Shares

Shares at school start this week. The letter A. Dillan chose an airplane. Last year I tried to help him come up with clues to help the class guess his share. This time he thought of them all on his own:

Clue #1: It's something that flies in the air.

Clue #2: It is really loud and goes super fast!

Clue #3: My Daddy went on one this morning before I woke up and I didn't get to say goodbye!

We miss you already Daddy!

Summer Ends

Yup, we caved and got Sea World passes AGAIN! We couldn't help ourselves! Hey, when family comes to town and wants to go and the annual pass is only $10 more for the rest of the year, how could we refuse!



Leah got to ride the Flying Elmo ride for the first time. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture quick enough before the ride operator told me TWICE to put my camera away (pretty slow, I admit). Then Abbey's spinning ride (I passed and took pictures instead), then Leah was DEtermined to follow Dillan and Daddy up the giant cargo net-bridge-don't-lose-your-kid maze. I ended up carrying her most of the way, while trying to stay balanced and not lose a flip-flop. We tried to keep up with the boys, but they were so fast! She was of course too little to go down the supercool slide that all the big kids were going on, and she made sure everyone heard her frustration!


Before Shannon and the kids (minus Roxy) left, we got in as much park time as we could. It's finally getting to the perfect park time of year.
Fall is in the air late afternoon, and we head out.







We tried to get a picture of all the kids at the bottom of the slide, and this is how it ended up!

Soccer starts this week, stay tuned...
Football season is right around the corner! How can you not LOVE this time of year!

SCHOOL!...finally!

At the end of last year, Dillan was curious as to what summer vacation was. I explained all the fun things we could do and that he got to take a break from school. He didn't seem okay with that right away. He asked for a while when he would be going back. Eventually we got busy enough that I think he stopped wondering.

He was very excited to get back to school and his teachers, Ms Carol and Ms Melissa. We walked up, I grabbed his paperwork and name tag. Ms Melissa was there to greet him. He was perfectly at ease and walked into the classroom waving, "Bye Mom!" Ms Carol was at the big table with a few other kids and workbooks were already opened up at every seat. They got right back into it! I helped him put on his name tag, turned around to grab Leah and head out, but couldn't find her. There she was, blending in with the rest of the class, climbing into an available chair right next to Ms Carol. I picked her up and told her she was too little to start school, which she of course hated to hear. She screamed all the way to the car and fought with all her strength when I tried to strap her down.

We're looking forward to a year of reading, Shares, writing, Reading Logs, Book orders, and growing!

Ready for school

The ABCs for Dillan, age 4. A little game we play for those moments in the car. PreK here we come!

A is for Apple
B is for Bubbles
C is for Cake
D is for Dillan
E is for Egg
F is for Fox
G is for Gogurt
H is for Horse
I is for Igloo
J is for Jellybeans
K is for Kite
L is for Lollipop
M is for Monster
N is for Non
O is for Ostrich
P is for Pumpkin
Q is for Queen
R is for Roxy
S is for Slippery
T is for Tiger
U is for Umbrella
V is for Violin
W is for Wheel
X is for X-ray
Y is for Yo-Yo
Z is for Zipper

Can't wait!

Dillan also gave his 2nd talk in church today. This one went much much better than last time. He kept his mouth right on the microphone, swapping spit with the last kid that did that, and spoke clearly. The theme of the talk was "Temple blessings unite families." When preparing for the talk, Dillan and I were talking about how the temple seals families together forever. When he heard that he said, "Together Forever?!? So Daddy won't have to go to work anymore?!?"
We added that line to the talk because it was too good to leave out.

Summer Fun

Some of our summertime adventures...Sea World, the beach, cousins, big wheels, and Disneyland.

Shaver Time!

The Ultra Set-Up

My experience at Shaver this year was great. Of course, we missed Daddy a whole heck-of-a-lot, but there were plenty of helpers at the ready the whole time when Mommy needed it.


Playing on Papa's boat. Too fun!


We're Best Cousins!

Dillan had a smile on his face 95% of the time, thanks to his "best cousin" Roxy. They played in the sand, played on Papa's boat, swam in the water, ate snacks to their hearts' content. It was great! Dillan actually joined me and a few others on our swim across the cove to the big rock (he stepped up since Daddy wasn't available). He hung on to the back of my suit and helped kick us across. Great workout for Mommy!


