This has been a week of food, LOTS OF FOOD! I know, I know I work on the Food Team BUT this has been amazing! If I could have taken a camera with me without looking completely unprofessional I would have, but I had to keep up a professional appearance...DANGIT!
I have seen more CINNAMON ROLLS of every variety, with frosting, without frosting, with raisins, without raisins, you get the idea. I have seen EVERY size Churro on the market as well as toppings. I have seen every type of chicken wing, slider burger, salsa, potato salad, breads of EVERY variety, PIZZA, PIZZA and MORE PIZZA! Ice cream, cookies, cakes, desserts of amazing proportion have been put in my face even though I try SO hard to resist! I have been privelged to visit test kitchens of every shape, size and smell! This is ONLY a portion of the foods that I have tested, looked at, disected, and analyzed! Today was the BEST OF THE BEST, we were treated to a personal chef who cooked up and shared every detail about each item. It's been amazing AND SORRY...I have 3 more weeks of food tours to get through! In 2 weeks we will be going to a test kitchen of FRENCH FRIES! Millions of French fries and toppings!
One day, I will be able to take pictures of the foods we have chosen from some great distributors and vendors. Our main vendor has made sure that we only see and test the best of the best, so we will be able to pass that onto you SOON!

Remember I am the Asst. the Food Service Director...translated: We ARE AROUND FOOD, TALK FOOD, and SEE FOOD ALL DAY! Lately it is more often than usual, see we are previewing food for the new Student Zone. I am meeting with vendors ALL day, everyday. This means lots of samples of foods that I had NO idea existed! I usually put a smile on my face, "act" kind when they are giving their speech about how great their product is, BUT I draw the line at some things! Today I was in a meeting with a sweet young vendor, she couldn't be sweeter she had LOTS of fun products to show: warm pretzels, muffins, slider burgers, cheesecakes, churro's, oh yeah ALL GOOD! THEN she brought out fake eggs, yes I said FAKE eggs!
They were seriously colored with yellow dye, shaped into a round pattie looking thing for morning egg sandwiches! THIS IS WHERE I DRAW THE LINE...so what do I do? How do I behave kindly and not tell her to take away her FAKE EGGS? You guessed it, I stick my fork into the cheesecake sitting next to me and keep eating, filling my mouth and making YUMMY noises! How could I stop eating cheesecake and put FAKE eggs in my mouth? WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!!! SO...FYI, we WON'T be buying the FAKE eggs and you will be blessed with REAL eggs when the Student Zone opens! I couldn't serve those to ONE SINGLE person, EVER...no matter WHO you are! You could be my best friend, or worst enemy...I WILL NEVER SERVE YOU FAKE EGGS!!! I PROMISE!!!!

BTW...Tomorrow I am previewing a vendor AT the actual vendor kitchen so we can try ALL their goodies! Pray for REAL EGGS!

We have a rule in our house, the first year you are allowed to have a cell phone it's on a "Pay as you go" plan. This is to teach responsibility, self control and so we don't go broke! For the last year our son has had a "Pay as you go" phone and plan, it has been a success.
Matt turned 15 last week, has the best grades he has ever had in his entire life and has shown more responsibility than ever over the course of a year. In the last 6 months he has grown up tremendously and shown that he is headed down a great path. SO...how did we reward...OF COURSE, you got it, he got a new phone with UNLIMITED text messaging (yes, I said UNLIMITED) and he is sharing our talk plan. Ok, so all is well, RIGHT?!?!
Well, it depends on what you consider "all is well" see he took that text messaging unlimited plan to mean you can text everyone you know for NO REASON what so ever. He has said "HI" to me more times in the last 5 days over text messaging than he ever has in his entire life. ALSO...ALSO...and ALSO...that phone keeps ringing and texting ALL DAY AND NIGHT! When we finally asked him who could be texting, calling you at THIS hour, or this time, his answer is WELL LET'S JUST SAY...NOT a guys name but an array of girls names! Where did these girls come from and HOW did they learn SO quickly that our son has a new phone that he doesn't have to wait every 30 days to fill up???!! Where are THEIR mothers when they are calling and texting MY son at all hours?? WHO are these girls?
See having had a daughter first when she meets a guy she likes she is dying to share who he his, what he looks like and every other detail she "thinks" we need to hear. We are used to this, but now we have a son...he doesn't share the details, these girls are mysterious. Other people know them, his friends know them, even his sister knows them...BUT mom DOESN'T know them!!! It feels weird! It's strange! He is definitely growing up and actually becoming SO SO mature (something I had my doubts about, hey he's a guy...don't fault me, you know what I am talking about) but he is still my guy! These girls will have to get through me and I promise to put on a fake smile and NOT judge them for being texting queens, calling princesses but it will be hard! I can make these promises BUT his older more protective sister...well, that's another story and I am smiling just knowing that!
Here we go on ANOTHER ROLLER COASTER RIDE!!!

