1. What is your full name? Why did your parents select this name for you? Did you have a nickname?
My maiden name is Emma Karie Taylor. When Tyler and I got married I decided to make my middle name Taylor because I love my family's heritage. I am named after my mom's grandma on her dad's side. My mom had a very special connection with her Grandma Emma and loved and honored her, she constantly tells fond stories about her grandma reading the scriptures and cooking. My middle name, Karie, is from my mom's best friend, her sister.
2. When and where were you born?
I was born in Provo, UT on August 29, 1991 making me the youngest "adult" Mel and Sandy Sabey.
3. How did your family come to live there?
My parents both attended BYU which is where they met. When I was born my dad was in the middle of his MBA.
4. Were there other family members in the area? Who?
My mom's sister, Karie (namesake), lived just down the road. My mom's family is from Brigham City and most still live there.
5. What was the house (apartment, farm, etc.) like? How many rooms? Bathrooms? Did it have electricity? Indoor plumbing? Telephones?
I actually remember this home really well which is pretty amazing since we moved when I was 4. It was a tiny little grey house.
6. Were there any special items in the house that you remember?
I remember that my mom's garden was beautiful, and I remember my HUGE (4 year old mind) sandbox!
7. What is your earliest childhood memory?
I remember pretending to be a cow and eating the grass of my neighbor's lawn (Bud Porter). I was only 4, don't judge. I also remember eating corn dogs and listening to a coo-coo clock at that same neighbor's home.
8. Describe the personalities of your family members.
My dad is an extremely thoughtful, spiritual, and smart man. He is a very hard worker and has a hard time just sitting around. My mom is the friendliest person you will ever meet. She is easy going and happy. Tyler as you all know is smart, athletic, competitive, witty and all of the best attributes that a human can be. Zac is very hardworking and he aspires to do big things. Mary is a happy, smart, athletic human being, she is wise beyond her years and is actually a lot like Tyler. Anna is a little ray of sunshine. She is happy and doesn't care what others think. She is her own person and I so admire her for that.
9. What kind of games did you play growing up?
We played all sorts of games. My family really likes board and card games. Many nights are spent playing rummikub, monopoly, sequence, risk, etc.
10. What was your favorite toy and why?
I have a stuffed animal bear named Rex, he will always be my favorite. My dad gave him to me, I don't remember when.
11. What was your favorite thing to do for fun (movies, beach, etc.)?
I was very social growing up and loved to go and do anything. I especially liked traveling and doing new things. I pretty much loved doing anything that involved friends and family.
12. Did you have family chores? What were they? Which was your least favorite?
I had a lot of family chores. We all did work in the home and outside. These chores changed constantly. Being the oldest girl I usually had to do the dishes, and I hate doing the dishes. We pulled a lot of brush, trimmed lots of trees, and planted a ton of plants.
13. Did you receive an allowance? How much? Did you save your money or spend it?
We did not have an allowance. My parents did make a deal with us that they would pay half of anything. My dad was big on us putting 10% away for tithing, 50% in savings, and then that 40% was for spending.
14. What was school like for you as a child? What were your best and worst subjects? Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
As a child I really struggled with school. I was always on the lower end of the class and often was on the verge of being held back. I was a terrible speller, I remember my that my dad would let me buy a beanie baby every time I got 100% on my spelling tests. I attended grade school at Mt. Shasta Elementary School, Sisson middle School, and Mt. Shasta High School. I guess I went to kindergarten in Utah, I think the school was Provost Elementary. At some point in middle school I worked my way to the top of the class, I had a lot of help at home. I went to college at BYU! Go Cougars.
15. What school activities and sports did you participate in?
I was heavily involved in leadership and yearbook. In highschool I played: golf, basketball and softball.
16. Do you remember any fads from your youth? Popular hairstyles? Clothes?
I wore a lot of bell bottom jeans and I would always slick back my hair into a high ponytail.
17. Who were your childhood heroes?
My dad was and has always been my hero.
18. What were your favorite songs and music?
I grew up listening to James Taylor, John Denver, and Fleetwood Mac.
19. Did you have any pets? If so, what kind and what were their names?
In Utah we had 2 cats, Kimberly and Percy, and 2 dogs, Becca. In CA we had 2 dogs, Michael and Lucy, and 2 birds, lemon and aide, that Kimberly cat ate...
