The Wall of Walker

2011 and a Boy!!!

2012-01-11T10:31:00.004-07:00

I got to make rolls for Thanks Giving!!! I pulled them out of the oven and set them on the counter and befor I could stop him or say the pan was HOT he reached up and touched the edge of the pan with his arm. It was soooo sad. and all that he wanted was just one little roll.

In the year 2011 we learned what it really means to have a boy... He is a crazy kid. In one weekend we were in the ER 2 times. The first time he was eating breakfast and pushed his chair away from the table tipping it over and wacked his head on the wall. "2 staples there!" Then the next day we were at my moms and Ry was playing up stairs wacks his chin on a treasure chest and wa-la "3 stiches later" Talk about feeling like mom of the year.

2012-01-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

Christmas Eve!

2012-01-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

2011-09-14T22:15:00.003-06:00

2011-04-19T13:44:00.002-06:00

We went to the worland museum! Not bad! We had losts of fun!

Halloween!!

2010-12-01T10:17:00.004-07:00

Ok I am a little slow posting this but I am hopping to get better at keeping up in my blogging!!!! Taycee was a witch and Ryan was a ghost! we got to spend our Halloween in Lovell with family and friends! It was way fun!

Finaly All MINE!!!

2010-05-21T10:41:00.003-06:00

May 6th 2010 Ryan Matthew Walker officially joined our family. We are so excited that he is here to stay. It took a little longer then expected but it is done. Taycee is loving telling everyone that he is her little brother. She is so proud to be a big sister. (even if she has always called him her brother) It is interesting how much you protect yourselves from the unknown. We have always loved Ryan like he was our own and we were really all he knew but when the news came that we were going to get to keep him things seemed to settle into place. Even Ryan relaxed into our family it is like he knew what was happening. We are excited to take him to the temple soon and have him sealed to us. It is all such an amazing experience.

wow!!!

2010-02-01T08:59:00.003-07:00

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my Grandma Smith. She was a wonderful person. She past away about a yeah and a half ago and has been greatly missed. It surprises me how many things make me think of her. Her influence was in every aspect of my life. She was someone that I always wanted to share my news with and someone I love to get a reaction from she would always laugh, roll her eyes, and say oh brother! But it is times that are really exciting in my life that I am glad that I can still feel her here with me.

We just found out that Ryan is going to join our family permanently. It should be all finalized by the end of Feb. 2010!!! We have had him in our home since Aug. 2008. What a wonderful feeling to have him joining our family after all that time. He is a wonderful little boy and loved by all of our family and friends. Taycee is very excited to have a little brother.

Thanks Giving

2010-01-12T22:40:00.003-07:00

I know I am a little late for this but just wanted to add a few pictures. I figured that it was about time I had some family pictures done! I think that last one we had done was pre cancer so 2004??? wow what a slacker I am. Hope you like them.

Our new house!!!

2009-12-12T16:43:00.005-07:00

FRONT VIEW!!!

BACK VIEW

LIVING ROOM BEFORE WE MOVED IN!!!

Going going gone...

2009-10-15T11:10:00.004-06:00

Today for the first time in our lives we are selling our first home. We will sign papers and then move on to something new. There are a lot of things that we will miss about this house. We put a lot of work into it and finaly got a kitchen we loved with a dish washer and a back yard with grass things that you may or may not take for granted. These picture are from when we were renting it to Jake and Gretchen. I just wanted to post pictures so we would always have something to look back on and help us remember! and it was way cuter when Gretchen was the decorater.

My not so fisher man!!

2009-10-15T10:57:00.003-06:00

Sam was invited to go fishing with all his brothers and his dad and he is not really one who enjoys fishing. I being the wonderful wife I am told him that it is not the fishing that he was going for but that he was going. I just didn't want him to miss out on all that fun time with the boys. So early one morning the boys all set out for a fun filled day in nature and us girls a fun filled day with the kiddos. Sam is not really a talker so I didn't get to hear much about the trip but he took the camera so I did get to see some pictures and one imparticular that all the boys were pretty proud of was the snake eating a fish. Yum! And the rest I just thought were cool so here they are. oh and he did have fun and was glad I encouraged him to go.

First day of Kindergarden!!!

2009-10-15T09:25:00.003-06:00

Ok I know this is a little late, school started a while ago but I guess better late then never right? I still can't believe that I have a kid old enough to be in Kindergarten but she is loving every minute of it. These picture are of her first day. They got to bring there teddy bears and Taycee chose mine to bring. He is her favorite even if he is old! (I got him when I was a little girl from my grandma Bassett and I still have him.)

Isn't this a big back pack for such a tiny girl?

