Christmas 2011

It's the most wonderful time of the year... I do love the holiday season!! There are so many wonderful moments involved in celebrating the season - times with family and friends are extra-special. And the decorations...






We have gone to the ICE show at the Gaylord hotel for a few years now. And thanks to Peggy we hope to continue to attend - she gets the date set and makes sure we have tickets. Melissa, Amy, Kelly and Parker went as well. It is such a great event, cold, but great!







Reed, on stage... Probably not the last time...













There is also an incredible model train exhibit at the Gaylord every year - we could spend hours there and by "we", I mean the boys.













Our neighborhood is lucky enough to get a yearly visit from Santa riding the fire truck.




Reed making sure Santa knows where we are...



Another favorite event has become the Adolphus Children's Parade. And, almost as exciting, the Dart ride to downtown Dallas. Great to be a kid!












Christmas morning...



















Full contact drumming...only Reed!












Later in the day, we all head up to the Bonderosa for more Christmas cheer!

Location:Castle Hills

Reed as Rudolph

Reed's school, Kids R Kids, always presents a Christmas show with lots of singing and dancing...by the kids! Reed's class performed Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer. Guess who played Rudolph? Yes, the wallflower named Reed. Ha!

Location:Castle Hills

Reedy turns 5!

December 11th -
So my Reedy turns 5, yes 5! Where did the years ago... Breakfast for the birthday boy:




That's right. Granola bar with a candle...




Reed chose to have a party at ASI Gymnastics. We had quite a few kiddos attend and ASI did a wonderful job keeping them all entertained. There was trampolining, swinging and, of course, cake-eating!! Here are some pics:
























Cheers to my baby Reed - can't wait to see what the next year brings!

Location:Castle Hills

November 2011

CHE Movie Night... What a wonderful night! Luke's school hosted an outside family movie night. They showed The Rookie and we brought dinner, snacks, chairs and blankets to just enjoy the time together.
Reed Soccer
Reed played his first season of soccer. We were lucky to be on a team with some other kids from Castle Hills. RJ and Reed go to KRK together and were so excited to be on the same team. We also met Aimae and her son, Brickman, and have loved getting to know and hang out with them. So, back to Reed and his soccer skills... The first game, here we go! I am so pumped since soccer was only sport I really played in school. Now I learned from Luke that bribing your kids early on in their sports careers is the way to go. So, I told Reed, for every goal you score you can have an Oreo. Sweets are definitely Reed's weakness. Anyway, Reed gets in the game and scores a goal....for the other team. And looks over to me so excitedly to say - that's 1 mom. Awesome! Guess I should have been a little more specific So, I try to explain (yes in the middle of the game) that goals only count if they are scored for your own team. Clearly, this does not work as Reed proceeds to score 3 goals for the other team and 0 for his own team. Rob and Luke had left early from the game to make the trek to College Station for the Aggie game - this was most definitely a good thing, I am afraid Rob's head may have exploded by the end of the game.
But Reed sure looked cute:




Reed had a double-header that first day with an hour break between games. Tica and the competitive fire came out... I took Reed to my car and proceeded to "explain" how not good his soccer performance was in that first game and that I am expecting better this next game. There might have been some other phrases used, but anyway, Reed was SO much better in the next game.















Reed went on to have a very fun season. Hoping he continues to have an interest in playing soccer!
Baby Stroh... I was so excited when my friend and co-worker, Cristina Stroh, announced she was pregnant and having a girl!! So fun!!! Anyway, I co-hosted a baby shower at my house for Cristina and it was such a fun time. Seriously, awesome time and stories are still being repeated from that night.
Dustin and Suzanne's Wedding
Congratulations to Dustin and Suzanne! We are so excited for them and thrilled to be attending the wedding festivities. Friday night - rehearsal dinner hosted at a favorite place of Dustin's. I was so thrilled to meet Dustin's family and celebrate with them. Rob gave a heartwarming speech about Sue - one funny note, Suzanne and Dustin dated when they were both in high school and he was actually her date to our wedding.




In typical Taylor style, the festivities included singing and guitar playing. Such a great thing - talent! I love, love to sing but I should NOT sing in public. Sue and her dad, though, they are incredibly talented and have no reservations of performing in public. Neena also sang while Mr. Taylor played the guitar - beautiful duet. Neena has a wonderful voice. My mom also has a beautiful voice - I am just surrounded by talent. Anyway....












