Tribute to Mike (hee hee)

With the Christmas Tree up, and the infamous New Year's Eve party just around the corner, life has me, yet again, counting my many, many blessings. One of my greatest blessings you ask? Mikey!!! So here, love, here is my tribute to you and your greatness. My top 10 list. 10 reasons why I love Mike. (And Mike, I'm screaming "UNCLE!!!" louder than ever)

10. Mike lets me refer to him as 'Mikey' even though he has told me countless times that he really despises this nickname. Maybe he thinks I forget. Little does he know that I never forget, and I do this to be 100 percent obnoxious. I also post the following picture to be 100 percent obnoxious. Isn't married life fun?

9. He shaves his face for my kisses. Cute isn't he? It's especially cute that he bought himself a little new razor. (I'm not allowed at this time to discuss the make, model and color of said razor)

8. He works a gazzilion hours a week so I can stay home with the baby.

7. He tries to stay in shape. Unlike me, who....well...lets just say I run on the treadmill if energy allows, and you can guess how often that happens. 7.5 He doesn't work out, and stays home and watches Mitch if I have had a long night, so I can catch a few hours....

6. He insists we start ridiculous traditions, such as, a family Christmas picture. More than that, he insist we take it in the middle of a snow storm, by a particular tree, and did I mention I wore little ballet flats to take the picture? oh my gosh...talk about cold!

5. He likes Mitchell. Now, I know this isn't really that hard to do, but it's especially adorable when Mike takes over nighttime routines, such as bathtime and storytime.

4. He helps me chow down a 3-layer chocolate cake at 2 in the morning. (I was craving one....and stayed up all hours of the night waiting it to cool...and frost...etc. and then woke him up to eat it. Hey, some think that is a nice gesture. ) Also, I think I'll add that last night I made sugar cookies, and Mike stayed up with me till all hours of the night to frost them to perfection. And I do mean perfection.

This is a picture of the cake. It's not pretty, but it was also 3 in the morning. It has a piece taken out because I just...couldn't...wait...

3. He tells me I'm sexy the morning after the cake.....(dare I say fight, or does that still have negative connotation in this house?)

2. He loves his family. And loves mine. And drives me down to Utah often because I am just that needy.

1. Mike loves our little family, and is a wonderful father.

AWWW Mike we just love everything about you. Thanks for all you do babe!

Another day in the life of Mike and Meagan

Monkey Torture: So Meagan decided that she would introduce Mitchell to her diabolic monkey named Miguel, don't worry though no relation to me. She tossed it in his face and used her baby talk to try to get him to laugh and he just sat there and acted like he cared, we have video evidence. For some reason, when I played with him with the monkey he laughed hysterically. It's obvious which parent he prefers.

Temple Sealings: Well, Meagan and I decided to go do temple sealings at the Rexburg temple and it was a really wonderful experience as always. A member of our ward, Brother Jolley, was the temple sealer and we were able to seal families from Argentina. It was interesting because I recognized some of the last names from my mission. Meagan almost passed out because it was too early in the morning for her and her knees were tired after doing three pages of sealings.

Drunk work experience: So I was at work minding my own business and getting some last finishing touches done on some of the treadmills we got in and a drunk man decided to stumble in. It turns out, they went to the rodeo finals in Las Vegas and were coming back through Idaho to go home to Cardston. they stayed the night in Idaho and they supposedly got into a bad fight. He got wasted on expensive wine, and then his wife dumped him on the side of the road the next morning because he was drunk. She then called the bus station and bought him a ticket to go back to Cardston. Anyway, long story short, they wouldn't let him on because he was drunk and I had to call them to convice them to let him go home.

Commission: So they are finally paying me commissions for the Idaho Falls store and it has made our lives so much easier than before. We were struggling financially, and still are, but not as bad as we were before. The checks have added up and helped us to be able to afford Christmas this year.

Hand Slap Game: So Mitch was in his hi-chair and I was playing the slap game with him where I slap his hand and he hits me back. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. I would slap him lightly, then he would hit me as hard as he could. Then, he laughed really loud. RUDE!

Thanksgiving and the Surrounding Events.

Perhaps some of you think I've kicked the bucket because of the lack of posts, but that is not so. Although I think I came pretty close during the risky wisdom tooth removal. You should all be happy to know that I do indeed have feeling in my lower lip. Such a relief.

The wisdom tooth ordeal had me-dare I say-stuck-in Utah, without my husband, for a week. I use the word 'stuck' because Mikey had the car, and I have a working mother, and wandered the house for a day or so. Don't you worry though, I was plenty occupied with the stomach flu, blending up green beans and sandwiches, rinsing constantly with salt water, using a syringe to clean the holes out, and still, yes, still, getting dry socket. Yuck... But the week was still full of excitement and loads of fun. Mom took us to see Twilight, which was so romantic. I realize most people hate it, but Mike reminds me of Edward......which is weird, I know, and since he and I hadn't seen each other for nearly a week at that point, I was pretty much sobbing the entire time. Maybe I'm just a sap.

