Its beginning to look a lot like....

I told you yesterday, I am so excited for Christmas this year.  I really want to fill our home with the anticipation and excitement of the Savior's Birth.  Last night for FHE we decorated. 

We started with a little Josh Groban and hot cocoa to set the mood.

 Penny and Beck dressed up for the occasion

First winter fire a blazin... 

 the (future) Chilean missionary entertaining Beck

 Abby and Jalene were on light duty

and Lincoln kept the fire burning... or something ;)

We were so engrossed in getting the tree just right that we suddenly realized it was almost midnight.
thats late for us old folks!

Whoops!  The tree sure looked beautiful though.  I just wish the rest of the Taylors would have been there to join in the fun. 

magical isn't it?

Merry Christmas!

Last night after driving 9 hours home from Boise (crazy snow!), I lay in my bed  and couldn't fall asleep.
 I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for life's blessings.
 The drive home was long and scary.  It could have been bad with a nine month old who hates being in his carseat, not to mention how dangerous the roads were. Beck was an angel though.    Being at home for Thanksgiving was extra special this year for some reason.  Even though we spent 182,000 hours watching college football, with results that I don't even want to talk about-it still felt so good to be home with my parents and Kaela and Garrett (AKA Gaela or Karrett, take your pick) 
Honestly. I have so much to be grateful for. 

One of my favorite parts about Thanksgiving is that it really opens the season for Christmas!  We are going to put up our Christmas decorations tonight.  With the help of this book, I am going to work on making this Christmas season about Christ. 

So, here are two videos.  Both to open up the season for you all. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LFb3UBiNoM

Do you live in Utah?

My beautiful Sister in Law, Jalene is offering a fantastic holiday- photography special. 
Folks, she is the real deal.  Here are some of my favorites that she has taken of our family.

Seriously.  This girl's got talent. She has an amazing way of capturing moments, not just cute pictures.   
She took Kaela's bridals(plus groom) and they were STUNNING. 
Here are a few more links of pictures that she has taken of us. 
http://jaleneb.blogspot.com/2010/09/dear-grandpa-grandma-in-ok-love-beck.html
http://chaseleahtaylor.blogspot.com/2010/06/3-months-old.html

To sum up. 
If you need pictures for Christmas cards
 (or just because you want to document how cute you and your family are)
You should call Jalene! 
Here is the link to her blog with all the info.  I promise, you'll be so glad you did!
http://www.jtaylorphotography.com/2010/11/holiday-special.html

this little light of mine

(warning-picture overload)

This month our little baby is eight months old.  I can't even believe it. Beck is the ultimate source of happiness in our lives.  He brightens every day with his gigantic grins and is so quick to giggle.  All it takes is a spin around the world, a "trot trot to Boston", or a peek-a-boo and his mouth opens as wide as can be with a smile.  He loves to be independent.  He tries to put up a fight when you put him in his high chair or car seat but he's all talk.  Lately he has this fake cough/grunt that is hilarious.  Its like he's trying to cry but he's not upset enough to actually be crying.  It's his way of showing his opinion. 

He is a mover. He's not really crawling on all fours but he manages to get wherever he wants to go with an army crawl just fine.  The last two days he has even started pulling himself up on tables and in his crib.  "uh oh" is all I have to say to that! 

He loves his Daddy.  You should see the grin on his face when he sees his Dad every day after work.

Solids were rough on his tummy for awhile.  I had been making my own baby food and it would plug him up for a few days at a time.  When I visited Atlanta I gave him jarred food for the first time and he LOVED it.  Not only that but he is totally regular now.  I guess I'll have to stick with the much easier, but more expensive option-but it is much better for Beck anyway. 

Beck loves to crawl and play on the floor.  He loves dogs, especially Penny.  His favorite toys are the musical drum and maraca, but other than that his favorite toys are the remote or our cell phones. 

Beck charms anyone he sees.  He gives his smiles freely.  He is a little apprehensive of sudden, loud noises, or new situations.

