So Miss Julie the BLOGGER OF THE MONTH...you challenged your dad to challenge me...so I hope my answers are adequate, I am writing this at almost 1am! Google, who needs GOOGLE to answer these?

If I could be a famous person in history it would be Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. First Lady. Not because she lost her husband in a horrific way, but because she handled herself with such beauty and elegant sophistication. She didn’t give up after her life with President Kennedy was cut short, she held her head up and went on to become a book editor. She wasn’t perfect but she didn’t give up either…that’s my girl!

If I could be a famous celebrity I would be Patricia Heaton! I love her humor, her walk with God, she raises 4 boys with humor and discipline! She is hysterical…isn’t that enough?

If I could be a famous athlete, I would be…Florence Griffiths Joyner! I would see this woman running from time to time. I knew she loved running, she had the outfits to show off her skills, she always looked determined and dedicated to her running. I would see her around town, shopping with her daughter, eating, etc. I knew she was the “running lady.” Then ONE day, I saw the news trucks sitting at the corners of Felipe and Alicia, and I knew something was up. When I got home that hot day I remember turning on the news and hearing that this woman had died, then I saw her picture, I knew it was the “running lady” that I had no idea she held a famous title! Now, I am NO runner, trust me that wouldn’t be pretty so I am not wanting to be her because of her running, it is because she represented a wife, mom, and someone determined till her life was cut short! She was always poised and beautiful, this made me admire her!

If I could be a famous musician I would be Faith Hill, let’s just start with she’s gorgeous, she is married to Tim McGraw! Need I say more? Ok, I will though, her music is amazing! She has a great spirit about being a mom on the go and raising her children! She gets to live out of a motor home…well, that one is EWWWW but the rest is great! Maybe I should be her caterer, “Hi, this is Heather and I want to be your caterer?” Sound good? I love this woman…CAN I PLEASE BE HER?

If I could be a famous Christian Mover and Shaker…I can’t say Patricia Heaton again, can I? She may not be a “famous” Christian mover and Shaker but STILL very funny! SO, I will say Kirk Cameron, anyone who was a professed atheist, who now is a follower of Christ and adopts THAT many kids…is a mover and shaker! He produces Christian based shows and movies, HE ADORES his family, and he is more than interested in sharing God’s word with the world!

PS...I tag Brian, Cassandra and John Wright..."can we tag facebookers...Brian asks?" HA HA!

Did my husband seriously ask me that? Ok, here's the story...all my kids are at Summer Spectacular at church this week. The 2 oldest volunteering and Kelly attending. Now, Monday's are set aside for a few chores, picking up kids, and going to the Beach in the afternoon and evening...every Monday! So, here today is Tuesday. Usually I work, but today I have a day off! So, I am home ALONE! My husband kisses me good-bye, and on his way DOWN the stairs says "what are you going to do today since the kids won't be home?" NOW, keep in mind that Summer Spectacular is ONLY 3 hours and then they have to be picked up! So, in my haste I wanted to say back "what am I doing today???" but I held my tongue...let's see..

Last nights Beach towels and clothes sit outside the laundry room waiting to be washed keeping in mind that they are FULL of sand that has made it's way to my wood floors and tile! GUESS WHO IS CLEANING THAT UP!

The cooler still needs to be unloaded (the sodas and water aren't going to walk themselves to the garage refrigerator)

AND LAY IN BED, EAT BON BON'S AND WATCH SHOWS THAT MAKE NO SENSE!

Ok, not the last one but that is the one I wanted to say...I didn't! I love my husband dearly, he has the BIGGEST servants heart out of ANYONE I have EVER met in my life, he loves me deeply (ask A-LO...ha ha)! I know he wasn't questioning what I am going to do today but out of my haste and frustration for wanting some ALONE time to do laundry, sweep, and take a shower, I just smiled and said..."anything you need me to do, honey?"

Hold on, I dropped a bon bon on the couch, where is the remote...let me find it!

