Entertaining at the Volleyball Tournament

Violet had a volleyball tournament in Lawrence, KS. It's hard for the little kids to be entertained for so many hours.

Lincoln was able to keep himself entertained by pretending he was short by kneeling in his shoes. Kids are so imaginative! 

Hazel's 6th Birthday

Poor Hazel didn't get to have her unicorn birthday party because she was running a 101* fever. Everyone missed out on Chick-Fil-A and Yogurtini.

The next day she was feeling better and agreed to have her picture taken with her birthday shirt. We're still waiting for that rescheduled party! 

1,000,000 Steps

There's still 5 more walking days this month and I've hit my goal to walk 4,000,000 steps in 2025 - that's 1,000,000 steps each quarter.

I hope my knees hold out until the end of the year!

Taylor Family Photo

Melissa is obsessed with taking family photos. She's beginning to realize that trying to get 5 kids to cooperate at the same time is somewhat impossible.

But she did manage to get a good shot of the entire family.

Even Pearl wouldn't cooperate with her newborn picture. Usually the photographer takes a sleepy baby and manipulates her into cute poses. I love that Pearl's eyes are wide open. Not your typical newborn picture. 

Uncle Michael Meets Baby Pearl

Pearl is already a month old but this is the first time Michael has seen her.

At least Pearl didn't poop all over him as some have done in the past! 

Pearl Goes to the Fire Station

Ever since Violet was born, Melissa has made it a point to have a picture taken in the fire truck at the fire station.

Today Pearl experienced her first time in the fire truck. I'm sure it won't be her last!

 

Violet Turns 12 Years Old

This is the last year before Violet officially becomes a teenager.

Twelve has to be a hard age. Too young for grown up stuff...too old for young kid stuff.

Violet may only be 12 but sometimes I think she's more like 22. Especially when she's with her friends. Happy Birthday Violet!

St Patrick's Day

I don't celebrate St Patrick's Day. I don't even wear green.

I guess the tradition of pinching someone if they don't have on green still exists because the Taylor's always break out their green! Happy St Patrick's Day!

Violet & Hazel - Birthday Shopping

Taking the kids shopping for their birthdays is way easier than trying to think of something to get them.

Today was birthday shopping for Violet and Hazel. Lunch at none other than Chick-Fil-A then Old Navy, Dick's Sporting Goods and (who could have guessed) Ulta. It might be easier but I tend to spend a little too much money! 

Pearl - 1 Month Old

Hard to believe that Pearl is already 1 month old.

Although if I have to be honest, I can't believe Pearl is ONLY 1 month old. Sometimes time goes very slowly. Sometimes it flies by.

Pearl's First Volleyball Tournament

Violet had a volleyball tournament in St Louis this weekend. Teresa and I took advantage of the Horseshoe casino free offer for rooms and Michael's influence to pay resort fees and parking. Can you believe the casino wants to charge $56 a day for parking???

The view from my window was of the St Louis Arch and the Dome where the girls played was just across the street. You accessed the Dome through a tunnel under the highway then across the street then a long block to the entrance.

This was Pearl's first volleyball tournament. She spent most of her time in the stroller sleeping. There was a long stretch of time when she was awake. Every mother at the tournament was deathly afraid a wild volleyball would hit her. No problems but I did get hit in the neck while leaving the last game and a ball did hit Pearl's stroller. But no major injuries.

After the last games on Saturday, the girls went to the arch to get pictures. Much better than my window shot. The girls made it to the gold division (highest division) but failed in their first game. Violet did get to play most of the time so it was well worth the drive.

Pearl's First Smile????

I was asking Melissa if Pearl has smiled yet. She said if so it's just a reflex. Less than 2 week old babies don't smile.

Well lo and behold she sent me a pic of little Pearl smiling. Reflex or not, I'm counting this as her first smile.

Orlando Volleyball Tournament

Violet had a volleyball tournament in Orlando, Florida, just one week after Pearl was born. Since Melissa wasn't able to travel, Jamie took Violet and Lincoln to Florida.

The girls did pretty well in their tournament but with 10 girls on a 6 person team, it seemed as though Violet didn't get very much playing time. I have to remember she just came off of a wrist injury but that didn't seem to stop her playing her hardest.