This has been ONE OF "THOSE" weeks! CRAZY good, crazy weird, crazy sad...but it's almost over and next week will have it's own title...THEY ALWAYS DO! Just when you think it's going to be mellow....

We started the week with Sunday off for the first time in MONTHS! I usually work Sunday's and now I have switched my days off to Sunday/Monday to match David's. It felt weird and I vowed NOT to go ANYWHERE near the campus BUT Kelly's little friend was baptized and how can you miss THAT!?! Seeing a little 7 year old go under for the sake of her faith and letting God be the boss of her life is SO amazing! Spent a great afternoon at their house after making plaques for the kids at Orangewood to give back to our God for what he gives us!
Monday we spent the day MAKING our kids study for the upcoming finals they were NOT happy about!
Tuesday was Matt's birthday and we had a nice dinner,cake, gifts but AGAIN we were the bad guys who made our children study for finals! BAD MOMMY, BAD DADDY!!
That brings me to Wed when finals were getting to them, they needed a break and some treats...THANK YOU SADDLEBACK HSM for giving them a "study break!" This night turned sad for a completely different (unmentioned..sorry) item but it made for a night of holding my daughter's hand while she slept, cried, and DIDN'T STUDY! Trust me, it won't be the first time we will have nights like this, sad but worth the life lessons!
Thurday night also brought a late night visitor who needed a place to crash so she wouldn't have to drive home in the rain...it kept mommy up late BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT FOR SOME GIRL TALK AND CATCH UP TIME!
Thursday and Friday made for MORE finals...TODAY THE PAIN IS OVER! We rewarded Holly by letting her go out for dinner and movies with a group of girls! THEN we caved and finally bought Matt a brand new cell phone (again, we are mean and give our kids a "pay as you go" phone for their 1st cell phone year to teach them responsibility first), it's on our plan and HE LOVES IT! It has rang ALL night since he HAD to tell EVERYONE he knows his new number and has UNLIMITED texting!

ALL I CAN SAY IS...this week has taught us some great lessons, memories and bonding! Can't wait to see what next week has in store! LORD HAVE MERCY MY HUSBAND IS DYING TO "check" on our cabin to make sure the snow isn't too high on the balcony...or is that an excuse to drive up the mountain to play and ski! I have to THINK SO! Anyone find the "need" to kidnap me for a "girl talk, girl's day" I am NOT saying I would fight you!

We partied the night away in celebration of my sweet son's birthday BUT we were on "flu watch" with the littlest AND finals are this week!

Party coming over the weekend....he was a good sport! I marninated steaks all day, made garlic potato's, and spinach salad to help the brain power along and make the day somewhat salvageable! Oh, homemade cake was also on the menu!

I guess it goes to show growing up means giving up your birthday to studying for finals....is reality!

15 years ago tonight, I was packing the last of my suitcase, giving Kristi all the specifics for Holly to be taken care of and on my way to Hoag Hospital. As David and I drove to the hospital I will never forget the song "A Brand New World" playing on the radio and I started crying...tears of joy! See 2 years 4 months earlier we were told that we should probably not have another child since my pregnancies are not good. We decided to talk to all the best doctors we could find so I could try to give my husband a son!
Fast forward 15 years ago tonight...driving to Hoag Hospital to give birth to the SON I wanted SO badly! Yes, God brought us a healthy, happy, fun, energetic SON! MATTHEW RILEY MCTAGGART!