My phone got wet, really wet, the screen is soaked in water! I didn't do it! I left my phone in the kitchen at work to go HELP someone, out of my Christian heart and duty to my job and the people I serve! I came back to find my phone sitting in water, not where I left it and wet! Yes, wet! Whoever is the nice person that returned my phone to the kitchen it was VERY nice of you but you laid my phone in water! It wasn't on purpose, I know it wasn't, I know you meant to lay it on the table and make sure I saw it. Unfortuately, I knew where it was when I left it (yes, those of you who know me IT'S TRUE I DID) and didn't need to have it returned. I thank this person, yet I wish they would have thought that my phone might not be waterproof! Yes, it's true it has been proven to be waterproof before when I dropped it in a cup of ice tea and it still worked but this time it decided that it would NOT cooperate! Now, it powers up, it starts to work but then in its PMS moody kind of girly way it shuts down! Also the touch screen doesn't work AT ALL! I am sad and what makes me sadder is I gave my teenage daughter my pretty pink RAZR and she shattered it at the beach the other day, so she has returned to her crappy free phone and I have NO phone! Yes, this is a sad day or better yet, a good day! A day off from my ringing phone! Only there are a few people I desire to hear from often, my husband, my children and my best friend! I crave the text messages I get from my husband and best friend through-out the day! I will be disconnected, lost and unreachable! Oh LORD, what will I do?!!? Also, I am guessing, just guessing that since my phone was purchased on EBAY it is not insured by my phone company so this means a large purchase is coming my way! TEARS :( :( :(!!!!

Until last Tuesday I really believed I was one age...actually a year OLDER than I really am. For years I have moved up a year, only not taking the time to add the years somewhere in there I added a year! I also added a year for my husband as wer are a year and 2 days apart. Thinking this year was one of the "hump" years on the way OVER...I was feeling a little...well, OLD!
Sitting on the beach next to my best friend we were talking about age and music. Her husband and I have always been the same age only he DIDN'T add a year! Somehow, I gained a year and he didn't!
Realizing I am actually not as old as I THOUGHT I was made me happy, yet thinking that alzhimers made me feel...well, sad or stupid! I also realized that my step-father and I are A LOT closer in age than I really thought...EWWWW and creepy!
So, in September I will celebrate the same birthday I celebrated last year as the same age as I am going to be this year...GET IT!

The fair is one of those things that I could skip easily...not my favorite. I think what made this night amazing was our group of people, the smiles on the faces of all the kids with us, the awe in the eyes of those eating the food, the laughter, the ability to say "I HATE RIDES" from us "older" folks, and just the overall atmosphere of happiness.
So, I wanted to share a few photos and a few highlights:

Watched a friend eat a $10 corndog in a minute and a half and not throw up!

Running from ride to ride and not having to go on them...
THIS RIDE WAS STUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watching the little ones play the games, win...and bring home...the junk they won!

Pat and I still hating the rides

OUR FAMILY WAS ON THIS...WE WEREN'T!!!

The FOOD...wow...is there ANYTHING they DON'T FRY!

Watching another friend eat until he almost threw up...has it happened yet?

All and all, it was a great day and evening. We took a second out to pay for it but it was all worth it! HA HA! We were told it was the greatest day EVER! We heard one of the kids say "I could LIVE here"....dear God do I here the words "I want to be a carnie," I hope not but it still made the day worth every minute!

I would love to share pics and stories but one it is VERY late and we are VERY tired. Two, all the pics are on my phone and I haven't sent them to my puter yet as the phone battery is dying.

So....until tomorrow at some point you will just have to wait to hear all about it! Just know that EVERYONE that joined us was SO GREAT! We had an amazing time, our feet hurt, our bellies are full, lots of money was left there, and I EVEN left the ground for 1 ride (those who know me should be proud)!

Good night and Good-bye for another year...to the OC FAIR!

So blog worthy....sitting on the beach in Newport today watching my kids play (those who know me, know that this is one of my favorite things), my friend Lisa and I spot a pod of about 12 dolphins. As we are watching our teenage sons boogie board, they too spot the "dolphins" only they can only see the fins! I say to all those around me "watch Matt and Mike think they see a shark" because now they are running Godspeed out of the water! Sure enough, my son in his new found deep voice gets to the shore line and yells "SHARKS!" He is confused as to why everyone is not panicing??? We turn him around and show him the pod of dolphins and the poor kid just laughed! Now as I sit here blogging this on the memo portion of my phone to send it later they are all back in the water chasing and trying to play with the dolphins! I think Brian just touched one or he is getting ready to sacrifice Kelly to them! HA HA! Great fun day and great friends, lots of new skin color!

