Overflowing Blessings Bucket: Yo Gabba Gabba!

Of all the blessings we've recently received, Yo Gabba Gabba! greatly engulfs the lot of them. Here's a teaser for those whove not tasted of the goodness:



Taylor is crazy. Previous to the blessing of Yo Gabba Gabba! being bestowed upon us, I would not hesitate to say the the longest she'd ever paid attention to the TV was 37 seconds max. I want to make it clear that we aren't really big fans of our kids being really big fans of TV; however, every parent deserves a bit of a break every now and then. This is honestly the only true break we've ever had. Taylor is nuts.

Anyway, for all you parents out there who have not had a chance to kick it with DJ Lance Rock and his five friends, I would really encourage you to tune into Nick Jr. every week day at 12:30 MST to partake of the goods.

I love fall!

One thing Khyl and I often discuss is our love for the fall. There are so many wonderful things about it, and so many memories of it that have made me, well . . . fall in love with fall. I love the colorful leaves, on the trees, and on the ground. I love pulling out warm sweaters, and being able to wear my favorite hoodies again. I love Halloween, and watching how much Taylor now loves Halloween. I have also noticed how much love seems to always be in the air in the fall. Maybe it is because that is when Khyl and I fell in love 5 years ago. Whatever the reason, I will always love the fall.
Tay has an undying love for Lexi. I think, or at least hope, this is the start to a great friendship!

Tay was a big help in gathering leaves.

She smashed them in the trash can for me so they could all fit!

We love going to feed the ducks at the pond by BYU.
She loves chasing them around. It is soooo cute!

We went Trick or Treating with her cousins Seth and Jonah.

Little does Taylor know that I already ate half of her candy! =) Little Lexi was Arial for Halloween. Here you can see she is singing some of Arials hits.

Taylor loves her cousins!

Lexi Marie is Born

October 3rd at 10:41 am, weighing in at 6 lbs. 14 oz. after 2 hours of effortless labor:

Donut Falls Hike

This story dates back to August of 2003 when Khyl and I were in that completely "whooped" stage of dating. It must have only been like our 3rd date that we hiked Donut Falls up Big Cotton Wood canyon. Knowing there was a water fall at the top of the hike we packed our swim suits and washed our hair in the waterfall. The crazy things love makes you do, Ay? I will never forget the couple that we met at the beginning of the hike that asked "Are you guys married?" and Khyl's response of "not yet!" that hinted that he had already considered it. The man then said that he and his wife went on this hike when they were dating and now they had 4 boys together. So, if you are looking to jinks someone into marring you . . . this is the perfect date!

You may be thinking "This blog is soooo 5 years ago", but we actually do this hike every August as a tradition. Okay, so we missed one year, but don't you think that living in Hawaii is a pretty good excuse? So, here are the pictures of our latest venture.

Canyon Glen "JUICE AND JAM!"

• Come to Canyon Glen around 8 on Friday night.
• The amphitheatre is at the north end.
• Stay until 9:30 (or 10) and if you stay later it will be offensive.
• We'll have drinks- or you can bring your own if you want to be picky like that.
• Come prepared (or unprepared) to share your talents (or lack of talent) in the form of music, poetry, or a comedy bit.
• Yes, you can dance if you want to.
• Kids are welcome - everyone is welcome.

Friday night was the first ever JUICE AND JAM! (I thought of maybe naming it 'Singing and Soda' but that sounds even lamer that JUICE AND JAM! And yes, JUICE AND JAM! must always be in all caps followed by an exclamation point.)

On Friday evening Me, Shelly, and Tay went up to Canyon Glen park with Joe, Sienna, and River. When we were leaving to go up there I put a guitar in the car but had no idea how signifact an impact that single move would have on my life - and your life.



Me and Michelle and Sienna took turns getting up on stage at the deserted amphitheatre. We performed for eachother in an "open mic." fashion and it was freaking awesome. Then, revelation hit us like a serious 'smack-down:' do this every friday and invite everyone to come, too.

This Friday night (and every friday night until it gets too chilly, probably) we'll have an amp. and an open mic. with a light and we are going to have a butt-load of people there.

Finally potty trained!!

Taylor is now "potty trained," but not in the traditional sense. What is that supposed to mean, anyway? I mean, are we not all pretty much trained to go potty from the moment we are born - or maybe even from the moment we're conceived! Tay has always know how to urinate; I have always known how to urinate. I can think of few things more primitive. Can't we call it toilet trained?

