Two years already

It's already been two years since I started this blog. In that time, many things have happened in our lives. Most good, a few bad, and some rather startling and drastic. Let's take a quick look back...

- My divorce (the whole reason I started this blog. So the family could keep up with our lives)

- Celestra has gone from this (age 10)

to this (age 12)

- Many, many choir concerts including the 20th anniversary celebration of Cache Children's Choir and a choir trip to Salt Lake to help the Salt Lake Children's Choir celebrate their 25th anniversary

- two visits to Spokane, Wa. The first to celebrate the marriage of our sister-in-law/aunt to Darryl Burgess and the second to watch our niece/cousin graduate from High School

- A trip to Seattle, Wa and Vancouver, Canada

- A visit from our favorite niece/cousin Brianne

- An emergency flight on helecopter by my mother to Salt Lake where she was put on a ventillator, allowing us another year and a half with her.

- My graduation from College (at least my 1st graduation)

- A couple more weddings, My baby sister Melissa and my friend Laura

- A couple reunions with old friends of mine from High School

- Cele performing in the Opera Carmen

- Cele starting Middle School and the flute

- A Christmas surprise for Celestra in the form of a trip to Houston

- The death of my Mother

What a ride. It will be interesting to see what this year will bring.

Nedra J Taylor ~ Memorial Timeline

This is a video I made that was played at mom's viewing and her funeral. I have been having problems uploading it and finally figured out what the problem was. Silly me. I just wanted to give everyone who wasn't able to attend the funeral a chance to see it since most seemed to like it.

In Memory

These pictures were taken in Mesquite at mom's burial. I forgot my camera for the rest of the stuff so these are the only ones I have but I think I can be forgiven. I was a little stressed.

Left to right: Uncle Henry, Aunt Raelene, cousin Brady, Uncle Clyde
with Celestra in the background

Uncle Henry and Uncle Randy

Pallbearers carry the casket

Uncle Henry dedicating the gravesite

Family friends that live in the Mesquite area

Mom and Dad's grave
Cele next to her Amma's grave

Me in front of my parents grave

Cele and I at the grave dedication in Mesquite

Goodby mom

This morning my mother passed away and I just wanted to take a minute and let her know how much she was loved and will be missed. We love you mom. Thank you for everything. You were our rock and our example. Goodby but don't worry, we will never forget you.

Love,

Joy, Penny, and Celestra

Mayhem and Foolishness at Clark Planetarium

Ever been on a bus with a bunch of 11-12 year olds? Well I can attest to volume levels, craziness, and kids on waaaaaay too much sugar! At least that's what happens when they are headed to a fun day at the Clark Planetarium. If I ever needed any more proof that Celestra has crazy friends, I now have it! As far as events at the planetarium, I will let Cele tell you all about those since I don't really remember them. I was too busy watching kids though I do remember a star dome show, an Imax presentation, and a scavenger hunt but the kids did seem to have a lot of fun and we all survived so all's well that ends well right!?

First let me give you some introductions:

Jason: yep definately crazy and very hyper

Erica Rasmussen: crazy? yes As crazy as the boys? no

Bryan: The quiet one (seriously I think he only said about 10-15 words to anyone all day)

Erica Larkin: Yep she's crazy too but not on the level of the boys

Ashton: Definately way too much sugar for this one!

And of course we have Cele. No intro on the craziness level needed. We all know the answer to that one!

The boys on the bus

The girls on the bus

Cele and Erica L. take a nap

Erica R. plays her DS on the bus

Erica L. and Cele playing with my phone (Erica really liked some of the pictures of Cele on it)

Erica R. the weather girl

Erica and Jason show us where Salt Lake is

Most of the group (Right to Left): Ashton (behind the white paper), Cele, Jason, Erica R., Erica L., and another girl from a different group (I think her name is Jade). Missing: Bryan. He was behind me looking at rocks.

Watch out Olympus, there's a new generation in town

If you have kids between the ages of 7-14 and they haven't read the Percy Jackson series yet I suggest you get busy! This has become Celestra's favorite series. In fact, she's already read through the entire series three times. Yes, three times! She loves it!

So to honor that, we headed out to the movie theater tonight with my friend Laura and had a great time. Of course Cele had to point out all the things that were different between the book and the movie but she still loved the movie.

So yes take your kids to see a great movie with an absolutely all star cast. They really got some winners for these characters! Can we say Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Therman, etc. The movie may not stick to the book, (but then what movie ever does) but it is a fun movie on its own.

Preggers x 4

There really must be something in the air (or just in the gene's) for the Brown family. All four sisters are expecting babies this year with the first coming any time in the next two weeks! Tonya gets to be the first this year. She is expecting her third little boy. Right now they are planning on naming him David. Then comes Melissa with her first little one. Another boy (of course!) His name will be Kellen. Then we have Desiree with her fifth and Alisha with her second. They are both not far along enough for us to know what their having yet but Desiree is really crossing her fingers for a little girl. Desiree and Alisha are, once again, due really close together. This time their due dates are one day apart. Some time in August. We got together this weekend at Mom and Dad's house and got to take some fun pictures. My sisters are all sooo cute!

Left to right: Alisha, Melissa, Tonya, Desiree

Aren't those preggo bellies just so cute!

Mom joins the pack

Just hanging out talking

Tonya and Byron her cute husband