Edisto Island

Sorta Snow Day

Last Thursday Greenville County called off school for icy roads. It wasn't bad around our parts, but I heard it was bad in Simpsonville where I work so I was glad for that. My little family had a nice leisurely day in the house--just what we needed. I feel like we've been going so much lately that we come home in time to take baths and go to bed. For two weeks we had something almost every night. So we loved just staying in our pjs all day and resting. Quay and Ava especicially enjoyed it.

Sam also took a four hour nap that day, but I didn't dare try to take a picture of him for fear he'd wake up. While they napped I cleaned a little bit then started some of Sam's scrapbook pages. Here they are

The most perfect day for Ava

Yes I'm still alive. I have been MIA for an embarrasingly long amount of time. Day to day stuff makes the days I've missed turn in to months, and all of a sudden I haven't blogged in 9 months! I could've had a baby in the amount of time I've missed on here!! (No I'm not pregnant :))

Last Saturday we took Ava to see Disney Princesses on Ice. Sherry, or as Ava calls her Grandma's Sherry, bought tickets for all the women and girls in our family to see the Princesses together. We knew we had pretty good seats, but I was not prepared for how good Sherry hooked us up!

You see the four people sitting on the very front row? So close they could trip the skaters if they wanted? Yeah, that was us. Don't be jealous :)

Ava was extremely excited to go see the princesses. I love this age, because everything's so real to her. I'm not sure she blinked through the entire thing. Actually, I don't think any of us blinked. My mom and sister and I loved it as much as she did. The princess were gorgeous, the princes were dashing, and the dancing and skating was amazing. The best part was that we were right at the podium where they would do part of the scene. Ava would grab my hand any time a villain came on stage, particularly the evil stepmother from Cinderella. Here's a picture of her eating her snow cone while watching Cinderella.

Ava kept asking if the show was almost over. At first I thought she was becoming bored and wanted to go home. When it was over, she asked if we could stay and if they'd come back out. She was asking if it was over because she was worried we would have to leave! We had to talk her in to leaving the auditorium at the end.

Ava absolutely loved the show, and I know all of us adults did as well. For just a few hours, you're transported back to Ava's age, believing in fairy tales, believing in magic, and thinking when you grow, you're going to be just like them.

Thanks so much Sherry for the tickets! It's something we'll always remember!

Happy Birthday time!

Where did this year go?!? It seems like only yesterday Quay, Ava, and I were left church to meet my parents at FATZ for their meat and three Sunday meal. I ordered a humongous portion of country style steak with gravy and all the fixin's. We came home for all of us to take a nice Sunday afternoon nap. After getting Ava up, I sat down on the couch to cut coupons, and my water broke. Four short hours later, Sam turned our family of three in to a family of four. Sam has been the absolute perfect addition to our small family. He's calm when Ava's wild, he's always in a good mood where her female personality of mood swings is starting to show. He always has a smile on his face-he can be losing his lunch, look up at you, and grin like he's the happiest he's ever been. He's a wonderful sleeper, loves his naps, and would rather you lay him down and let him fall asleep on his own rather than rocking him. I do wish I could rock him more, but I know I'll be grateful he lays down on his own as he gets older. Actually, I do go to his room every once in a while after everyone's asleep, pick him up and rock him for a few minutes. Shhh, don't tell! Quay and I are extremely blessed that out of all the couples in the world, God chose us to lead him through this world.

Happy Birthday Sam!!! We couldn't have picked a better, more perfect son if we had tried. Here are some pictures through the year:

March 15, 2009 8:49 pm

April 2009--Ava's already stealing his stuff


May 2009--Sam's favorite napping spot

July 2009--Scott Family trip to Edisto

August 2009-your NEW favorite napping spot


September 2009--He was so proud when he could sit up on his own

November 2009--Thanksgiving at the Beach with his best friend

December 2009--This is the "Little Papa Taylor" picture

January 2010--Jump Zone fun

February 2010--snack time

March 15, 2010--Happy Birthday!!

Sweet Sam

It doesn't

get much

cuter than

this!!

Iron Man!

Quay became interested in triathlons about three weeks before Ava was born. He went in to a triathlon store to be fitted for a new pair of running shoes. He and I joined a gym after we were married, and he was starting to run a little more and hadn't bought shoes in a while. Anyway, he came home from the store and said, "You know, I look as in shape as some of those guys. If they can do a triathlon, I bet I can, too." That's all it took for him to get started. Now, this is when I was at my biggest, so while I was still gaining weight and waddling like a penguin, Quay started losing lots of weight....this wasn't a real nice time for him to start gettin all fit!

The first year he concentrated on just getting fit enough and building his endurance enough to do sprints. Those are triathlons that take a little over an hour to complete. The swim and bike can vary a little, but the run was almost always a 5k. Around the end of the triathlon season--late fall--he decided he wanted to do some longer distances. He got a wild hair and signed up for the Florida Ironman. I remember we had to leave early one Sunday morning for him to get home and get on the computer. He had to be on the computer when the registration opened in order to get a spot.

The next year, he spent hours upon hours training for the Ironman, and longer distance triathlons. He did a few international distance triathlons, a marathon, and a half ironman. The international distance is somewhere between the sprint triathlon and a half ironman. Many Saturdays I woke up to an empty bed because Quay would leave around 5 am for 5 and 6 hour bike rides. I do admit, there were certain times I'd get fed up with the amount of time he spent exercising. But most of the time I was okay with it, because I know this is something he really enjoys and has become very good at.

Man, I didn't expect this post to be this long! Anyway, to make a long story short, (haha it's alreadyong!) Quay competed and completed the Florida Ironman last weekend! His goal was to finish under 11 hours. First off, I can't imagine doing any type of exercise for 11 hours, unless shopping becomes a sport. Here are some pictures of the race!

Quay checking all of his gear before the race.

The mass start. Quay said it was like in the movie Titanic when it showed all of the people trying to tread water when the ship went down. He said he was beat up for the first half of the swim with everyone kicking and swimming.

Woo hoo! He finished!

Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside...

We sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" last night in church, and I remembered how much I love that song. I really enjoy all the contemporary praise and worship music that's out on radio now, but there's something about the old hymns that still touch my heart like other music can. While we were singing it, I got to the verse that says:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!

I began to think of all the blessings God has graciously given me, and how unworthy I am of them. Ava and Sam are by far and away the sweetest children I could have asked for. Yes, there are times when I get tired, frustrated, ill, and mad. I think all parents have those days. But they can always make me smile, calm me down after a bad day, and make me happier than I ever thought I'd be with children. I knew I'd love them, but I don't think I realized the depth of that love before I had them. I think it's a kind of love that you don't know exists until you become a parent. I thank God for them and that He's entrusted me with them while here--it's a job that I'm truly not worthy of. He's blessed me far more than I could have hoped for or even imagined.