Hand prints are leaving the walls slowly as Matt grows up and doesn't play in the mud anymore, he has turned into a WONDERFUL GOD LOVING, SISTER PROTECTIVE, STILL HUGGING HIS MOTHER, young man!
He towers over me and his father, but he is the baby boy we prayed and begged for! He is turning out to be a great servant, with a heart of gold. I love watching him and his older sister build their friendship! He protects his little sister when she walks in the street or wanders from our sight. The lego's are sitting in the corner where he left them years ago, the baseball trophies collect dust but proudly still sit on his shelves, he now spends his time trying to figure out his next step in this crazy life, he has big dreams, fun dreams but he loves to dream...that's ok, he WILL be a GREAT MAN! I have NO DOUBT, God gave us our dream when he gave us Matt...he has a plan for his life...I just know it!

HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY MY BIG SON! WE LOVE YOU TONS! YOU MAKE US PROUD (this year has made us prouder than ever, thank you for ALL your hard work...it shows)! Keep your focus and keep moving forward, we will walk beside you EVERY step of the way! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY...I just know that each birthday makes you more and more of the MAN God created for this family to share! We are the LUCKY ones, you have blessed our lives!

We are in "talks" about changing the dates for the Harbor House this year! Yes, it's true we may not be there over Labor Day weekend!
Here is our thoughts:
:many of Holly's friends are leaving for college this year in August
:a good friend may be getting married on the Friday before Labor Day and
wants me to cater.
:we could stay 3 days LONGER (this is a deal maker)!
:we won't come back the day before school starts and still be DEPRESSED
about being back!

SO...here is the deal, we are looking for your opinions. Would it fit in to most of your schedules to go around the end of July through the beginning of August? Who is ready to go a month earlier? The weather should be JUST AS GREAT as labor day, we hope!

My conversation with Kelly:

Kelly: "Mommy, Jamie Lynn has a baby in her belly and they don't know how it got there."
Me: "Really Kelly, where did you hear that?"
Kelly: "The kids at school said so, they said that the doctors can't figure out
how it got there and that she is only 16 and 16 year olds aren't
supposed to have babies in their bellies."
Me: "Your right, they are not supposed to"
Kelly: "She has to go to lots of doctors to find out how it got in there"
Me: "Yes, she does!"

Ok, didn't have the heart to have the birds and the bees talk with her as I am sure she would repeat it all to the children on the playground and I am just NOT in the mood for the "mommy calls!" Seriously though....

16 YEAR OLDS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE BABIES IN THEIR TUMMIES!

Julie blogged about Cathy being in the hospital but I will add to it...please please pray for her! We are feeling SO lucky that they caught the blood clots before something terrible happened! She is quite grumpy which is funny for Cathy who keeps us ALL happy most of the time! I will keep bringing her chocolate so she doesn't throw things at me when I walk in!

It was a great night to get caught up with Julie! She is funny, has a GREAT perspective on this chapter of her life, and I can't wait to hear what the next chapter has in store! SHE IS SO GREAT! I would link her so you can read her fun blog, but remember NOT COMPUTER SAAVY here (she my side links for her, she has pics too)! It's so great to watch God's success in her life!

I know that sounds a little selfish BUT I bought this SO I could take pictures of our baby turning 8 last night! I needed one, it was important! What I didn't take into consideration buying it ON THE WAY was that I would ONLY be able to take a few pictures since it needed charging and a memory card that was formatted! Too much "computery" stuff for me but it's all good NOW. It's ready to shoot lots of pics of my family again...ahh...MOM FEELS BETTER!

Last night was great, Kelly turned 8, we had a little get together at Claim Jumper and back here for her favorite jello cake. I think this is the last year we will have lots of American Girl stuff, nightgowns, and High School Musical videos, she is growing up SO fast!

Can you guess what I am FINALLY off to buy on our way to celebrate the ONLY 8 YEAR OLD BIRTHDAY we will EVER have again in this house?

Hint...I will SHOW you when I get home!!! I am EXCITED!

I gave birth to an amazing life changing little girl!

TODAY IS KELLY'S 8TH BIRTHDAY...trust me we have been on countdown for months till this day!

8 years and 9 months ago, well about 8 years, 8 months ago I found out we were pregnant with a baby, and YES I was shocked. BUT, God had a plan, a great plan. It had been a long time since we had a baby in the house and we weren't sure we could go back and do it again, diapers, car seats, sleepless nights, the whole shebang!

