Where have the Taylors Been!!!!

Well, we don't have a great excuse for not updating our blog!  Much like the rest of you we tend to stay busy and updating this blog moved way down on our priority list.  I think I, Erin, am updating it today because it is preventing me from crying in my bed all day since today was the first day of school for Samuel and Merideth and they both will now be at school ALL day EVERY day!!!

Here is a short list of where we have been since we were last in the blogging world:
Opening up Elevation Trampoline Park
Finishing up school
Holland
tennis camp
Mexico
art camp
Texas
turning 6!
Texas

The first day of school was a little heart wrenching...Samuel did great and is very excited, we love that! Merideth was a little nervous and overwhelmed and we hope she has a fun day and will want to go back next week.

3:40pm isn't coming fast enough so I can squeeze my kids!!!!!!

Samuel's First Grade Program

Samuel had his First Grade Music Program this week. They got to perform it twice in front of families and a few other classes. We thought all the students did great and really seemed to have fun. The program was all about the alphabet and how tricky it can be, it was fun, we never want to miss these moments!!

Beauty Night

Many of Merideth's dolls were in a great need of a beauty night...So as the boys spent a night at Monster Jam, monster trucks, us girls created a beauty night for Merideth's doll friends. We gathered most of her dolls that needed some sprucing up, changed their clothes, helped out their hair, then ended with a nice tea party. It was great fun! The before picture of the girls.

Voted worst hair, Heidi!

The display of clothing and shoe options.

Carly robed and ready for hair.

The ultimate doll hair help; wig brush and fabric softner. Note the ball of hair!

The beuties!!!

The after party! All were pleased with the outcome!

Merideth's 1/2 Birthday Celebration

Due to Merideth's August birthday her school is kind enough to celebrate her 1/2 birthday, sweet celebration. During chapel her teacher talks about what a blessing she is in their class; "Merideth is always sweet and happy." (one of the many things said about her. Then we have a treat in her classroom, share pictures of our family and what Merideth enjoys, and talk about what a blessing Merideth is in our home and what we like to do with her. It is a sweet time and Merideth felt very special.

Merideth joined the music teacher for a song.

Merideth chose chocolate crinkles and milk for the treat. We also brought "magic" straws that transform the milk into a flavor as you drink through it.

Happy 1/2 Birthday Merideth!

Marc and Samuel's Trip

Marc and Samuel got to take a little trip to New Orleans then to Sacramento. We are so grateful that they get to spend time together seeing new things and experiencing fun stuff!

Samuel in front of the French Market in New Orleans where they picked out some sweet gifts for their girls, Merideth and Erin.

On the street car.

Bourbon Street

New Orleans Hornets court.

Sacramento arena.

Samuel got to be Little Slamson in Sacramento and help Big Slamson defeat the other mascots in the wrestling ring.

Happy Valentine's Day and Beyond!!

Merideth and Erin got to take a little weekend trip to Dallas while Marc and Samuel took a whirlwind trip to New Orleans and Sacramento. Merideth had tons of fun entertaining Tanner and Dylan, they are super fun at 18 months!!

Merideth had a special Valentine's lunch with two of her best buds, Mason and Kate, at a tea room.

Grandma had a big spread ready for the kids to decorate cookies, so fun.

Samuel and Grandpa taking a break from cookies for a little reading.

Merideth's Valentine's party, so fun.

Samuel with his sweet friend Mason at their Valentine's party.

It was a nice afternoon after the day of parties so Samuel and Merideth set up their book club/library on the top of the swing set where they stayed through a snack and dinner! Erin had to convince them to come down as the sun was setting.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just Livin' Life!

Haven't had a ton to blog about recently...we are great and just livin' life. Elevation, the trampoline park, is still in the works, hope to be open in the next few weeks. Samuel had his last basketball game of the season today, it was a super fun season with great kids and coaches. Merideth has taken a couple of fun art classes which she loves, see art work below. We are great!
Merideth and the bear she decided to take to school for a teddy bear picnic!!

Winter scene. This day she learned about foreground and background.

3D snowflakes.

So ready to get back on track!!

The last couple of weeks, since winter break, have been...not crazy but continued to be off track. Merideth had her second set of tubes and her adenoids out on the 30th of December which made the first week back to school a little random. She went to school a little here and there because she wasn't feeling 100%. Then the next week, last week, Samuel got strep throat which made that week a bit off track with him being in school a little here and there also. So, hopefully after our holiday off today we will be back on track!

Merideth's surgery went great, she was a trooper and hopefully on her way to fewer ear infections. Samuel is almost 100%, he shoots hoops for 35 minutes at a time opposed to 45 minutes at a time.

Hopefully this week we will be back to school, guitar, basketball, gymnastics, church, etc. Merideth feeling pretty confident while she waits her turn!

Now in the gown, not so super confident...

Resting at home with Izzy.

Merideth new friends due to her surgery.

Happy New Year!! Can you believe it is 2012!

New Years day breakfast.

We had a great morning at church then hit the ice rink for some skating fun with our great friends, the Smiths!

Skating with daddy, no better place to be!

Gavin and Samuel, skating pros!

The Taylors and Smith kids!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and were blessed by the season with the amazing reminder of Christ's birth! We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of family and great memories. We celebrated the Advent season with two great families, we got together every Wednesday to help us focus on Jesus, it was a very special time. Marc's sister and family came in from Seattle to spend some time before Christmas, it was so great to see them! Marc's Uncle and wife and Grandmother came in from TX for a day, they are always fun to visit with! Erin's mom, sister and her family came in for Christmas, what a super fun time!

This year Santa brought a kitten to the kids, check out the video below to see how happy they were:

Here are some pictures from Christmas and surrounding activities, not in chonological order:

We had family pictures taken with Marc's sister's family and the Taylors!

Snow tubing downtown OKC.

The sun just starting to come up on Christmas morning!

Merideth with two of her sweet friends at her school Christmas program.

Tanner in his new chair.

Dylan sitting sweetly in his chair.

Family toes painted in Christmas colors, one of our Advent activities!

Merideth, Erin, and Grandma Taylor went to the Nutcracker!

We snuk into the Granpa and Grandma's house to set up a little tree while Grandpa was in the hospital.

Our Advent group of kids in their jammies on our last evening together.

Christmas Eve.

Merideth and Izzy.

Samuel and Izzy.

Thank you everyone for a great Christmas!!