Taylor Tales

Time Out

2012-01-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

If you have to be in time out, do it in style.

Weekend Project

2012-01-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

One of the great things about Pinterest is the variety of projects that your wife will find for you to do! While I was not able to complete the "put a live tree complete with exotic birds in the middle of the living room with a rope swing hanging from it" project, I did manage to make the Display Bookshelf. It turned out pretty well, although some touch up paint is still needed.

Happy Birthday Part II

2011-11-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

As part of Katelee's birthday, we headed to Amarillo to spend the night, play in the pool, and go to Jump N Jive the next day. Jump N Jive is . . .

"an indoor inflatable playground with 39,000 square feet of wall to wall inflatable fun completely set up and ready to use."

And our girls found all 39,000 square feet! They had a blast!!!

Happy Birthday Katelee

2011-11-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

I'M FOUR!

The morning started with a good cooking session -- Birthday Chocolate Cake.

After lunch, it was time to eat that wonderful cake!

Of course, there were presents.

Happy Birthday Katelee!

Sisters

2011-11-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

And One More

2011-11-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, Tennyson enjoyed Trick or Treating also . . . as a Ladybug!

Mmmmmmm. Twix!!!

Another successful Halloween

2011-10-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

The girls had a fun evening of trick or treating. We managed to get all the way around the neighborhood, and I think Katelee had to unload her pumpkin bucket twice because it got too heavy!

Flower Girl

Heidi

Candy Overload!!!

Capture

2011-10-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

If we could capture all the static electricity in the girls' hair when they jump on the trampoline, we'd be energy independent. If we could capture their cuteness and turn it into pennies, we'd be rich!

Lunch is served

2011-10-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

The girls helped cook lunch the other day. They had a fun time sticking spaghetti through sliced hot dogs before boiling everything together. They also enjoyed eating the finished product -- hot dog worms!

Up, Up, and Away

2011-10-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

We drove to Albuquerque on Friday to attend the Balloon Fiesta (over 500 balloons and 20 countries). We knew we had to get up quite early on Saturday, so we tried to wear the kids out with some hard swimming prior to an early bedtime. This actually worked quite well . . . for most of them. Unfortunately, Tennyson did not get the memo that sleep was a precious commodity that evening. Thus, she decided not to sleep despite our best efforts to convince her otherwise. Since we were in a hotel, we couldn't just let her scream and cry, so we kept trying to calm her and get her to sleep. Finally, Courtney won . . . around 1:30 a.m. This allowed 2 good hours of sleep before getting up for Saturday's events.

We left the hotel about 4:00 a.m. and arrived at the park. We dressed warmly, which was needed. The hot chocolate helped too! We scouted out a nice spot to watch the Dawn Patrol take off -- balloons lit up to show other pilots how the wind is blowing. Quite impressive at 6 in the morning.

Then, we waited about an hour before the air started to fill with balloons. There were hundreds of balloons of different colors, sizes, and shapes. Once the sun climbed over the mountains and started hitting the field, it became even more vibrant. We were allowed to walk among all the balloons as they set up, filled with air, and then ascended into the sky -- a photographer's dream!

The cow rated as one of the favorites from the girls (and dad).

After all was said and done, we found a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop on the way home, grabbed some sweets, and then hit the road. We reached home around 3:00 with one tired crew. We told the girls to play in their rooms by themselves for a bit, and Katelee actually fell asleep. And now, all are in bed with mom and dad following closely behind them. It was worth it though!

Enjoy the pics, and see more at http://www.flickriver.com/photos/taylormadefamily/.

How to Celebrate in the 21st Century

2011-09-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

Tennyson turned 1 this week! So, of course, we celebrated with the obligatory eat-all-you-can cake with no utensils. She did a fabulous job of digging right in and demolishing half the cake. We also had the much desired gifts -- a fair assortment of clothes and toys. And, although the grandparents could not be physically present for the day's celebration . . . they were able to join us via Skype. Gotta love technology!

Happy Birthday Tennyson!!!

All Mine!

Grandparents enjoying the party via Skype

New Duds.

Yee Haw!

Cake!

I might be sick later.

Game Time

2011-09-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

Olivia played her first soccer game today. She said afterwards: I ran. I got kicked. I got shoved. I got knocked down. But I kept playing. I think she liked it.

Butterflies!

2011-09-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

As part of Olivia's homeschooling, the girls are currently studying the lifespan of a butterfly. We purchased some caterpillars and butterfly house, and they have gone through their metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. They also found a caterpillar outside, put it in the house, and have watched it make a great silver cocoon. So far, 3 of the 6 critters have launched from their homes!

Rain, rain, rain.

2011-08-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

Rain has been in short supply around here, so the girls were ecstatic to actually be able to don their rain gear and start splashing. They were able to get some good use out of their umbrella, raincoat, and boots. They also enjoyed a beautiful double rainbow. But, in the end, they just shucked the apparel and played in the water rushing down the road's gutter. It was a much needed rain.

Nourish Our World 5K Run

2011-07-23T21:02:00.000-07:00

We woke up early this morning to participate in the Nourish Our World 5K run. Courtney took the two youngest girls and the stroller, while Mark took Olivia. This would allow Mark and Olivia to run the race and not be held back. Actually, it didn't quite work out that way! Within 100 yards, Olivia complained her knees hurt and she was tired. Thus, Mark and Olivia ended up walking most of the way. At least this gave lots of good father-daughter time to talk about toughness and perseverance. On the other hand, Courtney managed to run most of the race and finished with a decent time. Regardless of running or walking, a good time was had by all, and the funds went to a good cause.

The best part was replenishing our energy supplies afterwards at IHOP! Enjoy some fun snapshots from the run below.

