Behind the Shutter Vol 1, Issue 2

Monday July 7

Is My Foot Broken???

That was the question of the day. In the rush to get ready for the 4^th of July I thought it would be a wonderful idea to dance behind Ryan (he was installing a new toilet seat) as I got out of the shower, and ended up sliding across the bathroom floor. Yes you have my permission to laugh.  We ended up at Kaiser and found out that I had bruised my bone, but no breaks!  Super happy about that!

Tuesday July 8

Angel Game Blues!!!

After the weekend we had, all we wanted to do with rest. So we rested in front of the TV while the Angel’s lost a game. Can you sense Opie’s excitement over watching Baseball…unfortunately his Momma agrees.

Wednesday July 9

Water Bottle Thief!!!

This is one of Diesel’s quirky behaviors. He loves to take the caps of water bottles. We think he’s kind of special! Another man’s trash right?? Only problem is he doesn’t care if they are filled or empty. Silly Puppy!

Thursday July 10

Oh how he loves me!!!

Tommy’s hamburgers are one of my all-time favorite places to eat!  Something about their Burgers, Fries, and Soda that just speaks to me. We had one near our place in Lake Forest!  I would have Tommy’s at least once a week. Then we moved, and as silly as it sounds I felt like I was totally deprived because I couldn’t have Tommy’s any more. I was in a highly emotional place, who am I kidding I AM a highly emotional place.  A couple months back Ryan surprised me with a trip to a nearby Tommy’s! I was absolutely surprised and thrilled, I think I cried in the drive thru (I refer back to the earlier statement) I quickly realized that I associated normal good stuff with Tommy’s, and that evening all felt right with my world. We went back to Tommy’s again and synced my emotional wellbeing with my belly! It’s good stuff y’all!

Friday July 11

Taylor Tacos!!!  

We came, We Saw, and we ATE those Tacos! Fried Tortillas, Fried Ground Beef, Tomato Sauce, and Cheese….or a whole bunch of other toppings including pickles if you are anyone other than me!  These Taco’s made by my Momma and her Momma before her are nectar of the gods delicious!! I make some mean tacos too, but nothing is better than when my Mom makes them! She is the gringo taco master!!!

Saturday July 12

Happy Birthday Conner!!!

We celebrated our Godson’s 2^nd Birthday at Chuck E Cheese. This picture pretty much says it all.  We love this sweet boy tears and all! We can’t wait to see what the rest of his years look like!

  

Sunday July 13

The Gate Fixing Master!!!

This man is a machine! He drilled holes in concrete, attached all sorts of screws and bolts, and our Gate swings perfectly! This is our 1^st line of defense for the puppies from escaping our back yard. After our 4^th of July bash, it among other things came a bit unhinged. This is just another reason why this man is my hero!!!

Behind the Shutter Vol. 1, Issue 1

Monday June 30th - We are painting our third upstairs guest room. I just love the colors but boy oh boy am I sick and tired of painting. My Mom was sweet enough to join me at my house and help prep our master bedroom for carpet install later this week. I am so thankful for her, she is such a gift to me!

Tuesday July 1st - Yes its July 1st, does anyone else have a problem with this? Where has this year gone?? I spent the evening pulling blue tape off the floor in our guest room in preparation of our carpet install. Diesel thought this was great fun and ran around attacking me, Opie, or the blue tape. Silly dog!

Wednesday July 2nd - Opie is a wonderful 4 legged assistant when working from home waiting for the carpet installers to never show up. A pretty frustrating day, but I am so very thankful for the opportunity to work from home and the flexibility that allows are we work on refreshing our home.

We also ran into one of our friends who happens to live right down the street from us to pick up some fireworks for the 4th. We love having friends close, and the opportunity to support the local Elks Lodge.

Thursday July 3rd - The Carpet installers finally arrive! We had to lock our little Lion dog and his brother up. Opie likes to bark, and bark and bark, and it drives us all a little crazy!  The carpet turned out so beautifully! We are so very excited to see how all our hard work is turning out! Oh..I got my toes done in a lovely Patriotic Design! I think they are super cute, for feet of course!!!

Friday July 4th - We had a blast for our 4th of July BBQ! You can find my Planner for the event here. 

Lots of time spent swimming, cooking, talking, playing, and most importantly lighting fireworks off! The city we live in is one of the few left in Southern California that allow fireworks.  We look forward to the fun this brings every year. 

Saturday July 5th - We spent most of the day recovering, including this sweet boy. His poor little paws were red and swollen when we woke up and we had to put baby socks on his paws to stop him from licking. Ryan and I spent most of the day napping and resting recovering from the fun of the 4th of July. These days we don't live it up very often, and as we get older its a little harder every time to get back on our feet!

Sunday, July 6th - Was another day of rest after picking up what was the explosion of our 4th of July BBQ. I enjoyed spending most of the day tucked away in our master bedroom enjoying the new carpet and Season 1 of Revenge.  I am completely addicted to the show! The puppies helped me nap for a few minutes. Diesel has taken to sleeping on his back. It cracks me up!

We celebrated my Aunt's Birthday at the Knott's Berry Farm Chicken Restaurant which was so very yummy! Biscuits, Chicken Fried Steak, and Mashed Potatoes, the ultimate comfort food! 

