What am I doing?

So I feel that I have so many things to do and not enough time to do them (only ten more shopping days left until the big guy in red comes!!) When I think that I am close to being done for Christmas, something else pops up, ugh!! I really need to think of what the real reason of Christmas is for- right? It is really fun with the kids this year. We have hit almost every Santa that comes to town. Kaden asks for everything that he can possibly think of and Katelynn just smiles and gives Santa a big hug. Last Saturday, Aaron had the opportunity to shop with a 10 year old girl and a 8 year old boy for presents. The plumbing supply company sponsored it and each child received 100 dollars. He said that both of the children and many others were thinking of gifts not for themselves, but for their siblings or parents. What a moving experience. The two children that were with Aaron stated that they needed coats b/c theirs were either to big (the little boy was wearing his father's) or too cold. WOW! I could not believe that! I am so blessed to be able to provide a warm home, warm coats, and food for my children. I also feel amazed that children are so selfless that they think of others and not just themselves. I guess that is why Jesus Christ taught us to be like little children. I hope through out this holiday season, we may think of those less fortunate than ourselves and really thank Heavenly Father for the blessings he has given to us-

October in a Nut Shell

I can't believe that October was here and gone; and November is half-way gone!! I still have to think to write 2008 instead of 2007. WEIRD!! So Katelynn had her 2nd birthday on the 18th. We had a Circus themed birthday. We had a cotton candy machine, a bubble machine and I made a two tier cake shaped like a circus tent. That was challenging!!! But I think that she loved her birthday. She really knows how to blow out the candles. She is so cute. Some of the gifts that she received were a baby, a stroller and princess heels. And so all she does all day is clomp around in the heels while pushing her stroller with the baby in it. Now I am making the final touches on Kaden's party. Remind me never to have another child with in the October-early November months. Kaden's is going to be a pirate birthday theme. We actually just got back from vacation. We went on a cruise for 4 days and then saw a Miami dolphins football game. We also went and saw old friends from Boca Raton, Florida. It was very fun, but very tiring with the kids. But Kaden actually turned 5 on the ship. He is so excited to celebrate his birthday for the second time. He is so funny. In between birthdays- there was Halloween!!! Kaden was a dragon and Katelynn was Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz) and a chicken (she was a chicken on the night of Halloween b/c it was cold) As you can see- very busy- But I don't think that I could function any way else???

Crazy days-

I think that I should not have any hair left in my scalp! These past weeks have been CRAZY!!! (Sorry Nat for not doing anything this last Wednesday, October will be better) I have been completing Katelynn's invites for her b-day and Gingers invites for her baby shower, which if you did not know, she is having a baby girl!! I am so excited for her. I am also putting together Christmas gifts. It has been insane. Gena, my sister, gave us quite a scare last Monday. She had a stroke while in her sleep. She woke up and she could not see out of her right eye. She attempted to get out of bed and her right side was paralyzed. She went to the ER and they did an MRI. The clot was gone, but there was damaged to the occipital lobe. She started to get feeling back into her arm and leg and she is able to see out of her eye, but we found out that she has a atrial septal defect. She has had it all of her life and never knew it. Ginger will get tested probably after the baby is born. But it is hereditary so... Gena was so lucky, the clot could have went anywhere in her brain. She was looked after by someone up there:)...I have been thinking more lately with the events that have taken place these last weeks and I have to say that life is so fragile. You do not know when it will be your time. I can't imagine being with out my sisters, and my family for that matter. I have learned that you need to tell them that you love them every chance that you get because there may not be a second chance.

So my little boy is getting bigger!

Kaden has just completed his first day of preschool! He learned the letter A. Thanks to Aunt Ginger and Aunt Gena for teaching him!! He also went to tumbling this week. He is so excited to become a big boy. We also went the the South East Idaho Fair this last weekend. It was hot, but it was a blast. There was a kids tractor pull that Kaden entered in and he was the only 4 year old that made it to the second round!!! I think that we ate everything in site- including the cotton candy. This Saturday, we are taking Kaden to the demolition derby. He can hardly wait. It will be a mommy-daddy-Kaden day. I can't believe that summer is over- it was 40 degrees when I woke up this am. Fall is here, but winter is coming:(

6 LONG years- J/K

On Sunday, Aaron and I celebrated 6 years of marriage. Time has not been on my side. I feel that we have just started to get to know each other:) But then I look at Kaden and think that he is almost 5. And that I had to have been married for that long:) I love Aaron so much more now then on my wedding day. They say that if your marriage survives a remodel/home building, then you have a strong relationship. SO we must have an extra strong relationship b/c we have built two houses and are planning our third. Last night Aaron and I discussed that our marriage is not at a stand still, we have to keep working at it. But he did also say that we are getting the hang of each other. He is so right! Honey, Happy Anniversary- I LOVE YOU-

Aaron is the big 29!!!

