The Great Flood of '08

So about 7 minutes from our home here in No Lib is Lake Macbride...These pics are from the dam "floodage". If you live in the vicinity...it's pretty impressive to go watch the water scream out of the dam and gush into the river...it splashes like crazy (you'll get wet prolly) and it's super noisy! (if you have a seven year old boy...or four year old girl...they'll really think it's awesome!) the water looks shallow in this pic..but it's probably 20 feet or so. And more pics of the floodness

What a Great Day!

Except for the fact that Geoff's not coming home tonight....today's been great. (on call ...just started a lung transplant around five...not looking good..usually at least a 12 hour case...grr! Good for the lung recipient though!) Anyways...
started out my morning with a walk my some of my great girls! (I love you Heather and Jamie...and oh..how we'll miss you, Jamie!) How refreshing! then...off for a few errands. The kids and I had a little lunch..and down for a nice nap went Greyson and REagan. I READ while they napped! Yes, read!!! a book..from the library!! what a joy. Then..I finished staining the front porch wood steps area thing. ANGIE called (love you too, Angie!) Picked up Brookser from school..and we didn't feel like going home. So...we went and checked out the dam that I heard was 'raging' as there's been soo much rain this spring. Well...it was incredibly impressive! I only wish I had my camera. We went to a little park past the dam...and swang on the swinging bench thing and hung out on the equipment some. Came home for some dinner. (Wendy's made dinner.....mandarin chicken salad...yum!) Greyson chowed a burger! He hadn't had one before and was quite thrilled! Went outside for some bubble machine magic...a walk/bike ride/stroller ride/scooter ride...baths...stories/prayers..and now...bed! I think it was the sun that made it such a great day! I miss my Geoffrey, but it managed to be a pretty good day nonetheless.

Evidence of Mom Hair

Ok...so now I've accidentally made too much hype about this hair cut. But..here it is...ya really feel like a moron snapping a photo of yourself with noone else with you, ya know?

A side photo to get an idea of the shortitude.

Reagan's preschool program...

here's the little star herself. It's almost ten minutes long....don't feel obligated to watch unless you're somehow related:)

Mom Hair

Got me some. FINALLY got my hair cut yesterday. Yeah...it's a little shorter than I had planned. Ok...it's technically "short hair". Got home.....Geoff says, "oh, I thought you said you wouldn't cut your hair short." Brooks chimes in with two words, "too short!". This morning Reagan said to me, "Mom, I want your hair to be long again like it was before..can you wear a wig?". I guess it's a hit! Maybe I'll be brave enough to post a pic one of these days....

Reagan's preschool Spring Program...

Reagan had her little performance Sunday afternoon for preschool. Four songs...about twelve minutes worth of singing. In that time...she waved and blew us kisses about thirty six times, sat down and took her shoe off to get some mulch product out of it (exposing her underwear to the entire Parkview church audience) gave us seventeen "thumbs ups", and left to go to the bathroom for the last song. All in all, a very impressive performance! We sure do love you, Reago!!

Rookie Baseball--Go Cougars!!!

Brooks had his first baseball game last night! He was really excited to play..and it didn't even rain or tornado!

I'm IT!

So..I've been tagged by Abby. Kinda fun and thought provoking. Here goes:
*I am the youngest of five children, mother of three, wife to one
*I want for my kids to accept the Lord personally at a young age and always follow Him.
*I have a big list of things I should be doing right now!
*I wish for some "Geoff time"
*I hate forgetting someone's name, or where I know them from..which happens too frequently.
*I miss my Montana family, my aunt Sandy, my sisters...being a kid!
*I fear public speaking...just like most people...even though I'm not really at all shy.
*I feel anxious to move next year...but don't want to wish away this time either.
*I hear a couple of twitterpated robins out my window!
*I smell rain and cut grass...two of my favorite smells
*I crave Fresca...I haven't been able to find it lately. Yum!
*I search Realtor.com more often than necessary
*I wonder why Reagan just woke up?
*I regret "following the crowd" in high school and college and not sticking up for what I knew was right
*I love a good sale.....75% off or better
*I ache in my low back after "long runs"
*I care far too much about "appearances"
*I always love to hang out with "the girls" and chat
*I believe God still hears our prayers and answers them..and knows far more than we can understand.
*I dance this terrifically embarassing dance that I made up in Cayman with my sisters..just to mortify and humiliate Geoff.
*I sing a song to Reagan every night before bed. Brooks isn't interested any longer in my singing.
*I cry almost every time we sing worship songs in church..just like I made fun of my mom for doing growing up.
*I don't always take off my make-up before going to bed...shhhh!
*I fight as little as possible. I ABHORE conflict!
*I write in print..always. I don't think I know how to write cursive anymore.
*I never have cash.
*I listen to music REALLY LOUD when my kids aren't in the car....just like a teenager...it's obnoxious....good thing the opportunity doesn't arise too often, huh?
*I need a housekeeper, babysitter, organizer, wardrobe consultant, personal trainer, new windshield, summer clothes, a hair cut, a massage, running partner, eye lift, boob lift, my nails done, microderm abrasion, a new table and chairs, bedroom set, to clean my carpets, to get rid of alot of things out of the kids' closet, still, new eyeliner, to see the dentist, to sign Brooks and Reagan up for VBS, to volunteer more, for Greyson to get over his "separation anxiety", to run today still, to be more consistent with Reagan, to play catch with Brooks, to paint, a weekend without the kids, a tummy tuck, to go to the bathroom!
*I am happy to be blessed with such a smart, funny, handsome husband, 3 sweet kids, and incredible friends and family.

Weather Check.