Sparks will Fly 4th of July BBQ Planner

We are planning a 4th of July BBQ on Friday. 

After the recent weeks of fun plans as well as working hard at our day jobs as well as our house refresh projects, I created a planner to keep my thoughts and planning organized for our event. 
I thought I would share this planner in the hopes that it would help some one else stay organized this Summer Holiday! 

Planning an Event I start out with a few favorite questions: 

Who: Who are we inviting? Who is attending?

What: What kind of event? What is the Schedule of the Event? What are we Eating? What Activities? 

Where: Where will the event be held?

When: What date is the event? What time is the Event?

Why: Why are we having this event?

Do you feel like you are back in Junior High? Those 5 W's add such simplicity to organizing thoughts.

Links to Recipe's for our BBQ: 

Salsa 

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Steak Kabobs

Lemon Ice

Once I have the basic's identified I document the list of tasks that need to be accomplished to get us to  a super successful event!  This is a look of the Week prior to our BBQ. The list of tasks is a living document that changes as plans change. Like when your Carpet installer gets the date wrong and you have to move everything up a day in preparation. Included in the list are any daily to-do's or plans from our calendar that would impact the time available for us to prepare, like work or race car driving.

Finally I make my shopping list. Starting with the activities planned to the menu, I walk each planned item for what needs to purchased, and where to purchased at.  

I print the Planner pages out and keep them on my favorite clip board (Yeah its pink and monogrammed). Ryan and I review the list and distribute the tasks until we get everything completed. 

Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July full of Yummy BBQ and Lots of Sparklers!!! Thanks for stopping by!

A Girl with a Cat Face

This was in July of 1985, I was 6 years old.

Don’t you just love the dress I’m wearing? Something about seersucker and lace, that just makes me smile!

I have no idea why I have a cat face? Am I trying to make cat “ears” with my hands?  Who knows?? What I do know is that growing up I had some amazing summers which included swimming a lot, playing even more, and enjoying family.

I now find myself in a whole new “Tween” stage of life, too old for a summer break but young enough to miss one.  Old enough to have a busy calendar, but young enough to miss the family that is too far away by miles or the other side of heaven.  As we start this summer off I am passionately planning to find more time for floating in the water and loving the ones I share life with!

A Girl with a Gun

Welcome to Throwback Thursday if you are visiting from The Mom Creative 

Oh how this picture makes me smile!!!

Oh my letterman Jacket, such a symbol of my high school years. I lettered in Band. I am totally okay with that!! 

Oh My Last Name, or well my Maiden Name. I am so very proud to have been born to our Taylor Clan!  I also cherish my nick name “Scooter bug” given to me by my Dad, and that it has travelled with me into my Married years! 

This picture was taken in the desert surrounding the Calico Ghost Town  where we camp, play, and where we make wonderful memories year after year over the New Year Holiday. One of our favorite activities out in the desert is shooting lead into the dirt! Its great fun! 

Dad on a Boat

Welcome if you are stopping in from The Mom Creative!! I'm glad you are here! 

This is my Dad and I on a Boat.

A fishing boat in Hawaii, I was 13. I thought pink gecko tank tops and permed long bangs were fashionable.

This vacation was spent with my parents, and my Aunt and Uncle. We chartered a small fishing boat to snorkel on; it felt a bit like the Minnow.  We saw all sorts of amazing sea creatures and enjoyed the adventure together.  I can remember my Dad diving down to swim with sea turtles, and not understanding the tricks that clear blue water can play on depth perception. I can still feel the fear of sliding into the water knowing that I was going to break off a piece of coral (It was actually so much further down than I could comprehend).  Even when I didn’t trust his advice, my Dad stayed near and coaxed me through my fears. You see that’s what you do when you love someone, or at least that’s one way my Dad loves me.

This is my Dad and I on a Boat.

A fishing boat in Maine, I was 24. I thought that Pink hats and Pea coats were fashionable.

This vacation was spent with just the Taylor Trio (My Mom, Dad, and I). We chartered a small fishing boat to visit Puffins. Puffins are a sea bird, and also my Mom’s favorite animal.  These silly little birds call a little island off the coast of Maine home, and we were just crazy enough to go visit them. You see that’s what you do when you love someone, or at least that’s one way my Dad loves her. We arrived at the island and proceeded up mossy rocks and ropes (yes I slipped and fell, and anyone who knows me won’t be surprised) and spent our time listening to Puffins land on our blind, watching them waddle around, and hugged my Mom as her dreams came true! It was kind of magical!

These are just two, of many times that I have shared sweet time with my Dad on a Boat.  Water Skiing, House Boating, Whale Watching, Cruising, Fishing, oh and that time on the wave runner (let’s not talk about that, OUCH) are some of my favorite memories with him. 

There is something truly amazing about being the Daughter of this Man! He is skilled at loving us! He is a protector of my tender heart, and a wonderful example of a husband.  He is a lover of my Jesus, and lives his faith in all that he does! 

I am blessed to be his!  

Love you Dad!

Scooterbug

Lets Visit Wolves

I can't explain why I am so attracted to these creatures but I was so thrilled for the opportunity to spend a few hours with them. 

I was even more excited to share the experience with Ryan and my Parents.

It was quite amazing! 

Thank you Wolf Mountain for all of your care and love for these amazing Wolves!!! I am forever changed by their stories and eyes.