 But he warms up quickly because of his curiosity. 

While we were in Atlanta he started to wave! It is so adorable.  He loves to wave at himself in the mirror too. We all get a kick out of it. 

We just can't get enough of this guy.  We love you so much Beckster!!!!

back to reality

Does anyone else feel like it takes just as long as a vacation to get caught up after one?  Life has been so crazy lately.  I love it though. 

My trip to Atlanta was an absolute pleasure.  Beck and I flew back to visit my favorite older sister, Tiffini and John.  Their kids (Axel and Yogi) loved Beck just as much as he loved them.  It has been years since I have gotten to spend a whole week with Tiffini and I loved the whole thing.  She really spoiled me and Beck.  Atlanta is a beautiful city. I love the windy, wooded roads.  I got carsick driving because I was looking left, right, left at the incredible homes on either side of the road. 

Tiffini and I often talk about recipes and food when we chat so we decided to try our hand at some funky recipes while I was there.  One night we cooked Pan-Seared Tuna with a shiitake-cream sauce and mashed cauliflower....mmmmm...another night we made shrimp risotto and grilled flatbread with candied onion and goat cheese.  You're jealous right?!  Do you think we are gourmet cooks?  It may have tasted like it was made by professionals but I don't think it takes gourmet cooks 3 hours to cook dinner. One of my favorites was our Thai night.  We chose three recipes that we thought sounded delicious.  Green curry chicken, chicken and mango lettuce wraps, and Thai Coconut soup.  Everything turned out sooooo good, even at 9:30 at night...

We kept ourselves busy during the days though too.  We worked out, shopped at stores that made me wish I had millions of dollars to spare, played with the dogs, hung out with Tiffini's friends, went to the Atlanta aquarium, got manicures, played with Beck, and had lots of girl talk.  I loved that Beck got to spend a whole week loving on his Aunt Tiffini. 

Even though I did feel bad being away from Chase for Beck's first Halloween, we had so much fun celebrating Atlanta style.  Beck loved greeting the trick-or treaters.  He was the cutest little scarecrow ever, if I do say so myself!!

Tiffini and John were the best hosts ever.  I think its hard to have someone (and their baby) come disturb regular life for a week but they never acted annoyed about working around the baby's schedule, or having to wait for fifteen minutes while I waited in line at the baby changing station at the aquarium (blowouts happen at the worst times don't they?!) Anyway, Thanks for making it such a wonderful trip guys.  Beck and I sure love you!!!

Coming Soon...

Lots to catch up on. 

1.  I just got back from a delightful trip to visit my sister in Atlanta.  I'm waiting on pictures so I'll tell you about that later.

2.  Beck is 8 months old!

3.  My dear sister in Law Abby just got called to the Santiago West-Chili mission! 

We are so excited for her!  Thank goodness for technology.  She skyped in the family that was missing (including me), and had granparents on speaker phone.  Love this girl.  She will be a fabulous missionary.
4.  Halloween.  Beck was the cutest scarecrow you ever did see.  No really, wait till you see! 
5.  The SILs and me are having a girls night tonight...and lets be honest.  We can't wait!

day 1,462 of eternity together

Today is a special day.

It marked the first day of our Fifth year together.  Four years ago on October 21, 2006 Chase and I were married. What a great adventure it has been.  Lots of ups and a few downs, but it definitely has been a wonderful ride.  Chase is a great husband.  I never have to question his love for me. I never have to question his desire to become the best man he can become.  We just have so much fun together.  I love that he has the same quirky humor that I do-even if other people don't really think its funny.  I love that he provides for our family and doesn't complain.  Watching him become a father has expanded my feelings for him like a balloon connected to an air pump.  To see him as such a tender, involved Dad just makes my day, every day.  Each time he gets up in the night and tries to calm Beck down, even though he knows there is a 90% chance that nothing but nursing will work, my love grows deeper.  He wants to be there for each moment; even the poopy diapers and tired nights. 

That makes me want to stick by his side. 

 For eternity.