Happy New Year!

The start of a NEW YEAR always brings to mind resolutions and new beginings. The shameful date of my last post tells me I have one resolution that needs to make the list. In order to capture 2011 before it disappears from our memories, here is a look at some of the year's highlights for our family. And because I only made it to Thanksgiving of 2010, I start with Christmas of that year. It seems daunting, I know, but the pictures can be really cute! Happy catching up!

Christmas 2010

Genny, a proud pre-schooler then, brought home a beautiful gingerbread house she made in class.

Baking and decorating Christmas cookies proved to be perfect Family Home Evening fun!

This is what outside looked liked in December of 2010. Not so much as a flake for Christmas in 2011!

Christmas Eve Jammies and Slippers. Mommy went all matchy, matchy on us.

Family feet! Even Mom and Dad got slippers!

As Bart worked to put a sprinkler system in our dirt filled backyard, the kids played and enjoyed the early Spring air.

Alex developed quite a love and addiction for sports. "I shoo-ing hoops!", he'd tell us.

Cross your fingers and pray it works! (It did.) Great job Bart!

Easter 2011

Easter Morning brought bright beautiful baskets...

and a lovely time at church. I just love Easter and all it stands for. I'm grateful to know that we all have a loving Savior in Jesus Christ.

His second most meaningful achievement! Winning the Elder's Quorum Pinewood Derby!

The First? Winning the Sportsmanship award when he was a boy at his 1st Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. He lost every race he was in at that derby, but still excitedly cheered on his friends. That's my hubby!

After purchasing TONS of dirt to fill in the yard, new sprinklers, and fencing, we were gifted some used curbing from our friends. This is my new flower bed.

The new garden space with a designated area for Rhubarb and Herbs.

And a curb-line to separate the lawn from the trees about to go in.

The lawn is here! The kids and their friends were in awe as they watched the grass be unloaded from the BIG truck. I have to admit, it was pretty cool to watch!

Bart getting ready to lay the sod. Many thanks to all the neighbors, friends, and my brother who came and helped with that project!

The kids and their friends wasted NO time getting on that grass and playing!

Finally! A safe, level, and BEAUTIFUL backyard for our family to play in. There are still a few other projects to be done, but the big ones are checked off the list!

Bart had several trips that took him to some cool places this year. Most of them work related, but not always full of work, as you will see. His first destination this year was to a place he goes fairly often. Good old CHINA. He actually got to go see the Great Wall this time. It was very fun for him.

Pretty amazing!

The wall's not bad either. ;)

After Dad got home, we took a day trip with the kids.

The Living Planet Aquarium was fun for all.

At least, I THINK we had fun. Yep! We did!

We also had a nice trip up to Uncle Benson and Aunt Tonya's house. We got to be there for our cousin's baptism.

We have so much fun together!

On the way home, we got to stop and stretch our legs while we visited the Rexburg Temple. How gorgeous is that!?

Then our cousin came for a fun week-long sleepover! What beautiful girls! They MUST be related.

We decided to wait till she's grown to tell her the rest of her family went to Disney World.

SHHH!

The next "work" destination landed Bart at the beautiful Pebble Beach for a weekend of golf.

Just look at him hard at work! Must be rough, but someone's gotta do it.

After Daddy's return, the best little boy we know had his birthday!

Turning 2 deserves BIG KISSES!

Enjoying his new birthday gift.

Like Father like Son!

July proved to be a VERY busy month for us. Not only did Bart have his Pebble Beach trip, and Alex have his birthday, we traveled to Fort Stevens in Oregon to camp-out with the rest of the Taylor clan for the Taylor Family Reunion.

Yes, Bart does come from good stock.

We had so much fun playing games and NOT singing around the campfire.

(That last part is an inside joke for the camp attenders.)

All of the 2-3 year old girls wore the jammies Grandma B had sent for Christmas! It wasn't planned, but it made for some great memories.

