Finding My Inner Kid

Last night we had Rock Group. We cooked out and played games. It was so much fun! We played Disney Scene It and Blurt. We laughed so hard, my sides hurt. It's nice just to laugh with good friends!

Today we ran some errands while Mawmaw and Pawpaw watched the kids. I think my parents like having the kids to themselves. Liz went with us. We had ice cream for lunch and boneless BBQ wings for dessert. Yes it was backwards but as Liz says, life is short, eat dessert first. Then we came home and let the kids Slip and Slide for the grandparents. When they were leaving Liz came over to Slip and Slide. Brian added some extra black plastic to the end for us big kids. We squirted some Dawn on there and away we went. It was so much fun. I even joined in. I may not be able to move tomorrow, but it was well worth it.

So between playing games with Rock Group on Friday and Slip and Slide Saturday, I have found my inner kid. I had a lot of fun!

Travis, we have got to find a way to do something with a Slip and Slide for camp.

Proud Momma!

Today was the Second Grade Math Bee at Brianna's school. My baby came in 13th place!!!!!!!! Actually if she is good at math she is Brian's baby, I can't balance my checkbook without a calculator. Anyway she did a great job. A friend of hers won. The guy who was second was crying. I just wanted to run up there and give him a big hug, he was pitiful.

End of the School Year

It's the end of the school year. My baby will be in the third grade next year, she will be 8 in August. Where has the time gone? Brianna is getting so grown up! This week she has started making her own lunch! What's up with that? She sat in my lap last night and we just talked. Not about anything particular, just talking. I am learning to really cherish those moments with her. We saw a huge turtle this morning and she got so excited. We are looking forward to a summer filled with swim lessons, trips to MawMaw and PawPaw's and our favorite doing nothing, stay in our pajama days.

Becca will be going to middle school next year. Kaylee will be in the fifth grade. It has been such a priviledge watching those two grow and mature this year. Thank you Robin for the opportunity. I will miss them over the summer.

LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!!!!!!

Over the weekend we got some kind of gift bag from the photo place in Wal Mart. Brianna discovered there was a Reese's Cup in there! Well, we LOVE Reese's Cups around here. I bit into it and it was some kind of peanut butter nougat?!?!?! Needless to say, I didn't even see that coming. I was expecting a regular Reese's Cup. Why do candy companies have to mess with stuff? Don't they know the old saying: If it's not broke don't fix it? Leave candy and cookies alone. They are just fine the way they are! A couple of years ago there was a big mess about Oreo's being reformulated. Was there anything wrong with the original? The girls thought it was funny that I was ranting and raving about candy. But, I have been eating Reese's Cups as long as I can remember and what I love about them is the peanut butter in the middle! If they mess with Snickers, I am revolting! There will be a fat girl on strike! Those of you who knew my PawPaw will get a kick out of me saying this: The moffit is behind this!

Monday Morning

I hate mosquitos! I know the hateful little things have some kind of place in God's plan other than to bite me. I have 10 bites on my legs and woke up at 4:30 scratching them. I guess it's time to get out the bug spray, so I don't get West Nile Virus.

If any of you reading this are stampers: Does anyone have an alphabet set that I can borrow? I would love to make Brianna's teacher some notecards.

Great Weekend

We had a great weekend. It was weird, but great. Friday got me all messed up on my days, Brianna was home and I thought it was Saturday all day, then thought Saturday was Sunday. It really threw me off when we didn't go to church on Sunday.

Friday Liz and I took the kids to the park for a walk and some play time.

Saturday we finally bought a new grill! I am so excited. We had 12 turkey burgers and a whole bag of wings on it! Brian's friend and his wife came over and Liz came over again. She helped Brianna learn to ride her bike. It will be a work in progress. After everyone left we went to Sonic for ice cream and got to see the flyover from the speedway.

Sunday was weird. No church, because of the race traffic. We had our service on Wednesday. It was great, but not the same. We just let the kids play outside most of the day. They loved it. Liz came over to spend the night and we watched a couple of movies and ate root beer floats and pizza sticks.

