It's a Birthady Party!

Bug, Luke and Kaylie could not wait for the party! Infact, they were all so hyped up and ready to go that while looking for Lukie's tennis shoes Kaylie and Bug accidentally locked his bedroom door from the inside and I had no way of getting in until Russ got home from work. So, what do you do in this kind of situation - you improvise right? Lukie sucked it up and ran all of our last minute Birthday errands in Girly Pretty Pink Princess shoes.

Don't you think they look gorgeous with the Camo pants?Per Lukie's request,

we celebrated this year at Bouncin' off the Walls.

Our cousin Dylan also has an October Birthday so we included him to make it a Super Duper Party for 3 lucky birthday kids.

Luke and Russ horsing around
Stacie and Bug

Jackson Bell
(Bug tells me all the time that she is going to marry him someday)

So much fun!

Jake using me as a toboggan

I'm holding on to Autumn
Heather, me and Stacie

Big 3 year old birthday boy Dylan

Mass carnage!

I'm embarrassed to say that the evening got a little out of hand.

The place completely lived up to its name and everyone children and adults included

"bounced off of the walls", ceiling and floor.

Can you say DAN-GER-OUS

The injury count was as follows:

Mia age 4- Bloody Nose -ran into Russell's massive Popeye forearm

Jager age 1- Badly sprained arm- going to fast down the steep slide (we thought it was broken)

Ali age 2 - Near concussion- malfunction in basketball bouncer, flipped her on the floor

Lukie age 3 - Near spinal cord injury and concussion- basketball bouncer once again.

I know there were a few others but can't remember specifically who and what exactly happened.

Other than these few "unfortunate incidents" the night was a total blast!

What? Who's this? Could it be.........

"Love goddess" Rita Hayworth, "Pin up girl" Betty Grable, and "Bombshell" Mae West.

Better believe it, we're a pretty classy crowd.

Neighbors James and Adam

Adam is leaning over the infamous Basketball Bouncer

that needs to be renamed the "Death Trap"

Aunt grandma Sue and Dylan Liz, Cindy, Darrin, Bree, Strawberry

Madison Good friends Jenn and Mia

Cousin Claire

Bug's entourage; Jordan, Mia, Reagan and Brooklyn Presents.........

presents............

and more presents!

This year I decided to try Cupcake cakes.

I Loved them because they were so easy and made very little mess.

(Once again, thank you Sunny for the wonderful suggestion)

Luke's Birthday cake was Spiderman

Bug had Tinkerbell

and Dylan wanted Fire Engines.

The evening was a little chaotic, it felt a bit like a 3 ring circus with everything going on at once. But we managed to get through it and really had a fantastic time. Thank you to everyone that came to support the kids and to make this birthday such a memorable year! You know it was a successful Party when the evening ends on this note.

Happy Birthday and Goodnight my big 3 year old

Tagged for the very first time

Never been tagged before but thanks to Kristi I'll give it my best:
My 8 Favorite TV Shows:
Office
Lost
So you think you can Dance
Fame
Old SNL (preferably the ones with the hottie that plays a wicked cow bell!)
Amazing Race (one day Russ and I are going to be on that show!)
Anything on Discovery
Anything semi-educational that holds the kids attention for 1/2 hour so I can squeeze in a quick shower or cat nap
8 Favorite Restaurants:
Outback
Bombay House (Indian)
The Other Place (Greek)
Chipotle (Mexican, I never thought I'd say it but much better than Cafe Rio)
Red Mango, Mmmmm Red Mango... does Frozen Yogurt Count??
Chin Wah (guessed it? Chinese)
Anything that offers a kids meal and has a slippery slide
The Sev (What can I say, I LOVE slurpees!)
8 Things that Happened Yesterday:
Washed the kids bedding
Organized the kids new birthday toys in the playroom (thanks to everyone!)
Made Salmon and Broccoli for dinner
Finished a book that I really enjoyed and highly recommend titled "It's all Good"
Went to lunch
Colored with the kids
Picked up around the house
Went to a Pumpkin Patch with Heather.Kaylie, Dylan and my kids
8 Things I Look Forward to:
Remodeled House
Halloween with the kids
Christmas
Going to the Nutcracker with Bug
Spending the day with Gram Faye and Aunt Annie Wednesday
Girls night out
Thanksgiving at the Grand America Hotel (Love, love, love this tradition!)
Dates with Russ
8 Things I Love about Fall:
Leaves (that's a given)
The Harvest Moon
Soup for dinner
Hoodies
Crisp Air
Apple Cider
Fire in the Fireplace
Snuggling in bed for a few minutes longer because it's chilly outside the covers
8 Things on My Wish list:
Happy Healthy Children
World Peace
Remodeled House
More Energy!
Did I mention a Remodeled House?
For my brother and his son to move to up to Salt Lake closer to me and my fam
Travel more
Disney Land soon
8 People I am Tagging:Heather,Liz,Bree,Sunny,Christine,Sandi,Nat,Traci

10th Anniversay!

Russ and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary last weekend in San Francisco. Can you believe it? 10 whole adventurous, exciting, never a dull moment, years! It took a little work to get out of town - making sure the kids were cared for and dog fed but thanks t0 the Walker family and Brayden Orgle it was all made possible and boy was it worth it!

