Tonight

So I know there are a million and eighty six things I need to blog...family photo sittings, our summertime adventures...baseball season...tons of stuff, but tonight I feel nostalgic.
My Grandpa Baughman passed away December 5, 1996. Hunter was six months old. It was shocking and hard to believe a life without him in it. He had been bowling and hunting right up until the night he had a massive heart attack and my Grandma performed CPR to bring him back. He had driven Hunter and I into the cabin on a snow machine the week before...I got my gift of gab from him. He didn't know a stranger.
My Grandma Taylor passed away in April of 2005. Honestly, I can't remember the date. It was within a week of her birthday. It was a beautiful, graceful passing of someone who had fiercely battled cancer until it went to her brain. My sister and one of my brothers and I went over to her house one night and spent the evening just chatting. I know there are things I should have asked, but I also know there will time for that someday. I got my gift for boys from her.
My Grandma Baughman passed away January 25, 2009 a few days before her birthday. She too, had been fighting cancer and while it seemed to be in remission, she went to bed one night and didn't wake up. It shocked us as well. Although, truly, what a great way to go. At home, in your own bed, in a way that was still dignified. I got my nursing license from her...
I miss them all. Every. day.
My Grandpa Taylor is still alive and kicking. He is currently living in a rehab hospital, and thinking about moving home. He cracks me up. He's pretty sure that he can whatever he damn well pleases, even though many of us really wonder about it all...I got my stubborn-ness from him.
So, tonight, my dad and a couple of uncles and my youngest brother all went to Grandpa's to help him clean out his garage and figure out if moving home is actually feasible...they filled a dumpster. Just out of his garage. (I am telling you, this pack rat stuff is hereditary...I am the least of it and well, I want to be even more less of one, but it's a time thing for me right now.)
Anyway, on his way home tonight, my dad called.
He had some treasures for me.
A fanatastic old trunk. It even has the removable shelf in it. And a ton of old fabric. Some with the patterns still attached. I wonder if Grandma was working on a project and one of her kids needed her...she had 6 boys and one girl who lived. She lost two other boys...can you see where I get my predicament? Between Jeff's family and mine I had NO chance :)
An empty foot locker. I'm pretty sure one of my boys will LOVE that.
An old suitcase...with fabric in it :)
And a wonderful old picture frame full of possibilities, but no pictures...yet...
I know Jeff will wake up and look at my treasures and see more junk. More stuff to clutter our house. And I will reassure him that someday, I will get rid of a lot of it.
Because that is my plan.
But it's boring to clean by myself...
But tonight, I will be content with the fact that one day, my kids and grandkids may appreciate the same treasures I do. And perhaps, one day, they will each be able to claim a gift from me. Possibly my love of photography, or art. The ability to draw. Perhaps a quick reader or someone who empathizes with others.
Possibly, a smart mouth...
Who knows. But tonight, I feel nostalgic.

Not quite sure

what happened to May. One day it was here...then it was June.
So much goes on in May, our days all blur together.
Birthdays, Mother's Day, baseball, football, end of school, beginning of summer, getting the garden ready...so much happens!
I have a TON of pictures that I need to download and share.

I am also taking appointments for pictures. Now is a great time to schedule even into the fall. Just let me know a season preference. :) Check out my sidebar for cost information :)

It's time

for something new.
We have lived in this house for 6 years.
We love our house.
There are things we would change...such as in (this is totally a Carson phrase, so if you ever hear any of us say it, it's because of him :) ) our basement would be finished...
and the whole thing would be beautifully organized and never dirty.
Ha.
Ha ha...
you see where I am going with this?
So I want to change my bedroom.
I have to be reasonable.
We have four boys which means at any given time there could be five sets of grimy toes on my bed.
My toes aren't grimy, in case you were wondering.
And I don't have cooties...
Nor do I want them.
I digress...again.
So, here is what I want:
Color. Color and creativity go hand in hand. My soul is a creative one. I need color.
Boy friendly. They out number me. A lot. This is a must...no pink in my bedroom...alas :)
Inexpensive. We have very little money for this type of frivolous spending.
Summery. I have a decent comforter...it's red, as are my lamp shades. I have no problem whatsoever putting them away until winter when it's cold and we need a good snuggly, thick blanket. I want (basically) a nicely quilted light weight throw...of sorts.
So here is what I found:
A reversible blue/green light weight quilt. The shams are too small and are not included...so I will have to improvise. I would use the blue color...although my walls are a lovely blue, I know I am not going to be painting any time soon, so it needs to coordinate...I want to alter some yellow pillow cases , find some or make some super cute throw pillows...only because Jeff complains about the few we have on our bed and I want to bug him cause I like him :) So, if the bedspread is blue, the stiching thread is a limish green that is hardly noticeable, the big pillows will have some kind of yellow case and I am going to sew a border of orange and white polka dot on the top of a white sheet for contrast...do you think the orange would be too much on the bed skirt? I know, it seems like a lot of colors. Do you think it's too much. **disclaimer, even if you think it's too much, I may still do it...do not be offended, instead be happy it's not yours ;)
I want a nice, fun room that will brighten my day and make me smile. On a budget.
And what color drapes? I am thinking white with a band of ribbon pulling one or two of the colors....
I am truly open to anything.
Just answer quick, cause I am hoping to knock this project out soon!
Right after I finish my new futon cover and family room curtains...


