CelestialFamily » Victoria

CelestialFamily » Victoria http://www.celestialfamily.org Making our way back home Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:59:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 My Sentimental Hoarder Wanna Be http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-sentimental-hoarder-wanna-be.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-sentimental-hoarder-wanna-be http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-sentimental-hoarder-wanna-be.html#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:13:00 +0000 Victoria http://www.celestialfamily.org/?guid=fd012e75c6a72b0eb0111931597520d6

Michael and I took the front door off to sand it, re-stain, and replace the hardware. Noah wondered out to the garage (he must have been incredibly bored). He asked what we were doing and I explained it to him. He saw the old hardware sitting on the work table and asked if he could have the old knob and we told him no.
Fast forward to this morning. I was relating the story to Rachel. Noah heard his name and came into the living room. Rachel rolled her eyes at the story and she was not surprised. Noah stated boldly, "It was an awesome door knob, and we were all used to it!"

Be afraid...very afraid.]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/1289593570349607214/comments/default 0 "I Love to Laugh…Loud and Strong and Clear… http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-love-to-laughloud-and-strong-and.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-love-to-laugh-loud-and-strong-and-clear http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-love-to-laughloud-and-strong-and.html#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 08:21:00 +0000 Victoria

Last night after family reading time Rachel asked Michael, "Do you know how a Venus flytrap closes?"
To wit he replied, "Quickly?"
Rachel says, "Ugh... I didn't ask for an adverb!"
She went on to explain how the cells on one side grow to twice their normal size, then close up overlapping the meal.

(After this point is Rachel writing. I was going to just write and pretend that I was mom, but it's too weird to write in third person...)
Noah recently had his 11th Birthday and while he was laying down on the floor in mom's room and he said "The skin on my hand is really dry and peeling off." And because Noah is especially fun to mess with I responded,
"Noah, you're going through your eleven year molt! Ahh... I remember my eleven year molt. Cleared it away before you knew about it had to keep it a secret." And then mom began playing along and it was much fun!
Rules of the eleven year molt:
*It happens overnight when you are eleven.
*Much like pulling teeth the parent clears it away and leaves behind a dollar under the pillow.
*It happens to everyone. Much like puberty. ;D
*You can have it pulled, but it hurts.
* Kids below eleven aren't allowed to know about it until they turn eleven.
(Going to put some money under Noah's pillow now!)]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/5452755245034560897/comments/default 0 "I Love to Laugh…Loud and Strong and Clear… http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-love-to-laughloud-and-strong-and.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-love-to-laugh-loud-and-strong-and-clear-2 http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-love-to-laughloud-and-strong-and.html#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 08:21:00 +0000 Victoria http://www.celestialfamily.org/?guid=2f8d35999072d4653d4e155fd385b2d9

(After this point is Rachel writing. I was going to just write and pretend that I was mom, but it's too weird to write in third person...)
Noah recently had his 11th Birthday and while he was laying down on the floor in mom's room and he said "The skin on my hand is really dry and peeling off." And because Noah is especially fun to mess with I responded,
"Noah, you're going through your eleven year molt! Ahh... I remember my eleven year molt. Cleared it away before you knew about it had to keep it a secret." And then mom began playing along and it was much fun!
Rules of the eleven year molt:
*It happens overnight when you are eleven.
*Much like pulling teeth the parent clears it away and leaves behind a dollar under the pillow.
*It happens to everyone. Much like puberty. ;D
*You can have it pulled, but it hurts.
* Kids below eleven aren't allowed to know about it until they turn eleven.
(Going to put some money under Noah's pillow now!)]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/5452755245034560897/comments/default 0 Naivete…Taylor Style http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/01/naivetetaylor-style.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=naivete-taylor-style http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/01/naivetetaylor-style.html#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:25:00 +0000 Victoria

Adventures in Conversations with my kids:

First:

Noah came in after watching some show we picked up from the library and started explaining how someone might survive a fall from 100 stories. It entailed standing on top of a plank of wood and jumping up at just the right distance from the ground to avoid a deadly impact.

My response: "Your superhero days await you."