I was signing papers and getting things ready so I could leave and Ryan went over to the rug with the rest of the class and made himself at home just like that was were he was supposed to be. I did ok leaving Taycee that first day. Everyone made it sound so hard so I had prepared myself for the water work but it was easy to leave her that first day. But the next day was a different story...

When we got to the school I didn't take her into the classroom I had to let her go out on the playground with all those big kids. I stood there til the bell rang and watched her then as I was walking to the car I must have gotten something in my eyes because they started watering. No one warned me about day 2. After that first week we finally got in to some kind of a routine and now a quarter of the school year is already flown past!!!

Family Reunion!!

2009-07-15T13:57:00.002-06:00

Wow our family is getting bigger. There are now 11 adults and and 9 kids. We were all able to spend a few days at sunshine Reservoir. It was a lot of fun and a lot of sun. Most of us were there from Wed. after noon. Sam couldn't come up until Th. night so we missed him. He stopped in Burlington and picked up Ashtin. It was a lot of fun to all be together. The food was excellent. It always seems better when you are camping. Taycee loved getting to sleep in a tent. (Over the 4th I set it up so that I could sweep it out. Taycee was having so much fun that I told her we could sleep in it. The things we do for our kids. Sam wasn't so thrilled about the idea so we waited until she was asleep and moved her to her bed and got to sleep in our own.) The first night up there I was in the tent with Ryan and Taycee by myself but I tried to be brave and lucky for us no bear tried to eat us. The water was a little cold. Too cold for Sam. But Mom (Donna) and I went for a swim every morning that we were there. It was cold when ya first get in but if you move around it starts to feel warm. The boat was fun even if Sam get "BOAT" sick. The tube was a hit Taycee Loved it. Most of the kids opted to stay off. Liberty would have rather went out on the fishing boat and fished. She was sure a little fisher women. It was a ton of fun just getting to be together. Oh one last thing JOE...
He was so funny. He was the one that we had to watch the closest because he thought that he needed to be right by the water. But we tried to take him in with us and he decided that the water was just too cold for his liking.
I will put picture and video on here after Sam shows me how to put the pictures on the computer. "its a new camera"

More Jokes

2009-07-02T10:06:00.001-06:00

I had a few Popsicle sticks sitting on my counter waiting for me to share so here they are....
Why did the annoying exterminator lose his job?
~He bugged his boss!!!

Where do snowmen dance?
~At the Snowball!!!

Taycee really likes the one about the snowmen! Enjoy!!!

Summer fun!!!

2009-07-02T09:37:00.004-06:00

Well time an update. Little Ryan is getting so big. He is crawling everywhere. We have been focusing on helping him learn to walk so we hold his hands and try to let him walk places. (He's got that red head temper so will only do it on his terms.) The other day he even tried standing on his own. It wasn't for very long but it is a start. He is really good at putting things in his little bucket and also taking them back out. He is working on another tooth so that makes 12. All those teeth make him pretty good at eating solid foods. He is really getting in to climbing. He loves to climb up into his little chair of up on the couch. He loves to be outside too. Taycee is into making mud pies and Ryan is into crawling through them. He love to get dirty. Oh and the other day we went to the circus he liked to see all the animals and people doing cool stuff but 2 hours was a long time to sit. We also went to a parade. He wasn't so into getting the candy but really liked watching it.
Taycee had a lot of fun at the circus. She loved to waltch the pretty girls doing all the cool tricks and the juggling. She decided that she wanted to learn how to juggle. I loved to see the tigers and lions and the elephants. Taycee wanted to do elephant rides but mom and dad didn't want to stand it the super long lines.

Lovell mustang days were really fun too. I am not much of a runner but I love doing the fun run with Brooklyn (2 years now), Taycee, and Alex(this was there first) they all did so good. We didn't get to bed until 12 the night before so we were lucky to even get the girls out of bed that morning. Sam, Taycee, Ryan, and I stayed the night at Ben and Aubrey's and it was so much fun. We had planned a little game night with Devon, Sharla, and their kids. But the kids played and the adults just hung out and talked. It is nice to have such good friends. Then the fun run the next morning fallowed but the boringness of getting ready then the fun parade. We had a ton of kids there. We sat in front of Jake and Gretchen's house which is so nice because the kids was done half way through so they went and played on the swing set in the back yard. This year we had a great group to enjoy the parade with. Taycee loved getting to see all her friends that she has missed so much. I was so lucky to get to see some my good friends as well. I sure miss getting to see them. To make it better we had a picnic with a great hostess. Thanks to Jake and Gretchen we had a barbecue at there house and got to spend more time with our friends and family. Then Naps!!!! They might have been the most beneficial event of the day. Fire works and a long drive home wrapped everything up. It was fun to go out to Horseshoe bend early and talk to a lot of other people that we hadn't seen since we moved in November. What a Day and I am already looking forward to next year.