Tay isn't toilet trained. When I say she's potty trained I'm just saying that she knows how to go pee really well in the pool.

Bad hair days have never been so good

Yesterday I went with Ben to drop off his motorcycle because he sold it to some chubby dude who we could tell had never been on a motorcycle in his life. I'm glad he insisted on test driving it then and there because it was the source of some good laughs.

As I was in Ben's car waiting for him to find the title to his motorcycle, I picked up his most recent read - The Secret Life of Bees. As I read the first few pages it was obvious that this was actually probably Steph's book (but for the purposes of this entry lets not rule out that Ben is a fairy-boy and really does like chick-books like "Twilight"). One sentence in particular stood out: "Little girls with messy hair don't have mothers" or something like that. I firmly disagree because Tay's mom probably does Tay's hair like 50 times a day. Regardless of how it gets messy, the fact still remains that lil TayTay has some of the wildest hair I've ever seen. This post is to highlight some of the hair that has produced some good laughs and some red faces for both me and shelly.

Sisters Weekend 2007!!!

This story dates back to Fall Semester 2002 at Utah State University. It was my last semester of unmarried college life, and I must admit, my favorite. I felt like the luckiest girl ever to be living with such amazing roommates. Three of them were returned missionaries from the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania mission, namely Marie, Steph, and Brook. Well, I some how managed to squeeze my way into their friendship circle, and life has never been the same since!

Last year we decided to start what we call "sisters weekend". A tradition where once a year we get together for a weekend and reminisce of the good ol' days, and create new memories together. Last year it was held here in Provo, and this year we held it in L.A., where Brookie is currently living with her hubby Mike. Here is just a taste of some of the events that took place . . .


On Friday July 27th we went to the Jay Leno show shortly after arriving in L.A. and eating lunch at Taco Bell. It was so awesome to be so close to someone that always seemed so far away on T.V. I enjoyed seeing Jay more then his guest stars (Kevin James from Chuck and Larry, and some guy who swam long distance in the North Pole). Before the show it was fun to watch Marie who was one of about 6 people picked from the audience to do some dance on stage to kill time before the show started. She was one hot tamale! We were not allowed to take pics in there, so sorry for the lack of. After the show we went to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner, then walked around the beautiful City Hall. We then retired for the evening at Brookies beautiful home after chatting the night away.

The next morning we did a little (o.k., alot) of shopping at some of those stores that Utah seems to have neglected. I found a few fun things, including a skirt that I wear at least every other day.


After lunch we checked into our Hotel room, compliments of Marie. She had enough travel points to score us a room in the Marriott Hotel on Huntington Beach. Aaaahhhh, those beds are wonderful! After a little reeelaxation, we headed down to the beach where we roasted hotdogs and of course, made s'mores. mmmmmmmm. This was probably my favorite part of sisters weekend. Everything about it was perfect. It was so surreal to just sit on the sand next to our little camp fire eating gooey s'mores as the moon light shined down and the ocean serenaded us. Later that evening we went swimming and hot tubing at the hotel and had a Birthday celebration for Brookie. It was the type of day that could have been ended with "and we lived happily ever after".

Sunday morning we caught a 9:00 sacrament meeting at some random California ward. They actually served wine instead of water! Haha, but it was a pretty cool ward. We then decided to take full advantage of the free buffet breakfast back at the Marriott. Don't mind if I did make a perfectly crisp Belgian waffle topped with strawberries and syrup! My mouth still waters just thinking about it.

The rest of the afternoon we spent walking along Huntington Beach where there was actually a huge surf competition. If I would have known, I totally could have entered. I guess I will have to gain my fame and fortune some other way. But seriously, I just loved spending time with the sista's. They are always so fun and uplifting to be with. I feel like we are all a match made in Heaven. I am so grateful to have such inspirational friends. It was sad to see the vacation come to an end as we said our farewells at the airport. Now I can only dream of what fun adventures we will have at the next sisters weekend! Thanks girls!!!

Taylor Swift Shumway

The Rocky Mountain Review

The all-stars of the Utah Jazz and the Seattle Sonics came together for a clash of the titans. We were there: The Rocky Mountain Review.

Some say that Kevin Durant is the next Michael Jordan. Pfffttt - maybe a lazy Michael Jordan.

The Ref. really had it in for the Jazz so we were heckling him. "I HATE YOU REF! I WANT TO SEE YOUR BRAINS SMASHED ALL OVER THE COURT," I yelled. Some were appalled, most laughed- one girl peed a little bit in her pants.

