Christmas Newsletter

CHRISTMAS 2008

Wow, what a year 2008 has been. It started with us living in Herriman. I am firm in my belief that we had the best neighbors and ward possible. (Sulky Cove is a little slice of Heaven!) I know I am a little biased - I had the opportunity to serve as the Relief Society President and I have never had such an awesome experience when serving my Father in Heaven. It made me develop such a love for the families in our ward. Well despite our love for our friends and ward, we felt something pulling us elsewhere. Where? That - we are still not sure. We decided to test our the market and BOOM! We sold our little home in less than one month at full price. So now what? We moved in with my very giving parents in July. Yes, all 6 of us. My lil' sisters family is also living there while her husband is in school. Bringing the Nebel household total to 11. Keep in mind that 45% of the residents are under the age of 6. ( P.S. Mom: Mr. Hogle called... he wants his Zoo back!)

So after months of searching for just the right house and multiple failed offers on multiple houses, here we are! Although, we are excited to spend Christmas at Grandma Judy's and Grandpa Lon's. I PRAY that January will find us in our own home again. We can't thank my family enough for opening their home and hearts to us for so long.

Anthony has still been very involved in his Triathalons. He has a light about him when he is in that arena. The cold weather has definitely hindered his workouts, but we both still get lots of activity chasing our 4 little ones! With 4 kids all born within 4 1/2 years, things are rarely boring around here. I LOVE being a mom! Anthony loves being a dad! He is an amazing daddy! The kids flock to him when he gets home everyday. Parenting is the most rewarding thing I've ever done. Don't get me wrong, it's not a cake walk - but there is no other way on earth that I would rather be investing my time, energy and love in. You can read all about 4 awesome monkeys at the top of the blog.

Anthony and I have recently achieved a new level in our marriage. Our marriage has always been really good, but is now absolutely unbelievable. He is my knight in shining armor and all I have ever dreamed of. He has been my best friend for the last 11 years, and will be forever! When he walks in the door, he gives my butterflies in my tummy! I love you Anth!

I think if I had sum up 2008 in one word, it would be "Growth." This year has been filled with so much change, some good and some bad. Yet through all of it, looking back I see the Lords hand in it all. Oh my goodness, the Lord works in mysterious ways. The blessings poured out on us are so humbling. I feel so inadequate and pray that each and every day we can attempt to live up to even part of what we have been given. All of our family and friends have been supportive and loving. The gratitude I feel for you all in indescribable. Thank you, Thank you , Thank you.

Anthony and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with the Light of Christ and a happy and loving New Year!

P.S. I will keep the "house hunt" updates on our blog!

Love,

Anthony, Mandi, Elsie, Lillie, Blake and Boston

The Taylors

Yes, our kids can fly!

An Attitude of Gratitude

I have been thinking about what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. I think the list could go on and on...but here are some of my tops.

• My absolute surety of my Heavenly Fathers influence in my life and personal realationship with MY Savior.
• The BEST husband ever... seriously, we've been through a lot and I can honestly say I am happier than I have ever been in almost 11 years of marriage. I love you eternally Anth!
• The best 4 kids ever. You make my life so happy! I love being your mom!
• I'm so grateful to have among my best friends: My parents, my siblings and their spouses, as well as Anthony's parents and siblings! Doesn't get any better!!! I love you all so much! FAITH~FAMILY~FOREVER
• Even though we are STILL searching for our new home, I am so grateful that we do have the ability to buy a new home...and for my parents for opening their home to all 6 of us after our home sold so quickly! It's a zoo here... but we love it!
• And... last but not least. I am grateful for my new shoes and red purse I received for my birthday! They are sooo cute!

"Lillie's Run in With the Law"

Lillie (age 5) recently decided that seatbelts are for the birds. So one day last week when she was very resistant to being in her buckle, Mommy just happened to see a police car parked in a near-by parking lot. I pulled over, with a very nervous little 5 year old saying, Mom, what are you doing? Mom? Mommmmmmmm??? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? I calmly said let's see if this officer will help "us" unerstand the importance of seatbelts. I pulled in, parked and walked over to him. (Personally, I think I made the Police Officer more nervous than Lillie.) I light-heartedly explained "our" dilemma to him and asked if he could help her "get it." I reminded him to not scare her, just impress upon her the danger, the law, etc... He did a great job, but Lillie would not even look at him, talk to him, and at the end, even yelled at him! Yikes! "I KNOW!!!!" He just laughed and walked away with a wish of good luck! Oh, OK THANKS! Guess what Family Home Evening was about that night? Obeying parents, the law, etc... Well, it seems to have made the difference. Lillie is now usually the first or second buckled and "ratting out who ever is doddling at the task at hand.

"Our Taylor-Tots"

Elsie is our oldest. She is 6 years old and an ablsolute angel. Not to say she doesn't get into her fair share of mischief, but she is down right tenderhearted and caring. Our little blonde haired, blue eyed girl. ELSIE'S MOTTO: "EVERYTHING GOOD IN LIFE, IS PINK AND SPARKLES." Elsie is very smart and a very deep little thinker for her age. Questions from Elsie often provoke very interesting conversations for our lil' family. She also loves to dance and is a great student, but is strongly campaigning for changing school days for 1st graders to half days because it feels like "188 hours long!" I love her so much!