I'm Free!!!!

2011-07-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Olivia surprised us last night by grabbing the neighbor's bike and hitting the street. So, today she wanted the training wheels off of her bike. Then, she cruised up the street and back with no problems. T - 10 years and counting until she is doing this in a car! Yikes!

Look Who's Talking

2011-07-04T20:42:00.001-07:00

2011 July 006, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Ok, she is not talking yet . . . but she is beginning to stand on her own!

Clean Kitty

2011-07-04T20:30:00.001-07:00

2011 July 003, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Why here?!?

Memorial Day Vacation ... Day 5

2011-06-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Our final day of vacation included a short 2 mile hike. We had a great day for it -- cloudy and cool. Once we got to the end of the trail, we pulled out lunch and found a place to sit. Then, we made the return hike.

Once we got back from our hike, we broke open some kites. I'm not sure if Olivia had more fun . . . or Courtney!

We concluded our day with a good rock hunting trip. We found a lot of really cool rocks. Katelee, on the other hand, found the bag of GORP and ate all the M&Ms out of it.

Memorial Day Vacation ... Day 4

2011-06-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

On Day 4, our big adventure was the Puye Cliff Dwellings. We did the top tour first, which let us ride to the top of the cliff and get a tour of the remains. It was quite interesting. Then, we rode back down to the Welcome Center, looked at the artifacts down there, and decided to do another tour -- this one on the side of the cliffs. We had a big scare when Courtney tripped going up some stairs and Tennyson took a tumble out of her arms and onto the stairs. She bonked her head pretty good, but she was checked out by some paramedics, and she was fine.

We tried to snag some lunch at a couple places, but they were closed. So, we just parked near a bridge that ran over the Rio Grande, and we let the girls wade in the river. It was quite chilly, so they didn't last long. Then, it was off to dinner at the house.

Memorial Day Vacation ... Day 3

2011-06-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

On Day 3, we decided to explore the Taos area in search of a hot springs. Directions were snagged from several hiking and travel websites. The route took us over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which was quite impressive.

Evidently, directions are a bit over-rated. We also had Courtney's i-phone, so what could go wrong? Well, we ended up in the middle of a field! No hot springs around. So, we plugged in new directions, and headed off in another direction. This one took us up some wonderful one-lane roads into a National Forest. Unfortunately, we finally reached a spot so washed out, the truck couldn't go any further. So, we turned around and headed for another spot. The trek does have a happy ending though. We finally found a spot with hot springs -- Black Rock Hot Springs. So, we enjoyed them for a while before heading into Taos for dinner and dessert. Bedtime came early this night!

Good Morning World

Our final resting spot for the hot springs. We had to hike down about half a mile before reaching two small pools. Some people were already in the upper pool, so we settled on the lower one. Katelee was not a fan of the mud bottom. Once the others left, we moved to the upper pool, which was much warmer and nicer. If ignorance is bliss, we could have probably gone the rest of the trip without seeing a big snake emerge from the lower pool as we were leaving. Whew!

Memorial Day Vacation . . . Day 2

2011-06-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

Day 2 began with . . . well, what's a better way to start the day than at a winery. We headed to the local winery (1 of 3). Courtney sampled several different bottles, and she seemed very happy the rest of the day. And, the owner seemed happy when we bought a couple of bottles of his wine. Then, we headed to lunch. Lunch was enjoyed at a fun cafe' called Zuly's.

The afternoon was reserved for naps for the youngest girls. In the meantime, Olivia and dad conquered the mountain behind the house, climbing to 6400 feet. Olivia was quite proud of herself.

After the girls woke up, we decided we would hike some more around the house. We had spotted several "really" green trees in the arroyos, and we figured they may be next to a spring or water source. So, we drove up the canyon a little ways before hopping out to explore. Unfortunately, we did not find any water. But, all scrambled up the mountain for some great views (including Tennyson).

If wine is the way to start the day (according to Courtney), then S'mores are the way to end the day (according to Mark). So, we had some great bratwurst on the BBQ, followed by roasting of marshmallows. Courtney enjoyed a MOUS (marshmallow of unusual size) along with the average sized ones. And the girls seemed to do well just to get the chocolate in their mouths.

All in all, it was a good day (with 3 days to go)!!!

Memorial Day Vacation ... Day 1

2011-06-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

We were able to escape the flat lands of Clovis over Memorial Day weekend and find the mountains of north central New Mexico. We rented a great adobe house in Dixon, NM and stayed several days. It was situated at the base of a mountain, which was well explored. In fact, within 15 minutes of arriving, the girls headed up the 6,200 foot hill. We settled into bed a little late that night, but that turned out to be common since it didn't get dark until after 8:00. And, since the house had many windows, it was quite light at night and early in the morning. More about Day 2 later.

Rough Road Trip

2011-05-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

It has been a tough few days on the road for the Taylor clan. We headed out on Thursday for a funeral in Missouri. Courtney, the girls, Grandma, and CJ all packed into the truck for the trip. Unfortunately, one hour into the trip, Olivia's stomach decided it did not like what was inside of it. Thus, she puked. One kid down. Then, later, CJ evidently decided that looked like fun and copied her. Two kids down. We knew Katelee was safe though, because she got the ball rolling two nights earlier. Grandma made it all the way to Missouri before she followed suit. Three down!

We relaxed on Friday and let everyone recover. Then, on Saturday, we hit the road for KC with Grandma Donner. We stayed at a hotel with a water park in it, so the girls wore themselves out before bedtime. Unfortunately, bedtime did not come until way past their bedtimes, and sleep was a little hard to come by (partly because of the police escorting a room out at one in the morning).