Jokes

2009-06-21T16:58:00.003-06:00

Yesterday Sam and I got to spend a fun day in Billings just the two of us and baby Ryan. Taycee got to spend the day with Alex and Brooklyn in Lovell. (Just a little something to show you who she is most like... Taycee, Brooklyn, and Alex were all playing in the sprinklers and Aubrey was working in the yard and all the suden Brooklyn and Alex start yelling don't Taycee Stop that Kids will be kids so Aubrey went on with her yard work not thinking much about it. Ben was on the Tractor and saw Taycee chasing the girls with the sprinkler and by this point is up on the porch soaking everything in her path, Towels, cloths, and the front door so to get Taycee's attention decided to honk the horn. I hope I got the story right I just thought it was too funny not to share. I am not going to tell you which of us (Sam or me) that Taycee might have picked something like that up you will have to guess!!!!!

Aubrey This little tid bit is for you....

This is a Joke off of our Popsicle sticks

Where does a dog hate to shop???

At the flea market

So I hope you liked my Joke I might get around to putting jokes on here as we eat our Popsicles...

So Cute and not so Cute!!!

2009-06-11T13:19:00.006-06:00

Well some people have these wonderful stories of a bird building a nest and getting to enjoy the cute little birds but not me all that we have to brag about at our house is a snake that lived just outside our front door!!!! Ok it is only a gardener snake but he still scared Taycee enough to have been the most poisonous snake ever. He was all curled up next to the step and as we passed Taycee caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye and started the girly screams. (yeah and with a yard sale going on up the street I am sure we got some crazy looks!!!) He hung around for a few days but finally I had had enough of the freaking out every time we went to leave the house so being the tough person that I am I made Sam get rid if it. Don't worry all you snake lovers he just moved it to a new home.

Ryan is getting so big!!! He has been with us for 10 months. He is such a joy to have around. He some how transformed from a baby to a little boy. He is learning so many things. He is walking along the furniture and once in a while he will stand on his own. Taycee is one of his biggest fans. She love to cheer him on and is the first to tell him what a good job he is doing. He finds her very funny. She is always making him laugh and it is the best sound in the world. I don't think that there is a sound quite like it.

Ryan is learning to Maneuver the stairs!!!

He is learning from his cousin Dalley. He isn't around stairs that often so he is actually doing very well. He is even able to come back down a few of them. He is even so brave to stand up while hanging on to the railing and that makes me a bit nervous.

Taycee is always doing things that make me laugh! She wasn't even trying this time. She was cold and so I handed her my sweat shirt. She started whining about not being able to get it on with her seat belt on but then figured it out. She looked to me to be coming out of the seat but maybe you won't see it but I thought it was funny!!!

I love that we live in a place were if we are quiet we can peek over the back gate and see a deer not to far away. The kids (and Sam) thought it was just so cool!!!

School's out for the summer!!!

2009-05-22T08:25:00.005-06:00

Wow Taycee's last day of preschool!!! It is so crazy! She started at Absorka Head start in 2007 When we lived in Lovell. She moved to the 4 year old class in 2008 and now we live in Worland and she just finished her last day. She is going to start kindergarten in the fall. It feels a little crazy that she is already going to start into school. She is very excited but also very ready for summer. She is getting so big and such a good little helper. She is always helping with Ryan (even if she is sometimes overly helpful)!

These pictures are of Taycee at school. It is the last days that I could volunteer and I have been really bad about taking pictures of her. I don't normally get pictures of her at school because I am not there.

At school I learned the right way to set my place at the table. (even if I won't do it at home)

I like to read stories! But like it even more when mom reads to me!!!

My Friend Ariceli!!

(Greg, Colin, Gaberial, Andrew, Taycee, Ariceli, Nicole, Allison)
Standing in line after the potty break!

Working hard to Write my name! (Taycee Walker)

It is play time at school and I am Taycee the cowgirl and I am singing!!!

If you look close you can see me at the top of the tower. I am a princess and i am defending my castle so LOOK OUT BELOW!!!!

Our mother's day Gift!!!

2009-05-21T16:28:00.003-06:00

Well we had this great idea for a mothers day gift we were going to get my mom Choke cherry trees. We knew she wanted them so we figured that would be a safe bet, good thing I ran it past dad!!! He informed us that there we a ton of starts at Norman and Jeanie's house. So instead if buying her a present we gave her service. We told her that we would transplant the trees for her. We transplanted I think at least 40 trees. It was fun and we got a lot of work done. Now when these little trees grow up we will have a great wind break and a ton of berries. I guess we will have to get our kids hooked on Choke Cherry syrup!! The kids were a lot of help to!!

Branding at the Preator's!!!

