Hi My Name is Taylor

and I'm addicted to....

Caffeine in any form, Shoes, Handbags, Chocolate, Sewing, Shopping, and playing the Wii.

I have been sober for.... Okay never.

I have had my Caffeine addiction for a good 10 years. Shoes for as long as I can remember. The handbag addiction started when I was 5 sitting in the mall having a nice temper tantrum when I pulled my two bottom teeth out. Blood pouring everywhere I was still screaming people were looking at my mother as if she was beating me.

All of this over darn Valentine cards.

Chocolate is my weakness always has been and I'm sure always will be. I have worked in a Chocolate Shop and I'm thinking I should own one. Maybe that isn't a good idea I wouldn't have a chance to sell any because I would be eating the product. I would end up being the size of a house and would never be able to leave.

Sewing is one of the newer addictions and well I don't think it will be stopping anytime soon.

Shopping well I'm a girl who loves to accessorize. This also feeds the handbag and shoe addiction.

The Wii is the devil and whoever decided that we needed to have one should be placed in a padded room for thinking it was okay for us to have one in the house.

While non of my addictions have stopped I do have to say I have been able to alter them a bit to allow time and money for other addictions.

I feed my caffeine addiction at home no longer paying almost 5 bucks a cup at Starbucks. This allows for me to buy fabric to feed the sewing addiction. As for the Handbag and Shoe problem I only buy knock offs you know the good ones so I am able to have more and not feel guilty when only paying $50-$100 each when the alternative would require me to take out a nice size bank loan. Right now I'm sporting a $10 super cute old navy bag while wearing my mom clogs that only cost me okay $150. They allow me to appear taller without being forced to risk breaking an ankle in heels.

Since leaving the Chocolate shop it has been sold, ran into the ground and is no longer in business. So I have had to depend on Peanut Butter cups and KitKats over the years. My pallet missing Fremont Gold Cups that had the most perfect balance of White Chocolate and Peanut Butter that I have attempted many times to recreate.

As for the Wii it's still too new for me to be able to find an alternate option.

I should be shipped off, placed in a padded room subject to hours of shock therapy.

Or...

I could get a JOB.

I like the first option better!

Until Next Time,
Just MOM

Donald R Capstick

Class of 1930 Horseshoe Altoona High School. Donald R Capstick pictured bottom left.

On October 21, 1910 you became a Son and a Brother.

Shortly after High School you met your one and only love. And you waited...

Once Margie turned 18 you became a Husband and a Father to Donald Capstick Jr.

You survived World War II and became a Hero.

You retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.

On December 28, 1959 you became a Grandfather for the first time to Faith Wynn Capstick. Less than 2 years later you welcomed your second Granddaughter Robin Amy Capstick on November 2, 1961. They spent Summers with you filled with swimming trips and great vacation stories.

September 14, 1983 you became my Hero!

This was the day you became a Great Grandfather my Great Grandfather.

The 12 short years that we spent together were some of the best years. Great memories were created some that I will never forget.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Mom and I would come to visit you in Spokane from Seattle arriving many hours past my bedtime. You would greet us at the door with the smell of coffee for mom. While she unloaded the car you treated me to a maple bar and a root beer float.

Before going to bed I checked out the fridge that was always filled with my favorite foods that you had picked up just for me. You always took a trip to the commissary the morning before we arrived.

Mornings were filled with shredded wheat cereal with a sliced banana sprinkled with a bit of sugar. We played Go Fish for hours and for some reason you always knew I would need the calculator with a fresh roll of paper.

On one trip to your house you gave Mom and Amy brand new cars. You were worried I would feel left out so you took an early morning trip to the PX and picked me up a pink and white bike with a super cool banana seat. You always knew just what I wanted as if I had picked it out myself. You watched for hours as I rode my new bike in your driveway.

I loved visits to your house during the spring. Snap Dragon's lined your house I couldn't help, but pick them. We watched the birds eat from the front window of your house you always had fresh bread crumbs for them. On one of our Spring visits you took me out to the PX with you. I feel in love with a jacket I didn't even have to ask. You pulled it off the rack and we took it home. The next morning I woke up to the same Jacket in every color they had. You had snuck back out to the PX before we woke up.

