Summer wrap-up

Ok I know I have been a horrible horrible blogger. I love melissa's blogs so much I thought I would make an attempt at catch-up.   The summer got away from me. It was one thing....than it was the next thing...and so on. Mostly good things. Lane started things off by taking the scouts to moab for a biking trip. After that Melissa, Lance, Evelyn, Addie, and Blake came and played with us for a little while on their trek from San Francisco to Iowa City, Iowa. We thoroughly enjoyed the grandkids and can't wait to visit them and to take in Nauvoo. We were lucky enough to be the Youth conference chair-people so we next took all our youth to Manti and had such a great time amongst all the millions of mosquitos.
Next we hosted my parents 50th anniversary party and we were happy to have much of my family (sisters and brother) spend some time with us in Utah. We saw hot air balloons, shot off fireworks, and hiked timp.  Following this, Lane took a trip with all the boys in his family, as well as Matthew to go fishing in california. I also spent some time engrossed in shark week. I also took the activity day girls to Camp Jeremiah Johnson and then promptly got called to Young Women's. Emily's been heavily into soccer; Aubrey was in Highschool Musical, has a real job, and has gone on few dates; Matthew has been fishing, running, playing with friends and spending too much time on video games; and Brynna has been swimming, visiting her grandma, and just got her hair cut very short and loves it. I still need to take a picture of it.  So, in a nutshell, I need some sleep...oh no...in a nutshell it has been a great summer with family, church and fun.  Also our youngest grandchild, Blake, just turned 1.

Happy Birthday Brynna, It is great to be Eight

I can hardly believe that our baby is eight years old. I can remember her being born like it was yesterday. She was a cute, completely bald, bundle of pink. I don't know what our family would have done without her, she is such a sweet addition to our family. We are so lucky she is ours.

Prom and First Date

I know some of my family is eagerly awaiting some pictures of Aubrey's very first date ever...which also would be "Prom". Her cousin, Katie, was great to lend her the dress and her grandma Taylor took her shopping for hours for the perfect shoes. She is very good friends with her date (he has a different girl-friend). We all hope she has a fun time and returns safe and sound. The top picture is brynna's redition of aubrey's prom--sideways.

Going Greeen

So the leprechauns always visit our house early on this day. They green the milk, the toilet water, the food, you name it. However due to a pretty sleepless night, I really think Lane has croup, and a strange lack of food coloring (had to mix the last traces of dried blue and yellow), the leprechauns got a late and messy start. Brynna was thrilled though finding all the shades of green around the house....then she looked at my fingers, "How come your fingers are green". Seeds of disbelief, head cocked to the side in a quizzical way. "Oh....uhh....those silly Leprechauns even made my fingers green!, what will they think of next!", laugh laugh joke joke. Silence....questioning eyes...then she laughed too. "I'm glad they didn't make my fingers green". "Or your toes" I said. Whew....not sure about how that went. Not completely sure she bought it or just wanted to buy it. One thing is for sure, I need to stock up on food coloring.

The air is green
and crisp as leaves
twining through
the mottled breeze.
The fairy folk
dance 'neath the rock
betwixt the moss
and hollyhock.
Lil' leprechaun
hosts the fray
to sing and bring
St. Patty's day.
May blessings pour
like rain of gold
upon your house
and those it holds.

Happy Birthday Aubrey

16 years ago today, a flat-faced full of life little girl came into our lives. Fortunately the flat-face rounded out a bit, but the full of life continues on. She was born two weeks early on our wedding anniversary, one of my best gifts ever. We are now just holding on tight as the whirlwind of teenagerhood swirls around us. Happy Birthday Aubrey..."not just a very ordinary girl or name". Hope it is a great one. Love your family

Iowa City, Iowa

So it is going to be Iowa City, Iowa for Lance, Melissa and our beautiful grandkids. (Not that Lance and Melissa aren't beautiful too). Lance will be doing an oral surgery internship there. So if anyone knows anything about Iowa City, we would love to hear from you. It will be a fun place to visit, if only just to see the ones we love. We think it might be close enough to maybe visit Nauvoo and some church history sites too. We will miss ghiredelli square, the beach, fisherman's wharf, clam chowder, sourdough bread, but maybe not the no parking, and the angry, raging, swearing person that stalked aubrey down on our last visit. Oh and just for informations sake, aubrey can be seen on the San Fran american idol auditions for a half a mili-second just behind the "silver woman". Oh the memories! I cannot believe that the "bush-man" and the "famous dogs" will be a thing of the past. We are excited, however, for all the new adventures for the Keyes clan. And a happy valentines weekend to all.

Random Things

I think I have a touch of spring fever! I so, so , so (100 more "so's) want some warmth to appear in the air. It has been clear-skies enough, though, for the kids and I to jump on our bikes, which I have come to love. Even Bella likes it.

