Guess Who Learned to Cut the Grass!?!

So, Austin (and his friend, Keller) have this vision of starting a plant watering/lawn cutting business to earn money for things they want (aka...new games!). When they first approached me with this idea, they said they would charge like $4.50 an hour (and asked if that was a good price). Once I put that into perspective for them saying it takes about 2 hours to do a whole yard, and that they would get $9 for the yard at that price, they QUICKLY raised their prices! LOL! This whole idea is a little funny because NEITHER of them have EVER cut the grass before! But, they don't think it's that difficult of a job.....we'll see how this business kicks off! ;) So, Austin ASKED if he could PLEASE cut our grass today to prove he could do it.....Ask and you shall receive, right?

So, here's Roger walking him around the yard showing him what to do...

Here's Roger talking him through what to do before letting go!

Taking the lead alone with Dad keeping a close distance, just in case...

And, finally, ALL by himself! Wow...amazing how fast they grow up! As I sit (in our air conditioned house...I do have clothes going in the washer and dryer!) Roger is outside with the weed eater, and Austin is cutting the grass! I am SURE Roger is VERY glad to have some help out there! I'm not so sure Austin is loving the idea (anymore), but I love seeing them out there working together!!! Though I must admit, I never thought I'd be blogging about cutting grass! It's a big milestone for him though...just like sitting up and walking for the first time. When they get his age (ALMOST double digits!), the milestones look a little different!

Since beginning this post....I must add, Austin has changed his mind....and says it is NOT (NOT!!!!!) fun to cut the grass, and he also adds it is HOT out there!!!

Just the Beginning of OUR Summer!

So, the boys decided to pass some time by playing with Play-Doh (okay, really Logan wanted to play, drug it all out, and then convinced Austin to play for a while too!), and I was pretty impressed with Austin's little concoction (sp?). I don't think I could make a little flower like this out of Play-Doh! Could you?

Of course, if I take of picture of Austin's work, I must follow with a picture of Logan's! He made sure I took a picture of his work too! Not sure what it was, and he couldn't tell me either....but he was having fun playing with all the Play-Doh, and he was in HEAVEN that his brother agreed to play with him for a bit! :) Such good brothers (when they want to be!)! All joking aside...they really have gotten along great this summer (hoping I don't jinx that now!). Logan has finally reached the age he's not COMPLETELY annoying to his big brother. Austin has even let Logan go with him across the street to play with all the neighborhood kids (there is another little brother Logan's age), at least twice now, without even being annoyed about it! They play Bakugan and Pokemon together, and though it sounds like they are speaking a foreign language to me, but they are completely understanding each other!

When we got to Caleb's party, Austin didn't really want to bowl (because he said he's not really that good at it). The first game he and Logan actually tied with a score of 79, but the 2nd game (once Austin got a little mad and competitive) Austin scored 100. He was quite proud of himself! He even got three spares! Random ODD fact (and posted as a dare from Austin cause he really doesn't believe I will)...Austin wishes he could poop like a Hippo! sk him to tell you about this next time you see him!*

Logan loves bowling, but he seems to be the competitive one! "It's on like Donkey Kong, Austin!" is what he kept saying! :) Wonder who he gets that from!?!

All four of the Taylor "grandkids" pause for a quick picture at Caleb's party!

You'd think with it being summer I would have more pictures and things to blog about, but my summer just officially started last Thursday. We went to Monkey Joes on Friday (and I forgot my Camera...ugh!), and tomorrow is a pool day FOR SURE! So, now that my summer has begun, you'll see some more frequent posts! Yay!!!! We're going to a Braves game next Saturday...it will be Logan's first one (I can't believe we haven't gone in five years! We used to go at least once a year!!!). And, of course, we'll have 4th of July pics. on Monday! I LOVE summer!!!!!

Austin & Dabo

Here's the proof picture of Austin with Dabo at "the rock!"

Clemson Football Camp - Day 1

Well, I posted the Football Camp Days backwards....oops...but I am SO glad we sent Austin to the Clemson Football Camp! The set up was great, and he learned A LOT!!! I'm very impressed with how it was run, and I'm pretty sure it will become a yearly thing (as long as Austin wants to go!)!!!

The coach towards the left with his back to the camera is Dabo. He was VERY hands on the entire camp! GREAT role model for the kids!!!

Sometimes you learn the hard way...The boys got to eat whatever they wanted in the dining hall (and as much). The first day for lunch Austin ate pizza, ice cream, and soda! Then, he didn't feel too well when he came back out to practice (really just his head was hurting). He didn't eat like that again the rest of camp! :) After I went over and talked to him in the first aid tent, the trainer asked Austin if he was ready to go back out. He replied, "No, but my mom is making me!" Such a mean mom, LOL!

Logan and Aliza Grace had plenty to do to keep themselves occupied!

Can you tell how happy Logan is? He truly just enjoys being there! Roger likes being there with the boys too, and I think, he's happy to be wearing me down on team selection...LOL!

The Tiger Paw...all a-glow! It really is a beautiful campus! And, the atmosphere and people are great! I must admit, after spending two completely different weekends up there now, it's rubbing off on me! Seeing both my boys get so excited about being there has a little to do with it too!