It's not windy....AND....AND.........AND! ....it's SUNNY out right now! yep!! That makes for one happy me! woohoo!

Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe......

this is compliments of my dear friend, Athena...
I've promised the recipe to a few people...so thought I could just post it here and kill some birds with less stones and stuff. You all KNOW I'm not a measurer...so sorry about the rough estimations!

Buffalo Chicken Dip:
1 can of chicken
about 1/2 cup of Ranch (or Bleu Cheese) Dressing
about 1/4 cup of Buffalo Wing Sauce
8 ounces of cream cheese (you can totally do reduced fat or fat free)

There! That's it!!!! Four ingredients!!! Stir it all up and warm it in the microwave for about a minute or so..stir again...serve with tortilla chips (also good with celery) YUM!

Highlights of Aunt B, Aunt Nay Nay, Cody and Syd's visit

First Race

Today was my very very first "running race". It was the hilly course I've ever been on....and I fell behind my running partner after the first mile...but I'm here now, at home...so that's a good thing. Here are some highlights, courtesy of Dr. Stinky...my official sponsor. Thanks Bev and Renee and Sydney and Cody...(and Brooks,Reagan, and Greyson for that matter) for supporting me!!

When are they gonna be here????

Aunt B, Aunt Nay Nay...Cody, and Sydney, that is! "They're on their way!", that's what I keep saying! woohooooo!!!

Knee Update

Knee surgery=good. Hooray!
Can ya say a prayer for a quick recovery? Knee#2 is next..same process all over again. No fun.
glad he's doing so well. He's a champ.

one of my thoughts.

I think about this quite often.....found this post on Beth Moore's blogspot. (she rocks, by the way...Go Beth!...there's a link to the side here if you haven't experienced the spiritual rock star that is Beth Moore

"Will-powered faith is the worst kind of faith. A relationship with God that is rooted in our ability or strength is doomed to fail for two reasons. First, a will-powered faith will result in self-loathing. We make commitments, try our hardest, give it our all, and fail. So we try again…and fail. And the only person we have to blame is ourselves. Some of us suffer from a spiritual depression because we have lived in a cycle between trying and failing for so long. Second, if our will-powered faith doesn’t end in self-loathing it is because it ended in self-righteousness. We make commitments, try our hardest, and we succeed. We congratulate ourselves on a job well done. Then we look around and notice that other people are not experiencing the same success we are. Why don’t they try as hard as me? Maybe they are just not as godly. Self-loathing or self-righteousness—God hates both. That’s why he sent us a Helper. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17, ESV). Jesus said it was to our advantage that He went away so He could send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7) to rescue us from the inevitable cycle of human strength-centered living. He will give us the help that we cannot give ourselves. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21, ESV). The Holy Spirit’s power at work within you, the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11), is able to do for you supernaturally what you could not do naturally: live for Jesus and resist fast food." (or whatever else it is you're trying to do on your own!)

tonight's prayer

My dad's going in for knee surgery in the morning. I soo wish I could be there to support him (and mom) and just hang out and be obnoxious to the hospital staff to make sure he gets A1 care. Tonight the kids and I made sure to include him in our bedtime prayer time. Reagan was first, "and thank you for mommy and daddy. And thankyou that poor grandpa has to get surgery tomorrow for he can feel better. AmEN!." and then Brooks, "God...we just know that mommy's dad is having surgery tomorrow. And...we're just sad that he's not going to have his bone anymore, but instead will have to have a fake one. and...he's going to just miss that bone...Amen"

"TORNADO WARNING!!"

So...it's been like, 40 degrees today maybe? Chilly! I know that! And what were we under this evening?? yeah..you guessed it..a TORNADO WARNING! (of course you guessed it...it's the title...that was a dead give away, huh?) Anyways, I was under the assumption that tornadoes happened when it was WARM outside. Apparently I need to brush up on my meteorology facts! It wound up being 55ish here tonight..while northern Iowa was in the 20's and 30's. The midwest is weird! Oh...and it's supposed to snow tomorrow. Get me outta here!

"TORNADO WARNING!!"

"Nights"

Geoff's on them. I hate it. I can't sleep. He can't sleep. It stinks. And...those mammas are busting out those babies over there this evening...which is more stinkyness.

On a lighter note: I purchased some daffodils and pansies from Lowe's this afternoon. As soon as we're out "frost danger" those bad boys are going in the dirt. Can't wait. For now...they're sitting in my kitchen window and I'm lovin' it.

Best go watch the "Biggest Loser" .....I like to snack my way through this show:)

Brooks is a "guy"

So...the neighbor kid has been hanging out at the Taylor house lately. He'll be eleven on Friday. The fellahs like to play some "Burn out" on the PS and you should hear the things that have been coming out of Brooks' mouth. "oh, yeah, BABY!! I'm smokin' you!!! take that..uh huh!" Stuff like that. It's great to have him play with someone older than him. (they're relatively quiet...compared to having another seven year old over)....amazing to watch this little boy try to act like a man in front of his BIG friend!
yikes.

Up Swing

I'm declaring that Noone's allowed to be sick today. It's a "house rule". Brooks IS tons better. He had a great day yesterday...and Greyson slept til almost 5!!! I think I might be a person today. I'm pondering make-up for later. pondering...

It's really official....

Brooks is now barfing.
me.
so.
sad!
plus...I haven't run since Sunday. hope I can go tonight. ew...so selfish am I!! ick.

April Fools!!!!

ok....my friend Jen and I are DORKS! but..this was rather fun. James is going to DIE riding home from work on his pimped out bike...and who knows what Geoff will do. I put "Just Married" in his windshield....it's rather charming, no? Hope that pink comes off...he'll be sportin' that thing for another year at least if not :)