Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Favorite part of my day...
Kelly runs to the bottom of the stairs 4 or 5 times during the day yelling:
"I HAVE TO CHECK MY NEW ROOM!" For what you ask? Not sure, I think to make sure it's still there! I love her girly room and I love that she loves her girly room! LOVING the yellow walls, really thought I wouldn't yet, I like looking at her room too! It's the cutest, I promise!
PS. She makes her bed EVERY morning and cleans her room 4 or 5 times a day....I LOVE 8 year olds...life is simple!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 2:23 AM
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sad, mad, frustrated...it's all in the bag for today!
I recieved some horrible sad news today. A friend passed away, this is a friend I shared in a bible study with, I looked forward to the Monday summer nights and watching her surf, I loved pulling up to "Old Man's" and seeing her car, we could always share a story, a few moments, I adored her, she had a light even when see didn't see it.
She was hurting, she was in an accident and passed. I would give her name but I know there are people who have not been told yet and I would hate for this to be the place. My heart aches, it's been crying all afternoon, she was SO sweet, yet so sad and hurting. I hate that this accident stole her life. Her family loved her deeply, they knew her hurts yet loved her deeply. Again, my heart aches!
I want to swallow my tears because I KNOW that she is in a great place, she is out of any pain she thought she had or was dealt by the carelessness of another. It's sad!
Life can make you sad....then your daughter comes home excited, you talk to a friend who you know has a smile ear to ear, life is sad, complicated and ever changing. I will cry tonight, most likely at the funeral and again for her family off and on, but I know life is going to be ok...I just wish I knew they weren't going to hurt so much right now!
As for mad....that's another story for another day not directly related to any of this!
I am OK, you are OK, we ALL Ok....THANK GOD!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 9:04 PM
Monday, May 26, 2008
HOME SWEET HOME!
THE MESSY GARAGE (next week there WILL be 2 cars in it)!
MATT'S ROOM (he is still working on it, need pics)!
We are finally moved in! A few walls have pictures, most rooms are 80% done, and we are ready for company if you can handle a few things still out of place! The garage is "almost" ready for cars to be parked inside and we are waiting for a few pieces of furniture to arrive (a new wall unit, backyard furniture, etc).
KELLY'S ROOM
KELLY'S AMERICAN GIRLS DOLLS ARE HOME!
HOLLY'S ROOM
We are ALL very happy, love this house AND the GREATEST part of all...it's QUIET! Yes, I said QUIET with a family of 5, people around helping out, visiting and meeting new neighbors.
We still have no phone service home and limited cell service but it's been great just spending time getting settled! We are NOT ignoring people we just have NO connections and have had to "borrow" from the neighbors for limited internet connection (a friend is here now trying to cure that issue)!
I am on the hunt for a trampoline and pool so this summer should be amazing with our new large backyard.
Speaking of backyard we are not "fenced" in so our dog Buddie escaped! Someone let him in the backyard without the tie-up (I will not tell you which teen did that to save face but let's just say I may have patted that one on the back)! Then 2 of the children cried themselves to sleep and we made a visit to the Mission Viejo Pound and $110 later...our dog is home safe and sound! YES, YOU CAN PAT ME ON THE BACK FOR BEING A GOOD MOM THIS TIME!
So, we can't wait for you all to stop by....HOME SWEET HOME!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 6:47 PM
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Moving has begun...
Secretly I LOVE moving, not the packing and lifting but the organizing, redecorating, finding new ways to make my old stuff look good. I love the smell of the new paint on the walls, brand new AMAZING carpet, buying new bedding to match the new walls, I LOVE ALL OF THAT! Today we started the move, David had to work late so I recruited my children to help me run the first 5 loads to the new house. The fragile stuff I don't trust anyone to move, my china, my pictures, and decorations, all important to me so I must move them myself.
I started Kelly's adorable yellow room and can't wait to finish it tomorrow! It's so "girly" and she LOVES it. It's her first time to do all the choosing of colors, bedding and room design. I would not have chosen pink, yellow and green but she REALLY wanted it! I gave her so many other options so for now I am LOVING her little "girly" room.