2009-05-12T08:26:00.007-06:00

The day didn't start out as early as planned because we had to wait for things to dry just a little but the sun decided to shine what a nice day!! We all had our jobs and the kids even helped. Haden kept the calves out of the branding area and Libby kept track of how many bull calves there were. Ryan loved being outside and was helping by waving his bottle in the air and yelling on occasion. Josh's job was to keep the calves coming and he did a great job. There was not many calves but we were all there to have a good time and get some work done. Of course I had to make sure that those boys new that a girl can do anything they can do and was doing an ok job until this one calf got an attitude. I wont go into details but I ended up with a pretty good bruise on my face.(it was worse then it looks in this picture) "I got some pretty funny looks at church the next day." There was also a pretty good save done by Tyler! A calf got in were the kids were and so he went to save the day, the calf tried to jump through him and Tyler caught him mid air. AWESOME TYLER! You are our hero!!!!! And after all the work was done we got to enjoy some wonderful food! Thanks Jeanie for the great food and Norman thank you for letting us come out and enjoy the day with you.

TIME OUT!!!!!!

2009-05-04T09:43:00.004-06:00

What a fun weekend we just had! We went to Time out for women!! It was so fun to be together and the speakers were all just awesome. Our Time out started Friday. On Friday we had the pleasure of hearing some songs from Hillary Weeks. We also had the opportunity to listen to one of the greatest violinists I think in the World, Jenny Oaks Baker!! Not only was she good but FUNNY!!! We started Early on Saturday to be at the metra by 8:15ish (that is Bassett time)! We were uplifted and learned! We laughed and we Cried and then laughed and cried some more. It was nice to listen to people that have experienced the things that we are going through (to some extent) and handled it with grace and optimism! Such examples!!! All of the speakers from Friday had written books so that will be fun to read some of those. For those of you who have never been to a time out for women you should definitely give it a try. It is so fun to be together as a group of women. If anyone wants to learn more about it or see when it is coming to your part of the world here is a web site to help!! http://deseretbook.com/time-out

Little girls and bikes!!!

2009-04-26T17:06:00.001-06:00

Taycee is getting so big and the weather is so nice! We have been teaching Taycee to ride her bike without training wheels. She is doing pretty good but she would be content to ride with them for ever I think. She is learning on her little bike and in our back yard. She can make it from one side of the yard to the other. She is going to have to learn to use her handle bars before we take her out of the back yard. She is not sure about the turning. She will get it because hopefully we will get to ride our bikes a lot this summer. We are getting so excited about summer. It comes and about cooks us then the next day it is snowing and it freezes us. What a confused season???

Festivities!!

2009-04-16T16:17:00.004-06:00

At the Wilkerson's

We had a great Easter On Saturday we got to go hang out with the Walker's. Susan had her annual Easter Egg hunt and lunch. I would have some great pictures but Sam and I were late for the Egg Hunt and by the time we got there it was over. That wouldn't have been to bad but we had gotten Taycee all excited about it. Taycee was fine until it was time to go and she realized she didn't get to hunt! Aunt Susan to the Rescue!! Aunt Susan saved us by putting a few things in Taycee's bucket.

Then we got to go to Ben and Aubrey's! We got to meet Candace! She is so sweet.

We ended the day by hanging out with Jake, Gretchen, and Owen. Thanks guys for letting us visit.

At the Bassett's

Sunday we all were able to be together and just have fun! We all met for a late lunch and then had to take a few hours after to recover from all that food! Then came picture with the KIDS! Yes I do think we are crazy. They were quite a sight to see. None of them would cooperate at the same time.
Grandma and Grandpa Gunner did a spiritual Egg hunt out in the trees. The kids had fun and I think Grandma Gunner enjoyed it as much as they did! Oh and for those of you how are not aware, The Gunner's are a.k.a Donna and Jodee Bassett!!!
Then it was time for the big kid games!!! We tried a new and I think we will blame that one on Lila. It is called moose moose! Wow that is a wild one! I think it would be a great one to try out the next time the Matt Bassett Family comes to visit!!

Spring Fever!!!

2009-04-11T20:28:00.002-06:00

Wow I have never really felt the spring fever until yesterday. It was a beautiful day and I was felling like I needed to be in the country with room to explore! I was lucky because Sam came home from work at noon and was done for the day. So I (being the nice person that I am) decided to leave Ryan with Sam and take Taycee on a date! She was as excited as I was. We headed for Burlington because we really wanted to ride. We had a great day. It turned out that Brit was riding through some cows so Taycee, Mom, Haden, and I went to keep her company. We had many adventures. The first is when Brit had to pull a brand new little calf out of the canal. "He is ok!" We had a great time being out side and have no stress. Taycee road with me a little but when ever possible moved to mom or Brit's horse. "They would go fast and I am just a slow poke!" Thanks Britty and Mom for the day. Taycee ended the day by getting to spend the night with grandma. She was in Heaven!!!

