Bryant Family Reunion 2008

As I mentioned in the previous post, we attended a family reunion Saturday and had a fabulous time. We visited with family, ate lots of good food and the kids had lots of fun playing with cousins. It's so awesome seeing a new generation come up and another batch of cousins who see each other once or twice a year playing like they see each other daily. The numbers were down a bit this year, but I believe we hit close to 60 in attendance by the end of the day.

We arrived early and had lots of down time before lunch.

How do you like that lay-up...
Joe (not so) patiently waiting to eat.
Chow time...
This is my immediate family.

Grandmother, her daughters (my mom), their children (me) and their children (my kids).
And after lunch the kids played on the playground outside.
Joe - always setting a good example for the little ones...NOT!!


And, as you can see, we were all very tired on the ride home!

Big Fat Bummer

Over the weekend Jasmine was supposed to attend her first Church Camp. She has been talking about going since the beginning of the year when they started talking it up in her Worship time. Kindergarten and 1st grade attended Day Camp (Fri & Sat) at a local ranch. About Wednesday she told me her throat was a little sore so we took extra allergy meds and gargled with salt water....fast forward to Friday....I ask her Friday morning if she still wants to go 'oh yeah' no question, she is going....I drop her off at 8:30a...by 11a the nurse is calling me saying Jasmine has fever (this is the first fever). I pick her up and take her to the doctor and she has a severe sinus infection. I felt so sorry for her having to miss out, but she was ready to go. When I got there she said 'Momma, I don't want to be at camp anymore. I don't feel good.' We picked up antibiotics on the way home so she received two doses Friday and one Saturday morning and then there was no stopping her. We attended a Family Reunion Saturday and I kept having to make her stop and sit and rest for a moment.

Taylor's Treasures

Some of you may wonder why the title Taylor's Treasures. When starting this blog, I meant it to be a journal somewhat of the kids and what they've been up to. It has been a great outlet for me and something I really miss when I am not around a computer. I love posting pictures of my Treasure's and reading other people's blogs. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

And speaking of my Treasure's here are some pictures from last Sunday before church...

Banana Nut Bread

Do you ever end up with a couple of bananas that look like this???

I don't know what it is, but when I bring a bunch of bananas home the kids eat them like crazy for the first couple days...then nothing...no matter how hard I push for a banana snack or with their breakfast they want no part of it.

I found this super easy banana nut bread recipe on Weight Watchers a few years back and when we have those yucky brown bananas, I will make a couple loaves of bread. We will eat one right away and I freeze one.

Banana Nut Bread

1 yellow cake mix
1 egg
½ cup milk
1 cup banana (2 overly ripe)
4 oz chopped pecans

Combine cake mix, egg & milk. Add bananas. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.

Pour into 2 greased pans.

350 for 40 - 45 minutes

That's it. So simple and very good and low-fat.

Outnumbered

The other night we went to a friend's house for the kids to play. They had lots of fun and while Cash made himself at home with all the 'boy' toys (i.e. ninjas, Star Wars figurines, Hot Wheels, Spiderman cards....believe me -- he was in little boy Heaven!) Jasmine was outside playing with the boys. She wore a dress over there, but when they broke out the water guns I had her put on a t-shirt with the shorts she wore under her dress. At first she was having none of it, because then she wouldn't be as cute w/o the dress...(can you sense me shaking my head in despair?). I finally convinced her and at first one of the boys said him and Jasmine were on the same team cause their guns were the same. But it soon turned into boys vs. girls -- where Jasmine did more running than shooting. They really had fun and we ended the evening with ice cream sandwiches...YUM!

And the below picture was before we hit the main road, they were both ti-errd!!

Wordless Wednesday: Guess Who Found My Mary Kay Lipstick Samples

Monday Meme (a day late)

1.What is in the back of your car? Blanket, fold-up chair, Dirt Devil that plugs into lighter.

2.What color is your toothbrush? Pink

3.Name one person who made you smile today. Cash

4.What were you doing at 8:00 AM? Sitting at my desk at work.

5. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Checking work emails and printing out those that need to be handled first – I was out of the office in training yesterday.

