WTF???

Hey. Member that one time when both Justin and I blogged about the crappy car troubles we have been having this year?

May I present.....our four month old car parked on I-215 with the 2000 East exit sign on top of it: TOTALED

And we thought we were having car troubles. Ha!

Justin and Melissa's Summer of Fun!

Here's a little snapshot of what my best friend and I have been doing this summer:

Green Family Reunion at Deer Valley

We took a tram up to the top of the Deer Valley Ski Resort to do a little hiking




Overlooking Jordanelle Reservoir

The Dudes

The Chicks

Justin doing his impression of Karate Kid, "Yes, Sensei."

Trying NOT to fall

There was still quite a bit of snow up there.

Its not a trip to Park City if you don't stop by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and get a piece of seafoam and an "Apple Pie" caramel apple

Star Valley, Wyoming

Justin had a softball tournament up in Star Valley with his old mission companion and our mortgage broker. They won! Here are some pictures of Star Valley. I've always driven through it on the way to Jackson Hole but never stayed. It's beautiful. BTW, I wonder where they got the "Hole" in Jackson Hole. Anyone else ever wondered that?

"Annual Steadman, Grandchildren, Graduation, Dinner!" at Archibald's in Gardner Village. Last year Justin proposed to me at this dinner. Now we have 2 new members to add to the family: Justin and Brianna.

Crazy Cousins

100 mpg baby

So about a month ago Justin took me to a bike shop in American Fork to "look" at scooters. I was naive and thought we really were just going to look at scooters and then maybe ride a few just for fun. Um, no.

Justin pretty much had been scoping out these scooters for some time now and had every intention of buying one that day. Ha. I was like, "why do we need to drop a wad of cash on something we don't need when we are in the middle of buying a house???" Then we test drove one. Has anyone ever driven one of these things? WAY easier than the 1980 Honda 80's that I first learned to drive at my cabin with 3 gears that you have to change, heavy as crap, and if you happen to tip over on one, well...its over.

Justin was pretty quick to tell me all the good things about getting a scooter and as soon as I heard that it only costs $4.00 to fill up the tank and that it will get 100 MILES PER GALLON -that deserves repeating- 100 MILES PER GALLON!!! - I was sold. We bought it right then and there and we have loved having it!

We take it everywhere we possibly can instead of the cars. We drove it from the point of the mountain all the way down to Rice Eccles Stadium on the frontage roads to watch David Beckham play Real Salt Lake and it only took like 15 minutes longer to get there than if we had taken the freeway, plus you basically park wherever the heck you want in that thing. We go on all our dates on it, plus you get these sweet nerdy half-helmets to wear and when you catch your shadow while you are riding, you look seriously ridiculous but it is so fun! Justin and I joke about getting chaps and skull-and-crossbones jackets just to look stupid. I think last month we saved almost $200 in gas.

So now we have 4 vehicles - we are still trying to get rid of the piece of #$%& Acura - but I love the scooter.

10 REASONS TO GET A SCOOTER

1. 100 mpg

2. Park anywhere you want

3. Little kids think you are cool

4. 100 mpg

5. Comes with sweet helmets - anyone ever seen Wedding Planner? (Mossimo)

6. Your husband can pretend he's riding a Harley Davidson - Justin knows this is the closest he'll get to one any time soon

7. 100 mpg

8. You can do the cool motorcycle nod to the other bikers out there

9. It has a sweet racing stripe

10. Oh, and 100 MGP!!!!

Beep beep

Race for the Cure

Last weekend Justin, my mom, and I did the annual "Race for the Cure" for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Its a 5k walk/run that we do with the whole fam ever since I was diagnosed. Last year we had a whole entourage show up, but this year we procrastinated a little and only the 3 of us could make it. No matter, it was awesome as usual! For those of you who do not know about this race, it is incredible. Thousands of people show up to the Gateway Mall at 8:00am in the morning to show their support for family and friends who have battled breast cancer. This year we hit a record with 20,000 people! The experience is indescribable. The foundation provides pink signs for everyone to pin on their backs with the words "In Memory of" or "In Celebration of" and then you can write someones name on it who has battled breast cancer - mothers, daughters, grandmothers, etc. Some people write some pretty hilarious things on them too. I think the best one I saw was on some guy's back that said "In Celebration of...Boobs!" And people get seriously decked out for this thing! Pink Boas, tutus, fairy wings, and anything crazy and pink they can find. There are all kinds of signs and t-shirts that people wear. My favorite T-Shirt said "Save Second Base," and Justin wore his "Save the Ta-Tas" t-shirt. We also ran into the "Prostate Posse." Seriously the coolest old guys I have ever seen. 90-year-olds, all wearing blue, with makeshift horses around their waists, cowboy hats and boots, all walking the race together. I love it!