Easter

2009-04-11T19:42:00.004-06:00

Well I just wanted to share with everyone a some of the things that have been going on at our house. Taycee, Ryan, and I are really getting excited about Easter. We have been doing fun crafts and Taycee is a natural! I found the cutest idea in a book Dondee gave to me. It is an Easter Tree! I am not sure if a picture does it justice. But it is so fun to do. I was out doing yard work and my neighbor had a tree that was growing through the fence so I cut it off and was about to throw it away well I didn't and it became our project. Taycee colored the eggs and I stamped names on them. Then on Easter The kids will be able to decorate their own egg with stickers.
We are so glad to be spending Easter and Post Easter with the ones that we love.

Conference Sunday!!

2009-04-07T10:10:00.000-06:00

It was a super fun day of being together and listening to uplifting speakers. It was even good with all the kids. There are 9 of them now and sometimes it is hard to keep them all quiet for that long. I had gotten an E mail from a friend of mine that had a conference pack attached. So I decided to make each of the kids that are old enough a folder with their name on it and their own stuff inside. We all played conference bingo!! What a sight! Dad and Josh each had 2 sheets and were the rule enforcers. "I think they cheat!" hah Erin? and poor Erin every time she would get a pretty good start on hers one of the kids would bump it and she would have to start over. At lunch the kids and a few of the adults got to go out and see the baby goats. Lunch was yummy! Dondee made her famous chicken, and Sam and I made won tons and Egg rolls, Brit made some pasta that was good enough to fight over! I was so stuffed that I thought I would not eat for days but then Jodee made his famous popcorn. It was a great day of getting to be together and even learning a little something!!!

Taycee and Liberty

2009-04-04T17:14:00.003-06:00

(Taycee and Liberty)

I loved this picture! One of my sister took it and put it on the Family blog. I thought I would put it on here for everyone else to enjoy!!!

Greybul/Basin

2009-04-04T16:55:00.004-06:00

Wow I can't believe he's one! He is getting so big I think He day before his birthday he had a huge growth spurt. We had a birthday party at DFS. It was so fun I made cup cakes and decorated them to look like basketballs and baseballs. They turned out cuter then I thought they would. Then I got to spend the rest of the day with Dondee and Britany. It was fun we worked on making some pages for a bulletin board at the church. They turned out so cute. I will post a picture of the board when it is all put together. And how lucky am I. I got to go back over on Friday. Dondee had a crazy day and so I came to watch kids so Dondee could do her thing and Josh and Erin could go to the Temple. The kid were realy good. Then after Dondee had gotten home the big kids decided to go and play out side and Joe agreed that that would be a great idea. They all headed out side. A few min. later Dondee went out to check on the kids and found Joe Running and splashing in every puddle he could find. That might not have been that big of a deal but unlike the big kids he didn't have shoes on. Dondee was talking to him about how he needed to ware shoes and not play in the puddles and he commented back "oh cold", and "pants WET"!!! it was so funny. It was a long day but very enjoyable!

Lovell B-day Party!!

2009-03-30T13:51:00.005-06:00

The lights on my van weren't working and I really wanted to go and visit family over in Lovell but Sam said that we wouldn't be able to go unless we got the lights fixed. He thought it might be a problem getting home without lights!?!?! I guess that is a reasonable worry due to the fact that we are never home before dark it seems! Luckily the lights turned out to be an easy fix. They had both just burned out at the same time, Strange!! So we were able to go. We got there and Sam and Ben spent the morning painting the basement and then thought they needed a break so spent the late afternoon Hunting. They went out to a bird farm I guess. I love Pheasant so I didn't mind.

Cake Decorating

Taycee, Brooklyn, and Alex had a blast just being together. They even took time out of their playing to help with the cake decorating. They did a great job. Taycee has not quite learned how to share here time with more then one person at a time. So she spent the day learning. Alex is the one that was getting left out all day. I tried explaining how she was making Alex feel and I think she got the point. She still struggled by it seemed to get better. We made the girls have a rest time and then Aubrey and I Took the girls for a bike ride. It was a short one but for a out of shape person like me and a DUE any time person like Aubrey and then adding on the fact that I had Ryan in a pack on my Back and Aubrey and I were trying to wrangle the other 3 I think we did pretty good. The kids had fun and we got some fresh air. We were almost home and Brooklyn decided that she didn't want to ride her bike any more so I stole it from her and was just going to pretend to ride it. Then I did ride it. It was funny I am sure it looked funny any ways. Like I said I had Ryan in a pack and I am riding a bike that is way too small for me. We had a good time.

