Christmas 2008 - I'm finally caught up!

WE spent Christmas in Arkansas this year. We decorated the tree with Pop, saw Santa at the mall, wrote a letter to Santa and spent time with our family.












This is what happens when your the only child. Tons of presents. One of the items on the top of Maryssa's Christmas list was a purse with her name on it. She was so surprised when she opened the purses because we had told her we couldn't find one. I know we're mean!














Matching P.J.'s

Grandma and Bryan play Maryssa new Princess game with her and Lillie.

Christmas at the Taylor's.

Ava waited very patiently for Papa to get the barn out of the box. It's ridiculous how hard it is to get the toys out of the box.

We visited the cemetery on Christmas day too. Maryssa added a pink rose to Mimi's Christmas tree. After placing the rose she stepped back and sang Jingle Bells to Mimi. It was so sweet!

Thanksgiving 2008 - I've almost caught up! YEAH!

We met Bryan's family in Springfield, MO this year for Thanksgiving. The whole Taylor family was there - Bryan's grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins etc. My dad went with us. I'm so glad that he was asked to go with us and that he accepted. We had a great time visiting and catching up with everyone. I wish we would have gotten a picture of the whole group or at least all the grand kids and great grand kids with Grandpa Joe and Mom Taylor. I'll have to try and remember to do that next time.

We went to the Bass Pro Shop one evening after dinner. Maryssa and her cousin Lilly had a great time seeing the fish and all the stuffed animals.

Not the best picture, but aren't the cute. I just love these sweet girls!

Fall 2008 - and yes I'm still catching up =)

Tyler, Emma and Maryssa with their Great Grandmother. She's 98!

I took the kids ice skating at the Jones Center. I was surprised at how well Maryssa did. She started out holding on to the wall but eventually she let go and skated all on her own.!

I love the picture of Tyler and Emma skating hand in hand. So sweet!

My brother and his family came to Arkansas in November. While we were all here we took a trip to Silver Dollar City one day. Maryssa was exhausted by the end of the day. The picture of her sleeping is on the way home that evening.

We took two trips this fall. In September Maryssa and I took Bryan to St. Louis, MO for a late Father's day present and his birthday. We took him to see his favorite baseball team the St. Louis Cardinals. In October we went to Hot Springs, AR to attend our really good friends, Bill, wedding.

Yes I'm still catching up

Time with family

You've never seen two happier girls! They were both glad we were back home.

Still playing catch up

Ok this is a tear jerker so be ready. Maryssa drew a picture for Mimi one day and said she wanted to give it to her. Well I was a little taken back and couldn't quite find the words. Once I finally found some words I told her how sweet that was and asked her if she had any thoughts

on how we could give her the beautiful picture. She looked me in the eye and said we can take it where she's buried and God will come to get it and take it to her. So that's exactly what we did. We covered the picture with a plastic page cover and staked it to the ground with one of the bows off the flowers. She was so excited. A few days later we came back to the cemetery and the picture was gone. You and I know that the caretakers took it but she's convinced that God took it to Mimi. I just love her innocents. I wish I could keep her at age 5 forever!

Mom's funeral. I love the picture of Tyler bent over. He's looking in the hole. He's such a boy. Sorry if these pic's are weird for some of you.

Precious time with a precious woman. One of my favorite memories from the time we spent with my mother this spring was reading love letters that my grandmother and grandfather wrote to each other before they were married. We spent several hours sitting on the back deck reading, laughing, imagining and crying. I would not trade that time for anything in the world.

3 months is a long time to be away from your best friend! So on the way home from OK my friend Sheri stopped by for a few hours. We went to lunch and the girls even got to play for a little while. It was good to see our friends.