20. What was your religion growing up? What church, if any, did you attend?
I was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My parents were always very active.
21. Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper?
I'm from a tiny town, and a high school of about 300 kids. Because of this I was often in the newspaper.
22. Who were your friends when you were growing up?
Chantel Stokes, Etika Heath, Cynthia Laiacona, Daniel Ostrowski, Megan Reed, Molly Abbott, Bella Campbell, Amanda Waterman, Zack Morris, Corben Brooks... way too many to list. Growing up in a small town made for lots of good friends.
23. What world events had the most impact on you while you were growing up? Did any of them personally affect your family?
9/11, I think it effected everyone.
24. Describe a typical family dinner. Did you all eat together as a family? Who did the cooking? What were your favorite foods?
My mom was the cook in the family and we all ate together. I loved chicken enchiladas, navajo tacos, and lasagna. Still do!
25. How were holidays (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) celebrated in your family? Did your family have special traditions?
For birthdays we would have a family birthday with cake and presents, we also would usually have a friend party. Holidays were spent with the Taylor side of my family.
26. How is the world today different from what it was like when you were a child?
Technology is everywhere. I remember my dad bringing home our first computer, and I remember playing with floppy disks.
27. Who was the oldest relative you remember as a child? What do you remember about them?
My Grandma Rants. She was my great grandma, my dad's grandma. She would always bring us lottery scratchers, and gave really juicy kisses. She also always had ice cream sandwiches and legos for us.
28. What do you know about your family surname?
My family is a mix of Irish, English, Scandinavian, and Native American (Wintu).
29. Is there a naming tradition in your family, such as always giving the firstborn son the name of his paternal grandfather?
A lot of girls have the middle name of Kathleen. I was always jealous of that.
30. What stories have come down to you about your parents? Grandparents? More distant ancestors?
My grandma (Dad's mom) has always love her Irish and Native American ancestry, and there are a ton of stories, but that needs to be its own post.
31. Are there any stories about famous or infamous relatives in your family?
My grandpa (Dad's dad) always talks about his family being hobos from Oklahoma.
32. Have any recipes been passed down to you from family members?
Danish Egg Cake, from my mom's side.
33. Are there any physical characteristics that run in your family?
Taylor's have big bottoms :). I also have my aunt Katie's upper lip, and a crease in my arm like my Gran (Dad's mom).
34. Are there any special heirlooms, photos, bibles or other memorabilia that have been passed down in your family?
I know that my dad had guns that are really old.
35. What was the full name of your spouse? Siblings? Parents?
Tyler Burns Sabey
Daniel Rex Taylor - Dad
Kelie Swenson Taylor - Mom
Zachariah Daniel Taylor - Brother
Mary Kathleen Taylor - Sister
Annadelle Kelie Taylor - Sister
36. When and how did you meet your spouse? What did you do on dates?
Tyler and I were in the same ward at BYU. We did all kinds of things!
37. What was it like when you proposed (or were proposed to)? Where and when did it happen? How did you feel?
The proposal was perfect. Tyler proposed to me at Sundance Ski Resort in I believe September of 2011.
38. Where and when did you get married?
Denver, CO LDS temple, December 17, 2011
39. What memory stands out the most from your wedding day?
Greeting my friends and family in the sealing room.
40. How would you describe your spouse? What do (did) you admire most about them?
Tyler is wonderful. He is hardworking, smart, spiritual, athletic, optimistic, fun, and so many other wonderful things.
41. What do you believe is the key to a successful marriage?
Communication, forgiveness, Jesus Christ, and each spouse giving 100%.
42. How did you find out your were going to be a parent for the first time?
No babies yet.
43. What was your profession and how did you choose it?
I want to be a mom, and maybe after that a speech pathologist.
44. If you could have had any other profession what would it have been? Why wasn't it your first choice?
Child Life Specialist, it isn't as family friendly as a speech pathologist and also had some depressing factors.
45. Of all the things you learned from your parents, which do you feel was the most valuable?
How to keep promises.
46. What accomplishments were you the most proud of?
Marrying Tyler.
47. What is the one thing you most want people to remember about you?
That I was kind.
-Emma
-Emma