Later at the Party...

We decided to make dinner about the time everyone was supposes to show up. We made Fajitas and let me tell you they were yummy!!! Gretchen had never had them so we made her try them and even though they had onions in them she seemed to like them. Ryan ate a tortilla and then was ready for cake. So we dished him up. (I didn't make him his own yet.) He went to town! He was not shy about it at all. He cleaned it up! I was a little surprised and a little worried about if it was going to affect his night. (It didn't) We then cleaned up the mess and went into the living room for the presents. He just wanted to play with the bags. but with a little help from Sam he got them opened. Thank you every one for the presents Ryan is loving them.

Just around the corner!!

2009-03-26T17:42:00.002-06:00

I was just thinking about Ryan! We have had him for 7 months and He will be a year old on April 2nd! He is getting so big. He has come so far in the time that I have had him he is crawling and snuggling. He is so sweet! And the best baby, always smiling. He is a little bit of a mama's (or Foster mama's) boy and I think a little spoiled but I don't mind most of the time. He just started to eat big people food so I think that by the time it is time for Birthday cake he will be all ready to dig in we will see! He has also just decided that he can feed himself. I know Taycee went through this stage but I seems like forever ago. I am not sure if I am ready for it. But I guess I don't have much of a choice. He holds his spoon like he knows what he is doing but then uses his fingers. He makes a pretty good mess. His favorite part is putting his bowl on his head and making Taycee laugh. He thinks he is so funny.

Taycee is getting big to her birthday will be here before we know it. She is going to be 5 in July and yes she will be starting kindergarten. It will be all day Kindergarten and I think she will like it. She is really smart but because of that she knows how to play dumb. She tells her teachers that she doesn't know how to do something when she really does. She has had to do things at home because she wouldn't do them at school. she doesn't think her mom is very nice because I make her do more then her teachers would have. SO... now she does them at school like she is suppose to. She is so good with Ryan. She will get me diaper and wipes and what ever I need and she doesn't seem to mind much that he is on her turf and taking time with her parents away from her. She is a good big sis!!!

Walking paths and Bonfires!!!

2009-03-22T16:04:00.008-06:00

I know everyone is just waiting for me to add this one... Friday Sam wasn't feeling well and stayed home from work to try and recuperate so I thought that I would help out by getting our busy kids out of the house. So I made Sam lunch, packed up the kids and headed for Basin. Dondee and the boys were there waiting. We loaded Ryan up in the stroller and the kids on all there bikes and started out on our walk. We walked over to Britany's so that Bingo could come to and then walked the walking path. I am not sure how long of a walk that was but I am sure that walks are a lot harder when you have 4 kids on bikes, 1 in a stroller,and a puppy on a leash. It was quite a sight. But very worth it!!! Taycee got her squats caught over her seat and her bitke tipped over and all the boys rushed to her aid. It was so cute. Then when we got back to Dondee's we loaded up the suburban and headed for Grandma and Grandpa Gunners (aka Donna and Jodee) for a bonfire or as the kids called it a fire bomb and a few other names I can't remember. Anyway we got there and got to shoot clay pigeons. The kids watched as I missed all 6 that I shot at. Mallory I think hit all of hers. We tried to let Grandpa Smith shoot but he said he would rather watch CJ shoot. Grandma Gunner did great and well I think everyone but me hit one including Haden!The kids thought they were getting hungry about 6:30 or 7 imagine that... so Lila and I helped get them all organized and roasting away. Libby wanted to start with the marshmallows but mean aunt Brin said she had to eat a hot dog first. We all had a good time hanging out and just being together.The best part was that there were no injuries.

The little things!

2009-03-18T08:11:00.004-06:00

This morning Ryan was up when we were reading scriptures and he pulled himself up on the foot rest of my chair and was playing with one of Sam's hats. Then he made noise and laughed at him self. He did this for like 5 or 10 min. It was so funny. He also does a lot of other super cute things...
He is kind of a mamma's boy. He likes to be held and he also likes to snuggle. I will be holding him and he will put his forehead to mine and just smile. He also loves Eskimo kisses. They make him laugh every time. It is so cute to see him when Sam walks in the door from work. (I think he knows when Sam should be getting home because he starts to get fussy and then when Sam walks in his face lights up and no more grouch. The other night I gave Taycee the choice of who she wanted to put her to bed, I said that I would read her a story or Daddy would play his guitar and sing. Of course she picked her dad. I laid down next to Taycee on her little bed and held Ryan and listened to him play. Ryan was so wiggly I thought maybe he just wanted down but I was wrong I let him loose and he crawled across the bed straight to Sam and started to help play. He was content!!! Yesterday he started to think standing is alright and will do it a little more often. He still doesn't do it as often as he should but he is smart and will do it at his own pace. And I am really not sure if I am 100% ready to have him walking all over. He's only crawling and already into everything and he just doesn't seem like he is old enough to be walking. I am not sure if that is because we got him when he was almost 5 months or if he is just small or maybe it is because we let Taycee grow up so fast and she is going to be 5 years old soon. What a wonderful family that I have. We are glad to have Ryan apart of it even if it might be for a short while.

