Update Wall Pictures

I finally got around to updating the pictures on my office wall.

After staring at the wall for several hours putting up one picture then re-evaluating again, I finally finished. I don't know what I'm going to do when Violet graduates from high school. I'm running out of wall space. At least that's another 5 years away. I might not care by then!

Busy Weekend for Ma!

Friday I went with Melissa to Violet's volleyball tournament in downtown Kansas City. After looking for a parking spot for 30 minutes, we finally found one about 6 blocks from Bartle Hall.

Violet's team seems to start strong and finish...well not so strong. They wound up in the Diamond bracket for the remainder of the tournament. Diamond may see high but in volleyball world, it's not. Violet had some really good hits and her serves were great. It's the other girls on the team that needed a little help.

Saturday I had responsibility for getting Lincoln to his football game and Hazel to her soccer game. Teresa was there to help but that didn't make up for the fact we were having a blistering cold front. I would have much preferred to go to the volleyball game again but Lincoln's not old enough to drive yet. After the games we hit Chick-Fil-A (where else) then home for sketching and games.

Entertaining kids can get rather boring so we loaded back in the car. I took the kids to the firestation where Jamie was working claiming I was dropping off homeless kids. That didn't work so I took them to Yogurtini. Then back home where Melissa finally showed up around 9:30. Definitely a case as to why we have children when we're young.

Volleyball, Football AND Soccer

Violet has her volleyball. Lincoln has football. And Hazel has soccer. Makes for a long day.

Goldie isn't involved in sports yet but she wants to play soccer. I feel sorry for the little girls she may be up against! 

Happy Birthday Teresa

Michael took Teresa and I to Red Lobster for her birthday.

While it was a small celebration, I don't think Michael will want to go back to Red Lobster. He got rather sick afterwards. Happy 65th Birthday Teresa! 

Easter

I didn't want to cook a big Easter dinner so we went to Jose Pepper's instead.

Pearl and all the Taylor kids got Easter baskets as did my own kids.

Plus I was able to get a picture of Violet, me and Melissa. I like being the smallest one in the group!

Pearl's Walking

This time it's official. No tentative steps. Pearl just got up and started walking.

I actually she's been practicing in private! 

Hazel Gets Her Ears Pierced

Now we end Hazel's birthday with getting her ears pierced.

It's amazing how much this girl has grown. For such a shy little girl she's really doing some big stuff. Happy Birthday Hazel! 

Birthday Skating Party for Hazel and a Wipeout for Michael

Hazel had a skating party for her birthday. (I apologize for the dark pictures. I tried to lighten them up as much as possible.)

So many new kids to try and get to know. Hazel is a good skater and even won the limbo contest.

Lincoln is quite the skater too and came close to winning the limbo. Just missed clearing the bar by a hair. He fell right after he went under the bar so he was out.

Michael, on the other hand, came flailing towards me and crashed to the ground. Although he wanted to skate, he's checked this item off his list of things to do.

It's rare when I have the chance to get a picture with Michael, Melissa and Jamie. So when the opportunity presents itself, I take it.

All in all, Hazel had a pretty exciting 7th birthday party.

Hazel Plays Soccer

When Melissa told me Hazel was going to play soccer, all I could think of was the other girls are going to kill her. She's so small.

But Hazel surprised us all. She's quick, has good feet and bounces right back up when she's knocked down.

Let's hope the weather stays nice so we can watch a good season.

Birthday Lunch with Violet and Hazel

Instead of trying to guess what the kids want for their birthdays, I take them shopping and to lunch.

Violet and Hazel always pick Chick-Fil-A. Good thing about Chick-Fil-A is it's close to Ulta. I swear Violet knows every inch of that store and it gives me the opportunity to find out what both Violet and Hazel like just in case I need that last minute gift.

A Visit from Michele and Michael's New Apartment

Meanwhile Michele came to visit. We took this opportunity to go see Michael's new apartment.

He moved into a transitional neighborhood in the Union Hill area. There were several coffee shops and unique type restaurants. Plus he's close to downtown and Crown Center. Michele's visit didn't last but a couple of days and she was off to St Louis.

Violet Turns 13

Big day for Violet.

She's officially a teenager.

Jamie stopped on the way to school and got her a Starbucks. Good thing he did because Violet wasn't feeling well and we had to cancel the birthday dinner. What a way to celebrate your 13th birthday.

The Silent Sister

My book for March for our reading challenge was "Read an author you've never read before". 

I chose the Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain. It's about a girl who's cleaning out her deceased father's house and finds some very interesting facts about her life. I'd tell you what they are but if I say anything else I would spoil the book for who's ever interested.

