Right up my alley by Mrs. Taylor

I finally figured out my perfect job:  a listener.  Not a psychiatrist, I don't want to fix anyone or figure out why they are the way they are.  I just love to listen to people!  I love to hear about their life, their current situation, past experiences.  I love to hear people's stories.  I love to chime in here and there to put a different spin on things.   I love random conversation which happens to me all the time!!!  I can relate to almost anyone.  Really, I can!  Sometimes that's all people need, is someone to listen.

Live a day like you were a child by Mrs. Taylor

Have you ever thought of living a day like you were a child?  When the coolest thing that happened to you today was finding a quater on the floor of the car?  When all you needed when you got hurt was a kiss, a band aid and a send off on your way.  You love hugs from your dad and snuggles from your mom. You eat, sleep, beg for a bowl of ice cream, watch tv.  You bug your sister, bug your dog, hunt for bugs, dare someone else to eat a bug.  Everything in the world in brand new to you and nothing is jaded.  You run, jump, skip, smile, belly laugh, twirl.  You get smelly and dirty and become an overall hot mess and no one cares, but your mom.  You wonder why the big people got so mad about the wet, toilet paper wads you threw on the ceiling of the bathroom 'cause it was so much fun to see 'em splat and feel the drips of water on your head and you weren't trying to get in trouble-no one ever really told you that wasn't ok, but you know for next time.  Wouldn't you love to live a day when the ketchup bottle made a fart sound and you could giggle like crazy?

Just close your eyes and imagine how high your spirits would be if you could live a day like a child.

A somber but necessary moment by Mrs. C

This week will soon mark an anniversary for me that I wish I didn't have to visit. On September 16, 2009, my Aunt Bonnie, who was like a second mother to me, took her life. I am dreading Thursday and Friday. Even as I write this, a flood of emotions is falling over me that I cannot even describe. September 17, 2009, 2:34am, my phone rang, waking me from deep sleep. On the other side of the call was my mom, crying, "Bonnie's dead." I don't even think I was fully awake. I kept asking her "what?" No one knew the details of how or why. They had just found her. My mom hung up with me and left me to cry in the middle of the night. I sobbed. I couldn't help it. I remember my husband telling me not to cry so loudly; I'd wake the kids. But it poured out of me uncontrollably. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her and wish I could just call her. I miss her so much it hurts, and sometimes I have nightmares that are so real that I think this was all a dream. September 17, 2009 at 2:34am, a hole was shot through my heart that will never heal.

To you, the reader, my aunt was one of many who lived and is now gone. So to attempt to paint a picture of an amazing woman, I will describe. Bonnie was one of the most amazing people I knew! She was giving, funny, witty, understanding, strong, fun, a mother, a friend. She gave more than she had pretty much all the time, and she never asked for anything in return.

Simple Thank yous just don't exist by Mrs. C

Why is the world so "for" users and selfish people and "against" those who are used or give of themselves? I like to think of myself as a giving person. I don't use people. I do more favors than are done for me; I volunteer my time for many things, and I'm not just trying to make myself look good. I'm just saying. My husband and I have had this conversation many times, and it's very

Grow 'em up by Mrs. Taylor

Ever hear people say, "I want to keep my kids small?"  To that I say "No way!  Grow them up!  Get these kids big!"  Don't get me wrong, I love babies (and weddings!).  I love first smiles and first steps.  Little giggles and tiny snuggles.  I teared up on the first day of kindergarten and still have the first thing my oldest ever gave me in my purse, a little rock.  But the older my kids get, the easier being a parent is getting.  I am sleeping through the night again.  I can take a shower when they are all awake!  I enjoy a daily nap.  No guess work as to what they want, they just tell me!  I played laser tag with my son today and littlest pet shop with my girls the other day.  They shower themselves, dress themselves and entertain themselves, for the most part.  Nol and Alys are both in school.  Lena has two years 'til kindergarten and I'm not gonna lie:  I can't wait! 