Ryan's Hospital Visit!!!

2009-03-12T14:27:00.005-06:00

Well this week has been a crazy!! Sunday Ryan wasn't feeling good so he and Sam stayed home from church. When I got home I was holding him and he was really raspy so I decided that it was time to take him to the Dr. It was Sunday so it was actually the ER. We got there about 2 and Ryan was admitted into the hospital by 4. Ryan practically lived in a plastic tent crib From Sunday evening to Thursday morning. The nurses were very nice and the cook even made me a hamburger special just because I commented out loud that one sounded good. It has been a long week and only doable because I have awesome sisters that kept Taycee for me and came over and helped me clean the house to get ready for Ryan to come home. Thank you Brit for staying with Ryan so I could get a little break from the hospital room, and Dondee and Erin for the amazing cleaning they did. Also to all the other amazing friends that came to visit and bring Ryan things to keep him occupied and me things to keep me occupied as well. There were a few times when I thought that Ryan was going to break out of his special little tent but luckily he was really an angle most of the time. He slept a lot and did ok with the few toys that I had there.

2009-03-12T14:20:00.002-06:00

On Friday of last week I got to go to Dondee's and watch Porter. Porter and Taycee were so good. The kind of good that you could forget that they were there good. Then the boys got out of school at 1:45 so Taycee, Ryan, Porter, and I picked up Haden and Cash and headed for Worland. What a crew! It was fun to have them.

No more helmet for Ryan!

2009-03-06T07:22:00.001-07:00

Well yesterday I had to drive all the way to Billings it is a lot farther from Worland then it was from Lovell, but the trip was made super fun when last minute changes made it on Wednesday instead of Friday. This made it possible for both Lila and Britany to come with. The day started a little rocky when we were about 30 min. late for Ryan's apt. But made it and got that out of the way (he is all done with that dumb "but helpful" helmet!) we were so excited about that that we decided to celebrate. We went to Red Lobster for lunch. I haven't been there in so long. It was so fun to spend time with Brit and Lila like that we haven't really gotten to do anything like that I think since Brit's Wedding! "At least it feels like it has been that long!" Then lunch followed a super fun day of hanging out and shopping. Costco, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Cozmo prof, and finally home-word. What an awesome day "Thanks Britany and Lila for making the trip with me!"

Good Food and good company!! (Worth the Trip)

2009-03-03T14:07:00.003-07:00

Sunday we were so lucky to make the trip over to Lovell and see our good friends the Parks Family. They are great one more reason to miss Lovell. Sharla made the comment about it being our turn to come visit them and so I said when and well we made an appearance. ummmm just thinking about it makes me want more of the yummy food they made! It was Chinese...
the sauce, the chicken, and the won-ons, oh it was a very tasty treat. They even gave me the recipe even though they did say that they wanted it back so that I couldn't make it and would come back for more. "We are not that easy to get rid of you know!" Taycee and Derek just played and played and when it was time to go they were not to thrilled. Marissa was so cute she just climbed up on the couch and is just so cute, she has this crazy tung and she can turn it so the top of her tung is all the way flipped over "my tung can't do any tricks!" Then there was Ryan and Daemon.... most of the babies that Ryan has been around were not interested in playing but Daemon and Ryan were little partners in crime. They got into the magazines and tore them up and then moved to other things. But the magazines kept them busy for quite a while. It was fun and is great to have such good friends.

To Grandpa's house we go...

2009-03-01T12:43:00.006-07:00

Friday Taycee, Ryan and I got to drive over to Greybull and spend some time with Grandpa Smith. Grandpa was mostly watching the games but once in a while Taycee would go up to him and give him a big hug and tell him that she loved him it was so cute. For me it was a little of an emotional day. It is strange being in the house that has so many memories and reminders of my Grandma. I walked through the house and just looked a round. Her hand writing was on things and I went in the pantry and (you will think I am dumb) but her canning "mostly her pickles" made me think of her. "I Love you Grandma THIIIIIIIIS MUCH! And we miss you that much too"

Well I have to say that yesterday was a fun Saturday. I was feeling adventurous and just needed to get out and do something. I decided that we would make some vinegar taffy. I hadn't made that since I was a kid so I whipped up a half batch. Then you have to pull it until it turns from the brown color to a cream or white. We got Sam to come help and Taycee did her best. Her taffy is still more brown them white but it is hard. I realized how scrawny that my arms have gotten. Then we ate lunch and went to the park. I tried to Push Ryan in the swing but he didn't want me to he wanted Sam to and when I got close he would start crying again. Kind of a surprise because usually he wants me and not Sam!?!?!?! We played on the slides and marry-go-round and swings I even got both kids on the swing with me. Yeah Crazy but fun! Then we headed for home and Sam must have been in a great mood because we talked him into going for a short walk. Taycee got her bike I got the stroller and Sam got Ali. It wasn't a long walk but it was fun.

