The Tagg Team

Art

2009-09-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

When Kimball went away to New Jersey I surprised him with the "Putto's Kiss" painting. He gave the poster to me years ago and it has great significance to both of us but it was just laying around and I hadn't put it up in our new place. I wanted to do something different with it so I cut it down and modge podged it onto a canvas and added some texture and acrylic paint. It turned out how I wanted it and Kimball loved it. We're going to hang it in the bedroom.

While I was painting, Cassidy and her good friend Emma were watching me. Emma was moving at the end of the month to Edmonton and she said she loved angels and asked me if I could do a painting for her. She's a sweet girl so I decided to do something for her. I wanted it to be on a smaller canvas but couldn't find the size I was looking for. Cass said that her favorite colors were black and purple so I tried to work that in. I think it turned out cute and she loved it. Her mom said she couldn't wait to hang it in her room at their new place. I just love painting, I'm working on something abstract right now, we'll see how it turns out. Things are getting pretty busy around here with school starting this week!

Fun in Edmonton!!!

2009-08-21T18:38:00.001-07:00

ha ha ha!!!

We had such a great time in Edmonton this week! We met up with Aaron and Skye and the kids. It was so funny...we were texting the whole way and when we got into Edmonton I told Kimball that it would be so funny if we got to the hotel at the same time as Aaron and Skye. Well we are driving on the Whitemud just a couple minutes away from the hotel and Kimball says "that's a blue Toyota Sienna, what if that's them?" We were laughing so hard!! We pulled up beside them and started honking. What are the odds that we would get there at the exact same time!!!

The hotel was great (except for the crazy party in the room next to Aaron and Skye...next time no booking a hotel with a HUGE casino ok guys!!!!! lol!) We went swimming at the hotel that night and ordered pizza. The kids had so much fun seeing their cousins.

We spent the whole next day at the Waterpark. So fun. It was great going during the week, it was so slow and we didn't have to wait for slides. The kids crashed pretty hard that night and we had fun chatting and playing cards. We got some school shopping done the next day and parted ways in the afternoon. We had a blast and will definately be making this an annual event between the Varty Party and the Tagg Team!!!!

Farewell Howard Family

2009-07-25T19:21:00.001-07:00

We are so sad that our amazing friends the Howard's are moving out of town. We have known each other for over eight years. We lived two houses down from each other for five of those years! What an awesome family! They have been so good to us over the years and we will have so many great memories to look back on.

We threw a farewell party for them on the 17th. It was great, we had about 40 people come. We got a little crazy at the end and decided to see how many people could jump on Melissa's bed!!

We are excited for their new adventures in Okotoks, and wish them all the best. We love you.

Family Vacation!!!

2009-07-25T18:49:00.001-07:00

We had such a wonderful family vacation this year!! We took the kids to Drumheller and we camped for four nights at the cutest little campground. We went to the museum and saw all the sites in the area. The kids love camping so much!!! Kimball and I were talking around the campfire one night about eventually getting a tent trailer. Cassidy was horrified, she said that camping is only "true camping" if you are in a tent! She doesn't want us to get a tent trailer...she's too cute.

We drove to Stettler one of the days and took the kids on an old fashioned steam locomotive. It was so fun. On the way home we stopped in Edmonton at the Ramada Inn. The kids love that place, it has two waterslides that are perfect for them to go down.

We loved our family vacation and are planning to go back to Drumheller someday!

13 years...and lucky in love.

2009-07-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Kimball and I have been married for 13 years today! Words cannot describe how happy and blessed I am to have him as my husband and best friend. He truly is my soul mate. I cannot imagine my life without him. We first met when I was 17 years old and I immediately felt so comfortable and safe around him. He is so patient with me and understanding. He helps me to see my potential and not a day goes by that he doesn't tell me how beautiful I am. There is no one else that I want to spend all my time with, we are always together. He is leaving for two weeks for a training course in the States at the beginning of August. It will be the longest time that we've ever been apart and I don't know how I'm going to do without him here. He is the love of my life, my rock and my best friend. Happy Anniversary sweetie.

O Canada!!!

2009-07-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

We had an awesome Canada Day! We went to the parade in the morning with our good friends the Howard's. It was good, the kids got a ton of candy and free stuff. Then we went to a barbecue at their place after for lunch. It was great! I made Canada Day cake pops. They turned out cute and were so fun to make!