After Liz went home this morning, we made a WalMart run. I don't think the weekend is complete without one! We also bought the kids a Slip and Slide. They had a BLAST! Alex was so tired, he didn't even want to eat supper. It was a really nice weekend. I guess tomorrow we get back to the work and school schedule.

I saw the some of the craziest stuff at WalMart today. I am a big girl and being a big girl, I know that I can not wear certain clothes. I know it is not attractive when my stomach hangs out over my pants because my shirt is to short. But, there were two women today who must not have gotten the memo on what you can wear when you are a certain weight. It was quite disguisting and they kept pulling at their shirts, trying to cover the roll! I just don't get it. What gets me is they were with their husbands or boyfriends. Why did these men not say something? Brian, if I am going out the door and I look a fool, please tell me.

Pole Night

We had a great time at pole night last night. Brianna is home today taking a "mental health" day. The kids and I slept until 8, poor Brian had to go to work today. The kids had a great time. Brianna enjoyed watching the cars. Alex had a great time watching a bug on the floor and blowing a peanut shell around on the floor. He was NASTY from playing on the floor. He was obsessed with the lady behind us and wanted some of her "drink." Brian got some great pictures. I loved watching the people around us. Our odds of watching a drunk fall down the steps were better than seeing a wreck. Anyway, we had a great time!

Thursday Funny

Courtesy of Alex:

Alex is learning to put his own shorts on. So, he just put them on and has both legs in the same leg of his shorts. He is so proud of himself, but has the other leg of his shorts for a tail!

Free Tickets

We have two extra tickets for tonights pole night at LMS. They are totally free. If you want them, please email me your phone number to sct@ctc.net so we can set up delivery.

American Idol

WOO HOO!!!!!!!! David Cook won American Idol. I am so excited. I really like him and hope he does well!

Things I Love

The older I get the more I enjoy life and have learned to take delight in the little everyday things. So, I thought I would post on things I love doing, that don't cost a thing.

I love...

Laughing. Really good belly laughs, preferably with someone else. But I have been known to laugh out loud when no one else is around. Listening to other people laugh.
A good cry. It just makes me feel so much better.
Watching my kids and the kids that have been adopted into the Taylor family grow.
Hanging out with the youth at church.
Holding a baby or holding a kid on my lap. I don't know what it is about it, even when Brianna climbs up on my lap, no she is not to big.
Stamping/making cards
Chatting with some of "my girls" on Facebook and we can chat for hours. (You know who you are!) Or even just talking with them face to face!
Singing and dancing in the car. Brianna even calls it "car dancing."
Hearing Amos call Brianna, "my baby."
Talking to Brian.
Talking to Nana.
Good coffee with good friends!
Cooking, watching cooking shows, reading cookbooks, reading cooking magazines, eating what has been cooked, giving away what I have made, you get the idea.
Reading a good book.
Watching Alex run to his favorite person, Travis.
Kids imaginations, you can go anywhere with them. (Alex is sitting in a chair driving to get us ice cream.)
Sunshine after a storm.
My kids smiles.
Rock Group Fridays and a great lesson from Mr. David.
Having Sonya and Amos over for lunch or supper.

There are probably a million other things that I could list. But, the point is, enjoy life. Enjoy what is around you everyday, you don't even have to spend any money!

Been Used

Have you even been used? Not by a friend who wants something. But have you ever been used by God? It's one of those things that you look back and think, "Hey that was a total God thing." I was used recently. God put me in a place to talk to someone about our church who really needed to hear it. When I invite people to our church, I don't expect them to come. It just makes me disappointed when they don't show up. This person not only showed up, they stayed for both services and what they heard really made a difference in their life. I have to admit, I was stunned by the whole thing, it's never happened to me before. Then I realized, it wasn't me, it was God. So, I gave him all the thanks and glory for putting me in that place and giving me the words to say!

Have a great day, and allow yourself to be used!

Chemical Peels at age....9?

I just saw a story on Good Morning America about little girls getting chemical peels, eyebrows waxed, and bikini waxed at the age of 9?!?!?! What, are you kidding me? I just don't get it. I am 32 and I don't even know what a chemical peel is. Why are some moms pushing their kids to grow up so fast? I don't want Brianna to grow up at all! Here's my advice for these moms: Just let your kids be kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend

We had a pretty good weekend. Saturday it was just the kids and me. We went to eat lunch, to Hobby Lobby, and to buy groceries. I had such a great time with the kids. It's not often that I have them to myself. Brian was at school for most of the day. I bought more card making supplies at Hobby Lobby and came home and started making cards!