And then the groomsmen and friends got in on the act - including Rob. He sang Forever and Ever, Amen while his dad played the guitar. They did an incredible job and I was so proud to listen.








So we stayed at a hotel on the University of Houston's campus - well ESPN Gameday also happened to be there for their Saturday morning broadcast. And they set up right outside our hotel, like open the window and you could see them. I just knew I was going to get to meet Kirk Herbstreet....but no. That's okay, Herb, you are still the best part about Gameday.




Anyway, Rob and the boys had to join the festivities on Saturday morning.








I attended a nice brunch hosted by Neena. Great food, company and conversation. Then on to the big event...
Dustin and Sue had their wedding ceremony at the chapel on the UofH campus and the reception following at a reception hall in our hotel. Wonderful, wonderful service and fun reception... Sue was a breathtaking bride. Cheers!
































Aww, yes the Arboretum pumpkin patch. Love fall!!

Location:Taylors

October 2011

The patio is done, the weather is perfect, time to enjoy the outside... We hosted a few friends and had a wonderful time. I think I am going to like this patio gig!

Reunions:

October also included 20 year high-school reunions for both Rob and I. Really, 20 years... Dang! But as I look back, I am proud of the life I have created and the blessings I have been given. Your past creates you but doesn't define you - always be the best you can be. I still strive to be the best mom, wife, friend, daughter, attorney I can be. I am extremely grateful for all the people in my life that love, inspire and encouragement me and I hope I return some joy and happiness to you all as well.

Marcus High, Class of 1991 - Go Marauders!

My reunion plan was a tailgate party and football game on Friday night. Then dinner on Saturday night. I opted for the Friday night activities only, but did hear the dinner was really fun a well. Rob and I did actually make a pre-dinner HH on Saturday with some of my former classmates. Tim Revels worked with Rob after college graduation so we have kept up over the years. Anyway, it was nice to chat for a bit before the gang headed to dinner.




Me, Laura, Jackie and Connie attending the Friday night football game - just a bit windy... Marcus won an incredible game to beat Plano West.




Connie's kids with Luke and Reed. We are just happy they hung out with us for awhile - we are still cool, right?!?! Nah, Connie's girls ditched us as soon as we got to the stands. To be fair, we were being pretty silly, so probably the right call girls!!

Midland High, Class of 1991 - Go Bulldogs

Off to Midland for some reminiscing and catching up... Rob was solo on Friday night (I was returning from a business conference in Arizona, so Saturday was the earliest I could make it to Midland) and from what I here, he lived it up. Of course, you go to The Bar (which is a bit smoky for me) and then Ray had a bunch of folks back to his house for some continued fun. As far as I know there are no pics from this night, at least not any that I will post, ha! Then we met Saturday for lunch with the Jeffocats (who were also kind enough to let us stay with them), Cez, and Wyatt. Rob took me on a tour of Midland and then we went to the reunion dinner that night. I have only a few pics:








Anyway, it was a great time and, of course, Rob was in his element.

Suzanne's Bach Party:

Rob's little sis is getting married. Sue is an amazing young lady and so funny. She is just a joy to be around - and I was lucky enough to make it to her bachelorette party. Her good friend hosted us all at her family's house in Boerne, TX. Gorgeous area and place. It was so fun to meet Sue's friends and bridesmaids. At first I was worried...thinking okay, these girls are all so young and I am the "sister-in-law". But I was blown-away, what a great group of friends, so inclusive, funny and intelligent. I think having a good support group of girlfriends makes life way more enjoyable. I am lucky that way and Sue appears to be as well. It was also so nice to hang out with Neena and Leslie.

Halloween:

I love, love Halloween! I had a Harry Potter and Dinosaur this year. So cute! Trick or treating is pretty big in our neighborhood. We are fortunate to live in an area where you can just walk out and go door to door. My parents came in for the festivities. Rob and LaNoel take the boys out while mom and I man the candy at the house.




Rob was out of town, but I made it to the Brocktoberfest party hosted by our neighbors Michael and Tika Brock. The costume theme this year was famous pairs. Well since I was solo, I got creative and dressed as Cruella with a Dalmatian dog - I mean you can't have one without the other, right??? Sug and Opa were in town and entertained the boys while I was at the party.





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Location:Taylors