Don't get me wrong it wasn't the things you would buy for me it was always the thought behind it. Like the time I had this one pair of shoes you found the same ones on base and knowing how much I loved them. You figured that I needed them in the next two sizes.

You always held the car door open for me anywhere we went. You talked of my black eyes that looked just like Margie's. One day while watching cartoons you walked into the room to catch me twirling my hair just like she did. You always told me that I reminded you of her and how much she would have loved me.

Mom, Amy and Myself moved you closer to us in Seattle. Figured that you needed to be closer to family. I was so grateful of the years I got to spend countless days with you. Not just weekends here and there. Go Fish was still played almost daily you always had maple bars and you showed me how to make the perfect root beer float.

You spent 84 years on this earth. Your passing was sudden and not expected, you waited for us girls to say goodbye. I held your hand and told you how much I loved you. I cried and kissed you one last time. You passed away on September 24, 1994 you were laid to rest next to your one and only love. You gave me one of the greatest gifts ever. I will never forget our trip to Washington DC. A city so beautiful and filled with so much history. I know I complained the day of your funeral. I'm sure you understand dresses were never my thing. Plus it was the hottest September in years I was wearing heels without tights and feet hurt. I jumped every time the guns went off during your 21 gun salute. My heart felt as though it was torn into pieces when I was handed the flag. Until that moment it didn't seem real....

You were the most amazing man I had ever met...

I often wish that you could have lived to meet my babies. They would have loved you. You would have loved them. I tell them stories about their Great Great Grandfather and show them photos. They don't really understand, but one day I hope they will tell their children about you.

I live for the day we can venture back to Washington DC show them the sights and bring them to your resting place at Arlington National Cemetery. Don't worry we will all wear pants and good waking shoes.

Thank You for the wonderful years we spent together, the memories created, and the stories you shared.

I love you and miss you, but I know you are watching over us.

With All My Love,

Taylor

Politics Set Aside for a Moment

If you are a democrat or Republican it doesn't matter....

How Super Cool would it be to live in the White House?

I would be like a kid in a candy store.

Washington DC is one of the coolest places I have ever been.

My oldest cant wait for tomorrow "Hey Mom, did you know that tomorrow the new President starts his new job?"
While pouring a cup of coffee "I know Aves"
"Mom wouldn't it be cool if it was your job to run the whole country?"

Then before I could answer he went back to playing the Wii.

I guess Mr. Aves has been listening to everything we have been talking about!

Until Next Time,
Just MOM

Once Upon a Time

I wanted to go on a Cruise. Now I don't think there is enough money in the world to pay me to step foot on one.

I don't want to end up in the headlines. Mom of 3 missing from Cruise Ship last seen....

Then it will be left up to Mr. Montana to find a picture of me so the FBI and whom ever else can post it all over the new,web and papers. No thank you I will be staying on dry land.

Maybe I will sit down with everyone and point out what pictures would be okay to use if I were to ever go missing. The last thing I want is to have some horrid photo of me all over the news. I'm sure people wouldn't think twice about trying to find me. If I was some crazy messed up haired lady with no make up on giving one of my hurry up, and take the darn photo smiles.

Now as far as flying to a Vacation destination anytime soon. I think I will take a rain check as well.

If flying the first day planes were up in the air after September 11 dealing with everything I dealt with that day. Nothing like having an FBI agent wish you a Happy 18Th Birthday. I guess I should have known before asking the question I did. " How did you know it was my birthday?" he followed with " Miss Rucker we know everything about everyone on this flight." It was at that point I proceeded to freak out and think if going all the way to LA for a tattoo on my 18Th birthday was really worth it. We were grounded for many hours and yes I was one of the few people who got back on the plane. It's not like I had another option... I guess I could have walked all the way to LA from San Jose Airport.

Stinks that it was my 18Th birthday and not the big 21. It was free Happy Hour for the rest of that flight. I don't think they would have checked my ID, but I wasn't taking any chances after hearing "Miss Rucker we know everything about everyone on this flight" NO THANK YOU.
Before arriving at LAX airport I was put through the torture of having everyone sing Happy Birthday to me over the intercom on the flight, was given a barf bag filled with fun goodies that I have saved to this day minus the peanuts those were gone in 2.2 seconds.