With 7 kids, 4 jobs, 2 husbands and 4 dogs between us, my best friend Lisa and I have a VERY hard time getting our schedules in sync. So, with much planning and begging (bosses, co-workers, kids) we set a date to get our families together for a barbecue and swim at her house.
Walking in to warm hugs, cold beverages, and a beautiful pool we knew that all the begging and planning was worth it!
We had the most AMAZING WONDERFUL visit. The food was wonderful (I hear, I actually still can't chew), the conversations and laughter were incredible, the memories shared (we have been friends since one of us was 12), kids swam, played pool and laughed together. There was no moment that was a regret, I swear I don't think I even heard the siblings bicker! The night did not end till the wee hours of the morning because no one wanted to say "good-bye!" We miss our time together and cherish EVERY second.
We love our extended family and REALLY need to make more time to be together!
THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL VISIT and another night of memories! Pics to follow...Lisa took lots!

My good friend was at Costco in Aliso Viejo on Friday, July 13th. She was enjoying an ice cream with her mother when the "MAN" came into her view! Now, she watched the man from afar, interact, talk, and just be enjoyable! She needed to know more about "THE MAN" and then...he was gone.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Now, he had no ring, which could mean that he wasn't married. This would be her wish. He also wore a polo shirt with the word "sports" on it, but couldn't read the rest(no google didn't help). He was around 6'3, dark hair, clean cut, newspaper under his arm and kind to all who crossed his path.

This friend deserves a kind, nice, good looking man for her life! We need to help her find him again and short of eating Costco Hot Dogs for lunch for the next 6 months, we are desperate! So, I blog to my friends who may know who the man at Costco in Aliso Viejo is (he seemed comfortable there, like her goes there often) to help us!
I WILL REWARD WITH A WARM MEAL!

It's just so great when things start working out and people are happy! It's fun to watch other people be SO happy! I love when my family/friends are happy and things work out for them!

It's a GOD THING! Stay tuned for more!

Today my daughter Holly and I needed to go shopping for let's just say "girly things you wear under your clothes." We were in the dressing room at Kohl's and were were laughing, then Holly leans against the walls of the room! THEY FELL APART! Yes, door and all! Here is a picture of her yelling at me to stop the insanity and get out of that room before the whole set of walls come crashing down! FUN DAY! Only we had to quickly dress and run!

I broke down and got Kelly her first surfboard today! Yes, the 7 year old CAN surf and bugging the guys and kids to use theirs got a little old! We saw some kids using these foam boards at Doheny and thought it would be a great first board for her. Hopefully, she will jump off before ramming HER fins into the rocks! She looks adorable on this 8 foot board and I can't wait to see her running down the beach with it and catching some waves!

NOTHING KEEPS THIS GIRL DOWN!

Tonight I am reflecting on a wonderful day I had with my kids. I worked half day and needed to run some errands after, but my day turned out to be a mixture of great moments. After picking up my kids at home and the begging to bring friends, go other places subsided, they gave into a day with mom.
We first went to Mission Viejo mall because Holly needed makeup and I friend offered to show me some diamonds to replace my missing one. The kids were ALL in great moods and I didn't hear "can we go now" and "I need food/drink, etc" every five minutes. After finishing there we were off to the Irvine Spectrum. This is where the moments are came together in gratefulness that we are doing the right thing...my kids really are great kids.
First and amazing moment came when my son Matt (14yr) offered to take his little 7 year old sister on the Merry-Go-Round...huh? Did I hear him correctley? Yes, the boy who 2 months ago as a junior higher wouldn't be caught dead on a Merry-Go-Round with his little sister was actually offering WITHOUT being asked! Also, his shining moments came when he carried ALL our purchases insisting we don't and even making trips to the car to drop off bags..WITHOUT COMPLAINING!
Second, more and more I am catching my teens talking to each other, having real conversations, laughing, sharing, and enjoying each others company! It's true, it really is...they are starting to like each other again!
The day just came together in such an amazing day and it made me realize how much I actually miss being with them day in and day out! They didn't argue, they talked to each other and ME, they laughed, they offered up help, they are amazing TODAY!

It was a wonderful day...I love my kids!

So, this tooth/mouth thing is getting a little old! We are going on day 8 tomorrow and I can say there has been relief at some points but then others like tonight...well, let's just say I wish I could rip out every tooth in my mouth and just get the pain over with! unfortuately, it's really not the teeth but the roots, and whatever else the doctors discover!
I have resorted to pain killers, not working as I can only take a half a pill at a time in order to keep it down, so the pain doesn't go away!
I have had one small surgery (4 hours) last Monday and we are still waiting some test results from that. I am scheduled for another surgery next Monday that will be more intense and give us some more clarity as to why this happened and what is really causing it, keep praying!