The team didn't finish very well but I was proud of the way Violet played. One of the mothers sets up a video camera and live streamed the game on Facebook so those not in attendance could watch.

Meanwhile, Lincoln went with Melissa's friend Jenn to Disney World.

Jamie told Lincoln he could buy anything he wanted while at Disney. Not the right thing to tell a nine year old. Lincoln came back with a giant Mickey Mouse. Jamie was lucky he didn't have to buy Mickey a seat on the plane on the ride home.

The next night he went to his first professional basketball game - Orlando Magic.

He also had the job of keeping their electric Tesla rental car charged up.

Back in Kansas City, I was busy helping Melissa with the three little girls. Not much help, just a few hours for a couple of days. But I was there when Melissa had to take Pearl to her hearing test to keep an eye on Goldie. I think I would have rather been with Lincoln in Florida.

Pearl's "Mimi"

Not knowing the sex of the baby I had to make 2 baby blankets. Caving to pressure of everyone believing it was a boy, I started a boy blanket first.

I was a little more than half way through the girl blanket when Pearl was born. I've never stitched so fast in my life trying to get this blanket done. Not quite a week late wasn't bad. I hope Pearl likes her blanket as much as Violet STILL likes hers! 

First Check-Up

Now on day 2 baby Pearl is back to the doctor for a routine check up.

I guess when you don't stay in the hospital as many days as we did with our kids, you have more follow up appointments. I'm sure Pearl would love to stay home for a day since the weather is in the single digits. 

Going Home

A little longer than 24 hours in the hospital and baby Pearl is on her way home.

Melissa says she has to put a timer on each kid because they all want to hold her. I'm sure the newness will wear off soon.

Pearl Daisy Taylor

Never did I realize when I received a call at 5:45 in the morning that it would be Melissa telling me she was on her way to the hospital. The baby wasn't supposed to be born until Wednesday. So I drug myself out of bed, put a few things together and headed to the Taylor's. Everyone there was asleep so I just sat and waited. Things were running smoothly both at home and at the hospital. Trish showed up around 10:00 and took Violet, Lincoln and Hazel to Costco and to get us some lunch so it was just me and Goldie at home.

Then right after noon my phone rang and there was Melissa, Jamie and baby Pearl. Now no one knew what the gender of the baby was so they asked me what I thought. Knowing they were hoping for a boy I answered with "It's a boy" but in my heart of hearts I knew it was a girl.

Trish and the kids finally got home, we ate and headed to the hospital so Violet could see baby Pearl before she had to go to volleyball practice. Life still goes on even when a new baby arrives.

Trish and I then took Lincoln and Hazel to do a little "new baby" shopping. Hopefully Pearl will be able to wear at least half of what we bought her before she grows out of them. By the way, Pearl was 6 lbs 15 oz and I believe about 19" long.

A few weeks ago I found this doll in the toy room that I had given Hazel when she was 3 years old. I took it home for my doll curio cabinet and decided I wanted to get a doll for all the kids. This is Hazel. I also have a Melissa doll but not any of the other kids so I'll have to put my thinking cap on and get something for each one.

But I did find this doll for baby Pearl. She's actually a ladybug and has a green hat on that is Melissa's color for the new baby.

I can remember as a child a rhyme that begins "Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesdays child..." etc. I was wondering what Pearl was. "Saturday's child works hard for a living." She'll definitely be her father's child.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is just like my birthday - a day that should just pass on by.

But this year I was surprised when I received a call from Jamie asking if I was home. That sweet boy brought me a box of mini Crumbl cookies. One of my favorites! Thanks for thinking of me Jamie!

A Super Bowl Watch Party in Las Vegas (or The Great Football Disaster of 2025)

Teresa and I thought it might be fun to go back to Las Vegas to watch the Chiefs win their 3rd Super Bowl in a row. They would have made history as the only team to do a three-peat. Little did we know what a disaster and embarrassment it would be.

It started good with lots of fun decorations at the airport.

I even had a chance to do 1/2 of an item on my winter bucket list while on the airplane (color 2 pages in an adult coloring book). It says with markers but my colored pencils are going to work!

