You Know Your Kids' Getting Older When...

Does this mean we have officially crossed that fine line to "uncool?"  Is she already at that age?  I feel old...and very "un-cool."

"Um, no Dad"

"My dad is soooo annoying!"

"Seriously, dad?"

"OMG, dad!"

Walter Kenneth Taylor-January 22, 1916-February 10, 2012

Walter Kenneth Taylor  

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Taylor, Walter Kenneth
96 of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2012. Born on January 22, 1916 in Beadling, Pennsylvania to John and Annie Taylor. In 1933, at the age of 17, he drove his family to Arizona in a Model A Ford. On May 31, 1938 he married Virginia Mortensen in the Mesa Arizona Temple. He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years; his siblings George, Howard and Hazel; and a grandson Todd. Surviving are: two sisters Ethel Taylor of Payson, AZ and Ruth Allen of Phoenix, AZ; two sons Gary (Sharon) Taylor of Strawberry, AZ and Marc (Cindy) Taylor of Phoenix, AZ; two daughters Janice (Von) Johnson of Phoenix, AZ and Jane (Jim) Bowden of Hillsboro, OR; fifteen grandchildren and twenty-nine great grandchildren. He served in the Navy in San Francisco at the end of World War II and worked for Arizona Public Service for 42 years. He could build or repair just about anything, was a hard worker and loved to sit in his rocking chair. He and Virginia moved to Prescott after retiring from APS and lived there until 2005 when he returned to Phoenix to live with Janice and Von. After the death of his wife, he moved to Mesa. Graveside services will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd. on Friday, February 17, 2012 at 1:30 pm. Arrangements by Hansen Mortuary. 

Grandpa was: Always rocking away in his brown front porch glider.  He was over the top Christmas lights, a tan Member's Only jacket and matching velcro shoes.  He was Clorets in church on Sunday, an expert gift "guesser," and tomato and cucumber gardener.  Quiet, patient, kind.  A cold front room, and a toasty warm family room.  Lover of all food.  Cold oatmeal on Saturday morning.  A gravel driveway atop the hill.  He was serious and thoughtful, but also silly and always looking to tease.  Half a bottle of Pepsi mixed with half a bottle of Diet Pepsi (for taste with half the calories) :).  

Grandpa, I love you more than I ever realized while you were here on earth and I miss you more than I ever thought I could.   You left a legacy that I will always carry with me.  Hard work and family come first above all else.  Grandpa, give Grandma a kiss and a squeeze for me.  After 71 years together I know you must have missed her tremendously losing her almost two years ago, and it brings tears of joy to my eyes to know you two are reunited once again through the blessings of the Gospel and Eternal Life.  My heart breaks as I miss you here on earth, but I am so thankful that it won't be long before we can all be together once again-sweetness, indeed.  

Forever in my heart, Grandpa.

         xoxo

Sweetness of a Different Kind

A sad email arrived in my inbox tonight.  The subject line simply read "Grandpa Taylor."  Only a little over a year ago we went through this same thing with Grandma Taylor.  Grandpa is unresponsive and not eating....the exact situation my grandma went thru in the days and hours before her passing.  Grandpa is 96 years old.  He has certainly had his share of time in this world, and in his recent years he has struggled with severe dementia.  I remember even at Grandma's funeral last year he seemed to have no clue as to what was going on or who we were even there for.  He made me laugh...When he smelled the food the ward had prepared for our luncheon he wouldn't stop asking when he could eat!  He always loved my grandma's food and she fed that man well!  At one point, I can't remember if it was before or after the service, but my heart melted ten times over.  He, in a moment of clarity which he hadn't had in months or even years, said "I'm gonna miss her, she was always so good to me."  The fact that he was hardly aware that he was at his own wife's funeral and didn't recognize a soul in the room when surrounded by family, friends and loved ones was blessed with a brief moment of clarity warms my heart over a year later.  I will never forget those words.  Sadly, those were some of the last words I ever heard uttered from his mouth.  Caught up in my own selfishness and my busy life lost contact.  He has spent the year since my grandma's passing in a home and will soon be transferred to hospice where he will spend his final days.  So here I sit...late at night...family sound asleep, alone with my thoughts.  And I remember our times together like yesterday.