I have realized that the closet in my much smaller bedroom is much smaller than the one I am leaving behind. How long will it take for me to move into my husbands side? I think I will start slowly inching my way to his side, do you think he will notice? Let me tell you when you own 200 Trader Joe hawaiian shirts (well, maybe not quite 200 but it seems that way), you owe your wife a couple of inches on your side...right?
Ok, so the fireplace is still ugly and I have had many offers to help me make it better. I wish I could send you a picture but the cord to the camera is lost in moving land somewhere. I tried to send it from my phone to my email, didn't work..sorry! I would love a REALLY pretty shelf over the REALLY UGLY fireplace to make it presentable. I went to Home Depot to "look" at shelves but I do not have the "eye" for what I need....so I now know help is on the way. THANKS FRIENDS!
I can't wait to have a summer barbecue and invite you ALL! Stay tuned for pics and invites! We are looking for a trampoline for these barbecue's, adults love to jump too!
Call us, come visit...ALL ARE WELCOME AND I WILL COOK!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 10:47 PM
Monday, May 12, 2008
Mother's Day...is a beautiful thing!
I need to look up how Mother's Day got started and who decided we would celebrate the birthing of our children! I want to know all about this great holiday! I want to believe it's really Mother's Day weekend. I personally had a great weekend! On Saturday I was blessed by visitors galore! It seemed so many people came to church and stopped in for visits! Thank you to all! Julie took tons of pictures and brought Pete and Donas for her visit (Julie is great about remembering her camera, me NOT SO MUCH). Check out her blog for those pics! Yesterday was my great day! I woke early (I know...what it was Mother's Day) but I made the decision to work for 3 short hours, mostly so I could have some "Holly" time. She was scheduled to work and I wanted to make sure I got to spend time with each of my kids yesterday.
After leaving work I was off to my great friend Cheri's house...or should I say a DAY IN PARADISE! Kelly had spent the night there the night before and so I was off to spend time with her and have some time to catch up with my friend. We sat by the pool, overlooking the golf course and talked for HOURS! This is just how the whole idea behind Mother's Day was designed for! We talked so much we were both ready for a nap and relaxation!
David came to pick Kelly and I up and we headed home to spend the rest of the afternoon with Matt who was home and had done a ton of chores, homework, began preparations for dinner! WOW...LIFE IS AWESOME! We relaxed, I "rested my eyes" for a few minutes and Matt made BREAKFAST for dinner! LIFE IS GREAT!
The 2 younger kiddo's were in bed early, the house was quiet and I got to watch some sappy "Lifetime" movies!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ME AND ALL MY MOTHER FRIENDS!
PS. Here is the topping on the whole day...I received homemade cards from the Facility guys at work thanking me for my "Mothering" skills at work! I was touched! Thank you Jason, David, Chuck, Jesse and all the Saddleback boys! I so appreciate you and all you do, for eating my food, for laughing at my dumb jokes, for taking out my trash, and for just being GREAT! You all make being your "mom for the day" worth it!
PSS. Clean your desk boys!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 7:33 PM
Friday, May 9, 2008
Cassandra made me do it...
I don't forward mail, I don't forward text, I just don't forward...it's not me. I get so much of those little cute "if you don't send this to 300 million friends in one minute" things that I just don't want to torture others with more and I am hoping I don't get tortured more. BUT....I love love love Cassandra and I love that she wants to know more about her old lady friend, I love that she is "in love" though she wouldn't say "those" words forever and now she says them with the biggest smile EVER. THAT SAID...I fell for it and I forwarded her forward happily. Here is the details for those of you I didn't forward it to. It's cute, it's innocent...I love making this fun for her!
1. What is your occupation? I work at Saddleback Church but if you ask me what my real job description is...UH, I am NOT sure anymore, it's ALL new!
2. What color are your socks right now? White with a pink Nike logo
3. What was the last thing that you ate? Cashews and Vanilla Yogurt (not together but that was lunch since I didn't eat the great food we had today!