Along with all the other July born folks at camp, Mommy got a party and decorations on her tent for her birthday!

And a day at the beach, playing in the sand and being chased by the waves. It was a great birthday!

The rest of the summer looked pretty much like this. Just kickin' around not doing too much except enjoying the last days of summer.

School Days 2011

Then the big day came for Anna! Her VERY first day of school!

Look out Pre-school! Here I come!

And just in the nick of time for Kindergarten, Genny turns 5!

Such a happy and lovely girl! MAKE A WISH!

Then came Genny's first day of school!

Helloooo Kindergarten! We LOVE her teacher and Genny is thriving.

What's this!? Can't you guess? Another business trip for Bart, of course!

I'm only teasing Bart! I know, there really was business to attend to in San Francisco.

But that doesn't mean you can't take in the scenery while you're there!

The next month Bart received word that his Grandma Rasmussen, in her late 80's, had passed away.

If there's one good part about the passing of a loved one, it is this. The chance to see and catch up with loved ones who also loved Grandma R.

A lovely family, indeed.

Halloween 2011

Meow!

Pretty as a Princess!

Rise and Shout! This Cougar's out!

November meant two fun things for us! Bart's birthday! And a visit from Grandma T!

Bowling for Daddy's birthday was so much fun! Probably most fun for Grandma T as she was able to giggle at all the funny things the kids did.

Having my mom for Thanksgiving was something to be really thankful for! We haven't gotten to cook together like that in years! And just LOOK at that criss-cross pie crust we did together!

Pies are kind of my thing.

Dang, I'm good!

I don't care what anyone says, Turkey in a BAG! Never fails!

We enjoyed a relaxing dinner with my mom, Aunt Sue, and as an added bonus... my brother Ben brought his newly proposed to FIANCE'! Congratulations you two!

Genny proved her rock star reading skills and earned a certificate and free dinner at a restaurant.

(K, I don't really know how well rock stars read, but you get my meaning.)

A chance to dress up? I'm In! We attended a lovely, formal Christmas dinner put on by Bart's company for all of the employees.

It was held at the Grand America Hotel. One of the most beautiful buildings in Utah! The dinner was deliciously divine. And the company was fun and fabulous. I asked our awesome babysitter to take this picture as proof that I actually do get out every now and then. ;) The lovely locks, and latest addition to my collection of hairstyles, were a gift from my mom during her Thanksgiving visit. Thanks again Mom!

It's what we've been waiting for, literally, ALL year long! Anna's birthday!!! On every even numbered birthday, the kids get a party. Turning 4 years old qualifies Anna!

She had a princess pajama party. Not a sleep-over. Just a late-over with pizza, barbie princess movie, and makeovers! Thank you's go to Bart and Heather for their awesome support and help. The party was a hit!

Guess who's back in Asia!

We're trying to figure out why these trips always seem to happen right next to someone's birthday. In fact this one had to be moved around and manipulated so that Bart COULD be home for Anna's birthday. Thanks for making that happen Bart!

K, now I'm just getting jealous.

Daddy made it back with plenty of time for Christmas. So, we hung our stockings with care.

Right to left: Mommy's, Genny's, Daddy's, Anna's, and Alex's. I wonder what they'll be filled with!

Mommy and Daddy helped Santa out a little. However, they also decided that Santa doesn't get credit for the good stuff anymore. That's right! All the good stuff comes from Mom and Dad!

Who do you love now?

Christmas morning! The girls wearing the gift I worked so hard to make for them. I'm so proud that they turned out so beautifully.

But then they changed right into the jammies Grandma B sent! Proving that Grandmas will always be cooler than Mommy's. Well, at least I've got Santa beat!

THANK YOU GRANDMA! WE LOVE OUR NEW JAMMIES!

I'm good with my candy cane.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to ALL! May the Lord bless you with all you stand in need of this year. We are grateful for all of our friends and family and hope the New Year brings love and happiness for us all.