6. What is your favorite candy? Dove Dark Chocolate Bar

7. What is the last thing your said aloud? “Mornin’”, to my boss who just arrived. (Notice I did not say Good in front of morning, it’s already been a long one)

8. What is the best ice cream flavor? Chocolate

9. What is the last thing you had to drink? Water

10 What are you wearing right now? Black pants, burgundy top, flip-flops (left my real shoes in the van -- hence one of the reasons today is not my favorite so far)

11. What is the last thing you ate? Half a cherry Pop-Tart

12. Have you bought any new clothes this week? No

13. When was the last time you ran? Couple months ago

14. What was the last sporting event you watched? Good question – honestly can not remember.

15. Ever go camping? Yes

16. Do you have a tan? Yes

17. Do you take vitamins daily? No

18. Do you go to church? Yes

19. Do you like Chinese food more than pizza? Yes, we're making Chinese Thursday night. I can't wait.

20. Do you drink your soda with a straw? I don’t drink soda.

21. Are you someone’s best friend? Yes

22. What are you doing tomorrow? Working then swim lessons for the kids.

23. Where is your dad? At home or at work – it’s a toss up with his job, never the same schedule.

24. Can you say the alphabet backwards? Sure

25. Do you have a maid service clean your home? I wish

26. Do you have a favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? No

27. What color is your car? Green-ish

28. How do you like your popcorn? Buttery

29. How did you get your worst scar? Burned my knee on the riding lawn mower last year.

30. Look to your left. What do you see? Downtown Dallas out my office window.

31. What color is your watch? Silver

32. What do you think of when you think of Australia? The movie Muriel’s Wedding.

33. Do you use chap stick? Yes, have a tube right next to my keyboard.

34. Do you have a dog? Yes

35. Last person you talked to on the phone? My boss

36. Have you met anyone famous? Do Hockey players count??

37. Any plans today? Denny’s for dinner, one just opened in our small town and kids eat FREE on Tuesday.

38. How many states have you lived in? Two states, two countries. Texas and New York. US and Canada.

39. Do you dye your hair? Yes

40. Do you like cats? Yes, but I prefer dogs.

Missed It By THAT Much

Get the Get Smart reference in the title?? I remember watching that show when I was young, I really loved it and got to stay up late during the summer with my mom. Good memories.


Anyways, back to this post....there is nothing worse than walking to your bus stop, reaching the corner and seeing this. Ughhh!! So frustrating. I'm a pretty laid back person, but have a very full calendar. So, depending on what we have going that night, I might chance sprinting and waving my hands to have the driver stop....but mostly I just wait it out for the next one. Luckily the bus I take is an Express that goes straight from Downtown Dallas to a park and ride station that is very popular, so a bus usually comes along every 10-15 minutes in the afternoons. I know what your thinking, why don't you just leave for the bus stop earlier. You would think that'd be the answer, but apparently my computer gives off a signal as I shut it down and that is when everyone realizes they have a question or a problem they would like me to help them with. I used to feel compelled to hear them out, but recently I've learned to say 'Send me an email or see me tomorrow, I have a bus to catch' and just keep walking.

A New Look

I thought I would change it up a bit for the summer. How do you like?

Free template courtesy of http://www.suckmylolly.com/ , check out her design gallery!

Wordless Wednesday: A Storm Blew Threw Yesterday

See this....

1

...this is exactly how he was positioned in my belly.

At any given time I could feel those knees poking out.

Is It Monday Already?

Our weekend was full, but relaxing at the same time. I was able to read quite a bit between activites, which is something I love to do. Joe can watch movies all day long, (and on some days I can too) but I prefer sitting in a comfy chair with my legs up reading a book....or on our porch, I love to sit on the porch and read...and sometimes I even lay on the trampoline (when the kid's aren't on it, of course)...anyways, I think you get the point. I was able to read quite a bit this weekend and that was COOL!

We also had other stuff going on...

Friday on my way home from work I picked up a friend of Jasmine's for a sleepover. They played dress up and watched movies and played Barbie's and pretty much had a wonderful time...

We also made cupcakes.

Funny-every time we have someone over for a sleepover they ask when we are going to bake and what are we making. It is just a given. I often wonder if they think it is something we do every night.

**doesn't everyone's mixer come with three beaters?**

NO?? That's OK, just dip one of the other attachments into the batter so everyone has one to lick!!

Don't forget the sprinkles, must always have sprinkles!!

Saturday we had planned on going to the real water park, but it rained really hard in the morning. Finally, the sun came out so we went to the local park for the kid's to play in the water later that afternoon.

On the way home from the park we stopped for super yummy snow cones, picked Joe up and headed to our friends house.

Thanks to hand me downs Jasmine had this outfit in two sizes and gave her friend the smaller one. I thought they looked ADORABLE!!

Our friends made the most yummy kabobs on the grill -- with beef, chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, onions, peppers and pineapple -- I ate way too much!!

They also have the video game ROCK BAND

Sunday after church we went to lunch at Gram's where I made a new recipe that ROCKED!!

Sopapilla Cheesecake -- so good and easy.


