A note about the last post...

I never really finished the previous post, but it has been sitting unfinished for a few weeks now and is making me mentally unable to move on to the next post. So, I am posting it as is... it may get some more pics later, or not. Life is moving on, post or no post around here, so I am going to have to move on with it! The last few "upcoming" events from the previous post have come and gone and summer has officially begun. So, Hello, Summer! Look for new posts in the coming weeks to update you on the Taylor Family happenings! But, don't expect anything to exciting... this is, after all, my lazy, low-key summer :)

Where have the past 6 months gone?!!!

Indeed, the past 6 months have flown by.

In February, we finally finished off soccer for the year with the play offs in Garden Grove. The Blue Cheese Comets played well but were unable to advance against the tough competition :(

We also celebrated Madeline's school achievements at the Caiman award's ceremony.

She earned her academic letter for holding a 3.5 or higher (in her case a 4.0) for 3 semesters!

The next week we saw Grace off to Spain with her Grandparents...

We celebrated Jared's 14th Birthday! ... and on the same day enjoyed the school's art show!

In March, we enjoyed cheering Jared on at the Rubik's cube team competition. Our school's team took 6th place at the San Diego Competition.

In May, Justin went to 5th grade Adventure Camp! He had a great time at his first camp experience! Then at the end of the month we enjoyed a day at The Wave water park in Vista in celebration of the end of the school year.

Next weekend we will finish off the years activities with Jared's 8th grade promotion, the girls' dance recital and Justin's Acting class performance.

Needless to say, we are looking forward to lots of relaxing over the next few months before we start up another school year! Perhaps I will actually have time to update our blog during all my free -time this summer! Hmmmm... maybe!

My New Chair!

Check out my "new" chair!

Here is where I need to brag about my husband's talents a bit. He brought home a "treasure" last week that, suffice it to say, I was less than thrilled with. My only request was that it please go in the garage until he got around to working on it so that I wouldn't have to look at it. To which he replied, "OK, but just you wait til I am done with it." I was also told that I was not aloud to like the finished product since I was so skeptical about its ability to be turned into something decent.

Well, he worked his magic and guess what... I don't like it... I love it!

I really wish I had a "before shot" of the chair because right now you are probably having trouble imagining why I would doubt that this chair could be attractive. Try to imagine the brightest most vivid blue you can imagine and then... turn it up a notch. That is the color the chair was painted. The cushion was an equally vivid plaid with bright blue, green, pink, and several other colors thrown in. It was rather obnoxious, so please, don't judge me too harshly!

Soccer... the results.

The weekend that we thought would never end, did in fact come to an end! We all survived it... but, come Monday, we were all very tired! Jared's team lost the replay match to the Santee team 3-1. This was there first loss of the season and a tough one on their spirits since the whole replay decision seemed a little unjust (see the previous post for the story on that). But, they did score the one goal that they needed to maintain the number 1 position going into the semis/finals. They won both of those matches and now move on. We play again in February in Garden Grove. Just when we thought soccer was over! We are really excited for Jared and his team. Go Blue Cheese Comets! Here are some photos of the soccer matches (All 3 of them!) thanks to one of the moms on the team. She got some great shots. And, I am so thankful because our camera was at Nutcracker with the girls!

I love this series! Jared fighting for the ball in the replay match against Santee.





Here are a few action shots from the other games:




The traditional fan line (maybe there is a real name for it, I don't know) after the game!
Receiving his medal!The Blue Cheese Comets are our League Champions!!!!!! Go Blue Cheese!!!!
The team!

And, Nutcracker

While the soccer games were being played, the girls and I were at their Nutcracker performances. They both did a lovely job performing and I ran around backstage and helped out during 2 of the 4 performances. Here are the girls in their Act 1 costumes; Madeline in her Snow costume and Grace as a Fight Soldier.Act 2: Grace in her Marzipan costume and Madeline in her Spanish costume.
Madeline in her Finale- Tap soldier costume.
Madeline with friends; Aly, Kayla, and Tori after the Saturday evening performance.
Grace with her cousin, Nichole.
Grace and her friend, Charlotte, after the Sunday matinee.
The girls with Grandma Laura and their Aunts. We were so excited that Auntie Meghan was in town for the performance!
Thanks to all of our family and friends who came out to see the girls perform! It meant so much to them to have all of you in the audience.

Soccer in the rain...

Many of you have heard the story, but for those who haven't, here it is. Last Saturday, despite the rain and very muddy field, the Blue Cheese Comets set out to play their 3rd TOC game. We were all a bit surprised that they were playing the game, not so much because of the rain, but because of how muddy the field was. But, play they did! Here they are on the field:

And, here is Jared after the 1rst quarter using his water to rinse off his muddy arms. We were leading the game 1-0 at the end of the 3rd quarter when the ref called the game off. None of us were pleased when we were told that we have to play the game over in its entirety next weekend! Look for the results of this game and the Semi and Final matches soon! This coming weekend may just go on record as our busiest yet! 4 Nutcracker performances, 3 soccer games, a desert potluck, and my sister coming in to town for the holidays! It is a good thing it has been a restful week thus far.

Patio Pictures, Finally!

We have been enjoying our finished patio for about a month now, interrupted by the few weeks of rainy and windy weather we had. Here are pictures of the finished product!

The outside:
A close up of the door... didn't my husband do a great job on these?

And, the inside:
There is still some furnishing and lighting work to do, but we are definitely enjoying it already!