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AZ Road Trip

On Sunday, January 22 my Grandma Anderson had a major stroke that we knew would take her life and so Connie, my Dad, Uncle Keith, Tammy and I made a quick trip to Arizona to say goodbye.  We took Connie's van so that we girls would have a DVD player to watch Jane Austin movies on while we let the Dads do all the driving.

We went straight to the hospital when we arrived and found Grandma semi-conscious.  She seemed glad we were there.  We helped arrange to get her brought home from the hospital so she could be in familiar surroundings as she passed away.  We could ask her questions and she could respond with short answers.  She couldn't eat or drink.  In true character, when she heard that all of her children were reunited she asked that we take a picture.  They had this printed to show her before she died.

 Wayne, Raymond, Elaine, Keith, Russell, Dale

back: Wayne, Raymond, Russell, Dale

middle: Connie, Jennifer, Mary, Elaine, Helen

front: Tammy and Keith

We decided to drive through the night on Saturday so we could arrive home for our meetings on Sunday.  Connie did most of the night driving while I was in charge of talking to her so she could stay awake.  I didn't realize how hard it would be on my body to stay away all night until it took nearly a week to recover from the exhaustion.

Sixth Grade Play

 Brina and Melanie

Metcom Studios

When Kayson announced to the orchestra via email that they had been invited to do a video with the Piano Guys the subject line said, "Probably the Coolest Thing We Will Ever Do" and the experience of recording in a professional studio met those expectation.  

 Warming up.

 I was at the two days of recording as the "food mom"

 Metcom is the largest recording studio in Utah, the only place large enough to record an orchestra, besides Abravanel Hall.  They treated the orchestra so well!  They had a game room for relaxing on breaks and an open soda fountain. (What more could you ask for as a teenager?)

 Graig & Yuna

 Graig and Rebecca

 As parents we got to sit in the sound booth and watch the recording.  I got Graig and Tyler's Scout quilts bound.

 When all the hard work was finished, Steven Sharp Nelson took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures with the orchestra members.

Best Friends

Tyler and Melanie often have what could be described as a "love-hate" relationship.  They are either best friends or worst enemies.  On this Sunday they were best friends as they baked cookies together.  

Taylor Family New Years Party

The Taylor family gets together once a year for a "Christmas Party" that they hold the first part of January so that more cousins can come.  We had a potato bar for dinner with salad and fancy cupcakes for dessert.  My mom puts a lot of time and effort into a craft table for the great grandchildren and family history games for the cousins.

 Emily and Melanie

 Kayla, Graig, Kara

 Kurtis, Mary, Kristin, and Melanie

 Melanie with two of her current favorite things... her ear muffs and her stuffed horse.  Someone offered her $20 for the earmuffs and she refused.  

 Melanie and Emily and Kara

 "How well do you know your Aunts and Uncles" game.

 Tyler, Peter, Wendy, Graigry waiting for instructions on the boy's white elephant gift exchange.

Warren and Tyler look on as Arianna, Myla, Megan, Melanie, and Ashlyn do the girl's white elephant gift exchange.