Author Archives: My Taylor Tales

B – the Birthday Interview

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It wasn’t a big birthday, so we didn’t make it a big deal.  I cooked a meal, baked a cake, hung some balloons, bought some socks and a belt and called it good.  Oh yeah and promised to organize a few things. He claims it’s a perfect birthday.   I’ve come up with “the interview” for my birthday blogs this year and I am excited to share the answers with you all. His employees took good care of him too.

He loves all the "hooplah"

He loves all the “hooplah”

Always wiling to carry someone on his shoulders when they need it.

Always wiling to carry someone on his shoulders when they need it.

  • What do you like to dream about?    When I’m asleep flying.  When I’m awake my cabin plans.
  • What is your best memory from last year? Sitting in the little town square in Austria, getting a drink and hanging out with the old folks. Or watching any of my kids in their respective sports
  • Who is your hero? Why?  Kristin because she works so hard to be a good person and improve herself.  (I don’t like writing in 3rd person, but assume this is B talking in 1st person)
  • How would you describe your family? Kristin and I and our kids are very close, happy, content and secure.
  • If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? Some things in my past, especially being fed skim milk as a baby.  I would definitely change that I was a well fed baby.
  • What are you most proud of yourself for? Success in my family and my businesses.
  • Who is the kindest person you know? It’s a tie between my brother Jeff and my sister Michelle.  I am amazed by their kindness.
  • Who is your best friend and what do you like the most about them? Kristin; her character
  • What is one thing you would like to learn to do well? Search Engine Optimization and, sometimes, play the piano
  • If you were an animal what one would you be and why? Lab dog, because I was wild when I was young, I’m intensely loyal and love to spend time anywhere with my loved ones.
  • What is the scariest thing that happened this year?  Our TazWorks server crashed and we had to deploy our disaster recovery plan taking us offline for about an hour.
  • If you could keep only one thing, out of everything you have, what would it be? My home.  (he first said family, but I made him differentiate between people and things)
  • Who do you think is really successful? What do you think is his/her secret?  My next door neighbor, David, he is a living example of a great leader in the book “Good To Great”.  Now you have to read the book to understand.  Hint. He attributes his success to good luck and everyone around him. 
  • What three words best describe you? Hard-working, Passionate (sometimes obsessed), Principled.
  • What’s something that makes you angry? People who want something for nothing and feel entitled, socialism.
  • What’s the best compliment you ever received? One of my clients, Karen  who I have known since my printing days 24 years ago told me I was a truly successful business man because I foresaw the need to transition and then followed through successfully all the transitions I’ve made from printing to credit reporting to back ground screening and on to software development. REPLACE THAT! My new best compliment comes from my son Master D on the next post I am his hero!

No need to ask: Yes, I do realize every day just how truly blessed and “lucky” I am to be married to my B.

Moments of the Holidays

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Another set of cliff notes for our holiday season.  I can tell you it flew by. If time just keeps speeding up at this rate, when I am 70 I am not going to be sure anything at all is happening if I don’t write down the moments in the very next moment.  I think
I must need more blueberries or ginko biloba or to join lumosity.com, most likely all of the above.

December 6th, Wyatt's 13th birthday. We made cupcakes for him and he wanted Michele S chicken lime tacos for Sunday dinner.

December 6th,
Wyatt’s 13th birthday. We made cupcakes for him and he wanted Michele S chicken lime tacos for Sunday dinner.

Lelu enjoyed herself a big strawberry shortcake cupcake.

Lelu enjoyed herself a big strawberry shortcake cupcake.

December 12th - our annual nutcracker performance with McKinley, Sierra & Kenzie

December 12th – our annual girl’s night nutcracker performance with McKinley, Sierra & Kenzie and Christina joined us this time…a little estrogen needed in a house of testosterone.

 

Dec 15th - Our Christmas shopping to LA adventure begins with Tito's Tacos. Good thing they don't have those in SLC..So yummy

Dec 15th – Our Christmas shopping to LA adventure begins with Tito’s Tacos. Good thing they don’t have those in SLC..So yummy and hard to resist.

The Grove decorated so beautifully, Cherie & Kelly

The Grove decorated so beautifully, Cherie & Kelly

Christina & I...we saw the Hobbit and I slept through a lot of it...and I DID NOT eat any sugar free gummy bears this time.

Christina & I…we saw the Hobbit and I slept through a lot of it…and I DID NOT eat any sugar free gummy bears this time.

