i work owwwwwwt.

so we finally got our asses off the couch and into our workout clothes. we have been talking about this for years. we are both feeling rather accomplished after three days of intense walks, runs and sprints around the hood. tomorrow we are headed to do three miles of ndonstop running around shelley lake. we are so excited to have a jogging stroller for e to stay in while we get in shape. on top of all that we are devoted to eating right and curving the booze. although we only drink on weekends or during vacations, we have decided to cut back to once a month to make certain it doesnt interfere with our diet. rob is hoping to lose thirty plus pounds while im looking at about twenty. it feels great to actually commit to something like this and i just cant even wait to get through these first few weeks of aching muscles and tired bodies. so so soooo excited. now if i could only figure out how to capitolize and punctuate with this phone keyboard....

Grande white chocolate mocha's.

So now that I have my caffeine fix for the day,
I just want to say that I am a very lucky girl!

Life has thrown me so many curveballs over the past few years that I wasn't sure I would be strong or wise enough to handle. I'm glad that the pinch of positivity I had in me prevailed over the negativeness I seemed to always carry around.

I can't even begin to jot down all of the reasons I have to be the happiest I have ever been. 2012 is already showing it's colors in my life & I couldn't be more thrilled.

Rob landed a job back in August which was the stepping stones to everything coming together the way it has. It's all sort of fallen in place since then. Granted, I've gone through a bit of a rollercoaster ride at home with the kids I've watched & am happy to report that I've found the "light at the end of the tunnel" & I don't need to worry day-to-day that things could change any minute. Feeling secure with my job/income has been a must have & I'm glad I have finally made it happen.

Rob and I were hoping to by now have either purchased a house or were at least renting one. We have 100% outgrown our apartment, & were really hoping for outdoor space of our own this year for Evan & company to be able to adventure out in. On the flip side, this gives us lots more time to save money for our down payment so it's hard to really complain.

Tonight is date night & thankyou resturant.com for the gift card we'll be using. I spent $2.00 for $25.00 worth of food & drinks!!!!! + + + Rob services the place we are going to & has an additional 15% off our order (that is if they will accept 2 coupons) Either way, You can't beat that! :)

Closing thoughts:::::

I promise to be back within the week for a few more picture posts. I have lots to share. I also want to thank 2 people,
1.) To the woman in front of me at the starbucks drivethru with lots of Ron Paul bumper stickers all over your car, Thank you ever so much for buying my coffee that day. I'm holding out for the opportunity to get you back.
2.) & To Shannon Davis who surprised me at my apartment about an hour ago with the same wonderful starbucks coffee drink, You guys are the absolute best.

   

Photographs

     

                            

 

 

1.) Evan + Carrigan + barnes & noble + thankgoodnessforstarbuckscoffee.
2.) I get to see this pretty girl's face 5 days a freakin' week. Evan & I are in so much love.
3-8.) My baby boy being his baby boy self.
9.) The only boy I know who can rock the highwaters.
10-12.) My lovie & I at a hurricanes game. Blastly blast. Minus the 8 dollar beer and 12 dollar nachos.
13. 15. 16.) I don't even know. Probably playing photo hunt because I am pretty sure it was senior citizen night at the pub & we just didn't get the memo.

14.) Last (sort of..) but not least, My handsome husband.

*more to come

         Gretchen

New year, New blog entry

Good-bye 2011..
Hello, 2012!!!

Rob and I have had a fabulous christmas and new years holiday filled with a lot of many family and friends.
I've got lots of resolutions this year I totally-100% plan to keep.

As much as we would have loved to stay another week,
We're happy to be back at home tonight in our cozy queen sized bed.
& Also happy that Rob doesn't have to go back to work until Tuesday.. & we have yet another whole day to spend together. The time off has been absolutely wonderful. & much, much, MUCH needed.
I can actually say that I feel very relaxed & that is very unlike me after a "vacation"

Since we've been home for the past 2 hours Rob and I have done ALL the laundry, completely unpacked & cleaned out my car, vacuumed, bathed, cleaned and put to sleep our love child & have nothing.. Can I say that again.. NOTHING left to do but fall asleep watching & laughing to stand up comedy for the rest of the night.

