.

happy birthday my sweet Jane!!

2008-11-04T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is Jane!
Sporty Jane

Nice legs Jane

Thanksgiving Jane

Temple Jane

Great Mom Jane

Crafty Jane

I love you Jane!

Jumpsuits and Bongo Boards

2008-10-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

When I was 8-12, I liked two things more than anything. Riding my bike and skiing. We used to go with my Dad to Solitude on a weekday when it was $5. I had a red jumpsuit for skiing, that I loved, before nylon jumpsuits were cool. (these were the pre-gortex days when the tight, flared, stretchy pants were the rage, but I was a trendsetter.) I could slide down the slopes in that suit almost as fast as I could ski.

We moved back east when I was 15 where the best runs were equivalent to the "seasame street" run at Solitude. That is my excuse for not having mad skills in the backcountry or on the mogul field today. But, I still like to train for the season like a pro. I train on the bongo board like all serious skiing athletes. I also still enjoy jumpsuits.

I learned to ride a bike when I was 2....or so the story goes. When I was 8, my Dad bought me one of the first full-suspension bikes made. It is ("is" 'cause I still gots it and I still ride it with the kids) a Kawasaki brand bike. My dad took me down to Duff's to trade my Honda MR 50 in on that bad boy. I jumped big wheels, plastic swimming pools, friends, dogs...everything on that bike. Until, one day, my feet came off the pedals and I landed full force on the tear-drop shaped bar (point of the tear drop at the top), ouch-chy-mama. I still love to ride my bike.

May I have a fig newton, please?....Bonk

2008-05-31T10:47:00.001-07:00

I joined a group of cyclists heading out to Canyon Lake this am. I had not ridden this ride, but prepared for a 40-50 mile ride. The ride turned out to be 80 miles and the temp was quickly climbing to 100+. The ride was also filled with brutal climbs. Because I didn't take food, gu, gels, gatorade, or the like, I "bonked" big time about 1/2 way back. I managed to stay with the group up until we had 5 or 6 miles left, but at that point, I was done and peeled off the back and ducked into a CVS pharmacy.

I didn't have any $$, so I asked the clerk at the counter if he could spot me a drink. He couldn't accommodate, but called back to the supervisor, Steve. Steve came through and let me pick out a drink and snack. Coke and a Fig Newton were the selections. They tasted so good. (I'll have to drive by later and give Steve some $$ and a thank you card.)

I limped by home, jumped in the pool, (when I did my hammy cramped big time and I let out a yell that the neighbors heard I'm sure). Now I'm ready for a nap.

The scenery on the ride was beautiful. Too bad I was too dead to enjoy it.

I'm supposed to do a 100 miler from Park City, around Kamas, down through Heber Valley, over the Alpine loop, over Traverse mountain and up to Snowbird in August. We'll see if I can improve b/w now and then.

Summer Job List--get 'er done

2008-05-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

Job List—Summer 08

Before Lunch :
Make Bed
Shower
Scripture study (family and personal)
Breakfast
Brush teeth
Pick up dirty clothes, take downstairs
Clean clothes up and put away
Room cleaned
Zone (see below)

Zones:
Ally:
Upstairs Bathroom
Chase:
Family Room
Brooke:
Little girls room and bathroom
Brigham:
Entry, loft/exercise room, back patio
Brynn:
toy room and kitchen set
little girls closet

After Dinner
Dishes (boys odd; girls even)
Clean clothes up, dirty down
Brush teeth

Consequences for poor performance (not completing your jobs each day):

Ally—no phone (no more than 1,000 txt/month)

Chase—computer/TV/Video games

Brig— computer/TV/Video games

Brooke— computer/TV/Video games

Opportunities to earn $$$

Ally—Sell on Etsies / eBay (clothing lots, Christmas décor, stuff)

Chase—Sell on eBay (selling service) power wash, clean garage bathroom

Brooke—sell designs

Brigs—blowing leaves

Clocks, sheets and underwear

2008-04-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

Jane really enjoys April Fools Day. She makes a "silly" dinner for the kids every year and they love it. It takes some work on menus and food description as well as prep and clean up. See her blog for more details on this years I'm sure.