As we were eating dinner watching this incredible sunset, Cherie was on the phone finding out Kenzie was getting her appendix out. We drove her to the airport to go home on the next flight, sadly ending her much needed girl's trip. On the way to the airport there was a 3 car pile up right next to us on the 405. Yikes - as if our nerves were not already shot.

December 16th, As we were eating dinner watching this incredible sunset, Cherie was on the phone finding out Kenzie was getting her appendix out. We drove her to the airport to put her on the next flight, sadly ending her much needed girl’s trip. On the way to the airport there was a three car pile up right next to us on the 405. Yikes – as if our nerves were not already shot.

The sunset only got more beautiful. Such a bitter-sweet moment. We went back to our little beach house and I finished my final paper and emailed it to B to print for me to give to one of my babysitters to drive up to the U and drop it off in the philosophy department. I dreamed all night long there were problems and in my dream was told I was going to get a 'C' for Cinnamon. In my dream I was crying about how many things I like with cinnamon but that I couldn't get a "C". I woke up laughing. I went out and told Kelly and the next day got better. Kenzie did great in her surgery and was on the mend.

The sunset only got more beautiful. Such a bitter-sweet moment. We went back to our little beach house and I finished my final paper and emailed it to B to print and give to one of my babysitters who drove it up to the U and dropped it off in the philosophy department. I dreamed all night long there were problems and in my dream was told I was going to get a ‘C’ for Cinnamon. Also in my dream I was crying about how many things I like with cinnamon but that “I COULD NOT GET A “C”. I woke up laughing. I went out and told Kelly & Christina, we were all laughing and the next day got better, especially when we found out Kenzie did great in her surgery and was on the mend.

Perfect breakfast with a Cinnamon spiced Chai

December 17th Perfect breakfast with a Cinnamon spiced Chai – even if I did end up with a “C” – life is good!  (I didn’t end up with a “C” – but the hardest earned “B+” in the history of my schooling.)

Crazy people in LA do crazy things for attention. Poor cat and I don't even like cats.

Crazy people in LA do crazy things for attention. Poor cat and I don’t even like cats.

Successful shopping safari - as B would say - we were ready for Christmas, if not ready to leave 75 degrees to go home to a snow storm.

December 18th  Successful shopping safari – as B would say – we were ready for Christmas, if not ready to leave 75 degrees to go home to a snow storm.

December 20th Ari's Christmas dance recital.

December 20th Ari’s Christmas dance recital.

The most festive and out of my comfort zone Christmas nails

The most festive and out of my comfort zone Christmas nails. It’s like Christmas lights on the end of my fingers.

 

We went to see "Walter Mitty" - great movie! but my favorite moment of the entire season happened in the bathroom at the movie theatre. You all know how I love Seinfeld...I went into a stall and realized too late that there was no toilet paper, Ari was in there with me so I say to her "Please find me some toilet paper" when underneath the stall comes a hand with some TP and the woman says "I can spare a square". If I hadn't already been where I was - I most certainly would have peed my pants.

We went to see “Walter Mitty” – great movie! but my favorite moment of the entire season (next to talking to Master D) happened in the bathroom at the movie theatre. You all know how I love Seinfeld…I went into a stall and realized too late that there was no toilet paper, Ari was in there with me so I say to her “Please find me some toilet paper” when underneath the stall comes a hand with some TP and the woman says “I can spare a square”. If I hadn’t already been where I was – I most certainly would have peed my pants.

We made trains with the J&C and boys, opened our pj's and dreamed of talking to Master D the next day!

We made trains with the J&C and boys, opened our pj’s and dreamed of talking to Master D the next day!

I saved the best for the last....there is not better gift than when you are deprived of part of your family on Christmas day, than to skype for an hour - always emotional to say goodbye but only for eight more weeks.

I saved the best for the last….there is not better gift than when you are deprived of part of your family on Christmas day, than to skype for an hour – always emotional to say goodbye but only for eight more weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Weekend Playtime

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The gang - minus Michelle & Aub at home 'slaving' away..

The gang at Brighton on a beautiful day – minus Michelle & Aub at home ‘slaving’ away..  (Wyatt and Lelu in the helmets)

It’s a problem when you wait almost 2 months  to write about stuff.  I will most likely forget something.  This year for Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to have Michelle & Maruan, Aub, Jeff, Christina and their boys.  The day before, however, on Wednesday didn’t quite go as well as I usually like it too.  I ruined the first set of rolls that I made, then the next batch just didn’t quite raise, so the rolls were pretty much a bust for our meal and then Aub’s flight was VERY delayed and a nightmare of traffic at the airport.

