Family Picture!!!

YAY!!! Another monumental event occurred in the Taylor family this year... a family picture! Granted we're not ALL here... but close! We're only missing Nick, Audrey and Luke in this picture... which is not bad considering we haven't all been together in at least three or four years. Now if you only knew the fun involved in getting everyone to pose for a group picture... let me tell you!  First there's making sure everyone has something decent on... it never fails that someone will show up in something TOTALLY not with the theme...  Then there's the hair... oh my... someone almost always gets overlooked until the very last second, and then it's a mad dash for the comb.  Once everyone is "on scene", then the REAL fun begins... "Alright... tallest in the back.  No, you're not tall... move to the front. Ok, middle's fine... just quit pouting.  Now don't stand so far apart! Act like you love each other.  Now I want you two to swap places... Why? Because I said so! And don't lean in so far, sit up straight.  Now you're blocking the person behind you... move to the right a little... no, MY right! There... now DON'T MOVE! Ok... EVERYONE SMILE!!!... listen here young man, I don't really care if you don't want to smile, just SMILE! Ok now... CHEESE!!! *click*... AHHH!!! Just IGNORE the dogs... someone wasn't looking at the CAMERA!  Look HERE, and let's try this again!..." (continues on for a least another 15 minutes before a halfway decent picture is taken, or the photographer has a mental breakdown.)  Anyhow, you get the picture... ;)  In the end, I think both family dogs made it in as well... only, it's kind of like a "Where's Waldo" sort of thing... lol... didn't even notice the second dog until just now.  Below are everyone's names, starting from the back, going left to right.

 

  Alex, Anya, Michael, Sergey

Sveta, Isaac, Vica

Elise, Mom, Dad, Me

Heidi, Hannah

- Shannon

War...

"There is plenty of peace in any home where the family doesn't make the mistake of trying to get together." 

- Kin Hubbard

"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family."

 - Thomas Jefferson

- Shannon

Taylor Family Newsletter

Hey all,

Seeing as this was a rather monumental event, I though I'd post our family newsletter that was sent out this year... monumental because we haven't sent one of these out in AGES! lol  I can't begin to tell you what a task it is trying to find decent pictures of everyone, typing up a little blurb about everyone (that they actually agree on!), finding stamps and addresses, and getting the things mailed before they're lost in the house somewhere!!!  Well, this year Sveta felt up to the task, and did a splendid job too!  All credit goes to her. :)

Hope you enjoy the read, and if you make it all the way to the end... well, kudos to you!!! lol... we only added one more to the family this year. ;) 

 

Merry Christmas!

- Shannon

GYC

Just got back from GYC...

...am going to bed.

- Shannon ;)

What has Shannon been up to???

Stretched...

So, life's been kinda hectic here at SAU lately.  Keeping plenty busy with classes and all. ;) But, then again, those of you who know anything about my course load this semester, don't seem to have much sympathy for me... sad but true.  Anyhow, have to go finish some homework... but here's a link to some pictures from my latest class trip... boy was it a doozy! :p

Class Trip Pictures

- Shannon

P.s. I'm the one in the orange helmet and red vest. ;)

"The best moments usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile." 

- Mihaly Csikszentmikalyi

Grand Rapids, MI

School has begun, and I am now back at Southern, beginning my second year of University life.  My schedule has already begun to fill up much quicker that I would have liked it too, but that's just life.  Seeing as I don't know how faithful I will be about posting, now that the school year has begun, I decided I had better go ahead a post the last of my pictures from this summer.  

Last weekend, my mom and I made a surprise visit up to Luke and Audrey's place in MI, along with Jonathan and Lindsay.  We had an incredibly fun time, and it was the perfect ending to my summer.  Below are some pictures from the trip, (the first four are Jonathan's).    

 

Me, Audrey, Lindsay, and Mom, taking a walk somewhere in Grand Rapids, MI. :)

Eating at some fancy Italian restaurant, with the most awesome basil lemonade.

The church, in Grand Rapids, where Luke is assistant pastor. (Read the sign. ;)

A large button we came across on our walk along the river. (So Luke seemed to have a way of disappearing before we remembered to take the camera out...)

 

Some gladiolas we bought at the farmers market in town... That was the neatest place!

And here I didn't think I was going to make it to the beach this summer! lol  What an awesome lake!

Crashing waves, soft sand, towering dunes, seagulls, no salt in your eyes... it was perfect. :)

And being able to spend that time with my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and some awesome friends, made it better than I could have asked for. :)

- Shannon

A Seven-year-old's Astronomy

Just had to post a funny conversation that took place in the car, on the way home last night. Praise God for the laughter that children bring... Life would be so dull without them. :)


Hannah: (looking out the window) "Look! It's the North star!"

