Hi everyone, it's me Troy. Jaynee has been more than a little busy lately. What with her new calling as the primary president in the ward, the holidays, and Caleb's birthday, she hasn't had time to sit down let alone update the blog. So I told her that I would be her "ghost writer" this time and get it caught up on a busy month of December, and the last part of November. So, if you can bear with the poor gramor and scattered thoughts, (remember, I was edg-a-ma-cated at Wasatch High) you'll get a look at what happened in a month that was a lot of fun for your family. Oh, and be grateful that this blog has a spell checker or this would be painful to read!!
THANKSGIVING (Nov. 25-27)
Thanksgiving is always a holiday look forward to at our house for more than one reason. One is it marks the "official" start of the holiday season. The house gets decorated, Christmas music is on 24/7, and the kitchen always smells of great food and awesome treats. We had Thanksgiving dinner at our house with Jaynees mom and dad, and Leah, Wyatt and Garrett here from Idaho, (we did miss Keri and Pete, they were in a car crash the day before they were to fly out from Seattle and were not able to make it) to celebrate with us. I was able to play in the annual "Turkey Bowl", thanks Kam Brown for the invite. And the best part was no injuries! Then home to get the turkey in the dutch oven. Dutch oven turkey is the best, I learned how to cook this while on the deer hunt and it has become tradition. This year we even cooked Sue's cheesy potatoes in the dutch oven and man was that the best idea ever. We ate until we were stuffed, and then onto the couch to watch the Cowboys play, I must say Thanksgiving is awesome. It was fun to have the Golding's here and our kids love playing with the cousins and were so sad to see them leave. The Friday after Thanksgiving starts early for Jaynee as she and her mom do some shopping. This year they left the house at about 4:30 a.m. I stay home and tend the kids, they say I'm not tuff enough to go. But they go and love every minute of it, I think that they are a little crazy. p.s. if you look at Sara, it's been one week since the wreck on here scooter, and she is already back to 90%! It's so amazing how fast kids bounce back from an injury, if that had been me, I'd been out of commission for a month. Thanks to all that send cards and gifts, for the prayers and the uncles that helped with the blessing. Sara knows that it's because of the blessing that she healed so fast.
Now I know how this looks, I did cook the turkey. They are in the two covered dutch ovens. Jaynee is cooking some bacon..........Mmmmm, bacon!! The bacon went into the mix for the potatoes that were cook in the middle oven.
Now that is some good eating.
THE GINGER BREAD HOUSE (Nov. 30)
Jaynee brought home a kit for a ginger bread house, and the kids were so excited to put it together. I know this is against everything that the Guinns believe in (buying a kit) but is was so slick and easy, plus it only took an hour instead of all night. Only one problem, Caleb wanted to eat all the candy, and it was a full time job keeping the candy on the house and out of his mouth. but we finally told him that if he would leave it alone that once Christmas was over he could eat all the candy of the house as he wants.
PICTURES OF THE GRAND KIDS (Dec. 7)
We (of course when I say "we" I mean my Sisters) had Summers friend take pictures of all the Taylor grand kids to send to Grandma Taylor and Grandpa Bob in Hawaii, and all I can say is, wow! She earned here money! That many kids together was pure caous. But with a some patients and a photographer that knows how to run photo shop, we ended up with a dang nice picture to send to Grandma. And me being the armature that I am snapped some of the kids.
I know nothing about photo shop, and so this is the best one of the bunch that I took.
THE TAYLOR FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY (Dec. 12)
What can be said about the annual Taylor family Christmas party? It's more than a party it's also part family reunion. It's is so much fun to see all the family, aunts, uncles, and cousins. And what a crew, Aunt Janine rents out the BYU cabin in Sundance just to hold us all. (It won't hold us all much longer.) It's a big old party full of games, hugs and handshakes, catching up on the new, reliving stories from the past, and of course food. this year we had the Taylor Olympics. I was able to compete in the equestrian event, Jaynee and Dale were teamed up for the team long jump, Ben and Sara competed in swimming, and Caleb the javelin throw. We all sat and laughed as we made major fools of our selves, but that's the point of the whole thing and we loved every minute of it. Then we had a visit from Santa and the kids lined up and sat on his lap and got a chance to ask for something completely different from what they wrote to him in their letters that they sent at the beginning of the month. Oh well, what can you do but laugh and hope Santa can make last minute adjustments! Thanks to Aunt Janine for all that she does to make this party special and fun for all. We love coming and seeing everyone there.
That's me in the middle, I got homered by the freaking French judge and took home the bronze! USA! USA! USA! USA!
Here are the kids with the man in red.
Here is Ben doing his best "freestyle" stroke.
Not sure what Sara is supposed to be doing, but she is having a blast.
Caleb wasn't able to medal, but later he was able to "collect" enough medals that even Michael Phelps would be jeoulos!