Little Helper

2009-06-28T19:47:00.001-07:00

So the kids have jobs that they do every day in the kitchen. We have a chart on the wall and it rotates throughout the week. Ashton has been begging to be on the list for the last little while. He's pretty little, but we would occasionally give him a job like helping to set the table or helping to load a couple plates. Well, he's officially on the chart now! He is so cute and capable and willing to do his little jobs (most of the time!) Kimball snapped this picture the other day of him cleaning the table. He's too cute!!!

Room make-overs!

2009-06-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I decided that Hunter and Cassidy's rooms needed a bit of a make-over. It was frustrating for me and for them that they didn't have a specific area for their trinkets, books, papers, toys etc. I got these great little shelves with colored bins from Ikea. They are perfect! It is helping them to be more organized and tidy. I also picked up a couple bedspreads from Wal-mart that I thought looked good. The rooms aren't quite done yet, I still have to paint something for Cassidy's room and get a few more things for her walls. She also has a "secret spot" in her closet just for her to go and relax in. I want to paint in there and get tons of pillows for on the floor and hang a cute curtain.

I was telling Hunter that I wanted to get him something like a little shelf with knobs that he could hang his hoodies on, and he liked the idea. Well I was at the dollar store the other day and found the coolest skateboard shelf. It was exactly what I was looking for! I bought two! One is gray and the other is yellow.

It was fun helping the kids organize and give their rooms a little lift. They are such great kids and I love them so much.

Third Annual Couple's Quad Trip!

2009-06-23T17:15:00.001-07:00

We went on our annual quad trip up to the sand dunes this past weekend. It was so awesome! We went with the Howard's and the Beaulne's. Two wonderful couples and great friends of ours. We left on Thursday around noon. It was raining here in town and we were hoping for great weather. We got sprinkled on a bit on the way out and it was cloudy but as soon as we got to our spot the sun started shining! It is so quiet and peaceful out there. Kimball was super excited to try out his dinghy. He wanted to pump it up before we even set up the tent! He caught a ton of fish and I caught five!!! It was so great! We went swimming and fishing, we relaxed and napped and sat around the fire eating s'mores and talking.

The only hiccup on the trip was a flat tire on our way out. The road is really bumpy and rough and they are preparing to pave part of it. You can only get in with a 4x4. The boys had it fixed pretty fast though.

Thank you to Auntie Melissa for taking such great care of the kids so we could do this. She is amazing and it's a blessing having her live with us for the summer again.

Can't wait for next year's trip!!!!

Surprise party!!

2009-06-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

Melissa threw Jonah a surprise party for his 30th. She invited some of his friends and made an amazing meal. We had barbecued chicken breasts, roasted poatatoes, asparagus, salad and an incredibly rich and moist chocolate cake! Jonah had asked Melissa a while ago if I would paint a picture for him for his office. His goal is to retire early in a beautiful home in Ghana. He wanted a house on a hill to look at and work towards. So Mel helped me find a picture online of a nice home in Ghana and I sketched it and then painted it and added grass and stuff. I think it turned out ok. He seemed very happy and hung it in his office the next day. We had such a great night! You throw awesome parties Melissa!!

Dance week!!!

2009-05-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

It was a very busy week here as the girl's had their final dance shows. They had rehearsals starting on Tuesday evening and every day after that until the final show Saturday night. They perform in a Friday evening show, Saturday matinee and Saturday evening show. It's very crazy and lots of running around.....but they love it!! I volunteered to help out with Cassidy's class Wednesday and the Saturday matinee. The show is awesome and there is a lot of work put into it. They wear stage make-up and costumes. Chloe was a bumble-bee and did a tap routine. Cassidy wore a red and black polka-dot number and also did a tap routine. Ok, look at Chloe. She is so hilarious! I did not tell her to pose that way, I just took out the camera and took a couple pics while she had her make-up on. She is all over this dance thing. She absolutely loves it!! She didn't seem tired at all. I would go and pick her up and she would be dancing around the room or playing with a friend. I had little bags packed for them with snacks and activities because they were gone all week during dinner. One day I was busy getting Cassidy's make-up on for the dress rehearsal and Chloe started getting all the snacks out and putting them into separate baggies for her and Cass. It's so cute! We let them stay up late to watch the second act last night (they perform in the first act). They were both cheering and bopping to the music and the routines. So fun! We had a great week!