We are having one of our favorite meals for supper tonight: rotisserie chicken, beer bread and salad! I can smell it cooking and my mouth is watering. It was a really good day at church, stay tuned for a post related to what happened.

Tuesday night is my last stamp class for the year then we will have a camp on the 31st and we are finished for the summer. I am really looking forward to both classes! Can't wait to see what Sharon has in store for us.

Wednesday is our church's park service. The 600 is in Concord on Sunday and traffic is HORRIBLE, I know cause we moved into our house on the day of the 600 7 years ago.

Thursday we are going to pole night. We have never been to a race at the speedway and I am really looking forward to it! The only time I have ever been over there for an event was the Cars movie premiere that Brianna and I went to. That was an experience!

Have a great week everyone! If you are reading this and you are in elementary school or middle school: GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EOG'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday

This is what Brian does at work all day. Man I wish I could sit around and play with a thermal imaging camera!

We had Rock Group tonight. It was so nice to have everyone here and David brought us a great message! I didn't realize how much I miss having everyone together. We haven't met since the Friday before Easter. We have been meeting other places and helping with fundraisers. Two of the teenagers even came over and hung out while we were eating. They disappeared after we ate, but it was nice to have the house buzzing with conversation. Ms. Wanda made THE BEST cake. I can't wait to get the recipe and try it out!

Brian starts back to school tomorrow. We are in the home stretch now! It's also race week here in Concord. So, for two weekends we have to be very careful about where we go and what time we go places. Concord Mills and Fractured Prune are off limits until Memorial Day. Which stinks cause I am looking for a pocket book and it would be really nice to have an OC Sand doughnut.

Not Much

Not much has been happening in the Taylor house lately. Brianna is getting ready for school to be out. She is excited about being out for the summer. That will last about 2 days, before she is bored.

My allergies are killing me. I am losing my voice. It normally happens about twice a year. I think it's God's way of giving Brian and the kids a break. I don't really feel bad, just a little run down.

Cleaning house today. Man, I hate doing that. I wish someone would invent a house that cleans itself. I tried a new recipe on Tuesday. Tuesday night Jenny came over. I am doing a Premier Jewelry catalog party for her. If you want to look at a catalog, let me know. I even have some sample jewelry you can look at.

Brian starts his last class Saturday. He will be going every other Saturday for 10 weeks! I am so excited that he is almost finished. He got his grades yesterday for the semester he just finished up. He got all A's. I am just so proud of him. He works so hard, going to work and going to school.

Macaroni-Sausage Bake

1 cup elbow macaroni
1 pound pork sausage
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/8 cup onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper
16 oz tomato sauce
1 cup water
1/8 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add green pepper, red pepper, onion, oregano, and pepper. Stir in tomato sauce and water. Boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in macaroni and half of Parmesan cheese. Pour mixture into an ungreased 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

I cooked the pepper and onion with the sausage to make them a little softer. I only used green peppers, red peppers are too expensive!

Saturday and Sunday

We had a great family weekend. It was Brian's one weekend off between classes so we took advantage of the fact that there was no homework to be done and great weather.

Saturday we took the kids to Frank Liske Park for a picnic and play. Alex chased the geese and would have been content chasing them all day. One of the geese honked at him and he said, "Goose pooted." Brianna and Brian had to try out the paddle boats and decided that was not an activity for them. So, after we played on the playground, they wanted to play Putt-Putt. They had a great time. Each of them got a hole in one! I think Brianna needed the one on one time with Brian. It makes her feel special that she can do things that Alex can't. We laughed so much Saturday at things the kids did. It was really nice to just have a day.

Sunday was Mother's Day. I didn't feel well, but we went out to lunch anyway. We went to eat Chinese! I love Chinese food. I'm still not hungry, we ate so much. At church I took Alex to get a juice box and our band was hanging out. Alex loves our Worship Pastor, Brandon. So, Alex looks at Brandon and calls him, "Turkey Burger." I am always calling Alex a turkey, so he has started calling people turkey burger. We came home from lunch and took a nap. Alex and Olivia don't know how lucky they are, they get to nap everyday.