And that evening for Father's Day we made steaks and barbecue grilled asparagus on the grill.

Another one of my favorites.

Today Jasmine started a new summer program and I am anxious to pick her up to see how she likes it. They have fun activities planned throughout the summer and she is very excited.

Girl's Night Out

~ ~ Girl's Night ~ ~

Last night the girl's from our small group went out to a FREE concert in the park -- and left the kids home with the men. I have to say, we had a fabulous time. Only three of us could make it last night and we were almost giddy getting out of the house without the kids.
So much fun, hope to do it again soon!!

Breaking Free...

Guess who got loose again....

Swimming Lessons

This week the kids started swim lessons. Monday it stormed here in the evening, but had died down by the time for swim lessons (I called the pool to verify they were having them before wasting my precious gas driving out there). They were still on - so out we went. The kids were so excited, but COLD! In with the rain came a cold front (at least for Texas) and the temperature dropped to about 70.

When it was time for classes to start they came out and called the names in Jasmine's class and they headed to the pool. Next they came and called the names for Cash's class. As they headed into the pool all the moms of the little ones followed...until we were told we needed to wait outside of the pool area. I was OK with it, but wasn't sure how Cash would handle it. He's still not too sure about swimming alone. He stayed with the group and didn't worry about where mommy was (too much).

Here he is looking for me, but I am outside the fence

He was happy there was a boy teacher too. He wasn't too excited about getting into the water to play ring around the rosy at first so one of the instructors stayed back with the ones not ready to dive in. He eventually decided playing with the others would be more fun and moved on.

Jasmine did great, she was ready to go from the start.


At the end of class they got to go down the frog slide.
Cash's class is only 30 minutes while Jasmine is 45.

So after his class was over he got to play on the playground outside of the pool area.

And I thought this was very cool, the playground has a wheelchair ramp. I had never seen that before.

We Just Keep on Truckin'

Another jam packed weekend for our house. By Sunday evening, we were all ti-red!

After when I picked the kids up we went to the new water area I mentioned last week. The whole park is not completed yet (meaning a partial playground and no bathrooms...yikes), but we had fun with what was there.

Saturday I was up at the crack of dawn and went grocery shopping (since the rest of our weekend was spoken for). After I returned and finished putting up groceries...and baking a cake for our evening commitment...we hit the road.

First stop was a birthday party for my nephew Luke.

Wait -- back-up -- on the way to the party Jasmine called her cousin/best friend Kaja who has moved to California. They are so cute when they get on the phone...I just had to snap a picture.
OK -- back to the party.

WOW, what a place...go-karts, bumper boats, arcade, laser tag, miniature golf and best of all (according to Cash) Spiderman!!

Cash was like a stalker when Spiderman was walking around. That was all he could focus on, didn't want to have anything to do with games or rides...here are just a few shots

Once Spiderman finally went away, we were able to get down to business.

First was game time, each kid got a cup full of tokens.


After games was pizza, cake and presents...blah blah blah

Then to the good stuff....well miniature golf anyways...which my kid's bored with real quick

Now, we get really get to the good stuff....GO KARTS!! We had so much fun!!

Jasmine rode with me and Cash rode with Grandpa John...Yeehaw!


After go-karts was bumper boats, which was quite refreshing in the heat.
We all walked away good and WET!

This adventure took a little longer than I anticipated and we had thirty minutes from the time we got home until we needed to be out the door. During this time I assembled the cake I had baked in the morning.

**tip--if you live in Texas--when you frost your cake with Cool Whip, it is liable to melt on the way to where you are going -- even if your commute is only 15 minutes :(

Oh well, cake was still yummy. After baking you poke holes in the cakes and pour Jell-O over them then put them in the fridge for three hours so it can Jell. I also put a layer of strawberries in between the two layers.

We spent the evening with our small group from Sunday School and had a great time.

Sunday after Church one of the couples asked if we wanted to meet them at the water park after lunch, but I just wasn't up to it. A girl has gotta rest sometimes!! After a lunch of grilled cheese and tomato soup, I totally vegged out....at least for a few hours. That evening we had Orientation for Jasmine's Church day-camp she will be going to the end of June.

That's it, that's all she wrote....I was completely pooped and went straight to bed when we got home. Until I saw lights driving down our driveway....only they didn't stop at the house, they kept going out into our pasture. I woke Joe up and we both ran outside...turns out one of the neighbors horses had busted loose and thought our grass had more to offer than his. So our neighbor is driving his truck around in the back 40 trying to chase the horse down with only his headlights as guidance. Joe and I went back into the house and watched out the back window with amusement for awhile, then headed off to bed.