I finally was able to get Taegen's two year pictures done along with some family pics. I am really two months behind, but later is better than never. We went to a park near our house, it was a little cold out, but still beautiful and with lots of leaves. I am in love with all the pictures of Taegen and think the photographer did an awesome job. Here are just a few of my favorites!

Here are the updated pics on the kitchen, I feel like we are finally getting somewhere. There is not a whole lot left to do (although it looks like it), but unfortunately it will still take a while. At least the cabinets are almost up, maybe I can start to organize my house now since there are dishes and pans in every room waiting for a home!!!

So this morning I had the sheets off the bed and I was washing them and Taegen decided to pile up all the pillows in the bathroom and lay in them. Don't ask me why he chose the bathroom, but it does look kind of comfy!

Jared and I decided to be crazy and go away for the weekend, I wouldn't call it totally crazy since it was only to Gettysburg, but we had a ton of fun. The ride was almost 3 hours each way, but Taegen was a champ and did awesome(have I mentioned how lucky we are)! We learned a lot about the civil war and were able to see many of the sites. Unfortunately it was cold and rainy most of the time.
Here Jared and Taegen are on top of the monument for Pennsylvania, you can see out to all of the battlefields and and the two mountains in the back are called Little Round Top and Devil's Den. (Big) Round Top. Here is the monument for Pennsylvania.

When we got to the visitors center it was pouring rain, by the time we got inside we were completely drenched and cold. I was able to dry most of my pants with the dryer in the bathroom though, and Jared and T did it the old fashioned way(air dry). Gettysburg is a very quaint town with lots of fun stores and restuarants and lots of sights to see, but as always its good to get home, sleeping in the same bed as Taegen does not equal a good nights sleeep!

Here are just a few updated pics on the house. It is now sheet rocked and the floor is layed as well. The cabinets are going to take longer than we thought to get in so I'm guessing the finished date will be pushed back-but isn't that how all remodels go!

So for those of you who don't know, we are remodeling our kitchen. They started 2 weeks ago and I think are making really good progress. We are living in a total mess with absolute disorganization, but I am trying to deal with it. They have put up a temporary wall that runs down half of our dining room keeping out a lot of the mess. There is dust and smells and very loud noises but somehow Taegen manages to sleep through it. We are taking a door that was inside the kitchen and making it a window and knocking a whole in the dining room and making that the new door. We are also expanding our kitchen down into our dining room to enlarge it with more counter and cabinet space. They pretty much gutted our kitchen down to the studs and started from scratch. Here are a few pictures of before and after, actually there after and before because I'm not sure how to switch them.

Halloween 2008

Taegen is starting to get to the age where it is fun to be a parent on holidays. It took him a couple of houses to get the hang of "trick or treat" means you get candy, but once he understood he was well on his way. He dressed up as the cutest cowboy and everybody LOVED his outfit! He even knows how to take his gun out of his holster and shoot. Here in Philly they make it very lazy to trick or treat. Everybody sits out on there porches with their candy so you don't even have to knock. Plus houses are like 15 feet apart one after another so you basically hit the jackpot. All in all we had a very good Halloween.

Family

Jared and I are so lucky to have such great familys!!!! Jared's parents were able to come out for an extended weekend for Taegen's birthday and we had an awesome time. Jared's dad had tickets to two Phillies baseball games and the first one ended up being the game where they took the 2008 National League East Division Championship... and it was awesome!!! With the two games and T's birthday we didn't have time for much else. Thanks so much for coming out and having such a great time with us, we love you!

A few days later my parents were able to come out for about 8 days. We did tons of stuff while they were here including Manhatten, Washington DC, and Lancaster. My dad was so sweet to watch Taegen while my mom and myself were able to do a session in the DC temple. It is beautiful there and was so fun to get that experience. I have much more pics to come as soon as I get them from my dad...hint, hint.Thanks mom and dad for flying out to spend time with us, we love you and miss you!

*2*

Jared and I feel so blessed that we are lucky enough to have been blessed with Taegen-the cutest, smartest, sweetest, nicest, most thoughtful two year old that there is!! Everyday Taegen makes me laugh, smile, and just feel that this mom is one lucky chicky! He is so expressive with his eyes and face-he just melts my heart. Here are some things about Taegen, more for my memory than for anyone reading this.
Loves: Mom, Dad, Grandma's, Grandpa's, Trucks, Books, Trains, Water, Buses, Dogs, Balls,
Music, Dancing, Kids club, Tortilla Chips
Dislikes: Owies, Swimming, Grandma's big yellow bath duck, Sitting Still, Indian Food,
Accomplishments: Crawling, Walking(10 1/2 months), Running, Jumping, Saying
40-60 words with two word sentences, Unlocking doors, Stacking cans 4 high(9 months)