The funeral for Mark's step-sister was held on Sunday, which was well attended by all of her friends and family. The service nicely honored Rebecca while encouraging others who may be considering suicide to seek help from those around them. Then, it was back on the road for the Taylor clan.

Unfortunately, we did not make it back home as planned. Tuckered out and needing rest, we stopped in Kansas. This served us well since powerful storms hit southern Missouri, which is our usual route. We did get rested though and headed out on Monday for the last leg of the trip. Of course, stopping frequently for food and potty breaks slowed us down a bit, but we made it home. And, we made it home with only one more puke session. Katelee got sick and lost her breakfast. Virus or bad OJ? Not sure, but it all came out. Fortunately, we had just stopped at Wal-Mart and stepped out of the truck when she let it fly.

And now, with both girls in bed, we will rest back in our wonderful bed too. It's good to be home. Thank you Lord for a safe trip.

School Program

2011-05-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

Olivia's end of year school program was today, and Olivia did great! They sang lots of songs, read some poems, and gave their parents some hand-made gifts. It was great, and her teachers have done such a great job with her this year.

Playground Fun

2011-05-16T20:43:00.003-07:00

2011 May 231 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Blue Skies

2011-05-16T20:43:00.001-07:00

2011 May 198 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Blue Eyes

2011-05-16T20:42:00.003-07:00

2011 May 052 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Natural Born Hiker

2011-05-16T20:42:00.001-07:00

2011 May 085 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Pretty Princess

2011-05-16T20:40:00.001-07:00

2011 May 038 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Grandma is in town

2011-05-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

Grandma and CJ arrived in town this weekend, and the kids have had a blast playing. Today was no exception. We had a great morning at church, a Mexican meal to call lunch, a quick nap, and then we headed to the park. We played on the playground for a while before hitting the trails. The kids rolled in the sand along the way, which offered sites of rabbits, dead frogs, an orange-ish bird, a yellow-bellied bird (can you tell we don't know our birds), and some ants. The park and PB&J for dinner . . . what an evening! Enjoy a few of the 253 pictures we snapped!!!

2011-05-08T13:08:00.003-07:00

2011 Apr 059 edit 2, originally uploaded by counsel14.

2011-05-08T13:08:00.001-07:00

2011 Apr 036 edit 2, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Much Hairdo About Nothing -- Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Well, Mother's Day has rolled around again this year. And, in keeping with the tradition set last year of having a girl's day out (last year was pedicures/manicures), the girls headed to the spa and salon. While Courtney enjoyed a therapeutic rubdown (massage), Olivia and Katelee began their transformational haircuts. We had a fabulous stylist -- actually the owner of the salon (Hilltop Salon & Spa) -- who was great with the girls.

After the massage, it was Courtney's turn in the chair. Meanwhile, Mark took the girls to DQ for a wonderful treat of blizzards. We came back to find the process only beginning for Courtney. It all was well worth it though. We returned home and the girls played with the neighbors in the sprinklers while dinner cooked on the grill (hot dogs).

Of course, what better way to end the night than a glass of Sangria?

Camping . . . kid style

2011-05-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

The girls went camping last night . . . sort of. They decided to sleep outside last night on the trampoline. Since the day temperature was close to 90 degrees, it certainly wasn't a problem going to sleep. The wind was blowing nicely, which probably felt good as the girls bounced around their beds until nearly 9:00 p.m. Then, they snuggled into their sleeping bags, closed their eyes, and went to sleep. They were greeted this morning to 50 degree temperatures kissing their noses. But, they quickly thawed out in front of the TV watching cartoons and eating breakfast.

Good morning sunshine!

Inner Peace

2011-05-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

Some doctor on tv this morning said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started.

So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished, so I have managed to finish off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of wum, a pockage of Prungles, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valiuminun scriptins, the res of the chesescke an a box a chocletz.

Yu haf no idr how bludy fablus I feel rite now.
Plaese sned dhis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov iennr pisss.
An telum,u blody luvum.!! Xxx

It's Windy and Cold Today

2011-04-27T13:10:00.001-07:00

2011 Feb 204, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Ok, it's only 60, which isn't quite "cold," but it is chillier than it has been. I thought Katelee captured this sentiment well.

Easter Block Party

2011-04-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

We live in a wonderful neighborhood, and we have been able to get to know our neighbors with some fun backyard parties. Today was an Easter celebration, which translated into wonderful BBQ, super side items, delicious desserts, chaotic kids running everywhere, and (of course) an Easter egg hunt. The girls had a blast and may have gone into sugar shock several times throughout the night.

Bug of the Day

2011-04-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

Momma Spider?

Bugs

2011-04-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

The girls are on a kick of collecting bugs -- mainly roly poly and little black beetle bugs. Similar to kids hauling a cat all around the house, our girls practically maul these little bugs as they pick them up and put them down and pick them up again. They generally want to put them in a glass or container and keep them. We have a "no bugs in the house" rule, as well as a "let them go before you come in" policy. Today was the big one in terms of bug collection though. In fact, I believe Olivia named him Black Eyes. I'm not totally sure what it is . . . beetle? roach? water bug? Not sure. But, he did his time in the cage, and then he was released to the wild back yard. Who knows, maybe he'll be caught again another day.

Saturday

2011-04-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

The girls had a wonderful day of playing today while the parental units dashed East. Thanks to Miss Abbey, Olivia and Katelee hooked up with some other children and had their first (of several) Easter egg hunts today. They also managed to get transformed into butterflies. They were a bit reluctant to wipe their slates clean before bedtime. Meanwhile, Mark & Courtney picked up an old friend from the airport, enjoyed some good Japanese hibachi, made a quick jaunt of shopping, and cruised back to Clovis. All in all, everyone had fun!