Thursday morning shined anew and we had plenty to be grateful for:

1. The turkey got put in bright and early

2. We went skiing.  Christina skied for the first time in eight years and didn’t fall down once – neither did I.  That’s a big deal.  We rocked it!!

3. Michelle and Aub prepared all the veggies and peeled the potatoes while we were gone.

The adult table.

The adult table with an Ari photo bomb

The table of kiddos…poor Landon & Lelu.  They are almost adults

 

The table of kiddos...poor Landon & Lelu

4. The food was awesome – except the rolls…. yet no one complained that the rolls sucked.

I think this is Lelu's plate so not all food groups are represented, but you get the idea..

I think this is Lelu’s plate so not all food groups are represented, but you get the idea..

5. i dragged everyone to see “The Book Thief”, which I absolutely loved (in my top ten favorite books) and no one else did because it’s kind of a downer story — even though the main character triumphs in the end.  I’m grateful they humored me.

6. On Friday, it was fairly nice weather and we all walked to the park. We played baseball & soccer.  Aside from B pulling some kind of toe/foot muscle, it was a ton of fun!

a little soccer..

a little soccer..

An electronic game at the park, that would be Michelle diving for the button

An electronic game at the park, that would be Michelle diving for the button, And the little kids just hanging around..

a friendly baseball game, with little to no bad sportsmanship from unnamed players..

a friendly baseball game, with little to no bad sportsmanship from unnamed players..

Lucky little Ari got a 'massage' from uncle Maruan

Lucky little Ari got a ‘massage’ from uncle Maruan

 

The brothers Taylor settle in for a hold your tummy long winters nap.

The brothers Taylor settle in for a hold-your-tummy-long-winters-nap.

7. This is the last Thanksgiving without Master D.  He had 3 meals that day.  So much gratitude for the people of New York!

8. I have a nearly perfect life….just the right amount of imperfection.. for me… and it’s enough. For that I am pretty dang happy!

 

 

12 Reasons I Love TT

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SCAN00561. He is hilarious and makes me laugh at least once every day.

2. He is a right fighter – do not wrongly accuse him of anything because he will not let it go.

3. He has crazy endurance and can go and go and go – running, biking, playing…

4. He pays very close attention to his hygiene, hair, style etc.

5. His two different color eyes totally rock!

6. He works really hard at playing piano (and is getting good really fast) because he’s inspired by his 3 friends who are amazing on the piano.

7. He totally looks up to D.

8. He can sleep anywhere and just drops when he’s tired.

9. He has great insights into things beyond his years…like politics

10. He is obsessive about his grades and gets straight A’s, tormenting his teachers when they wrongly record something.

11. He loves salad

12. He’s B’s mini-me

12 Reason I Love Ari

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6th grade

1. She is happy 95% of the time…really!

2. She has the most infectious giggly laugh.

3. She doesn’t take any crap on the soccer field, even if the other girls are a foot taller (which many of them are)

4. She LOVES babies (and animals)

5. She really enjoys being helpful to me.

6. She is extremely observant to how everyone around her is feeling.

7. She can pretty much do anything she wants physically (gymnastics, dance, sprinting, soccer, surf..)

8. She will come to the aid of her brother whenever anyone (including us parents) she perceives is picking on him.

9. She loves hanging out with TT and all his buddies (I’m not sure I will love that in a couple years)

10. She loves loves loves loves her cousins and aunts.

11. She is a tough little cookie full of sass.

12.  She’s my mini-me:)

Never Ending November

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11/2/13 Gastby Masquerade Ball. This was a girl ask guy dance & Lelu went with Tanner this time and 18 other kids including Chandler and two more boys from our old ward. Where else but UT would you see 20 kids ready for a dance and 40 parents in a backyard taking photos?

11/2/13 Gastby Masquerade Ball. This was a girl ask guy dance & Lelu went with Tanner this time and 18 other kids including Chandler and two more boys from our old ward. Where else but UT would you see 20 kids ready for a dance and 40 parents in a backyard taking photos?

Lelu with two new girls as dates but with the original 3 boys who travel together as a package. I think the 20's was a good era to copy for a formal dance!