Midnight Showing of Harry Potter

I honestly planned to go to take pictures of all the OTHER people there who would be dressed up all crazy. As it turns out, Kellen dressed up in a Spiderman costume and it totally made the night unforgettable.

THANKS SPIDERMAN!!

Independence Day (no, not the movie)

I've been waiting for Michelle to blog July 4th but she is just so lazy! Just kidding, sweetie!

I thought I'd copy Lauren on the photobucket slideshow thing -



In the morning we went to the parade and found a spot that was supposed to be reserved for the parade volunteers but nobody was there so we sat there. The parade was boring this year and our camera battery died so we only got like one picture.

In the evening we went to a bbq at my moms - she is a crazy good cook and this year she got so crazy. See the picture of my finger? It's looking pretty good, huh?

After we ate we just chilled for a little bit then headed over the THE CULDESAC OF FIRE!!! This is an annual celebration in my mom's neighborhood - it's pretty much the sickest block party around.

After dancing we watched the fireworks from the field. It was probably the most emotional fireworks show I've ever been witness to (except for Jackson Hole '03 - Dang, that was good).

Happy Birthday Marie!

Intense Real Estate Dispute

Every year the 4Th of July rings in with an incredible parade in Provo, Utah. It seems like every year the fight for a spot along old center street gets more and more intense. This year, my frustration has heightened.

We first tried to designate our spot in front of the old printing museum. We came back later that night and our blankets had been folded up and placed aside. Next, we tried on the corner just at the end of our street. The next morning, we found our blankets folded up and placed aside. At that point I wasn't too frustrated because there were still a few places remaining. Kudos to Michelle for going to extra mile so that the third time, nobody would steel our place. She went and bought string - red - and stakes, and hammered them into the ground in front of Far West Bank. The next morning, the stuff was still there. "It worked!" we thought. Later on this afternoon, however, the stakes had been removed and replaced with a 'customer appreciation' sign for Far West Bank - below it was a sign that said "this spot reserved for the [loser-face] family.

I can't begin to describe how angry I am at this whole situation. Am I just way off base here or is this something that would make most of you mad, too. I mean, come on, where is the decency, here? Could any of you justify removing somebody else's stuff and replace it with yours? That's the kind of thing that will send a man straight to Hell, in my opinion.

Shame on you, Far West Bank - shame on you everyone else who has ever stolen someone else's spot.

our first video blog post

Taylorsville Days - Yes, we're white trash, too.

I told .Michelle that out of all the summertime festive carnivals we could attend, its interesting that we never fail to make time for the most ghetto of them all- Taylorsville Days.

At one point I went to get a drink at the drinking fountain and got in line behind who I can only assume was a mother- with her two little girls. When they couldn't figure out how to turn on the dinking fountain, the mother pointed it out for them: "Right here, you bumsh-ts!" It was then that i realized I was in the company of giants- about 4000 of them.

Each year, Michelle's Aunt Marge has a 'come one, come all' celebration at her house. She lives right next to Taylorsville park where all the fun takes place. The evening begins with Sloppy Joes. Mmmmmmm (I put potato chips on mine). We were supposed to bring our own drinks but didn't. I was so grateful to Grandpa Dee for bringing a cooler full of grocery-store-brand sodas - I grabbed a grape! I'm guessing he got them at Kohlers because I'd seen him there earlier that day. I avoided him, then, which I should've done when we got to aunt Marge's because I was holding Tay when we saw him and she has never squeezed me so tight! She wrapped her arms and legs around me and scrambled to somehow get closer to me and far, far away from this man who could not have been scarrier had he been dressed in a wasp costume.

At nine we walked over to the park with everyone and layed out our blankets in prep for the fireworks. A lot happened in the hour prior to them beginning but it'll be enough for me to just say that I honestly think that Kellen is on cocaine (not that I was ever on cocaine, but i told Michelle that's exactly how I acted before my mission) and that Texas Twister has iced tee in it.

The fireworks began and it was a glorious show. We danced and had a blast!

This was typed with the five fingers of my left hand and my right-hand thumb.

Taylor is attacked by KILLER BEES!!

Khyl and I were enjoying a lovely luncheon after my cousin's baptism yesterday. We thought lil' Tay would be fine on the gigantic playground in my uncles yard, but with Taylor we should have known better. We heard her crying excessively hard and went running to find she had discovered a wasps nest under a slide. She had been stung by the little devils 8 times!

She was such a good sport as we covered each sting in mud to soothe the pain and draw out the sting. Poor Taylor!