Kids, kids, kids . . . and a ball

2011-04-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since our last post mainly because we've been quite busy. Courtney has been playing nanny/babysitter for some kids lately. It has been fun having all the kids, and the girls love the extra playmates. But, it does take some extra time and attention. We did find enough time to finally get the tether ball up and going. Grandma Donner actually called a tire company and had them send a used tire over. Then, we filled it with concrete and let the ball whirl. The kids have had a ball!

Happy Baby

2011-03-20T12:13:00.001-07:00

2011 Mar 140, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Tennyson is in full gear of flipping and grabbing. However, she cannot flip back to her back, so she gets a little frustrated now and again.

Guess what she is saying

2011-03-20T11:15:00.001-07:00

2011 Mar 076, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Feel free to add your own conversation here, but I'm pretty sure Courtney is teaching Katelee where the nearest shoe store is.

Grandparent Visit

2011-03-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

The grandparents made the long trek to visit the grandkids this weekend. They have enjoyed jumping on the trampoline, eating good Mexican food, and most of all -- getting lots of hugs and cuddles from the girls. The weekend is way too short!

A Day in the Park

2011-02-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

Even though we did not have a doctor's note excusing us from work and school today, we enjoyed a wonderful day off (Thank you Presidents). We spent the morning at the park, (even Kaya) and we enjoyed a little Sonic for lunch. It was an inviting 53 degrees, which was about right for running around the park and playing. A good nap was had after playtime! A good nap is just putting gas in the tank for more play later.

Sun Kissed

2011-02-15T17:47:00.001-08:00

2011 Feb 142 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Cutie

2011-02-13T19:46:00.001-08:00

2011 Feb 154, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Sitting Up!

2011-02-13T19:42:00.001-08:00

2011 Feb 157, originally uploaded by counsel14.

So proud of herself!

Styling

2011-02-12T20:29:00.001-08:00

2011 Feb 054 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Katelee steals momma's hat. Dad steals a shot.

New Shots

2011-02-12T20:17:00.001-08:00

2011 Feb 063 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Testing a new camera with my girls is a joy!

Recovering

2011-02-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

Tennyson was born with a skin tag -- a small extra piece of skin right next to her ear. Last week, we took her to the doctor to have it removed. At first, the doctor said they couldn't do it in their office because it may have part of her ear connected. After a two hour drive to the doctor's office, it wasn't the news we wanted to hear. But then, after looking at the piece of skin, she decided they could remove it. However, she informed us it would be a horrible procedure because she would have to be secured to a board, given a shot, the piece cut out, and then she would get stitches . . . and she would cry and scream. She offered letting her get older until she could decide if she wanted it gone or not. "But, I'll give you time to decide what you want to do."

Well, we deliberated and decided we wanted our daughter to go through the horrible procedure. Our thought: better now than later.

Once we let the doctor know, she said it would be a very quick procedure. A pediatric nurse came in and told us it would be quick and easy. Wait! I thought this was a horrible procedure! No, it won't take any time at all. She won't feel anything after the shot to numb the area.

Mark stayed in the room while Courtney took Katelee out of the room. Sure enough, it was all over in five minutes. And, Tennyson is a quick forgiver -- she shot a smile to the nurse when it was all over. She did get three stitches, which are healing. Overall, you would never know she had visited the doctor.

Happy Birthday to Olivia!

2011-02-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

Olivia turned 6 today! She celebrated by having friends come over for a "Movie Party." Her first gift, opened before her friends arrived, was "How to Train Your Dragon." A gaggle of girls (and 1 boy) arrived in the afternoon. They played for about an hour before settling in front of the television with pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, and candy. After the movie, she was treated with a rendition of Happy Birthday To You, a wonderful cake, and a plethora of gifts. I'm pretty sure we have 3 boxes of pizza left! All in all, I think it was a success though!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA

Vacation Time -- SNOW

2011-01-17T12:03:00.000-08:00

After several months of adjusting to Eastern New Mexico life, it was time to head West. It just happened at the same time Grandma Donner was visiting. Thus, we picked up Grandma and headed toward Albuquerque. We settled into a great rental home near the Sandia Peak Mountains, complete with a hot tub and fire place! We arrived late Thursday night, lit a fire, settled into the hot tub, and then found our beds. Friday was a trip to the Sandia Park Tramway -- the world's longest. At 10,378 feet up, there was quite a view! We also enjoyed some good Mexican food at the base.

At home, we enjoyed some good hot dogs and s'mores.

On Saturday, we played on the East side of the mountain -- SLEDDING! The girls had never been sledding, but they caught on quickly. All in all, the girls gave a thumbs up to snow. They had fun sledding, making snow angels, and hiking through it. We also enjoyed Courtney's chili, Mark's hot chocolate, and Grandma's coffee in bed.

Roadster

2011-01-02T13:03:00.001-08:00

PC270010, originally uploaded by counsel14.

At least we have 13 more years before she hits the road!

Visitors -- Happy New Year

2011-01-02T12:32:00.000-08:00

Grandpa and Grandma decided to make the trek to New Mexico to bid farewell to 2010 and greet 2011. More than anything, they just wanted to play with the grandkids! They had fun reading books, playing Don't Spill the Beans, Old Maid, and Chutes & Ladders. The kids got to show off their favorite park, despite the 20 degree weather (it was a quick trip), as well as their dress-up clothes. As for a New Year's celebration, we stayed up long enough to watch the New York ball drop, toast, and go to bed. Granted, that is 10:00 p.m. New Mexico time.