4. Can you drive a stick shift? Yeppers, I learned on a RED corvette ALL BY MYSELF! I am one determined girl! It got me out of the house for the weekend and my friends LOVED it!
5. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Pink or Yellow...
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Holly begging to do something tonight even if it is with us, she is grounded and wants us to open the jail! HA HA
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? She is an AMAZING young lady! I hope my daughters are JUST like her! She's pretty darn special, heck I would only do THIS for her!
8. How old are you today? Mean and rude but ok I will answer, 44 for another 4 months! Getting old is NOT FAIR!
9. Favorite drink? Sparkling water
10. What is your favorite sport to watch? Do the Dodgers play the Lakers or the Lakers play the Ducks? Just kidding, gymnastics? Sports are just not me, if shopping is a sport...I WILL TAKE THAT ONE HANDS DOWN!
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? AGAIN...RUDE but I will play along, MAYBE, MAYBE NOT!
12. Pets? a really dumb dog, Holly tells me there are 2 fish that live in that tank downstairs but I choose not to look!
13. Favorite food? Pepperoni Pizza and they better have LOTS of it in heaven!
14. Last movie you watched? Tried to watch "Glass House" last night but I hate scary movies so I chickened out and ran upstairs to watch the news...which can be scary also!
15. Favorite Day of the year? the day we leave for our Harbor House, I seriously get giddy! Why does it take SO long to come each year! We can go almost 365 days a year and we can't find the time to drive 30 miles to enjoy MY FAVORITE PLACE! IT'S CRAZY...welcome to the McTaggarts!
16. What do you do to vent anger? Get SUPER quiet, shut down and need to be alone. I hate that I am angry so I tend to want to be alone to get over my anger. It's confusing but I love to go to my room be alone and figure it out or wallow, then I am fine!
17. What was your favorite childhood toy? a ballerina doll that you would spin the crown on her head and she would dance. It was my first gift from my step-dad when he was dating my mom.
18. What is your favorite season? Summer for the Harbor House, beach, fun with kids. Winter for Christmas and building family memories!
19. Hugs or kisses? it depends, I have had to learn to let people hug me but now I actually enjoy reaching out and hugging someone to let them know I care. Kisses...ummmm, ask my hubby!
20. Cherry or Blueberry? Really neither.
21. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes!
22. Who is most likely to respond? Julie, Holly, Lisa?, hopefully Melissa, it would be fun to learn more about her life now.
23. Who is least likely to respond? Rude if you don't! HA HA
24. When was the last time you cried? Today almost twice, but I am strong, no tears here! Actual real last time I cried, 2 nights ago for NO reason, really NO reason, I was just SUPER SUPER tired and anxious about all this new stuff going on!
25. What is on the floor of your closet? dirty clothes basket, that's it. Should have asked that question about a week ago when I was packing my closet, seriously I ask again...WHERE DOES THIS STUFF COME FROM???
26. Who is the friend you have known the longest that
you are sending this to? It's probably a toss up between Melissa and Lisa, well Melissa was Junior high and Lisa was (I am NOT telling you but one of us was 12)! This makes this question unfair....I AM NOT OLD, I just have grey hair that I hide well!
27. Who is the friend you have known the shortest that
you are sending this to? Kristin and Olivia
28. Favorite Smells? a clean house!
29. Who inspires you? Megan H. because she inspired me to tell my story, Lisa because I can tell her ANYTHING and she still loves me and laughs at me! When I say ANYTHING...wow I MEAN ANYTHING..she is the greatest!
30. What are you afraid of? oh gosh the list could be long here, heights, the dark, losing my children, snakes, bugs, oh this list is too long and would cause too much heckling on some of your parts!
31. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese and lots of stuff on "our" burger at Fridays, you know who you are! Our hubby's would be appalled!
32. Favorite car? Secretly I want a 2 seat, convertible, topless car to drive ALL BY MYSELF!
33. Favorite cat breed? A DEAD CAT IS A GOOD CAT. Sorry cat lovers your cat not only smells, it makes my eyes swell shut, it makes my daughter have to go to the hospital, it is just plain USELESS! I know I will gain some enemies with this one, but really it's how I feel!