Kelly is amazing, she has added SO much joy, happiness and fun to our home. I am still so thankful for the gift God gave us. He knew we weren't complete without one more addition to this family. She has given us each so much in her 8 years on this earth. Watching David do the "daddy/daughter" thing again has been so sweet, only this time I have to admit she has him wrapped around his little finger more than Holly or Matt ever did (he won't admit it but just watch them together)! Holly has an incredible relationship with Kelly, she is her big sister, her little mother, her best friend, all those things sisters have even being 10 years apart. Matt has given up his spot for the baby of the family to her, sometimes not willingly but he loves her and loves watching her laugh, loves having someone to just needle enough to be the pain in the butt big brother, but needing her to give him that laugh he needs everyday! I on the other hand, have learned that God has a plan, he gives me SO much and I can't be more thankful! He gave me Kelly at a time when I wasn't sure what was my next step in life, Matt going off to school all day, deciding whether to go back to work full-time or being a mommy full-time! His plan was for me to continue my full-time mommy work with a wonderful, loving beautiful little girl! I COULDN'T BE MORE THANKFUL!


Kelly has given SO much to this world! She has struggled with hearing difficulties, and conquered them! She challenges herself to do the best, the most, try harder, learn more, and do what others think she can't! Just try to tell her she can't do what the teens are doing, she will prove you wrong! Headstrong, yes, but loving outweighs EVERY TIME!

KELLY YOU ARE THE BEST! WE LOVE YOU AND YOU LOVE ON US!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE ONE! We are SO BLESSED BY YOU!

In this conversation today that started with this statement:

"We are SO proud, she is 4 and reads at a 3rd grade level."

My mistake, I asked how their child was and got myself caught in a world of "my child is so smart, etc. etc. OK, I have 3 kids, all fairly intelligent, some more than others but they ALL have great God given qualities. I am proud of each of my children and I equally love all of their quirks, difficult challenges and who they are. No, I am not perfect, I get frustrated with them and want to strangle them on a DAILY basis...hey, 2 of them are teens...who could blame me RIGHT? On the whole, we are pretty proud of each of our kids for who they are but not always the choices they make. Seriously when the almost 15 year old is sitting next to the almost 8 year old in the car and says "you are touching me" I want to jump out of the car at 70mph and run (yes, I realize that makes them sound like they are far from intelligent), but they are who they are!

I never know what to say to this conversation that continues on for a length of time that I am starting to get uncomfortable because there is NO more responses to their constant..."and she does this, she says this" and so on and so on!

It makes me laugh and sad at the same time. Are we really raising kids who need us to constantly brag about them to the point of driving others insane? Do we REALLY expect our kids to be smarter than the next kid? When can we just say, "they are normal, great kids?

One of the reasons we enjoy our shared vacation home in Huntington Harbor and our cabin is because we have NO phones, NO Internet, NO TV, it's what my husband refers to as "just being a kid, and enjoying it time!" One thing he says to other kids and friends who join us on our vacations is "leave your ego, and need to grow up fast and JUST BE A KID!"

We believe education is SUPER important (trust me, many sleepless nights trying to figure out how to pay for upcoming college) but being real, being a kid for this short time is SO important! I also think enjoying childhood amongst homework, school, church, and a busy lifestyle we subject them to is equally important!

I love that I engaged in this conversation today, it made me thankful for my kids!
So they aren't the next rocket scientist, I am pretty sure that there is a defense attorney amongst them somewhere with the constant need to debate that goes on around here when the word "grounding" comes into play!

I will catch up soon....Kelly is doing MUCH better and precauions are being taken for the next bee sting...that BETTER NOT HAPPEN! STILL STUPID BEES!

The flu has hit our home not to mention PINK EYE so we are hunkered down and trying to heal! Countdown still going on to the BIG 8 year old birthday this week...so the germs better be gone by then! The thought of everyone puking jello cake just doesn't sound fun! Can you imagine the pictures of this birthdday????

Bees REALLY are dumb! Bees don't deserve to live on this earth, AND NO...I don't want to hear about why we NEED bees...blah blah blah! You will NEVER EVER IN A MILLION TRILLION years make me believe bees are useful and needed on this earth!

OK...so now that I have ranted, raved and had a GIANT size temper fit about BEES, let me explain my anger!