Friends and Oatmeal Pancakes!

2009-02-27T11:04:00.003-07:00

Well I just thought that I would let you all now that we are adjusting and making friends here in Worland. Taycee got to have some friends over, but the sad part is that it is snowing. All week it has been beautiful, sunny, and well wonderful and the day she gets friends over she is couped up in the house. So SAD! But they are making the best of it and decided to watch Care Bears. Oh and I have to add this little tip too because well it was good... This morning the girls were hungry and all voted for pancakes (blue berry pancakes) I didn't have that kind so I was just going to make regular ones (krustez just add water) but then I had an idea, I had the individual instant oat meal packs and one was a mixed berry so I made it like I was going to have oat meal cooked it in the microwave for 1 min and added the pancake mix and a little water. They turned out really well. Next time I am going to try apple cin. oat meal pancakes. "Sounds yummy to me!"

2009-02-26T13:34:00.002-07:00

Well today I guess I will add a little something about me...
I have been keeping pretty busy, yesterday I was able to volunteer for the first time in Taycee's class since we moved here. It was kind of hard to leave Ryan but it had to happen sooner or later. Taycee loved having me there. I did it a lot in Lovell because I have great friends there that I trust and that helps. (I sure miss getting to see them when ever I feel like it. I could just pop in and say hi or what ever. Now, well not so much! There is quite a little distance between us. We love it when they make the trip over here or we make it over there.) It was fun to watch Taycee do her work and play with her new friends. She has adjusted very well to Worland. Taycee enjoys it when we are able to walk her to and from school. It helps that her and Ryan like it so much because I don't have Jane here to get me walking. So Taycee is trying to help out a little by keeping me going. (I am still hoping that Taycee and I will make it over to the fun run this summer. Brooklyn was a great partner last year and Alex and Taycee will hopefully have as much fun as Brooklyn and I did.) Sam is enjoying his new job and I think his class as well. He is taking an Internet class and is staying on top of things (better then I would be). He likes the guys he is working with but I am sure there are times that he wishes we were still back in Lovell. "But he will never say" (dang Walkers) gotta love 'em!

2009-02-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well I thought that I could give this a try and maybe it will be my incentive to write a little something about our lives everyday.

Taycee has a thing for taking pictures and also having her picture taken so we often find pictures of Taycee taken by Taycee. This is one of her most resent. "She is getting more creative" she added Rylee in this one! Besides just being a talented photographer she is very smart. She is going to Absorka Head Start here in Worland and is in the 4 year old class. She likes her school and her teachers but is missing her old school, teachers, and friends. When I pick Taycee up from school she often asks "mom who is in the car" or "Mom who is at our house. She misses our usually full house in Lovell and to tell you the truth I miss it to. But we will adjust!

Ryan is getting so big! He will be a year old in April. We have had the opportunity to enjoy him for 6 months now and we are loving every minute of it. He is learning so much and doing it so fast. In November he started getting around by scooting on his belly. Now he is getting quite good at using his hands and knees and actually crawling. He still seems so small to me but is quickly turning into a little boy! He and Taycee get along very well. Taycee can make him laugh and cry equally well. She likes to love him too much sometimes and that is when he demands his space. Ryan had 5 teeth now. He started with his top front right one and the other top tooth and both bottom front teeth quickly fallowed. He just started working on another top tooth.

Yesterday we went for a walk because the day was so nice and Ali was just begging to get out and run, not to mention that Taycee had been asking for days to go for a walk. So I caved! We ventured out...

We have an awesome walking path not far from our house which makes walks easy and enjoyable. Taycee road her bike and Ryan enjoyed his stroller. He barley made a noise, he just loved looking around and taking everything in. But by the time we got home he was out. Sleeping like an angle. So while he was napping in the stroller I spent some time pushing Taycee in the swing and throwing the ball for Ali. Taycee is learning how to make the swing move all by her self. ( I can't believe she is almost 5 and will be a Kindergartner next year)

The swing is just a tire with some modifications and really kind of cool but the funniest part is the way that Taycee was sitting in it.

She is so flexible. She was almost folded completely in half. She sat like that and I pushed her as high as it would go and she just laughed and laughed. It was very amusing.