Summertime

(2013) I can tell it's summertime when my Walmart bill includes bubbles, suncatchers, fingerpaint, Captain Crunch, and Hi Ho Cherry-O!

Jingle Bells

One of my all time FAVORITE Dylan/Skeet stories from several years ago popped up on my time hop today ... heaven help us!!! 😂😂😂

Fellow moms out there will know that, every now and then, those "teachable moments" crop up when we can impart some sort of "life lesson" or "wisdom of the ages" to our children.   Case in point, the other day, Dylan and I were in a store, and he had to wait outside of the ladies room for me.  I told him to stay right by the cart and keep a careful eye on my wallet and keys while I dashed in and out. When I came out of the restroom, he had done just fine and had been sitting there, diligently holding my wallet in his hands.

As I was saying, "Good job" it dawned on me that I also needed to impart one more bit of motherly advice in this moment.  So I added, "Now you know, Dylan, if someone had come by and tried to take that wallet from you, I would want you to just give it to the guy so you would be safe.  I'd rather you be safe than worry about my wallet.  Anything in the wallet can be replaced, but you are irreplaceable."

Looking confused, Dylan responded, "So I should just GIVE the guy the wallet if he tries to steal it from me?"

"Yes," I said, pleased that my impromptu life lesson was obviously a smashing success.

"That's not what Daddy said to do,"  Dylan replied.

My heart warmed in that moment as I realized that Robert Skeet Taylor, too, had taken it upon himself to pass along some fatherly advice to Dylan about this very thing.  "Good job, Daddy," I smiled and thought to myself as I waited for Dylan to elaborate with some timeless nugget of fatherly wisdom.

"No," Dylan continued cheerfully, "Daddy said that if someone ever tried to steal something from me, I should kick the guy in the jingle bells and run like crazy."

Long silence (by me, as I am now speechless) ......  as I stare at a proud, grinning Dylan.

You know, somehow I just don't recall any such father/son wisdom between Andy and Opie or Ward Cleaver and the Beaver, or even one single "jingle bells" episode of  "Father Knows Best"...  I mean, imagine that!  Leave it to the sheer eloquence of the Taylor men of MY household.  Skeet Taylor ... REALLY?!!!  🙂

Future

(2012) Lily Claire informed me today that she is going to grow up and be a "gorgeous fairy", have a wedding, and have a little baby named Pinky Flower.  She's got her future all mapped out apparently!

Teenagers

During the summer months, a lot of teenagers are working at the stores and fast food restaurants, which can sometimes lead to some pretty funny experiences. (To get the full effect here, you have to make the teenager voices below sound like a sort-of clueless surfer dude ...) ANYWAY, the other day, Papaw drove through Sonic to get a large strawberry limeade drink, and after he ordered, the teenage worker piped through the speaker asking, "So ... would you like ketchup and mustard with that, sir?"  Ummm .. no thanks.  Trying to cut back on the ketchup on my limeades these days.   THEN, Bran and I drove through Sonic a few days later and ordered a "vanilla ice cream with hot fudge."  The teenager voice came back through the speaker, "So ... like ... that will be one diet coke with hot fudge?"  Ummm ... no.  We don't usually get hot fudge ON our diet coke.  We were CRACKING up!  Keep up the good work, teenagers!  Feeling real confident about ALL of our futures with you guys next up to run the world.

The Highlife

(2013) Bran just informed me that he "has it made" tonight ... he's laying in his bed watching the MLB channel on TV, he's got ESPN showing on the IPad, and he has a glass of sweet tea. He's living the 15 year old boy version of "the highlife" apparently!!

Home

(2017) What was my first clue that Bran was home from college for the summer? Hmmmm.... 😳😳😳

Over the Hill

Tooday's weird but true event:  There is a small white church up the road from us that has a small graveyard beside it.  Today one of the gravestones was decorated with all sorts of helium balloons, which to me was sort of funny.  But then I noticed the balloons said "Over the Hill'!!  What on earth?!  Maybe the balloons should have said "Under the Hiill!"

Mistaken

Am I mistaken but is this a “turquoise men’s bathing suit size Medium?” Because THAT is what I ordered, but THIS is what I got!! Can’t wait to see Dyl at the pool in these “looking trim and feeling slim!”😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Friend Request

Oh my goodness! What a huge honor!! JESUS requested to follow me on Instagram!! Guess I’ll DEFINITELY confirm that one!! 😂😂😂

Hangout

(2014) Summertime is in full swing at the Taylor house ... Bran has three friends over after baseball practice to "hang out" and eat pizza and Lily Claire has two little friends from the neighborhood up in her room playing princesses and eating sandwiches.  In another hour or so, we'll head out to watch Dylan's baseball game this evening.  Good times!

Outrage

(2014) I am cracking up at Brandon because he is OUTRAGED that ESPN is showing some international spelling bee instead of baseball.  A cruel twist of fate for a 15 year old boy stuck at home this evening!  Hahahahaha!!!

Happiness

Happiness is .... my favorite flowers, gardenias, blooming in my yard! I love summer.

Hoarders

WHY did I just watch the most disgusting, horrible episode of Hoarders while I was doing laundry?  What was I thinking?! Why would a person "hoard" cats?!  I am scarred FOREVER.  I will stick with Love Boat from now on!!!!

Teddy Bears

(2011) I went into Lily Claire's room tonight and saw that she had set up a little party for her teddy bears, complete with a table cloth, plates, tea cups and "ice cream cones" ... so sweet!

Southern Girl

(2013) I am definitely raising a Southern girl!  I just asked Lily Claire what she wanted for a snack and she answered, "Yo-Grits", which is what she thought was the name for "yogurt."  Love it!