Mitch got to meet the fabulous Jen. And Julianne and Lars. And he was just so cute, as always, and I was glad to catch up with old friends. OH! AND! I found my other lost yearbooks, and 3, count them 3, grandma books, including my favorite!! My life gets more complete everyday.

Also, I think it is important to note, Mom, Paul, and I ventured out to Sams Club where I found some adorable baby clothes, and wanted to buy out the entire store. This is his newest Sunday attire, which I would let him wear constantly, if it didn't look so uncomfortable, because it is just that cute.

You're probably wondering what poor Mikey did for a whole week without his little maid and cook..... Don't feel bad. Lets just say he got a full nights rest everyday, and took a vacation from working out. Rude! Just kidding... he deserved every bit of sleep since he's back to the never-sleeping-again routine thanks to a screaming baby, and a no-snoring-allowed wife.

And then Mike finally got to Utah and we were off to Ohio!!! Ohio is always nice. My hair looks ten times better, my lips never need chapstick, and I'm pretty sure it's better for my horrendous acne problem too. I don't think I can breathe better though, that's probably one of those urban legends. OH! Fact of the day: Pringles, the chips, here, in the west, have a little bubble so when you open it, it goes "pop" Apparently, out in the OH, this is not so. And, says Mike's dad, if you were to buy a can a pringles in Ohio and take them on the plane, a bubble would grow. Something about humidity blah, blah. And I was really, truly, going to try this, and I forgot. Until now. How depressing. I guess this is going to have to wait till the next trip. Perhaps the bubble would shrink if traveling the opposite direction? I'm going to find out.

In Ohio, one of Mike's friends and new fiance wanted to go to sushi with us. I love sushi, thanks to Paul, but Mike here, hates fish- cooked fish, raw fish, the smell of fish, the look of fish. I'm pretty sure the only reason he likes fishing is to kill the fish.... just kidding...he throws them back in... do not panic vegetarians! Anyway, we went to sushi anyway, and although Mike ordered chicken, he did try my little raw crab, avocado, rice and seaweed roll, otherwise known as the California roll, and didn't even flinch. Didn't hate it, but didn't really like it either. I'm so proud of you Mikey!!

Mitch was adorable the whole trip. He was so perfect on the plane, words can't even express. I think the airline stewardesses are nicer to us because we have such a cute baby. I guess we'll keep him around, ha ha. Grandma Taylor referred to him as "angel baby" for the duration of the week, because he was really that good. I couldn't ask for a better baby. He loved everyone, especially his only cousin, Clara. It was like they new each other! They both went crazy! It was seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Thanksgiving was amazing. These Taylors are definitely cooks.... Cheri's fiance, Ian, made 8 pies, from scratch. Talk about dedication. And they were fantastic (and I think I really did try them all....the baby weight will never really leave me....) And Mitch randomly fell asleep on the floor while about 3 people were playing with him. That, I think, was definitely a highlight. I didn't take a picture though, the flash would have killed the moment, so imagine it. Maybe the turkey dinner made him sleepy too.

Friday Mike and I made our way into the deathly crowds.... but we survived. And actually were really fast, considering. We bought Mitch a little jumper for Christmas, he'll love it. It was a pain getting it on the plane and we just left it at my parents house, which means we'll be up late Christmas Eve setting the darn thing up. But I am sure he will love it.

Also in Ohio, we went to a fantastic book store and bought Mitch some really cute childrens books. And now he has a total of 6 books to open up, and 3 toys. Is that weird?? I don't know why I am more prone to buy books over toys.... he loves books now, but maybe his mother is pushing them on him too much. ha ha. Oh well, there's always next year to try and get this "toys at Christmas" thing right.

Somehow in Ohio Mitch found his "scream for pure joy" voice. And he is loud!! So it's the end of the day and I've got a headache from my baby's ridiculously loud screams. At least he's happy. This should make church more interesting.

I daresay Mitch's favorite person in Ohio is his Grandpa Boyd. I guess we picked the right person to name the baby after. Mitch couldn't have been happier being held by Grandpa, it was so cute. An honorable mention goes to Shelby, she could get him to smile anytime. I asked her if she wanted to come home with us, but apparently she has school and a life....

We also went to Kirtland. It was amazing!! This is the only picture I took. I had my hands full with Mitch (who had indeed found his screaming voice.... not so cute when you're inside the temple) but it was really interesting. I can't imagine living in the Midwest for so long and then walking so far away to Utah only to find (most likely terrifying) mountains and desert. I love Utah, but I think that would have been a little depressing, Kirtland was beautiful.

Also, we put up the Christmas tree. (Not ours, yet. Maybe when I finish cleaning... but in Ohio) Mike's mom has one of the prettiest trees I have ever seen. Mitch loved to look at the lights and ornaments, I can't wait to put ours up, maybe he will scream less?

We had a fabulous vacation and the both of us were really dreading Idaho. The cold weather, icy roads, and no variety really send us over the edge sometimes. But, now that we're here again, it's nice to be back at our own little apartment, just the 3 of us. I just wish I could figure out how to clean my bathroom and fold my laundry with a screaming baby.... at least he's not crawling.....yet.

I promise next time my post will be short....