34. Number of keys on your key ring? WAY TO MANY! Do I actually use ALL those doors? Maybe I need to close some and leave them that way!
35. How many years at your current job? 2 years and some months, really not sure...it feels like forever! That's not to say it's bad it's just familiar.
36. Favorite day of the week? Sunday if I am off work, Monday if I am off work! I love 2 days in a row off! It's an amazing invention though it doesn't always happen often!
37. How many states have you lived in? 4, California, Oregon, Washington, Pennsylvania
38. Do you think you're funny? I can be REALLY funny but it takes work or a night out with one of my favorite gal friends!
39. Favorite candy? OH YUMMY...Swedish Fish and ANY of the Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks! RIght now I am addicted to the My Little Pony ones or Speed Racer, they are adorable AND YUMMY!
40. Where do you see yourself in 10
years? OH CRAP this question ages me, WELL, Holly will be almost 28 so maybe I will be a grandmother, Matt will be almost 26 and HOPEFULLY will NOT make me a grandmother till he has his life figured out, and Kelly will be ALMOST 18. SO, now that you asked I see myself on MANY MANY vacations with NO children...SO GREAT! Love them but can you imagine!?
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 6:21 PM
HELP...is needed!
This is my sick, selfish, pleading, bribing, and whatever you decide to call it way of saying...
HELP!
Oh so here's the deal, in 5 short weeks, count them 5 SHORT weeks I am going to be crying in a creek, wallowing in my sorrows, begging (using money of course), pleading on hands and knees, offering food as a sacrifice to my defeat!
Here is my dilema and if you can help...GREAT! IF you know someone is reliable, drives, loves to swim, eat, play, see movie's (kiddie movies preferably) or whatever other entertaining thing that happens to cross their minds...I COULD USE SOME HELP!
I am going to need a sitter for probably 3 days a week, 6 hours a day. I really need to work on this because her big sister has a job, I have to work, her brother well lets just say 15 year old boys don't babysit their little sisters and live to tell about it when their friends find out. SO...Kelly needs a buddy, one that drives, loves movies, swimming, eating ice cream and other summer treats, etc. I pay well, food and play money is included! I need to know this person and/or one of my trusted friends needs to know them! If you have any ideas or have talked to that one person who would LOVE a summer job making some $, let me know PLEASE!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 12:43 AM
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Loving my new job....
I realized today how much I really love my "new job." Ok, so it really isn't a NEW NEW job, it's just different responsibilities as the new Refinery makes it's way to being a GREAT success! Somedays are SO hard, some are easier, some are challenging, and some are confusing but I love waking up each day ready for the new challenge! I had been a "stay at home mom" for almost 14 years before I took the job at Saddleback and really I have enjoyed most of my tasks along the way. I worked for many years in HR and loved it, but this is new and I am ready for the challenge! I just realize that I have found a new "me" in this new adventure. While I am comfortable for the most part around people I know there are times where I love "ducking" out and not letting new people "in," talking in a group, or inviting new people to put their feet under our table for fellowship, this has allowed God to stretch me and my comfort zone to a place that I never believed!
My new job allows me to meet new people, share God with new people and learn TONS! I have watched my husband build new Trader Joe's stores from the ground up for MANY years and now it is my turn to do something to help build a building from the ground up. I am proud of the days that I learn something new, that I make a mistake, and that I challenge myself when I feel like I am incapable of handling this new task. I won't lie, it scares the "you know what" out of me somedays! Will I get it right, will I have all the equipment, vendors, food, people in place and be able to support my boss and the rest of the team by pulling my weight...ALL THAT SCARES ME! Today was the beginning of that overwhelming yet complete succession day. I accomplished so much and the day flew by and EVERY task on my list for today was completed and I STILL made it home for dinner, time with the family and kisses good-night from my great little girl! I am SO LUCKY!