Hamsters and responsibility

2009-05-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hunter and Cassidy both have a hamster. They love them so much. I am so proud of how responsible they are both becoming. They are amazing kids! They clean the hamster cages by themselves once a week and make sure they have everything they need. They are both so gentle and loving with animals.

Family Fun Day!!!

2009-05-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we took the kids to Family Fun Day. Every year Syncrude puts on a great day for the kids. There is a petting zoo, air games, lunch and two presents for each child. It's such a great event and the kids love it. We are so incredibly blessed and have many opportunities here in Fort McMurray.

Auntie Melissa!

2009-05-06T19:33:00.001-07:00

It's so fun having Melissa here! She is so awesome and helpful to us. Last Sunday Kimball and I were so tired and Melissa took all the kids to the park so we could have a little afternoon nap. She helps me tidy the house and grocery shop and babysit and it's just so fun hanging out with her (not to mention the perks of sharing some clothes and shoes!! he he!!). Love you Mel!

Chloe turns 5!!!

2009-05-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

Chloe turned five on April 29th! We had a great party here at the house for her. She invited a few friends (I was informed that it was a boy/girl party!). Mom and Dad were in Edmonton earlier in the week so they came up for the party too. It was fun, she had a great time! I can't believe that Chloe will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. She is very eager and excited to learn. Chloe keeps me on my toes all the time...she is a very head-strong, independent girl! She is so sweet and talented. She has ten of the Articles of Faith memorized and loves singing in primary. She is fearless and Kimball and I always joke and say that she is five going on fifteen!!!

Time out for Women

2009-05-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

I was able to go down to Edmonton this weekend for an LDS Women's conference called "Time out for Women". It was so great! I went down with four other awesome ladies from our ward. Sheri Dew was there as well as some other great speakers and musical guests. It was so fun catching up with people I hadn't seen in a while and having a little break just for me. The theme was the "Sweet assurance" that the gospel brings to our lives. As I sat with over 1400 other women striving to live the gospel, raising families and overcoming challenges, I couldn't help but feel strengthened. I know that the gospel is true and it blesses my life every day.

Cute kids!

2009-04-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

After Family Home Evening I always have a treat and the kids are so cute because they jump up to their spots on their stools. They love to help taking turns making and serving the treat. They are just so dang cute sitting there eating! I am so blessed to have such wonderful, healthy children.

2009-04-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Big Hair!!!

Chloe has such beautiful thick hair. Kimball and I were laughing because he had taken Chloe to get a new helmet. He tried the helmets for the five year olds...too small. Then he tried the helmets for the eight year olds...too small. He thought for sure the helmets for the youth (14 years old) would fit. Nope. He ended up buying a ladies helmet!! What gorgeous hair! I love playing with and styling her hair.

2009-04-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

Fun at the World of Science Centre!

On the way back from Lethbridge we stayed overnight at the Ramada Hotel. The kids had a blast going down the waterslides. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. We took them out to eat at Red Lobster after. I love it that the kids like seafood! Hunter loves crab legs, lobster and shrimp. The younger kids love shrimp too. They were pretty wasted from swimming and went to bed so well at the hotel. The next morning we took the kids to the telus centre. They had so much fun! There were great exhibits and lots to do. We saw an awesome movie at the Imax theatre about whales. The kids loved the huge screen!! We headed home after and they were so good. My kids are such good travelers. I guess they are just used to it now, everything is so far away from Fort McMurray. We had such a great holiday!

2009-04-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

Spring at last!! (We hope!)

Kimball took the kids on one-on-one dates this weekend. He is such an awesome Dad! He took Cassidy to the pet store and they looked at things for the hamsters and then they went for a drive. He took Hunter to get some roller blades and new shoes for outside. Chloe got a scooter and a helmet and Ashton got a new bike! We thought that it was time for Ashton to have his own bike as he has been riding Chloe's pink and purple barbie tricycle. The kids have been playing outside a lot this weekend. We are so happy that spring is finally here!

2009-04-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

90 years old!

When we were down in Lethbridge for Easter we celebrated my Grandpa's 90 birthday. Wow! I hope to live to 90 years old one day!!

2009-04-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

Guitar Recital!

Hunter had his first guitar recital on April 4th. I am so proud of him and for his dedication to learning a musical instrument. He loves playing the guitar and is doing so well!!

2009-04-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

EASTER!

This is our first blog post!!! Skye and Aaron encouraged us to start up our blog! We are excited to share pictures and events that are going on in our lives. Be patient with us as we are very new to this!!!