Kelly (our almost in 4 more days) 8 year old got stung by a bee this week. Now the LAST time she got stung it took a week for her to have a reaction but the doctors weren't throughly convinced it was an allergic reaction so we didn't take an DRASTIC measures IN CASE it happens AGAIN! SO...you guessed it, SHE HAD A REACTION SOONER this time! 2 days into bee sting the swelling in the general area of the stupid stinger the bee stung her poor little foot! OK, THEN and I mean 12 HOURS LATER...her foot not only swelled, she couldn't walk on it BUT BUT BUT those RED lines you hear about with an injury (but NEVER SEE) started running from the stinger swollen area UP her leg! YES 2 NASTY RED SWOLLEN LINES RUNNING UP! Crap, (yes, I said CRAP) we have to actually figure out HOW BAD this really is!
After MANY conversations with her doctor, urgent care, nurse triage and FINALLY calling my brother THE DOCTOR we decided that it was URGENT and she needed to be seen YESTERDAY (NOT TODAY...YESTERDAY, bad parents AGAIN)! I couldn't get a straight answer out of ANYONE because we were ALREADY doing what we had been told to do by the first doctor after the actual sting. So, off to the doctor on a rainy wet Saturday afternoon I went with her barely being able to walk. The doctor decides that she needs to be seen BEFORE everyone in the waiting room, which makes me glad UNTIL (and I WILL get to the UNTIL in a little bit)! This doctor prescribes a HEAVY dose of antibiotics, with LOTS of advice and orders epie pens for home, school, travel. "I think" and that is the word of the day...I THINK we are good to go!

HERE'S COMES THE UNTIL!

BUT NO....off to the pharmacy to get the prescription. She tells me it will be 20 minutes and I "think" that we will be home, in jamies, by the fire, watching a cartoony movie together in a half hour! WOULDN'T YOU?????
NO...THE PHARMACHIST decides that this presciption is TOO strong for a 7 (almost 8 in 4 days) year old! I tell her what is going on and she STILL insists it is TOO strong! She calls the doctor, her head pharmachist, and tells me it will be ANOTHER 20 minutes! Ok, I can deal with that (pushing Kelly around the store in a shopping cart because she is now crying that her foot hurts)! Back to the counter I go in 20 minutes only to hear...there is a "discrepency" in the prescription, we will have to hold it and wait! The doctor calls me in the meantime to tell me that if they don't fill it she will have to go to the hospital for 24+ hours to be administered antibiotics through an IV! CRAP...YES I SAID "CRAP" again! We wait AGAIN, for an answer and FINALLY they agree that we can give her this med for 24 hours but if there is ANY change we need to go right to the ER! Those words NEVER make a mom feel better! 2 1/2 hours later we were in jamies, watching a cartoony movie and praying for her foot to stop swelling!

TODAY...swelling has gone down and RED LINES are ONLY 2 inches long now! THANK THE LORD!

FOR THE RECORD....STUPID BEES!

I am so excited, this year is already starting off great! We are finally feeling a little better around here, the sickness had taken over the whole family. We decided to go out and celebrate a little on New Year's with our great friends the Fehrenbach family. They had visitors from as far away as Cicely, Italy! The food was OUTSTANDING and the company was GREAT! We don't get to see many of our friends from the "old" neighborhood often but when we do, we pick up where we left off and can't get enough. So, one New Year's Resolution...to spend more time with friends who are important to us!
That takes me to my next excitement! I was asked to cater a wedding for a couple who we absolutely adore and LOVE spending time with, Kathy and Steve. They just bought a HUGE BEAUTIFUL home in Portola Hills where she is living until the wedding. The backyard is gorgeous with a HUGE pool and patio, great for catering. Today I met with her to go over details and what fun we had and will have planning and preparing for this special day. This will be my first event where I am completely in charge of every detail and I am excited, yet SUPER nervous that I will forget something, charge something wrong, but I am trusting that this will be HER SHINING MOMENT and I get to help her! This is not a great picture of the backyard and pool, but it has waterfalls, gazebo's, tons of sitting areas. I am really excited for this challege...pray for me!

I just have great feelings about this year for our family. I asked God to open doors and close doors for us this year and make them clear to us. One door that seems to keep closing is about moving out of state, every time we ask God about this one, he enlightens us with all we are blessed with here!

2008 IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!!!

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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