(To catch up, click here)
This post is dedicated to my sister Meagan, who is missing all of us as she is having a wonderful time in places such as Austria, Vienna, Germany and Prague.
Everyone say, “Hi, Meagan!”
Thank you.
***
Alright.
So, we cleaned up all the bodily fluids and my brother and sister-in-law permitted us to stay.
On the condition, of course, that no more disgusting substances came out of our children.
And the first item on the agenda was an Easter Egg Hunt!
Looking for eggs . . .
Handsome Dude hunted for trucks.
Little Dude seized the moment and decided to play trucks all by himself.
“Wait! Am I missing something down there ?”
Go, Sweet Pea, go!
Is it snowing?
In April?
Yes.
It is snowing in April.
Bummer.
Present time!
Here’s Tonya attemping to open presents amidst my kids.
They are like vultures.
“Present-Vultures,” if you will.
Me: Tonya! How old are you today?
Tonya: 27
Me: No way!
Tonya: Yup.
Me: Seriously?!?!?
Fact: I have known this chickie-babe since she was like 15. And since I am only 22 or so, I find her calculations to be amiss.
Tonya: Seriously. 27.
Me: Holy cow, Tonya! We are sure getting old aren’t we?
Tonya: Don’t remind me.
Me: Wow! 27.
What I didn’t know was that my brother was really hating my guts just then.
Stayed tuned for details on that.
Snupp’s turn for presents!

Cue the present vultures.
Ain’t she cute?
She’s ten now.
*tear*
Uh-oh.
Guess who’s getting bored . . .
Fact: Lumberjacks can oft get bored at big, family gatherings.
Who knew?!
On your mark . . .
Get set . . .
Go!
Look at me pushing him away.
It seems to be a pattern with me . . . pushing my boys away from me in such situations . . .
But, in my defense, he was going to slam into me!
Time to open presents from Aunt Meagan . . . all the way from Germany!
Cue the present vultures!
Interruption: That handsome young man is my nephew, Big Dude.
And . . .
Cue picture of my dad looking slightly ridiculous in Snupp’s hat.
Opening the loot from Meagan . . .
and trying to decipher what the gifts are . . .
as none of us speak the delightful language of German . . .
Bubble bath or shower gel?
You be the judge.
Chapstick or glue sticks?
My dad told Big Dude it was Chapstick.
Attention Big Dude: Aunt Meagan has informed us that it is not Chapstick, but is, in fact, gluesticks.
Sorry about that.
Your PopPop is kind of a goober.
Need proof?
Exhibit A:
(he is trying to send a text message)
Exhibit B

(not quite sure what is going on here)
And, finally, Handsome Dude was super excited for his card . . .
and grateful.
***
And now, for the Goober Parent Update.
The cast of characters in this update are as follows:
My Mom and Dad.
My brother, Danny.
My sister-in-law, Tonya.
Me.
And The Lumberjack.
This conversation took place at this very birthday party.
We are sitting at the table, eating cake.
Little Dude is completely covered in frosting.
My mom looks at Danny and says: I bet you are glad you guys are out of the baby stage, huh?
My brother starts choking on his cake.
Tonya turns red.
Mom: Oh, dear. Did I say something?
Danny continues to choke.
Mom: What’s going on?
My mother’s motherly instinct is insane.
It’s like a tractor beam . . . sucks you right in . . .
(Name that movie)
Tonya: Well, we are thinking of . . .
Mom: You’re pregnant!
Tonya: Well, I might be, but not for sure yet.
Danny: I finally talked her into it.
Tonya: Yeah . . . I haven’t really wanted anymore.
Danny: And then Taylor comes over, kids are puking, kids are peeing . . .
Tonya: And then Taylor keeps making a big deal out of how old I am now . . .
Danny: Yeah, Taylor! Geez! You are going to talk her out of it.
Me: Oops!
My Dad: What are you all talking about down there?
My Mom: They are trying.
My Dad to the Lumberjack: Trying to do what?
The Lumberjack: (turns beat red) Um . . . better have them explain.
My Mom: For a baby.
My Dad: What do you mean they are trying?
Tonya: Oh, dear.
My Dad: I don’t understand this “trying” business.
My Mom: Grant!
My Dad: Either you are or you aren’t.
Awkward.
Danny: Ok, Dad.
My Mom: Well, that’s exciting!
Me: Yeah! You totally aren’t too old to have babies!
Danny: Taylor, be quiet.
Me: Hey! I am going to be 29 soon. Now, that’s old!
My Dad: I don’t get this trying business. I mean, how is this different than 2 years ago?
Everyone else: Huh?
My Dad: I don’t understand.
Me: Mom. Can you explain this all to Dad on the way home?
Dad: Does this mean you might have another baby?
Danny and Tonya: Yes!
Dad: Oh! Great! I still don’t get this trying business though.
Mom: We’ll talk later.
And with that, my dad went to text the good news to my sister.
The end.
































































































Confessions of a Lumberjack's Wife
I would like to dedicate this post to Sarah and Nikki, who both will, upon occasion, wear socks with sandals.
Let us take a moment to applaud their bravery.
Thank you.
In yesterday’s post, I claimed, and I quote:
“Fact: Socks with sandals goes against everything I believe in.”
I firmly believe that sandals were meant for bare toes.
Now, Handsome Dude has just recently started dressing himself.
He is doing great.
Well, as fate would have it, yesterday, the very day that I posted my statement about being against socks with sandals, this is how Handsome Dude dressed himself.
Darn my luck!
And me, being the hypocrite that I am, took him out into public like that.
Because I have 4 kids and I no longer have time to care.
Now, Megan, a commenter on yesterday’s post, shares in my views.
So, she is this week’s winner of “Comment of the Week!”
She wrote,
“And yes, we all need to fight against socks and sandals – for the sake of the children.”
Well said, Megan.
Well said.
Because this . . .
is simply unacceptable.
Now, some may ask,
“Taylor (PS-that’s me), why do you have such strong views on socks with sandals?”
Well, gentle readers, I am glad you asked.
It started back in 2001.
Interruption: I do not have a scanner. I simply taking pictures of pictures. Classy, I know.
When The Lumberjack and I had been married for about a year, we took a trip to Disneyland with my parents and my sister.
We had a wonderful time.
Especially my sister.
Look at her joyful face!
She can hardly contain her excitement.
Yes.
The Lumberjack is making fun of her in the above picture.
Lumberjacks can be funny!
Who knew?!
Well, we walked and walked and walked and walked.
My dogs were barking.
(Name that movie)
We went back to our hotel for a little rest.
While at the hotel, I put some socks on my poor, sore, tired feet.
They felt heavenly.
Truly, truly heavenly.
Once we were well-rested, we decided to head back out to Disneyland.
Interruption: Can we not all agree that Disneyland at night is way so fun?
We had a good time.
A really, good time.
And I was enjoying myself much more . . . on account of my newly comforted feet.
I would, however, like to submit a complaint to the powers-that-be at the hotel we stayed at circa 2001.
Please, dear powers-that-be, consider installing full-length mirrors in your hotel rooms.
Because sometimes, a girl needs to see what she looks like before making a huge fashion mistake.
Thank you.
I, yes, I, Taylor Mal-i-blah-blah, once wore socks with sandals.
It was a tragic occurrence, one of which I relive every time I see that fateful photo.
Only a select few citizens of our great country (like Sarah and Nikki) can pull such a risk off.
I am not one of them.
I have only myself to blame.
This is Taylor Mal-i-blah-blah, signing off, while holding my head in shame.
Over.
And.
Out.