Katelee listens intently (to the tv) while Grandpa reads

Olivia (and Tennyson below) sport their new Grandma-made night gowns

Admiring Reflections

Not Rain, Nor Fog, Nor Freezing Cold

2011-01-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

It was sub-freezing this past week, but that did not stop Olivia from enjoying her new trampoline. She took a broom out to sweep off the ice before jumping. Granted, she did not stay outside very long . . . but you have to admire her dedication!

Happy Baby

2010-12-26T11:40:00.000-08:00

Everybody was jolly yesterday!

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T20:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all. The girls have had a good Christmas. Christmas Eve was marked with service at church, complete with songs and candle lights. We returned home to open the traditional present -- jammies!

Christmas morning came around 6:30 (Tennyson was the first to awaken). Olivia had the great idea that Santa may not be able to deliver a whole trampoline in his sled, so he may have to bring it in boxes. That is exactly what he did. That didn't stop the girls from looking outside to see if their only Christmas wish was delivered. As can be seen from the picture below, they were a bit disappointed to see nothing set up in the back yard.

This didn't stop the Christmas cheer though. It turns out that Santa left clues throughout the house, and the girls had to figure out where the next clue was hidden. They finally ended up in the garage and found three large cardboard boxes marked "Trampoline." They still weren't too impressed with three large cardboard boxes. But, the festivities continued.

We opened presents. We ate sausage balls. We ate chocolate. We ate Little Debbie Christmas cakes. We ate biscuits and gravy. We ate candy canes and lollipops. We played with our toys. We had fashion shows. We ate some more. Then, it was nap time.

And, good things come to those who wait. In this case, they waited about four hours to have the trampoline up and going for business. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day without wind, so the assembly wasn't too bad. It did take some time, but it was well worth the wait. The girls and Mark played in it about one hour, which may have burned off a few needed calories.

Finally, we headed to the neighbor's house to enjoy some good company and great smoked ham and turkey, sweet yams, stuffing, bacon-wrapped green beans, cheesy potatoes, fudge, cookies, chocolate pretzels, etc. It was a good thing too; we were getting hungry.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

They Keep Growing

2010-12-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

Olivia survived her first semester of Kindergarten, and she kicked off her winter break with a Christmas program. She had her own part . . . shouting "like a light bulb" during the Rudolph song. She has enjoyed the time away from school -- helping mom cook, playing with Katelee, and eating lots of sweets.

Tennyson continues to grow and learn. She has her smile down pat (as well as pooping). She is also sleeping around 8 hours per night now. Yeah!!!

Katelee has enjoyed a playmate while Olivia has been out of school . . . well, in between fighting. She continues to spend most of her day in her dress up clothes. I'm assuming this is early training for changing clothes as she gets older.

Christmas Time is Coming to Town

2010-12-11T13:21:00.000-08:00

December has been a busy time thus far. We made a trip to MO for Thanksgiving, and the festivities seemed to begin then! Trees were decorated and cookies were baked (and eaten). This continued once we returned home. Today was especially important since it allowed the girls to reveal their Christmas gift wishes to Santa. We were able to eat breakfast, meet with Santa, and do some crafts this morning. Now, we'll see if the girls are nice enough to get their wishes . . . only 14 days left!!!

Hang On!

2010-11-16T20:05:00.001-08:00

2010 Nov 034, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Sleep is good

2010-11-16T20:04:00.001-08:00

2010 Nov 055, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Hanging On

2010-11-16T20:03:00.001-08:00

2010 Nov 033, originally uploaded by counsel14.

There Was a Little Girl

2010-11-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL

There was a little girl,

And she had a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good

She was very, very good,

And when she was bad she was horrid.

One day she went upstairs,

When her parents, unawares,

In the kitchen were occupied with meals,

And she stood upon her head

In her little trundle-bed,

And then began hooraying with her heels.

Her mother heard the noise,

And she thought it was the boys

A-playing at a combat in the attic;

But when she climbed the stair,

And found Jemima there,

She took and she did spank her most emphatic.

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Happy Birthday Katelee

2010-11-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

Katelee celebrated her 3rd birthday this week. She managed to snag a chocolate cake -- complete with candles -- and some good gifts. We had a good dinner at the neighbors Friday night, so the girls got to play with some other kids. Then, on Saturday, we made the trek to Lubbock to partake in Chuck E Cheese festivities. The girls had a blast. Then, we checked into a hotel and swam for awhile. To top off the evening, we got decked out in our Mizzou gear and braved the Red Raider football fans. Evidently, we were good luck for the Tigers. They were winning when we left the game at half-time, but they ended up losing. The girls didn't really care since they got to meet Truman the Tiger!

Halloween -- The final cut

2010-10-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the final night of our Halloween week. Of course, the pentacle of the pumpkin celebration is Trick or Treating! We set the pumpkins out on our sidewalk, turned up the spooky music, and loaded two baskets with candy. While Courtney and Tennyson stayed behind to hand out candy, Mark and the girls headed around the block. Olivia was sporting a butterfly costume, Katelee was a Flower Princess, and Tennyson made a tu-tu look good. The girls must have done well based on them complaining that their bags were getting too heavy. So, after a practical sprint from house to house, we ended back at our house in time to unload the stash and begin a healthy binge of sweets right before bedtime. All in all, the girls had a good time. Hope you had a Happy Halloween too!

The End

Fall Festival

2010-10-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

Continuing with our Halloween all Week activities, today was the Fall Festival on base. The girls enjoyed face and hair painting, Needle-in-a-Haystack candy search, ducks in a pond, pin the beak on the owl, fishing game, pumpkin ring toss, and bouncy castles. The girls also enjoyed touring an ambulance, the EOD robots, and the static air display. They managed to snag some more candy also -- of course.