My Winter Bingo Bucket List is almost complete. I've got three squares left which I think Michele does too. I need to play a board game (I'm hoping to do this when Michele comes next week). Go to the theater - again hoping to go when Michele's here. There's a new moving coming out called "Reminders of Him". It sounds a lot better than what's out right now. If Michele doesn't want to go then I'll go by myself. Lastly I need to finish an old project. I'm actually working on Hazel's baby book as I write this. Hazel will be 7 the end of this month so it's about time I finished it. So, Michele, I think we're even and will finish at the same time if you go to the show with me. I'll see if all this comes to fruition! 

Wine Tasting

Our neighborhood has monthly happy hours but this month's happy hour was a wine tasting party hosted by one of the neighbors. I've never tasted so many wines (there were 12 bottles) that I actually hated. I think most people did because the "excess" bucket was rather full.

I did get a picture with my next door neighbor. I asked another neighbor to take our picture so I could prove to Michele that I attended this event. She asked if the reason was that or to prove I had friends!!! 

Going to the Library

Check another box off my winter bingo card.

Today Michael took me to the library to renew my library card. While we were there, Michael decided to read a book. Ok, well maybe this might have been staged a bit but it gets me closer to that blackout on my bingo card! 

Stargazing and Nature Walking

The weather has been unseasonably warm. Not that I'm complaining but I'm afraid if I make this post, it may snow.

Anyway, I marked a couple more squares off my Winter bingo card. I went for a walk around our neighborhood nature trail. I had to fight the geese for the walkway but I made it around.

Then I decided to add a few more steps to my already high step count for the day and walk the neighborhood one more time to look at the stars (and pick up my mail). I only have a few more squares to fill before blacking out my card and it's funny that I only have one Bingo!! 

Pearl Daisy Turns One Year Old

I can't believe Pearl is one year old.

Seems like yesterday I was traveling to St Luke's Hospital to spend the evening with Melissa holding Pearl. Or maybe it's just become routine!

Having a name like Pearl Daisy makes decorating rather easy. It's hard to see in this picture but I've got on a "Pearl" necklace with a "Daisy" shirt. I was told brown paper banners were in style right now so Violet made Pearl's First Birthday banner.

Pearl wasn't very interested in her cake or maybe she's just too ladylike to smash into it. My guess is she's going to be more like Goldie and assert her place in line as not being the youngest but being the boss. That will be a fight worth watching.

Happy Birthday Pearl Daisy. May you always be the sweet loving girl you are!

Valentine's Day and First Steps

Valentine's Day...the day when you give up on receiving chocolates and roses. But this Valentine's Day I was remembered. 

My friend in Vegas sent me a bouquet of flowers and the Taylor's gave me a box of Crumbl cookies. When Jamie brought the cookies by we had a video chat with Melissa. I refuse to post that picture. We all look like we just drug ourselves out of bed. By the way, Michele, you can mark video chat off my Winter bingo card!!!

Pearl has been taking small steps for the past week and today Melissa got video proof of the steps. I can't post the video but I took a screen shot of the steps.

This was just the day before her first birthday and in tradition Melissa fashion, she has to have a picture of the last day of your birthday day year. Tomorrow we celebrate Pearl's first birthday. I wonder what kind of cake will be all over her face!

Vegas Super Bowl Party

I did my annual visit to Vegas to attend a Super Bowl party at the Red Rock Hotel & Casino. Such a beautiful place. Red Rock is actually west of the Las Vegas strip but close enough.

It was weird being at a Super Bowl party without the Chiefs playing. This year is was the Seattle Seahawks vs the New England Patriots. While I really didn't car which team won, Seattle blew New England away. And I only know that because I go for the food and party atmosphere, not the game. Besides the game was BORING! Hopefully the Chiefs will be back next year! 

"Book Club" Monthly Challenge

Michele found this challenge where you read a different "type" of book each month. 

And by "type" I mean....well you can see the list. 

Luckily for January I was reading "Nightshade" by Michael Connelly. While Nightshade is stretching it on the color, I'm assured that Nightshade is a color in a 152 box of crayola crayons. Nightshade is the first in a new series featuring a Los Angeles Detective who is exiled to Catalina Island. The plot follows Detective Stilwell as he investigates a murder in the Catalina harbor. While much the same as Harry Bosch, the half brother of Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) Connelly's most famous character, I thought the book was good considering I've been to Catalina Island. Other than being there, I just like Michael Connelly.

