Elder Cox

So, I figured for most families sending out a missionary was, ya know... "easy and normal." That's what I always thought hearing about friends who's brothers were leaving, or hearing about so and so's missionary... yada yada yada.
Now I realize there are a lot of feelings involved.

My brother is the One and Only brother. So this is all brand new to me, my sisters, and my Mom. We have had a lot of life changing experiences these last two years and it's all a little overwhelming to say the least. Of course we want him to be on a mission, and he definitely wants to be there too. That doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Nope.

So what do you think we all have been doing to cope?? Well, we use this website like allllll the time sending him letters and writing funny things to him (like Snorkel...) I made him a package of stuff that I went a little overboard on. I mean, hello... if it were me, I would want to be getting awesome stuff! My mom has sent him a package, his girlfriend has sent him some, and Taryn thinks any craft or coloring project is something we are sending Taylor.
Ya, we are a little obsessed.

But, in all seriousness, my brother is one of a kind. He is sweet in a way most teenage boys can't even understand. He has never once been rude to his sisters, made any of us feel bad or upset, and has never made fun of us. He has taken it upon himself to love my girls in a way my Dad only could. He stares at them meaningfully, he plays with them when everyone else wants a break, he truly adores them.
And when it comes to my Mom, he cares for her in ways that can't be explained.
So you see... my brother is one of a kind.

So far he has been soaking up the MTC experience like a sponge. He says he has his moments of feeling down, but then comes right back up with a laugh from his comps and a reminder of why he is there. Yesterday he arrived at the MTC in the Domincan Republic. Of course it's like starting from scratch again and is a little overwhelming. My heart hasn't stopped praying for him and my mind is constantly wondering what he is doing now and how is he feeling? I know with every change, there is fear and nervousness. I felt it 7 months ago. Then again, I wasn't moving out of the country, learning a new language, and leaving my entire family behind. Being surrounded with the unfamiliar is scary.... but in time you grow to love your new surroundings.

Elder Cox is going to change lives. He is going to bring hope, peace, joy, and most importantly he is going to bring knowledge of the Savior.
Now that is a change that is worth every ounce of fear and worry a missionary goes through.

I love you Taylor and I am so proud of all the wonderful work you are bringing forth!

We are all sending xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo's to the DR!

Discover

A new kids museum just opened here... so of course we had to check it out!

It's called the Discovery Museum (obviously) and we discovered a ton of fun things. This will be such a fun place to come when winter hits and we get bored from being stuck inside!

Here are a few of our discoveries....

magnifying glass makes us look really big!


what goes up, must come down


sometimes we can fit inside a tire


We really like money


wind comes from air, which can make things spin!


magnets can make art


we can make a rainbow from light reflecting


a fish pond we can walk on is really cool


and Olivia makes really awesome cookies!!

See... lots of discoveries!!

There are a ton of other fun area's I didn't take pictures in... a huge fiberglass wall the kids get to draw on, tons of robotic pieces they can put together to make something unique, a water area, and a huge climbing netted area that goes 3 stories up!

Yay, we will have to come back!

and here's a video to show just how cool that fish pond really was.

Balloons

I faced my fear... we went to the great hot air balloon race.
I had heard about this awesome event after living here for just one week.

It did NOT disappoint!

We went with some of our friends, the Witters. Luckily Kristen was all about getting their early for the "glow show" which I wanted to see as well. (we made it just in time too!)

the announcer kept counting down from ten over and over again...
then would say, GLOW....... and the balloons would light up. They went in the sky too.

I was a slacker mom and didn't realize just how chilly it would be outside at 4:30 am! My poor kids were frozen :( Oops!! (and Tenley lost a shoe and had no socks... really what was I thinking?!)

Taryn and her buddy Mitchell

yup, I got THAT close!

Checking out the inside.... I would not want this kids job.

Finally warmed up! and they are OFF....


What a great way to start a Saturday morning!
I guess there are some bright sides to Reno :)

coming soon...

today I am snuggling this one



she has been feeling under the weather to say the least for the past few days.

I promise this upcoming week I am getting back on the blogging wagon.
For reals.
It is my goal to blog every day! (or try too!!)

Coming Soon:
Hot air balloon races
The new kids museum
Elder Cox
First day of school
Taryn's Reno buddies!

Stay tuned!!!

ten days that went by waaaaay too fast

Yet again we made it back to UT. I feel like we've already been living away for 5 years and it's only been 6 months!

I'm really really glad we have had some good excuses to come back to visit. I love it every time. This time unfortunately we started it off with Tenley sick. She barfed in the car on our way to the airport.
Awesome.
Wish it would have ended there... but nope! That bug followed us and spread like wildfire after we arrived. Sorry to everyone who was plagued by our disease!!
Now that (hopefully) everyone is back to normal, I still have some major detoxing to do. It's called post-going home-vacation depression.
blah


I even missed this dog...
It just takes time to adjust back to life here. - I'm in the middle of detoxing, can't you tell.

Back to the highlights of our trip.....


First thing grandma does is spoil my girls like crazy... Taryn was so excited to find a new dress up, some new toys, and a whole lot of barbie movies! Then she jumped for joy as soon as Amy walked in the door from school.


She also snuggled Aunt Lisa of course... lots and lots of snuggle time with the aunt who gives her anything she wants.


oh and McCall definitely knows how to win this girl over... BLINGY CRAFTS AND ANYTHING PRINCESS will do the job!

But the biggest surprise of all was seeing this new room for the first time!!!!

TA-DA!!!!!!
I LOOOOOVE it!!!!!! - and my Mom so deserves it. After many many years of sweating to death in her small kitchen and trying to squeeze past the old countertop it was time for an upgrade! YES!!!



(Taryn's photo skills)
First night there we celebrated Tay's birthday. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Enduring the long wait and all, but I could care less how long we had to wait... I was with my favorite people!!




The main reason for this trip was my one and only brother Taylor's farewell.
It still boggles my mind that he is old enough to be a missionary.
He's going to be an awesome one.
Really really awesome.




just a few of the high schoolers that came


Taylor and McCall


our version of Cafe Rio


Could these girls be any prettier?!?


Lisa, my Mom, and a couple of the Slaters :)


and if you read my blog normally... you know this is my other half. Yep Kim!
(and my creeper seester behind us)


My little Taryn (such a trooper for having the bug that day) and my favorite -almost 6- year old Ava.

...and I was going to post the montage of pictures I took of Taryn and Taylor. She was seriously glued to him.
But just thinking about it makes me cry.

So that will have to wait until later my friends...
Good luck tomorrow Tay!
I Love You!!!