Noah's reply: "I wouldn't try it...I'm not sure what a survival distance from the ground is?

Michael then explained to him that no one would survive a fall from that height. Apparently, Noah couldn't figure out how he would be able to jump up from the board during the fall.

Second:

We will be selling Girl Scout cookies by the end of the week and I was picking Rachel's brain for some ideas for the annual ad. I thought a retro, or vintage style ad may be fun. Eve was hanging out with us by the computer.

I said: "I need to find a vintage Girl Scout picture."

Eve matter of factly: "Go to vintagegirlscout.com"

Rachel quipped: "Like that would work."

I googled the terms and got a link to vintage girlscout.com.

Eve said: "I told you."

]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/5635337996967365647/comments/default 0 Naivete…Taylor Style http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/01/naivetetaylor-style.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=naivete-taylor-style-2 http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2011/01/naivetetaylor-style.html#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:25:00 +0000 Victoria http://www.celestialfamily.org/?guid=8d793d25ba783ebb39fc2812a8d615cf

Adventures in Conversations with my kids:

First:

My response: "Your superhero days await you."

Noah's reply: "I wouldn't try it...I'm not sure what a survival distance from the ground is?

Michael then explained to him that no one would survive a fall from that height. Apparently, Noah couldn't figure out how he would be able to jump up from the board during the fall.

Second:

I said: "I need to find a vintage Girl Scout picture."

Eve matter of factly: "Go to vintagegirlscout.com"

Rachel quipped: "Like that would work."

I googled the terms and got a link to vintage girlscout.com.

Eve said: "I told you."

]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/5635337996967365647/comments/default 0 Mornin’ http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/11/mornin.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mornin http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/11/mornin.html#comments Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:30:00 +0000 Victoria

The background to this is that several mornings I would make Noah cinnamon sugar toast and Rachel didn't get any. I would usually make her oatmeal, or a blueberry bagel, but she longed to be included in each sugary breaded breakfast treat.

I asked the kids, "What do you want for breakfast?"

Rachel responded, "Are you making anything special for Noah?"

Me: "Yes, because I like him best."

Rachel: "I'll have that."

Another successful interaction with my children to start the day.

:::::::::::Book Club::::::::

Today is the last session of Book Club with Eve's 2nd grade class. They are smart kids and quite silly. I baked them cupcakes for our last treat.]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/5785057118253042042/comments/default 0 That’s a Blog! http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/10/thats-blog.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thats-a-blog http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/10/thats-blog.html#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:42:00 +0000 Victoria

Noahism:

Noah came home from school on Monday and said, "You know you forgot to pack me a snack?"

Me: "Sorry. I realized that after you left that I only packed one for Evey."

He wanted to eat some sugary snacks, so I said, "I know you like to eat crap."

Noah: "I call it unhealthy goodness."

Me: "Nice. Why don't you eat an apple."

Noah: "I said I was hungry not desperate. That's a blog!"

::::::::Neighborhood Clean up:::

Below is a link and article from back in April when we joined Aaron's troop to help clean up the park next to the scout hut. I was quoted, so I thought I would share the article on my blog:

http://www.tuckercivic.org/NewsEvents.html

April 2010

Scores of volunteers at Cofer Park cleanup

More than 70 residents of all ages joined in TCA’s “Give An Hour” at Cofer Park on May 10. There were local homeowners and their children, Boy Scouts, and more than a dozen congregants from Tucker First Baptist Church. After the county Parks Department dropped off a mountain of mulch and four new metal park benches, some volunteers spread mulch around bushes and flower beds while others dug post holes and poured cement to anchor the benches near the park’s fishing pond.

Another large job was removing a two-inch deep layer of silt from the floor of the park pavilion, then digging a trench around three sides of the pavilion to direct future stormwater runoff. There was real enthusiasm for this event. First Baptist Pastor Randy Shepley explained, “Our church exists to love our community through Jesus, which means working with our neighbors for the common good.”

