandma would leave, just because she forgot to tell us something.

Grandma was so strong in her faith.  She never wavered, never questioned, just wanted to share her happiness and her testimony.  I'm sure she never wavered on what was next for her.  She knew God's plan- she lived it all her life, and I'm sure she was ready for the next step. I hope that someday I can become like her, and as strong as her.

Tomorrow, Saturday, February 16, 2013- we will lay Grandma to rest.

"God Bless You 'Til We Meet Again"

Photo stories

Easton helping mommy with dishes...he was done after about 5 minutes...the magic wore off.

Table of memories at Uncle Lance's viewing. It still seems surreal.

Sunday we took the kids to try out the new shotgun Cole bought them for Christmas...it had a bad kick and after one shot, the kids didn't want anything to do with it...Easton just wanted to stick to shooting my .22.

Brought these flowers to my grandma, Ronella Taylor.  She's been pretty sick with some heart problems, and she loves yellow.

I tried to sneak a picture, because my grandpa Clip doesn't pose for pics much, but then I cut off his head anyway.. geesh.

Funny kids

My nephew Ryley had his 2nd birthday a week ago.. and he didn't seem to understand what we were telling him about blowing out the candle...

He got a blowup ball pit toy, and 8 cousins got in at once! We would have put the baby in, but it was already pretty packed!