THE SNOW BLOWER (Dec. 13)
Well, at Thanksgiving I broke down and bought a snow blower. I've said that the day I buy a snow blower it would never snow in Heber Valley again. And for a while it look like I was going to be right, and Chad was so glad that I was. But I could only hold the snow off for so long and then it came, and man oh man am I glad I have that wonderful machine!! Merry early Christmas to me!
Look at the snow fly! And my back doesn't hurt one bit. Take that mother nature.
Caleb is my best helper, but on the first snow of the season, he was having to much fun to help, oh to be a kid again!
CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS, AND CALEB'S B-DAY (Dec 24-Jan 1)
This is the best time of the year. Christmas eve starts with the traditional sledding with the kids in the park, then home to get ready to go to the cemetery. The kids drew pictures and wrote letters on luminaries for Grandpa. We met the family at Grandpas grave, it's so cool on Christmas eve, lots of people with candles and luminaries, the cemetery really looks neat. Then back home for Christmas dinner, the reading of the Christmas story, and getting ready for the "big guy" to come. Christmas morning started early (6 a.m.) it's so much fun to see the excitement on the kids faces and the light in their eyes, it truly is a magical day! Well Santa came and it seams like he dumped most of his sack in our basement! Sara got a new American Girl Doll. Ben, football pads, and Caleb got everything Star Wars. Then the kids opened a gift for the family and what do you know, Rock Band! It really was a rockin' Christmas! Jaynee's parents came up in the snow storm and spent the day with us. It's always fun to have Nanny and Poppy around. We ate quiche and pull-a-parts (family traditional Christmas breakfast), watched movies, played the Wii, and had a wonderful day. Got to talk to Grandma and Grandpa Bob in Hawaii, what a switch! The missionary shoe is on the other foot now and mom got a chance to see what all us missionaries went through on Christmas. We are so proud of our missionaries, and even though we miss them we know that they are doing great things and wouldn't want them home........tell it's time to come home. The rest of the holiday was filled with lazy days, parties and hanging out with family and friends, seriously, we didn't leave the house for two plus days! New years has become a big deal at our house. Caleb has his birthday that day and we have a big party with all the family that will come to the house. We are getting it down and each year it gets bigger and better. We even had fireworks this year! Thanks to every one that came and made it a night to remember! Happy 2009!!
Christmas eve at the cemetery. Now whats odd about this picture......all the kids are looking at the camera, but what are the adults doing? Pay attention people.
Excited kids on Christmas eve.
Sara with Julie.
Ben's first fitting for football pads.
Caleb and his Clone Trooper helmet. Doesn't he look like a bobble head doll?
Sara's first I-pod.
Ben and his Nerf dart gun,
Caleb with his new train.
Ben is ready to suit up for.........well any team that he can get on. He just wants to hit someone.
The boys with their candy leis from Hawaii
Caleb is so into Star Wars we may need an intervention..........and the kids only 4.
Sara and Carly with some of the gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Bob.
Happy birthday Caleb! And Happy New Year!
SLEDDING WITH POPPY (Jan 3)
Now this has become one of the kids favorite things to do during the winter months. We go to Nanny and Poppy's and he hooks the sled up to his 4 wheeler and pulls the kids around the big field behind his house. The kids can ride that thing for hours, and even our dog Reese love to go for a ride. Thanks Poppy!
Watch out here they come.
The kids with Reese, and Sara is holding Koda, Nanny and Poppy's new dog.
The kids ride so long you need to change drivers.
Caleb on his blow up X-wing fighter sled, thanks Laursens! It even sounds like an X-wing when it goes on the snow.
VISIT WITH GREAT GRANDMA EDWARDS (Jan 11)
We took the kids down to visit with Grandma Edwards tonight. It's so much fun to visit with her. Especially if you can get her talking about growing up and her early years of marriage and how differant the town of Charelston was before the build Deer Creek Dam. the kids were running around and making Grandma laugh, and a good time was had by all. I did get the kids to settle down enough to snap this photo of them with their Great Grandma Edwards.
Thanks for the visit Grandma, we love you.
Well, I think that we are all caught up on what is happening with the Taylor's, thanks for being forgiving with my first attempt to ghost write for Jaynee. She should be back on track and taking control of her blog soon.
Holy crap this blogging is hard work, and I think I'ved earned a 44 oz. Diet Coke from Mavirck! See ya soon, and as a wise missionary once told me on my mission.
Love, peace, and chicken grease! Troy
We went to the Draper Temple Open House the first week of February. It was such a great experience to be able to take our children and walk through the temple. Their favorite part was the beautiful Celestial Room with it's HUGE chandelier. They also loved the murals that were on the walls in the ordinance rooms. I hope we'll be able to take them to other temple open houses...
We are so grateful for the little things that our Grandmas & Grandpas, Aunts & Uncles, and cousins do to let them know how loved they are. We count all of them as blessings!
Caleb right now is all about Star Wars. From everything he can use to turn into a "Light Saber"...pencils, tire pressure gauges, the meat thermometer, you name it...to where he likes to sleep at night to what he wants to play all day....it's all about Star Wars! 
