August 2022!

We are at the last few weeks of summer before school starts. It is strange this time around not having Adren start school. He's loving that! I can't believe Eli is about to start his Senior year (gulp!) and Paisley a Sophmore and Zeke starting his last year in middle school.

Our Stake Youth Committee wanted to put on a multi-stake dance for the end of summer. They've missed them, and we love to accomodate a fun gathering for all of the youth. We kept it really simple- just a dance! No extra games, movie or activities going on throughout the building. We served cookies and water. We hired a 6th grade DJ in the stake to do the music, and he was fantastic. We called the night an easy-peasy success!

Paisley was debating coming over so I snapped this of her friends to lure her over. It worked!

I have the best presidency!
Angela (secretary), Ellis (1st counselor), me, Melanie (2nd counselor)

Our family headed out the next day to Bear Lake for a Taylor Family Reunion! We rented a big Airbnb that barely held our bunch. With all the lake items, luggage and bedding we packed, Jon and I opted to load the truck and bring the jeep as well. This was our first family road trip in two cars, and it was nice! I brought my earbuds and planned on listening to my book on the drive up, but with Zeke sitting up front with me and Paisley in the back seat, we chatted the whole way up. It was a great drive!
We arrived as everyone else was pulling in. It's always so fun to see all the cousins reunited and so excited to all be together! Abby started on dinner for us all while us aunties tried to figure out the sleeping arrangements for everyone. Over 20 kids in the bunkroom!
After dinner we went on a lovely evening walk.

Look at this group!

Granny...

The next day we piled all of our beach gear up and headed to a day at the lake! Kayaking, paddle boarding, sand castle building and wading. It was a great day!

Then we all got freshened up and went to a play. A playhouse in Bear Lake! How charming is that?

Such good times! After dinner that night and kids came back from the pool, we all squoze into the too-tight family room for an evening of entertainment. Paisley helped DJ a family Talent Show. It was so funny to see all the kids come up with something together as they were randomly paired together to entertain. We have quite the talent in this family!

These kids!

We chuckled that we all did a version of peanut butter bars for our desserts each night.

We rented E-bikes one afternoon and all headed out golf course- bound, but took a wrong turn and headed up into big hills of new construction, everyone scattered in all directions. We all found eachother again at the bottom of the neighborhood and got some fun last runs in before we had to turn them back in. These bikes are so fun!

Back to the house for some play time and swimming on this gorgeous evening!

Our last evening we played a fun game Cade made up- slide an oreo across the island into cups you can't see filled with yummy things- to yucky things from the fridge. Talk about a hit!

Such a fun time to all be together, get caught up with each other and make fun memories together! I love this Taylor family of mine to pieces!

As we got home and all unpacked and reorganized, it was time to get the kids last minute items needed for school and try to get on a somewhat normal schedule again! This summer has been very late nights and very late mornings. The kids insist they can adjust overnight. And they kind of can- although I will see many after-school naps in the coming days. I had to talk with Adren that even though this new schedule doesn't apply to him- he needs to help be supportive of his siblings.

I prepped with Paisley for her first day:

And I enjoyed these last few breezy evenings. Like this one- Jon relaxing after puttering in the yard, and Paisley having a late dinner with him after a late shift at work.

I also love watching Eli go to buddy Connley's house right behind us.

And before we knew it, the first day of school has arrived!

Senior Eli!

Sophomore Paisley!

Friend Josi thinking she'll be getting morning rides from these two this year... until she finds out they leave a little too late!

There they go!

And then I snapped some cute pics of Jonny heading to work! Go Jonny!

Zeke loved not going back quite yet- he is now a big 8th grader, and they get to start one day later so that all of the new 7th graders can figure out the new school without the extra craziness. He was giddy to have that extra day.

He looked so cute on his first day, his hair has grown back nicely since the summer buzz cut, just as planned.

These kids are going to have a great year!

I've managed this far to not be a part of the PTA- can you believe that? I always contribute snacks for P/T conferences, cookie platters for fundraisers, $ for drives, help at fairs and relay races etc. ~ on my terms, but have avoided being officially on the board. That all changed when I walked into PHS to help get Paisley registered and my good friend (who got roped into being President) roped me into signing up. Oh well, I got this great t-shirt that Jonny loves.

I made a cake to celebrate!

I loved catching my Eli's face at the Homecoming game on PHS instagram. Can you find him?

We made sure to get a picture of all the cousins together at work at Jamestown before Kate quit to move up to Utah State for school. These gals are just the cutest in their uniforms!

I sent a "Love Package" to friend Diana, who has just sent her daughter Sammy off to NC for school. I know today is hard and happy for her, and I wanted her to know she was on my mind. The bag has flowers, tissues and chocolate.

Paisley is learning to juggle school and work- and a promotion! She now serves meals in the main dining hall instead of delivering meals to the residents rooms.