Lelu with two new girls (Megan and McKenna as opposed to Madison and Madison) as dates for the original three boys who travel together as a package. I think the 20’s was a good era to copy for a formal dance! Don’t they look cool?

11/7/13 Happy 12th birthday to my twins! I have a tradition of decorating the house with balloons and a banner for everyone's birthday. When I went to Zurchers to get balloons I saw this one and thought a big balloon would be fun not knowing how massive it was because it wasn't blown up yet. They blew it up and this little old lady working there popped it. The whole store heard it and came up to see what happened and this poor little lady was traumatized with her voice shaking that it about knocked her to the ground. I told them they could just give me a refund but they hunted down another one. Getting it home was fun - I had to put it in my passenger front seat and it blocked my rearview mirror, my side mirror and the view from half my windshield. It was quite the hazard. But it was all worth it because they LOVE it!

11/7/13 Happy 12th birthday to my twins! I have a tradition of decorating the house with balloons and a banner for everyone’s birthday. When I went to Zurchers to get balloons I saw this one and thought a big balloon would be fun- not knowing how massive it was because it wasn’t blown up yet. They blew it up and this little old lady working there popped it. The whole store heard it and came up to see what happened and this poor little lady was traumatized with her voice shaking that it about knocked her to the ground. I told them they could just give me a refund but they hunted down another one. Getting it home was fun – I had to put it in my passenger front seat and it blocked my rearview mirror, my side mirror and the view from half my windshield. It was quite the hazard. But it was all worth it because they LOVE it!

 

B was out of town and the kids wanted to go to Joe's Crab Shack and I think it's all because they dress them up; make them stand on a chair and the whole staff sings to them. I don't think we've ever gone there NOT on a birthday. I think Ari's coconut bra is more like an 82 year old.

B was out of town and the kids wanted to go to Joe’s Crab Shack.  I think it’s all because they dress them up, make them stand on a chair and the whole staff sings to them. I don’t think we’ve ever gone there NOT on a birthday. I think Ari’s coconut bra is more like an 82 year old than a 12 year old….

 

Ari's new beehive leader made her this cake to welcome her in. I love this kind of stuff - esp when we are the recipient! Why don't the boys do stuff like this? haha On Sunday when they called them up to the stand to say they were moving out of primary, I was really sad. The last time I felt like this was when I took Aub to sunbeams - it's just so final of a milestone that all of my babies are now grown up. Woe is me.....We're officially old parents!

Ari’s new beehive leader made her this cake to welcome her in. I love this kind of stuff – esp when we are the recipient! Why don’t the boys do stuff like this? haha On Sunday when they called them up to the stand to say they were moving out of primary and on to the youth program, I was really sad! The last time I felt like this was when I took Aub to sunbeams – it’s just so final of a milestone that all of my babies are now grown up. Woe is me…..We’re officially old parents!

 

B got home so the partying continued. Of course, they each like different cakes so we had a full key lime cheesecake and a full picnic cake. And they picked two totally different home cooked dinners so we had an eclectic buffet on Sunday dinner of steak, mashed potatoes and Michele's lettuce wraps (my girls are totally wowed by her cooking) We invited the J&C fam and then their two bff families for cake and we still didn't eat all that cake.

B got home so the real family partying continued. Of course, they each like different cakes so we had a full key lime cheesecake and a full picnic cake. And they picked two totally different home cooked dinners so we had an eclectic buffet on Sunday dinner of steak, mashed potatoes and Michele’s lettuce wraps (my girls are totally wowed by her cooking as am I after making this recipe that calls for 27 ingredients) We invited the J&C fam and then their two bff families for cake and we still didn’t eat all that cake.

 

Just when you think the party is over - think again! Indoor skydiving, surfing & pizza. And the birthday is partied out! L-R Back row

11/16/13 Just when you think the party is over – think again! Indoor skydiving, surfing & pizza. And the birthday is finally partied out! Ready for take-off  L-R Back row Mr. T (being cool) Caden, Aubrey Front Row: Wyatt, Chase, Ari, Sierra, McKinley  We adore these kids!

TT flying

TT flying

 

Check out their shoes - Converse are the THING!

Check out their shoes – Converse are the THING!

November may kill me from exhaustion, school is in crunch time, I should be writing a paper or TWO right now and Thanksgiving (that I am hosting – can’t wait to see Aub, Michelle & Maruan) is this week.  One day at a time, one post at a time, one word about Plato at a time….repeat