Going Private

Given how easily it is for anyone with a phone/computer/iPad/laptop/Kindle/Nook or any other electronic device to swipe a picture from a blog or webpage with the single click and use it as they please, I feel the need to set my blog to private. That means that you'll have to have a blogger account in order to view my blog.For most of you, this isn't a big deal because you already have a blogger log in/ account. For those of you who don't, you will simply have to create a name for yourself and a pass word and then click to follow Mx4. You can leave yourself logged in on your own computer so you don't have to mess with logging in each time you look at a blogspot.com blog but it will make it safer for me to know who I am sharing my blog with and assure that I won't find my pictures and information in the hands of someone who doesn't need it/have permission to have it. I will be switching to the private setting over the next few days.

Photo A Day - December

I'm still having so much fun doing the photo a day challenge . I managed to snap the assigned picture every day but there are still a few of them missing from this collage ( I'm too lazy to go searching for those that I downloaded directly to the Facebook group from my phone) Oh yeah- And even more evidence of my laziness? The photos on my collage are not in order. Thing of it as a game of sorts...if you're truly that bored. But I know you...and you're not. Here they are anyway:

Click on collage to enlarge

Christmas clean up

This is our eleventh Christmas together so Mike isn't surprised when he gets up the morning after Christmas to a "Christmas stripped" house. " It's almost as if it was never here!" he says. This year I had the help of Mackenzie. We stripped the tree, placing all the ornaments on a blanket. Then we played an game of "I spy". I pulled an empty ornament box  out and Mackenzie scoured the blanket for the missing ornament, plucked it from the blanket and we sealed it safely in it's box for another year. We had so much fun and I will gladly accept her help as long as she so happily offers it.

Taylor invasion

My Uncle Steve, Aunt Marlene and cousins Michelle, Rene, Jonathon and David visited Colorado from Tacoma, Washington so Uncle Bryan ( who lives in Colorado, too) brought them up to my mom's for an afternoon of fun. I'd actually never met any of the kids ( and Michelle is in her second year of college!) .After an afternoon of running and chasing, Mackenzie exclaimed " I'm so glad I have extra cousins!" She has no idea how far the branches of our family tree spread, so each new encounter is like a really great present! Because of that, she was also pretty bummed to say good-bye. Thankfully, Uncle Steve extended an open invitation to visit the Seattle/Tacoma area any time! We can't wait to cash that offer in as there are two more uncles and another of my very favorite cousins, Christine, ( who has two kids near the same ages as ours) in Tacoma as well.

Aunt Marlene and Uncle Steve with Mason

Uncle Bryan snatched up Mack for some cuddles. She really didn't
mind it as much as this picture suggests.

The uncles enjoying a bit of Mike's homebrew!

Michelle and Rene hanging out with their baby cousin

Genetics are so interesting. There isn't a single Taylor who doesn't have some sort of artistic talent. Whether it's playing the guitar, drawing, writing,crafting, photography or anything in between, it seems that Grandma and Grandpa passed down the art gene and it keeps on trickling.  Rene is no exception. She drew picture after picture for Mack as we waited for our lunch to arrive . I snagged this portrait she jotted down of Mack before it could get lost in the shuffle. If I ever get a children's book written, I know who will be my go to girl for illustrations.  It will also be fun to see how this gene shows up in Mack who's daddy has his own fair share of artsy genes.

Rene's portrait of Mackenzie

Brooklyn came over for a sleep over after our afternoon with Uncle Steve. This was a good day !

The girls showing me their muscles.

Ohhhh, Mason

It's a tough day in the life of a big sister when she realizes that " cheerio" in her brothers mouth is actually the tiny snow flake she'd worked  and , subsequently, hung too low on the fridge and is now a wad of baby mush.

Peek!

Mason LOVES to play peekaboo behind the baby gate that leads to the playroom. He will sit on the other side of it in his walker just watching Mackenzie play and trying to get her to come play! I snapped this video of his excitement. This video explains why we have nick named the kids  Screech ( Mack) and Squeal ( Mason). These two can make noises only dogs can hear! Ignore Mack's belchiness at the end. Burping is an art form to her of late.

A Holly Jolly Christmas

This was Mike's year to work Christmas eve and Christmas night so , though we got in all of our favorite traditions, things were kinda rushed and we all missed him so much. Thankfully, one of his co-workers came in early for him Christmas morning and, despite the fact that it had snowed over night, Mike got home at 7:15- in time to wake Mackenzie up!
Santa brought Mackenzie an easel complete with art supplies galore. I think this has been my favorite gift of hers ever for her expression. She just couldn't believe that Santa thought of her and knew her so well. She explained " I WISHED for this !" for nearly every item she saw. I knew Santa's gift would be very hard to top and nothing evoked the same response at the easel ( although the microscope from Grams came pretty close!) but she commented on how much she loved each item after that and gave "Thank you" hugs and kisses after she'd opened everything.

Busy boy Mason received several fun toys to keep those hands entertained. Big sister opened every present for him and he tried out each thing before moving on to the next. It's fun to think that next year will be even more exciting for everyone since Mason will be 20 months old.

 

 

Mike was happy with the movies and games he got as well as a set of Legos for he and Mackenzie and lots of little stocking stuffers. He scurried off to bed as soon as we finished opening gifts so he could get up for dinner at my moms at 4:30.

I was spoiled with lots of perfumes and photography goodies! I can't wait to try these new things out!

Mackenzie and Mason had a bit of time to play with their new things while I found new homes for all the Christmas gifts, got breakfast ready and packed up the van. Last thing was to get them both in and out to moms. This was so much work with just two hands and so much to do and with fresh snow on the roads. I have a great deal of respect for moms who do this kind of thing alone all the time. Mike is a partner in every way and I really miss him when he isn't here.

The gang ,minus our beloved Arizona Hansfords ,gathered at my parents house for brunch and presents and dinner. There were the usual moments of chaos but, all in all, it was a nice , quiet day. The kids were happy to share their gifts with each other and Mason was spoiled with kisses. We all left when the sun went down with full bellies and a van full of goods!

Kaleb and Mackenzie playing their games

Mack enjoying more duck! She's wearing the adorable apron
My mom made her, complete with paint brush slots aplenty!

Dad and Clay tending to dinner

Mom and Dad got Mike the Chef's jacket he's always wanted
as well as a food processor! Between that and the duck dad
cooked just for him, he was a happy camper.