Flashback: Anniversary Edition

Because we will be out of town this weekend, I decided to blog my one year wedding anniversary slightly early. Despite the fact that I was a total loon up until the moment I said "I Do", I earmark this day as the best day of my life. I hardly remember feeling so many emotions in one day. I remember crying over missing balloons, and yelling at the top of my lungs at the catering company (they mixed my order up with another wedding party). I nearly fainted at the rehearsal and sent my mother-in-law on a wild goose-chase for a large black umbrella a few hours before the wedding. I laughed until I cried when we caught a certain ring-bearer peeping through the window as the bridesmaids were dressing! And I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world as my mother helped me put on my wedding dress and veil. There are many things I don't remember about that day, but the one thing I will never forget is how loved I felt at that very moment. I am truely blessed.



Last year at this time, we were decorating this.

And making these...

Just when it seemed like everything was falling to pieces, these people came. And that definately made everything O.K.

Our first dance. Lovely photo. Very simple. Just like us.

This man is wonderful.

He has held me just like this my entire life.

I am lucky to call this man my grandfather. So very lucky.

Mmmm....very sweet!

And let's not forget about these people. You both are so much to both of us: family, friends, role-models, supporters, and the parents of our beautiful niece. We couldn't have done it without you... and we couldn't love you more!

A rainy day couldn't ruin my pictures! Mother Nature wasn't expecting the giant-mega- huge umbrella or my talented photographer!

Ahhh... the wedding cake! Very classy photo.

And that folks, is where class went out the window. I can still hear Mr. Willis saying, "No, don't do the smash!" Too bad I didn't listen! Because then, THIS HAPPENED!!!!

Not my prettiest picture ever. And for the record, I will always discourage the groom from shoveling a handful of cake up the bride's nose! I do not recall whether this cake was particularly tasty as I have no taste buds in my nose! [All has been forgiven but we no longer feed each other!]

And that's our wedding day! The craziest, funniest, and loveliest day of our lives!

The Photogenic BumbleBee....

The End of Summer....

If you're from the country, this is always a sure sign that summer has run it's course. I've always loved Fall, so this is a welcomed change. After a summer that felt like we were living on the surface of the sun, I was all too pleased for the relatively cool weather we experienced today. However, Ohioians are always treated to another week of absurdly hot days in late September or early October -commonly referred to as an Indian Summer. I've always wondered why Indians were praised (or blamed) for this last taste of summer in Ohio. If you know the answer to this, let me know.

Enough ramblings. Enjoy those last few days of green, unlittered grass, soak up some warm rays, and barbeque your last burgers because Fall is just around the corner.

How Sweet...

I think this might easily be one of my favorite photos from this summer. I just imagine that he will show her how to ride a tricycle then a bike with training wheels until one day when she gets the hang of it. Then one day he will sit in the passenger seat and teach her to drive a car and his life will never be the same. It has been incredible to see how big she has grown in such a short time. She has become a little lady with big opinions. I wish somehow we could slow her down. I sure do love taking pictures of her, she is so very special to both me and her uncle. We love you so very, very much Lily.

13 Days and Counting!!!

I can't wait to be on vacation here....

I bought all the books I am going to read on my vacation. They are the first things packed in my suitcase. Aside from a bathing suit, SPF 50 (no suntan here!), beach towel and iPod, there isn't much more I need. Most people would fly to S.C., but we enjoyed the drive so much last time we decided to drive again. Last time we came it was for our honeymoon, but this time it's a family vacation. We will be traveling with Karen, Ed and my grandparents. We will be taking the 23rd to ourselves to celebrate our first year as a married couple, but after that it's all family fun!

View From Mom's Backyard

Maannnnyyy Things to Speak of....

Lately, I have been running into the word "tradition" alot. I got to thinking what tradition really signifies to me and how it is part of my day-to-day life. Traditions are about repeating and celebrating moments that make you feel content. They are a connection between your past and present. So, here are some traditions in my life, that have been with me for as long as I can remember. My Grandparents house in Gnadenhutten, Ohio. It has been in our family for a few generations, and I still smile when I see it, as I turn the corner on their street. It always feels like home to me. My tire swing in the backyard. I haven't used it in years, but other kids have come since me, so Grandpa keeps it up. In my mind, it will always be "my tire swing". And it feels like he keeps it up just for me, in case one day I want to take a swing again.

Both of my grandmas hung their clothes out to dry on the line in the summer. I used to love to run back and forth through the sheets hanging on the lines. And nothing smells or feels better than crawling onto clean sheets that hung out to dry all day.

This picture makes me so proud. I love my grandpa and I had to have this picture of him with his new Harley. For as long as I can remember, my family has loved motorcycles and dirt bikes, and any other various ATV you can think of. It is one of the most prominent similarities between my family and Justin's.