So my cute, adorable, and sometimes frustrating husband is 29!! He says that he is only 28. But if you do the math, he is really 29. Aaron is the best!! Yes and he even does laundry (Sorry ladies, he is taken). Kaden and Katelynn can't wait until their daddy comes home from work each night. He works very hard so that I can be a stay at home mom. He takes pride in his home and yard and he really does know what I am thinking about or asking for before I can say it:). And I think one of the most important things that he does for me and the kids is show that he loves his Father in Heaven. I am very grateful to find a man who lives his life so he is worthy to hold the priesthood. We love you honey!!! We hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

I can SEE 20/20!!

It is a miracle. It was so scary though. After it was said and done, my eyes felt like they were on fire, that I went through a sand storm with both eyes open, walking 100 miles. It was so awful that I questioned my reasoning of why I did this. But after 4 hours of this excruciating eye pain (From what I can remember, I think that it is close to childbirth with an epidural:) ), it got better, and my vision was clearer. While they were cutting my corneas, I had to concentrate on a red light. That was the hardest thing I had to do in my life. I was so scared to move, and it was so hard not to blink (I would not have been able to blink even if I wanted to because they put a device that held open the eye lid, but did anyone tell it to the nerves of my eye that send the impulses to my brain, NO!) I had to wear a shield for the rest of the day and night and I had to put in, and still have to put in, drops every hour. But I think it is so great to be able to walk to the bathroom w/o tripping over pillows, or look at the clock at night. I had the wave front technology, which is the custom lasik. This is suppose to reduce the halos at night etc, but it has not worked yet. I think that I expected perfect vision right from the start, but the Dr. stated that I need to be patient. The eyes are swollen, my corneas have just been cut, and the lenses have been re-contoured. But you all know me and I am not a patient kind of person. I had an appointment at the eye institute the next day and they said that I could see 20/20. I was so shocked. They stated that it is a little unusual to see that well the 1st post-op day, but be prepared to have your eyes regress a little. Then as the lenses heal, they will go back, hopefully. There is a 18 month enhancement agreement, so I am not worried. But if I get pregnant, it is voided. I don't think I have anything to worry about in that area, Aaron is still dead set on just 2. But looking back on the bad and the good- It is sooooo worth it. I recommend it to everyone. As soon as I them back, I will show you all the exciting "throwing away of the broken glasses pics". Oh and another thing, I was able to find some way cute post-op sunglasses!!!!

Surgery

So Katelynn broke my glasses last week!! I was in the shower, and some how she managed to get them from the counter. All I heard was "Uh-oh, Mommy." I cleared the soap from my eyes and peeked out and she had them in two pieces!!! I could not believe it. SO I called the eye institute that day and they scheduled me today (at 1:30) for lasix! I am a little nervous, but VERY excited. Hopefully all will be well. These past weeks have been molded into one- it seems like. I BYU-I finished with classes two weeks ago and my grades are put in. Now I can enjoy 4 weeks of a much deserved break. We went Jet-skiing last weekend. I wanted to go because you cannot swim for a month after you have the procedure done. The kids loved every minute of it. Katelynn is going to be my dare devil child, I am afraid. On Monday, my mom took the kids and I to the open house of the Twin Falls LDS Temple. It is very similar to the Rexburg Temple. I feel blessed to be able to live in such close proximity to three temples ( 15 minutes away, 1/2 hour away, and now 2 1/2 hours away). This valley has been blessed! Anyways- I hope to be able to see this afternoon with out glasses!! I will have to take pictures. We will all have to wait and see.

B-day Girl!

So it is a fact that it is my birthday. I am one year older, but I don't know if I am wiser:) I don't know about you, but I feel that I should still be going on the bus and going to the high school. That I should be turning 16 and getting ready for my first date. But then I glance down at my children and that pushes me back into reality. Every birthday, I get sentimental and look at my life. Take stock, so to speak. There are things that I want to change, be more patient with my children and husband. I think of other people in the world and I am very blessed to have my loved ones around me. I am also blessed to live in this time of the world, to be able to have the freedoms which we take for granted. So... I am officially older and hopefully this year will be even better than the last!