I can hear the sound of our tires crackling over the gravel driveway and taking in the piney, clean, cool Prescott air.  I see him rocking in his chair anxiously awaiting our arrival almost every weekend.  I remember oatmeal with half & half and LOTS of sugar (a meal I still eat to this day).  I remember his pile of pills that my grandma provided for him daily.  I remember helping him in his garden of tomatoes and cucumbers.  I remember snowmen in the winter.  I remember his fascination with Christmas lights...his cold bedroom and the toasty living room.  I remember the square glasses on his face.  His Member's Only jacket.  His tan velcro shoes.  His fireplace...sitting on his lap.  I remember him making fun of me when it was "cool" to tie a sweatshirt around your waist even when the weather was warm and there was absolutely no need for one.  He'd ask if I was trying to hid my big butt....if only :)  I miss the Christmas lights....lights that made the news every year. Check out the sweet article linked below.  That story melted my heart :)  Looking back I took for granted so much and now I am left with regret.  But the blessing is in the gospel.  This is not the end.  It is only the beginning.

And my sweet husband calmed my sadness when his text in reply to mine with the news was simply "Baby, he is probably anxious to be with his best friend again."  How simple.  How happy that made me.  He will never know what those words meant to me.  So instead of feeling sadness and guilt or regret, I feel blessed and so happy!  Blessed to know the gospel gives us the chance to be with our families FOREVER!  And how exciting to think of the reunion between my grandma and grandpa.  His mind will be restored and he will recognize her and I can only imagine the sweet sweet happiness that moment will bring.

So...Grandpa is hanging on but his time is closer than we know.  I may not be ready to let go,  but he is.  He has left a legacy that I will never forget.  And because of his sweet and simple words at my grandma's funeral I will never take for granted my sweet husband.  Because he is...always so good to me.  Heavenly Father has truly blessed our family.  And so....when grandpa does pass...and I pray it be quick and peaceful...it will be sweetness of a different kind...He will be reunited with his other half...his better half...his best friend.  My grandma.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=892&dat=19861207&id=siNTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rIIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4227,1013096

“Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is more than the end of the rainbow. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shinning through death.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

“In our old age my beloved companion said to me quietly one evening, "You have always given me wings to fly, and I have loved you for it.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

2012...A Sweet Thing Indeed

Hello all!  (Funny thing is, I don't blog often enough to even assume anyone reads...let alone "all" of you :)  Moving on....

2012 is gonna be great...I KNOW it.  We have so much to be thankful for! Our trials have brought us closer as a couple and a family.  Cody and I endured almost two years of drama with our ex-wife.  I say "our" because she is so all consuming I feel like I have an ex wife as well :)  Gotta laugh at what you can't change.  I have learned to not waste my time holding onto anger and bitterness...And to be perfectly honest, the closer I come to knowing my Heavenly Father the less hatred I feel in my heart.  Our life here on earth is too short to waste time dwelling on others' businaaaaassss :) 

That being said: Let me share the good news:  We have JOINT  legal and physical custody!  Yay!  It was a long, hard, knock-down, drag-out fight but we have truly been blessed.  We were blessed with an amazing attorney, and an honest, fair judge who was blessed with the wisdom to see the truth through the muddy lies.  We know this couldn't have been possible without our Heavenly Father and we are so thankful to Him!  I feel I am being repetetive but I am so over-the-moon happy and overcome with gratefulness that I am just overflowing with happiness!  This change will allow us to have those little monsters we love so much half of the year instead of a lame every other weekend.  They are doing so well now.  They are happier than we have seen them in a long time.  For the most part they are excelling in school and sports and are such a joy to share life with. 

Trinitee tryed out for and made a travel soccer team.  We will be busy busy busy from now till July with tournaments both in town and out.  The season culminates with AYSO regionals, which are being held in Tennessee!  How fun!  We will be all over the next six months:  Camp Verde, Prescott, Tuscon etc.