Brianna and I got Croc flip flops for Mother's Day and I love them. They are so comfortable. Mine are brown and tan and Brianna's are pink and orange! She wears so much pink, she could wear them everyday.

I am going to help Ms. Wanda get an Avon order together for 252 tonight. Avon offers really good incentives for fundraisers. I am also making a couple of Lemonade Pies.

Lemonde Pie

1 graham cracker pie crust

1 8 oz carton Cool Whip, thawed

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 large can frozen lemonade, thawed

Mix all ingredients together and pour into graham cracker pie crust. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

This is a good summer dessert!

Super Smart

My dad's name is William Clayton:

Today in History – May 12th 1847 - As you jog around the block today, think of Mormon pioneer William Clayton. It was on this day that he got tired of counting the revolutions of a rag tied to a spoke of a wagon wheel to figure out how many miles he had traveled. So, while he was crossing the plains in his covered wagon, he invented the odometer.

Food Talk

I love to watch Food Network. It's on most of the time here. But, I've realized lately that food people talk differently about food than normal people. Flavors explode, garlic tickles tomatoes, heat from spices caress the back of the tongue. How do they learn to talk like this? Is it a class in culinary school? Brian would crack up if I sat at the supper table talking like that. I may try it this weekend to see what he and Brianna do!

Good Night

It's been a good night.

I got to hold Bria at the hospital. She is so beautiful. Then, I spent some time with April. The more I am around her, the more I like her.

When I got home, Alex climbed in my lap, laid his head on my shoulder and went to sleep. It has been so long since I got to hold him while he was sleeping. I think I have a touch of baby fever?!?!?!?

Watching Idol and Bo Bice is ON! I really like his music and was so sad when he didn't win. Jason Castro is going home. I think he was high last night. He did such a crappy job. What's up with him? I think he is playing the whole hippy thing to much.

I am headed to bed. Last night was a very late night, I got a touch of what camp will be like over the summer.

Bria is Here

Bria Rae Bush was born Tuesday, May 6th at 10:46pm. She weighed in at 7 pounds and is 19 inches long. Kristin, Travis and April are all tired, but doing well. Everyone who was in the lobby awaiting her is also tired but happy. When Travis came out to tell us she was here, he had a camera full of pictures. Bria is beautiful. She was very bright eyed and seemed ready to play. I can't wait to watch this child grow.

Welcome to the world Bria!

Kids

My kids had a great time with my parents Saturday!

Whirlwind

What a whirlwind of a weekend. We were so busy.

Friday was taken up with running errands for the fundraiser and setting it up.

Saturday was more setting up and then the actual fundraiser. I think everyone had a great time. I know Brianna is very happy with the girl toy basket her Mawmaw bought her. I know both kids are enjoying the Hannah Montana guitar that was in the basket. I am going to try to post some pictures of them. I am excited that Brian won 5 tickets to pole night later in the month! We have lived in Concord for 7 years and have yet to go to a race, so I am really looking forward to pole night. Here's the best part: we raised over $5,000. Yes, we did. I can't believe we put this together in about 4 weeks and raised as much money as we did! I am ready to start planning for next year!

Sunday after church we went to celebrate Joey's birthday with the Bagley's. Then Ellie, Liz and I went over to Concord Mills for some shopping! We had a great time.

Today, we are catching up and resting, Brian is studying, getting ready for finals this week. Brianna is out of school tomorrow, so maybe we will hit the park in the morning.

Flying By

Wow! It's already Friday. Where has this week gone? It has been a very busy weekend, getting ready for the 252 auction. I really hope we raise A LOT of money. These kids deserve the best.

I am so excited, I am going to have breakfast with Ms. Ellie and Mr. Joe this morning. I am picking Joe up at 8:30. I can't wait to spend some time with those two.

If anyone wants to try NetFlix free for a month, please let me know. They sent us coupons yesterday.

Brian has finals next Tuesday and Wednesday. He is so ready to have this semester over with, so am I.

That's all folks! (for right now)