This is Taegen just after he woke up, we went in his room with the video camera singing happy birthday. The look on his face was so cute that you knew he knew something was going to be different about this day.
Taegen and Jared having some bonding time over internal medicine, although I think T is more interested in the balloons and the basketball.
For Taegen's birthday dinner we were able to celebrate at Minados(sushi). They came out after dinner to sing to him and give him his birthday cake. We all pigged out on the delicious fish, hibachi, and crepes. This is our favorite restaurant in Philadelphia!
After dinner we came home to open up presents, Taegen was very spoiled by both grandparents! From Grandpa and Grandma Johnstun he got this really cute cowboy gettup with chaps, a belt with gun, golden nuggets, cantine, and this very handsome vest.
From Grandpa and Grandma Jensen he recieved this very cool tractor with blocks, and two warm and fuzzy jammies. He has also been doing a lot of dancing with the singing card he got from them.-"Celebrate Good Times" Thanks to everyone for how special you made Taegen feel, we love you all!

The zoo

Yesterday was such a nice day we decided to go to the park. There were quite a few girls and a lot more kids! Taegen loved every minute of it. Taegen and a bunch of kids from the ward got to go on the train while at the zoo-which they loved. The train went around and around in one big circle but they never seemed to get bored.
Here are Taegen, Marshall, Jackson, and Jordan all running down the ramp to go see the next animal. Taegen liked the horses and zebras the best, but mostly loved being one of the big kids.

Sunday Picnic

Last Sunday Jared had to go into work at Hahnemann(the hospital in the city that is associated with Drexel). He is now on his last 4 weeks of internal medicine. He was able to get off at noon though, so we decided to enjoy the great weather and head off to the park for a picnic and some fun on the slides. It was Stake Conference so I opted not to go by myself, and that is why Taegen and I were able to pick Jared up from the hospital and head right over. Taegen is still a little wobbly on the slide when he goes by himself. Jared and Taegen coming down the slide together. It looks like Jared is having just as much fun as Taegen.

Taegen worked so hard on the playground that he need to cool off with a 44 oz. drink-don't worry its just water. But seriously, this kid drinks more than me!!!

Last Sunday August 31, 2008, Jared, T, and I decided to take a stroll in Fairmount Park. This is a 9,200 acre citywide recreational park that is breathtakingly beautiful, and this is the first time we have actually taken the time to see a microscopic portion. I don't know why we waited so long, I guess we are busy and haven't taken the time. So with over 215 miles of scenic trail to walk, run, bike, or do whatever you want, we decided to give it a whirl. Along the way there is a a really cute place to eat called Valley Green Inn. It originally opened up as a place to stay for people traveling through, now it is supposedly a great restaurant which the Food Network ranks their brunch "one of the best". We didn't try it, but will have to one of these times. The surroundings reminded me of Utah/Idaho with all of the trees and a cute river running through it with people fishing. Taegen loved looking at the water with all of the fish and we even saw a turtle. All in all we had a great time.

Thursday night was mutual night, Jared(2nd councelor), Basir, Bashir, Micheal, Brandon(president) and Dalyn(not pictured-1st coucelor in the bishopric) went all over Philly looking at Murals. These murals are everywhere out here on all different types of building and they all mean something. I can't explain what they mean since me and Taegen sat in the car and didn't get the spill, but they were still fun to look at. Some of them are so big I can't believe one person can do something like that! After mutual Jared, T, and I decided to go get some icecream. It was a fun night and I think all in all that everyone had a good time.

So If you didn't know Jared has a new calling in our ward, he is now the 2nd councelor in the Young Mens. That being said he is trying to get to know some of the kids in his class. He is over the Deacons and has two kids in his class, Basir and Bashir, twins if you coudn't have guessed. They are on the left of the picture. On the right is Daryl, their 16 year old brother. We decided to have them over for dinner on Sunday, it was great getting to talk with them and getting to know them better.

After dinner we were hanging around and Taegen was playing at the top of our stairs leading to the basement. Now for those of you who live in Philly these stairs probably look familiar and normal, for those of you who don't, they probably look like there in a house that is vacant or a shack in the woods. Just as I was starting to think that it was probably not a good idea that T was playing there and I was actually on my way over he somehow fell and rolled all the way down the stairs!!!! On normal carpeted stairs this is not as big of a deal, but on stairs that look like this it was pretty scary. We were lucky he didn't drop off the side on his way down since there is no railing. He stopped on the landing crying and Jared was there in a flash to get him. He was crying pretty hard but other than a couple of visible bruises on his face and probably a couple that can not see he is ok. I was probably shaking for 30 minutes I was so scared. But all is good.