Austin also just signed up for the spring 2012 Deer Valley Little League season after playing tackle football for the fall season.  He is sooooo very pumped.  Baseball and football are life as far as he's concerned and he has continued to accel season after season.  Right now, Cody has him working with a personal trainer who is the brother of the starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles....Austin thinks he is such a baller now ;)

We love our little family and can't wait to be sealed and to grow!  2012 is gonna be a sweet one...I know it.  I feel so thankful for the trials we have endured in the last few years and thankful for what these trials have taught us and refined us into!

Be...Still...My...Heart...

Coffee.  Brought me to tears yesterday.  I wasn't crying because I was up terribly disgustingly early (although that happens occasionally...seriously...me and morning-we aren't friends).  I wasn't dabbing my eyes because my coffee was that delicious.  My eyes welled up when my little TrinMonster excitedly drug me to the kitchen.  She had pressed the coffee, climbed the countertop to reach my favorite mugs, poured coffee for Code and I, and set out the creamer with a spoon.  All.By.Herself.  Sometimes she is such a little angel and she melts my heart.  And although she added enough cream for ten cups or more, Cody and I enjoyed every last drop of sweetness she poured.  She reminded me that it truly is the thought that counts and that although she can be a little devil at times, she is such a sweetheart and we are lucky to have our TrinMonster.  

So, to my Trin (aka...Stinky...TrinMonster...Buttsniffer)

Thank you for reminding me that it's the little moments like this that make life beautiful.  Thank you for loving me and thank you for being your sweet self.

Love you Stinky to the moon and back :).

xoxo, Momz

For Grandma Amanda :)

Grandma Amanda's been waiting patiently for pics of the house so here we go...We'll see how long I can remain patient with the computer and the camera...Me and Flip (Code's lil video camera)...we don't get along so well.  Actually, we get along just fine...until  it comes time to load the pics and videos onto the laptop...Then things get ugly, I start throwing random objects, people cry...it's really ugly.  True story.


Ok-so far, so good.  This is the backyard-and of course, Cody's chicken palace.  Yes we built it, yes I really did help...well, I mean..I was there...not sure if I was what you would call "help" or not.

This is the front yard by the front door.  Cody found me that adorable old bird house.  I lu-lu-lu LUV it!

Another shot of the front yard-and the tree...Don't get me started on the tree.  Which sheds more crap than shade.  Oh my the tree and I have a love/hate relationship.  

Here's my cute lil wagon-the Radio Flyer Cody bought from some lil boy in Manti, haha. We drove by and he had to have it-so hilarious the little boy thought he was RICH with the whole 2 bucks we gave him for it.  I guess you can't tell it's a wagon in the picture-the star and the plants have grown completely over it but trust me...adorable.

The pond.  Cody's pride and joy...besides the chicken palace.  Somewhere beneath all the potato vines is a cute gnome.  He spits water.  Doesn't get cuter than that.

Here's the back yard again-sorta looking from the chicken palace out to the opposite end of the yard.  Grass is slowly growing thank goodness!

Oops-this is not the yard....This is Trin and I goofing off while Daddy and Austin spend the evening at the D-Backs game for Austin's 7th birthday.  Trin loves girl's nights with momz :)

Lowes might be our home away from home

So Code and I were at Lowes the other night...for the second time that evening...probably the third time that week.  It's our nightly date.  I'm lucky enough to get date night every night with my hubby...to the hardware store...don't be jealous now :).  We buy sexy things like rebar, siding, plywood, lumber, paint and tape.


Anywhoosies...Cody was having an especially "gassy" night.  Most nights are gassy as we all know but this one was OUT.OF.CONTROL!  We're looking at drill bits and he flashes me "the look".  The poor man walking by us never saw it coming....The run by farting...loud as can be, and even stinkier.  I wanted to die.  I darted around a corner and slid...oh-so-slowly...down the shelf...to hide.  I wanted to melt into the floor but it wouldn't give.  Honestly, I think the poor man was embarrassed for Cody and he politely kept on his way without turning or snickering.  I, on the other hand wanted to die.  As I sat on the floor, hiding behind the shelving, I look to my left.  No one.  I look to my right...down...down...down the aisle.  And at the very end there is lil miss Lowes herself-shaking her head and laughing at me, wondering why I am on the floor with my head between my hands.  If she only knew...