We got to see highlights and stats of previous and current Clemson players! The boys all loved being on the hill for the showing!

Logan watched very closely in awe! He was loving it!

After the player highlight film went over, Dabo announced,"Now, let's watch some future Clemson players!" I am hoping we can get a copy of the film. Austin was only on it for about a second (where you could actually tell it was him), but it was still neat! ALL the boys LOVED seeing themselves on the jumbotron!!!

Leaving my "biggen" overnight for the first time when it wasn't with family or close by friends. He was SO excited to be sleeping in the "REAL dorms!" :)

Clemson Football Camp - Day 2

Before seeing the itinerary of the camp, I thought Day 2 would be a little work and wrapping up around noon....WRONG! They had the campers up at 7:15, ate breakfast, and got right back to drills and practice! They had a lunch break, and then a trip to "the hill" to rub THE rock and take a photo with Coach Dabo! Then, it was right back to the field for another round of practice/games. An approaching storm threatened the last few minutes of camp, but we all got out before the down pour! We even made it out of Here are a few pics from Day 2:

Here's Austin doing one of the drills. He's on the right!

Logan had fun playing on all the equipment when the boys weren't using it! :)

It was quite warm this weekend! Austin decided to use some of the water to cool off during a break!

Coach Brooks took a couple "breaks" to mess with Logan both days. He teased Logan about being alligator bait and wanting his beef jerky (Logan did share!). Then, while rough housing him later, Logan took off his hat and was going for his hair to defend himself...it was GREAT to have the coaches interact with everyone!

Austin and Avery back in the dorm after packing up! Both of them are still smiling at the end of the camp! LOTS of work + LOTS of fun = wanting to go back next year

Headed home! Day 2 brought about a wrapped ankle for Austin. Nothing was "really" wrong with it...just a little sore! That's some brightly colored ankle wrap!

Looks like we'll be going back next year! It was a GREAT camp, and I highly recommend it to anyone that has a child considering football camp! I loved the format, the intensity, and the small group attention and personalization! The coaches were fabulous! Hope Austin learned the true meaning of "All In" while he was there with Dabo!

Grandmother's Fried Chicken...YUMMY

"Like my chicken fried...." (song blasting in my head) One of my most favorite meals of ALL time is my grandmother's fried chicken, mashed "taters," corn, and her homemade buttermilk biscuits. Uncle Colon requested it, and she cooked it. It was every bit as good as it looks!!!! YUMMY!!!!

Here are my boys with "the other Grandmother" as Logan calls her. One of the sweetest ladies on the planet! :) Love her to pieces!

Here's a family snapshot with Uncle Colon. I got to see him in December when I went out to San Diego, but the rest of my family didn't get to come. Not a great look for me (I had been at Field Day ALL day with my kiddos), but still not a bad picture!

Here are the boys with Uncle Colon! It was fun hearing about stories from when my dad (and his brothers) were growing up!!! He had them eating feather soup and watching out for "Crazy Jack" in the basement....LOL!

I took Logan to school with me one morning last week to get in the butterfly tent with my kiddos. They were pretty active the morning I took him (not calm like the previous day) and kept flying crazy all around him. You can see from this photo he wasn't loving being in there with them. But, you know me and my camera HAD to get a picture....ha!


Both our boys LOVE roller skating! We went a couple weekends ago to help celebrate Avery's birthday! Austin took a pretty big fall at the end, but nothing broken! Phew! Roger literally carried him off that floor (NO way I could have done that!)




Here's ONE example of our child with NO FEAR! :) Logan has really taken off with his swimming this year already! He's diving (the rolling in way), swimming under water (really well!), and letting Roger throw him across the pool (coming up saying, "Again!").

Austin's Awards Day & Logan's Trophy

Austin's Awards Day was last Friday (and, again, THANKS to Mrs. Jeffcoat for watching my class so I could go!). I am a proud Momma! We've been lucky that Austin has always done well in school. He likes to please (yay!), and so far, he's been successful! Though he really doesn't have a choice...ha! There was one S.Studies test that he didn't do well on this year, and after a talk with mom (and the threat of the DS being taken away) and some studying (and, yes, 4th grade caused some of that for him!!!) he made a 100 on the next S.Studies test! Just helps prove with effort things are ALWAYS better for school work! :) Can't believe our Austin will be in 5th grade next year. I already know I'll need some tissues at the 5th grade "graduation" next year. There's just something about your child leaving the school you've always been at WITH him. Though I already know CSMS is wonderful!

Here are Logan and Rex showing off their cute trophies!

T-ball is cute to watch for about the first inning of the first game, and after that, it's really only cute when your child (or your child's friends) are hitting or fielding the ball. Logan has been begging us to let him play baseball for the past two years, and we finally thought he was ready this year. He loved the hitting part, but waiting for the WHOLE other team to hit was no fun for him! He liked practices better than games (because practices were mostly hitting and small group activities). Not sure he'll want to play baseball next season. When I tried to remind him that HE was the one that begged to play, his response was, "Well, why didn't ya tell me it was 'bo-wing'!?!" I love baseball (since I played softball, I actually understand it!)! So, hopefully he'll want to play again in the future (perhaps I can convince him to play when he can do coaches pitch). He's already talking about soccer (again). :)