Everyday is an awesome adventure with them and I love watching these kids get big!!!!

Two good reasons by Mrs. Taylor

Boys have it so easy.  I would want to be a boy for two reasons:  I could get ready to go out in 10 minutes and be able stand up to pee...anywhere! 

But I'm glad I am a girl, because I can cover up zits with makeup.

Sadness by Mrs. Taylor

My cousin is missing.  I am taking a break from blogging, because I can't think of anything, but him.  My family is heartbroken and so am I.

Love always,

~b

A gift? I want one! By Mrs. Taylor

What's your gift?  Ever wonder about it?  What exactly were you put here to do?  Nobody was put here to just be, like a leech.  I'm not talking about gifts as in your family, friends or what you got for your birthday.  I'm talking about what your good at.  Do you have a gift, but are afraid to show it?  Like I used to be?  Do you wonder about gifts other people are blessed with?  And if you really thought about it, only a handful of people have a superior gift for acting, singing, sports, art, whatever.  Wouldn't be a jip if you were a talented song writer, but couldn't sing?  What about gifts that aren't as visible?  Are you funny and can make people laugh?  Always on time for stuff? Yes, that is a gift!  Are you friendly?  Unfriendly and good at solitaire?  Fart on command? Write spectacular blogs?  ;)  Good at arranging the dishes in the dishwasher so everything fits?  Have a great smile that when you smile others do too?  Good at finding the good in crappy situations?   I had a five year old tell me once her gift was cat eyes 'cause she could see well in the dark.  There are soooo many gifts out there that people don't really think are gifts, but think again hot stuff , everyone has a gift and I hope you find a way to share it so that you may enrich the lives of others.

So, what's your gift?

I'm babysitting by Mrs. Taylor

I think it is so funny when Dads are home alone with their kids, because Mom went out, and when asked what he's up to he replies, "I'm babysitting." Is that what your really doing? Are you implying that when Mom is home you would normally be being a SLUG on the couch? Are you telling me while Mom is: making breakfast, cleaning up breakfast, dressing kids, dressing herself, entertaining kids, making the kids a snack, running a few errands with the kids in tow, making lunch, cleaning up lunch, putting kids down for a nap, cleaning and putting away laundry during the nap, waking kids up, making a snack, more entertaining children, making dinner, cleaning up dinner, bathing kids, putting the kids to bed...Dad is: sleeping in, taking a shower, eating left over breakfast, tickling the kids and getting them so wound up that entertainment time turned into utter chaos, enjoying some alone time while everyone was out, eating the lunch Mom made, taking a nap, enjoying  a tasty snack, playing video games, eating the dinner Mom made, putting on a show on for the kids while they waited for a bath 'cause you turned into sugar after your shower and couldn't possiby get wet duh, surfing the web, expecting some "sum-sum" after bed time even though you did not pay any meaningful attention to your wife all day? SLUG! And thx for all your help today. 

I am extremely lucky my husband is the exact opposite of this. And mad props to other men who are too.  Wow, loot!

The first ride by Mrs. Taylor

It must be the most AMAZING feeling the first time you ride a bike with no training wheels. The feeling of deciding to go for it. That your brave enough. That your finally big. The wind on your face, the way your hair moves. The faster you ride, the more you smile, the more your heart sings, the more you spread your wings. You are truly happy. And your eyes are all sparkly when you talk about it.

You are finally...free.

A parking lot love note by Mrs. Taylor

Stay in the lines!  I love to leave nice, but informative notes for the parking challenged.  I left this little gem for some special person this morning.  Notice I even signed my name!

It was prolly this guy.

Bridging the gap! by Mrs. C

My sister is visiting me for one month, and I'm realizing more and more that the words my mom said were true--"you'll love to have your sister around when you're older."