Our family sits on the front porch. We have the best time sitting on the patio furniture in a long row talking back and forth about anything and everything. My grandma tells us all the latest stories about the family and then we talk about the neighborhood and everyone who has visited lately. We laugh and carry on a lot and there is usually food and coffee involved. Lots of wildlife visits their house and this is a new little friend of theirs. I wonder if grandma has named it yet?? teehee...

These next few photos are pictures of what the world is like where I come from. The traditions I developed here, are a big part of who I am today. As a kid, I used to ride down the road by these places for fun. I forgot just how beautiful it is and how much I missed this small family tradition.

God Speed and Sweet Dreams

Your Feature Presentation Will Begin Momentarily

Tomorrow marks the arrival of a movie I can't wait to see.....oh Rob Zombie how I love your films! It's true that you have a sick, demented, twisted mind, that dreams up the things nightmares are made of. "House of 1000 Corpses" wasn't bad and then came the sequel, "The Devil's Rejects" and my heart was stolen! The movie was grotesque and the soundtrack was right up my alley (NO "Superbeast", thankyouverymuch!). I saw "Rejects" in the theatre and more than a dozen times on DVD, and each time I root for the bad guys! How sick is that!!!



As it stands, I have a massive collection of horror flicks! But, I also have a massive collection of Christmas movies. Hmm...I might really be sick! (heeeeheee) Ya know, there are a couple of movies that I've never really been able to decide where they belong. For instance, "Gremlins". Is that Christmas or Halloween? "The Nightmare Before Christmas", where should it go? The world may never know. Alright, enough with my rambling! And now for the feature presentation of this blog posting, www.imdb.com/title/tt0373883/.

Lily's Birthday

Lillian Marie Taylor is now officially a two year old. Nearly her entire family was present as she tore through gifts, played with her cousins and ate birthday cake. Though it rained cats and dogs outside there was plenty of fun to be had at the Willis' house on Saturday! We had a chance to visit with the Dillows, whom we haven't seen in ages. Their beautiful family has grown from three to five since our last visit! Though we've watched their daughter Maddie grow into a beautiful young lady through her mama's blog, it was quite a shock to see how big she has gotten! Dillow daughter number two, Gracie, is no longer a baby, but a tornado of giggles and Gracie hugs. We didn't have a chance to visit with the latest Dillow addition (Bridget), due to naptime...:( Our only regret of the day was that we couldn't share our fun with the Persheys (Lily's Aunt, Uncle and soon-to-be new cousin). It's been more than a year since we have seen Katherine! We send our love and prayers to the new parents-to-be! Eating birthday cake at age two is much more graceful than at age one! She didn't wear a single bite this time:)

Lily and Ba-Ba serenading each other....how sweet!

I promised a copy of this photo to all parents and grandparents with children involved and so here it is! Sorry, I ran out of time to photoshop it, but it still cracks me up!

Ring around the rosie....what a beautiful moment! These two young ladies have plenty in common besides being cousins. Maddie is a wonderful big sister and will one day have to give her younger cousin pointers on what it's like to be the oldest and wisest sister!

* Anyone who would like photos emailed to them may post their email address and I will happily oblige!

Did you happen to see, the most beautiful girl in the world?

"Hey Moe Moe!" The cutest thing I ever heard!!!

"Aunt Heather, Put the camera down and dance with me!!!!!"

Conversation between me and Lily

Me: "Lily, do you want to take a bath?"

Lily: "No!"

Me: "Do you want to go to bed?"

Lily: "No!"

Me: "Lily, do you want to party?"

Lily: "I party."

So there you have it...she parties.

This child isn't even a teenager and her ear is practically glued to a phone!! Teehee

Have you ever seen anything this sweet??????

On the Lake

Some things are worth stopping for....

I had this flashback of the scene from the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy gets hungry and pulls an apple off the tree. Then the tree starts throwing apples at her and the Scare Crow...hey...I giggled!

Flowers After Rain

Hey...remember that day?

After spending just a few moments with Lily, you realize what a happy, little girl she really is. You can't help but smile at her curious nature and assertive "no's" when she does not like your suggestion of food or activities. Her ability to dance and sing to any music, any where, without rehearsal is just further proof that she is her mother's daughter.

Finnegan.... PHONE HOME!!!

Lily looks like she is going to terminate someone in this picture. Since I was unsure what kind of super Lily powers she possessed, I banished the paparazzi for the remainder of my visit.

Well...sort of. Actually, I shot this right as we were leaving. Lily was really winding down and so was her mama. They had just begun their new tradition of watching Jim Henson's " The Muppet Show" on Sunday nights. I like this picture, because it shows a real, unposed, moment happening. It's the kind of picture you pull out years later and say, "Hey, remember that day?"

As much as I love seeing these....

I am ready for fall!!!!

I'm not tired, I'm just resting my eyes....zzzzzzzz

I guess she was afraid she might miss something. I was the same way, when I was a little girl. If I knew what I was really missing at that age, I might not have been so curious! Sweet Dreams Lily!