But from our first year married, she's been having her way with me (on April Fools Day). For the first few years, she set the clocks an hour earlier. I'd arrive at school or work an hour early and wonder where everyone was. This worked for a few years, then she went to short-sheeting the bed......very aggravating. After the sheets, she became a little more evasive and targeted my underwear; sewing the legs shut so when I stepped in, I was met with frustrating resistance. Not sure what is still in store for me this year, if anything.........hey, maybe that is the trick; I'm expecting something that really is not going to happen........arrrggghh! Now she really has me jumpy.

Later.

Spring Break

2008-03-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

The trip to Rocky Point, excuse me, Puerto Peñasco, (alt 164 to put the ~ above the n if you are interested) was a mixed bag for me. I was in charge of prep since Jane was in NYC with Liz. We decided to go ghetto and not rent a trailer, but take our Cargo trailor and our big tent and canopy to rough-it with all the RV'ers. With a fair amount of frustration, we head down the road early Saturday after Jane arrived 11:30pm on Friday.

We pull into PP in the afternoon. The route we took, carried us through the ugly part of town (think of a frat party mixed with Mardi Gras all on 4 wheelers and ATV's) making the kids bury their heads on a few occasions.

Once you get out by the resort and to the unusually nice RV park where we stayed, the muck subsides. There are dunes behind you for miles, the RV park and then a great beach and the Sea of Cortez. The conditions in the RV park are cramped but clean. The RV culture is very friendly and mingly. We had 15 families from our ward and neighborhood there at the same time. So the kids play on the beach or wii in one of the RV's while the adults sit on the beach and watch or by the fire and talk.

I did sneak in a mtn bike ride with a friend from our ward and a run down the very nice beach. We also ate amazing shrimp that a guy brought to us fresh driving around the RV park. Another lady brought tamales and breakfast burritos.

I was incharge of meal prep and did a pretty poor job of meal planning, so we were lucky to have the people bringing the food around.

Good time. But still prefer a W or JW resort to the RV. But, it appears we will return next year, RV in tow, for the kids kids sake. (I'm thinking 42ft toy hauler full of quads. It makes a lot of sense from an emergency preparedness standpoint, right. I'll need a new truck to pull it, 3/4 ton, diesel, crew cab as well.)

Oli

2008-03-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Not the hopping skateboard move, but the 2nd of Chuck Dicken's novels, Oliver Twist. Kelly lent me a copy and I just finished it on the plane yesterday. Typical classic. Tough to read through at times, but well-worth the effort.

Poor Oliver Twist can't buy a break in life, due largely to the society and governments turning their backs on the poor and needy. (England even had a law, during Dicken's time, that made begging illegal.) He eventually comes across someone who has true charity, takes him in and cares for him.

Admirable how Dicken's rips the government and it's ridiculous programs with his writing. Must have been quite controversial.

Makes you wonder how much we neglect the poor and needed and pass judgment on those in need.

Todd

My wife left me....

2008-03-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

to go to NYC with her sister, Liz. Leaving 75+ degree weather for 40*- weather? Eating out, seeing plays, shopping, seeing the sites,........................Are you sure you just don't want to come back and sit by the pool?

Don't worry about us. We'll make it somehow on flavored noodles, tuna/crackers and cereal.

Holli Dolli

2008-02-25T21:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Holli Dolli!

The sweetest little sister
in the whole wide world.
Pure joy in her heart,
And, did I tell you, she's really, really smart?

Beautiful too,
and she has a wonderful family.
Happy birthday wishes to you,
From us here in the valley.

Happy Birthday! Big 34! Ohhhh, yeeeeaaaahhh!

Tender Glances--Jake and Andrea's un-stated wedding theme

2008-01-30T20:37:00.000-08:00

Jake and Andrea
Sitting across the room
Exchanging tender glances
with you know whom.

Long curly hair
and an elegant profile.
Jake may be the one,
says Andrea with a smile.

Athletic build
and dashing good looks.
This girl's the bomb
says Rooster, now he's hooked.

Better prepared than most,
this couple is starting off right,
good job, two cars, new home....
They're future is out-of-sight.

Our expectations are high
as you start your climb together.
Don't let the rest of us slow you down
as you enjoy the sunshine and stormy weather.

Biking through the cacti...

2008-01-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

Biking through the cacti is fun to do,
fun to do,
to do, to do,
Biking through the cacti is fun to do,
Especially when you're through.

