For All You Naysayers

For those who proposed that I had cut all of the "personality" out of Tony's hair, I submit into evidence...

I have nothing further, your honor.

Friday Flashback

March 2006
the day we Saved the Chicks!!!
(ok, technically ducklings, but you KNOW i love chicks)
I was loading my kids into the car & looked across the street.
Here is what I saw...

A limping mother duck with 14 little chicks marching down the sidewalk...
Immediately I began to worry about these little chicks & what could possibly happen to them on Heather Ave (cars, kids... dogs!)
I called Karen & we decided it was time for action!
She grabbed her dog kennel & after 3 (short) hours and a loaf of bread, we caught the mama duck. Her babies quickly followed.
Safe at last!!!

We loaded the duck family into Karen's truck & drove them over to Freestone Park, where she set them free.

Happy Day.

Happy Chicks!

I Got My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back...

I never thought I would be grateful to have my boy JUMPING off the furniture, THROWING everything in sight & TEARING up the house.

The girls have even forgiven him today for several incidents of hair pulling and/or general bodily harm.

But tomorrow pal, it's back to business as usual.
I'll start warming up the Time-Out beanbag chair.

Pointing Fingers

When things go wrong, sometimes it just feels better to lay the blame.
And to tell you the truth, between Tony's 1 stint in the hospital, 2 doctor visits, 3 major rainstorms & 4 water pockets in our drywall, I think I am entitled.
So here you go.
(enjoy Brio friends)

Now, don't you feel better?
I do.

The Saga Continues

With Tony still feeling miserable, everyone has joined me in "comfort & cuddle" time...

thank you Mike, Jon, McKay, Courtney & Valerie

oh, and Murphy.

Just to let you know... THIS is what happens

when mom feels like
i just have one thing to say...
Can Someone PLEASE Come Shovel My Kitchen???

What I've Been Up To...

You might be thinking...

Christmas Cards
Cinnamon Walnuts
Shopping
Decking the Halls
Teacher Gifts
NOPE.
None of the Above.
THIS is what I've been up to...
Watching poor Tony carrying his "puke bucket" around for 3 days... what a trooper.
Taking Tony to the hospital for dehydration... mean, nasty, ugly flu.
Helping Tony navigate his first hospital visit, which included rectal thermometers, chest x-rays, IV fluids (after 2 failed attempts) and urine output monitoring.
Somehow I don't think he will be anxious to make a return visit, in spite of the Elmo sticker.
Feeling happy when Tony's 5 hour ordeal ended with a much perkier boy & a purple popsicle (that is, until he threw it up immediately upon arriving home)
Snuggling. Kissing. Comforting. Commiserating.

You know, sometimes a girls' gotta do what a girls' gotta do.

A Festivus Miracle!

Mike & I found our kids the perfect wooden play set (for the perfect low price) on Craigslist, after much research & googling. Once we had made our purchase the reality began to set in...
HOW in the WORLD are we going to get the play set from point A to point B ???

Stress.
And then came Kent, Dave & Bob (with kids in tow) to our rescue. Our super hero friends helped Mike pick up the play set & transport it to our house on Bob's flatbed.

This was the scene as they pulled up.

Pause for Dave & Mike to de-spider-web... ewwwwww!

Kent, whom we now refer to as "The Man", skillfully maneuvered the play set UP & OVER our fence with his forklift.

The crew on the other side lifted the play set off the forklift & into our backyard...

and I didn't see my 3 youngest children until the sun went down...
Oh Happy Day!
Thank you Super Heroes.
ps - i'm still looking for the perfect thank-you gift, but haven't come across any "thanks for moving my play set with your mad skills" cards...

Friday Flashback

DECEMBER 2006

~ Our Nativity ~

a beautiful angel
a sweet little sheep
a nurturing shepherd
a glowing Mary

three distinguished Wise Men
one very happy Joseph
and our very own Babe in a manger

JOY

Random Thoughts

You know you're *SMITTEN* when you love the smell of your kids stinky morning breath... okay, maybe LOVE is a bit strong

But seriously, stinky breath aside, my favorite time of the day is that moment somewhere between sleep & awake... when they are warm, drowsy, snuggly & oh so kissable.

Friday Flashback

December 1998
Just a Bit O' Holiday Cheer

Is there really any question why I love these rascals?
ho ho ho, bro.

It's Just a Flesh Wound...