Halloween is Scarier with Three Girls

2010-10-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

Halloween kicked off on Wednesday this week for us. The medical group had a trick or treat after work on Wednesday. So, the girls dressed up in the costumes and made the rounds to secure two bags of candy. Then, on Friday, Olivia's school had their Halloween party. Courtney rushed from the clinic's "Welcome Taylors" potluck lunch to the school Halloween party. The kids all dressed up and looked great. We completed the night by carving pumpkins. We bet Katelee would not like the pumpkin gunk, but she dove right in helped design her pumpkin. Meanwhile, Tennyson was less than impressed.

Somebody is sleeping

2010-10-23T15:13:00.001-07:00

2010 Oct 091 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Little bit of Liv Love

2010-10-23T15:02:00.001-07:00

2010 Oct 116 edit bw, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Sisterly Love

2010-10-11T12:41:00.001-07:00

DSC08195 edit, originally uploaded by counsel14.

Katelee enjoying being a big little sister!

Getting Settled . . . Again

2010-10-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

After nearly 3 months of watching the girls, Grandma Gerri headed back to her home. It has been such a blessing to have grandma watching the girls, especially for so long. It was great to get back together as a family. The girls are settling into their new surroundings and with their new sibling just fine. They are making friends with the neighborhood kids, as well as enjoying their own games together (usually involving some type of dress up).

Tennyson continues to eat, sleep, and poop. Although, she is having a bit of problem with the "sleep" part in the middle of the night. She might have a touch of reflux. Or, she is just mean and enjoys torturing her parents. She had a check up last week and is weighing in at a whopping 5 pounds 8 ounces. She seems to especially enjoy her bath time.

Enjoy a few new pics below.

Olivia's K Pic

2010-10-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

Meet the Family

2010-10-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Courtney woke at o-dark-thirty to hop a plane to New Mexico today. She bid farewell to Orlando and her awesome friends, placed Miss Tennyson in her Moby wrap, and boarded the plane. She was able to meet up with her dad in Dallas, and both of them flew up to Amarillo. Then, they drove home. Mark also made part two of his drive across the country, and he made it home about 6:00. The girls were ecstatic to meet their new sister, and Grandma and Grandpa may have enjoyed the moment a bit too.

FREEDOM!

2010-09-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

Tennyson has been freed! She was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday around 5:30. She is clear for takeoff, and Courtney and baby will see the friendly skies on Friday. That means they will also see their new home and excited sisters on Friday. Look out New Mexico, here we come!

Wednesday Update

2010-09-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

It looks like the discharge pipeline has started to be opened. We are beginning to take care of those last minute discharge activities -- bath, car seat test, cpr training, etc. We aren't sure whether we are leaving the hospital with a monitor or not since it has been several days since her last bradycardia. We are hoping to cross state lines by this weekend though. We'll see.

Tuesday Update

2010-09-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

Not much has changed on the baby-front. Tennyson is continuing to eat well, and she is slowly gaining weight. We have not been given an official discharge date yet, but we are hoping it will be toward the end of this week.

We are a bit worried about Tennyson after snapping the picture below. It looks an awful lot like she is flashing the "Hook-em-Horns" hand signal from The University of Texas at Austin. We will have to have a long discussion with her why this is not appropriate for a lady.

We'll keep you updated with any new plans.

Sunday Update

2010-09-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Darn! Another bradycardia tonight. Generally, that means 5 more days of monitoring. Tennyson's orders actually say 3 more days of monitoring, so we'll see how it plays out.

We did get to connect with our other daughters this afternoon and introduce them to their younger sister. We skyped while Tennyson got stripped, changed, weighed, and ate. The girls loved it, and sang her lullabies. Katelee asked if she could hold her. Soon enough we hope!

Skyping with the girls

Sunday, Sunday

2010-09-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

We stayed at the hospital late last night in order to do the 11:00 p.m. feeding, and we woke up in time to do the 8:00 a.m. feeding this morning. Of course, in between those times, Courtney pumped and took meds.

We woke up to a lot full of bicyclers this morning in front of the Ronald McDonald House. They were having a charity ride today. Ronald was even there. The house is very nice, and we are quite thankful for a close place to stay. You can see it here: Ronald McDonald House Orlando.

All went well last night for Tennyson. And, she ate well this morning. Courtney got in some kangaroo care while watching church stream from the computer. After a doughnut break to the cafeteria, we are back at it again. So, today will pretty much be a repeat every three hours, except we'll try to squeeze some NFL in also!

Saturday Night Update

2010-09-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

Tennyson continues to eat well. Unfortunately, she has had a couple bradycardias (dropped heart rate) after eating. Thus, it looks like they want to observe her for at least three days with no bradycardias. So, not sure exactly when we will be discharged. Until then, we just keep taking fun pics and enjoying loving visitors.

Dinner Time (every three hours)

2010-09-25T05:22:00.000-07:00

Tennyson continues to grow and eat. She just started the bottle on Wednesday with only 2 ml. That was gone in 2 secs. Then, they bumped her up by 2 ml every other feeding. Yesterday (Friday) was the first trial run for nursing. Of course, she was a pro and slurped it down. We weigh her before and after nursing to make sure she is getting enough. Then, after nursing, she gets a bottle in case she is still hungry. Last night, she put about 30 ml down, and during the night, she sucked down 40 ml from the bottle (while mom and dad caught up on sleep). Everyone seems to believe she will be leaving soon. We'll see! Courtney is officially discharged from the hospital, and we are staying at a fantastic Ronald McDonald House.

Pic of the Day & Update

2010-09-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

All continues to move along well. Tennyson is eating more and more each feeding. Courtney will be discharged tomorrow, at which point, we will stay at the Ronald McDonald House next to the hospital. Enjoy a couple pics from today -- with and without hat.