ETA: the blue is about the color of my blog background and the orange is about the color of the title of each entry...the yellow is kind of a melted butter, so nice and subtle...

Busted...

When the boys get blamed for doing something obviously naughty...like say, cutting holes in my couch cushions (or the couch itself) it is pretty obvious who was the evil doer when the scissors look like this...
We have only one lefty in our house.
He's rather cute.
Whiskey brown eyes.
Fantastic smile.
Hilarious personality.
And dimples to park a truck in.
The funny thing, he tried to blame it on Hunter because obviously, 'H starts with Hunter' and since they are Hunter's scissors (from about 4 years ago) he must have done it.
Except Hunter was at school :)
He has to work on a few things, but I imagine soon enough he will be trying to pull the wool over my eyes much more effectively.

Not complaining

at all, at all.
Really.
I am especially thankful that we live in a home large enough to offer a place for me to toss my "crap" as my husband says.
I am thankful that this place will not be given to a boy when it is time to finally finish the basement (we are hoping to get two bedrooms done this summer...at least I am!)
There are certainly things I want to change though.
For instance...the paint.
It's a beautiful color...mango or some such.
However, I feel a bit more turquoise these days.
I would feel less like I were in a pumpkin if my walls were blue.
Not too blue...
When I was a kid my parents painted my brothers' bedroom swimming pool blue.
Not a good effect.
Although I am fairly sure she wanted to drown them once or twice (remember the rock thing?)
What I would really like, truly...more heat.
My fingers freeze when I am down here for long.
And this is where my 'good' computer is.
Where I edit and contemplate...
where my toys are.
The none hungry kind.
So I am cold.
A lot.
Perhaps a space heater?
But then Jeff would make fun of me like he does his mom...respectfully teasing her about her need for a 99* space heater in the summer :)
I would also like a door that opens and closes, not leans against a wall.
A cute door, perhaps with glass.
Husband says boys break glass.
Maybe just a dutch door, then.
Maybe someday.
For now, I would settle for heat :)

I know...

we have discussed this.

I know it is bad for me.

However, I also know that I REALLY enjoy it.

And as my friend Hilary said (she was actually behind me in line today) "it's not that expensive of a bad habit" so I suppose I must agree and I must keep on enjoying my little bit of sin.

Besides, summer is coming and there is very little that tastes better than an ice cold coke on a hot summer day. :)

I think it would be awesome if I actually glittered it all up purty like this one :)

This boy...

It seems I am a horrid blogger.


I will place the blame squarely on this boy.
Yes, it is the five year old's fault.
He's so cute and all...
It causes me much distraction.
Plus...he is the definition of Cling-on.
Always has been.
I should start calling him "Static."
I fear he would be teased mercilessly.
By his brothers.
You know, Megamouth and Freakshow.
**I am honestly not sure which brother is Freakshow, as he calls all of them that at some point during the day.**
***I do not encourage this behavior***
***It comes from his father's side of the family. Mine encourages name contractions so as to yell at them all equally...like Hucatyton!!!!! That's how the Taylor's roll****
****No relation to the Russell and Joy family...we checked. Not that this would be bad, but just in case you were wondering.****
So, in January I read a lot.
In Februrary, I am fairly sure something happened.
In March, we had a gojillion birthdays and birthday parties to attend.
One of those was mine.
It did not excite me.
I did, however, recieve a Jacob Barbie and a DS...is this is the sign of a midlife crisis?
Perhaps.
I did turn down the opportunity to get the Tinkerbell DS game however.
I have some dignity...and the boys would NEVER let me live it down.
I instead, chose Twilight Scene it.
Yes, I am that big of a dork.
We also had our first set of stitches in March.
Can you believe it?
Almost 14 years with four boys and no stitches.
My parents didn't make it that long!
Course, my parents left my brothers with my Grandparents while they went to Disneyland and one brother hit the other brother with a rock at Rigby lake...
Maybe this boy fighting thing IS normal...
So, I have been watching my boys grow way to quickly for my taste, I have accomplished very little and basically, I am going to strive to do better with the old blog.
Is anyone even still out there?
Hello????
Well, happy snow day, regardless.

it's kind of like groundhog day...

January, I mean.
It kills me.
Grey, cloudy morning, smattering of snow, cooped up kids, arguing about bed times.
Grey, cloudy morning, smattering of snow, cooped up kids, arguing about bedtimes.
Grey, cloudy morning....oh, you get it?
Yeah...it used to be that I would go to work and get over it.
Or, go out of town and get over it.
Either way, the grey, dismal days of January were cured by getting out and getting over it.
This year, not so much.
It makes me not want to blog or exercise or fix dinner for the kids...
It does make me yearn for bright blue skies that are a backdrop for a brilliant, warm sun.
It makes me yearn for baseball games and our 'busy' season...
It makes me go stir crazy because I know it's not happening.
Somehow, I muddle through.
We managed to celebrate a birthday or two, have a few visitors and not damage any of our children permanently.
That can be quite a feat, my friends.
I have much to catch up on, much to discuss and maybe, hopefully, I am seeing the end of this Groundhog Day type existance and will be riproaringreadytogo soon.
After all, we do have an early baseball game planned :)
Can't wait!!