After the race is over, they do a Survivor Parade and all of us survivors walk around the grounds to Amazing Grace being played on the bagpipes. We end up on the stairs by the water fountains where dozens of white doves are released into the sky. Its a very emotional moment for everyone present.

Its difficult to get through the experience without tearing up and reflecting on my life and the gift I have been given of a second chance. I am so lucky to be alive and healthy and to be able to have a sweet husband to share the rest of my life experiences with. I can't say enough how grateful I am for an AMAZING husband!!! I remember the first year I did this race, and let me tell you, its much different now! I am so grateful for my mother too. She and Justin share the spot as my number 1 fans. They, along with the rest of my family, are always right by my side and would do anything and everything for me. Thank you loves!

Here's to all the strong women who have battled this disease

To their courage through the treatment

To their bravery during times of uncertainty

To their laughter amidst the tears

To their strength along the journey

We see the fear

We experience the pain

We feel the heartache

And we know the sadness

But we see the beauty

We embrace the blessings

We feel the Joy

And we WILL find a Cure

Kristopher and Brianna's Wedding

These are a little late getting up, but here are just a few pictures of Kristopher and Brianna's wedding in April.

Bridesmaids!

The newlyweds

The grandparents

Tag Team Back Again

So, I got tagged. I guess that means I'm supposed to answer these personal questions and put them on my blog for everyone to see? Ok, here goes:

What is your husband's name? Justin Page Taylor


How long have you been together? Friends first, dated for 6ish months, engaged for less than 3 months, married for 7 months

Who said "I love you" first? That would be me. He didn't say it back right away, but then said it over the phone the next day - we were living 250 miles apart at the time

Who is smarter? I am smart enough not to answer THAT question!


Who does the housework? Justin does a lot. I would say he does about 60% and I do about 40%


Who sleeps on the right? Justin, and mostly backwards with his feet on his pillow and his head at the end of the bed

Who pays the bills? Me


Who cooks dinner? That's about even steven. We like to cook together


Who drives when you are together? J-dawg


Who is more stubborn? Me! Justin is so easy going. He would do anything for me


Who kissed who first? This has been up for debate since it happened! I say he did, he says I did. How do we get confused on this? It's a long story!!!

Who proposed? Justin of course. I was at Tucci's at our annual Steadman Family Dinner with all the 20+ grandkids (my grandparents take us all out together on one day of the year for all our birthdays) and we went out on the stairs in the courtyard to take a picture after dinner and there was Justin at the bottom of the stairs with a dozen red roses and a HUGE sign 2 1/2' by 4' that said "Melissa, I love you. Will you Marry me?" I was completely shocked! And the reason he was able to pull it off and surprise me was because he planned it about 2 hours before. I know him so well, that if he had been planning it any longer than that, I would have totally known it was coming. It was perfect!

Who has more siblings? Justin - he has 4. One older sister, one younger sister, and one younger brother. I have 2 bros

Who wears the pants? He has one leg. I have the other!


Tag, you're it!

Happy 30th Birthday!

That's right. This is what I wake up to every morning. So can you blame me for wanting to brag a little? Happy Belated Birthday to my sweetie! I knew exactly what I was getting into when I married this guy!

He cooks, washes dishes - ours and other people's, does laundry, lets me watch whatever I want to on TV, loves my family, loves HIS family, would spend every minute with me if he could, and tells me I am beautiful first thing in the morning. He's an unbelievable friend, loyal, honest - I really don't think he could tell a lie if he tried. In fact, he did try once when he wanted to surprise me and he still couldn't do it. He's sincere, light-hearted, playful, authentic, thoughtful - the other day he brought home a new skirt for me, just because. He is always serving other people, he's humble, talented - yeah one of those people who is good at everything - sickening!, always happy, has never lost his temper, works hard, plays hard, and DANG he is hot! But most important, he really does love me.

Baby I love you so much. I don't know what I did right, but my life is a fairytale with a happy ending because of you. Happy Birthday!

P.S. I am in so much trouble for putting up that picture!