February is read a book with the first letter of your name in the title. Well I thought I was screwed on that one..."J"???? How many books have a "J" in the title. Ta-Da!!! My favorite author, John Grisham, has a book I haven't read called The Judge's List. What a lucky find. And I thought I'd read everything John Grisham had ever written. I should get an extra point for having a "J" in the title of the book and the author! The Judge's List is about a serial killer who happens to be a sitting judge in Pensacola, Florida. He's murdered people who have done him wrong in the past 20 years. The daughter of one of his victims has been stalking him for at least that long. I'm sure he will be caught but I haven't finished the book yet. Stay tuned for March. I've found a good one....I hope!

Snowstorm Aftermath Birthday

She was born during a snowstorm and tonight we celebrated her 43rd birthday in the aftermath of Snowstorm Fern which didn't leave as much snow as anticipated but the temperatures are ridiculously low....-5* this morning and 18* this evening with wind.

Dinner was at Jose Peppers. Jamie refused to spend another "kid" birthday at Fun House Pizza. Teresa brought the cake and the food was great.

Happy Birthday Melissa. Times sure have changed from 7 years ago when we let Harrah's provide our buffet dinners!

Another Bingo Bucket List Item - Walk 100 Miles in 30 Days

I completed another Bingo bucket list item. I not only walked 100 miles in 30 days - I walked it in 22 days.

I knew I was close when I left the house this morning so I kept checking my watch to see when I hit 100 miles. I was at the grocery store so I took a quick picture of my feet. I wasn't about to ask someone in the store to take my picture walking down the grocery aisle! 

Plant Indoor Seeds

I keep seeing pictures on my Instagram feed for Midnight Blue Hostas.

In fact, the people posting the pics indicated they're starting them from seeds. Since "Plant Indoor Seeds" is on my Bingo card bucket list, I decided to get some hosta seeds and plant them.

I'm quite the overachiever so I not only planted seeds but I got the planter with the dome lid, humidity controller and watched a YouTube video on how to start seeds. There's 12 spaces in this planter and if you figure each grown hosta plant costs at least $25, I could be saving a fortune this Spring. Otherwise, there's about $15 down the drain.

Monkey Bread

I tried to start my diet today for another bucket list item but monkey bread kept calling my name.

I'll have to start the diet another day. This bread turned out so well. After eating this, I'll need that diet.

A Puzzle for my Bingo Bucketlist Card

I completed putting together a puzzle for my Bingo bucket list card. This gives me 9 out of 25 things to do before April 1.

I tend to pick puzzles where every piece looks the same. This time a jumble of candy. I'm going a step further with this and going to Michael's to get some puzzle glue. This is going on my garage wall. I worked too hard to just take it apart and put it back in the box. 

Volleyball - Lawrence

Violet's volleyball team had another tournament in Lawrence. I don't mind traveling to out of town locations but Lawrence is about an hour away and Teresa picks me up around 6:30 in order to make the 8:00 game. Plus we try to get a parking spot close to the building. Makes for a long day.

It's hard to say whether Violet's team won or lost. These tournaments are for seeding for Power League. I can't go any further with an explanation because I'm not sure what this means. I usually just nod my head. I tried to get a picture of her in action (she's really pretty good) but my camera skills are terrible.

I was so embarrassed because I wore my pink volleyball shirt. Just a generic shirt with volleyball on it but 2 of the teams Violet played wore pink and Violet's team colors are white and navy blue. I think I'll check Amazon for another shirt.

Reflection, Vision Board & Resolutions

After 8 months I'm finally getting back to my blog. It might be hard to follow since I'm going forward plus trying to catch up on all the stuff that happened in 2025.

2025 wasn't a very good year for me with having both knees replaced and a 15 day hospital stay (not related to my knees). I kind of lost the zest to keep up my blog. But with this being Pearl's first year, I feel I must reflect back on the year and catch up with milestones.

Michele is always looking for ways to stay occupied during the winter months. Me, I'm perfectly fine sitting in my house and watching the months fly by. She created a Bingo card with activities to get us moving and out of the house. The competitive side of me can't resist a good challenge. You can see I've already checked off a few boxes and trying hard to find ways to complete my card.

I'm constantly reading so that was a no brainer. My goal for 2026 is to walk 4,000,000 steps so I created a playlist with songs that are good to walk to. My most fun accomplishment (which checked off "Take on Online Class" and "Create a Vision Board") was, you guessed it - create a vision board. I took a class or rather watched a YouTube video leaning how to use Canva to create a vision board.

This morning I got up and walked the neighborhood to catch the sunrise. I'm not fond of walking in the cold but the temperature was above freezing - actually in the 40's - and we're supposed to have either freezing rain and snow this weekend. With Missouri weather no telling when the temperatures will cooperate to complete this task.

If I had to make resolutions for 2026, my biggest one would be not to procrastinate. It might have taken me 7 days into the new year to start my blog again but I'm trying hard to stay focused and make this a good year. Maybe we need a bingo card for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.