Growing up, my sister and I were not really friends. I loved her and always have, but she's my sister. Don't I have to? (just kidding, I want to) Actually, due to our difference in age, my sister seemed more like a nuissance than a friend. She drove me nuts in her early years. I even once tried to mail her to Timbuktu, leaving her next to the townhouse mailboxes with the same address that Garfield used for Otie. My mom often put me in charge of Ally, and it was so inconvenient. I would find myself having so much fun with my friends, only to turn around and realize that Ally was gone. Ugh! My mom had the fire department and police out for that one.

ADD is my favorite trait by Mrs. Taylor

Take a little journey through my day without meds: Have you ever gone to put something away in another room and found a new project? While doing that project, you found something that needed to be put away in another room, so you go to put it away, and find a new project. Then, during that third project, you find something that needs to go in another room, so you go to put it away, and find another new project? And eventually, your 50th new project brings you back to the first project. And that project was getting the living room clean...and your parents will be over in about 10 minutes...your adventure started about three hours ago...

With meds: Same, but my total adventure time is about 20 minutes.

I have ADD. And I LOVE IT! I love my zany brain. My unique way of doing things. My fast thinking makes me a quick problem solver, joke maker, master of wit, but slow with comebacks. I am neat, but not organized. I am super forgetful and have trained the kids to finish my sentences and politely remind me to get them a glass of milk even after they have already asked a few hundred times. This is who I am. This is the brain I was born with and I can not change it. And my husband loves me, just how I am!

A good friend of mine told me about this book, Delivered from Distraction, by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey, and if you have ADD and need a huge self-esteem boost, read this book!!! Please e-mail and tell me how much you loved it. Read page 40 first. :)

Facebook: A social outlet for the socially challenged by Mrs. Taylor

And I don't mean socially inept or no friends.  Socially challenged refers to those with kids who can't go anywhere.

I enjoy facebook-ing from my phone or computer. Which I guess I use like a twitter, but not as often. I can "talk" too, "see" people I don't ever get to due to kids, schedules, got lost in a pile of laundry, etc. I talk to my mom more, my cousins, my best friends all the time! Even got in touch with some old friends who are very dear to me and met some awesome new ones as well. I like to share random thoughts and funny stuff my kids say "Did you know the bladder can hold 50 minutes of pee?" but never, ever, will anyone know I just had the cha cha cha-still stuck on the TMI. Now if the person in the stall next to me has it, you just might hear about that...

Stay in the lines! by Mrs. C

Why do people have to park so close together? This was the topic of conversation between me and Beth and it played out yet again two days ago. I took the kids to the movies with me and I parked on the end parking space. Yet someone, probably the late comer to our movie, decided they would not only park illegally, but that they would park within 2 inches of my passenger door! Really? So because I got there BEFORE the show, I now get trapped in a parking lot with two small kids?! Yeah, that seems fair. I was so mad. I couldn't even get my son in the car! So, I resorted to throwing the kids in the car without seat belts, pulling forward enough to open the passenger side, and then buckling them in. To keep myself from playing out the thoughts I had of keying their car or slashing their tires, I left a note that said, "Thank you for taking the time to park so close to my car. I'm sure you saved time by making sure that you were exactly 2 inches from the passenger side of my car. I hope you made it to your movie on time." I wanted to say so many more mean things to this stupid person who really messed up my evening, but I actually spent more time re-thinking my note.

No cuts, no butts, a few coconuts by Mrs. Taylor

I wanted to congratulate those, who on purpose, speed up just enough, so I can't merge in front of their vehicle. To you friend, I say, well done!

I too, live an extremely busy life and I realize, that by letting one car merge in front of me, really is the difference between being one second early and being one second late. You are an example to all, as you show off your great concentration skills by staring straight ahead in an effort to pretend you didn't see the merge or me, in my 3,230 pound killing machine. Remarkable!

You are probably the same guy who flies by me going 80, in a 40, that I smoothly drive by, just as the red light you are stuck at turns green. Win!