Dad: "Funny thing is, Hannah, you're looking towards the South."

Hannah: *pause* "Well then, that must be the South star!"

Shannon: *chuckles* "No Hannah, that's not the South star."

Hannah: "Well then, where is the South star?"

Heidi: "It's at HOME!" (logic being, that's where we saw the stars last night!)


Obviously we haven't covered astronomy yet in their homeschool studies. lol

- Shannon

Hannah Turns Seven!

- Shannon

Note: Hannah's birthday was actually on the 12th, but due to rain we were unable to get out. Today was our first nice day. :)

Rained In...

Well, today Hannah officially turned seven... but unfortunately the rain kept us from going out and getting any pictures. Incidentally, it didn't keep the kids from racing their scooters around the driveway... in the pouring rain. ;) lol They were bored inside, and silly me made the suggestion that they might actually enjoy playing out in the rain! (I know I do. ;) So that's what they did... for the entire afternoon! They came in this evening, soaked to the bone, but grinning from ear to ear. :) Anyhow, seeing as I couldn't post pictures of Hannah, I thought I'd post pictures from the party, of the attempt that my mom and I made at cake decorating... or cupcake decorating, I should say. I'll leave it to you to guess what they're supposed to be. :p

My little brother Isaac broke the ears off and said it
looked more like a grandma in her bonnet...

Boy did we have trouble keeping their heads up! lol

- Shannon

Heidi Turns Seven!

- Shannon

Something Sweet

For those of you who enjoy messing around in the kitchen, here is a recipe that we came up with the other day, based off one that a friend gave us.  It was originally a strawberry ice cream recipe, that our friend turned into a cherry ice cream recipe, that we turned into mint chocolate chip! lol   This recipe does end up having a little bit of a bananaish flavor, but the mint does a pretty good job of disguising it, and we all thought it tasted great!  You'll want to make it a day in advance, so that it can freeze overnight. 

Mint Chocolate Chip "Ice cream"

2 c.  Frozen bananas (we used 4 frozen bananas... not sure if that's 2 c. though. ;)

2 c.  Silk Creamer, French Vanilla (or any other non-dairy vanilla creamer)

1/2 c.  Soymilk powder (we used vanilla flavored)

1/4 c.  Fructose, granules (white sugar should work too if you can't find fructose)

1/2 tsp.  Mint extract (we could only find peppermint, and that worked great)

1/4 tsp.  Green food coloring (or however much you want, to make it however green you want! :)

1 c.  Chocolate or carob chips (we were naughty and used chocolate, but carob should taste fine too ;)

Combine all ingredients in a blender, minus the chocolate chips, and process until smooth and creamy.  Pour into container and freeze for 2 to 3 hours, until somewhat thickened.  Remove and stir in chocolate chips.  Return to freezer, and freeze until solid.   One recipe serves four to five people... generally speaking. ;) 

- Shannon

Crazy Cats

She enjoys drinking from the bird bath...

...while he delights in sleeping with bubble wrap!

How do I always end up with such wonderfully unique animals? :p

- Shannon

Summer Daze

Maybe it's the stifling heat, or maybe it's just the time of year, but it sure does seem like time has been progressively slowing down these past few weeks. I can't remember the last time I had so much free time on my hands... besides last summer. :p If it weren't for work, I'd probably go nutty! lol There are benefits, though, to having a lot of free time to play around with. For one thing, I've been able to experiment with some new recipes I've been wanting to try... Granted, I'm not sure the kids are always so thrilled. Take for example the Greek dish we made last Sabbath. It was vegan Spanakopita, (a spinach/"ricotta cheese" mixture, layered between phyllo dough), and we "older people" thought it tasted great!... But, of course, my worst critics ended up being the 15 and under crew... The stuff got picked at and smeared around until I finally told the kids that they didn't have to eat it if they didn't like it... and it wouldn't hurt my feelings. ;) They were relieved. lol Fortunately that is the only dish that hasn't flown too great with the kids, so far. :p I've also enjoyed all the reading I've been able to get in this summer. There are so many books that I've come across during the school year, that I've never had time to read... and now I'm getting them all in! lol I've read at least ten, that I can think of right now... and I still have a bunch more to go before the school year begins next month... yikes. Anyhow, about the only other thing I've done for excitement is go on some hikes, and play with the kids... and that's about the gist of my summer. :) I guess I just need to remember to always be thankful for these slow days, seeing as I know I'll miss them in the heat of the school year. ;)
But for now, things still seem pretty slow... :p














- Shannon

4th of July

- Shannon


P.s. Luke, Audrey and other Taylor siblings not present - wish you could have been here... we missed you guys! :)