Watching Brigham wheelie is fun to do,
fun to do,
yooo hooo, yooo hooo,
Watching Brigham wheelie is fun to do,
Especially when he's through, (but so tired that when he wheelies over, his legs are too tired to support himself and he tumbles to the desert floor in-front of the entire grandstand.)

See uTube for details.

Bobcat Brigham

2008-01-19T22:17:00.000-08:00

Brigham is a Bobcat
Check out his roar
had to find his badge
amongst worms and dirt and more.

Foraging for food
Is a skill he does possess
Doing it without his hands
surely made a mess.

Way to go Brigham!

Limericks

2008-01-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

There once was a man from Nantucket
Who kept all his cash in a bucket.
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.
-Anon

Does anyone know about the man from Bombass?

The Cat Lady, the Cat Lady....

2008-01-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

Jake's silver bullet died going to a property.
We were headed to see the cat lady,
who has cats numbering almost 103!

It really was a horrid, disgusting sight.
To see cats, lady and a baby's plight.
Mingling all together, I think I might......

Call CPS on lady Tina
But she says the cats are not minha (mine)
and they keep the mice away from baby Felina?!?

Brigham, Gig'em, Buddy Boy...

2008-01-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Brigham!

We love you a ton.
You're one of a kind
and so much fun.

You're rough and tumble
and you like to All-Star Wrestle,
But you have a soft spot inside
that sometimes shows you are caring and gentle.

8 yrs old.
It's a pretty big deal
We're so happy
that you're in our family,
so happy we could squeal!

Happy Birthday Brigham (gig'em, buddy boy)!

Happy Sassy Birthday

2007-12-30T15:43:00.001-08:00

Happy, Happy Birthday Candace Dear.
We want to wish you joy and happiness on this the day of your 22nd year
A sassy young sassafrass, that's what you are.
With your gleaming white smile and sassiness you're sure to go far.

A sassy new do,
A gleaming white smile too.
You're arm-pumping, back talkin' suga-momma
In a white sparkling mouth, you.

But 'nough 'bout da hair.
How 'bout dem teeph?
Double Sassy! Double Sassy!
You cannot be beat. You're an extraordinaire.

Photographer, snappy dragon.
Sassy, snappy, snappy sassy.
With shiney, pearly bling to boot.
Giddy---yap, giddy--yap!
You're the best. So its to you we hoot....
"Happy Sassy Birthday Candace Dear.
May this day be the best day of the whole entire year."

We love you!

poem by jane jr

2007-12-28T13:22:00.000-08:00

i 'm in a chair
whith lots of hair.
my dady calles out were were were?
i say here he says there?
then he says to much hair.

he says ,get a trim
and i'll tickle your chin.
so i get a trim
but he dosnt tickle my chin
all he says is your balldey!

Post from Jane Jr.

2007-12-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

todd said that i can put apost on his blog!soo let me think hmmmh mmmmhmmm?i know i will post about todd!let me see whats some describing words?i know!: funny ,sqiggley,taylory,nicly , me-ey,toddy,and thats all i can think of!by by sweetie pie!

A Sassy, Happy, Happy Birthday Candance Dear....

2007-12-18T20:05:00.000-08:00

Happy, Happy Birthday Candace Dear.
We want to wish you joy and happiness on this the day of your 22nd year

A sassy young sassafrass,
that's what you are.
With your gleaming white smile
and sassiness you're sure to go far.

A sassy new do,
A gleaming white smile too.
You're arm-pumping, back talkin' suga-momma
In a white sparkling mouth, you.

But 'nough 'bout da hair.
How 'bout dem teeph?
Double Sassy! Double Sassy!
You cannot be beat.

Photographer, snappy dragon.

Sassy, snappy, snappy sassy
With shiney, pearly bling to boot.
Giddy---yap, giddy--yap
You're the best. So to you we hoot.

Happy Sassy Birthday Candace Dear.
May this day be the best day of the whole year.

We love you!

Spanky….”Dude”

2007-12-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

There once was a youngster named Cory.
Who burned down a barn near the quarry.
He drove a blue cloud and a brown hornet that was loud
and was called "Dude" by his favorite Aunt Mary.

As today is your birthday dear Cory.
I feel it’s my big brother duty;
to pay tribute to you
and best wished too,
on this your 36th anniversary.