And I know that a lot of people out there like and enjoy the science fair...however, every year I have a struggle with liking it. When I was little I remember doing some project with a very large battery, I think my dad shocked me on purpose...maybe I have paired the shock with the science fair like in classical conditioning...or was that operant conditioning....hmmm.

Matthew is enjoying basketball, especially being with good friends and watching Jimmer Fridett (sp?) with his dad and grandpa. That guy really is amazing.

Also we are holding our breath as Lance learns his fate for "matching" with an oral surgery program. We hope they make it to a great school that is fun to visit. We love San Fran, but are ready for a little change. We hope they get to visit in March.

MAYBE ALONE ON MY BIKE
I listen, and the mountain lakes
hear snowflakes come on those winter wings
only the owls are awake to see,
their radar gaze and furred ears
alert. In that stillness a meaning shakes;

And I have thought (maybe alone
on my bike, quaintly on a cold
evening pedaling home), Think!--
the splendor of our life, its current unknown
as those mountains, the scene no one sees.

O citizens of our great amnesty:
we might have died. We live. Marvels
coast by, great veers and swoops of air
so bright the lamps waver in tears,
and I hear in the chain a chuckle I like to hear.

William Stafford

christmas 2010

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

We are happy to have been able to celebrate christmas with our family,friends and extended family. There were several recitals, the christmas sing ( with the reindeer rap), Christmas eve at Grandma and Grandpa's, a christmas tea party with grandma, and we are in the middle of "family fun week (bowling, good food, unflooding my sister's flooded basement yesterday, movies (megamind and true-grit), etc. Brynna and emily got influenza and brynna is still struggling with her third day of hives all over her body (the doctor says this must be a virus...anyone else have or had this...seems strange. We have been missing Melissa, Lance, Evelyn, Addie and Blake and melissa's phone is lost so no pictures texted yet of christmas in Washington. Today has been an inside day due to an icy snow storm. Maybe a dvd marathon with popcorn? We hope the blessings of love, peace and joy will be with all who read this post.

Blake Douglas Keyes/summer in review

(I just stole this picture off Melissa's blog, because I love it and it makes me smile.)
In August Aubrey and I traveled to beautiful and cold San Francisco California to enjoy greeting my first grandson and aubrey's first nephew. As you can see he is quite a looker. He is blonde and so calm and happy. We also got to play a lot with Evelyn and Adelle, who couldn't be more thrilled to have a baby brother. We are thrilled to have them all!
Aubrey also got the priviledge of being yelled at intensely ,with very colorful language, by an interesting man on a street corner while we were there. We loved visiting giradelli square and fisherman's wharf and of course gulped down some clam chowder and sourdough bread. Aubrey didn't tell many people but she did the american idol thing while we were there. She was lucky in that they let her sing her whole song, actually looked up at her and had her move around in various places while she sang...then told her she had a good voice but looked too naive for the competition...snip snip...end of wristband. It was intense with over 20,000 people auditioning and weirdness galore. We simply feel lucky we were able to see the grandkids and arrive back in Utah safely. We flew home in that big windstorm and had to almost land and re-land a few times...the plane lurching and bumping up and down...and it totally freaked me out! (I do currently miss holding those cute grandkids, though).

Meanwhile, the rest of the kids had a great vacation with grandma and grandpa taylor while we were away. Matthew has been busy all summer running long-distances with Grandpa Taylor and has participated in two 10-k's. He seems to love it. Emily has been babysitting a lot. She is quite a business woman. Brynna pretty much played and rode her bike as much as possible.
Lane's parents had their 50th wedding anniversary this summer, and we enjoyed a lot of extended family time with both Utah family and California family. Oh, we also put our yard in...can't believe I almost forgot that.

Once the kids started school, I have felt like I am drowning in a sea of...I don't know what...but something extemely thick and gooey. Matthew and Brynna are in 6th and 2nd grade, Emily in 7th grade and Aubrey is at the highschool (10th). Kids at every school. Back to school night and registration was an adventure, just to get to all of it. Now, between homework, early morning seminary, soccor, drama council, scouts, singing, piano, young womens', dance lessons, church callings and the everyday weird little things like kids forgetting lunches or someone getting poked in the eye just before school, etc. it all seems to get just a tad nutsy. But we are all slowly adjusting in and seeking for a good balance. All in all we are continually grateful for kids, family, friends, and the blessings the busyness of life brings.
I can hardly believe the crisp smell of fall is in the air already and with it seasons end and begin again. I loved the regional conference concept by sister Beck, "We are doing better than we think we are and we can do better."