Weird, but TRUE story...
not for the faint of heart...
I was wearing my one & only pair of jeans with (minimal) BLING, if you can even call it BLING.
I had a pleasant day... nothing out of the ordinary... that is until I was getting ready for bed.
As I was getting my pajamas on, Mike says, "Beck, there is BLOOD all over the back of your leg!"
What the...?
Yes, there was in fact BLOOD dripping down the back of my leg.
We did a bit of sleuthing & came to the bizarre conclusion that the BLING on my jeans had STABBED me... yes you heard me, my jeans had inflicted me with a minor (or not so minor) flesh wound.
It took us about 40 min to get the bleeding controlled.
Weird.

funny (weird) side note: I actually had a picture of my butt bling on the night of the "incident"... I guess I should be flattered that Mike still likes to take pictures of my butt after 18 years.
so romantic.

I decided to snap a few photos.
just in case you didn't believe me.

What's the old saying,
"beauty is pain" or "pain is beauty" ??
either way, I wholeheartedly agree.

Ping Pong Protege

Tony is all about being just like his big bros.
No surprise that he is working on his mad Ping Pong skills, double-teaming on Chet.

serious concentration

sup dawg

Brooke, Beckie & Brule

Mike & I went out on a double date with Dave & Brooke Sampson.
At dinner we were discussing how Mike & his college roommates had contests to see who could get the most "free stuff" using only their charm... their booty included a "welcome to Denny's" sign, autographed menus & even someone's unmentionables.

After a fabulous meal at Brio we were on a tight schedule to catch our movie, but Brooke & I really REALLY wanted some Creme Brule.
Brooke & I were so charming (yeah, you heard me) that our waitress said we could just take our adorable little cups & spoons with us & eat our Creme Brule en route to the theatre. (I felt a little sneaky going out the back way... WHY is everyone staring at us?)

What a delightful evening and... FREE STUFF !

hello my darling little creme brule cup... come to mama.

Friday Flashback

December 2004
DIG IT, uh oh oh, DIG IT

We had just built a pool in our backyard & were in the process of landscaping it.
13 tons of rock had just been dumped in front of our driveway, so we had the boys round of some friends to help us DIG IT.
Can I Pause Here a Moment to Say We Have The Best
Friends & Neighbors ?
In no time at all we had upwards of 15 kids, shovels in hand, ready to DIG IT.
Mike & Scott directed traffic & ran the wheelbarrows.
We put on the appropriate tunes and...




In no time flat our 13 tons of rock had dwindled to a small pile of loose stones.

We gave each boy a $1 bill and a can of rootbeer...
you would have thought they won the lottery.

Thank you fellas !
Mike Taylor
Scott Carroll
Jon Taylor
McKay Taylor
Aaron Webb
Daniel Webb
Doug Gillette
Dallin Gillette
Christian Martinez
Grant Greenhalgh
Archer Greenhalgh
Ian Greenhalgh
Chase Carroll
Bennett Carroll
Devon Crapse
Devin Dayley
Kolby Dayley
Chance Bohenek
Jake Bohenek
Maddie Bohenek
Tyler Halliday
and anyone that my mother-of-5-kids-mind has forgotten...
You ROCK... i mean, i really DIG IT... i mean, DIG You.

#2 is number one in my book...

As we say a final farewell to this football season, I would like to say a few things...

McKay, You Did Good.

You Worked Hard.

You Made a Choice to Hang in There when the Going got Tough.

You supported your Teammates, lifted them Up.

You Kicked some Butt.

You made us Proud.

!!!!!! GO MAC-DADDY !!!!!!

ps - thanks for not minding while your dad & I cheered for you like maniacs on the sidelines.

brawn & beauty

One night as we were getting ready for family prayer, the kids decided to have an

Impromptu Push-up Contest...

i think Tony's got this one in the bag

Happy, Happy Birthday Mother Dear...

Today is my mom's birthday!!
Hip-hip hooray!
I know I've said it before, BUT... isn't she beautiful?

Mom, if I was there I would...
Have a PARTY with your 30 closest friends.

Make you an amazing homemade BUNNY cake, or castle cake, or butterfly cake, or hamburger cake (complete with sesame seeds).

and
Give you the GIFT that you had been wishing for... just to see the joy on your face.

Of course your special day would end with out-of-control
!@!@!@! FIREWORKS !@!@!@!

and the traditional pinata on the head.

But... since I am here, instead I spent the day thinking of you... making your famous Popcorn Balls for my Young Women's Evening in Excellence, which I know would make you happy.

Happy, Happy Birthday Mother Dear.

I know, I know... she's beautiful.