We landed in Las Vegas the Saturday before the game so we were able to have a little fun at the slot machines even winning a few dollars.

The day of the Super Bowl I was so excited with the anticipation of winning but after that first quarter, I was ready to change out of my Chiefs shirt. They played terribly and in the end, the Eagles took the title. They say Mahomes will come back even stronger but that three-peat may be out of reach. It's always a good time to go to Vegas. 

Happy Birthday Trish & The Groundhog Sees His Shadow

Happy Birthday to Trish.

Last night Trish and her twin sister, Stephanie, celebrated their 45th birthday with a gathering at the Lunar Bowl in Blue Springs. Inside the Lunar Bowl is a bar called The Blue Moon featuring Karaoke music. Mostly a country bar but at least entertainment. Short night for me, Melissa and Teresa. The party didn't start until 7:00. We visited for about an hour then I had to hurry home to meet my 9:00 bedtime.

Also today is Groundhog Day. Of course Punxsutawney Phil saw is shadow which means 6 more weeks of winter. After the blizzard conditions and cold weather we've had in January, why does February have to start out with sunny skies and temperatures above average. Let's hope it stays this way so I can get to Vegas next Saturday for the Super Bowl watch party.

Updating My Blog

If you're reading this you know I'm terrible at updating my blog.

It doesn't matter if I make it a New Year's resolution or publicly proclaiming that I'll keep up with it. It just doesn't work for me. Mostly because I forget to take pictures of an event then get discouraged when the next thing happens and I don't post that.

I'd just quit posting on my blog but with NBT (new baby Taylor) coming in a few weeks, I have to keep up with my blog for at least another year. How else would I be able to complete NBT's baby book 5 years from now without documenting the important things that happen during the year. I'm going to try and keep up but no promises. Just keep checking back about once a month!

Cowboy Cookies

Teresa gave us canning jars fulls of ingredients for making cookies. I thought it might have been nicer to have baked the cookies first. My jar was bigger than the others because they were supposed to be for both me and Michael. 

I was scanning my pantry for a snack and saw the jar of cookie mix so I thought I'd bake the cookies. I was too lazy to make individual cookies so I made sheet pan cookies. They were very tasty. Good luck Michael with getting your share. I did freeze half the batch but I'm not sure they'll make it until the next time Michael decides to come visit.

Melissa's 42nd Birthday

It's hard to believe my baby is 42. I think I say this every year.

Dinner was at Texas Roadhouse. It's getting harder and harder to get a reservation at restaurants because the kids are getting close to out numbering the adults.

For our family this was also another Chiefs game. Not only a Chiefs game but the AFC Championship. When Melissa blew out the candle, we were all hoping she wished for a Chiefs win. And that's exactly what happened. Happy Birthday Melissa but most of all - THE CHIEFS ARE GOING BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL! 

Violet's Volleyball Mishap

Nothing like getting up and on the road by 7:00 in the morning with temperatures in the single digits to get downtown and stand in line for over 30 minutes to watch Violet play in a volleyball tournament.

Violet was all ready to start her tournament. She stood in line with her teammates during opening ceremonies then started her warm ups.

I should have known things would turn out bad with these terrible weather conditions. During warm ups a loose ball came hurtling towards Violet and smashed her hand back causing her to strain the tendons in her wrist. Long story short...she couldn't even play. Hopefully the healing process doesn't take too long,

Goldie's Blizzard Birthday

Well the blizzard knocked out all plans for the brunch scheduled for Goldie's 3rd birthday.

Not that Goldie would care. She prefers staying home and playing with her new doll house, her Barbie camper and Barbie ambulance.

If you're real lucky you might get to play with one of the Barbies for a short period of time. But don't do anything Goldie wouldn't do. She's very particular about her Barbies. Makes for a real treat when I have to babysit. Those items keep her completely occupied for hours.  The words on the back of her shirt tell it all...Sweet - Sassy - & Three. You people think the terrible twos are bad - try playing Barbies with Goldie!

All in all Goldie had the best birthday party she could have had. Too many people mean sharing too many Barbies. Happy Birthday Goldie!

Looks like Daddy brought you a birthday donut?