I used to wear colorful leggings under shorts by Mrs. Taylor

I remember once when I was a teen-ager, I tried to dye my hair with purple Kool-Aid and got some "too light to notice purple hair." So, I soaked my hair in grape juice concentrate, went to bed and all I got out of that was nappy, crunchy hair. I then got some henna hair dye and colored the front pieces of my hair red that ended up fading to a brassy orange. I promised my dad it would come out after a few washes, but really it came out in like 50 washes. I love thinking back to things I did as a teen-ager. I once had a ring for every finger, except my ring finger, because I didn't want anyone to think I had a boyfriend. I once had bangs 10 miles high that I used so much hair spray on they snowed if you bumped 'em. I remember a friend got her hair spray taken away (what a dumb thing to take away now that I'm a mom) and thinking, OMG, I would die if that happened to me! I miss those days when life was so simple. Life is simple in many ways now except money ruins everything. I can't wait to be old when all I have to worry about is not peeing when I laugh.

500 napkins by Mrs. Taylor

Ever notice the overuse of napkins, when really, it's an under use? Ever gone to lunch with someone who takes the hugest handful of napkins, uses like 2, and the rest go in the trash? Why is this? Many people claim, "Just in case...". Just in case of what? An exploding tornado of soda flies through the restaurant? Or do you expect to be the messiest eater ever that day? But maybe your having lunch with a toddler and you gave him honey bbq wings, now that, I get! Take what you'll realistically use. If you have a spill, it takes like 3 seconds to run and grab more. Save a tree...or whatever.

Lost and Found by Mrs. C

Lost: Two adorable, sweet kids--a cute boy, age 23mo, who goes by the name of Evan, and a beautiful girl, age 4, who goes by the name of Jadyn. Both kids seemed to have vanished sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning. Evan is known for lots of smiles and talks a lot. Evan is known to wear supercute t-shirts with funny sayings that seem to fit him perfectly like "Monkeying Around" and "Always Hungry". He loves balls and cars, and he especially loves Toy Story. Evan was looking forward to his 2nd birthday party, because he was going to eat "Buzz and Woody cake." Jadyn is very girly and enjoys singing and dancing. She loves to wear dresses on a daily basis and to have her nails painted. Both kids are extremely lovable and often give hugs and kisses and express their love. They never fight, and they are great listeners! If found, please feed and then return to their parents, Amanda and Jeremy Converse. They are extremely distraught over this loss and can not wait til the day they are reunited with their two kids.

Found: Two stray kids--one boy, approximately 2yrs of age, who has a high pitched scream, claims to go by the name of Evan, and one girl who whines a lot, states she is 4yrs and is named Jadyn. Found Saturday morning in beds that did not belong to them.

"Date Night" part 2 by Mrs. C

Read part 1 here.

I shot a gun! And I didn't just shoot one gun; I shot several different guns! Yesterday, we made a success of date night at 10:30am. With my sister-in-law lined up to watch the kids, I set off with my husband, Jeremy, and my brother-in-law, Scott, for a farm owned by my brother-in-law's friend. As we got closer to the farm, I felt knots in my stomach. I don't even know why, because I was so excited to shoot a gun. Once we got there, Jeremy and Scott set up the targets, and Jeremy loaded one of the handguns. Jeremy taught me how to aim and line up the target. "Pull the trigger," he said. And I pulled the trigger. Wow! It was amazing! The power was intense, and I just wanted to keep pulling the trigger. My aim got better and better, and soon I hit the bulls eye, with several shots right around the bulls eye circle. I hit pop cans balancing on fence posts. The explosion that happens is amazing! I shot an assault rifle that had a powerful bang--so powerful it sent vibrations through my body and made me flinch and close my eyes the minute I pulled the trigger. My favorite gun to shot was a rifle that has a scope on it. It had little kick and seemed pretty accurate to shoot. Shooting was so much fun, and so releasing! I was on a high for the rest of the day! I'm so doing this again!