If that didn't stop me from flying the recent crash landing in the Hudson sure did. Even though everyone is okay I'm not taking any chances.

I'm not sure how I got onto this tangent today. From Cruise Ships to Flying....
Maybe its time to get my day started?

Stay tuned who knows maybe one day I will go into detail on my wonderful September 14th 2001 flight from H E double hockey sticks.

Until Next Time,
Just MOM

Foto Finish Friday

I had big plans for this weeks Foto Finish Friday. As always life got busy and well yesterday turned out to be a bit lame.

Alright so yesterday's plan turned into me taking a almost 4 hour nap with the kids. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to drink coffee at almost 9 at night before Greys started. If I wasn't awake enough after the nap the coffee sure did it's job. The job I wish it would do in the morning.

After walking for over an hour with Daisy the Amazing pup and Angel I tossed and turned all night long. I should have rolled myself out of bed and worked on the blog that I was planning on posting today, but every time I thought about getting up. I figured it would only be moments before I drifted off to la la land.

So you will have to wait another week for the super cool plan of the blog I was brewing in my head. Here are a few of my favorite photos from over the years. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!

All of the photos were taken while we were on Vacation in Mr. Montana's Hometown of Bozeman.

The first picture is of Bella and Avery. Avery was having a blast dressing up and well as you can tell Bella had no desire to play along. I won Mom of the year forcing her to wear the outfit anyway and snapping a photo of her screaming.

Above: My sweet baby boy on his first horseback riding adventure. Below: Bella petting a Donkey
Here are the photos from Avery very first Motorcycle ride with Grandpa.

Bella beating up her brother while waiting for old faithful. Don't you love how everyone is looking at the kids.
"Look Mom I caught a Fish"
Avery on Grandpa's Excavator
Miss Chloe eating Yogurt. Miss Chloe spent a ton of time in the high chair eating over the two weeks we were there. I think the main reason being that Nanna's bird always had to share with her. Chloe was amazed by the talking bird who ate everything she did.

Miss Bella petting a cow.

Bella's first time riding a horse.
This is my all time FAVORITE photo I have ever taken! This was the last photo I took while at Yellowstone. I wish I could tell you where we were, but by the end of that day everything was a blur.

I hope you enjoyed our families vacation photos. See ya next week for Foto Finish Friday.

If you want to see more blogger's Favorite photos head on over to Candid Carrie and Check them out! http://carriestuckmann.blogspot.com/

Thanks for Stopping by!

Until Next Time,

Just MOM

The Plan

Mop Floors

Vacuum

Clean Kitchen

Eat Lunch

Force All Children to NAP ( so I can play the Wii )

Blog at some point

Do Laundry all day (Cause I'm just that Cool)

Maybe attack Clothes Mountain

Go for a walk 12 hours from now in the cold while suffering from hypothermia for the second night in a row!

So that's my plan!
Anyone care to join me in my cleaning adventure?

It's already 11:30 I'm sure I'm not going to get everything done but at least its a plan right?

OMG I ROCK!!!

I gave the shower a good scrub down today. I showered myself then I went into a cleaning rampage! Maybe cleaning the shower really does sets the tone for the day...

After the shower I moved onto sweeping the bathroom floors with every intention of moping the floors. I never did get to that, but I cleaned my room. That included making the bed, sweeping the floors and forcing my children to remove every single last toy they had in our room. I even washed Daisy's dog bed's.

Then I told the big kids that if they helped me pick up the family room and put all their toys away we could hit the park after naps. I only had to threaten with tossing toys in the trash a few times!

OMG I cleaned almost the whole first floor of my house. If only there were a few more hours in my day I would have been able to get to the kids rooms, playroom and my sewing room.

The sewing room was clean until the moment I was in the shower cleaning it. When Bella and Chloe decided to do a little sewing. In other words there is fabric tossed all over the place.

Who knows maybe one day I will get my whole house cleaned at once.

Mr. Montana was surprised on how much I got done today. To think its almost 9pm now and I'm not even close to being ready for bed. I think there might be some Wii playing in my future tonight!!!!

Until Next Time,
One Rockin' MOM