New Routines

2010-09-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

Miss Tennyson made great gains today. She is off the c-pap machine; she tasted her first lunch today; she moved to Level 2 (a good move); and she practiced nursing just a bit. She now gets fed every 3 hours. Thus, Courtney (seen below) wanders the hall to Tennyson's room, feeds her, pumps, and tries to rest until the next feeding. Good times!

Moving Ahead

2010-09-22T11:12:00.001-07:00

Tennyson is progressing well. She ditched the c-pap machine today before noon, and then she had her first lunch of momma-milk via bottle at noon. Courtney snagged her for some kangaroo care time (skin to skin) before her next feeding. Her stats are all looking good, so they will move her to a crib and clothes this afternoon. Her next job is to maintain her body temperature while in the crib.

First Bath

2010-09-21T16:41:00.001-07:00

Miss Tennyson had her first bath tonight. That gave her the opportunity to shed her c-pap mask for a few minutes . . . and for us to get some face time. She was not thrilled with the wet rub down, and she turned as red as a lobster during the bath. However, she seemed to like her hair shampooed and combed. Typical girl!

Introducing . . . Miss Tennyson

2010-09-21T11:10:00.001-07:00

The best laid schemes of mice and men / Go oft awry -- Robert Burns.

Originally, a c-section was planned for Thursday, the 23rd of September. This gave Mark time to file leave paperwork, find a plane flight, and get to Orlando. However, Courtney called Monday morning and said plans were laid to deliver our baby tomorrow (Tuesday). She had an amniocentesis that morning, and all signs pointed to GO. Mark quickly perused the airline options and found a flight leaving Lubbock that afternoon. However, given the time to drive to Lubbock, the time difference, and the one hour early airline policy, that meant Mark would have to leave in two hours.

Thus, he rushed to get his leave paperwork signed. Then, he returned to book a flight. Three options were available. When Mark tried to book the first option, "this flight is no longer available." Second option -- "this flight is no longer available." Same for option number three. Now what? Option 4 -- another city! Fortunately, a later flight was available. And, when Mark went to the book the flight -- "system is currently down. Try again later" Ugh! So, Mark called the airline and booked the flight that way.

Then, he rushed home, packed, and headed out the door. He arrived in Orlando at 11:30 p.m. When he arrived, he found out the amnio test had not come back yet, but they expected to know by 4:00 a.m. A pillow was found by 1:00 a.m. When Courtney called at 4:00, the results were in, but the doctor had not seen them yet. However, the nurses did not expect the c-section to happen. Then, the hospital called and said "go time." So, up at 4:00 and out the door.

Prep time happened from 5:30 to 7:30, and all were in the Operating Room by 7:30. Three wonderful mentors/friends of Courtney arrived and were there to cheer on the arrival of Tennyson. They all got to watch the delivery through a window. Mark got to watch the baby be pulled from the belly, and Tennyson entered the world looking like a plump purple skittle. She was immediately whisked away to the NICU, and she was put on a c-pap machine. Other than a little extra help breathing, she seems to be doing great.

The tale of the tape:
Tennyson Hope Taylor
5 pounds, .5 oz.
18 3/4 inches
Born at 7:58 a.m.

Mom and baby are both doing well. Courtney has already heaved herself out of bed, ventured to the NICU to visit Tennyson (she would have crawled if necessary), pumped, eaten some food, and sneaked in a nap.

We look forward to adding to our picture collection, and you can get a sneak peak from the pics below. Thanks for all the well wishes and support.

Bubbles

2010-09-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

Grandma is in town to watch the girls while Mark heads to Florida to meet Miss Tennyson. So, we made a little trip to Walmart to buy some fun games. Among those games was Bubbles! We bought a package of 27 wands and a big ol' bottle of bubbles. That should keep them entertained for a few minutes. Of course, Olivia showed how she didn't need a wand; she just used her hands!

Next post should be of new baby pics! Stay tuned.

I Go Out Walking

2010-09-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

Last night, I walked around a corner to find a wandering two year old sporting her pajamas and a stylish sun hat. The problem? It was 10:30 at night! The toddler was put in bed at 7:00.

When confronted, she just looked at me. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"I was just checking on Olivia."

"Did you wake her up?"

"I kissed her."

"Go back to bed," I said as best I could with a straight face. Fortunately she slept in the next day and only woke up at sunrise.

Precious Moments

2010-09-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

It was a tough day for a toddler trying to assert her independence.

The target: the babysitter.
The objective: make sure not to obey no matter the consequences.
The war front: a toy that needed to be picked up

Mark received a phone call this afternoon from a befuddled babysitter. She explained that Katelee had been in "time out" for about 30 minutes now, but she would still not "give in." The babysitter had asked her to pick up a toy, but Katelee defiantly said "no." Thus, she earned a time out until she could pick up the toy. A logical kid would have picked up the toy. Katelee, on the other hand, decided to make her stand. Thus, she just cried (without tears) for 30 minutes. Unsure of how to counter this effective maneuver, the babysitter finally called a life line. Of course, Katelee sensed reinforcements and a change in strategy was coming, so she promptly became quiet at that point.

This scenario actually played out (but not quite to the same extent) three times with the babysitter. Then, it occurred again when dad got home.

Sensing it was a tough day for the tiny toddler, Mark put her to bed a bit early. Then, he climbed into bed with her and rubbed her back and sang her some songs. After about 20 minutes, Katelee rolled over, threw her arm over Mark's neck, and said "I love you so much."

Feeling that special father-daughter bond, Mark replied, "I love you so much too."