So, in the meantime...I AM IN PAIN! MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight was the final night of the Passion Venue at church....tears! I really grew to love this venue after much debate with my husband over which service and venue we would attend. I love "Big Church" he loved "Passion" so he went to both for almost a year before I gave in and decided that I would go with him. It wasn't that there was something wrong with this venue but it was that I just knew and loved "Big church."
I finally decided that after working a long day that I enjoyed going to "Passion." We went as a family, Kelly falling asleep almost every week either in Brian's arms, the chairs, the floor, on top of mommy and daddy, or wherever she crashed. My family was comfortable there. I loved worshipping with my entire family, the teens would worship there with us...imagine that!
So tonight was it...it was over! Good-bye Passion, good-bye my friends from Passsion, good-bye Josh (we loved your smile every week), good-bye great music!

It's time to go back to "Big Church!" I can actually feel tears thinking that our Sunday nights will change from here on out!

SO, after blogging about the wonderful, awesome, fun 4th of July we had, I was struck! I was struck with the HIGHEST pain level I had ever felt. That being said, before I go into too much detail just know that I would give birth to 10 kids WITHOUT pain meds before I would take this pain again (those of you who have given birth like I have 3 times know the level of pain that exists there)!
We came home after having a wonderful day, finding so much joy watching our kids have the time of their lives, being with friends who feel like family, swimming, eating, watching fireworks...it was a day right out of a movie!

THEN THEN THEN...it happened!

Pain shot through my face like a fire rocket going off on the 4th of July, only it had nowhere else to go so it stayed in my face! After many long hours of begging my husband to NOT take me the hospital he took my defeated face to Saddleback Hospital (don't go there!!!!). Realizing that the pain was coming from somewhere in my mouth and not really being able to pinpoint the area because like I mentioned before the PAIN WAS RADIATING like a fire rocket, I was willing to go to any length to make it stop!
The nurse came in before the doctor, shot me with some kind of pain med in my arm without asking questions, this didn't help...no pain med was going to take this down! Then the doc shows up, realizing that it could be a tooth infection decides to numb my whole upper half of my mouth...this helped.
The next day (see the dentist couldn't see me that day...I was flat on my butt from the pain med shot in my arm) tells us that not only do I have an infection in my mouth but that it happened because of 2 bad crowns that a previous dentist put on only a little over a year ago (he has since disappeared, not even Google can find him), $3000. down the drain, and the infection has taken over the entire roots of my mouth!
Now, I take VERY good care of my teeth, I brush them more than the normal person, not only morning and night but all throughout the day, I floss continually even being teased about carrying floss wherever I go! I feel this situation sucks...only because since the 4th of July I have had MAYBE 4 hours sleep, kept my husband awake, cried continually, and I am STILL in mass pain! I even left work yesterday and today to come home for a couple hours to deal with the pain away from the masses (to know me, you know I work a 12 hour day without a blink)!
The doctors gave me plenty of meds to start the healing, no pain meds by mouth for me, and can't start treatment until they get the infection cleared. My mouth is dying, I am wanting to take the fire rocket from my mouth and face and put it where the sun doesn't shine on the previous dentist, but no, I sit (because I can't lay) here waiting for the pain to subside!
So, on that note, I need prayers for quick healing and pain reduction before you read about me in the papers...."wife and mother.....uses fire rocket to (you fill in the blanks) on previous dentist, News at 10!

OH AND MY FAVORITE QUESTION OF THE NIGHT WAS...."what is your pain level between 1 and 10?"

CAN YOU SAY "30,583!"

I have to say that this was probably one of the best 4th of July's the McTaggart's have EVER had! This day was filled with fun, relaxing, family, friends, laughter, food, lots of laughter, joy in each of our kids faces,swimming, water games, fireworks, and the list goes on!

See the McTaggart's have spent the last 17 years going to the McTaggart/Muhs family reunion, this year for the first time we skipped it. Having realized that it is not fun, the people well to say the least aren't that nice, it's a long drive, it's stressful...we as a family voted to do something else this year!

AND BOY ARE WE NOT SORRY AND BOY ARE WE GLAD WE DID!!!! Today was amazing! Thanks to all who played a part in our enjoyment! It was GREAT! Tear...that it is over....