Aubrey advanced to the semi-finals at the scera celebrity competition last night. YAY. Last year after singing at the same competition she felt like she'd "bombed" (in a negative way) and would in her words "never sing in public again". But she decided to try again, if nothing else than to conquer her fear. She practiced really hard and despite her worries had a great performance. She and two other young singers won the night. Aubrey teaches me daily the power of living a life focused on moving toward your dreams...and does that girl have dreams!

Balloon Festival Bust

So we got up and 5:15 am and trailed ourself over to the balloon festival per tradition. But the balloons would start to blow up, wildly quiver, than be taken down. Too windy for any to be fully blown and too windy to ever launch. Came home...naps. All were feeling a little "deflated". We are feeling blessed to have melissa, lance, evelyn and adelle visiting for a little while. Also we are having so much fun with cousins and uncle and aunt up from california. Hope everyone has a great independance day weekend.

Aubrey Wins Grand Torchbearer at Storytelling Showcase

In some amazing twist of fate, Aubrey was selected to compete in the NYSS (National Youth Storytelling Showcase) in Pigeon Forge Tennessee and took first place overall. She now has to return next year and pass on the "crown" to next year's winner. We will have to save up our frequent flyer miles again. All the pictures of the event are on her phone and of course I have no idea how to upload them. She had a great time going to Dollywood and the Titanic museum, etc. with her Aunt while she was there. She told a semi-true story about being terrified of lambs when she was young. The true part was that she really was horribly terrified of lambs (she swore one resided in her bedroom at night)...the rest... like how clueless her parents were is partly stretched...well actually maybe not. Her stories always include singing and are pretty odd, sarcastic and funny. She won a huge heavy trophy and 500 dollars...which she needs, because drama council in mega-expensive at the high-school. So the moral of this story is...let your kids constantly joke around about you and someday they might win prizes for telling it to the world?

Looking forward to getting the girls back

It has been a strangely quiet week with Emily gone to girls camp and Aubrey gone to Tennessee. Both of them left Tuesday, Emily Tuesday morning and Aubrey Tuesday evening. There has been no fighting over clothes, no constant loud singing, no giggling late in the night. This is Emily's first girls camp and it is an extreme one. The girls went to Southern Utah, rappelling, river rafting, and boating. Emily is my most "safe" child, so I wonder how she is doing. I think girls camps should instigate mass texting from the leaders to the parents to let the parents know their children are alive and well. Hey, this week I have finally entered the texting world. We added Aubrey to our phone plan after approximately 4 years of constant begging with the agreement she would pay the additional charge of texting, since we figured with Aubrey we would definately need unlimited texting. It has been great since Aubrey has been keeping me apprised of every moment in Tennessee. I knew she went to Texas roadhouse last night, her debate on what to order, her excitement over the potatoes. That girl loves potatoes. She is with my sister for a National Storytelling competition. We were sad that it happened to be the exact same week as girls camp, so we debated, but Aubrey in the end convinced us to go the Tennessee route. Today she goes to Dollywood. How fun is that. I also love getting pictures and videos of the grandkids from Melissa. Wish I knew how to switch them to my blog because they are so adorable. Emily gets home tonight and Aubrey gets home late Sunday (long flight). It will be a little louder, but good to have them home.

Is it summer yet? See post below

Is it summer yet?

"The years teach much that the days never knew. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

I know I have said it before, but in terms of my kids, time just goes by too quickly for my liking.

Another school year is now in our past. There is both a lot we will miss and a lot we will not miss. We will miss our friends, we will miss great teachers, we will miss structure. We will relish a little more sleep, a little more play, and a little more time together as a family.

We had no post about Matthew's Birthday,May 16th, but it was a good one...even though it was on a Sunday. He is excited to try mountain biking this summer with his birthday present.

I also meant to post about our sad, time-consuming and somewhat disgusting experience when Bella ate chocolate that Brynna had hidden under the upstairs couch last sunday. I didn't have time because I was too busy cleaning the carpets, floors, stuffed animals, etc.

Brynna also had a dance recital this past week in which she was a "child". She has a lot of fun with ballet.

The dance festival is always an experience. This year Aubrey did not have to be at school, so she went over to the field very early and saved us a place. Lane and I showed up about 45 minutes early and socialized with all our good friends, excited to see our kids groove to the loud tunes. We particularly wanted to get some video of Brynna doing the monkey dance, and Matthew actually dancing with a girl...since this may be our only chance at blackmail for a while. Right as the fifth grade filed onto the field a pretty, statuesque and tan woman come up from the back of the crowd and stood right in the very front...in a very tall way. Did I mention she was tall? ( As a disclaimer I have nothing inherently against the tall...I am somewhat tall myself...just when people blessed with tallness are standing at their full height directly in front of dancing 5th graders...). She was politely asked to sit down...only to make things worse...due to her very fashionable jeans coming, well I would guess at least half way down her derier as she now squatted in the front row. A good many dads in our general vacinity noticably felt compelled to look the opposite direction of their dancers with confused looks and red faces. Aubrey was fascinated that she was so tan all the way...well you know. I found it slightly humorous and have found myself smiling to myself as I think back on the whole thing. Classic dance festival.