Katelee's responded: "Whew, you have some stinky breath." "And your teeth are yellow." (never mind that it is dark and she can't see my teeth)

Oh well, maybe I'll have better luck with my other daughter. So, Mark headed to Olivia's room to tuck her in and sing her a song. Just sing me a lullaby she requested. After a rendition of "Baby Mine," Olivia offered: "not bad for getting it wrong."

Good night girls.

Ready for School

2010-09-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

Olivia showing her Missouri spirit in New Mexico.

A Study of Comparisons

2010-09-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

The girls enjoyed another day with the new babysitter. Granted, they are testing their boundaries. Katelee, when given a command to pick up toys says: "why don't you pick them up." Meanwhile, Olivia says: "I don't have to because you aren't my mom and you don't live here." Fortunately, the babysitter doesn't put up with that kind of nonsense!

A Study of Comparisons

1. Supervised fun -- building a fort and enjoying a cold hose.

2. Unsupervised fun -- crushing all the dixie cups and putting them in the sink while dad talks to mom on the phone.

Enjoying parenthood.

Rainbows & Ballerinas

2010-09-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

Olivia Makes the Paper

2010-09-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

All Dressed Up and . . .

2010-09-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

The girls decided to wear their butterfly shirts today for church. Fortunately, they had different colored head bands so we could tell them apart from each other. We stopped by BK for lunch and enjoyed it on our back porch (except for the pesky flies).

One Week Down

2010-09-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

After a week of acclimating to New Mexico, the house seems to be settling just a bit. Furniture seems to be finding a home. Of course, all the furniture has been warned not to get too comfortable where it is sitting because it will likely be moved once Courtney arrives home. Olivia is becoming more accustomed to the idea of school. And, in true education fashion, she has learned the value of the weekend too -- "NO SCHOOL!" Katelee has had a couple babysitters, and she will get another one this week. Yet, she seems to be managing it well (minus the first minute of Mark leaving). Even the cats seem to be enjoying their new surroundings. Grass is a new thing, and it seems they like it! There are just two things missing -- MOMMA & Tennyson. All in good time though.

On the Road to Home

2010-09-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Mark left Florida last week for Missouri to pick up the girls. The trip was relatively uneventful, which is good considering the truck was packed with a dog and two cats. He had the great pleasure of stopping in Nashville to have dinner with his good friend, Meghan. The friend is actually married to Matthew Perryman Jones, a great musician. Check him out on Facebook. Eventually, he made it to Missouri and got to visit with family and pick up the girls. Then, he loaded the truck up with one dog, two cats, two girls, and couple more suitcases. What could go wrong? Actually, the first eight hours went very well. There were a few lessons learned though.

1. DVD players are a wonderful blessing that make the time go much quicker. I’m certain the covered wagons would have crossed the prairie faster if their kids would have had DVDs to watch.

2. Two cats, two girls, one dog: the frequency of stops will be determined by the weakest bladder.

3. Kids have their traveling limits. Eight hours seemed to be ours.

4. A new day does not set the clock back to zero traveling hours. The previous day’s eight hours carry over. Thus, the girls’ traveling limit starts earlier the next day.

5. A good dinner with a good friend makes a long trip tolerable.

6. Cats cannot howl for a continuous eight hours. They only last about two.

7. Unlike a dog, evidently a cat will poop in its kennel. Kids think that is funny.

We did stop eventually in Shamrock, TX. This gave us time to swim, eat, and sleep. Then, the next day, we made the last few hours to New Mexico. We stopped by the realtor's office, picked up our keys, and went to see our new house.

THE GIRLS POSE IN FRONT OF THEIR NEW HOME

Once we got inside, Mark filmed the girls exploring the rooms. The cats and dog did the same. We unloaded our stuff, registered Olivia in Kindergarten, went to get dinner, and then set up camp -- a bedroom floor. One night on the floor was enough; then we checked into base lodging for a few nights.

The next morning was Olivia's first day of school! Thanks to her mother and her grandmother carefully pre-arranging all the aesthetic details (clothes, hair, etc.), how could a dad screw up? She was excited to go! So, we walked to school, backpack loaded.

OLIVIA MEETS HER TEACHER -- MS. DAVIS

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Katelee entertains herself in a big, empty house. She has a babysitter while dad works.

After school, Olivia gives Courtney an update of the activities via Skype.

Olivia has already met one friend -- a boy -- who she says she will marry. She has also already learned the value of the weekend. "Is today Friday?" she asks. Yes. "Good, tomorrow is Saturday, and we don't have school." Amen!

On the Move . . . Or, Sitting Still

2010-08-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

Nothing is happening very quickly!

As we wrap up our final days in Orlando, Courtney continues to rest and Tennyson continues to grow. Saturday the 21st will mark Week 31 for Tennyson, which also means 3 more weeks of bed rest for Courtney. Although Courtney continues to expierience contractions, they don't seem to be affecting Tennyson as much. Her heart rate generally looks pretty good.

Meanwhile, back at the house, everything is packed into boxes. Yet, the truck won't arrive until Monday to load it all. Then, Mark will hit the road to pick up the girls and head to our new home. We are looking forward to getting settled again in our new place. We'll miss seeing all the fun sites of Florida -- alligators, Mickey Mouse, and strange moths.

Week 28 (almost)

2010-07-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a little over two weeks since Courtney entered the hospital with contractions. The staff has been great taking care of her. Of course, to remind her of how much her family loves her, she has some fun wall decorations. Also, the girls just finished a one week trip to lavish some lovin' on mom. They returned to Missouri with Grandma today.

Time Ticks By

A Nice Reminder

From Olivia, To Mom

2010-07-28T18:14:00.001-07:00

I GIVE YOU THIS

SWEET SUNSHINE

FROM OLIVIA

TO: MOM