We badly needed some time away together! Luke couldn't understand why he wasn't invited because he is so much fun. I had everything packed and ready to go then walked out of my room to pick up the house, when I returned I found a the cutest little stow away in my suitcase instead clothes. Russ grew up north of San Fran just on the other side of the Bay so we decided to spend our first night at the Courtyard Marriott in Novato. That evening we had a very thoughtful "Welcoming Gift" -a red rose, yummy smelling bath candle and bath soaps along with a decorative towel and a note pad - waiting in our room courtesy of Sherine and Nelson, a lovely couple who live in Olympus Cove that Russ is currently building for. We have met
some of the most genuine and caring people through Russell's work over the years, many of whom remain close family friends forever. We are truly blessed to have have so many supportive wonderful people surrounding our little family. I woke up to my hubby's old stompin' grounds and little did I know I was in for a first hand education in the History of Russell Taylor, what a treat! We spent the day visiting all of Russell's old Haunts and a few old friends and I got to learn some new things about my husband. I am making Russ "Man Post" the history attached to all these pictures for posterity and all of man kind because it is his history not mine and I want an authentic account in the books. Hopefully it gets done sooner than later so until then you will all have to pardon the picutres with out captions.

This is his childhood home on CORTE NORTE in a cul de sac perfect for playing night games and riding your bike, jumping cars on roller blades or riding your skateboard.
This is the infamous "hill" that the boys had to weed. I don't know about you but it looks like a mountain to me.

Best Buddy Johnny's house
Safeway that Russ broke his arm at.

Kevin the barber.

He knew exactly who Russell was even though he hasn't seen him for over 15 years.

Feminine Side

Lukie's sis and cousin Reagan had a ball dressing him up like a White Fairy Princess. At first he wasn't too happy about it (see the scowl) but eventually he decided to run (in heels) with the idea and have a little fun.
Too much fun?

Isn't he LOVELY?

Who knew that Spiderman's alias has changed

from Peter Parker to "Tinkerbell"?
I Don't even know what to say about this one. other than

Russ should be so Proud!!!

This really is the Place!

Yesterday was such a perfect day I couldn't stand to keep the kids at home and let it go to waste. I guess I'm getting a little bit antsy knowing that winter is around the corner and if this winter is going to be anything like the last, I want to spend as much time outside as humanly possible until the first snow. (regardless if there is laundry or cleaning to be done, because there's always tomorrow or the next day.... or the next..right?)Bailey had two of her friends from school

over and we all jumped into the car and headed up to the

THIS IS THE PLACE state park. I have never been there but have always heard great things about it so we decided to give it a try. For $5 a child you get a wrist band with three punches on it that allows one pony ride, one pioneer craft, and one train ride. Well worth the money, if you ask me! We enjoyed ourselves so much, it has become one of my favorite outings with the kids. Enjoying the perfect weather with our friends Riley and Saydi

Playing in the fountain
Part of the fun was being able to see the way the Pioneer children lived and the chores that they were expected to do. We were lucky enough to get in on the action and help a real life Pioneer family pick apples for a pie. The kids couldn't get enough, I was suprised that they got such a kick out of it! Who would have thought that helping out with chores would be such a hit? They begged to see if we could find any more pioneers working in their gardens so we could be of some assistance. But unfortunately some other helpers beat us to it......maybe next time.

Pioneer Crafts

I was impressed to see that Elmer's Glue and Crayola Markers were around back then

I can't imagine having to make Pinwheels with out them. Those pioneers thought of everything!

Saydi and Bug getting a little bit Creative
Showcasing our finished Pinwheels

Pioneer Batman Boy's Firehouse
One of the highlights was playing in the Children's Village. Everything was just their size and they spent over an hour just running around and exploring.
My little Engineer
Crazy Indians
Sitting "Indian" Style in a Tee Pee

Luke could not figure out this puzzle........ it's a Pioneer Parking Spot!

The "pony ride" just happened to be Big Horses which made it more exciting for the children.

Riley was quite the natural, she looked like a pro when the horses changed direction.
Giddy UP Luke!

Lukie on "Lucky", he misunderstood the lady when she was telling us the names of the horses and thought he was riding his name-twin "Lukie the Horse".

Saydi riding "Lucky"

I'm willing to bet that she's been on a horse before
Bailey riding "Banjo", who by the way was the fastest horse in town!

This is "Jack" the billy goat. He is part of the petting zoo and fast became one of our BFF's. I have never seen such a friendly petting zoo in all my life, you didn't need to walk up to any of the animals because they are all so tame they just walk on over to you. However, Jack was mildly intimidated by Lukie

(I think it was the batman shirt)

and took some coaxing to get him out into the open.
Riley re-named every animal in the petting zoo.

I believe the new name she gave Jack was "Boo the billy goat."

Jack was a character and wanted to come home with us. The clever little fellow kept following us through the gate. When we finally slipped out with out him he stood at the gate and cried for us to come back and play.

He was sooo adorable! It about broke all our hearts to leave him.

We finished off the Day with a Train Ride and Tour around the Village.

The park was such a hands on experience for the kids. All in all they went to pioneer school class, visited the cabinet maker, did chores, visited the shaving parlor, danced the Virginia Reel, visited the blacksmith, and they even got to pull a hand cart. It was fun, educational and entertaining! It was a treat to actually experience pioneer life and compare it to our lives today. There was so much to do and see that we weren't able to fit it all in and so we are going back very soon. I hear Halloween is full of new activities...

Anyone that is up for the adventure let me know!