Lillie is our 2nd Taylor Tot. Lillie is our dark haired, dark eyed spit-fire. Lillie is a fiesty lil' thang. She is very passionate and determined at everything she does. When Lillie sets her mind to something, nothing is going to stop her. Not mom, dad, brothers, sister, police officers, nobody! (See "Lillies's run in with the Law" post to hear about Lillie's encounter with the South Jordan police.) Lillie is also a "girly girl" and always is accompanied by her "stuff." Quite often Lillie has 3 or 4 dolls, a purse, handfulls of odds and end papers, and is usually hiding someone else toys in her entourage of treasures. She cracks me up. Lillie is so concerned about others and nurtures and cuddles everything she has...even her brothers cars. (Much to her brothers dismay!) Oh, how I love Lillie's cuddles. Lillie is also our Taylor Singer. So far I would vote Lillie most likely to follow in her daddy's musical footsteps. She loves to make up songs and belt them out at the top of her lungs, anywhere we are. Carpool, grocery store, even sacrament meeting! Sorry Bishop Simpson!) Lillie, I love you!

Blake is a miniature Anthony to a "T". Everytime Grandma Sandy is with Blake she can't get over the mini-Anth. He is our bright blonde, blue eyed little man. Blake has so much personality in his three year old little body. He is always picking up on the funniest little catch phrases. His latest that Grandpa Lon taught him and he loves to say is "I stand all amazed!" He is very athletic and is grandpa's and daddy's little buddies. He loves to build things, fix things, break open things and just generally be a boy. His favorites of all his toys right now are his "Tow-mater" car, his flashlight and key ring full of keys from Grandpa. (He tries to open every lock he sees with his keys. ( At the Wheeler Farm a few weeks ago with the Taylor cousins, he tried to "Free" every animal at the farm with his keys. Luckily nothing was freed, except Blake and Tyce. His adorable cousin and partner in crime that day. I think we had to search for those 2 at least 3 or 4 times that day!) Blake is so awesome! I love him so much!

Boston is our little baby, but isn't too little anymore. (Sniff, sniff) Boston was our 5 week early teeny tiny premature baby who is now 19 months old and solid as a ROCK! He is hilarious! Oh boy, does he have a set of lungs! With 4 kids all within 4 1/2 years of each other, he has had to learn quickly to let others know what he wants... He's chosen a shrill scream as his form of, "Boston needs something!" That is one we are definitley working on diligently. Once again, Sorry Bishop as well as every one living under our roof! Boston also loves to snuggle under the covers with his sipper cup. Usually with Grandma or Mommy! I am predicting that Boston will at some point climb some amazing mountain because I swear that is all he does at home....climb. My moms baby grand piano has the footprints on top to prove it! He has the most infectious giggle and it makes me want to wrestle with hime and tickle him constantly. He adores Elsie and Lillie and searches for them while they are gone at pre-school and the Charter school. He is also, like Lillie... another dark eyed mommy look alike. I love you Baby Boston!

Let's Get This Thang Started...CATCHIN' YA UP!

Well, I have officially joined the world of Blogging. That's BLOGGING, NOT CLOGGING. (That must stay in the past...way in the past...Yeeeehhhaaa!) We have so many of our family members out of state that I thought this would help us all stay connected. And... this is the closest I am going to get to journaling, at least until I have a few more kids in school. So, here goes nothing.

Here is the background story to catch ya'll up-to-date with our family. The last 6 months of our lives would best be described as "IN LIMBO." We had been living in Herriman, Utah for the last 4 1/2 years and loved every minute of it. In July we sold our house in order to move up into a bigger house for our quickly expanding family. Our house sold surprisingly super fast in this crazy market. When it was time to move we had not found a home, so...we moved in with my mom and dad in Riverton. My parents had a spare room and so graciously offered it. Yes, all 6 of us... in 1 room. Luckily, the girls are now sleeping downstairs in a spare room with Ashley & Brant (my lil' sister, Ashley, her hubby and baby also live downstairs while they are in college.) The girls share a bed and look so cute all snuggled together in the morning. You are probably thinking, "Hello it is now mid October and you haven't been able to find a home in almost 4 months." Let me just say the foreclosure/short sale market in Herriman right now is INSANE!!! We have had multiple offers on multilpe homes, and still ZIP, ZILCH, NADA!!!! But, I feel very at peace with Heavenly Father putting our home in our lap when the circumstances are right. Until then, I am SO grateful for the continual patience of my family. Although, I will be so excited, to once again have my fridge in the house and my clothes out of the garage. The changing weather is making changing clothes a wee bit chilly! BRRRRR! (Not to mention Anthony's and the kids new game of hitting the 'up button' on the garage door and locking the door when mom is changing clothes. Ha Ha... it was funny maybe the first 3 times. Now, VERY OLD GUYS!!!!

***WHAT IS THE BEST PERK TO LIVING WITH 3 FAMILIES UNDER ONE ROOF? 11 PEOPLE TOTAL HEAD COUNT...Mulitple women to help with chores, kids and cooking! (Whose turn is it to cook, anyways?)