SO far the Refinery is amazing, the people who have worked countless hours making it a success are amazing, the team that is heading this is amazing, and I feel priveledged to be a part of it. I want to do what I can to help, work hard, and make this endeavor something I can stand back and be proud of who I became to make this happen. I can only offer you what I have, I can only offer to carry your favorite candy, treat, drink, etc and I am willing to do that, shoot me an email and I will do what I can!
WAY TO GO TEAM...We are lucky to be in this army together!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 11:43 PM
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
High School....
This was my high school: Yes I realize it's still very 60's looking!
Remember high school? Did you like it, love it, hate it? Do you miss it or are you glad you never have to go back? This subject has come up quite a bit lately and I am not sure why. Could it be that we are realizing just how old we are getting and wish we could go back?
I didn't hate it, I didn't totally love it. I loved my friends, the ones that I still know today. I didn't love that I lived in a small town in Humboldt County where people knew too much about everyone's lives, but I loved that I lived in a small town where I felt safe amongst the people who knew about my life, confusing isn't it?
Ok, here is the real reason I ask these questions and ponder life today versus life in the late 70's early 80's (VERY EARLY 80's)! What was I thinking during those years, clearly I have forgotten...So I ask for my daughter some important questions.
My daughter is going to be a senior next year.
She has gone to school with the same kids almost her entire life.
She started school with some of these kids, yet she tells me tonight she doesn't really feel that she knows them. That confuses me, I ask her why she feels this way? My daughter is a full year older than most of her class (thanks to one year in Seattle and the cut off age for starting school), she hates that she is a full year older.
She tells me today that she feels that her peers are so much younger than she is and she can't relate to the "girl drama" the high school "yuck" and she can't wait to finish.
I have realized with her that she is not the same as most high school girls and her peers seem to be quite a few years older than she is.
I am sad for her that she feels she is "done" with the high school and won't walk away with a great memories of fun, struggles and high school memories we all had. She has made the choice to attend college this next year as well as finish her senior year, she will take calculus and chemistry at our local junior college, as I am proud I am sad that she will spend her days studying things I don't understand (really, where she gets her smarts from confuses me)!
I wondered today if she will regret not connecting at school and church with peers her own age?
She loves the college ministry at church, she loves the college connections she has made, but will she remember not having those same connections in high school?
Am I worrying about something she will not ever worry about or regret?
High School...is it a blink of an eye or a memory not to be wasted? Wish I had a crystal ball or a look at what she will be thinking in 25/30 years? I will never try to try to change how she thinks now, it is her life and she is one of the smartest people I have EVER known, I just have wonders as these memorable years come to a close for her.
When did being a mother to a smart, bright, intelligent daughter become so confusing? Really she was the easiest child to parent!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 11:54 PM
Saturday, May 3, 2008
You take the good, you take the bad...you take them all...
There you have the facts of life....#1. The mail brings treats from great people like Julie...THANKS FRIEND! It made my day! You are one amazing woman...
#2. The mail brings letters from the school that say: pay attention one of your bundles of joy is slipping through the cracks....THIS TRANSLATED: Get busy!
#3. A day can start out great and turn out not so great!
#4. A day can start out a little crappy and turn out GREAT!
#5. Sunday/Monday as days off are awesome!
#6. People who walk into St. Joseph's hospital and try to scare your little brother the doctor are JUST PLAIN NUTS! (read the OCRegister) This brought a call from the little brother, another opportunity to tell him that we love him and support his love for his job! He's pretty darn cool too!
#7. Moving is not fun to do, but FUN to start anew!
#8. Emails from an old friend from WAY WAY BACK to my Humboldt County days can melt my heart. Nothing says friendship like an old friend from years back telling you they have missed you for many many years and took the time to write and tell you!
#9. Life is full, exciting and full of exciting changes that we are ready to embrace, even with a little hard work!
#10. There is NOTHING like summer time, time with my family, HARBOR HOUSE, and renewing days of sunshine and bonding (meaning NO HOMEWORK)!
These are few facts of my life that I embrace today! I love on the opportunity to wake up again tomorrow, I am blessed!
link | posted by Heather McTaggart at 11:05 PM