Happy 4th to all!

My little girl is the most determined kid. She has been determined to surf, it was her goal to stand up this year after last year swimming out to "surf-zone" over and over and riding back on the front of Brian's board. She had decided she was ready this year and was going to do it, no matter what! She requested a wetsuit but we quickly talked her out of that when she had to try on the 3rd one and hated the tight feeling!
So, 2 weeks ago she DID IT! She was in the water for about a half hour and sure enough she was up! She rode the board (9'6) all the way to the shore even scratching the fin of the board (oops....sorry) but SHE DID IT!
I wish I had pictures but again we don't have a good camera so I didn't get pictures! The one you see is of her practicing at the surf shop for more than an hour on a balancing board...the guys there LOVED her and couldn't get over her determination!
To top off her success...David took my 2 youngest to our house on Huntington Harbor to see some relatives we have there now and Kelly decided this was going to be the year she would jump off the "No Jumping off Bridge" bridge without a floatation device what's so ever! She has been jumping and swimming the mile back to our house since she was 3 but this IS her year of successes and accomplishments!

WE ARE PROUD!

I am loving this dayS off thing...yes I said dayS! On Monday, my husband did ALL the laundry that has piled up for a very long time! Then we went to the beach in the afternoon, had some time to journal and reflect while watching my husband and kids get thrown around in the waves while not leaving my seat! LOVING IT! The weather there was PERFECT! I am going to try to fit in some more beach time before Monday with the kidlits just to be in great weather again (to add to the greatness, I have a swimsuit that fits perfectly).
Tuesday (today) was PERFECT and I mean PERFECT! I got up late, the kids were SUPER quiet this morning letting me sleep, caught up with my best friend after she has been out of town for a week (pure abandonment was setting in, texting wasn't cutting it...to much to share..ha ha), talked to a few other people who have left messages in the last couple of weeks and I finally had time to talk. Then I took my kids out to the pool, we talked, played and made plans for the rest of the summer with the goal to reach August 22 when we go to the Harbor House.
Yes, dayS off are great...who knew! Tomorrow is another one...but TEARS as it is over for now!

I have counted down the days till this moment....10pm on Sunday night! I am officially off for the next 3 days! It's been a long time coming...to have 2 days off in a row has been forever but 3! WOW...so where do I start?

Hang time with the hubby tonight...
Kiss the kids goodnight and hope they sleep in late so I can too!

Then do I do the right thing...

Laundry
Grocery Shopping
Chores

Or do I relax enjoy the moments and cherish the time that we have as a family, making each other feel special, important and cherished?

I think those options sound better than the first ones?!!?!?!?!!?

Then it's off to the beach in the afternoon to do my other favorite things, watch my kids surf, fellowship, play in the waves and just love being....

Oh and I will journal....YEAH FOR ME TIME TOO!!!!!!!!!!

Heather McTaggart
The wife of an amazing, funny, incredible man! The mother of 3 God loving amazing young persons!

- -

• Guess where I am....
• Did I disappear...honestly YES!
• Because she is......
• Favorite part of my day...
• Sad, mad, frustrated...it's all in the bag for today!
• HOME SWEET HOME!
• Moving has begun...
• Mother's Day...is a beautiful thing!
• Cassandra made me do it...
• HELP...is needed!

• April 2007
• May 2007
• June 2007
• July 2007
• August 2007
• September 2007
• October 2007
• November 2007
• December 2007
• January 2008
• February 2008
• March 2008
• April 2008
• May 2008
• June 2008

Shopping

• Carlsbad Outlets
• Costco
• Downtown Chicago
• Downtown Seattle
• Ebay
• Irvine Spectrum
• Nordstrom
• Old Navy
• Target
• The Gap
• Trader Joe's

Movies

• Christmas Movies
• My Best Friend's Wedding
• Sleepless in Seattle
• You've Got Mail

• Allison
• Annie
• Brian
• Cassandra
• David Hughes
• Deanna
• Diane
• Doug Elliott Eric Busby NEW CHURCH
• Elizabeth
• Greg Vail
• Heesh
• Holly
• Jason
• Brad Johnson
• John Stearns
• Josh
• Julie blogger of the year
• Linda
• Pete
• Pioneer woman
• Rachel Styffe
• Randy Craft
• Rebekah Jones
• Riley
• Steve Powers
• Sue+cute baby and a half
• Tony Guerrero

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