Victoria Taylor, mother of a Boy Scout, said, “Anything that can bring people out to the park to work with their family and others while enjoying nature is a worthwhile effort.” Juliet Melvin, whose 13-year-old daughter plays soccer in the park, added, “We use the soccer fields here, and it’s invaluable for children to see that you have to clean up the facilities that you use.”
TCA’s next “Give An Hour” is scheduled for May 1, 10 – 11 a.m. Volunteers will freshen up Fitzgerald Field, a youth athletics facility at 4877 Lawrenceville Highway, in advance of the Tucker High School spring football game.

For more information, contact Ron Wilkinson at district4@tuckercivic.org or

:::::::::::::::Arts in Education::::::

I got to be the hostess for one of the most fun presenters from Young Audiences. Cathy Kammerlain came to the elementary school this morning to present a show on Georgia history. The kids learned and laughed. Her show allows for a lot of audience participation. Here is a picture of Eve at the show:

Eve represented the month of September in Georgia when we have the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain.
Now to color correct photos and upload them for the yearbook...oh, and throw in housework.

Smiles, Victoria]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/635323554134281285/comments/default 0 The Heart of the TARDIS is… http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/09/heart-of-tardis-is.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-heart-of-the-tardis-is http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/09/heart-of-tardis-is.html#comments Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:11:00 +0000 Victoria

made of yellow cake, marble cake, and buttercream frosting. Who knew?

Time And Relative Dimension In Space

Michael uses a square fondant cutter to make the windows of the police box.

He places the window panes of white fondant into the blue walls.

Rachel observes her dad's handiwork.


I printed the Police Box signs on my computer.

I suppose we could have done a cake to look like fishsticks and custard, but we nixed that idea in favor of the big blue box.
Happy 13th Birthday, Rachel!...and many more!!!]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/1946164367753778225/comments/default 0 ExterminEIGHT! http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/09/extermineight.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=extermineight http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/09/extermineight.html#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:24:00 +0000 Victoria

Yep! I, purposely, misspelled exterminate.

Eve requested Chinese food for dinner, so we went to Hunan's on Chamblee Tucker. The owner is such a cut up. He brought Eve some fried pineapple for dessert and led us in singing in a birthday song. Eve, especially, loved the spring rolls and moo goo gai pan. She kept hunting for more water chestnuts.

::::::::::::::Morning Silliness::::::::

This morning Rachel and Noah had a lip-sync contest when Word Girl came on PBS. They were hilarious. Rachel declared victory, but Noah did not acquiesce.

:::::::::Cool Kid Podcasts::::::

Aaron's World

I love that Aaron and his helpful computer do the talking in this informative podcast about dinosaurs. The episodes are just over 5 minutes and Aaron's approach to learning and teaching others is engaging.

:::::::::::::::Bee Cake Pops::::::

Well I am off to make cake pops with the Beehives at church. Check www.Bakerella.com to see what I mean.

Later, gators.]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/1876540118035299827/comments/default 0 Whoa…Can You Hear The Quiet? http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/08/whoacan-you-hear-quiet.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=whoa-can-you-hear-the-quiet http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/2010/08/whoacan-you-hear-quiet.html#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:35:00 +0000 Victoria
Then, the wee beasties were awakened for their day. Eve was so excited she only ate half of an apple. Noah had his French toast. Sabrina F. came over to catch the bus with Rachel.

Here I was playing with the curve function on Photoshop:

Noah chose to be silly for all his photos:

Here is the regular photo of Eveybug:

She got annoyed because I kept calling her Taylor Swift:

Apparently, two boxes of tissues and a roll of paper towels turns Noah into a Sherpa:

Sabrina and Rachel cutting up at the bus stop:

Rachel purchased these shoelaces that say "I love Nerds":

Rachel...the girl behind the bangs...film at 11:

Waiting for the bus is not high on the Fun-O-Meter:

:::::::::My Day::::::

I walked and read at the park, took a shower, did laundry, made beds,scowled at the ants at the sink (they are baited, so killing them would not be the best long term choice),uploaded photos, playing with some digital layouts and catching up with a little Warehouse 13 on HULU.

I hope y'all had a great day!]]> http://victoriataylor.blogspot.com/feeds/9062673825666504454/comments/default 0