Finally, I developed some pics-

When we first came to the circus...

After a while- We had to get out the BIG blanket

(Uncle Owen, Aunt Gena, and Eli went with us)

Katelynn loves cotton candy!!!

Kaden and his beloved slide!

Did you find them?

Here are the promised pictures- they include the cold day at the circus and Kaden on his new swing set! Also included in this blog is when we went to a Chuckars game on my father's B-Day. The Idaho Falls Chuckars are the minor league baseball team in I.F. Kaden loves to go and watch them and then they let all the children run the bases after the game has ended. Can you find Kaden? Hint: He is on Aaron's shoulders :)

Kaden's Blog

I have to dedicate this blog to Kaden. He is our comic relief. This last week, he was extra ordinarily funny. I have to share a couple of instances with you:

- Kaden is such a smarty pants. One day I asked him if he would spell his name out on the fridge (we have letter magnets) Well, he said that he could not and that he was to tired to do this. I dropped the kids off at Gena's house (my sister) and when I came to pick them up, his name was spelt backwards on her fridge (she also has letter magnets). I asked her if she did it and she said that Kaden had done it (NEDAK)!

- We went to a dinner party and the kids went with us. There were cream puffs with do-it-yourself pudding. Well, Kaden wanted more, of course, and he asked me if he could have more. I stated to him that he could have a little bit more. He said, "Could I have alot bit more?" It was so hard not to give him as much chocolate pudding as he wanted.

- As we all know, it was Father's Day on Sunday, and Kaden was excited to give his daddy his presents. After Kaden sang, "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home", and "My Daddy is my favorite pal" (We practiced these song everyday for the last week, he did so well even without mom's help) and gave Aaron his card, Kaden turned to Aaron and I and said, "When is it Big Brother Day?"

Without Kaden, life would be not as funny, loving, or trying. He is my love-bug.

1st Warm Day of the Season

Sad but true, this is the ONLY (May) day that it has been warm enough to play in the water. Kaden and Katelynn are joined by Uncle Owen and cousin Eli

Katelynn trying to drink

Uncle Owen, Katelynn and Kaden

Fun day at the circus

Last night we went to the circus!! It was so fun and sooo COLD!! Both Kaden and Katelynn had on four layers and a blanket!! We had 30-40 mph winds blowing and on top of it it snowed last night. I thought this was summer- Kaden loved the elephants and the poodles. When asked if he wanted to ride the elephants, he replied, "NO WAY" He cracks me up!! Katelynn enjoyed eating the cotton candy and the popcorn (Yes, Aunt Gena and Aunt Ginger, we brushed and flossed afterwards!) Kaden could not wait to tell everyone about the circus. He had to call Aunt Ginger and Grandma and Grandpa while we were driving home. Aaron's favorite part was the tightrope walkers. It was sure interesting to see them try to keep their balance with the wind. We had a great time being together. Pictures will be posted as soon as I figure that part out:)

About Us

Since this is my first post, I will introduce the Taylor family to the "world". Our family began on August 10th 2002. Aaron and I met on a blind date and were engaged three months later. I am a nurse and he is a plumber. We enjoy spending time with our families and friends. I love to think of crafts for the house and to shop. The trick to shopping is to shop the sales :). I am the youngest of five children. Aaron is the middle child of five children. Both of our families live near and it is great to have Grandma's and Grandpa's close by. Kaden was born on November 11th 2003. He is a very thoughtful little boy. He is a rough and tumble kid, however. He loves race cars and tractors. I just finished his room and the theme is trains, planes, and automobiles. I will show pictures as soon as I figure out how to! Katelynn is Daddy's little girl. She is all girl. She was born on October 18th 2006. She was early and a surprise. We did not find out what we were having, but I thought we were having another boy. Was I WRONG or what?!! She is all girl, she loves to play with dolls and look at books. But when her Brother is bothering her, she will take a bite out of him! Yes, she is a bitter. What holds our family together is our love for each other and for our Savior, Jesus Christ. As I have mentioned in my "about me", we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The church is a big part of our lives. I am grateful that we have the opportunity one day to live as an eternal family.

SO... I will start to write about our lives and the interesting things that happen-