Leah loves her baby cousin, Jordyn


Trying to get used to Papa's boat

Leah played in the sand, gave out kisses and hugs to whoever when in the right mood, splashed in the water, jumped off the boat and kept a close watch on Grandma, Papa, Chad and Lindsie. Everyday she and I would get into the water and play for a few minutes until she got cold and wanted to snuggle. I'd hold her for a few minutes while chatting with someone else and soon she was fast asleep! Something about being held in the water and cuddling would put her out everyday! The girl who never takes naps voluntarily!


My Chad


We love sleeping bags!

So many fun memories for everyone. Thank you to everyone for making it so special this year, especially Mom and Dad, we can't wait till next year!


Discussing life for 4-year-olds

Shaver Lake=Family Love

I used to think that every LDS family was like my own. Lots of cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles who get together as often as they can and get along without any issues. Everyone is involved in everyone's lives, genuinely interested in what everyone is up to, and few secrets are kept.

Well I was wrong. Big surprise, I know. The Taylors are most definintly one of a kind.

And every year, all who can, commune to the Sierra Mountains for a little family time. Observers from the outside may think we're strange, or loud, or both. And we are!
But for me, I wouldn't have it any other way. When everyone is there, it just feels right. When one or more is missing from the group, they are missed, it's just not the same.
4 generations were at the lake, how often does that happen? We're a novelty.

The remainder of this blog post is dedicated to the Taylor Family. I've collected a large number of statements from family members and their thoughts/feelings about Shaver Lake. I know I don't have everyone, but I've already started working for next year, where I am determined to have EVERYONE'S thoughts down on paper. Thank you to everyone for your love, generosity, laughs, faith, and strength. Thank you for the memories that make this place so special.

It's Edison owned. I get my check every month!
Grandpa T
Family is here. I love the mountains. Good Food!
Grandma T
It's a neutral setting. Everyone takes their turn feeding everyone. Richard T
Everyone's here. There's no rushing around. We're all just here. Bobi T
I enjoy the boat. And it's not 110 degrees out. Michael T
I look forward to every year hoping it's better than the last. Rebecca T
Shaver doesn't have a lot of rocks like other places. It's the best place in the world. Ethan T
I like driving in the car and tipping to the side when you turn. Hyrum T
It reminds me of growing up. No fighting, just togetherness. Kaley T
All the family getting together. All the kids playing together. Pamela U
I get to make fun of all the Taylors. Jonathan U
Getting out of finals early. Catching up with everyone. (Yes, she's very insightful) Allison T
It's a beautiful place and it's right next to Dinkey Creek. Roger T
I've been coming here since I was 3. This is home to me. It's my favorite place full of memories. we started all this. Susan T
The memories we make. All the memories at Dinkey Creek. Stephanie T
I like the gathering of the family to one location. Jill A
Getting up early to get the good water. Watching cousins try to outdo one another on the wakeboards. Going to bed sunburned and exhausted. Getting up early the next morning to start all over again. Sam A
I write the blog. See above. And ditto to what Dad said. Kim A
I like kicking it on the beach. No stress, just do whatever I feel. Chris A
I like to go on Papa's boat. Dillan A
Enjoying what I consider to be paradise on Earth. Shannon H
Where else can I see a talking fat sack (Troy)? Aaron H
Going on the police car and playing in the sand. Roxann H
I only wish there was an outdoor shower where I could rinse off (in the nude?) and observe nature. Chad A
Shaver is like Switzerland. We get to interact with our family in our unnatural habitats. Mark T
Sunburn, Snacking, No Sleep! Mondi T
Family. Merrill T
Getting to know Merrill's crazy family. Shannon T
Being able to see family. Rock jumping. Melodi T
Seeing family I haven't seen in years. Merrilli T
Being with family. Emily H
We mostly all the time like to be around eachother.
Diane O
Make sure everyone wears a vest. (yes, every year this story comes up) Elder Eric T
I like to go swimming and take boat rides. And waverunners. I love this place. Gavin T

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you...
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
-John Muir

Shaver Lake: it's a Taylor thing.