& he owes me a foot rub for driving home tonight so he could get some shut-eye from the new years eve dance & debate party we had =]

Happy new year!!

* One of my new years resolutions is to update & post pictures here more frequently :)

Not in a writing mood..

Here's a glimpse of what I've been taking pictures of:::

I'll caption later.

Happy birthday to..

...ME!.. but mostly to my husband, who I have been with for 5 birthdays now.
& to my little tiny brother who is FIFTEEN OMG!!??!!!
It's hard to remember 15 for me. I do remember pulling LOTS of all nighters. Whether it was staying up all night with friends, taking pictures, playing video games & talking about boys,
or writing english papers that i procrastinated the mess out of, I did it.
Even though i feel pretty sleep deprived all the time,
My body, mind & soul would absolutely disown me if i ever deprived myself of sleep like i did back when.



So all is well with the Taylors.
Evan is impressing us more & more everyday.
He has given us so much more purpose in life & we are so proud to be his parents.
So, here's to getting old & [hopefully] getting more sleep.


*pictures soon.

2 post's in 1 day? Craaaaaazaaaaaaay.

& while both my boys are fast asleep, my tired eyes just aren't quite ready to close.
The day was good. Really good!
Did i go & do everything i had originally planned to?
No.
Did we completely blow off much needed grocery running for a fabulous Mexican made restaurant dinner followed by lots&lots of Barnes & Noble funtime?
Yes.

Rob had meetings all morning and into the afternoon. But was home by 3:00. Just in time to get started. We loooooooove mexican food. We also loooooooove to read. We got Evan some classic Amelia Bedelia books from the bargain section. My face lit the entire store up when i saw these. I just HAD to have them...for..Evan! To this day is one of my absolute favorites. She also inspired my IloveLucy obsession. I have a very soft spot in my heart for female comedians.

We ended the evening by taking Evan to get a "Baby pumpkin" .. He's sleeping with it now..Along with his pink dalmation dog, his cabbage patch baby cow, and his plastic t-rex dinosaurs. Oh Evan, I love you so much!

Lately we've been...

 

Hi, Jack!

Getting everything together for a sleepover party at granny & papa's house

! 

The "Speed demon" going 50MPH in a 70. We just HAD to take a picture of this obviously quick car ;)

Went to Barnes & noble for half an hour, this is what i came home to. Rob was snoozing on the couch. I mean, REALLY???????? Major blackmail.

 

It has been a crazy week.

 SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Visiting my dad in Emporia, and believe it or not the drive there & back. Rob and I have some very different taste in music. We compromised with pink floyd, modest mouse, and PUNK GOES CRUNK. All of which we BOTH love.

Evan learned how to say "Chill out, mommy!" when i become heated and/or upset about anything. Rob taught him that one OF COURSE.

I GOT A NEW PHONE. It is BEAUTIFUL. I've never loved a phone as much as i do this one. Rob's blackberry is SO very jealous.

Evan told us yesterday he wants us to give him a little brother.

Quite clearly, that is word for word, EXACTLY how he said it.

My mouth fell to the floor.

Rob wouldn't, and still won't be quiet about it

& NOW HE TOO HAS A NEW BED!!!!

Her name is beige and she is a very comfortable sectional couch that lives in our living room. He will be sleeping with her for the next 2-4 years. No jokes.

Evan and I have a million and twelve errands to run today, that includes some of my favorite ever places to go. Whole foods. Trader Joe's. Ollie's. &World market. And there will probably be a chick-fil-a or taco bell somewhere in the mix. We're just not inspired enough by this partly cloudy weather to be cooking anything.

Next time,

Gretchen Taylor

Gretchen, go to sleep.

It's midnight and I'm editing pictures. What the HELL is wrong with me?? 
Hopefully someday soon I'll find the time & energy to blog about something besides fruit.
The end.
GLT