You once defended our home from a Lipper.
And always added excitement at dinner.
Breakfast in bed
or sometimes on your head,
life without you would be boring.

So, now that you’re turning 36.
It makes me feel older than that group called The Styx
Not D.J. Jazzy,
Or even the Cure.
The big, fluffy-haired band from back in ‘76.

No, you're more like Metallica,
You get better with age,
Unlike Michael Jackson,
you're a star on life's stage.

Always willing to help
those of us in need.
With encouraging words
or lending your trusty steed.

Some called you Spanky and others B.C..
For a while you were Brandon.
But you've always been Cory to me.

So here’s to 36 more,
years here on this earth.
I'm sure the next 36 years
will be as good as those since your birth.

Happy Birthday!

Bought a lemon....

2007-12-16T20:58:00.000-08:00

Bought a Lemon,

what do I do?

Bought a Lemon,

and an orange and a grapefruit too.

It's got lots of trees,

and a big yard too,

Got a few scorpions

What's a boy to do?

A year in the making,

is what it will take.

We're kind of excited.

Hope we don't make a big mistake.

Gotta have a pool

and a sports court too.

Gotta have a pipe and a kicker

so I can do a few ollies for you.

A place for our guests

is high on the list.

Come during winter (hint, hint)

while the weathers the best.

If you still haven't guessed,

we procured a building parcel.

So on North Lemon Street

we'll be making our house into the Taylor Family Carcel. (that's Jail in Spanish)

Poetry for the duration.. and Iron Mike

2007-12-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

A note of caution....from here on out the majority of posts will take the form of poems. My fascination with poetry started when I was around 10 yrs old and heard the likes of.....no not Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Pablo Neruda, Shakespeare, or the like; but the fine work of the annonymous poets who published such great works as.......: "There once was a man from Bombass....". I know you all know the rest.

This early appreciation of profound expression (following strict form of course) has led to my quest to post in verse. I will also say that I am partial to the Haiku. Not because I like Japanese per se, (domo arigato, moshi moshi, sayonara and konichiwa) but I like the simple rhyming scheme of 5-7-5.

Oh, I rode down the escalator with Iron Mike Tyson yesterday as I was leaving Terminal 4 of Sky Harbor airport. He was dressed in white (white hat), had an agent sort with him and looked to weigh around 300lbs. He was talking on the phone, sounding like a sissy, but with the tattoo all over the side of his face and his extra lbs, I was scared to tell him so. I did, however, snap a photo from behind with my fancy phone, but it came out blurry. (I was giddy with excitement.)

Haiku to Tyler, Jill and Family

2007-12-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

Haiku to Tyler and Jill Carson family who just survived a wicked car crash.

Suburban sideways:
Tyler, Jill and Family,
on Utah highways.

How did it happen?
Pushed from behind by a car
sliding on byways.

Horifying crash:
exploding like a bomb
Everyone buckled?

You one lucky son.
Some divine intervention
you better believe.

All ok? Thankfully so.
Is anyone hurt?
Amazingly, no!

Grateful, you're ok.
What would we do without you?
Life would be so gay. (bad gay, not good gay)

Happy Birthday Brookie Sugar Cookie!

2007-11-30T20:44:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Brookie!

You are the best.

You came into this world smiling

and you haven't stopped for a rest.

You're a great friend and sister

a great daughter too

I am still wondering

what I did to deserve you.

You're smart and your sassy,

(in only the right way),

You're pretty and classy.

But I have more to say.

You're fashion sense

leaves us all asking your advise

I just can't figure out

how someone can be so nice.

In short, dear sugar

I love you a lot

And wish you Happy Birthday

from the bottom of my heart.

Happy Birthday Sugar Cookie!

Happy Birthday Mom, Nana and Candy!

2007-11-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mom, Nana and Candy,
We think you are great,
We think you are dandy.

So, Happy birthday to you,
Btw. How old are you?
Still holding at 32?
Nobody would guess 62.

I always love to hear your laughter
So many talents,
Let’s name a few:
A great cook, a fantastic baker,
A fashion Diva, an artist, and even a Cavette / Ballroom dancer,

I’m glad we could spend this
Thanksgiving time with you.
We hope we all learn a thing or two
By watching you in all you do

The best Nana and Mother
You do it with ease.
Will you, won’t you have a great birthday,
Please!?

We love you!

Todd, Jane, Ally