I looked for Matthew only to see that he was way way in the back facing the opposite direction of the parents. I thought they might switch sides, but after the first song was over and no switching of sides occurred, I sent Aubrey with the camera to the other side of the play ground. Quite the difficult task. She got about three seconds of footage and then they did switch sides, of course. When she got back to where we were, we got about 3 more seconds of footage. Brynna was substantially far away from us and I kept losing her when the monkeys ran...monkeys can run fast. Emily danced great but was so far in the back that seeing her was next to impossible. I am sure that none of my children's dancing abilities was related to their being in the back...it just couldn't be. Anyway not a load of memorable dance festival footage. I did find the second graders dance to be particularly inspiring as there was the most adorable little girl , without a leg, that danced with joy and excellance to two very difficult and "jumpy" dances. She was one of the best dancers there and I was glad they put her in the front. She really was an inspiration to me.

Emily also had NOVA graduation and 6th grade graduation. I cannot believe that she goes to Junior High this coming year. The 6th grade graduation was touching. I think they try to make you cry singing that tribute to the parents...as if you aren't already emotional thinking about your little baby going off --even more-- into the real world.

Aubrey finished up ninth grade and is excited to start Highschool. She is thinking of teaching singing lessons this summer and is simply glad to not have to do anymore math for 2 months. She leaves for Tennesee in a little over a week for a little adventure with her aunt.

Brynna got to have a pancake breakfast this morning and cried because she will miss her teacher. She loves school, and although she is looking forward to not having to wake up early, will miss her friends, school, and Mrs. Dajany.

We have no great vacations planned but hope to get away for a couple weekends during the summer. Perhaps it might warm up at some point. I will get to head to San Francisco in the middle of August for the much anticipated birth of a new grandson.

Although I resist it at times, life always continues with change and growth and more change and growth.

Hello Dolly

This week has been an exciting and fun one with Aubrey performing as Irene Malloy in Hello Dolly at AF Jr. High. The entire cast is fabulous, but of course we are partial to aubs. She has told us all she "looks like a geisha girl" in her wig. She was stressed out all semester because she is supposed to "kiss a boy" in this play...but it ended up that just before the kiss the stage goes dark...so it looks like a kiss.. but it doesn't really happen. Such relief! It would have been her first kiss since a boy pushed her down and kissed her in Kindergarten. She has her last performance tomorrow night. Sunday I know I am going to be singing, "Put on your sunday clothes there's lots of world out there." I just can't get the music out of your mind, having heard it for the past few months continually. On n unrelated side note I have to give my first SS lesson this Sunday-on the proclamation of the family-Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Poetry Jim Jam

So today was Brynna's 1st grade Poetry Jim Jam at school. It was, well....interesting. Mrs Dajany had a cool spotlight set up against a black background. The kids had all written their poems at school...so we had heard nothing about the content of her poem. Brynna waited her turn patiently and then walked up to the front of the class and very solemnly read....


Dog
By Brynna Taylor

The Dog
Went to the bathroom on the rug
At Night
In the living room
Because she needed to go to the bathroom.


I think I laughed out loud for real. Kind of a silly day at Barratt Elementary.

Matthew speeds to a third place finish

I tried to convince Matthew to use his car from two-years ago in this years pinewood derby. He is only three weeks from moving on to the "new scouts" and no one in our new ward would be any the wiser. However, Matthew, being the good and honest boy he is decided he wanted to do it one last time... and do it himself. He worked very hard and long on it...both with the sanding etc. and with the design. He sanded it himself, did the paint job himself, and put the wheels in himself. An hour before the weigh-in, dad helped him put in the weights. He went for a BYU paint job. I was hopeful it would simply make it down the track...to the end...without falling apart in pieces. I was seriously worried, but it did great and he placed higher than any other year. He even got a trophy with a huge wheel glued to the top of it...it was very creative. Speaking of creativity, for the treat they let the kids make cars out of twinkies...they were so cute...Brynna's favorite part by far.
We also spent the last couple months finishing up Matthew's requirements for his webelos (we did not get every single one of the awards...but just enough to get the actual webelos badge), as well as the arrow of light. He had a great arrow of light ceremony where a very tall man with a fox on his head summoned the great spirits...it was actually very entertaining. So in a few weeks Matthew moves on to real camp-outs and klondike derby's and such...not sure how I feel about that.